The collection of posts that were live reported from the Finance Committee meeting on Monday, May 10th can be found here:
Franklin, MA
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Franklin Food Pantry - Stamp Out Hunger drive
About 40 volunteers got really organized to help the Franklin Food Pantry to process the receipts from the US Post Office letter carriers on Saturday, May 8th. As the letter carriers finished their routes, they drove by the Food Pantry to drop off the bags of food items they collected. Prompted by post cards and TV advertisements, as well as word of mouth, Franklin residents left out bags of non-perishable food to be donated.
With the new Food Pantry location in the middle of downtown, it was a convenient drive through operation. The trucks pulled up. A group took out all the bags of food stuffs.
Individual bags were put into letter boxes.
The bags and boxes were weighted.
The bags/boxes were opened and checked for "freshness dates". The good items were passed along to the sorters. The older items went into a waste box. Items that could not be determined by date when into a 'check later' box.
The sorters put like items together.
"flats" of similar items then stocked the shelves.
The shelves were completely empty early Saturday afternoon and filled up as the processing took place.
For those who did leave out a donation, the letter carriers left a thank you card:
Thanks to the many hands for helping to process over 5.000 pounds of food!
Strictly speaking, since the food was handled going in and then the spoils (waste) was handled again going out, we did go over 5,000. Which also excludes the multiple touches on a single item as it moved along the process.
Visit the Franklin Food Pantry online here: http://franklinfoodpantry.org/
With the new Food Pantry location in the middle of downtown, it was a convenient drive through operation. The trucks pulled up. A group took out all the bags of food stuffs.
Individual bags were put into letter boxes.
The bags and boxes were weighted.
The bags/boxes were opened and checked for "freshness dates". The good items were passed along to the sorters. The older items went into a waste box. Items that could not be determined by date when into a 'check later' box.
The sorters put like items together.
"flats" of similar items then stocked the shelves.
The shelves were completely empty early Saturday afternoon and filled up as the processing took place.
For those who did leave out a donation, the letter carriers left a thank you card:
Thanks to the many hands for helping to process over 5.000 pounds of food!
| Weight In | 4746.7 | ||
| Spoils | 877.2 | 18.48% | |
| Net | 3869.5 |
Strictly speaking, since the food was handled going in and then the spoils (waste) was handled again going out, we did go over 5,000. Which also excludes the multiple touches on a single item as it moved along the process.
Visit the Franklin Food Pantry online here: http://franklinfoodpantry.org/
Election costs reimbursed
Franklin will get about $12,000 back from the State for their costs in running the special election on Dec 8th and Jan 19th.
The full article can be found in the Milford Daily News here
http://www.milforddailynews.com/newsnow/x1920415040/Local-towns-get-money-back-for-special-election
Franklin, MA
The full article can be found in the Milford Daily News here
http://www.milforddailynews.com/newsnow/x1920415040/Local-towns-get-money-back-for-special-election
Franklin, MA
Monday, May 10, 2010
Live reporting - Finance Committee endorses the override
Rebecca Cameron provides an update on the Long Range/Financial Planning committee report
brought the 2 1/2 override to the Council and to the voters for a vote
we need to be on the same page to help the process
Roche
The plan was right on target except for the items that weren't on the planning horizon
the forecast has been reconciled to the original report
the Town Council has a $3 M override budget
to use $1.8 M for schools, $300,000 for the Town, and $900,000 for the roads to get started in addressing that problem
we have a way to go with $15 M to fix the worst 30 miles of roads and only $900,000 to start with
Goldsmith - I feel very comfortable asking the Town's people to consider coming forward, the increase are warranted to provide the services to the Town
Roche - There is not a lot of waste out there, the department heads are doing their job and we are getting to lean
Quinn - If you look at the five year plan, it gets worse. Police down, Fire down, DPW, Schools (hundred lost teachers, 1,000 more students). It is unfortunate, times are tough but I think failure to pass the prop will be an issue
Rivera - one of the most important things we can do is to educate the residents as much s we can, if we don't do something what will it look like in a few years, if they have questions, the info is on the website
Roche - Town wide forum on May 24th at 7:00 PM at Horace Mann/Thomas Mercer Auditorium
Cataldo - We can't keep going this way, personal safety is important, this money is not going to be slopping in a trough, this is to provide services that we have had , not increases but the same services
Q
Nutting - Est $255 per average bill for the $3 M override
Quinn - It is important to say, 10 failed overrides with one passed, we are asking for a tax increase because some of the others haven't been passed with growing expenses. Got to make ends meet.
Feldman - we can see some signs of improvement in the economy here and there, hopefully things will continue to improve
Cameron - the important thing is that everyone comes out and vote, the votes need to be cast, we understand the impact it can have on certain people. I get the feeling that this group understands the override is necessary to keep the services. I would like to make a recommendation to support the override.
