Franklin Matters

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

live reporting - License transactions

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
Longhorn Steakhouse – Alteration of Premises

motion to approve, passed 7-0

Joe’s American Bar & Grill – Transfer of License
motion to approve, passed 7-0

Franklin, MA

Live reporting - Town Council

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

A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - February 16, 2011
motion to approve, passed 7-0

B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
meetings are recorded by Verizon, Comcast, and Franklin Matters

C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
none

D. CITIZEN COMMENTS
none

E. APPOINTMENTS - Conservation Commission
motion to approve Regan Harald, passed 7-0

Franklin, MA

Citizens Against Waste: Trash fee question

Question:

So, when the town spent however-many thousands on those new trash and recycle containers the implication was that the household trash collection cost would go down slightly. While I do like the new containers the only reason to spend money like that, especially during a time like this, is if it will reduce the cost of trash removal.

We recently received our quarterly water/sewer/trash bill and while not in front of me at the moment I believe the trash cost was $55. Is that lower than it was a few quarters ago before the new bins? Or do they just expect that everyone will forget about that little promise and keep charging the same? Anyone remember what it was before?

Now that the trash removal company requires only one worker per truck instead of three and can clear more cans per hour I assume the savings are passed on to the local governments it services. Were those savings passed on to us? That was how it was sold anyway so just curious. Thanks.

Answer:

Yes, the quarterly rate reduced from $61 to $55.

Part of the rate reduction came from the efficiency of the new single stream process with one-person mechanically operated trucks as opposed to the two-person truck manual operation of the prior vendor.

As the $800,000 for the bins (barrels, toters, or whatever you want to call them) are paid off, there is potential for a further reduction.

Note: the financing for the bins is done within the solid waste enterprise account. This account is where the trash and recycle fees are collected, town expenses accumulated, and occasionally when the account balance is sufficient, a rate reduction is passed along to the rate payers.

Thanks to Adam for the question. He entered it on the question form and on the Franklin Matters Facebook page.

If you have a question, please ask it here and we'll get it answered.

Franklin, MA

School Committee 03/15/11

The collection of posts reporting on the School Committee meeting for Tuesday, March 15, 2011 can be found here:

Franklin, MA

Offer to candidates for election - November 8, 2011

To the citizens and potential candidates for Franklin's election on November 8, 2011:

I extend an offer to conduct and post an interview with you here. The interview can be either text or audio.

You are running to conduct business on behalf of Franklin. Together, we can share your views, your objectives, and help to spread the word to create an informed voter.

Send me an email (shersteve at gmail dot com) and we can arrange a mutually convenient time.

Be aware that this is my public service effort conducted solely to create an informed electorate here in Franklin.

I do this for fun and education. If it stops being that way, I will stop.
This is not an advertising site. This is an information sharing site.

My disclosure statement can be found here.
My comment/editorial policy can be found here.

A similar offer was made for the Franklin, MA elections in 2009 and 2007.

Results of the interviews posted during 2009 can be viewed here