Monday, September 1, 2008

Ed Cafasso Letter - Part 2

Hello everyone!

I am passing along a brief update on school issues in Franklin, but first I need to make two corrections to the e-mail I distributed Sunday evening…

  • At Franklin High School, the graduation rate for the Class of 2008 was 98.7%. Of the graduates, 73.1% chose to attend a public or private four-year college, and 15.4% chose to attend a public or private two-year college. (My e-mail said “four-year” in the second reference.)
  • The average per pupil expenditure among school districts in Massachusetts stood at $11,859, which was $2,273 more than Franklin’s. (My e-mail said “less.”)

Thank you to the readers who pointed out my errors… I apologize. You can view the complete, corrected version of the academic-financial performance report online at: http://franklinschoolcommittee.wordpress.com/

With the school year underway, three issues are top of mind:

1. The Superintendent’s Resignation: Many parents have expressed deep disappointment in Supt. Ogden’s decision to resign, and I share that sentiment. You can expect next steps to be a topic of discussion at the School Committee meeting scheduled for the evening of Sept. 9. The mission of education goes on in Franklin and I think it’s fair to say that all the members of School Committee are committed to ensuring that the schools do the best they can this year with the resources that are available.

2. Class Sizes: The Franklin Public Schools began the 2008-09 academic year with an estimated 6,175 students, an increase of 101 students from the end of school in June and 136 more than were enrolled at the start of school in 2006. With 40 fewer teachers, there are fewer classes at all levels and too many of the classes that remain are far larger than they should be. We are already receiving reports of over-crowded classrooms at middle schools and the high school; in some cases, class sizes at Franklin High are at 40 students or more and there are not enough seats or textbooks for some students. Now that school has begun and new enrollments are being finalized, the Committee expects to receive up-to-date data on class sizes soon; I will pass it along when it becomes available.

3. Franklin High School: The reduction in instructional personnel will need to be reported to officials with the New England Association of Schools & Colleges (NEASC), which looks closely at class size in making decisions about our accreditation status. It is possible that the increased class sizes, the need for facility improvements, and the need to invest in our science and technology offerings will result in the high school being put on probation by the end of the year. Moving as quickly as possible to address the issues at Franklin High must be a top priority for the School Committee and for the town as a whole this fall.

Facilities maintenance responsibilities for school buildings and grounds were transferred to the Town control this summer after an agreement was reached to ensure that school principals retain command and control over issues inside their buildings, which is a required provision under the state’s Education Reform law. Custodial staff did another fine job preparing the buildings for the first day of school last week.

Also, I know many of you have expressed concern about the fate of the late bus, which was one of the items at risk in the override voters faced this past June. With the override’s failure, the late bus was not included in the school budget for 2008-09. For a time earlier this summer, it appeared that strong demand for the pay-to-ride program would produce enough funds to continue the late bus, but now additional unexpected new costs have arisen elsewhere within the school district. At the Aug. 26 School Committee meeting, efforts to continue the late bus were again discussed and shelved.

The rollercoaster late bus debate is a symbol of the increasingly difficult choices we face as a district. When there was a threat the late bus would be eliminated, working families protested because the service allows them to work and their children to access important after-school programs. When there was a chance there might be funds to continue the late bus, some community leaders complained that the School Committee would lose credibility if we didn’t follow through on the promised consequences of the failed override. Still others argue that if we can somehow find $40,000, we should use the funds to try to re-hire a teacher or for some other important purpose, instead of using it to revive the late bus.

At a time of scarce financial resources and a variety of urgent, under-funded needs, you can expect more of these unattractive choices to dominate School Committee discussions and decisions.

These e-mails are provided as a constituent service. I hope to distribute at least one e-mail update each month during the school year, as issues warrant. As always, I welcome your thoughts and suggestions. If you are receiving duplicate e-mails or if you no longer wish to receive these updates, please let me know and I will remove you from the distribution list. If you know of someone you would like to add to the list, please send along their e-mail address.

Thanks!

Ed Cafasso, Member

Franklin School Committee


Note: The corrections noted by Ed in the opening here have been incorporated into the posting of Part 1.

188 King St - progress


188 King St - progress, originally uploaded by shersteve.

The progress is significant.

Prior pictures can be found here and here.


School Committee Meeting - 8/26/08

No School for Horace Mann, Oak St, or ECDC on 9/2/08

Just received an automated message via the new town system alerting us to a "mechanical failure" at the Horace Mann, Oak Street and ECDC complex which will cause there to be no school on Tuesday, September 2.

No teachers or students should report on Tuesday, September 2.

NO SCHOOL - Tuesday, September 2
  • Horace Mann Middle School
  • Oak Street Elementary School
  • Early Childhood Development Center (ECDC)

    Ed Cafasso Letter - Part 1

    Hello everyone!

    I hope you are enjoying the long holiday weekend. As we begin the 2008-09 school year in Franklin, I want to share you with some objective facts about the state of your schools.

    The first section of the report below provides a summary of academic performance in Franklin as of today. A second section summarizes the financial performance of the school district based on the most recent data available.

    To me, as a parent, a citizen and a member of the School Committee, this data demonstrates that, up to now, the Franklin Public Schools have been high performing academically and have used taxpayer resources in a highly efficient manner to produce those results. How long can it continue? That’s the big question. You be the judge.


    Academic Performance


    The Franklin Public Schools received four commendations in 2007-08 from the Office of Educational Quality Assurance (EQA) that directly affect and speak to student performance: High MCAS scores, curricular alignment with state frameworks, the district professional development program, and the mentoring program.

    The district analysis of the 2007 MCAS data continues to identify the Franklin Public School System as a “high performance” district in all tests at all grade levels.

    • All students continue to outperform the state averages on the same tests in English Language Arts (ELA), Mathematics, and Science/Technology Engineering (STE).
    • All 17 tests, including three Long Composition tests, given in Grades 4, 7, and 10 scored a “High” (80-89.9) or “Very High” (90-100) performance rating.
    • MCAS 2007 included, for the first time, the addition of a science competency test at the high school. Students in the class of 2010 must pass a STE test to graduate. The district identified Biology as the test of choice since Biology is a requirement for graduation. The 2007 Grade 9 Biology CPI was 96.7 (Very High), outperforming the state by two performance ratings.
    • All Special Education subgroups in Grades 3-10 achieved a higher proficiency index than state subgroups in each of the subject tests.
    • All Low Income subgroups achieved higher proficiency indices (PI) than the state subgroups in each tested area with the exception of Grade 7 ELA, which scored equal to that of the state subgroup, and Grade 8 Math, which came in at 3 PI points below that of the state subgroup.
    • When compared with 28 top-performing districts in the state by AYP grade levels (3-5, 6-8, 9-12), Franklin outperformed 14 districts in one or more of these AYP reporting categories.
    • At the high school, 105 students were awarded the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship based on their Grade 10 MCAS performance. Students qualified for this scholarship by scoring: (a) in the Advanced category in English Language Arts or Mathematics and Advanced or Proficient in the other subject area on the grade 10 MCAS assessments; and, (b) in the top 25% of the students in the district on these tests.

    The complete MCAS report may be found on the Franklin Public Schools main web page at the following link: http://www.franklin.ma.us/auto/schools/FPS/instruct/MCAS/default.htm

    In addition, the Franklin schools met the Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) standard for 2007 in both ELA and Mathematics. This is an important improvement indicator for Franklin and identifies the district as “No Status” for two years running. From 2003-2005, the district did not meet AYP (subgroups only). In 2006, the district made AYP and maintained this status for a second year (2007). This two-year performance has officially removed the Franklin Public Schools from the “Identified for Improvement – subgroups” status.

