Franklin Matters

Friday, August 10, 2012

Franklin Public Library: Animal World

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Animal World

via Franklin Public Library by Franklin Public Library on 8/9/12

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Thursday, August 9, 2012

Franklin Public Schools: Class sizes by school

August, preparing for schools to open this September. What will be the class sizes around the Franklin school district? The information as presented to the School Committee on Tuesday is shown here.

These numbers can also be found on the Franklin Schools web page here
http://franklindistrict.vt-s.net/Pages/FranklinDistrict_News/019309C3-000F8513

You can also view the School Committee meeting from Tuesday where these numbers were discussed.
http://view.liveindexer.com/ViewIndexSessionSL.aspx?ecm=634800882920015000&indexSessionSKU=9nH/HANkgO8EKZ7iG4dGYQ%3D%3D&siteSKU=L7qhQ46xin/r3Z0jcDVCNw%3D%3D

"$100 fine for first offenders, up from $25"

If there is trouble with enforcement of the existing dog feces law, how will increasing the fine help? I missed the Town Council meeting last night but wish I had been able to ask that question (if no one else did).

And for all the items that were on the agenda, the dog bylaw is what gets into the paper first? Not the new contract for Town Administrator? Or the report from the Citizens Committee?

The town intends to strike the previous leashing bylaw and replace it with a longer one titled, "Regulation of Conduct." The section on leashing was largely unchanged.

The bylaw proposal, presented to Town Council for the first time on Wednesday night, states that the chief of police will have the authority to order a dog muzzled or confined for a period of time if it bites a person or another pet or chases a vehicle, bicycle or pedestrian in a public setting. Council was expected to vote on the measure Wednesday night after discussion.

"We are trying to be proactive," said Town Attorney Mark Cerel, who rewrote the bylaw proposal with help from former Police Chief Steve Williams and Cindy Souza, the animal control officer for Franklin and Bellingham. "We don’t want to have any issues in the future with vicious dogs."

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x866122448/Franklin-council-takes-up-dog-bylaw-proposal#ixzz232Wwod1l

The full agenda for Wednesday's Town Council meeting and accompanying document can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/08/franklin-ma-town-council-agenda-aug-8.html

In the News: tax holiday, Foursquare founder

Is interest in sales tax holiday on the wane?

by Scott O'Connell/Daily News staff

Foursquare founder, a Medway native, fosters innovation

by Jessica Trufant/Daily News staff

I had the opportunity to meet and talk with Dennis during a conference a couple of years ago. He was quite willing to talk about Foursquare, the lessons learned and to explore how else it could be used. Do you use Foursquare?

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - Aug 8, 2012

A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
– March 7, 2012

B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
This meeting is being recorded by Verizon, Comcast, and Franklin Matters

C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS

D. CITIZEN COMMENTS

E. APPOINTMENTS
Design Review Commission - Doug Newton
Zoning Board of Appeals - Sean P. Slater

F. HEARINGS

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS

H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
- Citizens Committee

I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1. Resolution 12-42(Amended):Authorization for DPW Garage/Storage Building
2. Resolution 12-63: Town Administrator’s Employment Agreement
3. Bylaw Amendment 12-686:Amendment to Chapter 165, Transient Vendors- 1st Reading
4. Bylaw Amendment 12-690: Amendment to Chapter 8, Council on Aging – 1st Reading
5. Bylaw Amendment 12-691:Amendment to Chapter 75, Dogs – 1st Reading
6. Bylaw Amendment 12-692: Amendment to Water System Map – 1st Reading
7. Bylaw Amendment 12-693: Amendment to Sewer System Map – 1st 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

The set of documents for this agenda were posted to the Franklin, MA web page here
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2012%20docs/080812.pdf

Business Tax Breaks in Massachusetts

MassBudget		Information.
MassBudget		Participation.
Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center		Democracy.

Business Tax Breaks in Massachusetts

Tax breaks are a form of spending. Money that the state spends on tax breaks is money that it can't spend on education, infrastructure, or other forms of economic development.

Our new report, Business Tax Breaks in Massachusetts, describes the various types of business tax breaks in Massachusetts and shows how much the state spends on each. It focuses most directly on what we call special business tax breaks, meaning those tax breaks which: 1) apply to businesses, and 2) have as their most basic rationale the effort to bolster economic development.*

We find that:

In FY 2012, the state spent $770 million on special business tax breaks.
Since FY 1996, spending on special business tax breaks has increased 60%, adjusted for economic growth.

To accompany this report, we are also releasing a two-page Factsheet which describes the major findings.

READ BUSINESS TAX BREAKS IN MASSACHUSETTS

* Other kinds of business tax breaks include those designed to minimize double-taxation and those which mirror the federal tax code.

The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) produces policy research, analysis, and data-driven recommendations focused on improving the lives of low- and middle-income children and adults, strengthening our state's economy, and enhancing the quality of life in Massachusetts.

MASSACHUSETTS BUDGET AND POLICY CENTER

15 COURT SQUARE, SUITE 700

BOSTON, MA 02108


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Wedding dresses weren't always white

The Milford Daily News has an article on the wedding dress exhibit currently showing at Franklin's Historical Museum. Wedding dress through the ages are displayed so you can see the changes and development.

"In Victorian times, everything was covered, whereas now — how do I put this diplomatically — everything is exposed," she said.

In contrast to the symbolic bride of the present, who practically glows as she walks down the aisle in her milky white gown, Ferguson said gowns for much of the 1900s were beige or off-colored.