Read the full article here in the Boston GlobeThe MBTA's oversight board voted yesterday to raise parking rates by $2 at all of its lots and garages beginning Nov. 15 as part of a plan to pay back wages owed to union employees.
For many daily riders, the increase will have the same effect as a $10-per-week fare increase, or about $500 per year. Rates currently vary, from $1 per day at ferry yards, to $2 at commuter rail station lots, up to as much as $5 at the four most expensive garages.
"That's doubling it," said Margie Katz, a record supervisor at the University of Massachusetts at Boston who takes the commuter rail to work from the Campello station in Brockton, where daily rates had been $2. "It will be an extreme hardship."
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Parking fees increase at MBTA
"It's really depressing"
GHS
MILFORD —
Calling the global economic crisis and financial pressure "the perfect storm" for taxpayers to pass Question 1, which repeals the state income tax on Nov. 4, legislators implored local politicians to rally against it.
"If it passes, we can pretty much shut our doors and go home," said Rep. John V. Fernandes, D-Milford, during a legislative breakfast with the Massachusetts Municipal Association at the Milford Senior Center yesterday.
"We can't sit back on such an important question. The cynicism that drives this means we have to explain to people the seriousness of the consequences. I know people who tend to vote for this who work for local government," Fernandes said.
Fernandes, state Sen. Richard Moore, D-Uxbridge, Ashland Assistant Town Manager/Finance Director Mark Purple, and Douglas Executive Director Michael Guzinski, along with others at the forum, believe the question has a very good chance of passing, and it scares them.
Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here
"some people are just self-centered and narrow-minded"
GHS
FRANKLIN —
Neighbors are rallying to save a nearby colony of feral cats, contacting national animal rights organizations after learning Highwood Condominiums' board of trustees plans to trap and euthanize them.
Animal Control officers Cindy Souza and Tracey Holmes say the feral cats' feeding station, which they set up with Purr-fect Cat Shelter of Medway in nearby woods is on state land where trapping is prohibited.
"We've kind of stepped back ... It's really up to the people to stand up to the association at this point," Holmes said.
And they are.
Resident Leslie McShane contacted Best Friends Animal Society in Kanab, Utah, to bring attention to the situation.
"I thought they should know what goes on in small towns that want to euthanize their problems ... instead of reaching out to the community to try and find homes for the feral cats or try to relocate the colony to a friendlier area that they can all survive in," McShane said.
Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here
Friday, October 10, 2008
Question 1 effect on Franklin
Check out these editorials from around the state.
- Tax repeal would result in chaos The Springfield Republican
- Income tax repeal would create chaos Worcester Telegram and Gazette
- For fiscal sanity, no on Question 1 The Boston Herald
- This question is not the answer The Boston Globe
- Reality of Question 1 The Berkshire Eagle
- A ridiculous idea The Cape Cod Times
- Taxes and tactics South Coast Today
- Eliminating income tax is madness The Patriot Ledger
Check out the facts provided here for the effects on Franklin
Or click here to make your own navigation amongst the communities in our Commonwealth of Massachusetts to see the effect if Question 1 passes.
Please don't be swayed by something that sounds too good to be true. You know what happens then, something bad!
Thursday, October 9, 2008
"We plan for the worst, hoping it never happens"
GHS
MILFORD —
Just outside Milford Regional Medical Center, men covered from head to toe in protective suits, gloves, rubber boots and breathing apparatus had already decontaminated several victims of a mock terrorist attack when Fire. Lt. Patrick Salmon got a message over his walkie-talkie.
A voice on the other end said the state was reporting: "It may be a terror attack with sarin gas," a nerve agent used in chemical warfare.
Around 7:35 p.m., 55 minutes into a drill mimicking a terrorist incident on a commuter train arriving in Franklin, emergency workers were prepping the third and final victim to bring to the hospital.
"So far, it's good. It's dark out, so we had some issues until we got the lights set up, but now we can keep taking patients" if necessary, Salmon said.
Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here
"members worried about the safety of students, faculty and staff "
Milford Daily News
FRANKLIN —
The Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School's board of trustees last week voted to rent the historic Red Brick School from the town for one year.