    District and school NCLB Report Cards may be viewed on the Franklin Public Schools website at the following link:
    http://www.franklin.ma.us/auto/schools/FPS/instruct/nclbrptcd/default.htm

    At Franklin High School, the graduation rate for the Class of 2008 was 98.7%. Of the graduates, 73.1% chose to attend a public or private four-year college, and 15.4% chose to attend a public or private four-year college. Graduates chose to attend a wide range of well-known colleges or universities, including Boston College, Boston University, Bates, Brandeis, Dean College, Harvard, Hofstra, Northeastern, Providence, Syracuse, University of Pennsylvania, and U-Mass.

    School Financial Performance


    According to April 2008 data from Massachusetts Department of Education, Franklin spent $9,586 per pupil. (This data is for the 2006-07 academic year, the most recent calculated by the state.)

    Fifty-one (51) school districts spent less per pupil than Franklin, and 277 spent more per pupil than Franklin. In other words, 84% of the school districts in the state spent more per pupil than Franklin. The average per pupil expenditure among school districts in Massachusetts stood at $11,859, which was $2,273 more than Franklin’s.

    • Franklin spent $201 per pupil on school administration. The state average was $401
    • Franklin spent $480 per pupil on instructional leadership. The state average was $770.
    • Franklin spent $4,718 per pupil on classroom and specialist teachers. The state average was $4,513.
    • Franklin spent $90 per pupil on professional development. The state average was $222.
    • Franklin spent $190 per pupil on instructional materials, equipment and technology. The state average was $356.
    • Franklin spent $213 per pupil on guidance and counseling. The state average was $328.
    • Franklin spent $862 per pupil on pupil services. The state average was $1,081.
    • Franklin spent $923 per pupil on operations and maintenance. The state average was $1,041.
    • Franklin spent $908 per pupil on insurance and retirement programs. The state average was $1,929.

    The average teacher salary in Franklin stood at $56,366, according to the DOE data. Statewide, the average teacher salary was $58,257.

    Franklin’s budget for fiscal year 2009 is approximately $88 million. The school budget for the current academic year is $49.9 million, approximately $3 million less than the amount required to maintain the same level of service as last year. The town budget is funded largely by two key revenue streams – property taxes, which provide $48.8 million or 55% of the total, and state and local aid, which provides $33.5 million or about 38% of the total.

    Chapter 70 education aid accounts for the vast majority of the state aid distributed to Franklin and totals $28.7 million in the current fiscal year. Almost 58% of the budget of Franklin Public Schools is paid for through Chapter 70 funds.

    Enjoy the weekend! I plan to e-mail a second school update tomorrow evening.

    These e-mails are provided as a constituent service. If you are receiving duplicates or if you no longer wish to receive these updates, please let me know. If you know of someone you would like to add to the distribution list, please send along their email address. Thanks!

    Ed Cafasso, Member

    Franklin School Committee

    "You forget everything around you"

    GHS
    Posted Aug 31, 2008 @ 11:29 PM

    FRANKLIN —

    Turning 37 years old isn't a milestone for most people, but for Babe, a beautiful white Appaloosan horse, it's close to a miracle and reason for her loved ones to celebrate.

    In human years, Babe would be about 148 years old, estimated Cathie LaBastie, who owns and runs the property at 469 Maple St. with her husband, Steve LaBastie.

    Cathie LaBastie said for a horse to be considered old 15 years ago "was to live to the early 20s. Now, old is 32 maybe."

    Horses live longer today thanks to improvements in medical care and feed, she said.

    Babe's long life is credited to Holliston resident Julie Mahoney, who has cared for the horse over the past 16 years.

    And Babe has played an equally vital role in her owner's life, said Mahoney, who wants to pay tribute to her "faithful companion" before her 37th birthday next March.

    Read the full article in the Milford Daily New here


    Sunday, August 31, 2008

    "I would say the response has been very positive"

    MetroWest Daily News
    Posted Aug 30, 2008 @ 11:06 PM

    From the outside, they looked like any other assortment of little old ladies.

    Moments after I walked into the Sunshine Club at Franklin's Senior Center, Lena Vitti filled me in on the rules: "You have to smile to come in the door."

    Little did I know I was stepping into the lion's den.

    I'd gone to Franklin to take on Vitti and a handful of other seniors in a game of what's become the hottest must-have item at area senior centers - Wii bowling.

    Sure, I was a Wii newbie - the closest I'd come to using the video game system was a display at Best Buy, but being in my early 30s, and part of the generation that grew up with video games, I went in feeling pretty confident.

    Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here


    In the Globe - Ogden resigns

    By Rachel Lebeaux Globe Correspondent / August 31, 2008

    Franklin's superintendent of schools submitted his resignation Tuesday night, citing layoffs in the wake of voters turning down a tax increase as the deciding factor.

    "I came to Franklin in May 2006 to help move the public schools from good to great. Instead, we are beginning another academic year moving in the opposite direction," Superintendent Wayne Ogden wrote in his resignation letter to the School Committee. "We will start the 2008-2009 school year with 180 more students than when I arrived, and a budget that is several million dollars short of keeping pace with this growth."

    Read the full article in the Globe West section of Sunday's Boston Globe here

    Saturday, August 30, 2008

    Do you believe?

    This is quite an inspirational performance from a student in Dallas; Dalton Sherman.




    As you review this, translate the questions he asks to put Franklin in place of Dallas.

    Do you believe in Franklin?
    Do you believe in getting the best for Franklin's students?

    If you do, then the time for action has never been more so than now. Don't just wait for an election.

    • Show up in person at School Committee meetings
    • Show up in person at Town Council meetings
    • Get the Financial Planning Committee to get the plan together to figure out how we are going to sufficiently afford supporting our beliefs

    Supt Ogden's resignation should be a wake up call for Franklin.
    Let's stop being so immature and grow up.
    We can not continue to live with a small town mentality.
    The world has changed enormously in the last 30 years.

    The choice is before us. Do you believe in Franklin?

    What are you going to do about it?

    It 's official - "It’s the perfect combination"

    GateHouse News Service
    Posted Aug 29, 2008 @ 08:28 PM

    FRANKLIN —

    Community Web site specialist AmericanTowns.com and government Web site provider Virtual Town Hall has announced that the town of Franklin, Massachusetts has contracted with them to serve as its principal source of community information and to host its municipal Web site, respectively.

    AmericanTowns.com will now provide a hyper-local platform where residents and organizations of Franklin can find and share the best local information about their community, including a unified calendar of events; announcements by and links to local organizations; and local services and resources. Virtual Town Hall, one of the major national providers of online services to city, town and county municipalitie, is now host to Franklin’s Web site.

    Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here.

    Listen to the podcast where I discovered the local site had moved to AmericanTowns here.


    Friday, August 29, 2008

    an average of $65,000 to $135,000 annually per prisoner

    GHS
    Posted Aug 28, 2008 @ 09:45 PM

    FRANKLIN —

    News of School Superintendent Wayne Ogden's resignation "devastated" a lot of teachers and school officials across the district, said Chandler Creedon, president of the Franklin Teachers' Association and a school psychologist.

