The new Franklin Town News arrived in my mailbox today. I think it looks pretty good for a first edition. I look forward to seeing next month's issue already.
What do you think of it?
Franklin, MA
Thursday, December 2, 2010
"Let’s Talk about Cyberbullying"
Thursday, December 9, 2010
7:00PM – 8:30PM
Dean College
Campus Center Multi-Purpose Room
We are all reading about cyberbullying in the news. Now Franklin’s own home-grown expert Teenangels and their founder, cybersafety expert and head of StopCyberbullying.org, will help the Franklin community understand how it works, how big a problem it is and what we can do about it. The Teenangels are teens who train under Dr. Aftab for 2 years to become cybersafety experts in their own right. They are sought after by the media, governmental agencies and Congress for what they know and their practical approach to addressing cyber-risks.
Parry Aftab is Executive Director of WiredSafety.org, the largest online safety and educational program and the cybersafety contributor to the Today Show, Good Morning America, Dr. Phil, CNN and MSNBC. She is best known for empowering families to use digital technologies more safely and responsibly. She is a member of Facebook’s five member international safety advisory board and MTV’s advisory board.
This event is sponsored by: Franklin WiredTeens Club, Franklin Community Health Council, and the Franklin Anti-Bullying Task Force.
The flyer for the event can be found here:
Aftab Cyber Bullying Event 12-9-10
Related posts on Cyberbullying
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/11/bullying-plan-presentation.html
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/11/bullying-plan-comments-wanted.html
Franklin, MA
Town Council - 12/01/10
The collection of live reported posts from the Town Council Meeting on Weds Dec 1, 2010 can be found here:
Franklin, MA
- Live reporting - Closing
- Live reporting - Legislation for Action
- Live reporting - license transfer
- Live reporting - Town Council
Franklin, MA
Old News: No "Race to the Top" for Franklin
Massachusetts was one of 11 states plus the District of Columbia to win the competitive funding, designed to promote statewide education reform. States vying for a share of the $4.3 billion fund had to pledge to pursue reforms in four areas: adopting standards and assessments aimed at increasing student success in college and the workplace; recruiting and rewarding effective teachers; building state data systems to measure student growth; and turning around the state's lowest performing schools.
Districts had to secure the support of the superintendent, the school committee, and the local teachers union to participate and be eligible for the federal funding. In Milford, as with many districts that opted out of the effort, union opposition was the stumbling block.You can read the full article in the Milford Daily News
Franklin is also one of the districts that opted out of "Race to the Top" because it already is at the top and would not gain via this program.
The Race to the Topic decision was made in Franklin in January. Details on the discussion from the School Committee meeting can be found here
Franklin, MA
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Live reporting - Closing
Old business
no
New business
no
Council Comments
Powderly - thanks to the Concerts on the Common for their work volunteering for the Christmas tree lighting
Kelly - thank you for the holiday tree celebration
Jones - thanks to the new reporter for the article about the transplant, it is a good story and good
Pfeffer - I received something about the GIC
Nutting -
Pfeffer - what about the prohibition of commercial plates at Beaver St?
Nutting - it wasn't our intent to stop commercial use of the individual cleaning out their yard, we do want to stop the real commercial use. The process has been suspended, we will be coming back with a change in the bylaw regulation
Pfeffer - since we passed the bylaw on the abandoned buildings, what about the Masonic Lodge?
Nutting - We'll take a look at it.
Vallee - motion to adjourn
passed 8-0
Franklin, MA
no
New business
no
Council Comments
Powderly - thanks to the Concerts on the Common for their work volunteering for the Christmas tree lighting
Kelly - thank you for the holiday tree celebration
Jones - thanks to the new reporter for the article about the transplant, it is a good story and good
Pfeffer - I received something about the GIC
Nutting -
Pfeffer - what about the prohibition of commercial plates at Beaver St?
Nutting - it wasn't our intent to stop commercial use of the individual cleaning out their yard, we do want to stop the real commercial use. The process has been suspended, we will be coming back with a change in the bylaw regulation
Pfeffer - since we passed the bylaw on the abandoned buildings, what about the Masonic Lodge?
Nutting - We'll take a look at it.
