Felicia Oti
Nutting overview
Felicia is shared with Medway, we also provide some cleaning services to Medway
regionalization is a way to go, it takes energy and effort
Franklin is just bigger than all of our neighbors, sometimes that doesn't help
Friends of Library is very active, there is a book sale at the DPW this weekend
My budget is very small, I can take questions
Down $200,000 in four years
Cameron
is it good with Medway
Oti
I see it is a great thing as a work in progress
Nutting
most of the struggle is, concerned it is new, different, changed
building a relationship with the Medway Trustees
slowly and surely are coming to understand what we are trying to accomplish
they will let us know in the next month if they will continue
Oti
last year we did one book, one community
this year we did one book, two communities
Cameron
how is the state minimum requirement
Oti
we are not out of line in other cuts with the Town
Nutting
Oti
hours open offset the budget items to some extent
the Friends book sale can help us from a State perspective
Nutting
Slow steady erosion, days open from seven now only five
Oti
closing on Friday and Saturday becomes a very busy Monday
Sherlock
Spoke for the library services
being utilized by the under and unemployed
Similar to the school cuts, the less advantage student get affected first, the library cuts would affect those needing access to the library databases and resources, as well as the internet access
motion to approve, passed 9-0
Franklin, MA
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Live reporting - parking meters
About $10,000-15,000 revenue generated from the meters
additional amount generated from parking fines
harder to track manually than with the meters, the meters keep track
Sherlock raised an issue with the parking for the train station, commuters would take the free spots instead of the $4 charge at the MBTA lot
motion to approve, passed 9-0
Franklin, MA
additional amount generated from parking fines
harder to track manually than with the meters, the meters keep track
Sherlock raised an issue with the parking for the train station, commuters would take the free spots instead of the $4 charge at the MBTA lot
motion to approve, passed 9-0
Franklin, MA
Live reporting - Police
Chief Williams, Kevin Ryan
Jeff Nutting overview
budget is less than prior with the proposed cuts of the three dispatchers
statistics are continuing to climb so it is getting challenge
Williams
Dispatchers are very busy people
they watch over the visitors to the station
handle the radio transmissions and calls for service
105,000 calls per year
double dispatch was 16 hours a day, 7 days a week
with the cuts, there is now a single dispatch for most of the day
in those times where there is a lot going on, you may catch the voice recording
it is not what we want but times are tough
budget has been cut over the years
we never did get to the 55 officers that at one time we were allocated
over 41,000 incidents
over 4,000 motor vehicle citations
over 400 major motor vehicle accidents
I don't have to tell you about the traffic in our town, 140 and other streets
70,000 people come through the town every day
over a $250,000 less this year than last year
Franklin demographically, we are over $500,000 less than comparable towns
We do more with less, we are lower in manpower
FBI stats show we should have 62 officers, we have 45
grants have upgraded technology so we can get things out very fast
as a result of using the technology, we have been able to make arrests in the two recent armed robberies
what we have lacked in manpower we have made up in technology
grant money from enhanced 911 system will allow us to keep another dispatcher on duty
so instead of cutting three we should have cut four
we do a lot with the money we are looking for tonight
Teixeira
can you tell us about the detail work around town?
Williams
Details are not reflected in this budget, this is outside of our operations and paid for by the contractors and utilities who need the service, it does give us additional feet on the street, an extra set of eyes and ears
Teixeira
so from a tax payer perspective, it is neutral
Williams
Well actually we make a little, not a whole lot but we do get some
Cameron
what if it is a Town detail
Nutting
We charge at the Town rate, not the outside rate
Cameron
my son just finished the DARE program and he loved it
Williams
we love the program, we have four officers in the schools, you can't put a price tag on what we head off by getting into the relationships very early in the youth, guys are coaching football, hockey and lacrosse.
Williams
we are also loosing the parking control officer, the downtown area will not see the presence there
we will provide some coverage but it won't be the same
Cameron
How about regionalization with dispatch
Williams
we have been looking at it, there are things we can do and look at that will help
MA is unique in having so many communities and local control
We are one of the largest groups in the area, I am willing to take on additional but you can see the budget
I need people to do that
Roche
What is the safety equipment needed?