    Creedon said he is "terribly saddened" by Ogden's resignation.

    "I think there are a lot of people who are devastated by this. He had a lot to offer Franklin. He had some great insight into what we could do with the students, and I'm sad that, for whatever reason, he didn't get a chance to (realize his visions)," Creedon said.

    Ogden was always fair and very good to work with, Creedon said.

    "He was really just pretty wonderful," he said.

    Many teachers and staff are "very sad" and shocked over the news, he said.

    Everyone was hoping for a great year, Creedon said.

    Creedon said he doesn't blame Ogden for resigning, and lauded his bravery in making a statement.

    "It was a very courageous statement that he made. Basically, he's saying he doesn't think he can work in an environment where people aren't really concerned about education," Creedon said.

    "I'm not sure the community will get that message," he said.

    Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here


    Thursday, August 28, 2008

    "We're entering some tough times"

    GHS
    Posted Aug 27, 2008 @ 11:34 PM

    FRANKLIN —

    School Superintendent Wayne Ogden formally gave his resignation Tuesday, saying in a press release that restrictive budgets and massive layoffs preclude him from moving the schools "from good to great."

    "I have no desire to continue to dismantle our school system and, as such, I no longer feel I offer the right fit to lead the Franklin schools," Ogden said in a statement released by his office yesterday.

    Ogden, who came to Franklin in May 2006 after serving as assistant superintendent for Wayland public schools, will end his tenure June 30, 2009, fulfilling three years of a five-year contract.

    "I came to Franklin ... to help move the public schools from good to great. Instead, we are beginning another academic year moving in the opposite direction," he said in the statement.

    Franklin starts the 2008-2009 school year with 180 more students than when Ogden first arrived, and a budget that is several million dollars short of keeping pace with that growth, he said.

    Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here


    Wednesday, August 27, 2008

    SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT TO RESIGN EFFECTIVE JUNE 30, 2009

    FRANKLIN, MA (August 27, 2008) – Superintendent of Schools Wayne R. Ogden today announced his decision to resign his position effective June 30, 2009. Ogden formally tendered his resignation to the Franklin School Committee Chairman, Jeffrey N. Roy following last night’s committee meeting.

    Ogden issued the following statement:
    “I came to Franklin in May 2006 to help move the public schools from good to great.
    Instead, we are beginning another academic year moving in the opposite direction. We will start the 2008-09 school year with 180 more students than when I arrived and a budget that is several million dollars short of keeping pace with this growth. In the last two budget cycles, I have been forced to reduce school staff by more than 70 employees, the vast majority of them teachers, and to abandon plans to bring our schools to the next level academically. Our investment in the education of our students is now below average in every single category.

    “This retreat has occurred despite the best efforts of the school community. The School Committee has an ambitious vision for the students of Franklin that deserves passionate and thoughtful support, but the Committee cannot sustain the academic performance that the community expects when it is not given the funding required to keep pace with basic educational needs. I have no desire to continue to dismantle our school system and, as such, I no longer feel I offer the right fit to lead the Franklin schools.”

    School Committee Chairman Roy said:
    “The Committee regrets the superintendent’s decision to leave his post after three years of a five-year contract. Our schools are at a crossroads and the challenges we face are serious, but the School Committee intends to do everything we can to prevent a slide toward mediocrity. With the support of our dedicated staff and our hardworking parents and students, our collective goal is to return Franklin schools to the path of greatness.

    “School districts throughout the Commonwealth are struggling to recruit superintendents. We know it will be difficult to find a leader willing to come to a community that has begun to step back from supporting its educational mission. The School Committee will begin discussions regarding a successor as quickly as possible in the hopes of finding a highly qualified individual who can help us overcome the challenges ahead. ”

    Supt. Ogden resigns

    Superintendent Wayne Ogden submitted his resignation to the School Committee yesterday and notified the teachers today.
    Updated:
    I'll provide a link to the School Committee press release on this matter later. The resignation is effective June 2009.

    Mobile post sent by shersteve using Utterz. reply-count Replies.

    In the News - late bus eliminated

    GHS
    Posted Aug 27, 2008 @ 12:36 AM

    FRANKLIN —

    At the superintendent's recommendation, the School Committee decided not to have a late bus, despite earlier assurances that it would be saved.

    In nearly a 180-degree turnaround from his previous announcement, Superintendent Wayne Ogden last night recommended the School Committee not offer the popular late bus this year, and members did not search for a way to fund it, saying they could not afford it.

    Ogden said the board did not need to take any action, because it wasn't in the budget to begin with. He had thought he found the funds for it, but now says they won't have the money.

    "I'm sorry to say this, because I really felt a month ago we were going to be able to do that (keep the late bus)," Ogden said, explaining that earlier revenue projections from pay-to-ride bus fees did not materialize as expected.

    Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here.


    Tuesday, August 26, 2008

    Live reporting - Action Items

    4. Action Items:
    • I recommend acceptance of the donation of various scientific supplies, glassware, equipment, safety and storage resources by Spherics, Incorporated for the Franklin High School. Accepted - 6-0
    • I recommend approval of the FPS Handbooks Accepted - 6-0
    • I recommend adoption of Policy KF – Building Use Accepted - 6-0
    • I recommend adoption of Policy Manual Review:
    o Policy BCG – Policy Revision & Review
    o Policy BCG-E – Policy Manual Review Procedure
    o Policy BGB – Policy Adoption
    o Policy BGF – Suspension of Policies
    o Policy BIBA – School Committee Conferences, Conventions & Workshops
    as detailed above (paperwork in discussion section).

    All policies Accepted - 6-0

    • I recommend acceptance of a check for $400.00 from the JFK PCC for bus fee for a Kindergarten field trip to Southwick Zoo on May 16, 2008. Accepted - 6-0

    Live reporting - high school scheduling problem

    Last run of students revealed about 200 students with an opening on the schedule. Can't have study hall by law. Uncapped science to increase enrollment and that took some of the pressure off.

    Still had 160-170 left to cover. One English teacher left for an other opportunity. We could replace that person but it wouldn't solve the problem. A social study teacher would not solve the problem.

    Increasing a music person (using the English person slot) would solve the problem. By adding back this music, choral position we can solve the scheduling problem.

    Matt:
    Why can't we stick them in study halls.

    Wayne:
    Since 1996, study halls have been banned by the Department of Education.

    Paula:
    What did this do to the English class sizes?

    Pam:
    It did bump it up a little. The issue is with this electives and English is not generally taken as an elective, it is required and taken then. It is a public perception. This is a transfer of a position, not an add back in.

    Bottom line:
    Some choral programs are back with the hiring of a music teacher to backfill for an English teacher who recently resigned.

    Live reporting - bus update, no late bus

    Maureen Sabolinski - Central Office had only received one call about cross walks not being painted. They referred the call to the Town Administrator. Most of the calls to the schools were minor and overall this was one of the best openings.

    If you hear of problems, please let us know. One crowded bus so far, at Annie Sullivan that will be addressed tomorrow.

    Amount of transaction in the last couple of days has been busy with new enrollments.

    Will need to provide an FY 09 bus update later. The most recent registrations have not yet been processed into the system to provide some output and look at what the impact would be.

    Making bus adjustments, adding some spots for where folks moved into the area over the summer.

    One of the most striking numbers is that what we budget for transportation is not what it costs. There is a gap for actual cost of transportation and what we budget.

