Franklin's Lifelong Learning to start next session
Franklin schools' early development open house
Franklin, MA
Friday, December 10, 2010
Thursday, December 9, 2010
"Let’s Talk about Cyberbullying" - Tonight!
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 - 12/08/10
You can find the collection of live reporting from the Town Council meeting on Wednesday, Dec 8th here:
Franklin, MA
- Live reporting - Closing
- Live reporting - Legislation for Action
- Live reporting - Tax hearing
- Live reporting - Town Council
Franklin, MA
"No residents spoke about the tax rate"
Councilors could have shifted the burden to commercial properties by adopting a split tax rate. But, that could result in higher residential taxes next year because the values of commercial properties are dropping quicker than residential ones, said Chris Feeley, a member of the Board of Assessors.
"If in fact we had a dual tax rate last year, the residential rate would have gone up dramatically more," Feeley said. "The town by most standards does not have a big enough industrial or commercial base to warrant a dual tax rate."
Town Council Chairman Scott Mason said that was the most convincing argument to adopt a single tax rate.
Shifting the tax burden to commercial properties would also drive away businesses, especially small companies already battling increasing health insurance costs, said Jack Lank, president of the United Regional Chamber of Commerce.
"If you go with a dual tax rate, you might as well go up on 495 and put a sign that says Franklin is not business-friendly," Lank said.Read the full article in the Milford Daily News
Franklin, MA
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Live reporting - Closing
K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
L. OLD BUSINESS
none
M. NEW BUSINESS
none
N. COUNCIL COMMENTS
Vallee - did you hear Cheli's comment about suing the EPA?
Nutting - it is getting out of control but it will cost some money with no guarantee of success
we are concerned about the time of implementation
at some point the town will have to come up with a payment via tax rate or a storm water fee
Vallee - will it come before the council?
Nutting - yes, it will. It has to be released so we can find out with the cost will be
O. EXECUTIVE SESSION – Negotiations, Litigation, Real Property, as May Be Required
motion to go into executive session, approved 8-0
Franklin, MA
L. OLD BUSINESS
none
M. NEW BUSINESS
none
N. COUNCIL COMMENTS
Vallee - did you hear Cheli's comment about suing the EPA?
Nutting - it is getting out of control but it will cost some money with no guarantee of success
we are concerned about the time of implementation
at some point the town will have to come up with a payment via tax rate or a storm water fee
Vallee - will it come before the council?
Nutting - yes, it will. It has to be released so we can find out with the cost will be
O. EXECUTIVE SESSION – Negotiations, Litigation, Real Property, as May Be Required
motion to go into executive session, approved 8-0
Franklin, MA
Live reporting - Legislation for Action
J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1. Resolution 10-70:Classification Tax Allocation– Residential Factor
2. Resolution 10-71:Classification Tax Allocation – Open Space Exemption
motion to approve that there not be an exception for open space, passed 8-0
1. Resolution 10-70:Classification Tax Allocation– Residential Factor
single rate approved, 8-0
2. Resolution 10-71:Classification Tax Allocation – Open Space Exemption
motion to approve that there not be an exception for open space, passed 8-0
3. Resolution 10-72:Classification Tax Allocation – Small Businesses Exemption
motion to approve that there not be an exception for small businesses, passed 8-0
4. Resolution 10-73: Classification Tax Allocation – Residential Property Exemption
motion to approve that there not be an exception for residential property, passed 8-0
interruption to acknowledge an excess capacity for the tax levy, due to a rounding error.
Judy needed to sign a special document so the tax bills could begin to be processed.
6. Resolution 10-75: Appropriation – Fire Truck
requesting 100,000 to continue the funding process for a new truck
motion to approve, seconded
Taking money from the debt stabilization fund to close the account. The money had been put aside to work with the ten year capital plan, as the plan has come to an end, this money is being put to good use here
McCarragher - in the last tne years we have been reducing fleet size, rotational program to keep front line on for ten years, and in reserve for 10 years, the vehicle we are trying to replace is 20 years old. Insurance rating is required to have certain pumping capacity. The number of fires nationwide are decreasing but in MA they are not. Our experience in Franklin is static, we run the same amount each year. We are decreasing our fleet size
Vallee - i see numbers on the internet
McCarragher - we are working with two vehicle manufacturers to get to that point where we are not just fire trucks. The way we build fire trucks is against an old model. You still have to go to the marketplace, you still have to keep things service ready
McCarragher - 65% of our traffic is ambulance calls
Vallee - I think you should focus on hazmat and other vehicles
McCarragher - there is not a movement
Vallee - How many times has the new ladder truck been used?