Williams
we took the bullet proof vest out of the operating budget and put into to capital budget
occasionally when we get into a scuffle, something gets cut or damage
Nutting
we appropriated $36,000 for safety vests for all officers
Roche
What about the Quinn bill impact
Williams
right now that is up in the air
10% to 20% above the base for earning a degree
the State has stopped paying, there are court cases reviewing this, it is a mess at the moment
an educated officer is the best one Franklin can get
less issues as a result of an educated officer? No, we don't want to go back
Nutting
it is also a matter of collective bargaining, and we'll be getting into it in the next couple of months
motion to approve, passed 8-1 (Roche, dangerously low)
Franklin, MA
Jeff Nutting overview
budget is less than prior with the proposed cuts of the three dispatchers
statistics are continuing to climb so it is getting challenge
Williams
Dispatchers are very busy people
they watch over the visitors to the station
handle the radio transmissions and calls for service
105,000 calls per year
double dispatch was 16 hours a day, 7 days a week
with the cuts, there is now a single dispatch for most of the day
in those times where there is a lot going on, you may catch the voice recording
it is not what we want but times are tough
budget has been cut over the years
we never did get to the 55 officers that at one time we were allocated
over 41,000 incidents
over 4,000 motor vehicle citations
over 400 major motor vehicle accidents
I don't have to tell you about the traffic in our town, 140 and other streets
70,000 people come through the town every day
over a $250,000 less this year than last year
Franklin demographically, we are over $500,000 less than comparable towns
We do more with less, we are lower in manpower
FBI stats show we should have 62 officers, we have 45
grants have upgraded technology so we can get things out very fast
as a result of using the technology, we have been able to make arrests in the two recent armed robberies
what we have lacked in manpower we have made up in technology
grant money from enhanced 911 system will allow us to keep another dispatcher on duty
so instead of cutting three we should have cut four
we do a lot with the money we are looking for tonight
Teixeira
can you tell us about the detail work around town?
Williams
Details are not reflected in this budget, this is outside of our operations and paid for by the contractors and utilities who need the service, it does give us additional feet on the street, an extra set of eyes and ears
Teixeira
so from a tax payer perspective, it is neutral
Williams
Well actually we make a little, not a whole lot but we do get some
Cameron
what if it is a Town detail
Nutting
We charge at the Town rate, not the outside rate
Cameron
my son just finished the DARE program and he loved it
Williams
we love the program, we have four officers in the schools, you can't put a price tag on what we head off by getting into the relationships very early in the youth, guys are coaching football, hockey and lacrosse.
Williams
we are also loosing the parking control officer, the downtown area will not see the presence there
we will provide some coverage but it won't be the same
Cameron
How about regionalization with dispatch
Williams
we have been looking at it, there are things we can do and look at that will help
MA is unique in having so many communities and local control
We are one of the largest groups in the area, I am willing to take on additional but you can see the budget
I need people to do that
Roche
What is the safety equipment needed?
Williams
we took the bullet proof vest out of the operating budget and put into to capital budget
occasionally when we get into a scuffle, something gets cut or damage
Nutting
we appropriated $36,000 for safety vests for all officers
Roche
What about the Quinn bill impact
Williams
right now that is up in the air
10% to 20% above the base for earning a degree
the State has stopped paying, there are court cases reviewing this, it is a mess at the moment
an educated officer is the best one Franklin can get
less issues as a result of an educated officer? No, we don't want to go back
Nutting
it is also a matter of collective bargaining, and we'll be getting into it in the next couple of months
motion to approve, passed 8-1 (Roche, dangerously low)
Franklin, MA
Live reporting - Senior Center
Karen Alves
Senior Center substantially funded by volunteers and grants
service awards were recognized
Oral history project, taping seniors who are willing to tell their story
The family receives a CD with the recording
Grants amounting to $78,000 provide the funding for several personnel
One grant is a per capita grant, amount varies depending upon legislative process
Number of people over 60 will increase from 4,000 to over 7,000 in next ten years
age population has a wide range, i.e. from early sixties to over 100
There is a process now to be certified as a "Senior Center Director"
Work is underway to accomplish that, as well as get the center certified as well
Dial-a-ride saves the Town $40-50,000 a year
motion to approve, passed 9-0
Franklin, MA
Senior Center substantially funded by volunteers and grants
service awards were recognized
Oral history project, taping seniors who are willing to tell their story
The family receives a CD with the recording
Grants amounting to $78,000 provide the funding for several personnel
One grant is a per capita grant, amount varies depending upon legislative process
Number of people over 60 will increase from 4,000 to over 7,000 in next ten years
age population has a wide range, i.e. from early sixties to over 100
There is a process now to be certified as a "Senior Center Director"
Work is underway to accomplish that, as well as get the center certified as well
Dial-a-ride saves the Town $40-50,000 a year
motion to approve, passed 9-0
Franklin, MA
Live reporting - Finance Committee (Veterans)
Present: Messere, Huempfner, Cataldo, Cameron, Roche, Quinn, Goldsmith, Teixeira, Feldman
Absent: Maire, Rivera
Veterans - Bob Fahey
The processing of veterans services are unique to MA
Franklin provides the services up front, the State reimburses later at a 75% rate
veterans services are in place when all other resources for help have been exhausted
12 veterans (11 widows of veterans)
can not have more than $1,600 in assets to qualify
9 are seniors, 3 are in their fifties
Per Dept of Veterans Affairs, all applicants must apply for the other benefits offered
265 veterans and dependents receive benefits directly from the VA
$2.3 million dollars annually received as benefits
service connected disability amounts
50% $770
100% $2,673 plus amounts for wife and dependents
Chapter 115 - expended $120,000 of $150,000 allocated
Franklin receives a 75% reimbursement from the State for this service
MA is the only state with a program like this.