Vallee - motion to adjourn
passed 8-0
Franklin, MA
Live reporting - Legislation for Action
J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1. Resolution 10-64: Appropriation – Sewer Enterprise Retained Earnings
transfer between sewer enterprise account and operations to continue the ongoing program to address I&I
moving money from one pocket to another, no additional fees raised at this time
Capital subcommittee approved, Finance committee approved (11/30/10 by 9-0 vote) as well
$1.2 million in the sewer enterprise account, all money is used for maintenance of the sewer system
the money is collected from the fees, if it wasn't for the surplus we would have had a problem with raising fees
there will be a sewer rate increase in the future as the CRWA upgrades their plant, $20 million to upgrade primarily to bring up to date as well as reduce the phosphorous output to the Charles River
one third of the cost for the EPA mandate, 2 thirds of the cost for the upgrade as components wear out,
motion to approve, passed 8-0
2. Resolution 10-65: Appropriation – Water Enterprise Retained Earnings
A decade ago there was a water distribution plan developed, this will finish up several projects underway
a transfer of money from the enterprise account to operations for repairs
motion to approve, passed 8-0
3. Resolution 10-66: Authorization to Borrow-Water Infrastructure Improvements
requesting to borrow $7.5 million to fund additional water projects
continuing the program started a decade ago
allow several streets to be done as well as a third of Lincoln St
the program will take 3-4 years to do this, all the funding behind these comes from water fees.
streets targeted for repairs have cast iron pipe as old as a hundred years old
McGann - Does this include Mr Jarvis' street to resolve his problem?
Cantorregi - yes, it does and streets surrounding his area downtown
Vallee - How much of the asbestos pipe doe we have left?
Cantorregi - some of the pipe is in good shape, we have about 40 miles of AC pipe left
Vallee - are there any health hazards with the asbesto pipe?
Cantorregi - there is no health risk associated with the water in the pipe, there are issues with our handling of the pipe where we have to take precautions.
Pfeffer - this is a $7.5 Million borrowing that is covered by the normal water bill, there is no associated increase in fees for this.
Powderly - what of the road work associated with this? will it come from Chap 90?
Nutting - We will have a $400,000 proposal later for road work. We'd like to get about that each year to at least do something.
Cantoreggi - ductal (?) iron, with a life cycle of 80-90 years with no interior corrison issues
Nutting - we might not borrow all of this at once, we might do only a bit at time. Water use has declined by about 600,000 gallons per day.
Jones - Whalen took my question about no annual fee associated with this.
Nutting - if some of the buildings in the industrial park fill in, then water usage will go up which is good so if we may be able to offset some of the fee increase with an increase in sales. It is flexible right now.
Mason - up to this point we have waited to borrow money to complete this project. I'd also like to recognize Mr Jarvis who has been affected by this and will finally be getting some resolution.
motion to approve, via role call - passed 8-0
4. Resolution 10-67: Appropriation – Recreation Gift Account
A transfer from an old account
can you amend the motion to include any interest in the account
there was an effort to build a skateboard park, but then one got built at the Y and the issue went away
No projects in mind, just cleaning up the books.
Motion amended to including accrued interest
amendment passed, 8-0
motion passed 8-0
5. Resolution 10-68: Appropriation – Road, Sidewalk, Drainage Improvements
Capital committee recommended this amount, the FINCOM approved this amount
Whalen - Can you refresh the use?
Nutting - original intent of hotel/motel tax once in the account is restricted to open space and recreation
can be used for any legal purpose prior to entering the trust, we have used funds like this for one time capital purposes
motion to approve, passed 8-0
6. Bylaw Amendment 10-651: Chapter 170, Vehicles and Traffic- 2nd Reading
this is the second reading for the change in the parking regulations, this eases the burden for those folks parking downtown
Jones - is this going to cause any additional work on the Police, DPW
Nutting - in the beginning of the season, the police write warning tickets, and then when needed write actual tickets. There might be a start up issue, we will publish this and make folks well aware of it.