    Miriam Goodman:
    Not all late enrollments are going to be pay-to-ride

    Explains that some of the pay-to-ride money received in June was booked into FY 08. It is properly accounted for but will help to explain why the top line won't balance to the bottom line.

    What extraordinary expenses can we face? How do we forecast that? Loss of power, i.e. Kennedy has experienced that. Those are generally separate charges for additional expenses. Holmes has been good and not charged in all instances.

    Cora:
    Fuel escalation?

    Miriam:
    First year of new contract. Only eight payments against the total seen.

    Ed:
    Contract started in 06-07 school year with options to extend. What was the price?

    Miriam:
    The fuel escalation does both ways, up and down. It is possible that we will see some decrease with the recent decreases. I would be happy if we don't have to pay that and I am sure you would be also. Would need to renew sometime before 2010.

    Ed:
    Clarification on which students go into which category? By virtue of who we have to pay for, where would we see them?

    Miriam:
    This is only pay-to-ride students. Students who are already riding are not included in this.

    Maureen:
    We can try to include the full ridership numbers in the next update.

    Ed:
    Shortfall of revenue to cost increasing each year.

    Maureen:
    Choice to cut other areas of the budget to subsidize this less or to increase the pay-to-ride to be more self-sufficient. No way to adjust re-routing to reduce buses. Could look at the start time to adjust as most high schools are not bus eligible but are pay-to-ride. Changing the start time has not been a palatable solution.

    Ed:
    Thanks for taking care of the Lincoln/Maple bend in the route.

    Matt:
    Can we ask the advertising subcommittee to look at the advertising option on the Holmes buses.

    Ed:
    We can add that to our agenda.

    Jeff:
    We had looked at funding the late bus, do we have an update?

    Wayne:
    The projections made in prior meetings were optimistic. The fuel escalation costs have increased. Due to some other factors, four in total. It would be unwise financially to do so (i.e. continue the late bus).

    Ed:
    All the parents I have talked with were glad to have saved to the late bus, to do otherwise now would not be good. I would strongly suggest to the committee to direct the administration to reconsider.

    Cora:
    Clubs start in Sep not Oct. I can't see keeping it considering the other reductions we have made.

    Maureen:
    We looked at that and the fee could be upwards of $300/student.

    Wayne:
    GATRA can provide some service to the high school and to those middle school students who walk over, at $.50 per student.

    Ed:
    Given the amount of adjustments we have made with the budget, moving funds around to balance, I can't see that we can't find something to continue this.

    Jeff:
    We had a long discussion on the budget subcommittee. We have some additional expenses coming at us, special education ($100,000 just for the transportation, doesn't include the actual special ed expense).

    I would love to have it stay. The message was clear that the override failure would lead to this.

    Ed:
    It wasn't only parents that voted in the override. They would thank you for saving the late bus. It is not that we can't fund the clubs. It is just for the few tens of thousands that we should be able to fund this.

    Jeff:
    I hear you. If we don't identify this cut, then we would have to identify another cut to fund the late bus. I appreciate the need for the late bus. It is not something we can afford. Over 40 teachers, class sizes increased, how many over 30 per class.

    Sue:
    There has been sensitivity to the increase of the $100 fee. This is a difficult descision.

    Live reporting - Land easement

    Mike D'Angelo providing an update on the easement that the Town Council started action on in their meeting 8/20. This is too clear up title search and clean up the records to allow for the development to the senior assisted living facility being planned for Eaton Place.

    The electric easement is on the left side about 40 foot before the end of Panther Way. Across the way, there is a drainage easement required.

    On the agenda tonight for discussion only. Action will come in a future meeting.

    Cora:
    Clarification on location of easement, does it interfere with the new drop off?

    Mike:
    No.

    Cora:
    Would this intefere with any of our future plans for renovations to the high school.

    Mike:
    Not really. Should be far enough away. If there was any impact, this would be a minor cost if required.

    Matt:
    The water easement, and issue for flooding on the fields.

    Mike:
    No, the section they are talking about is a low volume area. Further down, there are a couple of drains coming together and from that point forward there is good volume of water.

    Ed:
    Who needs this?

    Mike:
    The developers of the site. It is to our advantage that they do this and do it properly. We don't want any runoff from the hill or the springs up there coming our way. They have one permit for 50 units. There could be more later but only this one is permitted thus far. They have been trying since 1999 to get this thing going. I have net with the developer a number of times to review and plan this.

    Ed:
    This is a small easement? I have trouble with it going to a for-profit corporation with nothing in return. This is already set into motion.

    Mike:
    There is already too much water up on the property. Really shouldn't use any of the existing piping.

    Ed:
    When does construction start?

    Mike:
    Next month assuming things all work out.

    Sue:

    Mike:
    The water needs to come down in a direct route. It will end up recharging the wet lands. It is desirable to do so. All the roof drains in Horace Mann and the High School go back into the ground to replenish the aquifer.

    Matt:
    With so much water over there is there something we can do to re-use it?

    Mike:
    Something to think about. A lot of initial cost for separate piping to use the water through the flushes rather than fresh water. Some work is being done in that area but not a lot yet.

    Jeff:
    Would like to get clarification from the FHS renovation architect on the placement of the water easement and the position of the FHS renovations. Has anyone put their seal on this to really signed off on this?

    Mike:
    No one has definitively looked at the wet lands. There is no real drainage on the fields themselves. The fields sheet drain into the wet lands.

    Jeff:
    Just looking to make sure than the runoff won't cause problems come spring.

    Mike:
    That site is really tough I wouldn't want to develop that site. We did some test drills and there was water really close to the surface of the ledge. Their engineer could comment on the wet lands and volume. They have to commit to not putting more into the wet lands than currently is.

    Live reporting - school handbooks

    Cora:
    first tardy an automatic, added phrasing for unexcused absences to be reviewed with Principal

    Pam Gould, FHS Principal
    review of changes to handbook, included in the agenda book based upon Covey's 7 Habits. This year will be the second year Covey will be incorporated. Handbook rules laid out in simple format; if you do this, this will happen.

    Drug and alcohol policy, adds a 45 day social probation and random drug and alcohol testing. MIAA rules and procedures will govern athletes.

    Matt:
    Nothing mentioned in there about lockdowns.

    Pam:
    Yes, we want to get it in. It is too cumbersome right now.

    Asst Supt. Maureen Sabolinski:
    A lot of the information does need to be kept confidential.

    Pam:
    Need to review some of the details to determine what will be kept in and what can be left out.

    Paula:
    How was this overed in the budget?

    Pam:
    This is an expense but it was already included in the supply amount originally accounted for.

    Karen Seyfried:
    No room in budget to accommodate scholarships. Reviewed options with local agencies to provide assistance. She also showcased the revised "Family Public Pre-school Handbook"

    Asst Supt Maureen offered to stand in for Dr Burgin and answer some questions on the Horace Mann handbook. Page one error being corrected. Updates will made to the online version of the handbook. This saves approx. $7-800 cost.

    Cora:
    If someone doesn't have one, or doesn't have online access?

    Maureen:
    There are some available in the office.

    Susan:
    Good to have highlighted the new sections vs. the unchanged, saves reading all the way through.

