The live reporting posts for the Town Council meeting on Wednesday 5/6/09 can be found here
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Live reporting - Town Admin, and closing comments
K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
Jeff read the listing of the sponsors of the recent Earth Day, huge success
remind folks to pick up litter as you go to help keep the town clean
May 17th, HMEA 5K roadrace
Update of fiscal policies in councilor packets
Beautification Day - May 16th 8:00 AM at the bridge
FINCOM did finish their budget hearings on Tuesday
Not sure if we will make the schedule that we have set thus far
Budget as proposed eliminates 11 municipal jobs, only 1.25 people will actually be laid off due to other changes
School Committee budget hearing on May 26th
L. OLD BUSINESS
Vallee - listing of street resurfacing?
Nutting - had to re-bid the hot-top so that should be coming, within the next 30 days we should be ready
Vallee - What is status of Walgreens?
Nutting - we should be ready to close on June 30th
Bartlett - get the listing of street out on the web site so the residents can see
Nutting - yes
McGann - how do we arrive at the street listing?
Nutting - anytime there is a water line, we do the paving the next year. we have a master listing of streets, part art and part science. We do have a huge listing of work that needs to be done. We don't appropriate any money for road improvements.
M. NEW BUSINESS
Vallee - After listening to the Financial Planning Committee, Milford operating under Chapter 121a
Nutting - this is similar to the TIF which we do provide
Nutting - part of it is zoning, big box stores are not allowed, from a tax structure, we have a very low rate. We have given out TIF's with your approval. We are trying to get folks here to fill our warehouses.
Vallee - we should be more proactive in trying to create jobs
Nutting - we are about to begin to update the master plan to look at those issues, rezoning from residential to commercial is not easy
Vallee - I'd like to request that the Planning Dept do the research on Chap 121a
Taberner - we should look at more rezaoning, we have to do it for the greater good
N. COUNCIL COMMENTS
Whalen - would like to take this time to comment on the stand off between the teachers and the School Committee. Addressing teachers directly. 7 unions made the concession for the Town to avoid layoffs.
Mason - echoes Whalen's comments and wishes a speedy resolution to the issue
Zollo - I find it hard to believe that the majority of the teachers are actually supporting their leadership.
McGann - I too believe it is not the whole union that represented, it is a small group, they are very selfish and one sided. It is only a handful.
Congratulations to Mr Fahey for his work in the veterans area.
Doak - I would like to endorse Councilor Whalen's eloquent comments. I don't claim to know all the details. If these concessions don't go through, we will lose more teachers and that is not good.
Pfeffer - I would like to see the art of compromise
Feeley - I find it difficult to believe that the whole number of teachers are behind this. The School Committee conceded the three items for the one year (Editor note: This is not correct, the School Committee conceded only 2 of the 3 items) this shows an attempt to reach an agreement.
Jeff read the listing of the sponsors of the recent Earth Day, huge success
remind folks to pick up litter as you go to help keep the town clean
May 17th, HMEA 5K roadrace
Update of fiscal policies in councilor packets
Beautification Day - May 16th 8:00 AM at the bridge
FINCOM did finish their budget hearings on Tuesday
Not sure if we will make the schedule that we have set thus far
Budget as proposed eliminates 11 municipal jobs, only 1.25 people will actually be laid off due to other changes
School Committee budget hearing on May 26th
L. OLD BUSINESS
Vallee - listing of street resurfacing?
Nutting - had to re-bid the hot-top so that should be coming, within the next 30 days we should be ready
Vallee - What is status of Walgreens?
Nutting - we should be ready to close on June 30th
Bartlett - get the listing of street out on the web site so the residents can see
Nutting - yes
McGann - how do we arrive at the street listing?
Nutting - anytime there is a water line, we do the paving the next year. we have a master listing of streets, part art and part science. We do have a huge listing of work that needs to be done. We don't appropriate any money for road improvements.
M. NEW BUSINESS
Vallee - After listening to the Financial Planning Committee, Milford operating under Chapter 121a
Nutting - this is similar to the TIF which we do provide
Nutting - part of it is zoning, big box stores are not allowed, from a tax structure, we have a very low rate. We have given out TIF's with your approval. We are trying to get folks here to fill our warehouses.
Vallee - we should be more proactive in trying to create jobs
Nutting - we are about to begin to update the master plan to look at those issues, rezoning from residential to commercial is not easy
Vallee - I'd like to request that the Planning Dept do the research on Chap 121a
Taberner - we should look at more rezaoning, we have to do it for the greater good
N. COUNCIL COMMENTS
Whalen - would like to take this time to comment on the stand off between the teachers and the School Committee. Addressing teachers directly. 7 unions made the concession for the Town to avoid layoffs.
