Enjoy!
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Monday, October 20, 2008
"many hopeful aspects in the fight against global warming"
GHS
FRANKLIN —
A discussion about climate change gleaned "surprisingly pleasant" results yesterday, one participant noted during an afternoon Global Warming Cafe.
About 20 people took part in the Franklin Area Climate Team's roundtable discussion to trade ideas on fears and hopes for the planet's future.
"We want to work together to reduce our personal and collective carbon footprint," said Ted McIntyre, co-captain of Franklin Area Climate Team.
Members of the Massachusetts Climate Action Network (MCAN) joined the local "climate team" yesterday at the First Universalist Society of Franklin to talk to residents from Franklin, Bellingham, Millis, Wrentham, Foxborough and more.
"Be inspired, and take action in the future," Susan Altman of MCAN told the audience as they broke into small groups.
The groups compiled lists of concerns about and solutions to climate change.
Read the remainder of the article in the Milford Daily News here
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"not 'welfare' - it is an entitlement"
GHS
Worried about seniors living paycheck to paycheck this winter, area senior center directors say they are making an all-out effort to help them.
Now, more than ever, it is crucial that struggling seniors take advantage of programs they are entitled to, said Bellingham Outreach Coordinator Sheila Ronkin: tax abatements, fuel and food assistance, and circuit breakers.
"It was very important before the economy fell apart, but now, some of these folks live really threadbare lives. Without some help, they're not going to have enough heat or food. Even folks more well-heeled may not be able to buy Christmas presents or birthday presents for their loved ones," said Franklin Senior Center Director Karen Alves.
Many seniors don't realize they qualify for tax credits or other assistance, so they don't even bother to apply, Alves said. But that is a mistake.
Through the state's circuit breaker program, seniors can get up to $900 a year in real estate tax abatements if they pay more than 10 percent of their gross income in taxes, and that includes water and sewer fees, Alves said.
So if a senior makes $30,000 a year, pays $3,000 in real estate tax, plus $500 for water and sewer ($3,500 in taxes), they can get $500 back from the state, she said.
Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here
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King St - construction progress
Time is flying. Haven't taken a snapshot in awhile and the construction has moved quickly along in the meantime.
This would be numbered 190 or 192 King St.
This would be numbered 190 or 192 King St.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
FM #18 - Asst Supt M Sabolinski Interviewed - Part 2
This is the 18th podcast for what matters in Franklin, MA and the second part to the interview of Asst Supt Maureen Sabolinski for the Superintendent of Franklin Public Schools.
Part 1 - Maureen reviewed her resume and how she has developed and is prepared to cover all aspects of the role of the Superintendent.
Part 2 - This is the Q&A session with Maureen and members of the School Committee starting with the FHS Student Representative Pat Slight.
Time: 28 minutes, 36 seconds
MP3 File
The notes that I took as I was "live reporting" this meeting can be found here
---- ---- ----
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
Part 1 - Maureen reviewed her resume and how she has developed and is prepared to cover all aspects of the role of the Superintendent.
Part 2 - This is the Q&A session with Maureen and members of the School Committee starting with the FHS Student Representative Pat Slight.
Time: 28 minutes, 36 seconds
MP3 File
The notes that I took as I was "live reporting" this meeting can be found here
---- ---- ----
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
FM #17 - Asst Supt M Sabolinski Interviewed - Part 1
The 17th podcast on what matters in Franklin, MA. This week we focus a two part series on the interview of Asst Supt Maureen Sabolinski by the School Committee for the open superintendent position.
This is Part 1: The School Committee listens as Maureen reviews her resume and educational development.
Part 2 will cover the Q&A session that follows.
Time: 33 minutes, 36 seconds
MP3 File
The notes that I took as I was "live reporting" this meeting can be found here
---- ---- ----
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
This is Part 1: The School Committee listens as Maureen reviews her resume and educational development.
Part 2 will cover the Q&A session that follows.
Time: 33 minutes, 36 seconds
MP3 File
The notes that I took as I was "live reporting" this meeting can be found here
---- ---- ----
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
"sometimes kids come to school in the dead of winter with no coats"
GHS
FRANKLIN —
Lindy Conroe always knew Jen Ballarino was amazing and special, but when the much-loved Franklin resident died in May following a long battle with brain cancer, Conroe was still deeply moved by the stories she heard.
"I've since heard such amazing stories she never told people," Conroe reflected recently.
For example, when Ballarino was working as a substitute teacher, she would often bring in coats and other necessary items for children she'd noticed were going without.
So it seems only fitting there is now an effort to collect coats and other outerwear for donation to homeless children and their families, all in Ballarino's memory.