"I'm feeling very good about it. I've been a strong proponent on using the building," said John Neas, president of the charter school's board.
Neas said the school faces a critical need for space in its building, which he estimated to be about 35,000 square feet.
"We use every inch of space available to us. We have 416 students and a waiting list of 200 students we can't accommodate," Neas said, noting that the board is looking for another school site. (In the best scenario, he said, they might have a new building in five years.)
And every weekday afternoon, charter school students and staff must vacate the building so that St. Mary's Church, which owns the building, can hold religious ed classes there, Neas said.
"That means our school dismisses at 3:10, and we have from 3:10 to 3:45 for after-school activities. That creates some issues for us," he said.
"This is a possibility for us in terms of having space to do those types of things," Neas said.
Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Fiscal 2010 will be "a very challenging year"
GHS
FRANKLIN —
In keeping with the same financial forecasts given over the last year, Town Administrator Jeffrey D. Nutting last night told the Finance Committee he anticipates fiscal 2010 will be "a very challenging year."
"Local receipts aren't going to bounce back quickly. Everything is tightening and tightening and tightening," Nutting said in the first Finance Committee meeting of the new fiscal year.
His biggest concern for the fiscal '10 budget is whether there will be a reduction in state aid, he said.
Nutting does not believe Franklin will be "as revenue-rich" as last year, he said, noting that the town's fuel, pensions and insurance costs will continue to escalate, outpacing revenue.
The town will bid for a new electric energy contract this spring, "another big exposure," Nutting said.
Read the full story in the Milford Daily News here
Energy $ense - presentation
With many thanks to Fred Schlicher for sharing the PowerPoint presentation he used Monday night (10/6/08) at the Library for his talk on Energy $ense.
Thank you Fred!
Many thanks to the Friends of Franklin Library and the Franklin Area Climate Team for sponsoring this event!
You can review my notes taken during the presentation here
Thank you Fred!
Many thanks to the Friends of Franklin Library and the Franklin Area Climate Team for sponsoring this event!
You can review my notes taken during the presentation here
Andro's Pizza - preparing to open
Some progress was observed on our walk about town this weekend. A new sign for Andro's Pizza is up. There are indications of getting ready but the ladder observed in the window says there is still work being done to prepare for the opening.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Franklin School Personnel Reductions 2003-2009: updated
In the preparations for the Override Vote in June, I had prepared this slideshow with the help of information from the School Department and careful review by some School Committee members. With the Override finalized, the adjustments to staffing levels complete, I thought it would be good to go back and update the numbers to ensure that this record will be available.
The override in June was probably not the last one Franklin will vote on. Hence the need for keeping the numbers current and accurate.
The earlier version of this can be found here
The override in June was probably not the last one Franklin will vote on. Hence the need for keeping the numbers current and accurate.
The earlier version of this can be found here
"Yeah, there are things you can do"
GHS
FRANKLIN —
Saving cash on energy can be as simple as choosing a conventional television over its plasma counterpart, which is three to four times pricier, said Fred Schlicher.
Residential energy use, which accounts for about 20 percent of all energy consumption in the United States, is "a near and dear subject to us, " Schlicher said, particularly this winter, when "we may be facing energy prices twice as high as last year."
Schlicher, a program manager for Massachusetts Climate Action Network, offered tips on cutting home energy bills and suggested resources for improving energy efficiency in the first of a four-part climate series at the public library, attended by about 40 people last night.
Some of the top energy-suckers at home: appliances and lighting (20 percent), water heating (16 percent), space heating (60 percent), and refrigerators, particularly those more than 10 years old (no statistic given), Schlicher said.
He recommended using a "Kill-A-Watt" meter, which costs about $30, to identify "very quickly" which appliances use the most electricity at home.
"You plug it into the wall and see what the big users of electricity are; it's a great monitor," Schlicher said.
read the full article in the Milford Daily News here
read my live reporting summaries here
Museum construction progress
Since the last picture: the columns have been replaced, a fresh coat of paint applied, new entrance steps/landing almost complete.
Have you been observing the changes? Did I miss something?