Mason - echoes Whalen's comments and wishes a speedy resolution to the issue
Zollo - I find it hard to believe that the majority of the teachers are actually supporting their leadership.
McGann - I too believe it is not the whole union that represented, it is a small group, they are very selfish and one sided. It is only a handful.
Congratulations to Mr Fahey for his work in the veterans area.
Doak - I would like to endorse Councilor Whalen's eloquent comments. I don't claim to know all the details. If these concessions don't go through, we will lose more teachers and that is not good.
Pfeffer - I would like to see the art of compromise
Feeley - I find it difficult to believe that the whole number of teachers are behind this. The School Committee conceded the three items for the one year (Editor note: This is not correct, the School Committee conceded only 2 of the 3 items) this shows an attempt to reach an agreement.
Live reporting - legislation for action
J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1 - Land was taken in 1986 from the US Government and should not have been, they finally discovered the error and have asked us to correct it. The easement for sewer through wetlands hasn't chnaged.
2 - Conservation Commission worked on this to prepare the proposal and reduce the cost of the drafting required.
Chris Botchis
Andy Tolland
Ray Willis
Nick Alferi
Nutting
We don't know how much it will cost. Depending upon what it does cost, we could put it into the capital budget, or bond it, or look for grants to help cover it.
Tolland
Purpose of this aspect of the study is to focus on the three options and figure out what the least cost options would be. We need tight cost estimates. Everything has been based from a far, this would be a closer study.
Probably along the lines of 6-9 months to do the study, no more than a year.
Based upon what they have said, it could fail but it unlikely to. We are not looking at loss of life or property. The ponds remove nutrients from the storm water before it gets to the Charles River. It is helpful as we are overall being charged with reducing phosphorous from the Charles River.
We are looking for partial dam removals or full dam replacements.
Nutting
It is our responsibility, it is town owned property.
Mason
I am not inclined to approve this given the circumstance
Unless there is a real crisis, I don't see the need for this at this time
Pfeffer
I think we need to do this, Mr Delcorte provided this land, there is a lot of water, we are liable for it
- Resolution 09-26: Acknowledgment of Invalidity of Order of Taking Directed to Land of United States of America approved 9-0
- Resolution 09-27: Appropriation – DelCarte Open Space Dam Repair/Removal approved 8-1 (Mason voted no)
- Resolution 09-28: Appropriation – Veterans’ Benefits approved 8-0 (Vallee stepped out momentarily)
- Resolution 09-29: Appropriation – Snow & Ice approved 9-0
1 - Land was taken in 1986 from the US Government and should not have been, they finally discovered the error and have asked us to correct it. The easement for sewer through wetlands hasn't chnaged.
2 - Conservation Commission worked on this to prepare the proposal and reduce the cost of the drafting required.
Chris Botchis
Andy Tolland
Ray Willis
Nick Alferi
Nutting
We don't know how much it will cost. Depending upon what it does cost, we could put it into the capital budget, or bond it, or look for grants to help cover it.
Tolland
Purpose of this aspect of the study is to focus on the three options and figure out what the least cost options would be. We need tight cost estimates. Everything has been based from a far, this would be a closer study.
Probably along the lines of 6-9 months to do the study, no more than a year.
Based upon what they have said, it could fail but it unlikely to. We are not looking at loss of life or property. The ponds remove nutrients from the storm water before it gets to the Charles River. It is helpful as we are overall being charged with reducing phosphorous from the Charles River.
We are looking for partial dam removals or full dam replacements.
Nutting
It is our responsibility, it is town owned property.
Mason
I am not inclined to approve this given the circumstance
Unless there is a real crisis, I don't see the need for this at this time
Pfeffer
I think we need to do this, Mr Delcorte provided this land, there is a lot of water, we are liable for it
Live reporting - Bylaw
Zollo - arrives late
H. Presentations/DISCUSSION
Pfeffer
Question on how it would apply to someone who teaches piano lessons a single student at a time
Taberner
If you have 2 or more at a time, then there are additional requirements
Just places limitations on what you can do to operate a business from a residence
Cerel
Current definition of present uses is loose and needs to be tightened up
Bartlett
I'd like to see what our current bylaw is to compare this to
I'd like to hear about what the problems are that drove this
Dahlstrom
The use of a residence for a catering business, parking vehicles for a construction business
Bartlett
Question on defining "objections"
McGann
What about entities that are already operating
They would be grandfathered
Doak
What are the other bylaws that we are trying to be consistent with?
Feeley
question on E2a
Alfieri
Refers to the # of vehicles parked in an auxiliary parking area on the land
Not the personal vehicles being used but those being stored
Cerel
section - D1a provides additional detail in answer to Councilor Bartlett's question
Building Commissioner would be required to have an objective standard
Feeley
this should go through the normal process
H. Presentations/DISCUSSION
- Zoning Bylaw, Chapter 185-39. Uses accessory to dwellings.