It's part of the ongoing mission behind the newly formed Jen's Jackets, organized by Conroe and other friends and family of Ballarino. It's also the charity that has been adopted by Postal Center U.S.A. in Franklin, as well as its other area locations, in recognition of and leading up to Make A Difference Day on Oct. 25.
read the full article in the Milford Daily News here
Saturday, October 18, 2008
fiction and non-fiction
the books are plentiful, varied and reasonably priced at this year's Library Book Sale.
head on over to the DPW garage on Heyward St, Saturday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
head on over to the DPW garage on Heyward St, Saturday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Mobile post sent by shersteve using Utterli.
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Franklin: follow the boxes
Yes, follow the boxes to the Library Book Sale being held this year at the DPW garage on Heyward St.
Saturday 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Friday, October 17, 2008
Financial Planning Committee 10/16/08
the collection of posts for the Financial Planning Committee meeting on Thursday 10/16/08
The "official" town minutes for this meeting can be found here
The "official" town minutes for this meeting can be found here
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Live reporting - continued
Bartlett - we'll also need to show what the cuts were over the same time period to show what was done in order to make due.
Kelly - need to be consistent on the dates.
Bartlett - need to include the increases in road miles, students, teachers, buildings, etc.
Trahan - there should be substance to the information.
Ogden - growth and change in fees and other revenues that have come in to supplement the tax revenues
Kelly - the average tax bill needs to be looked at to put it into perspective.
Nutting - on the other hand, for all we have cut, people can still go to the library, get the streets plowed. Hard to say what the real impact is.
Bartlett - but we know now we can do this much longer, even to just stay the same. There isn't room to cut without significant changes.
Nutting - I'll come up with a list of things and you can add to it, or change it. I'll focus on the big picture.
Roche - I'd like to start digging into these numbers, like low medium and high for Fire/Police, etc.
Nutting - the salary is already set based upon the bargaining agreements.
Ogden - need to be caution about salary expectations and forecasts in that arena.
Hardesty - has a spreadsheet that shows the Town budgets in a declining order. Realistically this will help us focus as once you go lower than 6 budget lines, you are talking about 2% of the budget. Those as interesting as they are become not really material to the discussion.
Nutting - there is no game plan if Question 1 passes. If that passes, it will be chaos until the Legislature does something. It was on 8 years ago and got 45% of the vote.
Roche - Doug's building the model.
Nutting- I'll get the statistics.
Cameron - if our population has been flat for five years, we also need to remind them of that.
Nutting - you can give historical background, in 1993 there were 3200 students and now there are 6200 students.
Trahan - when do we get to the timeline?
Nutting - Budget to the Council probably in March.
Nutting - 80% of the HR rules are in the State, we don't get to control our destiny.
Roche - we are trying to show what the problem is, it is systemic.
Ogden - part of the problem is perceptual, the average citizen doesn't understand that we brought two buildings online and are going to need additional money to operate. The difference between capital and operational expenses.
Bartlett - I'll take a crack at the calendar.
Hardesty - the idea of level services needs to be defined to be consistent and easy to understand.
Bartlett - I have trouble with "level services" when used with education. You may say the same with the dollars but the education in the room is not the same "level".
Kelly - need to be consistent on the dates.
Bartlett - need to include the increases in road miles, students, teachers, buildings, etc.
Trahan - there should be substance to the information.
Ogden - growth and change in fees and other revenues that have come in to supplement the tax revenues
Kelly - the average tax bill needs to be looked at to put it into perspective.
Nutting - on the other hand, for all we have cut, people can still go to the library, get the streets plowed. Hard to say what the real impact is.
Bartlett - but we know now we can do this much longer, even to just stay the same. There isn't room to cut without significant changes.
Nutting - I'll come up with a list of things and you can add to it, or change it. I'll focus on the big picture.
Roche - I'd like to start digging into these numbers, like low medium and high for Fire/Police, etc.
Nutting - the salary is already set based upon the bargaining agreements.
Ogden - need to be caution about salary expectations and forecasts in that arena.
Hardesty - has a spreadsheet that shows the Town budgets in a declining order. Realistically this will help us focus as once you go lower than 6 budget lines, you are talking about 2% of the budget. Those as interesting as they are become not really material to the discussion.
Nutting - there is no game plan if Question 1 passes. If that passes, it will be chaos until the Legislature does something. It was on 8 years ago and got 45% of the vote.
Roche - Doug's building the model.
Nutting- I'll get the statistics.
Cameron - if our population has been flat for five years, we also need to remind them of that.