MA treats its veterans better than any other state in the US
in 2001, only 8 people were receiving benefits
now there are the 265 plus
motion to approve, passed 9-0
Franklin, MA
Absent: Maire, Rivera
Veterans - Bob Fahey
The processing of veterans services are unique to MA
Franklin provides the services up front, the State reimburses later at a 75% rate
veterans services are in place when all other resources for help have been exhausted
12 veterans (11 widows of veterans)
can not have more than $1,600 in assets to qualify
9 are seniors, 3 are in their fifties
Per Dept of Veterans Affairs, all applicants must apply for the other benefits offered
265 veterans and dependents receive benefits directly from the VA
$2.3 million dollars annually received as benefits
service connected disability amounts
50% $770
100% $2,673 plus amounts for wife and dependents
Chapter 115 - expended $120,000 of $150,000 allocated
Franklin receives a 75% reimbursement from the State for this service
MA is the only state with a program like this.
MA treats its veterans better than any other state in the US
in 2001, only 8 people were receiving benefits
now there are the 265 plus
motion to approve, passed 9-0
Franklin, MA
Stamp Out Hunger on Saturday, May 8th
Help to Stamp Out Hunger on Saturday, May 8th — the nation's largest annual single-day food drive!
Letter carriers in more than 10,000 communities will collect food items and deliver them to local food banks to help some of the millions of Americans, including an estimated 16.7 million children, who face hunger every day.
Simply place bags filled with nonperishable food items like canned meats, canned fish, broths, baked beans, mixed vegetables, rice and soups next to your mailbox on Saturday, May 8th.
Your Franklin letter carrier will pick up the bags and deliver them to the Franklin Food Pantry.
If you are interested in volunteering at the pantry on May 8th to help sort donations, please email annemarie@franklinfoodpantry.org or visit www.franklinfoodpantry.org.
Note: the picture was taken of the post card delivered with the mail this week to the Sherlock household.
Portions of this was originally posted on the Franklin, MA website here
Franklin, MA
Letter carriers in more than 10,000 communities will collect food items and deliver them to local food banks to help some of the millions of Americans, including an estimated 16.7 million children, who face hunger every day.
Simply place bags filled with nonperishable food items like canned meats, canned fish, broths, baked beans, mixed vegetables, rice and soups next to your mailbox on Saturday, May 8th.
Your Franklin letter carrier will pick up the bags and deliver them to the Franklin Food Pantry.
If you are interested in volunteering at the pantry on May 8th to help sort donations, please email annemarie@franklinfoodpantry.org or visit www.franklinfoodpantry.org.
Note: the picture was taken of the post card delivered with the mail this week to the Sherlock household.
Portions of this was originally posted on the Franklin, MA website here
Franklin, MA
Finance Committee - 05/06/10 - Agenda
The Finance Committee continues it annual budget hearings this evening at 6:30 PM in the Council Chambers.
On Tuesday they reviewed the budgets of the Town Clerk, Board of Health, Board of Assessors, Information Technology, Facilities, and School Department.
You can find a detail summary of the discussion here:
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/05/finance-committee-050410.html
This evening the following departments are scheduled for review:
Code refers to the financial entry line for the budget
Page refers to the page of the budget book that the department can be found on
Wouldn't it be nice to have a copy of the same document that they are looking at?
I'd take a PDF version of the document if one is available.
Franklin, MA
On Tuesday they reviewed the budgets of the Town Clerk, Board of Health, Board of Assessors, Information Technology, Facilities, and School Department.
You can find a detail summary of the discussion here:
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/05/finance-committee-050410.html
This evening the following departments are scheduled for review:
| Department | Code | Page |
| Veterans | 543 | E-21 |
| Council on Aging | 541 | E-11 |
| Police/Parking Meters | 210/2951 | B-1, B-87 |
| Library | 610 | F-1 |
| Recreation | 630 | F-10 |
Code refers to the financial entry line for the budget
Page refers to the page of the budget book that the department can be found on
Wouldn't it be nice to have a copy of the same document that they are looking at?
I'd take a PDF version of the document if one is available.
Franklin, MA
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