Town Council - Agenda - 1/6/10

A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – December 2, 2009 Regular & Executive Session

B. ANNOUNCEMENTS

C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS

D. CITIZEN COMMENTS

E. APPOINTMENTS

F. HEARINGS

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
– 99 Restaurant – New Officer & Director

H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
– Bryan Taberner – Bio-Tech Zoning
– DPW Snowplowing/Sidewalks

I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION

K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

L. OLD BUSINESS

M. NEW BUSINESS

N. COUNCIL COMMENTS

O. EXECUTIVE SESSION – Negotiations, Litigation, Real Property, as May Be Required

P. ADJOURN

Note: The Biotechnology bylaws and permitting process could be an interesting discussion. The set of documents outlining the proposed changes are included in the full agenda package on the Town website: (PDF Document)
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2010tc/01062010agenda.pdf

Senior Center Newsletter

The January 2010 Senior Center Newsletter, The Franklin Connection, is available. You can view it here or download directly from the Town website:
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_Senior/Jan10connection.pdf

Discover Simple, Private Sharing at Drop.io

Note: email subscribers will need to click through to the Franklin Matters website to view this document.

In the News - same day voter registration

Being able to walk in on election day and register to vote seems like it would help democracy. But what kind of vote would be cast from someone who with no preparation (i.e. prior registration) can walk in to vote? I am not sure I want that kind of vote.  I don't think it would be an informed vote.

What is the problem that same day registration is trying to address?
If it is increasing participation amongst the voters, then I think there should be other ways to ensure appropriate engagement.

Given the results of the current provisional ballot available to MA residents, I don't think there is enough justification.

Citizens who find their names absent from the registration list can fill out a provisional ballot to be counted later, once it is determined they are eligible to vote.

In the last presidential election, 11,712 provisional ballots were requested but only 3,278 ballots were actually counted, according to Brian McNiff, spokesman for Secretary of State William Galvin's office.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here.

What would you suggest we (yes, the big collective "we") do to increase voter engagement?

In the News - casino plus/minus

Bringing casino gambling to MA is on the table and touted with big numbers for jobs and additional revenue. Both the jobs and revenue would be good in a struggling economy but what would the casino really cost the local community? This article in the Milford Daily News attempts to get at some of the other considerations.

Read the full article here

In the Globe: Medway Library

The Boston Globe features an article on the Medway Library regaining state certification. Oddly, it references little about the collaboration and regionalization effort with Franklin; i.e. sharing the Library Director, that was the linchpin in turning around their budget situation.

The ruling affected more than Medway residents. Library patrons in other towns could not order materials from Medway via interlibrary loans. The exception was Franklin, which signed an intermunicipal agreement with Medway in July that called for sharing library services.

 Read the full article in the Sunday Globe here

Absentee Ballots for Jan 19th Available

Absentee Ballot Information:  Absentee ballots are now available in the Town Clerk’s office.  A registered voter who will be unable to vote at the polls on election day due to the following reasons may vote absentee up to 5:00pm Friday, January 15th.  (Due to the holiday, dates have been adjusted by the State)

    * absence from your city or town during normal polling hours; or
    * physical disability preventing you from going to the polling place; or
    * religious belief.

All absentee requests must be made in writing with an original signature (no faxes or e-mails are accepted).  If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call Deborah L. Pellegri, Town Clerk, at 508-520-4900.              

Attest: Deborah L. Pellegri, CMC, Town Clerk/Election Administrator

Franklin, MA: Recreation Dept.

The Recreation Department is located at 150 Emmons Street. The Recreation Department offers Franklin and Medway residents a variety of programs and events for youths and adults as well as coordination of youth sports organizations and field maintenance. The department operates and schedules activities for Chilson Beach at Beaver Pond, Fletcher Field, Dennis Pisani Field (formally Theron Metcalf), Henry “Ski” Faenza Tot Lot (Nason Street Tot Lot), King Street Memorial Field, Dacey Community Field, and Meadowlark Lane Athletic Fields. The department is also responsible for scheduling the use of all school fields during the summer, when school is not in session.

Additional information about all the Recreation Dept. activities can be found on their website:
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_Recreation/index



From the 2009 Town of Franklin Annual Report. This is available in a printed version at the Municipal Building or online at the Town website here.