Franklin Housing Authority

Amongst the information provided in the 2008 Annual Report is that the Franklin Housing Authority manages 161 units of State Aided Elderly/Disabled Housing, 33 units of low income Family Housing and an 8 unit Group Home. Additionally, the Housing Authority is responsble for an four bedroom congregate facility. This program provides a shared living environment for its residents who maintain private bedrooms. Congragate housing was established for residents who are self-reliant, however may need limited support.

The Franklin Housing Authority owns two single family homes. These properties are reserved for lease to low-income families and affords these families the opporotunity to reside in a residential neigborhood.

The Housing Authority was awarded $1.2 million for the development of an additional Chapter 689 housing facility. Chapter 689 housing is reserved for mentally challenged adults and will be overseen by the Department of Mental Retardation. A suitable site for this development has been secured on Plain Street. Construction was expected to begin in late 2008 according to the Annual Report.

The Franklin Housing Authority can be found on the Town website here or by navigating from the Boards & Commissions link on the Home page.

If you have not picked up your hard copy of the report at Town Hall, you can try to view it online here: http://www.town.franklin.ma.us/pages/FranklinMA_Clerk/2008arpt.pdf

Coverage of the Franklin Housing Authority begins on Page 93.

Franklin Recreation registrations

Register for children’s programs in Franklin
By GateHouse Media, Inc.

The Franklin Recreation Department is taking registrations for Sports For
Tots, SQUISH, Jumping Gymnastics, Tumbling Two’s, and Get that Body Movin’ with
Ms. Susie.

Sports For Tots Program, Carpe Diem turf field at Aubuchon Hardware,
Cottage Street, for ages 3 ½-5 years, Tuesdays, Jan. 6 to Feb. 10, 1 to 2 p.m.;
$80.

SQUISH, a sensory exploration class for toddlers, for children ages 30
months to 4 years old, Fridays, Jan. 9 to Feb. 6, 9 to 10 a.m.; $55.

Jumping Gymnastics, for children ages 30 months to 4 years old, Wednesdays,
Jan. 7 to Feb. 4, 10 to 10:45 a.m.; $55.

Tumbling Two’s, for children mobile to 2 ½ years old, Wednesdays, Jan. 7 to
Feb. 4, 9 to 9:45 a.m.; $55.

Get That Body Movin’ with Ms. Susie, for 18 months to 4 years old, Mondays,
Jan. 5 to Feb. 2, 9 to 9:45 a.m.; $55.

Register in the recreation department, 150 Emmons St., or online at
www.franklin.ma.us/recreation and click on the link that says "Online
Registration." Call the office at 508-520-4909 for information.

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Franklin Recreation offers winter programs

By GateHouse Media, Inc.

The Franklin Recreation Department is still taking registrations for winter programs, some of which include Bon A Petite, Boston Top Secret Science for preschoolers and Ms. Amy’s Art classes.

Bon A Petite — Call all budding chefs! This drop off cooking class, especially designed for 3 1/2- to 5-year-olds, is an opportunity to create delicious snacks and recipes. Participants will stir, measure, bake and cook a different project every class. Taught by two certified teachers, a book and craft will compliment each food activity. The class will be held Mondays, Jan. 5 to Feb. 2, from 1 to 2 p.m. The cost is $75.

Boston Top Secret Science (Preschoolers) — The students enrolled in this course will be exposed to a variety of scientific topics through exciting experiments and beautiful children’s literature. Children will examine the effects of water on polymers, sun’s heat and light by making our own kaleidoscopes. Dive into a new topic each week with these thrilling experiments that will be sure to mold the minds of these young learners into future scientists.

Make and take home projects and experience three to five different hands-on science experiments each week. All materials are included in course fee. The class will be held Thursdays, Jan. 8 to 29, from 10 to 10:45 a.m. The cost is $50.

Ms. Amy’s Art classes — Ms. Amy brings her art classes to Franklin Recreation. It’s time to get messy! Come and explore the many different ways to paint. Your child will get a painter’s education on how to use a paintbrush, create color, and make their paintings come to life with shape and texture. Bring a smock or wear paint clothes. The class will be held Wednesdays, Jan. 28 to March 11, (there will be no class Feb. 18) and Thursdays, Jan. 29 to March 12, (there will be no class Feb. 20) from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. The cost is $55.

