Great News on Solid Waste Fees

You may recall that the new single stream trash and recycling process began in July 2010. The new system has been such a success that the purchase of the new totters which was projected to be done over 5 years is actually proposed to be done now.

The totters can be paid off now accompanied by a reduction in the fee from $220 to 204.

Bulk items currently picked up for no charge but paid for by all (via the quarterly fee) will now be paid for by the individuals scheduling the bulk items for pickup at $10 per item.

This is scheduled for the Town Council agenda on Wed March 7, 2012.

A copy of the significant portion of Town Administrator Jeff Nutting's letter to the Council outlining this proposal is attached:

"residents traditionally support debt exclusions for schools"

“Many times, the debt exclusions have passed because there’s been a definite need,” Town Clerk Deborah Pellegri said. Pellegri has been running elections for 27 years. 

“(Residents) look at the value of it, to see how much it’s needed, and they vote on that.” 

In fact, residents voted down the Keller Sullivan school complex twice, one vote pushing the price down, from $27 million to $25.5 million. 

Resident Mary Brennan said she’s against spending money on a new school, and wants the current one renovated instead. 

“This has nothing to do with the education of our children. Most of our founding fathers were self-educated. You do not need this building to educate anyone,” Brennan said.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x1785608251/Franklin-to-vote-on-104M-debt-exclusion-override-for-new-high-school#ixzz1o9JYBREY

For additional information on the new high school project, here is the collection
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/12/collection-high-school-building-project.html

A New FHS is the Best Choice

Dear Franklin Friend,

One question you may hear from residents considering whether to vote YES for the new FHS on March 27 is why building a new model school is a better choice than renovation.

It's important to remember that the Building Committee did look closely at two renovation options and discussed them with staff from the Massachusetts School Building Authority. After weighing all the options and after inspecting the current facility, the MSBA leadership and staff invited Franklin to participate in the model school program.

Here are four key reasons why:

·        A renovation would require substantial demolition. Many of the mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems are buried inside the concrete slab foundation or masonry cinder block walls. A renovation project would have been more feasible and less costly if the existing FHS were built on a steel frame. A "gut renovation" is necessary to update these systems, bring the school into compliance with ADA requirements, and improve student navigation throughout the facility. Renovation would NOT have allowed for a new auditorium or improved educational space to meet 21^st century academic standards.

·        Renovations often result in cost overruns due to unknown conditions revealed during demolition and construction.  With the key systems hidden in concrete and cinder block walls, unforeseen issues leading to unanticipated expenses would be highly likely in a renovation. New construction eliminates costly surprises.

·        Renovation would cause massive disruption to classes. During a renovation, students and teachers would attempt to learn in an active construction zone, including chaotic disruptions in routines, inaccessibility to certain areas, and revised routes through temporary structures.  Parts of the facility would close for significant periods of time. New construction will have no negative impact on learning.

·        Renovation would take a minimum of 3½ years while new construction will take only 2 years. With groundbreaking of the new FHS planned for fall of 2012, the facility will open in the fall of 2014. The current freshman class would complete their senior year in the new school.

The renovation options carried an estimated taxpayer cost of between $38 and $43 million -- with a much longer completion timetable, guaranteed classroom disruptions, and the risk of unforeseen construction challenges leading to unexpected charges. And, at the end of the renovation process, Franklin would not have anything resembling a 21^st century facility — which we can now have for $47 million.

If the debt exclusion fails on March 27, we will lose the chance to build a brand new, fully furnished and equipped high school with a state reimbursement rate of 59.52%. Franklin would need to go back to the drawing board while taxpayers paid 100 percent of the cost of any work needed at the current building. There is no guarantee that the state will provide the same level financial support for a new school or a renovation. You can read the complete MSBA policy on failed debt exclusion votes here.

Franklin High has served our students, teachers and the community well for 40 years. In fact, the MSBA gave Franklin a higher reimbursement rate because of town's facility maintenance program. But the building is now suffering from four decades of heavy use, outdated systems and antiquated educational spaces and furnishings. There is a real need for a new facility and this is the right time to take advantage of a generous state reimbursement, and low borrowing and construction costs.

Seeing is believing. At 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 8, residents can take guided tours of the current Franklin High School. Then, at 7 p.m., you can hear firsthand from the experts and have your questions answered when the architect and the Building Committee hold a town-wide meeting on the project. Please make plans to attend this important event!

For more information on the March 27 vote, please our website at www.newfhs.com and "Like" and visit our Facebook page often for updates: http://www.facebook.com/newfhs.

Please share this email with your friends, neighbors and social networks so that everyone understands the rationale for supporting the construction of a new FHS. Please email us at voteyesforFHS@gmail.com with any questions.

Voting YES is important. No one should take the outcome of the March 27 vote for granted.

Thank you!

Citizens for a New Franklin High School

Vote Yes for FHS on March 27! A Real Need. The Right Time.

Franklin High School Tours and Info Session Set for March 8

The Franklin School Building Committee will be hosting an information session on the proposed new Franklin High School and providing tours of the current high school on Thursday, March 8.