    Live reporting - School Committee meeting

    1. Routine Business
    • Citizen’s Comments - none present to make a comment
    • Review of Agenda
    • Minutes: I recommend approval of the minutes from the August 5, 2008 School Committee Meeting. approved yes, 5; abstain, 1
    • Payment of Bills - Mr. Kelly
    • Payroll - Ms. Armenio
    • FHS Student Representatives
    • Correspondence: none

    Note: Roberta Trahan stuck flying back from Baltimore, should have been here in time but due to the delays in the air traffic today.

    School Committee Agenda - 8/26/08

    Franklin School Committee Meeting
    August 26, 2008
    Municipal Building – Council Chambers
    7:00 P.M.

    AGENDA

    Call to order Mr. Roy
    Pledge of Allegiance
    Moment of Silence

    1. Routine Business
    • Citizen’s Comments
    • Review of Agenda
    • Minutes:
    I recommend approval of the minutes from the August 5, 2008 School Committee Meeting.
    • Payment of Bills Mr. Kelly
    • Payroll Ms. Armenio
    • FHS Student Representatives
    • Correspondence:
    none

    2. Guests/Presentations:
    • Handbooks

    3. Discussion Only Items
    • Surplus land behind High School to Town for Senior Housing Project
    • Pay to Ride Update
    • Update on a scheduling problem at FHS
    • Policy KF – Building Use – Second Reading
    • Policy Manual Review – Second Reading
    o Policy BCG – Policy Revision & Review
    o Policy BCG-E – Policy Manual Review Procedure
    o Policy BGB – Policy Adoption
    o Policy BGF – Suspension of Policies
    o Policy BIBA – School Committee Conferences, Conventions & Workshops


    4. Action Items:
    1. I recommend acceptance of the donation of various scientific supplies, glassware, equipment, safety and storage resources by Spherics, Incorporated for the Franklin High School.
    2. I recommend approval of the FPS Handbooks
    3. I recommend adoption of Policy KF – Building Use
    4. I recommend adoption of Policy Manual Review:
    o Policy BCG – Policy Revision & Review
    o Policy BCG-E – Policy Manual Review Procedure
    o Policy BGB – Policy Adoption
    o Policy BGF – Suspension of Policies
    o Policy BIBA – School Committee Conferences, Conventions & Workshops
    as detailed above (paperwork in discussion section).
    5. I recommend acceptance of a check for $400.00 from the JFK PCC for bus fee for a Kindergarten field trip to Southwick Zoo on May 16, 2008.

    5. Information Matters:
    • Superintendent’s Report
    a. Easement
    b. FHS Scheduling Problem
    c. Pay to Ride
    d. Opening of School
    e. NEASC
    • 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
    • Contractual Negotiations

    8. Adjourn

    Parmenter Nature Trail

    The G M Parmenter Elementary School has a very nice nature trail located in the woods behind the school on Wachusett Street here in Franklin.

    The trail is about one quarter mile long, mostly along a dirt path with pine needle carpeting. There is a slight decline at the beginning and some stairs to help on the incline at the end.

    Dolores and I took a walk there on a recent weekend and these photos will take you along with us on the walk. Click to view the 16 picture slide show.


    View slideshow


    Enjoy!

    Monday, August 25, 2008

    Sign restrictions

    The chain link fence along the bridge over the railroad tracks has been a frequent posting spot of announcements for local activities. No longer to be used this way according to the notice there now:

    Franklin: Sign restriction
    There is a Creative Commons license attached to this image. AttributionNoncommercialShare Alike

    Since this is a state sponsored sign, I guess this is allowed:

    Franklin: Sign exception?
    There is a Creative Commons license attached to this image. AttributionNoncommercialShare Alike

    Sunday, August 24, 2008

    FM #10 - 5 things from the week ending 8/24/08

    Another in a series of podcasts on what matters in Franklin, MA. This one reviews the four key items from the Town Council Meeting of 8/20/08 and the lack of a quorum for the Financial Planning Committee on 8/21/08.

    Time: 18 minutes, 20 seconds



    MP3 File

    Session Notes:

    Music intro

    My intro

    From the Town Council meeting this past Wednesday, there are four things I think you should be aware of. However, the most important item from the week is the lack of a quorum at the Financial Planning Committee meeting on the 21st.

    From the Town Council meeting of 8/20/08

    1 - Bylaw Amendment 08-627: Chapter 4, Public Notice and Advertising of Public Hearings – 2nd Reading

    As discussed in the 7/23/08 meeting, the Council moved to adjust the notifications. Jeff Nutting references 2 of the three questions from that meeting. The third question, to provide examples of such that would be covered by this, if it was answered, it does not appear during the discussion nor in the council meeting package.

    The Town Council meeting package for 8/20/08 can be found here: http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2008tc/082008agenda.pdf

    listen here

    2 - Resolution 05-55 – Transfer of Care, Custody, Management and Control of Red Brick School From Franklin School Committee to Franklin Town Council

    The Benjamin Franklin Charter School inquiry is discussed but the inquiry by the Franklin School for Modern Art is not referenced although the Milford Daily News and the Boston Globe cover both this interests.

    Milford Daily News:
    http://www.milforddailynews.com/homepage/x169545726/Brick-School-issues-still-need-resolution

    Boston Globe:
    http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/08/24/potential_tenants_study_franklins_historic_brick_school/?rss_id=Boston+Globe+--+Globe+West

    listen here

    3 - Zoning Bylaw Amendment 08-625: Chapter 185-5, Town Code: Zoning Map – Business to Commercial II – 7:10 PM - covers the land of the Knights of Columbus, and along that row of Tedeschi’s, Dunkin Donuts. The hearing was closed and this item was moved to first reading

    4 - Town Administrator, Jeff Nutting presented on an update on the Town's efforts to reduce auto fuel used. A "No idling" policy was issued, Jeff will come back to Council with a request to balance the fuel budget. With increase in gas prices, they are projecting they will be about $100,000 short. Jeff talked of coming back in a future meeting with some actions to handle this. Apparently there was a change in our revenue forecast due to the MBTA and GATRA assessments. This change will result in an increase in revenues of about 160,000. Stay tuned to see what happens on this front.

    5 - The most important thing this week, I think was the lack of a quorum at the Financial Planning Committee meeting on 8/21/08.

    The group is chartered with defining our future financial needs and then coming up with a plan to get the town to agree to. One, their own internal communications appear to be lacking. Of the nine official members, two were present, only one other was acknowledged having a prior notification of absence. What happened to the other 6?

    If they can’t communicate within the group, will they be able to communicate out to us?

    -----------

    This podcast has been a public service provided to my fellow Franklin citizens and voters by Steve Sherlock

    For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.blogspot.com/

    If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

    The musical intro and closing is from the Podsafe Music Network
    Jon Schmidt - Powerful Exhilarating Piano Music

    Franklin: Schools open Tuesday


    Franklin: Schools open Tuesday, originally uploaded by shersteve.

    Yes, the summer is coming to an end.

    Dolores has her classroom ready to welcome her new set of friends at Oak Street.

    Check to see what time your kindergarten orientation is on Tuesday.

    Drive with alertness to keep all the Franklin students safe!

    Franklin: Andro's Pizza


    Franklin: Andro's Pizza, originally uploaded by shersteve.

    Yes, this used to be Aroma's Caffe.

    Soon it will be Andro's Pizza.

    BTW - also on the food front, noticed a sign that says Nonni Roses' is now offering a full breakfast Thu-Fri-Sat.

    Friday, August 22, 2008

    Reminder: Beaver St closed beginning 8/25/08

    Reminder that due to construction Beaver Street will be closed for approx. three weeks.