Have you been observing the changes? Did I miss something?
Monday, October 6, 2008
Live reporting - Energy $ense - clean power
buy clean power
cleanernergychoice.org
Look for the post card in your next bill! Should be in the October bill.
- support renewable energy in MA
- sign up for NationalGrid's GreenUp Program
cleanernergychoice.org
Look for the post card in your next bill! Should be in the October bill.
Live reporting - Energy $ense - NationalGrid
Windows
Gerry Hanna, from NationalGrid
Masssave, a collaboration funded with the conservation charge on each of our utility bills
You can call for an energy audit. The auditor will take about 2 hours to go through the house with you. The printout will prioritize the opportunities according to the energy savings projected by the audit.
Will do less audits but more implementation work. Will pay 75% up to $2000 if qualified for thermal work
"You need to want to do something but now is the time to do so."
"Audits are already scheduled through January, call now and they will honor the request after March 2009 when the offer expires."
The education is available on the Massave website. They'll need your zipcode and primary heating method (oil, gas).
- longer payback
- standard double-glaze only R-3
- triple glaze R-5
Gerry Hanna, from NationalGrid
Masssave, a collaboration funded with the conservation charge on each of our utility bills
You can call for an energy audit. The auditor will take about 2 hours to go through the house with you. The printout will prioritize the opportunities according to the energy savings projected by the audit.
Will do less audits but more implementation work. Will pay 75% up to $2000 if qualified for thermal work
"You need to want to do something but now is the time to do so."
"Audits are already scheduled through January, call now and they will honor the request after March 2009 when the offer expires."
The education is available on the Massave website. They'll need your zipcode and primary heating method (oil, gas).
Live reporting - Energy $ense - heating, cooling tips
Electric reductions
Appliance tips
Blower door Air Leakage analysis
helps to find big leaks, assess ventilation, requires training, measure leakage before and after work, can cost $4-600 for a single household
get the neighborhood together to have the contractor come in to do several at the same time and reduce the cost
Infra-red Camera
assess current level of insulation in walls and spot gaps
check results of contractor work
windows are very expensive to replace but the energy saving payback is hard to get; about 8-13% on savings
- phantom load reduction with power strips
- determine power eaters with "Kill a watt" meter and economize use
- energy appliance purchases
Appliance tips
- don't buy a plasma TV (uses 3-4 times as much than conventional)
- gas-fired clothes dryer
- front loading washing
- programmable thermostat (rebate available from local utility)
- new furnace or heat pump
- boiler, efficient, tuned and cleaned
- insulation, windows, don't let heat escape
- sealing of air leaks (attic, basements)
- insulation installation
- air comes into the basement through the windows, cracks in the walls
- warm air rises and will go out where it can
Blower door Air Leakage analysis
helps to find big leaks, assess ventilation, requires training, measure leakage before and after work, can cost $4-600 for a single household
get the neighborhood together to have the contractor come in to do several at the same time and reduce the cost
Infra-red Camera
assess current level of insulation in walls and spot gaps
check results of contractor work
windows are very expensive to replace but the energy saving payback is hard to get; about 8-13% on savings
Live reporting - Energy $ense - behavioral, hot water, etc.
Behavioral
Hot water use
Hot water tips
buy the most efficient, don't buy more capacity than you need
put a cut off switch on your shower head, and reduce flow when water is not needed
Heating & cooling
Air sealing
- hot water use
- heating & cooling
- lighting
- electric use reductions
Hot water use
- adjusting hot water heater (recommended setting the temp at no higher than 120 degrees F)
- insulate heater (if an older heater, consider a blanket wrap)
- shorter showers (try)
- hand dish washing (do a full load whenever using the dishwasher)
- wear clothes longer (a personal decision)
- washing with cold water
Hot water tips
buy the most efficient, don't buy more capacity than you need
put a cut off switch on your shower head, and reduce flow when water is not needed
Heating & cooling
- turn down the thermostat
- change the A/C filter frequently
- regular tune up of furnace or heat pump
- seal doors and windows
Air sealing
- rope caulk
- clear plastic on windows
- weather stripping along door edges
- plug holes in ceilings, floors, walls, etc.
