I am a Web Designer. Actually, I am more on the interface coding side of web design. I like to bike and ski, though I haven't skied in quite a while. I am also a gadget freak and I try to incorporate technology into everything I do.If you are interested in bike riding, this is one site to check out regularly.
Friday, April 18, 2008
Franklin Blogger: Martinator's Bicycling Blog
The Hitchhiker Team found Martinator's blog in January. Martin lives here in Franklin and writes of himself:
Thursday, April 17, 2008
In the News - let voters decide, luxury tax
GHS
FRANKLIN —
Taxpayers will have an opportunity to vote for a tax override early this summer, the majority of the Town Council decided last night.
Every seat in the Town Council chambers was filled, and about 20 more people stood at the back of the room at last night's meeting, all in favor of an override.
No one but Councilor Judith Pond Pfeffer spoke against the permanent tax hike, which would be used to prevent about 45 layoffs in schools, program cuts, and possibly boost other town departments' budgets.
School Committee Chairman Jeffrey Roy, as well as a handful of residents, including Finance Committee members, Town Council Chairman Christopher Feeley, Vice Chairwoman Deborah A. Bartlett, and members Stephen Whalen, Shannon Zollo, Joseph McGann and Thomas S. Doak all spoke in favor of putting an override question on the ballot.
Councilor Robert Vallee, who had gone on record as being opposed to an override, passed at the chance to voice his opinion last night.
Finance Committee Chairman Jim Roche, who spoke as a taxpayer and father, urged the council to let the town vote.
"This is more than just a school problem - it's a townwide problem," said Roche.
Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here.
---------------------------
The MetroWest Daily News
My first thought was to drop a dime to Susan Wornick.
I know my rights. I know the law. Clearly, the sporting goods store was no authority on clothing tax.
But after a teenaged manager took the $1 off my bill, I calmed down enough to see involving Channel 5's consumer guru wasn't the way to go.
Instead, we need to make the state tax code even more confusing.
Conventional wisdom on Beacon Hill has been to balance the budget on the backs of the monkeys on Massachusetts residents' backs.
Got a vice? We'll tax it. Then we'll tax it some more. And when that isn't enough, we'll just push Lottery tickets a little harder.
Look, we don't want you to gamble if you're an addict. No, seriously. See, we put all sorts of disclaimers on Keno broadcasts and around convenience stores that sell scratch tickets. Here's the number for Gamblers Anonymous. Call if you think you have a problem. Just wait until after you buy another Megabucks ticket before you call, OK?
Casinos may be off the table for the moment, at least casinos of the state-run variety, but an extra tax on smokers is all but a done deal.
Dirty, rotten smokers. Make them pay for miscalculations in what it takes to run a state.
There was some talk about upping taxes on wine, but so far that hasn't gotten much traction. It'll likely be revisited when the number of people who buy cigarettes in Massachusetts dwindles to financially unacceptable levels.
Meanwhile, there's a sensible solution no one's talking about.
Read the remainder of the article to see the sensible solution in the Milford Daily News
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Attention Franklin: Override ballot question coming
Per Chris Feeley this evening, there will be a new Town Council meeting added on April 30th to vote on the override ballot. Between now and then various subcommittees and committees will be working on what number should be put forward to address this town problem.
The vote should occur in June, I heard him say June 15th, that is a Sunday so it is likely he meant either June 14th to go with a Saturday vote, or June 17th to stay with a traditional Tuesday vote.
Either way, the voters of Franklin will have an override to decide to maintain their Top 10 rankings or not.
Our choice. Listen. Learn. Be prepared to cast an informed vote!
The vote should occur in June, I heard him say June 15th, that is a Sunday so it is likely he meant either June 14th to go with a Saturday vote, or June 17th to stay with a traditional Tuesday vote.
Either way, the voters of Franklin will have an override to decide to maintain their Top 10 rankings or not.
Our choice. Listen. Learn. Be prepared to cast an informed vote!
Councilor Comments: Shannon Zollo (audio)
From the Franklin Town Council meeting 4/16/08, Shannon Zollo lays out the argument for the override vote so the town can decide and recommends how each can prepare for the vote.
Time: 11 minutes, 42 seconds
MP3 File
Editorial Comment: Remember this one, come back here to listen to this often. I have not heard as complete and compelling an argument put forth as convincingly as this was. Thank you Shannon!
Time: 11 minutes, 42 seconds
MP3 File
Editorial Comment: Remember this one, come back here to listen to this often. I have not heard as complete and compelling an argument put forth as convincingly as this was. Thank you Shannon!
Town Council Mtg Summary 4/16/08
Attention Franklin: Override ballot question comin...
Councilor Comments: Shannon Zollo (audio)
--- 2 minutes break ---
6 - Citizen's Comment: Andy Donaldson (audio)
5 - Citizen's Comment: Kaitlyn Cronin (audio)
4 - Citizen's Comment: Jim Roche (audio)
3 - Citizens Comment: William Hawes (audio)
2 - Citizen's Comment: John Niece (audio)
1 - Citizen's Comment: Jeff Roy (audio)
Town Council Agenda 4/16/08
additional segments of the meeting will be posted as I have time to process them.