Drawing From Life — If your child has an interest in drawing then come and join us for some fun. Each week we will look at a real object and learn how to draw it. Your child will learn about how shapes create drawings and will use shading and color to bring their drawings to life. This class will be held Tuesdays, Jan. 27 to March 10, from 3:30 to 4:45 p.m. There will be no class held on Feb. 17. The class is for children 7 to 12 years old. The cost is $55.

Register in the recreation department, 150 Emmons St., or online at www.franklin.ma.us/recreation and click on the link that says "Online Registration." Call the office at 508-520-4909 for information.

Franklin Historical Commission

Amongst the information provided in the 2008 Annual Report is one and a half pages on the Historical Commission. Did you know

A web page on the Town's newly redesigned web site describes the purpose and functions of the Historical Commission. You can find that page here or navigate from the Boards & Commissions link on the Town home page.

The most exciting business the Historical Commision has underway is the move of the museum to the renovated Senior Center/old Town Hall. Moving the museum downtown will make it more accessible to all. The larger space will enable display of key artifacts such as

• 1912 pump organ
• 1890 Trowbridge piano
• Red Brick School scrapbooks
• a hand crank Victrola
• Horace Mann documentation
• items from the Civil War, World War I and World War II

Students at Tri-County Vocational built some display cabinets for the museum artifacts.

Work remains to continue the renovation of the 150+ year old building to bring it into compliance with current museum standards for appropriate heat, light and humidity exposure.

Once opened sometime later in 2009, the museum should continue to operate with free admission and due to the generous volunteer support offer extended visiting hours.

If you have not picked up your hard copy of the report at Town Hall, you can try to view it online here: http://www.town.franklin.ma.us/pages/FranklinMA_Clerk/2008arpt.pdf

Coverage of the Franklin Historical Commission begin on page 91.

Happy New Year!

To all Franklin Matters readers, thank you.

Have a happy new year!

"We've got a tough road ahead of us"

Aid to towns and cities could be on the chopping block in a second round of midyear state budget cuts that local officials were grimly expecting, but have little capacity to absorb.

Gov. Deval Patrick announced yesterday he will ask the Legislature for expanded authority to cut the state budget because tax collections may drop another $1 billion below projections.

This comes just two months after declining tax revenues triggered $1.4 billion in cuts that included state layoffs, but steered clear of the local aid that fuels municipal departments and schools.

Patrick said yesterday, however, local aid is now on the table.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

Meeting notes archive for 2008

 

2008

The collection of meeting notes for calendar year 2008 (scroll down to find 2009)

• Financial Planning Comm Minutes
• Financial Plng Comm 09/04/08
• Financial Plng Comm 09/18/08
• Financial Plng Comm 10/02/08
• Financial Plng Comm 10/16/08
• Financial Plng Comm 11/20/08
• Financial Plng Comm 12/04/08
• FINCOM Meeting Summary 4/09/08
• FINCOM Meeting Summary 4/14/08
• FINCOM Meeting Summary 5/6/08
• Joint Council School Meeting 1/9/08
• Override Information Forum 5/28/08
• School Committee Meeting 01/8/08
• School Committee Meeting 02/26/08
• School Committee Meeting 03/11/08
• School Committee Meeting 03/25/08
• School Committee Meeting 04/29/08
• School Committee Meeting 05/13/08
• School Committee Meeting 06/24/08
• School Committee Meeting 07/15/08
• School Committee Meeting 08/26/08
• School Committee Meeting 09/09/08
• School Committee Meeting 10/14/08
• School Committee Meeting 10/28/08
• School Committee Meeting 11/18/08
• School Committee Meeting 12/09/08
• Town Council Mtg Smry 02/06/08
• Town Council Mtg Smry 02/13/08
• Town Council Mtg Smry 03/05/08
• Town Council Mtg Smry 03/19/08
• Town Council Mtg Smry 04/02/08
• Town Council Mtg Smry 04/16/08
• Town Council Mtg Smry 04/30/08
• Town Council Mtg Smry 05/07/08
• Town Council Mtg Smry 06/04/08
• Town Council Mtg Smry 06/18/08
• Town Council Mtg Smry 07/23/08
• Town Council Mtg Smry 09/03/08
• Town Council Mtg Smry 09/17/08
• Town Council Mtg Smry 10/01/08
• Town Council Mtg Smry 10/15/08
• Town Council Mtg Smry 11/05/08
• Town Council Mtg Smry 11/19/08
• Town Council Mtg Smry 12/03/08

"being respectful and kind to others"

By Julia Spitz/Daily News staff

The MetroWest Daily News

Posted Dec 29, 2008 @ 11:04 PM

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It's all about relationships. And rising to a challenge.

