The summary of posts covering the Town Council meeting on 2/11/09
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Live reporting - council comments
Zollo - budget season coming and it will be the most challenging for the town. It will require sacrifice from everyone in Town. My hope is that all affected parties will work together in a spirit of unity. To think outside the box. At some point as a town, we have to decide what our budget will represent. Regardless with what is passed, this should bring us closer together.
Pfeffer - The Capital Committee has looked long and hard at the capital. There is a cost to not spend the capital. The Town has paid that price before.
Whalen - The original capital amount was in the neighborhood of 8 million dollars and we are now looking at a vetted amount just over 1 million.
Adjorn!
Pfeffer - The Capital Committee has looked long and hard at the capital. There is a cost to not spend the capital. The Town has paid that price before.
Whalen - The original capital amount was in the neighborhood of 8 million dollars and we are now looking at a vetted amount just over 1 million.
Adjorn!
Live reporting - Town Admin
The Franklin Food Pantry is looking for space. When the renovation on the old municipal building occurs later, they will need the space. They serve approx. 18 communities but most of them are from Franklin, so they would like to remain in Town.
Falling investment income, excise taxes, etc. will result in below level revenues for the first time in several years.
Falling investment income, excise taxes, etc. will result in below level revenues for the first time in several years.
Live reporting - Legislation for action
J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
#2 - house cleaning on the accounting, when the department changes took place 5 were planned for, only four actually moved.
#3 - money needed to clear title and ownership for town owned land that has been accumulated over time. The company has already been doing the work, this amount allows them to finish what is in their queue.
#4 - again to clear title and survey for the land. The Town did get State approval for the 40-D priority development for this land. The approval comes with a grant to help improve the planning and permitting process.
- Resolution 09-05: Confirmatory Order of Taking Cross and King Street - approved 8-0
- Resolution 09-07: Appropriation – Public Facilities Salaries - approved 8-0
- Resolution 09-08: Appropriation – Title and Deed Research - approved 8-0
- Resolution 09-09: Appropriation – Survey on 30+ Acres on Pond Street - moved to March 4th meeting
#2 - house cleaning on the accounting, when the department changes took place 5 were planned for, only four actually moved.
#3 - money needed to clear title and ownership for town owned land that has been accumulated over time. The company has already been doing the work, this amount allows them to finish what is in their queue.
#4 - again to clear title and survey for the land. The Town did get State approval for the 40-D priority development for this land. The approval comes with a grant to help improve the planning and permitting process.
Live reporting - Town Council 2/11/09
Attending: Whalen, Mason, Vallee, Bartlett, Feeley, Pfeffer, McGann, Zollo
Missing: Doak
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - January 7, 2009 approved 8-0
B. ANNOUNCEMENTS - none
C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS - none
D. CITIZEN COMMENTS - none
E. APPOINTMENTS - none
F. HEARINGS - none
G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS - none
H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
Will bring this back in March for formal vote, only for discussion tonight.
Feeley requested to bring the ladder truck and the DPW lawn mower before the Council for a formal vote for next meeting rather than waiting.
Missing: Doak
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - January 7, 2009 approved 8-0
B. ANNOUNCEMENTS - none
C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS - none
D. CITIZEN COMMENTS - none
E. APPOINTMENTS - none
F. HEARINGS - none
G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS - none
H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
- Use of Town Property Bylaw
- FY 2009 Capital Plan
Will bring this back in March for formal vote, only for discussion tonight.
Feeley requested to bring the ladder truck and the DPW lawn mower before the Council for a formal vote for next meeting rather than waiting.
"He slept with his eyes open"
“He would sleep with his eyes open while posing.” Victor Pisini said as he talked about Shaney Ward, the model for one of his paintings now on display at Gallery 218. “He was a tiny fireman. He would stand only about four foot five inches tall. It was good for us painting to have him sleep with his eyes open. I did that painting about 1957.”
Allison Sherlock explained that one of the two paintings she had in the show was from her “post-stick” period. Her Art teacher at Assumption referred to it that way for an exercise she had Allie do in class. She had Allie paint with her brush taped to the end of a four foot stick. You try doing that. It is not easy to manipulate the brush holding it from such a distance.
Victor complained that he used to be able to find subject matter to paint in the daily news paper. “You can't find that any more. The pictures are all about war, and accidents. I used to be able to find a woman working in a field, or a grandfather holding a child, or someone leading a horse. I could then go and paint from that picture.”
“Imagine that, a real discussion about art right here in Franklin,” remarked Rosanne Walsh as she caught part of the conversation between Allison and Victor. This conversation almost covered the extremes amongst the alumni represented. There are works from the Class of 2008 but Victor was from the Franklin Class of 1947 and Allison was from the Class of 2004.
There is quite a range in the type of work featured in this Alumni Show at Gallery 218. There are oil paintings, ceramics, photography, prints, mixed media and an animated video being shown on DVD. Something for everyone.
Refreshments were served in the cafeteria while Andrew Barry played some background music on his electric guitar. Andrew, a senior at Franklin High has already been accepted at Franklin Pierce College but is waiting to hear from Emerson and Berklee. He would like to pursue studying music and those are his #1 and #2 choices.
Victor's second painting is more recent. He completed a “Meditation” about a year ago. Mike Caple had stopped by the Pisini Shoe Store to pick up the two works for the show. Victor was grateful that he did. “We need more art here in Franklin. Whenever I traveled, I would find the art community. They were very nice people. They were always helpful.”
I think that given the expressive nature of art, given the creativity found in art, Franklin can use more art as we approach this budget season. Stop by Gallery 218 to view the Alumni show. It will be worth your time and may help Franklin's future.
A photo slideshow of Gallery 218 on opening night is available here
Pictures and Slides added
The picture of the panel presenting on the Literacy initiative was added to that posting here
The picture of Peter Light and John Koch was added to that posting here, along with the presentation slides that they used for Advanced Placement Access.
The slides that Peter Light used for the High School Improvement plan were added to that posting here.
Enjoy!
The picture of Peter Light and John Koch was added to that posting here, along with the presentation slides that they used for Advanced Placement Access.
The slides that Peter Light used for the High School Improvement plan were added to that posting here.
Enjoy!
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