Franklin Matters

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Financial Planning Committee Minutes

As single source for the official minutes of the Financial Planning Committee they can be found here (at least until such time as there is a place created on the Town website).

FINANCIAL PLANNING COMMITTEE MINUTES OF MEETING OC... 10/2/08
FINANCIAL PLANNING COMMITTEE MINUTES 10/16/08

Update - I did find the Town site for the "official" minutes here
to navigate to this, you need to go to the Town Council, then SubCommittees and then SubCommittee minutes

Note the minutes for 9/18 are misfiled under 8/18/08.

Town Council Mtg Summary 12/03/08

The collection of posts for the Town Council meeting held on 12/3/08 are as follows:

Town Council - Agenda - 12/3/08

"we can't do business as usual and survive"

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Dec 04, 2008 @ 12:05 AM

FRANKLIN —

Town Council last night unanimously voted to create a fund to pay for repairs to buildings and infrastructure, and put $50,000 in it.

At Town Administrator Jeffrey D. Nutting's recommendation, the council voted to deposit the $50,000 - money that developer Toll Brothers donated for infrastructure improvements in exchange for accepting new streets and easements.

In other business, Nutting told the council he and leaders from other communities testified at the State House yesterday, advocating for municipal relief and reforms that would save Franklin time and money.

"We're asking the Legislature to look at a wide array of municipal relief," he said.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

Wind turbine or solar in your future?

Thinking of installing a wind turbine
or solar array at your home or business? Come get all your questions answered!

Incentives for

Residential & Commercial
Solar and Wind Installations

Presenter:
Tyler Leeds, Project Manager, Green Building & Infrastructure
Mass Technology Collaborative

When:
Wednesday, December 10, 7:00 p.m.

Where:
Franklin Public Library Community Room
118 Main Street, Lower Level

Description:
Massachusetts has recently developed several incentives to spur the development of renewable energy, including Commonwealth Solar Rebates, Small Renewables Initiative, and Business Expansion Incentives.
Tyler Leeds will answer your questions and help you understand the basic economics of investing in renewable energy.

This Event is of Special Interest for:
Home Owners, Business Owners, Installers, Dealers, Contractors, Electricians and Architects

Sponsored by:
Franklin Area Climate Team (FACT)
Massachusetts Climate Action Network
Massachusetts Technology Collaborative
Friends of the Franklin Library

The 21st Century Student - networked

How about this view of the 21st century student?

What do you think?

BTW - It is most interesting that this uses the Common Craft method of presentation. Not only did the presenters ask permission of Common Craft to do this but it was granted. Truly a good aspect of the networking opportunities available!

Wednesday, December 3, 2008

Live reporting - Town Administrator

Beaver St recycling to be closed on Tuesdays during the winter to save some money

Jeff at State House today to negotiate/lobby for legislative relief from items that the local communities have no control over.

2010 will be a difficult financial year, concern about getting the change, it will be hard to get. This is one side of the story but there are other sides to this as well. A wide variety of different interests are affected.

Old Business -

Listing of the gift accounts (as asked for in prior meeting by Councilor Pfeffer) was provided by Jeff

New Business -
None

Councilor Comments
Mason - congratulations to Tri-County
McGann - skunk story, apparently a rabid one was trapped and handled by our Tracey
Pfeffer - Senior Ctr one year anniversary party,

Live reporting - zoning bylaw amendment

Zoning Bylaw Amendment 08-628: Chapter 185-Nonconforming Uses and Structures – Public Hearing 7:10

cuts out red tape, makes it much easier to process

Moved to 1st reading

Approved -> 6 - 0

Moved to 2nd reading

Approved -> 6 - 0

Live reporting - action items

Resolution 08-81: 2009 Town Council Meeting Schedule

(dates to be added later)
approved -> 6-0

Resolution 08-82: Legal Notices

approved -> 6-0

Resolution 08-83: Establishment of Municipal Infrastructure/Facilities Improvement Stabilization Fund

approved -> 6-0

- returned to this action listing after the public hearing on the zoning bylaw amendment

Resolution 08-84: Appropriation: Municipal Infrastructure/Facilities Improvement Stabilization Fund

approved -> 6-0

Live reporting - 2009 license renewals

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS – Annual Alcohol License Renewals

a listing of establishments was read and approved

a second listing of establishments that have not passed inspections was postponed until 12/17/08 - this listing was amended to include Caso's Bar & Grill (which BTW is currently closed)

a third listing of establishments that are delinquent for taxes was also postponed for action until 12/17/08

Live reporting - Town Council 12/3/08

Attending: Mason, Vallee, Feeley, Pfeffer, McGann, Zollo
Missing: Whalen, Bartlett, Doak

A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - none

B. ANNOUNCEMENTS - none

C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS - none

D. CITIZEN COMMENTS - none

E. APPOINTMENTS - none

FM #25 - WASTED - Part 6

This is Franklin Matters podcast #25. The sixth and final one of the series to replay the information session on underage drinking. The session was organized by the group W.A.S.T."E".D and held at Franklin High School Tuesday December 2, 2008.

This segment covers the Q&A session (with Bill, Nick, Josh, and Nick's parents) and the closing comments (by FHS Principal Pam Gould).

Time: 25 minutes, 47 seconds

MP3 File

Session Notes

This podcast for Franklin Matters continues the special production capturing the information session on underage drinking sponsored by WASTED and held at Franklin High School Tuesday evening, Dec 2.