Pfeffer
Question on how it would apply to someone who teaches piano lessons a single student at a time
Taberner
If you have 2 or more at a time, then there are additional requirements
Just places limitations on what you can do to operate a business from a residence
Cerel
Current definition of present uses is loose and needs to be tightened up
Bartlett
I'd like to see what our current bylaw is to compare this to
I'd like to hear about what the problems are that drove this
Dahlstrom
The use of a residence for a catering business, parking vehicles for a construction business
Bartlett
Question on defining "objections"
McGann
What about entities that are already operating
They would be grandfathered
Doak
What are the other bylaws that we are trying to be consistent with?
Feeley
question on E2a
Alfieri
Refers to the # of vehicles parked in an auxiliary parking area on the land
Not the personal vehicles being used but those being stored
Cerel
section - D1a provides additional detail in answer to Councilor Bartlett's question
Building Commissioner would be required to have an objective standard
Feeley
this should go through the normal process
Live reporting - License transactions
F. HEARINGS - none
G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS – Request for Approval of Change of Manager – 99 Restaurant - approved 8-0
G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS – Request for Approval of Change of Manager – 99 Restaurant - approved 8-0
Live reporting - Town Council - 5/6/09
Attending: Whalen, Mason, Vallee, Bartlett, Feeley, Pfeffer, McGann, Doak, Zollo (late)
Missing:
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – April 1, 2009
motion to approve - passed 8-0
B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
schedule change for June
June 3, 10, 11, if req'd special meeting on Jun 24th
10, 11 will be the budget hearings
Dedication of new monument on Memorial Day
WMRC - 1490 AM
free lunch for 1st 300 people
at Senior Center
C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS - none
D. CITIZEN COMMENTS - none
E. APPOINTMENTS
Missing:
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – April 1, 2009
motion to approve - passed 8-0
B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
schedule change for June
June 3, 10, 11, if req'd special meeting on Jun 24th
10, 11 will be the budget hearings
Dedication of new monument on Memorial Day
WMRC - 1490 AM
free lunch for 1st 300 people
at Senior Center
C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS - none
D. CITIZEN COMMENTS - none
E. APPOINTMENTS
- Cultural Council - Kathy Stankard - approved 8-0
- Council on Aging - Paul J O'Connell - approved 8-0
- Charles River Pollution Control District - William J Goode - approved 8-0
Strategic Planning Survey Available
Strategic Planning survey announced previously is now available.
Please take a few minutes to provide your input online here
What is the survey about? This slide cast will explain:
Please take a few minutes to provide your input online here
What is the survey about? This slide cast will explain:
"will meet on Tuesday to make final decisions on what areas to cut"
Milford Daily News
FRANKLIN —
The Finance Committee unanimously approved the School Department's $50.3 million, level-funded budget, as recommended by Town Administrator Jeffrey D. Nutting, though school officials are banking on getting up to another $3.5 million to help keep pace with rising costs.
The budget does not reflect the School Department's final budget, as the School Committee is expecting at least $1.5 million worth of revenue from state and federal funds, and possibly another $800,000 from wage concessions by the teachers union, said Chairman Jeffrey Roy.
The School Committee is aiming for a level-service budget, at just over $53.8 million, and is still optimistic about closing the budget gap between the two versions, Roy said. "We've been targeting a level-service budget since the beginning of this process," Roy said.
The budget has been a moving target, with so many unanswered questions about funding, such as how much Franklin schools will get from state aid and the federal stimulus package, he said.
Read the full article about the Finance Committee meeting in the Milford Daily News here
In addition to what the article references, the Finance Committee also approved the Information Technology budget. The coverage of the complete meeting can be found here.
"Let us put an end to this public squabble"
Milford Daily News
FRANKLIN —
In what has grown into online crossfire between school leaders, new teachers union President Robert McLaughlin posted a two-page letter on a Web site yesterday picking apart statements made in the School Committee's two YouTube videos.
In the letter, posted on franklinteachers.org/joomla, McLaughlin said he was heartened to hear School Committee Chairman Jeffrey Roy use the word "partner" in reference to contract talks with the union, but concluded the School Committee "certainly has not even met us halfway in attempting to resolve this stalemate."
The School Committee has asked the Franklin Education Association to defer its negotiated 2.5 percent wage increase until fiscal 2011 to save about 16 teachers' jobs.
"As always the members of the FEA were glad to pitch in and do their part," said McLaughlin.
Read the full article about the teachers response to the School Committee in the Milford Daily News here
Treesavers: Paul Barcelo
Paul Barcelo, author of The Sweet War Man
Will be appearing at Treesavers Books to sign his new book, The Sweet War Man.