- use CFL bulbs, last longer, uses less electricity
- turn off lights when not in room
Live reporting - Energy $ense - intro/overview
Franklin Area Climate Team sponsored this series. On October 19th, the Global Warming Cafe will be held from 2:00 - 4:00 PM at the First Universalist Society, 262 Chestnut Street.
-----------
Fred Schlicher, Program Manager of the Mass Climate Action Network.
email address -> Fred. Schlicher @ MassClimateAction.net
representative of NationalGrid here as well
over 20% of the US energy use is from residential (vs. commercial, industrial or transportation).
60% of the individual residential BTU usage from from space heating.
Four basic approaches:
MassSave website, collaborative effort to provide information on energy efficiency
Behavior
Appliance
Weatherization
-----------
Fred Schlicher, Program Manager of the Mass Climate Action Network.
email address -> Fred. Schlicher @ MassClimateAction.net
representative of NationalGrid here as well
over 20% of the US energy use is from residential (vs. commercial, industrial or transportation).
60% of the individual residential BTU usage from from space heating.
Four basic approaches:
- behavioral (lie style changes you can make)
- appliances (items you can buy)
- weatherization investments (home improvements)
- education (reliable sources of information to help you become an educated consumer)
MassSave website, collaborative effort to provide information on energy efficiency
Behavior
Appliance
Weatherization
Live reporting - Energy $ense - before meeting
Here at the Library tonight to report on the following presentation:
“How to Cut Home Energy Bills: a home energy efficiency workshop”
head count at the end of the presentation showed almost 50 people
“How to Cut Home Energy Bills: a home energy efficiency workshop”
Fred Schlicher, Program Manager, Massachusetts Climate Action NetworkThere will be a good number of folks here, more than are usually at a regular Town Council or School Committee meeting.
Heating your home this winter is going to cost you far more than it did last year. This program will show you a variety of things you can do to improve the energy efficiency of your house and lower your energy costs. Most of the things covered will cost little or nothing and you can go home with a helpful resource handout and how-to guidance.
head count at the end of the presentation showed almost 50 people
Ed Cafasso - Letter October 5th
Hello everyone!
I hope you enjoyed the weekend. Here’s a brief update on recent school issues in Franklin…
The Late Bus is back! Late bus service for middle and high school students resumes this week after the Town Council approved a $10,000 appropriation. The money came from funds set aside for the town many years ago by a local developer. The four buses carried hundreds of riders each week during the 2007-08 academic year, helping students who stayed after school for extra help, detention, clubs or extra-curricular activities. Kudos to the Town Council for a decision that means a great deal to students and working parents throughout the community!
The School Building Committee held its inaugural meeting last week. This volunteer group includes town and school officials as well as private citizens who are experts in architecture, finance, design and engineering. Chaired by Tom Mercer, the committee’s mission is to oversee either the replacement or renovation of Franklin High School; decide the fate of the numerous modular classrooms that have surpassed their life expectancy; and, to map out renovations needed at the Davis Thayer, Parmenter and Kennedy schools, our oldest elementary facilities.
Several Franklin programs have earned accreditation from the National Association of the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). The latest to win this recognition for educational quality are the ECDC and the Kennedy School kindergarten. The kindergarten at Oak Street earned NAEYC accreditation last year. The kindergartens at Davis Thayer and Parmenter earned the distinction in 2005 and are currently working towards re-accreditation, which occurs every five years. Jefferson and Keller are hoping to become accredited in 2011.
Franklin High School Principal Pamela Gould has notified the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc., of the impact of recent budget decisions. The Association is the accrediting body for high schools in this region. The loss of 16 high school positions, including an instructional technology slot, forced the elimination of Woodshop, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) I and II, Public Speaking, Journalism, French V, and French AP courses. Meanwhile average class sizes increased to two to nine students, depending on the subject.
