Sustainable Farming event rescheduled

Metacomet Land Trust has re-scheduled its program on Sustainable Farming due to the after effects of Wednesday's snow storm...

Please join us Wednesday, December 16th, at the Mendon Senior Center, 62 Providence Street, Mendon for this program with Carolyn and Rob Nicholson of Sweetwilliam Farm (Upton). Rob and Carolyn will discuss Sustainable Farming in our region.

Come hear the perspective of a practicing farmer when Rob and Caroline present our Annual Meeting program. We'll also discuss the important connection our land preservation efforts have to supporting agriculture in the region.

Metacomet's short annual meeting will begin at 6:30, followed by the program with Carolyn and Rob at 7:00. Please stay for refreshments and conversation after the program.

This program is free; a small donation is requested at the door.

In the News - choice of Nutcracker productions

Franklin has dueling 'Nutcracker' ballets

from The Milford Daily News Homepage RSS by Heather McCarron/Daily News staff

Town Council Goal Setting - 12/09/09

The Town Council met on Wednesday evening for a "Goal setting session". Councilors Whalen and Zollo arrived late as the meeting started earlier than normal at 6:00 PM. Councilor Vallee left about 7:00 PM. The remaining Councilors went into Executive Session approx. 7:45 PM not to return to open meeting.

I chose not to live blog the meeting as I wasn't sure how long it would be. I took my notes the old fashioned way.

Briefly, it wasn't as much a goal setting session as it was a getting up to speed session for the new council. A review of standard policies and procedures was covered to set the stage for an effective operation as the Council would handle business going forward.

The key take-aways for me were:

The Council will bring forward and approve the existing fiscal policies that had guided the prior councils. These determine the operating guidelines for how much the stabilization fund should be, how much long term debt we should service from the operating budget, etc. A copy of the policy document will be provided later.

Councilors Whalen and Zollo will bring forward the prior subcommittee work on the the Charter revisions for presentation and discussion with the full Council.

The Planning and Community Development Dept will be bringing forward a number of by-law change proposals. The proposal on signs will likely be of interest to many. The Franklin Downtown Planning group received a preview of it and had a good discussion on the proposal.

The plans for the downtown renovation will be coming to the Council in the next 90-120 days. A decision on whether to put the utilities underground will need to be incorporated into the overall project plan. The Council decision will be (1) to put them underground (2) how to fund the work associated with the utilities (existing grants can not be used so it would either be debt or cash).

Much of the discussion was on the overall financial picture for the town. Currently, the Town has a revenue problem (insufficient tax base and over-reliance on State revenue) but even in good times the Town has an expense problem with health and pension benefits in particular rising at a 10-15% rate and the tax levy limited to 2.5%. The draft capital plan was reviewed including how the town will have room in their debt structure beginning 2011 to take on projects up to a total of $6 million (and finance them via debt).

Ashley Studley from The Milford Daily News reported on the meeting:

Franklin eyes expensive projects

from The Milford Daily News Homepage RSS by Ashley Studley/Daily News staff

Panther Pride 2009

This video was shown during the School Committee meeting of October 27, 2009 and available during the Panther Pride night to provide an overview to the current 8th grade class.


Panther Pride 2009 from Franklin High School on Vimeo.

Enjoy!

Note: email subscribers will need to click through to the Franklin Matters site to view the video.

School Committee Mtg 12/08/09

The collection of live reported posts for the School Committee meeting on Tuesday Dec 8, 2009 can be found here:

• Live reporting - Closing
• Live reporting - Information matters
• Live reporting - Action items
• Live reporting - policies
• Live reporting - Discussion only items
• Live reporting - Metrowest Health Update
• Live reporting - Arts Academy Q&A
• Live reporting - Franklin Arts Academy
• Live reporting - School Committee Meeting  

Knuf Said at Soco Rose, Dec 11th

The local group Knuf Said will be performing this Friday night, Dec 11th at the Soco Rose on Union Ave beginning at 9:30 PM.

KnufSaid is made up of 4 young musicians who write and perform original music.  They are influenced by Jazz, Blues, Rock and Funk Styles.  They have performed at venues such as Cheers, Rhodes on the Pawtuxet, The Situate Art Festival, and many other local venues.  They have opened for the John Allmark Jazz Orchestra and the Velveteen Playboys to name a few.  They recently placed highest musical act and 3^rd overall in the statewide competition, Rhode Island’s got talent.  Band members include John Kinney on Vocals and lead guitar, Butch Giguere on Bass, Tyler Whetstone on Drums and Vocals and Steve Linscott on Alto Sax.

 Knuf Said performed at the recent Harvest Festival.

Knuf Said on Myspace

Knuf Said at RI's Got Talent:

Live reporting - Closing

School Committee Sub-Committee Reports - none
School Committee Liaison Reports - none

6. New Business
To discuss future business that may be brought before the School Committee.
Cafasso - Would request to the Budget Committee, to see if it is feasible to use the vast number of empty seats to add a pay to ride and utilize those empty seats for the ride home.

Trahan - thanks for supporting the FEF Casino Night, please hold the date for the Trivia Bee - April 10th


Motion to enter executive session to not return to open meeting
Passed 7-0