Starting at 6 p.m. tours of the current facility will be offered by members of the Franklin School Committee and others. This will serve as a great opportunity for Franklin residents to see firsthand the issues with the current building and provide a chance to ask School Committee members questions about the educational benefits of the new building.

At 7 p.m. in the Franklin High School lecture hall, the School Building Committee and architect will provide the latest update on the project and answer any questions that Franklin citizens may have. Among those scheduled to present are School Building Committee chairman Tom Mercer and Ai3 architect Jim Jordan.

"I do hope citizens take this opportunity to tour the existing FHS and see exactly why we need a new facility and hear the Architect's unveil a presentation of the design of our new facility," said Mercer.

School Committee chairwoman Paula Mullen, Superintendent Maureen Sabolinski, Franklin High School Principal Peter Light, and Owner Project Manager (OPM) Sean Fennell will also be available to answer questions. Other school and town officials will also be in attendance.

The debt exclusion to pay for the new high school is set for Tuesday, March 27 from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the Franklin High School Field House.  

March 8 Schedule:

6PM – High School Tours

7PM – New High School Presentation in the Franklin High School Lecture Hall

About the new Franklin High School Project:

Franklin High School was placed on Warning Status for Accreditation by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) in 2005 for issues including lack of handicap accessibility in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and outdated science labs. The School Building Committee was created to find the best solution to address the problems.

Kaestle Boos Associates was commissioned to do a study on the school finding several issues that needed to be addressed. That report from 2006 is available here: http://franklinhigh.vt-s.net/Pages/FranklinHS_WebDocs/FHSRenovation/FHSExistingCond.pdf

After nearly six years of the School Building Committee exploring various renovation and new school options to rectify the issues with the current school, Franklin was invited into the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA)'s Model School Program. Both the School Building Committee and MSBA agreed the Model School Program was the best path forward for the town.

The MSBA's Model School Program gives towns the option to choose between four different model schools that have been previously designed and built, saving costs on design and reducing issues during the construction process. The School Building Committee decided upon Whitman-Hanson model.

The MSBA has agreed to fund 59.52% of the project, meaning the taxpayers of Franklin would fund $47 million of the $104 million dollar school and the debt exclusion is approved by the voters on March 27.

In the News: unclaimed property, trivia bee

Treasury to release new unclaimed property list

by Norman Miller and Michael Sereda/Daily News staff

Teams wanted for Franklin trivia bee

by Alison McCall/Daily News staff

In the News - rollover, "Boys Next Door", Art Assoc

Franklin man hurt in rollover in Ashland

by Norman Miller/Daily News staff

Dean College presents theater production

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Franklin Art Association to meet, March 7

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Chamber Names ATHENA Recipient: Paula Rooney

CHAMBER NAMES ATHENA RECIPIENT

The United Regional Chamber of Commerce has named Dean College President Paula M. Rooney, Ed.D., as its 2012 ATHENA Award recipient. The International ATHENA Award is presented annually to individuals who have achieved a high degree of professional excellence, have assisted women to develop their full potential by opening up leadership opportunities, and whose body of work has made a national or international impact.

Dr. Rooney, who has more than 35 years of administrative experience in higher education, has served as the president of Dean College since 1995. During her tenure at Dean College, Dr. Rooney has transformed Dean from a two-year college to a four-year college "through the development of new baccalaureate degree programs and strategic increases to enrollment, retention, and endowment," said Jack McCarthy of Bristol County Savings Bank who nominated Dr. Rooney for the ATHENA Award.

To assist women in developing their full leadership potential, Dr. Rooney has mentored and coached several women seeking a leadership position as a college president. Three of Dr. Rooney's seven-member senior management team members, all of whom she has promoted to their current positions, are women. She has also served as a panelist of several forums advancing women's leadership.

"I have known Dr. Rooney for 26 years as a mentor, colleague, and friend," said Linda M. Ragosta, Ed.D., Dean College vice president of academic affairs and planning. "During a 35-year career including 17 years as president of Dean College, Paula has demonstrated continuous, systematic support for women administrators and faculty in all aspects of leadership advancement in higher education at the institutions in which she has worked and far beyond. Paula has always been most generous with her time and always makes herself available to those who seek her out for guidance, support and direction."

Dr. Rooney is involved in many professional associations and boards. Some of the boards on which she currently serves are: Providence Country Day School Board of Trustees, Business Roundtable: The Springfield Project, 495/MetroWest Corridor Partnership, New England Council, Hockomock Area YMCA Board of Incorporators, and The Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts.

Dr. Rooney will be honored at The United Regional Chamber of Commerce ATHENA Award Luncheon on Wednesday, March 21 at Highland Country Club, 104 Mechanic St., Attleboro. The luncheon, which is held in conjunction with the Women in Business Expo, costs $30 per person and begins at 11 a.m. Contact The United Regional Chamber of Commerce at 508-222-0801, 508-528-2800, or 508-695-6011 to reserve a seat. The ATHENA Award Luncheon is generously sponsored by HaborOne Credit Union.

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