Councilor Comments: Shannon Zollo (audio)
--- 2 minutes break ---
6 - Citizen's Comment: Andy Donaldson (audio)
5 - Citizen's Comment: Kaitlyn Cronin (audio)
4 - Citizen's Comment: Jim Roche (audio)
3 - Citizens Comment: William Hawes (audio)
2 - Citizen's Comment: John Niece (audio)
1 - Citizen's Comment: Jeff Roy (audio)
Town Council Agenda 4/16/08
additional segments of the meeting will be posted as I have time to process them.
Citizen Comments: Andy Donaldson (audio)
From the Franklin Town Council meeting on 4/16/08, citizens comment. Andy was the last of the citizen comments, the council took a two minute break after this.
Time: 1 minute, 5 seconds
MP3 File
Time: 1 minute, 5 seconds
MP3 File
Citizen Comments: Jim Roche (audio)
From the Franklin Town Council meeting of 4/16/08, citizens comment. Jim Roche of the Finance Committee advocating for an override vote for the town wide problem for the full set of voters to decide.
Time: 1 minute, 45 seconds
MP3 File
Time: 1 minute, 45 seconds
MP3 File
Citizen Comments: John Niece (audio)
From the Franklin Town Council meeting of 4/16/08, citizens comment. A Benjamin Franklin Charter school parent speaking for an override vote to be held.
Time: 59 seconds
MP3 File
Time: 59 seconds
MP3 File
Citizen Comments: Jeff Roy (audio)
From the Franklin Town Council meeting on 4/16/08, Jeff Roy, School Committee Chair, addresses the Town Council during the citizen comments portion of the meeting advocating for an override vote to be put before the town so the town can decide what level of service they want for their schools and other services.
Time: 5 minutes, 25 seconds
MP3 File
The text of the full statement can be found at the School Committee blog here.
Time: 5 minutes, 25 seconds
MP3 File
The text of the full statement can be found at the School Committee blog here.
Town Council Agenda 4/16/08
The agenda for the Town Council meeting can be found here
Proposed FY 09 budget (PDF)
Proposed budget information page
Proposed FY 09 budget (PDF)
Proposed budget information page
FINCOM Meeting Summary 4/14/08
FINCOM votes to adjourn (audio)
FINCOM: Mike D'Angelo's statement (audio)
FINCOM: School Budget vote (audio)
FINCOM: Ken Norman (audio)
Additional segments from the meeting will be posted as I have time to prepare them
FINCOM: Mike D'Angelo's statement (audio)
FINCOM: School Budget vote (audio)
FINCOM: Ken Norman (audio)
Additional segments from the meeting will be posted as I have time to prepare them
FINCOM: Ken Norman
After the 5 minute break, the Franklin Finance Committee returns to business missing two members. Ken Norman opens the discussion on the override with his statement calling for a multi-year plan.
Time: 2 minutes, 24 seconds
MP3 File
Time: 2 minutes, 24 seconds
MP3 File
In the News - override, Council meeting
GHS
FRANKLIN —
Tonight, Councilor Joseph McGann and School Committee Chairman Jeffrey Roy will both urge the Town Council to put an override question before voters this year to prevent layoffs and cuts in schools and town departments.
"I would like to see the people express their voice on it," said McGann, adding, "I don't think it's going to fly."
Still, McGann wants the council to put feelers out in the community to get a sense of whether people want to pay more to keep the 45 teachers and school staff expected to be laid off in the budget proposed by Town Administrator Jeffrey D. Nutting, which the Finance Committee voted to support Monday night.
Individual members of the Finance Committee supported a tax increase. Chairman Jim Roche and Pat Goldsmith both made motions to recommend the Town Council place a $1.5 million override question on the ballot. The board as a whole, however, did not take action because they had no time to prepare an adequate plan, they said.
Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here.
----------------------------
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
FINCOM: Mike D'Angelo's statement
From the Franklin Finance Committee meeting of 4/14/08, this segment is the statement (very well done, by the way) of Mike D'Angelo laying out what is really going on with the schools providing the support for the town wide facilities already and recommending NOT to go ahead with the consolidation.