As a community resource officer in Franklin, Patrolman Dan MacLean's job includes talking to senior citizens about identity theft, and helping students stay on the straight and narrow.

"The most rewarding aspects of my job are the relationships that I have developed within these groups."

MacLean has another role in the community. The former assistant coach for the Franklin High School football and wrestling teams became head football coach at Tri-County three years ago.

"I believe being a police officer and coach is an advantage on a number of fronts. While acting in the capacity of a coach, I have the ability to challenge the students on and off the fields, both in athletics and academically. This also allows me to develop relationships and a degree of trust with the student population."

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

"They're losing a lot on their investments"

By David Riley/Daily News Staff

GHS

Posted Dec 29, 2008 @ 10:57 PM

---

Winter weather is causing a soggy new headache for towns and cities working to keep foreclosed homes from becoming safety hazards: water pipes that freeze and burst in empty houses.

In Franklin, burst pipes damaged two foreclosed condominiums in the Forge Hill area, Building Commissioner David Roche said.

"This house had about six inches of water in the basement," Roche said. "Unless you get that stuff out of there - the wet sheet rock, the wet rugs and everything - mold will start growing."

Municipal officials say when these problems spring up, they usually happen in homes partway through the foreclosure process, or taken over by far-away or financially troubled mortgage companies.

The residents have left, and power and heat are shut off. But the water is still on, and pipes and water heaters have not been drained. They freeze when temperatures drop, sometimes bursting the pipes as the ice expands, and the water flows out freely when they thaw.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

Mercury Thermometer Exchange

Did you know that you could use the Mercury Thermometer Exchange at Town Hall?

The program takes place daily in the Board of Health office. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, Wednesday 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM and Friday 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM.

Your glass mercury fever thermometer will be exchanged for a new digital thermometer.

Mercury is a metallic element commonly found in glass fever thermometers. Mercury is a neurotoxin in low doses and is released into the environment can potentially cause harm to the environment and to human health.

You can confirm this on the Town Board of Health web page here

Board of Health facts - part 2

Amongst the statistics provided in the 2008 Annual Report is the communicable diseases that the Board of Health is required to track. In the two dozen odd listed in the Annual Report the top three were:

• Lyme disease -> 61
• Chicken pox - > 44
• Dog bites - 17

If you have not picked up your hard copy of the report at Town Hall, you can try to view it online here: http://www.town.franklin.ma.us/pages/FranklinMA_Clerk/2008arpt.pdf

Coverage of the Board of Health begins on Page 89.

Board of Health facts

Local Boards of Health are required by State Statutes and regulations to perform many important and crucial duties relative to the protection of public health. The following is a small list of duties the local Board of Health has concerning sanitation and environment problems.


A. Record Keeping. Administrative: Permits, Licenses, Plan review maintain records for the minimum time period, process death certificates.

B. Health and Disease control communicable disease tracking and reporting 105 CMR 300.100. Report listed diseases to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Receive track, inspect and report to the state DPH cases of food poisoning.

C. Housing and dwellings: Enforce chapter II of the State Sanitary Code. 105 CMR 410.000 (Minimum Standards For Human Habitation). Inspections, Condemnation and demolition orders. Hearings on associated issues.

D. Hazardous Waste controls 310 CMR. Hazardous waste management. Oil and hazardous material spills Permits for waste haulers. Contact DEP (Department of Environmental Protection) for approved waste sites and spill incidences. Approve waste sites and transfer stations.

E. Solid waste: landfills 310 CMR. Approve sanitary landfills and transfer stations.

F. Sewage and garbage: Enforce Title V of the State Environmental Code 310 CMR( Minimum Requirements For The Subsurface Disposal of Sewage). Inspections of new and existing systems. Review of engineered septic plans. Investigate complaints. Process permits

G. Nuisances: Judged a public health risk.

H. Food Establishment Inspections: 105 CMR 590. Inspection. Follow up on complaints. Investigate food borne illness. Address deficiencies and bring food establishments up to code. Assure the proper/sanitary preparation of foods (temperature and storage conditions). Monitor labeling requirements for food products.

