Downtown Franklin: a flowering showcase

The care and tending to the flowers on the triangle, in the flower pots along the bridge and along the businesses in downtown Franklin are looking good.



Thanks to the Franklin Downtown Partnership for doing this. The time and effort is worth it.

For more information on the Downtown Partnership, please visit the website here



Disclosure: I am a member of the Downtown Partnership

Franklin, MA: School Committee - agenda - 7/12/11

Vision Statement

The Franklin Public Schools will foster within its students the knowledge and skills to find and achieve satisfaction in life as productive global citizens.

Mission Statement

The Franklin Public Schools, in collaboration with the community, will cultivate each student's intellectual, social, emotional and physical potential through rigorous academic inquiry and informed problem solving skills within a safe, nurturing and respectful environment.

"The listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law."

1. Routine Business
Citizen’s Comments
Review of Agenda
Minutes: I recommend approval of the minutes from the June 28, 2011 School Committee Meeting.
Payment of Bills Mr. Glynn
Payroll Mrs. Douglas
FHS Student Representatives
Correspondence: none

2. Guests/Presentations
a. none

3. Discussion Only Items
Budget Discussion / Adoption of FY12 Budget
Policy – Second Reading

• JNN – Head Injuries & Concussion in Extracurricular Activities
• JKG – Educational Services in the home or hospital

4. Action Items
a. I recommend adoption of Policy JNN – Head Injuries & Concussion in Extracurricular Activities
b. I recommend adoption of Policy JKG – Educational Services in the home or hospital
c. I recommend acceptance of the donation of an upright Bass from Christopher Richards valued at $3,400.00 for the FHS.
d. I recommend acceptance of a check for $501.14 from Stop & Shop for Horace Mann Middle School in-house enrichment.
e. I recommend acceptance of a check for $2,000.00 from the Parmenter PCC for supplies for the Parmenter Elementary School.
f. I recommend adoption of the FY11-12 School District budget in the amount of $51,410,000.
g. I recommend acceptance of a check for $250.00 from Middlesex Savings Bank for district-wide enrichment and supplies.

5. Information Matters
Superintendent’s Report
School Committee Sub-Committee Reports
School Committee Liaison Reports

6. New Business
To discuss future business that may be brought before the School Committee.

7. Adjourn

"another tool to allow the officer to be better"

The Milford Daily News has an article about license plate readers that some police departments are now getting to assist in their work.

In Franklin, Lynch said the devices have flagged registration or insurance problems. But police can't check plates against certain types of information yet, such as arrest warrants, and Lynch said he hopes to see that improve. 

"It's still early. We've only had it for about a month," Lynch said. "The technology is great - it's just that the databases it draws off of, as far as I'm concerned, are a little limited."

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x1249728037/License-plate-readers-help-police-scan-30-plates-a-second#ixzz1RhS7dL54

Wachusett St: construction update

Now that school is out, the reconstruction of Wachusett St is in the final stages. The water and sewer lines were worked on last year and then a rough coat of paving made the road smooth. The sewer and manhole covers are now being raised in preparation for the final coat of paving.



The road is still smooth and provides almost a slalom like driving course as you navigate around the barrels and raised casings.



Drive safely!

Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - 7/13/11

A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

B. ANNOUNCEMENTS

C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS

D. CITIZEN COMMENTS

E. APPOINTMENTS
- Joint Appointment of Planning Board Member - William David

F. HEARINGS

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS

H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS

I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION:

1. Resolution 11-10: Request for Legislation Exempting the Deputy Fire Chief Position from Civil Service

2. Resolution 11-36: Authorization For Intermunicipal Agreement Between Franklin and Town of Bellingham For Shared Animal Control And Inspection Services

3. Resolution 11-38: In Support of Updating The Massachusetts Bottle Bill

4. Resolution 11-39: Accepting Section 65 of Chapter 188 of the Municipal Relief Act of 2010

5. Zoning Bylaw 11-652: Amendment to Chapter 185 §4. Districts Enumerated Zoning- 2nd Reading

6. Bylaw 11-653: Amendment to Chapter 185 §7. Compliance Required Zoning 2nd Reading

8. Bylaw 11-654: Amendment to Chapter 185 §12. Schedule of Lot, Area, Frontage, Yard & Height Requirements. – 2nd Reading

9. Zoning Bylaw 11-655: Amendment to Chapter 185 §2. Parking, Loading, and Driveway Requirements, Subsection B - 2nd Reading

10. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 11-660: Amendment to Chapter 185 §45. L. (1) Administration and Enforcement – 2nd Reading

K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

L. OLD BUSINESS

M. NEW BUSINESS

N. COUNCIL COMMENTS

O. EXECUTIVE SESSION – Negotiations, Litigation, Real Property, as May Be Required

P. ADJOURN

Farmers Market Open Today !

Franklin Farmers Market,  Friday,  12:00pm to 6:00pm

"consciously and carefully readjust policy parameters over time"

This paper provides an updated analysis of underlying municipal fiscal health, using a measure of municipal gap and recent data for Massachusetts cities and towns. The analysis shows that large disparities in municipal gaps exist among cities and towns, and that the disparities have grown in recent years. 

Created for the purpose of fiscal equalization, unrestricted municipal aid is not highly correlated with municipal gaps in Massachusetts. In fact, municipal gaps cannot explain the majority of the variation in municipal aid. This partly reflects large ad hoc aid cuts over the past 20 years. The consolidation of municipal aid programs in FY 2010 has not improved the aid distribution—that consolidation has simply perpetuated the existing inequity.

For those really interested in the systemic fiscal problems that Franklin and by extension the Commonwealth of MA faces in the redistribution of state aid, this paper from the Boston Federal Reserve Bank is a good read. I would love to obtain the full data set used to see where Franklin falls on the charts. The paper identifies the top 10 cities but stops there.

For the full text of this paper you can follow this link to the Federal Reserve website and download or view the PDF.