Weekend activities in Franklin

Reminder that the Library Book Sale opens this evening from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM for friends of Franklin Library members (membership is $25 and you can sign up there), opens on Saturday from 9:00 PM to 4:00 PM. The DPW "Touch a truck" will run from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. The book sale will close out on Sunday morning buying books by the bag. Additional details can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/05/friends-of-franklin-library-book-sale.html

Franklin Library Book Sale

The Parmenter School will do a car wash and bottle/can drive on Saturday

Parmenter school - car wash

Kennedy School has their fund raising recycle day on Saturday
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/05/kennedy-fund-raising-recycle-day.html


The HMEA 12th Annual Independence Run/Walk/Stroll happens on Sunday, May 19th
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/05/lavenchy-goes-to-dogs.html

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/04/franklin-area-road-races.html



The Historical Museum will have a presentation on the past, present and future of farming in Franklin on Sunday, May 19th
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/05/past-present-and-future-of-farming-in.html

MassBudget's analysis of the Senate Ways & Means proposal

MassBudget    Information.    Participation.  Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center    Democracy. Senate Ways & Means Budget for FY14 Yesterday, the Senate Ways & Means Committee unveiled its budget proposal for FY 2014, detailing how it would support vital state programs from Education and Health Care to Human Services, Public Safety, and beyond. Our new Budget Monitor describes the funding proposals, and also the mix of tax and non-tax revenue. As was true for the House, the Senate Ways & Means proposal relies on some new money to help fix and improve our Transportation system. Beyond that, though, the investments specified in the proposal are fairly narrow--largely because they are constrained by the limited amount of available revenue. The Governor's budget had included a larger revenue package, which made possible a range of investments in education (pre-K through college) that would support the long-term needs of our economy. Among the issues we discuss in our Budget Monitor: A modest increase in K-12 Education funding--slightly more than the House, but still below pre-recession levels Less money for Higher Education than either the Governor or the House New rental vouchers for low-income families Read our SENATE WAYS & MEANS BUDGET MONITOR See ALL OF OUR BUDGET RESOURCES 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

This email was sent to shersteve@gmail.com by nberger@massbudget.org |   Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy. Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center | 15 Court Square | Suite 700 | Boston | MA | 02108

BFCCPS Summer Programs

Yes, Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School is a mouthful and a perfectly good reason to create the acronym BFCCPS. No matter what you call it, the school is a good place to learn and have fun in the summer.

Charter School - Summer Fun

The BFCCPS webpage for the summer programs can be found here
http://bfccps.org/student-life/summer-programs/

Hold the date - June 1 - "I spy" on the rail trail!

The Friends of the SNETT (Southern New England Trunkline Trail) are hosting host trail-wide events for National Trails Day® on Saturday, June 1st. The Friends of the SNETT consists of representatives from all six SNETT towns (Franklin, Bellingham, Blackstone, Millville, Uxbridge and Douglas), as well as regional planning and state agencies. Our goal is to improve and promote the use of the trail. 

Events may vary by town but include planting flowers and beautifying the trail entrance with the help of the public and the Boy and Girl Scouts, family friendly nature games, such as “I Spy Nature,” and both guided and non-guided trail walks.

"I’d like to get back to 50 personnel"

"I just don’t feel comfortable (with the current staff levels), and I’m speaking for our citizens,'' he said. "I don’t want to play Russian roulette when something happens." 

Semerjian assured Vallee that in the case of a major incident, the town would receive help quickly from neighboring departments. Also a regional SWAT team, if needed, could respond in under an hour. 

The same staff woes face the fire department. 

Its fiscal 2014 budget does not include Fire Chief Gary McCarraher’s request for four additional firefighters — the amount, he said, that the department needs in order to increase response times, fully staff its King Street quarters and reduce line-of-duty injuries.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x1039443295/Franklin-council-OKs-FY-14-budget#ixzz2TXbeFrlM

For the complete back and forth discussion during the second Budget Hearing on Thursday check these notes
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/05/live-reporting-town-council-budget.html

"If you approach people intelligently and honestly"

"We are not even close to catching up," said DPW Director Robert Cantoreggi. "We are not even maintaining right now. Every year that goes by, the overall road condition deteriorates." 

The town has a list of all of the roads that need repair. Those in the worst shape are toward the top. 

Planning repairs a year to two years in advance, the DPW has managed to slowly chip away at the list. But there isn’t an unlimited source of funds. When the town uses up the state money, all that remains is whatever can be spared from its free cash.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x1039443311/Franklin-officials-override-only-option-to-slice-away-at-backlog-of-road-repairs#ixzz2TXZTdTgb

Per the discussion during the Town Council meeting on Wednesday, Jeff Nutting will work with the DPW to come back to the Council with a plan. They had already committed to integrating the road plan with the water/sewer plan which is scheduled to be completed before the end of the year. While the article implies an override is the only option, the Council asked to see a presentation that lays out the options.

You can find my notes of the discussion Wednesday in the section on the closing here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/05/live-reporting-closing_15.html

In the News: farming history, ice cream social, Tri-county, moving wall

Franklin Historical Museum program planned, May 19

The Franklin Historical Museum will be looking at the past, present, and future of farming in Franklin, Sunday, May 19.

Learn about Fresh Air Fund at ice cream social in Franklin, May 19

Fresh Air volunteers need your help to create another fun-filled summer for children from New York City.

Tri-County students win medals at state conference

Tri-County RVTHS students brought home 20 medals from the Massachusetts SkillsUSA Championships.

Vietnam Moving Wall coming to Medway

Medway was one of the country's first towns to erect a Vietnam War monument. Later this month, just after Memorial Day, its residents will have the opportunity to recognize every one of the 58,272 Americans who gave their lives in the conflict.