Paul Barcelo completed Army Infantry training at Fort Benning, Georgia, then rotary wing training at Fort Wolters, Texas and Fort Rucker, Alabama. He flew one tour as a UH-1 pilot in Republic of Vietnam. He resides in Franklin, Massachusetts with his wife and four children. This is his first novel.
May 16, 2009 from 2:00 to 4:00 PM
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Finance Comm 05/05/09
The budget hearings held by the Finance Committee covered IT, Tri-County and the School budget on Tuesday May 5th. The live reporting sessions are:
Live reporting - School District
Maureen Sabolinski, Jeff Roy
Formal budget discussion scheduled for 5/26/09 School Committee meeting
School District has been targeting a "level funded" budget since the beginning
Differences between level service and level funded budget described
revised $53,291,773
Increases in revenue currently anticipated
If FEA wage concession comes in, the deficit will be approx. $700,000
Decisions coming in SchCom meeting on Tuesday (5/12/09) on ways to cut the gap
Public hearing on budget scheduled for 5/26/09
Roche - thanks for the information an numbers provided this year
offsets are visible here
Same dollars as last years budget
Town has legal authority over the one line item
School Committee has legal responsibility for all the details
Level funded number $50,297,820
There is no text book line item in the budget
There is a workbook for K-5 Everyday math that is a consumable and required yearly
One vendor, we are at their mercy. To adopt another text book series is a huge effort.
The transportation line item had been the subject of the forensic audit
We have been trying to increase the transportation line item to avoid that issue
We have a total bottom-line item for the overall budget
the fee schedule has not been set yet, stay tuned for Tuesday night (5/12/09)
Field house banners were sold and the money is going back into the athletic budget
Athletic Director Sidwell is using the funds to minimize operating osts
We have applied for several grants and we turned down for several
We are not as diverse a district as we could be to benefit from the grants
The grants have primarily been Federal, several of the State level grants have been cut
One grant for 90,000 this year is only 5,000 and next year goes away
Contractual services private?
Tuition to private schools and residential placements
We can not provide the services for those Special Ed students
We provide as much as we can
Every school district in the Commonwealth has some cost in that line item
Franklin has 71 students in the Special Education
Wellesley has double the number of student for a district half the size of ours
Is Professional Development a problem with the teachers?
The PD budget has been centralized and removed from each individual schools
The final budget will have that spelled out
Our final budget may look significantly different
We have not determined how to flow the stimulus funds across the budget
Using the revolving fund for School Choice was the equivalent of 2.5 teachers
We could not leave that just sitting there
We like to be about 14 percent, this budget could be about 1-2% above the minimum
Legal increase - had a residency case this year
hard to predict the utilization of these funds
generally a one time cost, end result did not pick up the tuition of a student who did not officialy reside in the town
Discussion on validity of voting for a budget tonight
Tuesday May 12th, school detail discussion on fees, and other cuts
Tuesday May 26th, formal vote on final budget
Motion to approve $50,297,820 - passed 11-0
Any old business - no
New business - recommended budget to be published and go to the Council for June 10/11
Next Finance meeting 6/2, may hold until 6/9, but that is still dependent upon the Commonwealth and where the numbers are at that time
Requesting an increase in Building Inspector's of $4400
to cover use of individual's personal vehicles
Inspection Acct 240
total of $369,006
Money to balance this comes from "Other Available Funds"
Technically still part of the budget hearing
Approved 11-0
Formal budget discussion scheduled for 5/26/09 School Committee meeting
School District has been targeting a "level funded" budget since the beginning
Differences between level service and level funded budget described
revised $53,291,773
Increases in revenue currently anticipated
- Increase in circuit breaker revenue
- State stabilization fund
- Federal stimulus package
- Extraordinary relief package
- School Choice revenue
If FEA wage concession comes in, the deficit will be approx. $700,000
Decisions coming in SchCom meeting on Tuesday (5/12/09) on ways to cut the gap
Public hearing on budget scheduled for 5/26/09
Roche - thanks for the information an numbers provided this year
offsets are visible here
Same dollars as last years budget
Town has legal authority over the one line item
School Committee has legal responsibility for all the details
Level funded number $50,297,820
There is no text book line item in the budget
There is a workbook for K-5 Everyday math that is a consumable and required yearly
One vendor, we are at their mercy. To adopt another text book series is a huge effort.
The transportation line item had been the subject of the forensic audit
We have been trying to increase the transportation line item to avoid that issue
We have a total bottom-line item for the overall budget
the fee schedule has not been set yet, stay tuned for Tuesday night (5/12/09)
Field house banners were sold and the money is going back into the athletic budget
Athletic Director Sidwell is using the funds to minimize operating osts
We have applied for several grants and we turned down for several
We are not as diverse a district as we could be to benefit from the grants
The grants have primarily been Federal, several of the State level grants have been cut
One grant for 90,000 this year is only 5,000 and next year goes away
Contractual services private?
