Franklin Matters

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Live reporting - Franklin, MA: Charter Review

Present: Kelly, Jones, Vallee, Whalen, Mason, Pfeffer, McGann, Zollo, Powderly
Absent: none

Meeting Purpose review changes of Council subcommittee, review proposals from Citizens Committee, and hopefully come to a consensus

Whalen - decision on election date and terms, all at once or staggered terms
no compelling reason to overcome the logistic challenges to adopt a staggered term

Zollo - I agree with that

Cheli - yes, the citizens committee agreed as well to keep it as is. Worry about losing the institutional knowledge is not valid as it did only occur once (1997) in the last 12 years. We studied it a lot. We have a Town Administrator and Staff to maintain the continuity we felt we needed. The staggered terms could be done, it would be more expensive with more elections but we did not recommend it.

Ken Norman - addressing the issue of staggering terms. The whole purpose of this exercise was to have staggered terms. To my mind it is quite simple. The top vote getters get the longest term. This is how the problem was solved in this charter. You need to commit yourself that you either need to have staggered terms or you don't. It seems pretty simple.

Mason - neither committee was charged with going to staggered terms. The charge was to exam what changes needed to be made and propose those. The issue of the staggered terms was commitment to four or more years. The Council preferred to review their position every two years.

Whalen - I think we said we could do it. We did not come up with a compelling benefit to make the change.

Norman - the history of the town shows that it did occur. The history is being ignored.

Nutting - you can find arguments on both sides. The citizens seem to want the option of deciding who they want every two years.

Vallee - There is a learning curve to become a council. I think it is important to have staggered terms.

Cheli - Ken participated in a lot of our meetings. I had Debbie Pellegri pull the data on the elections. 1997 was a different year. I look it as an anomaly, an outlier. I look it as a unique period of time. I came on the committee with the idea that we needed to fix this. I looked at the data and decided otherwise. It is a sentiment of the citizens that they want the options to "throw the bums out" every two years. The Charter Review in 1995 was a major effort. They reduced the council from 17 to 9.

JIm Dacey - chairman of the 1995 Charter Review committee. "Pray to God it never happens, but we'll that God when it does." It wasn't a fresh group in 1997, some finance and other committee folks did change positions and run in 1997. That was an anomaly.

Zollo - I appreciate every ones input. I went into the process thinking of the staggered term. By decreasing the volume, increasing the quality of the debate, there would be a better council. The data as referenced convinced me otherwise. I think the four year term would be a deterrent rather than having folks willing to serve two year terms. We need more people who are willing to get involved.

Franklin, MA: Charter Revisions - available for review

You can prepare for the special meeting Wednesday evening by going to the Town website to download or at least read the proposed Charter Revisions here (PDF file).

The meeting will be held in the Council Chambers, Municipal Bldg beginning at 7:00 PM.

Franklin, MA: Trash Automation Introduction and Q&A

The introduction document and the Question and Answers document for the new curbside Trash pickup process starting July 1, 2010 are now available on the Town website

The Introduction document

The Q&A document

or here

The Introduction document

The Q&A document

Franklin, MA: School Committee 03/09/10

The collected posts for the Franklin, MA School Committee meeting on Tuesday, March 9, 2010 can be found here:

In the News: school budget

The proposed budget, $52.2 million, does not see any cuts in programs and could potentially bring back the late bus at no additional cost.

"We're anticipating reviewing the current routes and ridership," Goodman said. "We're expecting to bring back the late bus without an additional increase."

The late bus was not offered for the 2009-2010 school year to help eliminate the budget gap.

"When the late bus was eliminated it created an inequity in the district," Superintendent Maureen Sabolinski said.

Franklin schools predict $2M in increased costs

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

Hold the date for the Charles River Watershed Cleanup!

Are you looking to make a real difference in your community? If so, join a group or form your own to clean up trash throughout the Charles River Upper Watershed. You will be helping us improve the appearance and health of the waterways in our region.

If you live in the Upper Watershed please consider volunteering a few hours of your time to help us protect this unique and valuable natural resource. The large majority of our the cleanup sites are land-based, but we have a few on-water sites for experienced paddlers who can supply their own canoe or kayak.

Did you know? The Charles River stretches for more than 80 miles from Hopkinton to Boston. It originates and flows for nearly 37 miles here in the Upper Watershed. In our region alone the Charles is fed by 45+ miles of waterways including seven major tributary rivers, brooks, and streams.

WHEN: Saturday, April 24, 2010
TIME: 9:00 AM - 12:00 Noon

WHERE: Charles River Upper Watershed - Ashland, Bellingham, Dover, Franklin, Holliston, Hopedale, Hopkinton, Medfield, Medway, Mendon, Milford, Millis, Norfolk, Sherborn, Wrentham.

The volunteer check-in site will be located in front of Whole Foods Market in Bellingham, MA. Stop by to get directions to your assigned site, collect your cleanup supplies and receive a free t-shirt. We encourage you to sign up in advance by using the contact information below.

CONTACT: David Dobrzynski
Upper Watershed Volunteer Coordinator

EMAIL: CRWAvolunteer@gmail.com

You can view the flyer for this event here:

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Live reporting - Information matters, closing

5. Information Matters
Superintendent’s Report
a. Enrollment Comparisons

Sabolinski, The Parmenter School is getting the energy grant for solar panels. US Rep Jim McGovern and State Senator Karen Spilka spent some time visiting and asking good questions. We are leading the way on energy saving measures.

School Committee Sub-Committee Reports
Community Health Council has been doing good work on bullying

Space needs sub-committee report should be ready for early in April

School Committee Liaison Reports
none

6. New Business
To discuss future business that may be brought before the School Committee.

Trivia Bee - FEF on 4/29

7. Executive Session
Grievance

motion to enter executive session, to not return to open session.
motion passed via roll call, 7-0