Time: 8 minutes, 20 seconds
MP3 File
My notes made during Mike's statement:
One facilities dept already, the school manages the town facilities
Four people on facilities, all happen to be school employees
Part time custodians and trade staff are town
1M vs. town 200,000 sq ft
School required to for certifications, schools are in a lot of business
Tim (Raposa) runs town technology
School runs the food services
Town gets a lot of benefit from the schools
School grounds staff does a good job
Took town employee to a seminar for the first time
Schools are a different entity, 38 folks work hard today
Reduced staff from last year, work around children every day
They want to be involved in schools, cleaned areas that are larger due to cuts
Folks are working harder
Reality is school is doing a lot for the town
Really is the tail wagging the dog
Jeff Nutting knows my opinion
School guys there to do the floors
Debate on the 29th will be good
No MOA to let Mike do what he is doing
His recommendation is not to move, to keep it as is
All this was done out of good will for last five years
Time: 8 minutes, 20 seconds
MP3 File
My notes made during Mike's statement:
One facilities dept already, the school manages the town facilities
Four people on facilities, all happen to be school employees
Part time custodians and trade staff are town
1M vs. town 200,000 sq ft
School required to for certifications, schools are in a lot of business
Tim (Raposa) runs town technology
School runs the food services
Town gets a lot of benefit from the schools
School grounds staff does a good job
Took town employee to a seminar for the first time
Schools are a different entity, 38 folks work hard today
Reduced staff from last year, work around children every day
They want to be involved in schools, cleaned areas that are larger due to cuts
Folks are working harder
Reality is school is doing a lot for the town
Really is the tail wagging the dog
Jeff Nutting knows my opinion
School guys there to do the floors
Debate on the 29th will be good
No MOA to let Mike do what he is doing
His recommendation is not to move, to keep it as is
All this was done out of good will for last five years
FINCOM: School Budget vote
From the Franklin Finance Committee meeting on 4/14/08, this segment skips ahead of all the discussion and get right to the motion for the School Committee budget. They approved the Town Administrator recommended level funded budget with this vote.
Time: 3 minutes, 2 seconds
MP3 File
Time: 3 minutes, 2 seconds
MP3 File
Ed Cafasso - Citizens Comment Appeal
Any parent who supports a level service school budget issue should try to attend the 7 p.m. Town Council meeting on Wednesday (tomorrow) and use the “Citizen Comment” period right at the start of the meeting to ask the town councilors to look into their hearts and find a way to help the schools fund a level service school budget -- either through existing resources, an override or some combination of both.
The schools are not on the meeting agenda, so “citizen comments” will be the only chance to be heard on this issue. Committee Chairman Jeff Roy will make a statement, and the vocal support of parents would be appreciated.
Ed Cafasso
Member Franklin School Committee
The schools are not on the meeting agenda, so “citizen comments” will be the only chance to be heard on this issue. Committee Chairman Jeff Roy will make a statement, and the vocal support of parents would be appreciated.
Ed Cafasso
Member Franklin School Committee
in the News - FINCOM Meeting - 2 articles
GHS
FRANKLIN —
Despite support from most individual members of the Finance Committee, last night the group collectively decided against recommending an override to Town Council because they did not have enough time to properly plan.
After School Committee Chairman Jeffrey Roy requested the board discuss putting an override question to the public to prevent 45 layoffs in the schools, Finance Committee members spoke in favor of a tax hike.
Finance Committee Chairman Jim Roche made a motion to ask the Town Council to place a $1.5 million override question on the ballot to support the school, police, and fire departments. No one seconded his motion.
-----------------------------
GHS
FRANKLIN —
After a lengthy presentation from school officials advocating for a $58.6 million budget, the Finance Committee last night voted to recommend the $55.4 million budget proposed by Town Administrator Jeffrey D. Nutting.
Finance Committee Chairman Jim Roche said he wanted to be clear that the school budget is not being cut, "it's just not getting increased by as much" as officials say is necessary to maintain teachers, other staff and programs in schools. Nutting's recommended budget represents a 1.5 percent increase, or about $800,000 over this year's $54.6 million budget.
Even if the School Department gets the $58.6 million it is seeking, schools will not be able to hire new teachers, Superintendent Wayne Ogden said.
Monday, April 14, 2008
FINCOM votes to adjourn
Yes, that was one major highlight of the long evening Monday 4/14/08.
After hearing and reviewing the school budget and the need for an override,
with two members not returning from a five minute break,
the eight remaining could not reach an agreement on two motions for an override,
both motions ended up being withdrawn,
which quickly lead to the motion to adjourn at approx 10:20 PM.
So the FINCOM has yet to vote a full budget (schedule to be determined).
The Town Council probably won't get the budget until their second meeting in May (at this rate).
Which cuts it almost impossible to schedule a town vote for an override before June 30th.
So as it stands the school budget voted is the level funded Town Administrator approved budget which is short $3.3 Million and will result in 45 folks going out the door in June to not return in September.
Oh, and the school committee has yet to vote on their final budget. That comes on April 29th.
more details and recordings to be made available as I have time to process them
After hearing and reviewing the school budget and the need for an override,
with two members not returning from a five minute break,
the eight remaining could not reach an agreement on two motions for an override,
both motions ended up being withdrawn,
which quickly lead to the motion to adjourn at approx 10:20 PM.
So the FINCOM has yet to vote a full budget (schedule to be determined).
The Town Council probably won't get the budget until their second meeting in May (at this rate).
Which cuts it almost impossible to schedule a town vote for an override before June 30th.
So as it stands the school budget voted is the level funded Town Administrator approved budget which is short $3.3 Million and will result in 45 folks going out the door in June to not return in September.
Oh, and the school committee has yet to vote on their final budget. That comes on April 29th.
more details and recordings to be made available as I have time to process them
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