Motion to recommend $3 M override, passed 8-0
meeting for 1st Tue in June (Jun 1) to be kept for now
motion to adjourn, passed
Franklin, MA
brought the 2 1/2 override to the Council and to the voters for a vote
we need to be on the same page to help the process
Roche
The plan was right on target except for the items that weren't on the planning horizon
the forecast has been reconciled to the original report
the Town Council has a $3 M override budget
to use $1.8 M for schools, $300,000 for the Town, and $900,000 for the roads to get started in addressing that problem
we have a way to go with $15 M to fix the worst 30 miles of roads and only $900,000 to start with
Goldsmith - I feel very comfortable asking the Town's people to consider coming forward, the increase are warranted to provide the services to the Town
Roche - There is not a lot of waste out there, the department heads are doing their job and we are getting to lean
Quinn - If you look at the five year plan, it gets worse. Police down, Fire down, DPW, Schools (hundred lost teachers, 1,000 more students). It is unfortunate, times are tough but I think failure to pass the prop will be an issue
Rivera - one of the most important things we can do is to educate the residents as much s we can, if we don't do something what will it look like in a few years, if they have questions, the info is on the website
Roche - Town wide forum on May 24th at 7:00 PM at Horace Mann/Thomas Mercer Auditorium
Cataldo - We can't keep going this way, personal safety is important, this money is not going to be slopping in a trough, this is to provide services that we have had , not increases but the same services
Q
Nutting - Est $255 per average bill for the $3 M override
Quinn - It is important to say, 10 failed overrides with one passed, we are asking for a tax increase because some of the others haven't been passed with growing expenses. Got to make ends meet.
Feldman - we can see some signs of improvement in the economy here and there, hopefully things will continue to improve
Cameron - the important thing is that everyone comes out and vote, the votes need to be cast, we understand the impact it can have on certain people. I get the feeling that this group understands the override is necessary to keep the services. I would like to make a recommendation to support the override.
Motion to recommend $3 M override, passed 8-0
meeting for 1st Tue in June (Jun 1) to be kept for now
motion to adjourn, passed
Franklin, MA
Live reporting - Water/Sewer Enterprise funds
Solid waste
The rate was as high as 300 then 280, now coming down. It includes buying the totters and financing the cost to supply them as we go forward
The enterprise funds are self-sustaining, they are maintained by the fees
motion to approve, passed 7-0 (Cameron recused herself)
Nutting was remiss to thank Mr Dacey, we paid .005% when we went to bond the totters
Sewer
can't continue to draw down our fund balance to zero,
they also certify our fund balances when they do free cash
folks should expect a sewer rate increase due to the 19M increase in a required plant upgrade
motion to approve, passed 7-0 Cameron recused herself)
Water
budget trimmed, mandated by state can sell more than 65 gallons per person per day
continue to need capital improvements, long run will need to comeback for funds to continue those programs
we have some cast iron pipe that needs to be replaced, and asbestos lined pipes that need to be replaced
appealing permit now, trying to put in a new well for 12 years and haven't been able to do so
Q
chemical increase
we bid it out when we can, the prices are very volatile
limited choice on supply
A water permit is given for a five year period, we are appealing some of our differences of opinion
motion to approve, passed 7-0 Cameron recused herself)
Franklin, MA
The rate was as high as 300 then 280, now coming down. It includes buying the totters and financing the cost to supply them as we go forward
The enterprise funds are self-sustaining, they are maintained by the fees
motion to approve, passed 7-0 (Cameron recused herself)
Nutting was remiss to thank Mr Dacey, we paid .005% when we went to bond the totters
Sewer
can't continue to draw down our fund balance to zero,
they also certify our fund balances when they do free cash
folks should expect a sewer rate increase due to the 19M increase in a required plant upgrade
motion to approve, passed 7-0 Cameron recused herself)
Water
budget trimmed, mandated by state can sell more than 65 gallons per person per day
continue to need capital improvements, long run will need to comeback for funds to continue those programs
we have some cast iron pipe that needs to be replaced, and asbestos lined pipes that need to be replaced
appealing permit now, trying to put in a new well for 12 years and haven't been able to do so
Q
chemical increase
we bid it out when we can, the prices are very volatile
limited choice on supply
A water permit is given for a five year period, we are appealing some of our differences of opinion
motion to approve, passed 7-0 Cameron recused herself)
Franklin, MA
Live reporting - DPW, continued
Street lights
we own ours, electricity we don't control the price
most of this is a rate increase
Q
tax law change on charging for the utilities
Q
we don't add many, we have a contract for replacements
motion to approve, passed 7-0 (Cameron recused herself)
Franklin, MA
we own ours, electricity we don't control the price
most of this is a rate increase
Q
tax law change on charging for the utilities
Q
we don't add many, we have a contract for replacements
motion to approve, passed 7-0 (Cameron recused herself)
Franklin, MA
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