I. Pool and Beaches Inspections: Chapter V of the State sanitary Code.

J. Camps, Motels and Mobile Home Parks: 105 CMR 440.000.

K. Miscellaneous Health Complaints: Day care, Pesticides etc.

L. Permitting and inspecting. This includes biotechnology facilities with rDNA and or Infectious agents classification under Town Bylaw Ch. 198-1.

You can find this information on the Franklin Town page here

The top level Board of Health page can be found here

Franklin History - percolator patent

1865 - James H. Mason of Franklin, MA patented the coffee percolator that makes coffee good to the last drop!

Fire Dept - Reports

In addition to the statistics provided in the 2008 Annual Report, the Fire Department publishes their performance statistics monthly to their section of the Town web site.

You can find the Fire Department page here

You can find the report section here

You can find the monthly response statistics here




If you have not picked up your hard copy of the report at Town Hall, you can try to view it online here: http://www.town.franklin.ma.us/pages/FranklinMA_Clerk/2008arpt.pdf

Coverage of the Fire Department begins on Page 82.

Merry Christmas to all!

in the news: pre-school, kindergarten

First Friends drop-off preschool class offered

By GateHouse Media, Inc.

The Franklin Recreation Department isoffering a drop-off preschool class starting on Monday, Jan. 5 or Tuesday, Jan. 6, 9:30-11 a.m. Do you have a 2-3 year old who wishes they could go to school? Let your preschooler enjoy some independence and socialization with peers in this preschool curriculum based drop off class taught by two certified teachers. Each week we will explore a different theme and have related activities such as stories, songs, fingerplays, art activities, and games as well as gross motor play. This 1 1/2 hour class is a great transitioning first step before preschool and longer drop off activities. Snack is provided, however if your child has allergies we ask that you provide their snack. Also, send a labeled sippy cup for your child. This class will be held at the Franklin Recreation Department, 150 Emmons St. Call to register.

This article was originally posted here

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Kindergarten registration set for 2009-2010 in Franklin

By GateHouse Media, Inc.

Kindergarten Registration for the Franklin Public Schools will be held in the Horace Mann School Cafeteria, 224 Oak St., Feb. 2 and 3, 4 to 6 p.m., and Feb. 4 and 5, 3 to 5 p.m. All children born on or before Aug. 31, 2004, are eligible to register for kindergarten. Bring the following along for registration: 1. Original birth certificate — Original and a copy for school files. 2. Immunization Record — You will not be able to register your child without a physician’s copy of the immunization record. 3. Proof of residence — All applicants for kindergarten enrollment must bring at least one document each from the following categories: Category A: Record of recent mortgage payment or tax bill, copy of a lease and a record of a recent rental payment, landlord affidavit (notarized letter) and a recent rental payment, Section 8 agreement, or a signed HUD settlement statement. Category B: valid driver’s license, valid Massachusetts photo ID card, passport, or other government-issued photo ID. Franklin preschools and day cares will be sending kindergarten registration folders home with your child. If your child does not attend a Franklin preschool or daycare, folders will be available at registration and also at the F.X.O’Regan Early Childhood Development Center, located at 224 Oak Street (rear). Call 508-541-8166, ext. 2938, for assistance.

This was originally posted here

"wearing all black and using a black umbrella"

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

GHS

Posted Dec 23, 2008 @ 11:25 PM

---

FRANKLIN —

Police will likely not charge the 29-year-old driver whose dump truck struck and killed 90-year-old Palma A. Johnson while she was walking to morning Mass on Dec. 11, said Deputy Police Chief Stephan Semerjian.

Accident reconstructionists advised against charging the driver, Norwood resident Derek Hamlin, who was operating a 10-wheel dump truck for Joe Woodall & Son Construction of Franklin after concluding he was driving in a "reasonable manner" and reacted properly, he said.

Johnson was walking on a crosswalk on Pleasant Street at 6:56 a.m., coming from the charter school area, when Hamelin's truck hit her, he said.

