2012 Budget Discussion
Signed a contract with KBA for about 500,000, down $300,000 from prior offer
Project manager contract signed, total of two contracts was 800,000 was budgeted at 1 M so they are well within. The MSBA will reimburse 50% of this amount
watching the dolars right out of the gate, on scheduled for bringing a total cost for the decision on renovation sometime late next year
Reduced 1 out of 6 municipal jobs over the past several years
despite that, we still provide quality municipal services
CPI is 2.9, wage increases at 2.25 percent well less than the cost of living
cost of health care is beating the bench mark every year.
people tend to complain about municipal pensions, overhaul started but it will take time
Legislature will try to make that more affordable overtime
getting pretty good bang for the buck
FY 2011 7 of 9 unions have reached an agreement with no pay raises
Firefighters still being worked
(missing contract on the Town side, trades union)
very conservative capital program, save some for snow and ice and for unemployment
no-high school building repairs and continue the sewer water repairs
There is a gap between revenues available and services being provided
consolidated services within Town and with other towns
Lost about $3.8 million dollars in state aid
at risk for cuts in additional state aid under the tight state budget problem
Schools have balanced with additional stimulus funding, that is one time money
If you look at the fixed costs that will go up, look at the one time dollars that have helped us
there will be a shortage
there will need to be policy decisions, a million dollars is 20 jobs
the vast majority of money goes to wages and benefits
We have a big challenge ahead
we will do our best to serve the citizens with what is available
We will have a real number in early February
Pfeffer - what unions haven't settled?
Nutting - There are five unions on the Schools side, one has settled, the others are in process
Whalen -
Nutting - if the state aid doesn't get cut, the deficit will be about 4 million
Special education is always exposed and those costs are going up, the Schools are short 2.5
Excise tax receipts are still down, local receipts based upon economy
the big number is how much is the state aid going to get cut
Whalen - it is reasonable to expect a cut
Nutting - I have talked with a lot of folks and it is uncertain
Whalen - is there any reason why they can't approach the teachers union with the same approach
Nutting - the School Committee negotiates in good faith
Jones - with worst case, 6 million, how many jobs are we looking at?
Nutting - on an average, 20 jobs per million, 100 jobs for 5 million, which means we pay unemployment
in a good spot, people can get hired elsewhere, but in this economy they likely won't so we'll be paying unemployment
Nutting - recall too, that the Schools do not renew every teacher every year, so that complicates the overall number
Zollo - best case, a 4 million number, worse could scale up from their
somewhere between 80-120 people across the Town and Schools
Unemployment, about 20,000 per person, unless they extend it again
we have some money already, we wouldn't need it all at once
Free cash, 2.5 million, most of it will be taken up by snow and ice and unemployment
Zollo - if the voters don't want to support override, every one is going to have to suffer across the board
Kelly - Town about 250, Schools - don't quote me on the numbers
Vallee - how much do we pay for the debt on our buildings?
Nutting - about 3 million, our target is 3.5% and we are under that
Whalen - I'd like to marry Vallee's and Zollo's comments, I don;t have the numbers in front of me. if you broke it down to the monthly tax bill, it was peanuts like $5
we don't spend a lot of money across the board, given that mountain of evidence we still have citizens who refuse to pay any money of pocket to preserve our Town
unfortunately, it going to be spread deeply and evenly
Franklin, MA
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Live reporting - Senator Ross
I. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
Senator Richard Ross
There was a lot of change that took place in the election yesterday
The Scott Brown factor is alive and well, did pick up 16 seats in the House
Economic projections
Have a good relationship with the Governor
I recognize the piece that I think that is missing
Everybody needs to preserve their positions
The stimulus money was used to preserve public sector jobs
valid jobs but the funds could have been used for job creation
$2-2.5 billion budget deficit is coming
we have to face the hard facts with the couple of years coming down the pike
Did have an opportunity to participate in the Economic Development Summit last week
Well done, this is fascinating to see what you have taken advantage of
You should be acknowledged for supporting the service men, national guard and others for their service
When I have a community, I will treat it as a whole
Oliver Deans great grand nephew
BTW- I was impressed, in all my meeting experience, Sen Richard Ross is the first one who came, spoke and then stayed for the whole meeting.
Franklin, MA
Senator Richard Ross
There was a lot of change that took place in the election yesterday
The Scott Brown factor is alive and well, did pick up 16 seats in the House
Economic projections
Have a good relationship with the Governor
I recognize the piece that I think that is missing
Everybody needs to preserve their positions
The stimulus money was used to preserve public sector jobs
valid jobs but the funds could have been used for job creation
$2-2.5 billion budget deficit is coming
we have to face the hard facts with the couple of years coming down the pike
Did have an opportunity to participate in the Economic Development Summit last week
Well done, this is fascinating to see what you have taken advantage of
You should be acknowledged for supporting the service men, national guard and others for their service
When I have a community, I will treat it as a whole
Oliver Deans great grand nephew
BTW- I was impressed, in all my meeting experience, Sen Richard Ross is the first one who came, spoke and then stayed for the whole meeting.