    The section of Beaver Street from West Central Street to Grove Street will be closed to through traffic from August 25, 2008 to approximately September 12, 2008. The purpose of the road closing is to reconstruct the Mine Brook drainage culvert.

    Access up to and including Master Drive will be from West Central Street. Access to the Beaver Street Recycling Center and the Beaver Pond recreational facilities will be from Grove Street.

    The original stories appeared here

    Wind turbine success

    How is this related to Franklin? You may recall that the Sisters of St Mary's Abbey are preparing a wind turbine of their own. It won't be quite as tall as this one. Their wind turbine is reported to be approx. 130 foot tall. This is 253 foot.

    Jiminy Peak, a western Mass. mountain resort, marked the one year anniversary on August 15 of flipping the switch and connecting its 1.5 megawatt GE wind turbine to the grid. The turbine, nicknamed Zephyr, is now generating a full third of the ski resort's power. But getting there wasn't exactly a breeze.

    Nestled in the Berkshires, Jiminy Peak claims to be the first privately held company in the nation to have installed a megawatt class turbine. Its Zephyr (named after the Greek god of wind) sits on a 253-ft. tower, with each of its three blades reaching approximately 123 feet into the air, making the wind turbine taller than the Statue of Liberty.

    The turbine generates 4.6 million kWh (kilowatt hours) of energy or enough to light up the TVs, DVDs, microwaves and refrigerators in 613 homes for a year. Most of the power is generated in winter, when mountain winds peak, and demand at the resort is at its highest, due to the demands of snowmaking equipment.

    Read the full article in InformationWeek here

    Thursday, August 21, 2008

    Financial Planning Committee Meeting - live reporting

    There is an insufficient quorum for the meeting this evening. Hence, no meeting.


    Updated:
    Two members present: Rebecca Cameron and Roberta Trahan
    Two unofficial members present: Jeff Nutting and Wayne Ogden
    One other member was acknowledged as being heard from, he was leaving town for family vacation (Steve Whalen).

    In the News - Brick, 704 Washington

    GHS
    Posted Aug 21, 2008 @ 12:14 AM

    FRANKLIN —

    Town councilors voted yesterday to accept the Red Brick School from the School Department, with some saying they still hope to have it be used for education by another group.

    The school was declared a surplus earlier this month by the School Committee, which sought to transfer ownership of the building to the town.

    The motion passed 6-1, with Councilor Robert Vallee casting the opposing vote.

    Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

    ------------------

    GHS
    Posted Aug 20, 2008 @ 10:33 PM

    FRANKLIN —

    The company owned by Councilor Joseph E. McGann and former Police Chief Lawrence Benedetto wants to withdraw its application for a retail development on Washington Street.

    Their lawyer, Richard R. Cornetta Jr., made the request in a letter this week to the Zoning Board of Appeals, which votes on the matter tonight at 7:30.

    McGann and Benedetto's proposal for a two-story 20,000-square-foot retail building met strong opposition from people living nearby. Mark Seifert, one of the leaders of a group called "It Does Not Fit, Do Not Permit," said he is pleased with the decision.

    Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here


    704 Washington St Update

    To those who have indicated to be notified about updates on the public hearings regarding the development at 704 Washington Street:

    On August 18, 2008, Lajero LLC withdrew their application for variances. The application for variances were scheduled to be heard at a public hearing before the Town of Franklin Zoning Board of Appeals on August 21st . That hearing is cancelled. No other hearings are scheduled at this time. You will be notified (via email or by standard mail) in the future of any subsequent developments. Thank you for your interest in the matter. Refer to the website www.home.comcast.net/~doesnotfit for details and future communications.

    Thank you for your continued interest.

    --
    Mark and Julie Seifert
    7 Jefferson Rd, Franklin, MA 02038
    508.440.5561
    www.home.comcast.net/~doesnotfit

    Monday, August 18, 2008

    FM #9 - Quiet Week & Look ahead

    Another in a series of podcast on what matters in Franklin (MA). This looks back at the summer week that was and ahead to the Town Council and the Financial Planning Committee meetings.

    Time: 9 minutes, 18 seconds



    MP3 File

    Session Notes:

    Music intro

    My intro

    This was a relatively quiet week in Franklin. Many folks out of town enjoying summer vacation. No Town Council meeting. No School Committee meeting.

    So what did happen this past week?
    • King St/I495 construction announced
    • Repairs on the library have started

    What do we have coming up this week?
    • Town Council meeting on Wednesday the 20th - Agenda posted.

    I think the most interesting items on the agenda:

    Hearing
    Zoning Bylaw Amendment 08-625: Chapter 185-5, Town Code: Zoning Map – Business to Commercial II – 7:10 PM - Knights of Columbus building and land

    Presentations
    • Fuel Efficiency –Jeff Nutting, Town Administrator
    • Disaster Mitigation Plan- Gary McCarraher

    Legislation for action
    1. Resolution 08-53 – Order of Layout, Acceptance and Taking Newell Drive, Dover Circle, Cohasset Way, Sherborn Lane and Related Easements
    2. Resolution 08-54 – Order of Layout, Acceptance and Taking of Hancock Road, Winthrop Road, Corey Way and Lantern Road and Related Easements
    3. Resolution 05-55 – Transfer of Care, Custody, Management and Control of Red Brick School From Franklin School Committee to Franklin Town Council
    4. Bylaw Amendment 08-627: Chapter 4, Public Notice and Advertising of Public Hearings – 2nd Reading

    Financial Planning Committee is scheduled to meet on 8/21/08

    This committee has their meeting schedule available on the new town web site but I don’t find anything else for them, meeting agendas, meeting minutes, etc.

    Community section takes you off the new virtual Town Hall pages to a new portal provided by American Towns. Nice layout, seems to have all the prior community links moved over. In a future podcast, I’ll spend some time looking through those pages. In the meantime, go exploring. If you find something there of interest, let me know. If you find something missing, that should be there, let me know

    Ben Franklin would say: "Never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today."

    -----------
    This podcast has been a public service provided to my fellow Franklin citizens and voters by Steve Sherlock

    For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.blogspot.com/

    If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

    The musical intro and closing is from the Podsafe Music Network
    Jon Schmidt - Powerful Exhilarating Piano Music

    in the News - Center Commons, Sgt Pirelli

    Franklin Center Commons moves forward

    By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

    Developer John Marini isn't letting today's economy drag down his part of Franklin's $28 million downtown revitalization project.

    "He's got a large amount of his own personal money involved in this," said Eileen Mason, a sales agent with Costello Realty representing the Marini property.

    When Marini finished constructing the first of four buildings at 9 Summer St., last May, financial advisers, consultants, and a pain management company, among others, moved quickly to rent the professional offices on the second and third floors. Mason said retailers like Pretty is Pink and ARTBEAT moved in at the street level.

    "It did not take long to fill out that professional office space," Mason said, noting the dual draw of the commuter rail and the high traffic. Every day, 22,000 cars travel downtown, she said.



    ----------------

    Pirelli scholarship fundraiser to be held in September

    By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff


    Just like his "old man," Staff Sgt. Robert Ryan Pirelli loved kids, recalled his father, Robert Pirelli, a long-time TV announcer for Franklin Youth Hockey, coach and ice cream man.

    While serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom, Pirelli played football and baseball with Iraqi kids, Robert Pirelli said, remembering with amusement how his son gave the children baseball mitts, but they didn't understand they were for catching the ball.

