"among the smallest public libraries in the area"

Preliminary planning and design work for the library’s expansion is underway now that the town has selected an architect and project manager. 

The 10-member Library Building Committee recently chose Boston-based Daedalus Projects Inc. to manage the project — the firm also oversaw the construction of Franklin’s new high school — and pegged LLB Architects to handle the architectural work. 

LLB Architects, based in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, has designed several library expansions, including for the towns of Foxborough, Maynard, Scituate and Walpole. 

Approved last April, the Franklin Public Library project includes a 6,000-square-foot, two-story addition that will provide space for a new community room, coffee shop and young adult section. The cost has been estimated at $6.6 million, but may change as the project becomes more defined.

Continue reading the article in the Milford Daily News
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150407/NEWS/150407468/1994/NEWS

Franklin Public Library - new sign back in place after an accident took it down in Oct 2014

The Library Building Committee as appointed in Dec 2014
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/12/live-reporting-library-building.html

7. Resolution 14-89: Creation of a Library Building Committee
motion to accept, seconded, passed 8-0

E. APPOINTMENTS Library Building Committee – Vote Resolution 14-89 First (voted above)

Matthew T. Kelley - 75 Crescent Street
Judith Pond Pfeffer - 37 Arlington Street
Thomas D. Mercer - 14 Mercer Lane
Christopher K. Feeley - 5 Taft Drive
Felicia Oti - Library Director
Monique Doyle - 3 Greenfield Road
Sandra Brandfonbrener - 8 Beech Street
James M. Roche - 152 Daniels Street
Nancy J. Rappa - 25 Queen Street

Joseph Mullen (added during clerk reading of motion) 

FHS Softball: appliance recycling - Apr 11

The FHS girls softball team will be holding a fund raiser on Sat April 11. They will accept appliances to be recycled at the Franklin Elks parking lot on Pond St. They open at 8:00 AM and will close at noon.

FHS softball appliance recycling

The pricing for appliances is outlined in this flyer

Franklin Voices Weigh in on Question in the Globe West edition

Should the state adopt a single-payer health care system?

Yes

John May of Franklin, a member of Progressive Massachusetts

Did you know that we have lower-cost easily accessible single-payer health care here in Massachusetts? It’s true! It’s called Medicare. Why not expand what we already have in place? 

I am 60 years old and wonder: “If Medicare is good for me in five years, why is it not good for me now?”

No

David G. Tuerck of Franklin, is executive director of the Beacon Hill Institute and Professor of Economics at Suffolk University.

The continued unpopularity of Obamacare has led to renewed interest in the idea of a single-payer health care system, under which government would both finance and dispense health care and do so without charge and without regard to ability to pay. Advocates claim that, by eliminating the health insurance companies, single payer would lower health care costs. 

However, no one believes that we could reduce the cost of car repair by eliminating the automobile insurance companies. That’s because those companies keep down costs by requiring deductibles and by adjusting rates according to the risks of providing insurance.

Continue reading their full arguments here (subscription may be required)
http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/regionals/west/2015/04/04/should-state-adopt-single-payer-health-care-system/vKzuNNcqla3yRjLENITE1I/story.html 


If you would like ot have your say on a Franklin topic you can do so. There is a series called "Voices of Franklin" that runs when needed. Details can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/03/introducing-voices-of-franklin.html

Reminder: Antique Appraisal Day - Apr 12

Antique Appraisal Day

Sunday, April 12, 2015

1:00PM-4:00PM

The Franklin Historical Commission invites you to have your collectables and antiques appraised by certified appraiser Nancy Wyman of Coyle’s Auction Gallery of Bellingham. 1 to 3 items per person will be appraised at a rate of $5.00 per item.

Items to be appraised include Decorative Stoneware and Pottery; Vintage Clothing and Costume Jewelry; Fine China, glass and art glass; Oriental Rugs; Paintings and Prints; Lamps, Clocks, Decorative Accessories; Hummels and Music Boxes; Sterling Silver, Pewter and Brass; American, Victorian and Country Furniture and Accessories.

NO fine jewelry, no coins, no stamps and no weapons.

All proceeds to benefit the Friends of the Franklin Historical Museum

Franklin Historical Museum - maybe most of the snow will be gone by Appraisal Day?

"10 miles of pipeline through towns like Franklin"

Fox25 does a piece on the recent efforts to mobilize against the Spectra Energy project to expand the gas pipeline through Franklin.

"The pipeline is still in a preliminary phase and if everything goes as planned, construction wouldn't be complete until 2017. Spectra Energy is looking for federal permission to add 10 miles of pipeline through towns like Franklin and Millis. Residents say they want to know what's in store for them before construction begins."

Boston News, Weather, Sports | FOX 25 | MyFoxBoston

a sign truck parked outside the Keller School at the information session here on March

Related posts

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/03/concerns-with-spectra-atlantic-bridge.html

Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda - Apr 7, 2015

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.

AGENDA

"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."

Franklin Public Schools: the key to learning

1. Routine Business

Citizen’s Comments
Review of Agenda
Minutes: I recommend approval of the minutes from the March 24, 2015 School Committee Meeting.
Payment of Bills Mr. Clement
Payroll Mrs. Douglas
FHS Student Representatives
Correspondence: Budget to Actual – Miriam Goodman

2. Guests/Presentations

a. ASMS Update – Beth Wittcoff, Rebecca Motte

Note: The documents for the ASMS update and the BICO report can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/04/franklin-school-committee-documents-for.html

3. Discussion Only Item

BiCounty Collaborative Quarterly Report
Twitter / FPS News
Safety Communications
Kindergarten Registration

4. Action Items

a. I recommend approval of the request of Mr. Fortin for HMMS students to travel to Providence, RI for Save the Bay Programs as detailed on May 26, 27 & 28, 2015.
b. I recommend acceptance of a check for $6.86 from Schoola for in-house enrichment at JF Kennedy Elementary School.
c. I recommend acceptance of three checks totaling $4,115.00 from the Franklin Music Boosters for district wide in-house enrichment.
d. I recommend acceptance of two checks totaling $1,695.00 from the Parmenter PCC for Field trips and busing.
e. I recommend acceptance of a check for $50.00 from Steven Mollo for in-house enrichment at Remington Middle School.
f. I recommend acceptance of a check for $700.00 from Scholarship America for Supplemental Curriculum Materials at FHS.
g. I recommend acceptance of a check for $3,815.25 from the Jefferson PCC for field trips.
h. I recommend acceptance of the donation of 25 copies of the book “Finding the Worm” for 6th grade reading at Horace Mann Middle School.

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. Executive Session

Personnel Update

8. Adjourn

Franklin School Committee: documents for agenda

Annie Sullivan Middle School presentation document:

BICO Quarterly Information for Superintendents

The School Committee agenda can be found here
http://franklinschool.vt-s.net/pages/FranklinCom_Agendas/V20142015/SCAgenda%204-7-15.pdf