Franklin, MA: special election ballot

Franklin, MA: special election ballot, originally uploaded by shersteve.

This is what the ballot looks like. I hope all registered Franklin voters get to see one of these today.

One question, requires a circle on the 'yes' or 'no'

Shall the Town of Franklin be allowed to assess an additional $3,000,000.00 in real estate and personal property taxes for the purpose of the operating budget for which monies from this assessment will be used for the fiscal year beginning July 1, two thousand and ten?

If you haven't yet, please go VOTE!

Franklin, MA: Vote June 8th

All the discussion on the pros and cons has lead to this day

It is time to vote

Go to the high school field house between 6:00 AM and 8:00 PM

to cast your ballot

Leenhouts at Northeastern

From the Boston Globe Sports section I find:

The sophomore left-hander from Franklin struck out 88 batters in 71.2 innings and earned Colonial Athletic Association first-team honors.

A three-sport athlete at Franklin High, Leenhouts was 3-4 in 11 starts with three of the losses coming in games decided by two runs or fewer.

His 11.05 strikeouts per nine innings was best among conference starters, and ranked 14th among NCAA Division 1 pitchers. His strikeout total was the fifth best in program history.

Read the full article here:
http://www.boston.com/sports/colleges/baseball/articles/2010/06/06/franklins_leenhouts_excels_as_northeastern_starter/

Franklin, MA

In the News - Big Y, Van Roon

Franklin planners OK Big Y

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

Franklin, MA

Franklin Citizens Rail Trail Committee Meeting - Agenda

Proposed Agenda for June 8, 2010

Location: Franklin YMCA 45 Forge Hill Road

Start Time: 7:30PM

I. Call to Order / Introductions of New Attendees

A. Introduction of new attendees

B. Review of minutes of previous meeting

C. Approve previous meeting minutes

II. Report from our representative from DCR

A. Eagle Scout Kiosk Project

B. Gates & Grading

C.

III. Membership Committee Report (Denison, McKeown, Sawyer)

A. Committee to report on membership activity

IV. Report from Finance Committee (Rossetti)

A. Report from Treasurer

V. Report of Fund Raising Committee (Sawyer)

A. Report on fund raising activities

a. Report Road Race Committee by Dave Labonte

VI. Report from Grant Writing Committee (if any)

A. Extend committee with more members & participation

VII. Unfinished Business
A.

VIII. New Business
A. Need volunteers to work on the 2nd edition brochure

IX. Set Date and place for Next Meeting and Adjourn



Franklin, MA

Budget - Override Collection - FY 2011

The following links provide access to information on the budget for Fiscal Year 2011

Additional items will be added here as they are found/prepared.

If you are looking for something in particular regarding the budget and don't find it, please let me know.

Letter from Scott Mason, Town Council Chairman

• More 'Yes' than 2008, but not enough
• Override fails by 323

Now what?


Letter from Ed Cafasso

Joint Statement on Override - June 8th
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/05/joint-message-on-june-8th-special.html

Scott Mason Interview on the whole gamut of topics around the vote on June 8th
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/05/fm-69-scott-mason-part-1-of-2.html
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/05/fm-69-b-scott-mason-part-2-of-2.html

Town Fiscal Year 2011 Budget document and cover letter
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_Admin/FY%2011%20Budget/

Budget Workshop (held Jan 25, 2010) to prepare for the budget
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/01/budget-workshop-collection-12510.html

Finance Committee budget hearings
May 4th http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/05/finance-committee-050410.html
May 6th http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/05/finance-committee-050610.html
May 10th  http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/05/finance-committee-051010.html

Town Forum at Horace Mann School Auditorium (video)
http://view.liveindexer.com/ViewIndexSessionSL.aspx?indexPointSKU=mGsI6gdlM4Tf2oFU7LAn9g%3d%3d


Town Council budget hearings
June 9th - meeting notes can be found here
June 10th

Franklin budget for FY 2010
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_Admin/FY%2010%20Budget/

Franklin budget documents for years prior to 2010
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_Admin/previous

Financial audit reports for Fiscal Years 2008 and 2009
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_Admin/Audits/

School Department/School Committee budget book
http://www.franklin.k12.ma.us/co/supt/budget/FY2011Budgetbook.pdf (PDF)

School Department proposed cuts to the level service budget (assuming override does not pass)
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/05/franklin-ma-school-budget-possible.html

School Committee override page
http://franklinschoolcommittee.wordpress.com/override-page/