Tuition to private schools and residential placements
We can not provide the services for those Special Ed students
We provide as much as we can
Every school district in the Commonwealth has some cost in that line item
Franklin has 71 students in the Special Education
Wellesley has double the number of student for a district half the size of ours
Is Professional Development a problem with the teachers?
The PD budget has been centralized and removed from each individual schools
The final budget will have that spelled out
Our final budget may look significantly different
We have not determined how to flow the stimulus funds across the budget
Using the revolving fund for School Choice was the equivalent of 2.5 teachers
We could not leave that just sitting there
We like to be about 14 percent, this budget could be about 1-2% above the minimum
Legal increase - had a residency case this year
hard to predict the utilization of these funds
generally a one time cost, end result did not pick up the tuition of a student who did not officialy reside in the town
Discussion on validity of voting for a budget tonight
Tuesday May 12th, school detail discussion on fees, and other cuts
Tuesday May 26th, formal vote on final budget
Motion to approve $50,297,820 - passed 11-0
Any old business - no
New business - recommended budget to be published and go to the Council for June 10/11
Next Finance meeting 6/2, may hold until 6/9, but that is still dependent upon the Commonwealth and where the numbers are at that time
Requesting an increase in Building Inspector's of $4400
to cover use of individual's personal vehicles
Inspection Acct 240
total of $369,006
Money to balance this comes from "Other Available Funds"
Technically still part of the budget hearing
Approved 11-0
Live reporting - Tri-County RVTHS
Tri-County Regional Voc Tech High School
Introductions around
Tri-County is well aware of the needs of the feeding towns
A required minimum amount was budgeted for
The required minimum amount was set by the State
Assessment is down by approx. 269,000 dollars
Enrollment down from 192 to 159 students
Roche - we appreciate your efforts in that regard
In order to get our budget down, we prioritized keeping teachers
We reduced administrative staff, by one curriculum coordinator
Due to retirement of one individual took the opportunity to change that position from full year to school year and reduce salary level
We rely heavily on instructional supplies, did cut supplies
any further cuts will come from teacher salaries
Reduced 181,000 in instructional equipement
eliminated renovation projects
eliminated virtual high school
Budget for next year is 2% less than the current operating budget
The minimum amount is done on a district level
For Tri-County it is determined by the eleven sending districts
Offset by Chapter 70 funds
Will reduce our currency for one year, will be fine for this year
Equipment does take a lot of use when used by the student
Franklin's legal commitment is the same as other communities
There is no debt at Tri-County so there is a benefit there
results in a zero for capital
Applications year-to-date don't indicate that the drop is a trend
A similar drop did occur several years ago and then picked up the following year
Changed their Special Ed approach, teachers assigned to grades and subjects
teachers will address the students as required to meet their needs
the classrooms are mainstreamed (all inclusive)
Most Special Education teachers are dual certified,
have 8 teachers to meet the 37% of the students have IEP's
Transportation for a regional school is different from local schools
the reimbursement rate is higher
They absorbed the difference between the actual transportation and the reimbursement rate rather than billing it out to the sending districts as they did prior
Motion to approve budget - Passed 11-0
Introductions around
Tri-County is well aware of the needs of the feeding towns
A required minimum amount was budgeted for
The required minimum amount was set by the State
Assessment is down by approx. 269,000 dollars
Enrollment down from 192 to 159 students
Roche - we appreciate your efforts in that regard
In order to get our budget down, we prioritized keeping teachers
We reduced administrative staff, by one curriculum coordinator
Due to retirement of one individual took the opportunity to change that position from full year to school year and reduce salary level
We rely heavily on instructional supplies, did cut supplies
any further cuts will come from teacher salaries
Reduced 181,000 in instructional equipement
eliminated renovation projects
eliminated virtual high school
Budget for next year is 2% less than the current operating budget
The minimum amount is done on a district level
For Tri-County it is determined by the eleven sending districts
Offset by Chapter 70 funds
Will reduce our currency for one year, will be fine for this year
Equipment does take a lot of use when used by the student
Franklin's legal commitment is the same as other communities
There is no debt at Tri-County so there is a benefit there
results in a zero for capital
Applications year-to-date don't indicate that the drop is a trend
A similar drop did occur several years ago and then picked up the following year
Changed their Special Ed approach, teachers assigned to grades and subjects
teachers will address the students as required to meet their needs
the classrooms are mainstreamed (all inclusive)
Most Special Education teachers are dual certified,
have 8 teachers to meet the 37% of the students have IEP's
Transportation for a regional school is different from local schools