The notification to the NASC came just a few weeks after Franklin High fared relatively well in a study commissioned by Boston Magazine. Based on a complex and somewhat controversial analysis conducted by Elaine Allen, research director of the Arthur M. Blank Center for Entrepreneurship at Babson College, FHS ranked right in the middle of the pack in terms of cost efficiency (72nd out of 143 schools) and in the top half of the group in academic performance (62nd). You can view the rankings online at http://www.bostonmagazine.com/best_high_school_chart/index.html. The feature articles can be found at http://www.bostonmagazine.com/articles/the_best_schools_2008/.
Many parents have begun a letter-writing and e-mail campaign in an effort to have a school schedule adopted that allows classes to begin after Labor Day. Proponents of the change cite school calendars in other districts, such as Medway, in which several professional development days are scheduled in late August so that students do not start the academic year until after the holiday. Parents’ views on this topic are welcome. The School Committee typically discusses and votes on the school calendar in the spring. Stay tuned.
And finally, the School Committee hopes to name a new superintendent this month. It is likely we will discuss internal candidates for the post at our upcoming meeting on October 14. If all goes well, a final discussion and vote could occur as soon as the Committee meeting on October 28.
These e-mails are provided as a constituent service. I try 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 e-mails, 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
edcafasso@comcast.net
I hope you enjoyed the weekend. Here’s a brief update on recent school issues in Franklin…
The Late Bus is back! Late bus service for middle and high school students resumes this week after the Town Council approved a $10,000 appropriation. The money came from funds set aside for the town many years ago by a local developer. The four buses carried hundreds of riders each week during the 2007-08 academic year, helping students who stayed after school for extra help, detention, clubs or extra-curricular activities. Kudos to the Town Council for a decision that means a great deal to students and working parents throughout the community!
The School Building Committee held its inaugural meeting last week. This volunteer group includes town and school officials as well as private citizens who are experts in architecture, finance, design and engineering. Chaired by Tom Mercer, the committee’s mission is to oversee either the replacement or renovation of Franklin High School; decide the fate of the numerous modular classrooms that have surpassed their life expectancy; and, to map out renovations needed at the Davis Thayer, Parmenter and Kennedy schools, our oldest elementary facilities.
Several Franklin programs have earned accreditation from the National Association of the Education of Young Children (NAEYC). The latest to win this recognition for educational quality are the ECDC and the Kennedy School kindergarten. The kindergarten at Oak Street earned NAEYC accreditation last year. The kindergartens at Davis Thayer and Parmenter earned the distinction in 2005 and are currently working towards re-accreditation, which occurs every five years. Jefferson and Keller are hoping to become accredited in 2011.
Franklin High School Principal Pamela Gould has notified the New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Inc., of the impact of recent budget decisions. The Association is the accrediting body for high schools in this region. The loss of 16 high school positions, including an instructional technology slot, forced the elimination of Woodshop, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) I and II, Public Speaking, Journalism, French V, and French AP courses. Meanwhile average class sizes increased to two to nine students, depending on the subject.
The notification to the NASC came just a few weeks after Franklin High fared relatively well in a study commissioned by Boston Magazine. Based on a complex and somewhat controversial analysis conducted by Elaine Allen, research director of the Arthur M. Blank Center for Entrepreneurship at Babson College, FHS ranked right in the middle of the pack in terms of cost efficiency (72nd out of 143 schools) and in the top half of the group in academic performance (62nd). You can view the rankings online at http://www.bostonmagazine.com/best_high_school_chart/index.html. The feature articles can be found at http://www.bostonmagazine.com/articles/the_best_schools_2008/.
Many parents have begun a letter-writing and e-mail campaign in an effort to have a school schedule adopted that allows classes to begin after Labor Day. Proponents of the change cite school calendars in other districts, such as Medway, in which several professional development days are scheduled in late August so that students do not start the academic year until after the holiday. Parents’ views on this topic are welcome. The School Committee typically discusses and votes on the school calendar in the spring. Stay tuned.
And finally, the School Committee hopes to name a new superintendent this month. It is likely we will discuss internal candidates for the post at our upcoming meeting on October 14. If all goes well, a final discussion and vote could occur as soon as the Committee meeting on October 28.
These e-mails are provided as a constituent service. I try 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 e-mails, 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
edcafasso@comcast.net
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