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.

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

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