Franklin Matters

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Governor promises no cuts to local aid or school funding

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Governor promises no cuts to local aid or school funding

via The Milford Daily News News RSS by GateHouse Media, Inc. on 1/21/10

Gov. Deval Patrick tonight will promise to maintain current levels of local aid and Chapter 70 pubic school funding in his State of the Commonwealth address, to air at 7:30 p.m. on Boston TV stations.
A summary of Patrick's planned speech, released by the governor's office just after 5 today, said Patrick will:
- highlight job creation, economic development, education and health care "as the key drivers to building a better future" for the state;
- will announce that "despite the tough budget situation, there will be no cuts to local aid and Chapter 70 public school funding";
- will address the impact of the global economic crisis is having on people in the state and "let them know in very direct ways that we are here to help";
and will touch on what state government and the citizens of Massachusetts have accomplished.
In addition, the governor "will admit that there have been bumps in the road, some of our own making and that he is learning from our mistakes as well as our triumphs," the statement from Patrick's office said.
The speech airs at 7:30 Thursday night on WCVB, WHDH, and NECN.

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New trash recycle containers

These are representative of the new containers that the town would provide for each household. The containers would be green, one with a green cover for trash and one with a yellow cover for recycled items.

More on the discussion on the new trash collection system on the Town Council meeting can be found here:

This was the first reading of the proposed rate change. The second reading will likely be on the next Town Council meeting (Feb 3, 2010).

The rate change is a decrease from $244 per year to $220.

Town Council Mtg Smry 01/20/2010

The collection of posts live reported from the Town Council meeting Wednesday, Jan 20, 2010 can be found here:

The Downtown Project presentation document can be found here

In the News - trash collection

Cantoreggi said the current annual collection fee is $244, and it would go down to $220 with the automated system.

He said the town saves money by reducing collection costs and increasing recycling rates so there's less trash to burn - which costs $70 per ton.

Revamped trash collection proposed for Franklin

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

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Live reporting - closing items

Administrator report

Met with GATRA to see if there are ways to improve service
Need to look at ways to increase ridership
Still at about half the ridership that they had forecasted and were expecting

Snow report (will post later)
Will come forward to overspend the snow account

Cost per road mile compared to 10 or so other communities, we are at the bottom in comparison

Old Business
Fiscal policies, are they posted?
Globe had article on biotechnology, thanks to Bryan for his work

New business
none around

Councilor Comments
Powderly - be aware of scams regarding Haiti fundraising
Kindergarten registration coning up in Feb
Thanks to D Pellgri for running with her staff the special election in a great manner

Zollo - commend the citizens for getting out to vote
commend Downtown Partnership for collaboration on the downtown project
the project will be instrumental to the success of downtown

McGann - Congratulations to our new Senator, Scott Brown

Pfeffer - thanks to the Council on Aging for providing dinner for the Council
Type II Diabetes veterans of WWII may qualify for a disability pension

Kelly - thanks to the voters for doing their civic duty

Jones - thanks to 68% for coming out to vote, compared to the 16% that came out for our election

Mason - they always make us feel so welcome when we go to the Senior Center

Budget workshop with Finance, School Committee, discussion on common knowledge base, not budget itself Monday in the 3rd Floor training room at 6:30 PM

motion to adjourn, passed

Live reporting - Solid Waste Q&A

Separate carts for waste and recylcing

no longer need to purchase the other barrels households use
RFID reader embedded in the handle to track, to improve tracking on pickups and customer service

estimate savings at 11-20% in recycling
municipal buildings est savings at 42%
school buildings est savings at 55%

reduces water weight of trash

curbside collection fee currently $244 being reduced to $220 with this process

Q - Can seniors bring the barrels to the front in a snow storm
A - These should be easier to move around than their regular barrells

Once you get through the initial hump and get going, it is a great system. I believe we'll be here next year to reduce the rates again.

Barrells should last ten-fifteen years with normal use

Q - If an owner takes them away, what would happen with the new owner
A - With the tracking system, we'll know where they are. We will replace the units and go after the prior owner.

Q - How quickly can we implement this?
A - We have a tentative agreement to begin July 1. We will need to come back with an 800,000 bond request to fund the initial carts to be financed over five years.

Q - Will the colors be like this?
A - They'll be green. If you pay your fee, we'll pick up. They read the chip each pickup, so even if yours ends up at a neighbors we'll know.

In Mansfield, for 6400 customers, 100 take a larger size.
We also have the Beaver St recycling facility to handle excess.

Monitoring things from a computer will be easier, in the long run should get less calls and complaints and more efficiencies. Once we get past the initial rollout this summer, we should be fine.

Motion to move to second reading - passed 8-0

Live reporting - Solid Waste

Note - Kelly arrives

3. Bylaw Amendment 10-641: Chapter 82; Appendix A: List of Service Fee Rates, Solid Waste and Recycling Fees - 1st Reading

Chris White, Cathy Merza

Automated Solid Waste Jan 10, 2010

View more presentations from Steve Sherlock.

Picture of what the new trash/recycle containers would look like can be found here
These were the units brought to the Town Council meeting as as example.