    "He threw the ball to one kid, and the kid didn't use the glove, it just hit his chest," he said, so Pirelli taught them all what the glove was for and other baseball basics.

    "He just loved working with kids over there. He saw the appreciation they had," Pirelli said. One child's mother made a bracelet and sent it to Rob's sister, Stacey, to thank him, his father said.



    ----------------

    Father reflects on fallen Green Beret

    By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff


    For Robert Pirelli, the memories come one after the other, as time seems to collapse into vignettes of the moments he shared with his son, Staff Sgt. Robert Ryan Pirelli.

    Rob's post office tree-house he ran with his brother, Shawn, and sister, "Postmaster Stacey," inspired by their father, a postal worker.

    Rob on the ice, "accidentally" blasting a puck at the glass protecting the Franklin Youth Hockey commentator - his dad.

    One of the first father and son bonding moments: little Rob walking out of the house, looking at his dad's ice cream truck and back at his dad, realizing, "My dad's the ice cream man!" Robert Pirelli remembers, breaking into a smile.

    Town Council - Agenda - 8/20/08

    FRANKLIN TOWN COUNCIL

    August 20, 2008
    7:00 PM

    A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - None

    B. ANNOUNCEMENTS

    C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS

    D. CITIZEN COMMENTS

    E. APPOINTMENTS – Historical Commission –Regular Member
    Associate Member

    F. HEARINGS – Zoning Bylaw Amendment 08-625: Chapter 185-5, Town Code: Zoning Map – Business to Commercial II – 7:10 PM

    G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS – Franklin Country Club- Change or manager/directors

    H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
    • Fuel Efficiency –Town Administrator
    • Disaster Mitigation Plan- Gary McCarraher

    I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

    J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
    1. Resolution 08-53 – Order of Layout, Acceptance and Taking Newell Drive, Dover Circle, Cohasset Way, Sherborn Lane and Related Easements
    2. Resolution 08-54 – Order of Layout, Acceptance and Taking of Hancock Road, Winthrop Road, Corey Way and Lantern Road and Related Easements
    3. Resolution 05-55 – Transfer of Care, Custody, Management and Control of Red Brick School From Franklin School Committee to Franklin Town Council
    4. Bylaw Amendment 08-627: Chapter 4, Public Notice and Advertising of Public Hearings – 2nd 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

    Sunday, August 17, 2008

    In the news - King St/I495 construction, storyteller at library

    King Street work slated at long last
    By Rachel Lebeaux
    Globe Correspondent / August 17, 2008

    A long-awaited overhaul for busy King Street in Franklin has received an injection of state funds that will allow the project - offering improved traffic flow, better signals, and enhanced vehicle, pedestrian, and bicycle safety - to move forward next spring.

    The state Transportation Improvement Program has allotted $3.8 million in state and federal funds toward the project, which focuses on upgrades to the Interstate 495 ramps at King Street. Work will extend along King Street from Union Street to Upper Union Street, and include construction on Upper Union Street from King Street to Constitution Boulevard.

    The project is slated to go out for bid this fall, with construction starting next spring. Robert "Brutus" Cantoreggi, director of Franklin's Department of Public Works, said he expects construction will last 18 months. While there are likely to be delays, the roads involved in the project will remain open, he said.

    The project is aimed at reducing traffic congestion and improving safety measures at several bustling intersections along King Street and at Interstate 495.

    Read the full article in the Boston Globe here

    --------------

    FRANKLIN -

    On Tuesday, Aug. 26, the Franklin Public Library is hosting Carolyn Martino, professional storyteller, actress, writer and educator at 7 p.m. in the Meeting Room.

    "Enjoy the musical rhythms and joyous logic of all that is Italian in a Bella Notte of Italian storytelling as Martino captures you with her humor, warmth and style,'' says Margaret Ellis, the library's literacy coordinator.

    This program is funded by the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners with funds from the LSTA, a Federal source of library funding provided by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

    Originally published in the Franklin Gazette on Friday August 15, 2008.


    Solar powered?

    Solar powered?

    There is a Creative Commons license attached to this image. AttributionNoncommercialShare Alike

    I remember hearing about these new solar powered recycle devices at one of the Town Council meetings.

    Great idea. Green all over. Solar powered compaction, reduces the number of times the container would need to be emptied.

    Why position this device in the shade of a tree?
    Will it get enough sunlight?

    Saturday, August 16, 2008

    What would Ben say?


    What would Ben say?, originally uploaded by shersteve.

    "Never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today."

    Benjamin Franklin

    Hence, having missed prior opportunities for regular maintenance on the library, the scaffolding is up now for repairs before the situation gets any worse.

    Red flag

    utterz-image
    is this a warning to birds to keep away?

    found this pole near the corner of Wachusetts and Arlington streets

    Mobile post sent by shersteve using Utterz. reply-count Replies.

    Thursday, August 14, 2008

    In the News - attempted arson, Brick future

    GHS
    Posted Aug 14, 2008 @ 01:03 AM

    FRANKLIN —

    Leading up to the McDonough family's 200-year-old barn, a blotchy trail of gasoline still darkens Partridge Street, a trace of an attempted arson during the early hours of Aug. 4.

    "They started at the barn, went down the driveway, down the street," said Bill Tavia, who found matches next to a five-gallon gas can between the McDonough home at 430 Partridge St., and 443 Partridge St., a group home for people with developmental disabilities.

    "They thought they could light it and it would fire up like they saw in the movies. Thank God it didn't," said Tavia, a former Bellingham Police officer and neighbor who had just finished renovating and painting the McDonough's post-and-beam barn two days earlier.

    Read the full story in the Milford Daily News here

    ---------------

    GHS
    Posted Aug 14, 2008 @ 12:50 AM

    FRANKLIN —

    Town Council will decide Wednesday whether to accept ownership of the historic Red Brick School from the School Department, which declared the property as surplus at its last meeting.

    A future tenant could keep the building's historic integrity intact and keep the building on the National Historic Register by using it for educational purposes, officials have said.

    Two such entities - the Benjamin Charter Classical Public Charter School, and artist/art instructor Don Carlucci - have expressed interest in renting the building, which is about 500 to 600 square feet, said Town Administrator Jeffrey D. Nutting.

    Yesterday morning, Nutting gave a tour of the Brick School to Carlucci, the owner of the Franklin School of Modern Art, he said.

    read the full article in the Milford Daily News here


    Wednesday, August 13, 2008

    FM #8 - Storm Water Presentation

    Another in a series of podcasts on Franklin(MA) Matters, this one focusing on the DPW presentation on storm water and how they propose to handle it including a possible new fee. This presentation is from the July 23, 2008 Town Council meeting.

    Time: 21 minutes, 53 seconds



    MP3 File

    Session Notes:

    Music intro

    My intro

    I was on vacation last week and missed both the School Committee and Town Council meetings on August 5th and 6th.

    I tried to obtain a DVD copy of the meetings from the Library and was surprised that they only have meetings from April on hand currently. Maybe you knew this already. It was the first time I tried to get this copy. Apparently, the cable company brings over 3 months of meetings at a time. So the next delivery would bring over May, June and July but the first week of August meetings would not be available until November.

    Anyway, from the Town Council meeting on 7/23/08 there was the full DPW presentation on storm water handling that was too long to include in the last session.

    This segment is about 18 minutes. It includes the full DPW resentation but not the Q&A with the councilors after the presentation.