the reimbursement rate is higher
They absorbed the difference between the actual transportation and the reimbursement rate rather than billing it out to the sending districts as they did prior
Motion to approve budget - Passed 11-0
Live reporting - Finance Committee - 5/5/09
Attending:
Brett S. Feldman
Juan Rivera
Patricia Goldsmith
Phyllis Messere
Rebecca Cameron
Jack Caufield
Mark Cataldo
James Roche
Tina Powderly
Craig Maire
Robert Teixeira
Almost final budget hearing
Information Technology
Tim Raposa
Similar to last year's budget, bare bones
"School Dude" work order management system, being set up this year to be used
should be set up over the next couple of months
doing cafeteria point of sale systems now
Efficiency based, current work order system is paper based
Virtual townhall - they do the website hosting, all done off-site
Folks call them directly, training is done on their site
Complete salary budget for technology department is in the School Budget
Motion to approve budget - Passed 11-0
Brett S. Feldman
Juan Rivera
Patricia Goldsmith
Phyllis Messere
Rebecca Cameron
Jack Caufield
Mark Cataldo
James Roche
Tina Powderly
Craig Maire
Robert Teixeira
Almost final budget hearing
Information Technology
Tim Raposa
Similar to last year's budget, bare bones
"School Dude" work order management system, being set up this year to be used
should be set up over the next couple of months
doing cafeteria point of sale systems now
Efficiency based, current work order system is paper based
Virtual townhall - they do the website hosting, all done off-site
Folks call them directly, training is done on their site
Complete salary budget for technology department is in the School Budget
Motion to approve budget - Passed 11-0
"adopt the concept of 100-100"
Robert McLoughlin, President of the FEA, has posted the teacher's response to the School Committee's YouTube videos.
In case you have not seen the YouTube videos, you can find them here
School Committee YouTube videos
I was heartened to hear Mr. Roy use the word partner many times in his online presentation this weekend. In the context of partnership, some time ago I was introduced to the relational concept of 100/100. This idea being that a partnership should not be 50-50, but rather 100-100. Each partner in a relationship should not give 50 percent toward making the partnership successful, but 100% of their energy and effort toward achieving the shared goal(s) of the partnership. After just four days in office, I can proudly claim that the Franklin Education Association is putting the concept of 100-100 boldly into practice for the parents and children of Franklin.Read the full posting here
In case you have not seen the YouTube videos, you can find them here
School Committee YouTube videos
FM #38 - Parents Call to Action
This is #38 in the series of podcast on what matters in Franklin, MA. This segment focuses on the current impasse between the School Committee and the teachers union, and issues a call to action to Franklin's parents.
Time: 8 minutes, 7 seconds
MP3 File
Session Notes:
Music intro
My intro - FM #38
This internet radio show or podcast for Franklin Matters is number 38 in the series.
On the disclosure front, I stand here today not as the husband of a Franklin teacher. Yes, my wife Dolores does teach kindergarten at the Oak Street School. I love her dearly. I don't need to represent her or the teacher's union. They are quite capable of representing themselves.
I do stand here today as a parent of two Franklin High School graduates (class of 2004 and 2006) knowing full well that if you are a parent of children in the school district today or a parent with children yet to enter the schools, your children are not getting the same level of educational opportunity that my daughters received. That is my concern.
A quick story to lead to the call to action for today.
Many years ago, in my first corporate position, I started as a call center operator. Burroughs Corp, now known as UNISYS, was just starting regional call centers to support their customers. I spent a few days training, reading the manuals, policies, procedures, familiarizing myself with the call dispatch program. I also spent many hours double jacked. Double jacked meant I was listening in to the phone conversation with another operator as my trainer and mentor.
Then the time came for me to take the lead on the phone and as luck would have it, my first phone call was a dozy. I answered with phone with the standard greeting and was welcomed with a series of expletives. Briefly, the caller was a Southern NJ police chief whose Burroughs terminal was not operating. He was quite irate, expletive this, expletive that, “get this expletive device out of here” and so forth. I think you get the gist of how it was going. I let him vent and then chimed in with my best voice to try and resolve this problem. He would have none of it.
“Son”, he said, “How long you been there?”I was honest and admitted that I had just started.
“Son”, he said, “Let me give you some advice. Quit!”
Well, I did not quit. I did take away from customer service that you are as good as your last phone call. You always have to be on. It was interesting to listen to the reaction in the callers voice as I greeted them. If the customer did not like what had happened previously in our conversation, I could hear the disappointment in their voice as they recognized, “Oh, Steve.”
I quickly learned to answer the phone every time with my best voice. Then the customer would say, “Oh, Steve!” and we would get down to business with a good conversation.
The call to action.
