Live reporting - Old/New business

L. OLD BUSINESS
none

M. NEW BUSINESS
Pfeffer - regarding the new barrels, when they are put back the covers are open and if it is raining or snowing, the barrels could accumulate, can they be put back with the covers on

Nutting - It is a matter of the drivers touch, if they handle it just right, the cover should come back on. We are putting items like this together to have a monthly meeting with the vendor.

Pfeffer - I have also noticed they have been lenient in picking up the overflowing barrels

Nutting - It is still the new process, we want to get it off right. We will soon not pick up the snow cones, those barrels with an overflow on the top.

We are also expecting the smaller barrels in a couple of weeks. If you do want to switch make sure you contact the DPW.

 - five minute recess -

Franklin, MA

Live reporting - Administrators Report

Continuing to skip about the agenda to use time wisely before the hearings are scheduled to start at 7:10 PM


K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT


Jeff - Thanks to all the citizens in their help with the water ban, the water levels have improved. If we get some good rain, we'll go back to once a week.


The State passed their final budget, we are set, we don't need to make any more amendments.


I want to recognize David Seal, got his heavy duty truck certificate, his personal development and other of our employees are appreciated.



Franklin, MA

Live reporting - Action items

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS - none

H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS - none

I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS - none

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION

2. Resolution 10-41: Authorization to Hold Bonfire-Tri-County School

motion to approve, passed 8-0


Per Jeff Nutting, this has been a standard request every year

(Zollo arrived after this vote)

Franklin, MA

Live reporting - Town Council

Present: Kelly, Jones, Vallee, Whalen, Mason, Pfeffer, McGann, Powderly
Absent:  Zollo

A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - none

B. ANNOUNCEMENTS 
Meetings of the Town Council are Recorded
Verizon, Comcast, and Steve Sherlock for Franklin Matters

C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS - none

D. CITIZEN COMMENTS - none

E. APPOINTMENTS
Historical Commission Associate Member (Connie Lawson)
motion to approve, passed 8-0

skipping hearing items on agenda to use time before the published hearing time slot.

Franklin, MA

Ditch the standards!

The state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, which is appointed by the governor but operates independently, will decide today whether to postpone the vote, state education officials said. Reville said he could not predict if board members would comply with the request.

State education officials have been exploring the possibility of adopting the national standards for more than a year, a controversial proposition for a state known to have some of the most rigorous academic standards in the nation.

The national standards, which Massachusetts officials helped to develop, specify what material should be taught in English and math at every grade level. The voluntary effort was spearheaded by associations representing the nation’s governors and state education leaders and has received the support of President Obama, who is now pushing states to adopt the standards by offering financial incentives.

Read the full article in the Boston Globe here:
http://www.boston.com/news/education/k_12/articles/2010/07/21/education_board_urged_to_delay_vote_on_new_standards/

The Franklin School Committee blog posted on this earlier and you can read that here:
 http://franklinschoolcommittee.wordpress.com/2010/07/17/massachusetts-education-chief-supports-national-standards/

Picking up on the creativity idea in Jeff Roy's posting, I encourage you to read through the Newsweek article he references.

I would rather see us ditch the standards, which end up requiring schools to teach to the test and go for more creative approaches. A TED Talk video I posted here in June makes great points on this subject:
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/06/everything-is-possible.html


Franklin, MA

School signs

A couple of the local school signs have been updated with the summer message:

and Parmenter welcomes their new Principal, Tom Morris:

Enjoy!


Franklin, MA

Hopkinton Networking Group - Jul 23 meeting

I'm on LinkedIn, now what?

That will be the subject of an interactive presentation I'll lead at the Hopkinton Networking Group meeting on Friday. I did the presentation before and will update some of the photos to keep the presentation fresh. The text will remain pretty much the same. The delivery and interaction will be up to those participating.


I want to make sure that your questions will be answered. I want to make sure that you'll be able to walk away with something specific to do.


1 - If you want to attend, the meeting details are as follows:  


When: Friday, July 23 from 10:00 AM - Noon
Where: St John's Evangelist Parish Center, 20 Church St, Hopkinton
Cost: $1 donation requested


2 - If you have a LinkedIn question you would like answered, please let me know.



Franklin, MA