    ------------

    This podcast has been a public service provided to my fellow Franklin citizens and voters by Steve Sherlock

    For additional textual information, please visit Franklinmatters.blogspot.com/

    If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

    The musical intro and closing is from the Podsafe Music Network
    Jon Schmidt - Powerful Exhilarating Piano Music

    Tuesday, August 12, 2008

    In the News - more on cats, zoning issue, by-law emergency

    GHS
    Posted Aug 12, 2008 @ 01:28 AM

    FRANKLIN —

    A feral cat colony living behind Highwood Condominiums is the pride and joy of elderly resident Dorothy "Dottie" Luff, but other residents living closest to the cats' feeding station say the felines are just a nuisance.

    "No one wants to hurt the cat people or send (Dottie) into distress," resident Madelyn McAneny said yesterday. "But these cats are using my yard as their litter box."

    A group of neighbors gathered yesterday to dispel public perceptions surrounding the controversy over these cats.

    "It's not that we don't like animals," Highwood Road resident Ruth Bayer said. "We're just concerned with the health issues, the smell and our property values."

    "This is not us against Dorothy," McAneny added.

    Last month, Pioneer Property Management responded to heightened complaints and notified residents the cats would be trapped and removed from the site. But pleas from officials and caretakers, including Luff, have halted the trapping.

    Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

    GHS
    Posted Aug 12, 2008 @ 01:06 AM

    FRANKLIN —

    Planners recommended the town adopt a zoning change to allow a wider variety of development near the Knights of Columbus on Rte. 140.

    The Planning Board last night voted in favor of recommending Town Council rezone a portion of West Central Street (Rte. 140) from Business/Single Family III to Commercial II.

    Town Planner Beth Dahlstrom and Town Engineer William Yadisernia also supported the change.

    "The Knights of Columbus is selling the property, and we want to increase the redevelopment potential of the lots in that area. The Knights of Columbus is in need of substantial redevelopment," Yadisernia said.

    Neither he nor Dahlstrom knew the prospective buyer of the Knights' property, which they estimated to be between 7 and 10 acres.

    The proposal involves seven adjacent parcels of land (on the zoning maps, parcels 270-024-000 through 270-030-000), including the Knights of Columbus property, a Dunkin' Donuts, a gas station, and single-family homes, Dahlstrom said.

    Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

    GHS
    Posted Aug 12, 2008 @ 01:25 AM

    FRANKLIN —

    Anticipating vast increases in the price of home heating oil this winter, Councilor Stephen Whalen is proposing the town suspend a prohibitive bylaw to enable more residents to convert from oil to natural gas.

    "One of my fears is, a lot of people are going to be caught off-guard by the huge increase in heating oil," said Whalen, who is a senior financial analyst with Liberty Mutual Group.

    He had just read a report projecting oil will cost homeowners 70 percent more than last year, and gas, 25 percent to 30 percent more, when he received an e-mail from Maple Street resident Joshua Phillips objecting to a bylaw that prevents him from tapping into natural gas, said Whalen.

    "I'm not an expert, but there is a consensus in the financial community that oil will go up more than gas," said Whalen.

    Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

    Sunday, August 10, 2008

    In the News - cookies, St Rocco's, vacant houses

    The St Rocco's Festival cookie contest recap with winner Donna Copponi

    Donna's winning recipe for Chocolate Chip Cookies

    Plenty of good food at St Rocco's

    And on the vacant house front:

    Pellegri, who has been Franklin's town clerk for 24 years, said she finds the number of vacancies listed - 778 - alarming.

    That figure is down slightly from April, when the listing was 805, she said, but in past years, it is typically in the high 400s or low 500s, Pellegri said.

    Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

    Saturday, August 9, 2008

    Franklin changes

    Go away for a few days and upon return to Franklin you can find some changes.

    A new foundation is being put together for a house in an empty lot on King St:

    Franklin: Foundation on King St

    There is a Creative Commons license attached to this image. AttributionNoncommercialShare Alike


    Work on the columns at the old Town Hall, new museum resumes downtown:

    Franklin: Column work resumes

    There is a Creative Commons license attached to this image. AttributionNoncommercialShare Alike


    And quite a stir is being raised over some feral cats. The article appeared yesterday in the Milford Daily News and got picked up by the Boston Globe today.

    Friday, August 8, 2008

    "most people just don't get it "

    GHS
    Posted Aug 08, 2008 @ 12:36 AM

    FRANKLIN —

    The Financial Planning Committee last night outlined its mission, putting public education and communication in budgetary matters as top priorities, along with creating a three-year fiscal forecast.

    The group was created by Town Council in response to citizens' calls for a long-term financial plan as frustration grew over repeated Proposition 2 1/2 tax override requests. The group was meant to serve as a proactive solution to the recurring fiscal deficits.

    "I think education and communication are 95 percent of what our task is," said Councilor Stephen Whalen, a committee member.

    "It's a reasonable goal to have a really strong educational component," Whalen said.

    Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

    Thursday, August 7, 2008

    "they have all the school buses"

    GHS
    Posted Aug 06, 2008 @ 10:00 AM

    FRANKLIN —

    They may be nearly impossible for law enforcement officials to prevent, but if anthrax attacks like those following the 9/11 terrorist attacks happened today, state and local officials say they could deal with the aftermath.

    While every city and town in the state has an emergency plan which details information like shelter locations and evacuation routes, in the weeks following the mailing of anthrax to more than a half-dozen news agencies and members of Congress, there was a flurry of activity as plans were updated to include the possibility of a biological attack. At that time, millions of dollars in grants were handed out to improve detection of dangerous agents, including anthrax.

    "The protocol we had pre-2001 - we thought this was going to be a once-in-a-lifetime event," said Martin Greene, deputy director of the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services' Hazardous Materials Response program.

    Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here


    "It will be a great addition"

    GHS
    Posted Aug 06, 2008 @ 10:47 PM

    FRANKLIN —

    Town Council last night unanimously endorsed the Franklin Veterans Iraq/Afghanistan Monument Committee's proposal to erect a memorial on the Town Common.

    The endorsement is subject to the council's final approval of the monument layout, which Veterans Agent Robert Fahey said will not displace existing war monuments.

    The names of Lance Cpl. Shayne Cabino, a Franklin youth killed in action Oct. 6, 2005, and Staff Sgt. Robert Pirelli, a Franklin resident killed in action Aug. 15, 2007, will be engraved on a bronze plaque with a statement honoring all those who have served in Iraq.

    On the monument's rear face, another bronze plaque will honor those who served in Afghanistan. It would include names of anyone from Franklin killed in action there if that were to happen.

    Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

    Wednesday, August 6, 2008

    "There is no money"

    GHS
    Posted Aug 05, 2008 @ 11:44 PM

    FRANKLIN —

    Despite impassioned pleas to keep the Red Brick School open as a kindergarten, the School Committee last night voted to give the town ownership of the historic building.

    Matthew Kelly was the only School Committee member to vote against declaring the school surplus and giving it to the town, and member Ed Cafasso was absent.

    This year marked the 175-year anniversary of the Red Brick School, which is one of the oldest one-room brick schools in continuous operation and is on the National Historic Register.

    The building may still be used for education under the town's authority, said School Committee member Roberta Trahan. She said two educators have already expressed interest in using it: the Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School, and art instructor Don Carlucci, who runs the Franklin School of Modern Art.

    Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here