"It was a very rainy, dark morning," Semerjian said.

Police reports also stated Johnson was wearing all black and using a black umbrella to shield herself from the rain, said Lt. Thomas Lynch. There have been a number of accidents at Church Square, Semerjian said, speculating that many drivers are coming from the Norfolk direction toward St. Mary's and are probably focused on the traffic lights rather than the crosswalk 40 or 50 feet past the lights.

The accident reconstruction was "pretty exhaustive," Semerjian said.

Police conducted a test of the ambient light.

"At no time did it reach a point where the light measure would have allowed him (Hamlin) to see. (He) was operating in a safe manner in regards to the road conditions," Semerjian said.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

Fire Dept -

Did you know that the 2008 Annual Report provides the Mission Statement for the Fire Department?

The mission of the Franklin Fire Department is to …

• Have a positive impact in the lives of citizens and visitors of Franklin in their time of crisis by providing compassionate, contemporary, community driven services.
• Safeguard human life from the perils of fire, sudden illness, injury or other emergency medical condition, natural and man-made disasters as well as preserve the environment and property from ensuing destruction.
• Be responsible for a safe, productive and pleasant work environment for our employees, and provide them opportunities to gain new skills and advance their personal career goals.

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The operational objectives the department uses to measure its success in meeting our mission are:

1. Initiating advanced life support to patients within 8 minutes of receiving the telephone call at our communications center.
2. To access, extricate, treat and transport and transport trauma patients to a level one trauma medical facility within one hour of the occurrence of the injury.
3. Interrupt the progression of fires in structures within 8 minutes of open flame ignition.
4. Maintain overall emergency response readiness above 70%.
5. Provide safety and survival skills for all school students in grade K through 5 consistent with the Student Awareness Fire Education (SAFE) initiative of the Commonwealth.
6. Provide educational opportunities for department members to insure optimal performance and safety.
7. To develop and maintain “best practice” to insure personnel and citizen safety.
8. Insure fire safety through timely, consistent code compliance services to all external customers.
9. Provide all department services in a manner that satisfies the needs of our customers.

If you have not picked up your hard copy of the report at Town Hall, you can try to view it online here: http://www.town.franklin.ma.us/pages/FranklinMA_Clerk/2008arpt.pdf

"start being more aware of their role (in the community)"

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

GateHouse News Service

Posted Dec 22, 2008 @ 10:17 PM

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FRANKLIN —

Rather than Girl Scouts or the other clubs they would normally join, seven students at Annie Sullivan Middle School signed up to spend their time after school helping people and saving the environment.

In their first few months with the school's new service club, Communiteen, the young women have already collected more than 250 coats for kids, a roomful of presents and donations for needy families to open up on Christmas and started researching a new community project.

``I grew up always knowing it's important to feel responsible for other people and to help out other people,'' said Mariel Calnan, an eighth-grade special education teacher at Annie Sullivan who started and runs the group.

Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here

Safe Party Guide from MADD

If you are going to be hosting a party during this holiday season, please check out the Safe Party Guide from MADD here.

It may help to prevent something that would spoil the party or the season!

Financial Planning Committee Minutes - 11/20/08

FINANCIAL PLANNING COMMITTEE
November 20,2008

The meeting was called to order at 7:05 pm

Members present: Finance Committee members James Roche, and Rebecca Cameron, Councilors Deborah Bartlett and Steve Whalen. School Committee Members, Roberta Trahan and Matt Kelley. Residents, Doug Hardesty and Gwynne Wilschek.

Also present were Town Administrator Jeff Nutting, School Superintendent Wayne Ogden and School Finance Director Miriam Goodman.

Motion to accept the minutes of October 16, 2008 by Councilor Bartlett.
Second by Roberta Trahan
Vote: Yes all

The Superintendent of Schools gave an in depth review of the FY 10 budget requests.
The Schools will need a 6.45% increase or $3.2 million to maintain the level of service.
They would also need an additional $600,000 for the next five-years to restore the reductions in force over the last several years.

The School budget is 83% personnel costs, while SPED and health insurance make up a large portion of the remaining budget.

The Committee asks questions in attempts to understand the barriers and any potential ideas.

The meeting adjourned at 9:05 pm

Respectfully,

Jeff Nutting