Nutting - you can give historical background, in 1993 there were 3200 students and now there are 6200 students.
Trahan - when do we get to the timeline?
Nutting - Budget to the Council probably in March.
Nutting - 80% of the HR rules are in the State, we don't get to control our destiny.
Roche - we are trying to show what the problem is, it is systemic.
Ogden - part of the problem is perceptual, the average citizen doesn't understand that we brought two buildings online and are going to need additional money to operate. The difference between capital and operational expenses.
Bartlett - I'll take a crack at the calendar.
Hardesty - the idea of level services needs to be defined to be consistent and easy to understand.
Bartlett - I have trouble with "level services" when used with education. You may say the same with the dollars but the education in the room is not the same "level".
Live reporting - Financial Planning Committee 10/16/08
Attending: Jim Roche, Roberta Trahan, Doug Hardesty, Jeff Nutting, Wayne Ogden, Miriam Goodman, Matt Kelly, Tina Powderly, Gwynne Wilschek, Deb Bartlett
Not Attending: Shannon Zollo, Steve Whalen,
Roche - What do you think of the announcement yesterday?
Nutting - I think we dodge a bullet with the Governor's moves yesterday. If they need to go deeper, I am not sure how we are going to avoid it. In comparison, health insurance was a non-issue years ago. It is not a rosy picture. Not new news but that's what it is.
Roche - we won't know revenue numbers for some time, but we will need to work up the expense side.
School Budget will be presented at the second meeting in November (11/20/08)
Roche - start with Jeff's model and tweak it with what we have heard?
Nutting - won't know what our debt will be until later as it is based upon 5% but if that changes, there'll be some adjustments. Some time late in March we go for the bonds to wrap up the Senior Center, Fire Station, etc. Approx. 18 million.
Roche - looking at the model where do we need to go?
Nutting - in FY 2010, the salary is in at 4% and that can come down. There will be pressure on the School Committee as they have been falling behind.
In 2002, the health insurance went into the School Budget moved from the Town budget.
Hardesty - take the assumptions that we have been hearing, explain with notations, low end, high end. Here is the diligence that we did around it. Some assumptions won't make a material difference, others will. To simplify, we can separate those out for the presentation. A hugh portion of the budget is salary, benefits, the people portion. From the Fire/Police we have some operational numbers, how many cars, vehicles you have help to determine how many people you need.
Nutting - Fixed costs increase, you heard Brutus and Mike. We'll need to explain where those are and why.
Bartlett - In the end, are we going to come with what the Town desires? and in that, what is it that the Town will bear?
Hardesty - We need to come up with the three options, say. Level service, high end and cutting. The numbers need to be factual with integrity.
Trahan - I am concerned that we may be coming up with numbers that may not be doing as much as we thought it would due to circumstances that have changed.
Nuting - how far back do we go? If we pick for example, FY 05 we know what salt was, we know what fuel was, so it can be simply explained. Everybody should be able to recognize those and see what the increases are.
Not Attending: Shannon Zollo, Steve Whalen,
Roche - What do you think of the announcement yesterday?
Nutting - I think we dodge a bullet with the Governor's moves yesterday. If they need to go deeper, I am not sure how we are going to avoid it. In comparison, health insurance was a non-issue years ago. It is not a rosy picture. Not new news but that's what it is.
Roche - we won't know revenue numbers for some time, but we will need to work up the expense side.
School Budget will be presented at the second meeting in November (11/20/08)
Roche - start with Jeff's model and tweak it with what we have heard?
Nutting - won't know what our debt will be until later as it is based upon 5% but if that changes, there'll be some adjustments. Some time late in March we go for the bonds to wrap up the Senior Center, Fire Station, etc. Approx. 18 million.
Roche - looking at the model where do we need to go?
Nutting - in FY 2010, the salary is in at 4% and that can come down. There will be pressure on the School Committee as they have been falling behind.
In 2002, the health insurance went into the School Budget moved from the Town budget.
Hardesty - take the assumptions that we have been hearing, explain with notations, low end, high end. Here is the diligence that we did around it. Some assumptions won't make a material difference, others will. To simplify, we can separate those out for the presentation. A hugh portion of the budget is salary, benefits, the people portion. From the Fire/Police we have some operational numbers, how many cars, vehicles you have help to determine how many people you need.
Nutting - Fixed costs increase, you heard Brutus and Mike. We'll need to explain where those are and why.
Bartlett - In the end, are we going to come with what the Town desires? and in that, what is it that the Town will bear?
Hardesty - We need to come up with the three options, say. Level service, high end and cutting. The numbers need to be factual with integrity.