Franklin, MA
Live reporting - Town Council
Present: Kelly, Jones, Vallee, Whalen, Mason, Pfeffer, Zollo, Powderly
Absent: none
A. ELECTION OF OFFICERS
B. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – Executive Sessions September 29, 2010 and October 6, 2010
C. ANNOUNCEMENTS - Meetings of the Town Council are Recorded by Verizon and Comcast and the Franklin Matters website
D. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS - none
E. CITIZEN COMMENTS - none
F. APPOINTMENTS
Recreation Advisory Board - Kinjal Patel
motion to approve, passed 9-0
G. HEARINGS - none
H. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS - none
Franklin, MA
Absent: none
A. ELECTION OF OFFICERS
B. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – Executive Sessions September 29, 2010 and October 6, 2010
C. ANNOUNCEMENTS - Meetings of the Town Council are Recorded by Verizon and Comcast and the Franklin Matters website
Recognized as Gold status for Bio-Tech
Recognized as an employer of support for military service
D. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS - none
E. CITIZEN COMMENTS - none
F. APPOINTMENTS
Recreation Advisory Board - Kinjal Patel
motion to approve, passed 9-0
G. HEARINGS - none
H. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS - none
Franklin, MA
Parmenter School: Story Walk - photos
Dolores and I got to take in the Story Walk on Sunday morning.
Enjoy the Story Walk!
Prior posts about the Nature Trail and Story Walk:
The back story on the Nature Trail at Parmenter was published on Monday
The guide to the Nature Trail was published on Tuesday
Franklin, MA
Enjoy the Story Walk!
Prior posts about the Nature Trail and Story Walk:
The back story on the Nature Trail at Parmenter was published on Monday
The guide to the Nature Trail was published on Tuesday
Franklin, MA
In the News - Treasurer to remained elected, voice heard
"It was nice to see (the questions) on there, giving us the choice. In the case of treasurer, it's right to make it an appointed position," Tierney said.
Others were left feeling confused by the questions.
"I didn't really understand it," said Clare Flynn.
"I couldn't make heads or tails of it," said Merrell Mastin.Read the article in the Milford Daily News:
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x370073945/Franklin-treasurer-to-remain-an-elected-post
In an election that embodied several local and statewide races, James Lacroix yesterday said it was Question 3 that lured him to the polls.
The Franklin resident said he voted to reduce the sales tax to 3 percent.
"We need to learn how to use the money more efficiently and do what we need to do instead of spending it wastefully," Lacroix said.
Read the article in the Milford Daily News
Franklin, MA
Fund raising weekend for Franklin Food Pantry
The Franklin Food Pantry is fortunate to participate in two, yes, two exciting fund raising events on one weekend.
Saturday, Nov 13 - Bigelow Station plays at the 3 Restaurant
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/10/fund-raiser-for-franklin-food-pantry.html
Sunday, Nov 14 - Fund Raising at Legacy Place
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/10/fund-raiser-for-franklin-food-pantry_23.html
How does the Legacy Place fund raiser work?
You buy a ticket for $10. This gets your name on the listing at Legacy Place. When you arrive on Sunday, Nov 14th. Check in to get a bracelet. You wear the bracelet during your shopping trip. The bracelet is an easy sign for the merchants to see that your part of the fund raising "Legacy of Giving" and you obtain the appropriate discount.
The $10 goes entirely to the Franklin Food Pantry. You gain by getting discounts on your purchases at participating vendors. A win-win!
Franklin, MA
Saturday, Nov 13 - Bigelow Station plays at the 3 Restaurant
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/10/fund-raiser-for-franklin-food-pantry.html
Sunday, Nov 14 - Fund Raising at Legacy Place
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/10/fund-raiser-for-franklin-food-pantry_23.html
How does the Legacy Place fund raiser work?
You buy a ticket for $10. This gets your name on the listing at Legacy Place. When you arrive on Sunday, Nov 14th. Check in to get a bracelet. You wear the bracelet during your shopping trip. The bracelet is an easy sign for the merchants to see that your part of the fund raising "Legacy of Giving" and you obtain the appropriate discount.
The $10 goes entirely to the Franklin Food Pantry. You gain by getting discounts on your purchases at participating vendors. A win-win!
Franklin, MA
Comedy Night at 3, November 19th
Thanksgiving Reservations Being Accepted
Thanksgiving at 3 will include our regular dinner menu as well as house-roasted turkey and all the favorite trimmings! For your reservation, please call 508.528.6333. 11:00am - 6:00pm.
3, 461 W. Central Street Franklin, MA 02038 508.528.6333 3-restaurant.com
Visit our other Let's Eat, Inc. restaurant in Norwood: SKY
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Let's Eat, Inc. | 461 Central Street | Franklin | MA | 02038
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