McCarragher - are we looking to regionalization, yes it takes all to come to the table
Mason - How many times does that truck have to save someones life to be worth its expense?
McCarragher - We used the truck on Monday to get to the roof where the explosion occurred. I am not comfortable providing an answer on number?
Mason - I'll tell you, it is one.
Pfeffer - long approval of the need even in these times
Nutting - injuries to firefighters is also important, better equipment will avoid injuries. You don't see the cost but the Town will save money with safer firefighters. People always think of the citizens but we also think of the operations.
Kelly - You may see the shiney red fire truck but it doesn't show the rotting out on the inside. It was a tough decision on the capital committee but I think this was a good one.
Whalen - for a town this size to have a first rate fire dept. On the one hand, we are taking out 100,000 to put aside for a unit that would we man?
McCarragher - you are not putting the money out the door, it is being moved from one account to another account.
Passed 7-0-1 via roll call, Vallee - abstained
8. Resolution 10-77: Appropriation – Demolition of House on DelCarte Property
motion to amend to $16,000
The amount of $24,000 was initial a open bid
The $16,000 came from the DPW doing the work in-house
price for asbestos abatement and tank removal was $6,000 and bid separately
It is 2 stories, about 1400 sq feet built 50 years ago
taking out the foundation and backfilling and leveling
Passed 8-0
Franklin, MA
motion to approve that there not be an exception for small businesses, passed 8-0
4. Resolution 10-73: Classification Tax Allocation – Residential Property Exemption
motion to approve that there not be an exception for residential property, passed 8-0
interruption to acknowledge an excess capacity for the tax levy, due to a rounding error.
Judy needed to sign a special document so the tax bills could begin to be processed.
6. Resolution 10-75: Appropriation – Fire Truck
requesting 100,000 to continue the funding process for a new truck
motion to approve, seconded
Taking money from the debt stabilization fund to close the account. The money had been put aside to work with the ten year capital plan, as the plan has come to an end, this money is being put to good use here
McCarragher - in the last tne years we have been reducing fleet size, rotational program to keep front line on for ten years, and in reserve for 10 years, the vehicle we are trying to replace is 20 years old. Insurance rating is required to have certain pumping capacity. The number of fires nationwide are decreasing but in MA they are not. Our experience in Franklin is static, we run the same amount each year. We are decreasing our fleet size
Vallee - i see numbers on the internet
McCarragher - we are working with two vehicle manufacturers to get to that point where we are not just fire trucks. The way we build fire trucks is against an old model. You still have to go to the marketplace, you still have to keep things service ready
McCarragher - 65% of our traffic is ambulance calls
Vallee - I think you should focus on hazmat and other vehicles
McCarragher - there is not a movement
Vallee - How many times has the new ladder truck been used?
McCarragher - are we looking to regionalization, yes it takes all to come to the table
Mason - How many times does that truck have to save someones life to be worth its expense?
McCarragher - We used the truck on Monday to get to the roof where the explosion occurred. I am not comfortable providing an answer on number?
Mason - I'll tell you, it is one.
Pfeffer - long approval of the need even in these times
Nutting - injuries to firefighters is also important, better equipment will avoid injuries. You don't see the cost but the Town will save money with safer firefighters. People always think of the citizens but we also think of the operations.
Kelly - You may see the shiney red fire truck but it doesn't show the rotting out on the inside. It was a tough decision on the capital committee but I think this was a good one.
Whalen - for a town this size to have a first rate fire dept. On the one hand, we are taking out 100,000 to put aside for a unit that would we man?
McCarragher - you are not putting the money out the door, it is being moved from one account to another account.
Passed 7-0-1 via roll call, Vallee - abstained
8. Resolution 10-77: Appropriation – Demolition of House on DelCarte Property
motion to amend to $16,000
The amount of $24,000 was initial a open bid
The $16,000 came from the DPW doing the work in-house
price for asbestos abatement and tank removal was $6,000 and bid separately
It is 2 stories, about 1400 sq feet built 50 years ago
taking out the foundation and backfilling and leveling
Passed 8-0
Franklin, MA
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