Schools presentation on budget and need for override
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/05/franklin-ma-choice-we-have.html

Financial Planning Committee report (long term plan) and documents
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_BComm/financial%20planning%20committee%20report/

A series of posts on State Education Mandates (unfunded mandates)
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/05/state-education-mandates-collection.html

Invest in Franklin: http://investinfranklin.weebly.com/

The June 8th Special Election Flyer can be found here

The forums and events calendar to hear and discuss information on the Special Election June 8th can be found here

Franklin's override and debt exclusion history
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/04/franklin-ma-override-debt-exclusion.html

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is a Prop 2 1/2 Override?
• What other federal and state funds support the school department’s operating budget?
• Can the town guarantee that the funds from the override will always be spent exactly the same way?
• Why do some citizens disagree with rating agencies about Franklin’s debt?
• How does per pupil spending in Franklin compare with spending in other Massachusetts communities?
• We wouldn’t be in a crisis if we hadn’t spent money on the senior center, fire station and new ball fields.
• Pension costs are killing us, so why don’t town employees fund their own pensions?
• What in the world is free cash?
• I have heard some people suggest we should adopt a split tax rate that makes businesses in Franklin pay more property taxes. Wouldn’t that solve the problem?
• Why do parents pay fees for their children to ride the bus or participate in athletics?
• Can’t we keep using money from the stabilization fund to get rid of our budget deficits?
• My children are in the Charter School. Will the override affect them?
• The town officials have found money in the past. They’ll find it again this time, won’t they?
• What has the town done to try to eliminate waste and bring spending under control?
• I have heard people criticize the way the town is run. If that’s true, why should I give the town more of my hard-earned money?
• Why is the school district continually facing a budget gap?
• When would the impact of an override take effect in Franklin?
• Has Franklin really laid off teachers?
• Why have my taxes gone up so much in the last four years?
• Is it true that we have too many overpaid administrators?
• Why should the community support the school budget?
• Will the override solve all of our fiscal problems?

Significant comment discussion is also found in these articles on the Milford Daily News website

http://www.milforddailynews.com/topstories/x1372400798/Franklin-puts-money-aside-to-pay-laid-off-workers

http://www.milforddailynews.com/topstories/x1602636112/Franklin-proceeds-with-layoffs

http://www.milforddailynews.com/topstories/x1602634672/Franklin-plans-for-layoffs

http://www.milforddailynews.com/topstories/x682904107/Franklin-votes-on-tax-override-today

http://www.milforddailynews.com/topstories/x682904075/Franklin-planners-OK-Big-Y

http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x88774700/Case-made-for-Franklin-tax-override

http://www.milforddailynews.com/topstories/x457996868/Franklin-schools-discuss-cuts

http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x88775036/Franklin-principals-say-cuts-have-been-harmful

http://www.milforddailynews.com/newsnow/x644095507/GUEST-COLUMN-Vote-yes-on-Franklin-override



Franklin, MA

VanRoon is out, the Big Y is in

From the Planning Board meeting on Monday, June 7, 2010 the quick summary is that the special permit for VanRoon is out and the one for the Big Y is in.

Van Roon Chiropractic
After closing the hearing on the site plan and the special permit, the Planning Board reviewed the facts for the special permit. Following Robert's Rules of Order they offered a motion to approve, and when there was none, offered a motion to deny, which was acknowledged and then seconded.

As they completed process, they needed to approve the special permit overall with a roll call vote. The original motion was to approve, there was no acknowledgement, the motion was to deny, it was acknowledged and seconded, then each voted 'no'. The attorney for Van Roon asked to clarify what he had just heard.

The tape was replayed and the board realized that they had voted against the motion to deny, creating a double negative.

The board voted to rescind their vote on the special permit and the second time around got it done properly.

So the residents win and Dr Van Roon will need to find another location.


348 East Central (Big Y)
After closing the hearing on the site permit and the special permit, the votes proceeded in an orderly manner to approve the site plan and special permit.

The interesting moment occurred during the last of the public comments when a carpenter union representative from Norwood spoke against the Big Y construction history of using non-union labor. Paul Cheli raised a Robert's point of order against slander by a non-resident. The comments and documentation provided were beyond the planning board realm.

So the Big Y has up to 2 years to build unless they come back before the Planning Board to ask for an extension.

It should create about 200 temporary jobs during construction, about 50-60 full-time positions and about 100-120 part-time positions.


Franklin, MA