Franklin Matters

Friday, September 16, 2011

"Do I have to do anything?"

The Milford Daily News has a follow up conversation with Police Chief Stephen Williams who is scheduled to retire in December:

Williams worked his way through the ranks exclusively in Franklin, an advantage he said he hopes his successor will have.

"It's an advantage for me to be a homegrown boy in that I know the people and the players - knowing what Franklin is, what it has been and what it will be," Williams said.

Williams said his replacement will most importantly have to be connected to and involved with the community, pointing to officers who pay attention to local government decisions, coach school sports, visit senior centers and care about downtown parking problems.

"Those are very key components of having a department that's well-entrenched in the community," Williams said. "The new chief will continue to build those bridges and friendships."

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x948307078/Police-chief-looks-back-as-Franklin-prepares-to-fill-his-spot#ixzz1Y6gVwuyX

Chief William's retirement was announced during the Town Council meeting Wednesday night
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2011/09/live-reporting-door-to-door.html

Farmer's Market - Open - Noon to 6:00 PM

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

Located on the Town Common

Reminder that the Farmers' Market now accepts SNAP dollars and can double your purchasing power.
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2011/07/franklin-farmers-market-doubles-food.html

Visit the Food Pantry tent at the Farmers' Market for details.

In the News - 9/11, Cultural Council, Women's Club

Students pay homage to 9/11 in Franklin

by Alison McCall/Daily News staff

Franklin Cultural Council seeking applications

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

St. Mary’s Catholic Women’s Club season begins

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Reminder: Bike Recycling

On Saturday, September 17th there will be a used bicycle collection at the Franklin High School parking lot, 218 Oak Street, to benefit charity. The collection runs from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. and is sponsored by the Franklin High School RE:Cycles Club to benefit a Boston based charity that provides used bicycles to people in need, in the US and overseas. We are looking for used bike donations as well as money donations to defray the cost of shipping overseas. Bikes Not Bombs, the beneficiaries of the drive, are a 501(c)3 charity, and donors can request a receipt for tax purposes. We are especially in need of adult bikes in reasonable or easily reparable condition. The event will be held, rain or shine.

For more information contact Eamon McCarthy Earls at re_cycles@yahoo.com.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

"I'm sad to see him go"

... councilors voted to raise sewer and water bills by 10 percent each in June of 2012, amounting to about $44 more in sewer bills to the average customer and $60 more in water bills to the average customer in the first year.

The additional money is expected to pay for planned capital improvements to those utilities. The Charles River Pollution Control District requires upgrades to the regional sewer treatment plant, of which Franklin owns 65 percent, said Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting. On the water end, councilors authorized a $7.5 million bond to improve the water system last year.

Though two years of increases were on the budget for approval, councilors approved both years of sewer, and only the first year of higher water bills.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x948306558/Franklins-top-cop-to-retire-in-3-months#ixzz1Y0tpptLB

My summary of the Town Council meeting

Four establishments get penalized for serving underage minors on July 29, 2011.
A new restaurant to open in Franklin Village Plaza gets a liquor license
Chief Williams will be retiring in December
Chief McCarragher provided an update and lessons learned from the response to Irene
Sewer rates are going up due to EPA requirements for the Charles River Pollution Control District of which we are responsible for 65% of the volume
McGann will run for Town Council and let the voters decide if his attendance record matters (54% attendance)

The full set of notes can be found here
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2011/09/town-council-091411.html

"I'm going to let the voters decide"

"I'm really surprised that more people aren't interested in the Town Council and the School Committee," said Town Clerk Deborah Pellegri, a 27-year incumbent who does face a challenger, former Town Councilor Deborah Bartlett. "We've had so much going on. People have been blogging left and right, and I wish some of these people would come forward and run."

Every one of the nine Town Council seats and all seven School Committee seats are available every two years.

The Town Council has only eight candidates who have returned nomination papers so far. Incumbents Glenn Jones, Tina Powderly, Robert Vallee and Judith Pond Pfeffer are running. New hopefuls include School Committee Chairman Jeff Roy, School Building Committee Chairman Thomas Mercer, Robert Dellorco and Juan Ramon Rivera.

Councilors Joseph McGann and Matthew Kelly have taken out but not yet returned nomination papers. At last night's council, McGann, who would be running for his fifth term, said three councilors have asked him not to run because of missed meetings.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x227170085/Few-candidates-for-council-school-board-seats-in-Franklin-election#ixzz1Y0qI4tOS

The attendance records for Town Council and School Committee for the past two years are available here

Note: the School Committee records are not up to date but the attendance percent is high and their record is consistent. The Town Council has some folks with shady attendance records. The majority of those with poor records are not running for a new term. One will be. So if you want your voice to be represented half the time time (54%), that will be your choice.