Cantoreggi - if this new one goes in and is followed, this will not be a hinderance, if it isn't followed, then there is an issue, usually isolated
Nutting - it actually doesn't change anything, you can still park except between 1-5, you get a ticket either way
motion to approve, via role call passed 8-0
Franklin, MA
1. Resolution 10-64: Appropriation – Sewer Enterprise Retained Earnings
transfer between sewer enterprise account and operations to continue the ongoing program to address I&I
moving money from one pocket to another, no additional fees raised at this time
Capital subcommittee approved, Finance committee approved (11/30/10 by 9-0 vote) as well
$1.2 million in the sewer enterprise account, all money is used for maintenance of the sewer system
the money is collected from the fees, if it wasn't for the surplus we would have had a problem with raising fees
there will be a sewer rate increase in the future as the CRWA upgrades their plant, $20 million to upgrade primarily to bring up to date as well as reduce the phosphorous output to the Charles River
one third of the cost for the EPA mandate, 2 thirds of the cost for the upgrade as components wear out,
motion to approve, passed 8-0
2. Resolution 10-65: Appropriation – Water Enterprise Retained Earnings
A decade ago there was a water distribution plan developed, this will finish up several projects underway
a transfer of money from the enterprise account to operations for repairs
motion to approve, passed 8-0
3. Resolution 10-66: Authorization to Borrow-Water Infrastructure Improvements
requesting to borrow $7.5 million to fund additional water projects
continuing the program started a decade ago
allow several streets to be done as well as a third of Lincoln St
the program will take 3-4 years to do this, all the funding behind these comes from water fees.
streets targeted for repairs have cast iron pipe as old as a hundred years old
McGann - Does this include Mr Jarvis' street to resolve his problem?
Cantorregi - yes, it does and streets surrounding his area downtown
Vallee - How much of the asbestos pipe doe we have left?
Cantorregi - some of the pipe is in good shape, we have about 40 miles of AC pipe left
Vallee - are there any health hazards with the asbesto pipe?
Cantorregi - there is no health risk associated with the water in the pipe, there are issues with our handling of the pipe where we have to take precautions.
Pfeffer - this is a $7.5 Million borrowing that is covered by the normal water bill, there is no associated increase in fees for this.
Powderly - what of the road work associated with this? will it come from Chap 90?
Nutting - We will have a $400,000 proposal later for road work. We'd like to get about that each year to at least do something.
Cantoreggi - ductal (?) iron, with a life cycle of 80-90 years with no interior corrison issues
Nutting - we might not borrow all of this at once, we might do only a bit at time. Water use has declined by about 600,000 gallons per day.
Jones - Whalen took my question about no annual fee associated with this.
Nutting - if some of the buildings in the industrial park fill in, then water usage will go up which is good so if we may be able to offset some of the fee increase with an increase in sales. It is flexible right now.
Mason - up to this point we have waited to borrow money to complete this project. I'd also like to recognize Mr Jarvis who has been affected by this and will finally be getting some resolution.
motion to approve, via role call - passed 8-0
4. Resolution 10-67: Appropriation – Recreation Gift Account
A transfer from an old account
can you amend the motion to include any interest in the account
there was an effort to build a skateboard park, but then one got built at the Y and the issue went away
No projects in mind, just cleaning up the books.
Motion amended to including accrued interest
amendment passed, 8-0
motion passed 8-0
5. Resolution 10-68: Appropriation – Road, Sidewalk, Drainage Improvements
Capital committee recommended this amount, the FINCOM approved this amount
Whalen - Can you refresh the use?
Nutting - original intent of hotel/motel tax once in the account is restricted to open space and recreation
can be used for any legal purpose prior to entering the trust, we have used funds like this for one time capital purposes
motion to approve, passed 8-0
6. Bylaw Amendment 10-651: Chapter 170, Vehicles and Traffic- 2nd Reading
this is the second reading for the change in the parking regulations, this eases the burden for those folks parking downtown
Jones - is this going to cause any additional work on the Police, DPW
Nutting - in the beginning of the season, the police write warning tickets, and then when needed write actual tickets. There might be a start up issue, we will publish this and make folks well aware of it.
Cantoreggi - if this new one goes in and is followed, this will not be a hinderance, if it isn't followed, then there is an issue, usually isolated
Nutting - it actually doesn't change anything, you can still park except between 1-5, you get a ticket either way
motion to approve, via role call passed 8-0
Franklin, MA
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