This series of podcasts will enable you to listen to the presentations and discussion that took place that evening.

In the first part, we listened as FHS Principal Pam Gould provided the introduction. We listened to the presentation by the FHS students from Marushka Waters’ class.

In the second part, we listened to William (Bill) Phillips, Director of New Beginnings. New Beginnings is a comprehensive wellness education program.

In the third part, we listened to Nick’s story. That could have been the story of your son or daughter.

In the fourth segment, we listened to Josh’s story. He is eighteen, a senior at North Attleboro High.

In the fifth segment, we listened to the parent’s point of view as Nick’s parents shared their experience.

In this sixth and final segment, we’ll listen to the Question and Answer period. Some of the questions might be hard to hear but you should be able to make out the question from the answer.

FHS Principal Pam Gould returns to wrap up the evening with announcements on next steps. This is just the beginning.

Listen carefully!

----- -----

This podcast has been a public service provided to my fellow citizens of Franklin, MA

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 #24 - WASTED - Part 5

This is Franklin Matters podcast #24. The fifth of six podcasts to replay the information session on underage drinking. The session was organized by the group W.A.S.T."E".D and held at Franklin High School Tuesday December 2, 2008.

Nick's parents tell their side of the story in this segment.

Time: 10 minutes, 10 seconds

MP3 File

Session Notes

This podcast for Franklin Matters continues the special production capturing the information session on underage drinking sponsored by WASTED and held at Franklin High School Tuesday evening, Dec 2.

This series of podcasts will enable you to listen to the presentations and discussion that took place that evening.

In the first part, we listened as FHS Principal Pam Gould provided the introduction. We listened to the presentation by the FHS students from Marushka Waters’ class.

In the second part, we listened to William (Bill) Phillips, Director of New Beginnings. New Beginnings is a comprehensive wellness education program.

In the third part, we listened to Nick’s story. That could have been the story of your son or daughter.

In the fourth segment, we listened to Josh’s story. He is eighteen, a senior at North Attleboro High.

In this fifth segment, we’ll listen to the parent’s point of view. Nick’s parents have their say.

Listen carefully!

Come back to hear the Q&A session as the evening wraps up.

----- -----

This podcast has been a public service provided to my fellow citizens of Franklin, MA

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 #23 - WASTED - Part 4

This is Franklin Matters podcast #23. The fourth of several podcasts to replay the information session on underage drinking. The session was organized by the group W.A.S.T."E".D and held at Franklin High School Tuesday December 2, 2008.

This segment covers Josh's Story. Josh is 18 years old and a senior at North Attleboro High.

Time: 17 minutes, 1 second

MP3 File

Session Notes

This podcast for Franklin Matters continues the special production capturing the information session on underage drinking sponsored by WASTED and held at Franklin High School Tuesday evening, Dec 2.

This series of podcasts will enable you to listen to the presentations and discussion that took place that evening.

In the first part, we listened as FHS Principal Pam Gould provided the introduction. We listened to the presentation by the FHS students from Marushka Waters’ class.

In the second part, we listened to William (Bill) Phillips, Director of New Beginnings. New Beginnings is a comprehensive wellness education program.

In the third part, we listened to Nick’s story. That could have been the story of your son or daughter.

In this fourth segment, we’ll listen to Josh’s story. He is eighteen, a senior at North Attleboro High.

Listen carefully!

Come back to hear the parents point of view. Nick’s parents have their say and the Q&A session as the evening wraps up.

----- -----

This podcast has been a public service provided to my fellow citizens of Franklin, MA

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 #22 - WASTED - Part 3

This is Franklin Matters podcast #22. The third of six podcasts to replay the information session on underage drinking. The session was organized by the group W.A.S.T."E".D and held at Franklin High School Tuesday December 2, 2008.

In this segment, Nick tells his story.

Time: 24 minutes, 12 seconds

MP3 File

Session Notes

This podcast for Franklin Matters continues the special production capturing the information session on underage drinking sponsored by W.A.S.T."E".D and held at Franklin High School Tuesday evening, Dec 2, 2008.

This series of podcasts will enable you to listen to the presentations and discussion that took place that evening.

In the first part, we listened as FHS Principal Pam Gould provided the introduction. We then listened to the presentation by the FHS students from Marushka Waters’ class.

In the second part, we listened to William (Bill) Phillips, Director of New Beginnings. New Beginnings is a comprehensive wellness education program.

In this third segment, we’ll listen to Nick’s story. This could be the story of your son or daughter.

Listen carefully!

Come back to hear Josh’s story and then to hear the parents point of view when Nick’s parents have their say.

----- -----

This podcast has been a public service provided to my fellow citizens of Franklin, MA

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

WASTED - Info Session - 12/02/08

This is the collection of audio files replaying the information session presented by W.A.S.T."E".D at Franklin High School on Tuesday, December 2, 2008.

FM #20 - WASTED 12/2/08 - Part 1 - Intro and FHS Student presentation

The slide show that served as the backdrop for the student presentation can be found here

FM #21 - WASTED - Part 2 - Bill Phillips tells his part of the story

FM #22 - WASTED - Part 3 - Nick tells his story

FM #23 - WASTED - Part 4 - Josh tells his story

FM #24 - WASTED - Part 5 - Nick's parents provide their point of view

FM #25 - WASTED - Part 6 - Q&A session and closing

A slideshow of photos from this evening can be found here