Trahan - I am concerned that we may be coming up with numbers that may not be doing as much as we thought it would due to circumstances that have changed.
Nuting - how far back do we go? If we pick for example, FY 05 we know what salt was, we know what fuel was, so it can be simply explained. Everybody should be able to recognize those and see what the increases are.
"It seems like a win-win for everyone"
GHS
FRANKLIN —
Town Council voted unanimously last night to lease the historic Red Brick School to the Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School for one year.
The town will most likely rent the school for $1 and the cost of running the 11,650-square-foot, 175-year-old building, said Town Administrator Jeffrey D. Nutting, but the town and school have not yet negotiated.
"I've asked for a 10-year authorization, but they (the charter school's board of trustees) want to try it out for a year" and determine whether it fits them, Nutting said.
Charter school trustees worry about the safety of students and staff crossing through traffic at the intersection of Lincoln and Maple streets to get to the building, trustee President John Neas has said.
Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here
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Wednesday, October 15, 2008
School Committee Meeting 10/14/08
This is the collection of live reporting and other posts related to the meeting 10/14/08
- Transportation Update - 10/14/08
- Live reporting - new business
- Live reporting - subcommittee/liaison reports
- Live reporting - Superintendents report
- Live reporting - action items
- Live reporting - discussion only items
- Live reporting - transportation update
- Live reporting - Summer Blackboard
- Live reporting - School Committee meeting
- Franklin School Committee Meeting - Agenda - 10/14...
Transportation Update - 10/14/08
Here is the promised slide that was shared during the School Committee meeting on Tuesday, 10/14/08.
town council - closing items
K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
Nutting's statement on Question 1 - numbers for the actual impact vary
Bartlett - when are the road projects done for the winter?
Temporary patch before the winter
L. OLD BUSINESS
Pfeffer - what up with Walgreen's?
Nutting - Walgreen's P&S was signed in August
Whalen - we should check in with them?
Nutting - we met with them today, they asked for a 2 week extension to prepare to file for the next steps
M. NEW BUSINESS
N. COUNCIL COMMENTS
Pfeffer - thanks to the Animal Control for finding one dumb dog
Nutting's statement on Question 1 - numbers for the actual impact vary
Bartlett - when are the road projects done for the winter?
Temporary patch before the winter
L. OLD BUSINESS
Pfeffer - what up with Walgreen's?
Nutting - Walgreen's P&S was signed in August
Whalen - we should check in with them?
Nutting - we met with them today, they asked for a 2 week extension to prepare to file for the next steps
M. NEW BUSINESS
N. COUNCIL COMMENTS
Pfeffer - thanks to the Animal Control for finding one dumb dog
live reporting - zoning bylaw
13. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 08-625: Chapter 185-5, Town Code: Zoning Map – Business to Commercial II – 2nd Reading (Tabled on 10/1/08)
moved to Nov 5th
14. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 08-628: Chapter 185-18. Nonconforming Uses and Structures – Referral to Planning Board
approved referral to Planning Board, unanimous
moved to Nov 5th
14. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 08-628: Chapter 185-18. Nonconforming Uses and Structures – Referral to Planning Board
approved referral to Planning Board, unanimous
live reporting - action items (continued)
9. Resolution 08-67: Acceptance of Sewer Pump Station- Franklin Farms
roll call; approved 7-0
I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
Senior Center study revealed 780 seniors with homes that are eligible for tax benefits
10. Resolution 08-68: Appropriation – Emergency Repairs - Lincoln St. Culvert
Robert Cantoreggio, Dir of Public Works
Limited Lincoln Street closure required to do the work, coordinated with Town CTS system for notifications,School Dept notified for bus routing, most of the time, there will be one lane open
roll call; approved 7-0
11. Resolution 08-69: Appropriation – DPW – Trench Repairs
extended discussion on the cost per square yard vs. the amount charged/held from the contractor
approved 7-0
12. Resolution 08-70: Acceptance of Gift – Council on Aging
approved 7-0
roll call; approved 7-0
I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
Senior Center study revealed 780 seniors with homes that are eligible for tax benefits
10. Resolution 08-68: Appropriation – Emergency Repairs - Lincoln St. Culvert
Robert Cantoreggio, Dir of Public Works
Limited Lincoln Street closure required to do the work, coordinated with Town CTS system for notifications,School Dept notified for bus routing, most of the time, there will be one lane open
roll call; approved 7-0
11. Resolution 08-69: Appropriation – DPW – Trench Repairs
extended discussion on the cost per square yard vs. the amount charged/held from the contractor
approved 7-0
12. Resolution 08-70: Acceptance of Gift – Council on Aging
approved 7-0
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