Franklin parents, you have no doubt heard about the impasse between the School Committee and the teachers union. If by chance, you haven't heard of the details, you can visit the links in the blog post that accompanies this podcast to watch the School Committee's YouTube videos and to read my analysis of the discussion. The teachers are preparing their response. Once that is available, I'll post the link to that so you'll have their side of the story.
Updated: The teachers response has been posted here
You now have a few opportunities to let the School Committee know where you stand.
The School Committee needs to know where you stand. Your point of view will potentially break the current impasse between the 7 School Committee members and the over 500 members of the teachers union (FEA).
There is no time like the present to stand up and state your case. This will determine the future of your children's education. This will determine Franklin's future.
When you step up to state your point of view, be positive! Take the high road.
Links referenced:
School Committee YouTube videos
Back story and my analysis
---- ---- ----
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
Time: 8 minutes, 7 seconds
MP3 File
Session Notes:
Music intro
My intro - FM #38
This internet radio show or podcast for Franklin Matters is number 38 in the series.
On the disclosure front, I stand here today not as the husband of a Franklin teacher. Yes, my wife Dolores does teach kindergarten at the Oak Street School. I love her dearly. I don't need to represent her or the teacher's union. They are quite capable of representing themselves.
I do stand here today as a parent of two Franklin High School graduates (class of 2004 and 2006) knowing full well that if you are a parent of children in the school district today or a parent with children yet to enter the schools, your children are not getting the same level of educational opportunity that my daughters received. That is my concern.
A quick story to lead to the call to action for today.
Many years ago, in my first corporate position, I started as a call center operator. Burroughs Corp, now known as UNISYS, was just starting regional call centers to support their customers. I spent a few days training, reading the manuals, policies, procedures, familiarizing myself with the call dispatch program. I also spent many hours double jacked. Double jacked meant I was listening in to the phone conversation with another operator as my trainer and mentor.
Then the time came for me to take the lead on the phone and as luck would have it, my first phone call was a dozy. I answered with phone with the standard greeting and was welcomed with a series of expletives. Briefly, the caller was a Southern NJ police chief whose Burroughs terminal was not operating. He was quite irate, expletive this, expletive that, “get this expletive device out of here” and so forth. I think you get the gist of how it was going. I let him vent and then chimed in with my best voice to try and resolve this problem. He would have none of it.
“Son”, he said, “How long you been there?”I was honest and admitted that I had just started.
“Son”, he said, “Let me give you some advice. Quit!”
Well, I did not quit. I did take away from customer service that you are as good as your last phone call. You always have to be on. It was interesting to listen to the reaction in the callers voice as I greeted them. If the customer did not like what had happened previously in our conversation, I could hear the disappointment in their voice as they recognized, “Oh, Steve.”
I quickly learned to answer the phone every time with my best voice. Then the customer would say, “Oh, Steve!” and we would get down to business with a good conversation.
The call to action.
Franklin parents, you have no doubt heard about the impasse between the School Committee and the teachers union. If by chance, you haven't heard of the details, you can visit the links in the blog post that accompanies this podcast to watch the School Committee's YouTube videos and to read my analysis of the discussion. The teachers are preparing their response. Once that is available, I'll post the link to that so you'll have their side of the story.
Updated: The teachers response has been posted here
You now have a few opportunities to let the School Committee know where you stand.
- The Finance Committee will hear the school departments initial budget presentation Tuesday, May 5th. I say initial budget as clearly the teachers issue has not yet been resolved nor has the School Committee formally voted to accept a budget for FY 2010.
- The Town Council has a meeting Wednesday May 6th. There is a citizen's comment portion of the meeting so you can step up to take 3 minutes and state your point of view.
- The School Committee will meet on Tuesday May 12th and again on Tuesday May 26th. The meeting on the 26th is currently scheduled to be the formal vote on the FY 2010 budget.
The School Committee needs to know where you stand. Your point of view will potentially break the current impasse between the 7 School Committee members and the over 500 members of the teachers union (FEA).
There is no time like the present to stand up and state your case. This will determine the future of your children's education. This will determine Franklin's future.
When you step up to state your point of view, be positive! Take the high road.
Links referenced:
School Committee YouTube videos
Back story and my analysis
---- ---- ----
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
"It's not going to go on YouTube"
Milford Daily News
FRANKLIN —
Using two video clips on YouTube, the School Committee directly appealed to the teachers union for wage concessions that will save 16 teachers' jobs.
Addressing the entire Franklin Education Association in a 9-minute video, and again in a 4-minute video, Chairman Jeffrey Roy said the district only has a few weeks left to "put aside emotions and work together for what's in the best interest of students, parents and guardians in this community."
He beseeched the union, and its new leadership, headed by President Bob McLaughlin, a Franklin High School gym teacher, to join the School Committee as partners to help close the budget gap.
Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here
"no one made a motion"
GHS
FRANKLIN —
School officials shouldn't expect any changes from the teachers union's new leadership, which took the reins May 1, said new union President Bob McLaughlin.
In the past several months, communication seems to have broken down between the Franklin Education Association and the School Committee, and negotiations for wage concessions to save teachers' jobs appear stalled.
At last week's union meeting, then-union President Chandler Creedon, a psychologist at Horace Mann Middle School, projected a "terse" e-mail from School Committee Chairman Jeffrey Roy onto a big screen in the auditorium, which further angered union members, McLaughlin said.
Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here
Finance Committee - 5/5/09 - Budget Hearing
No agenda has been posted on the Town website for this meeting. The last agenda posted was for the 2/3/09 meeting (posted on 2/4/09).
No minutes for the current series of budget hearings have posted. The most recent minutes were for the meeting of 4/14/09 (updated on 4/30/09).
Tonight's agenda per the last meeting is reported to be
Note: the order of the agenda is subject to change
No minutes for the current series of budget hearings have posted. The most recent minutes were for the meeting of 4/14/09 (updated on 4/30/09).
Tonight's agenda per the last meeting is reported to be
Information Technology
Tri-Country Regional Vocational Technical High School
School Department
Note: the order of the agenda is subject to change
Town Council - 5/6/09 - Agenda
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – April 1, 2009
B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
D. CITIZEN COMMENTS
E. APPOINTMENTS
F. HEARINGS
G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS – Request for Approval of Change of Manager – 99 Restaurant
H. Presentations/DISCUSSION
I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
L. OLD BUSINESS
M. NEW BUSINESS
N. COUNCIL COMMENTS
O. EXECUTIVE SESSION – Negotiations, Litigation, Real Property, as May Be Required
P. ADJOURN
The documents for this agenda can be found on the Town website
B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
D. CITIZEN COMMENTS
E. APPOINTMENTS
- Cultural Council
- Council on Aging
- Charles River Pollution Control District
F. HEARINGS
G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS – Request for Approval of Change of Manager – 99 Restaurant
H. Presentations/DISCUSSION
- Zoning Bylaw, Chapter 185-39. Uses accessory to dwellings.
I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
- Resolution 09-26: Acknowledgment of Invalidity of Order of Taking Directed to Land of United States of America
- Resolution 09-27: Appropriation – DelCarte Open Space Dam Repair/Removal
- Resolution 09-28: Appropriation – Veterans’ Benefits
- Resolution 09-29: Appropriation – Snow & Ice
K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
L. OLD BUSINESS
M. NEW BUSINESS
N. COUNCIL COMMENTS
O. EXECUTIVE SESSION – Negotiations, Litigation, Real Property, as May Be Required
P. ADJOURN
The documents for this agenda can be found on the Town website
HMEA's 8th Annual Independence 5K Walk/Run
HMEA's 8th Annual Independence 5K Walk/Run in the Park will be held on Sunday, May 17, 2009. Our friends at EMC2 Corporation, 50 Constitution Boulevard, Franklin, MA have again allowed us to hold this premier fundraising event on their grounds. Gail Huff from WCVB-TV Channel 5 News will once again be our host.To register to walk please visit firstgiving.com/hmea. Here you can also set-up your own personal fundraising page that can be e-mailed to all your family, friends and co-workers asking them to support your efforts to raise funds for HMEA.
If you want to participate in the road race please register at active.com/hmea. OR, if you prefer you can complete your registration form online, print it and mail directly to HMEA along with your registration fee(s). You could also e-mail it back to hmea@hmea.org. Click here for the registration form.
Interested in becoming a sponsor of this fun-filled family day event? To learn what sponsorships are available click here for the Sponsorship Opportunities flyer.
More information will be available shortly. In the meantime if have any questions please call Linda Conley at 508.298.1107 or Doug MacPherson at 508.298.1105.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Alternative Link for Message to FEA
From Ed Cafasso via email
For those of you having difficulty viewing the YouTube video on the School Committee’s recent statement regarding wage freeze discussions with members of the teacher’s union, you also can view the text at:
rethinking learning
“…teachers need to learn the way other professionals do—continually, collaboratively, and on the job.”---
The challenge is, of course, that “continual, collaborative, on the job” learning isn’t very convenient for professional developers or for teachers in classrooms. It means re-thinking what learning looks like, and that’s a scary place still for most in education.Read the full posting by Wil Richardson on his blog weblogg-ed
PS22 Chorus - "Eye of the Tiger"
Musical education is inspirational. I think you'll enjoy this less than 2 minute clip of a group from New York City.
Now I'll have the "Eye of the Tiger" running through my head all day!
Visit the PS22 Chorus blog here to read more about them.
Now I'll have the "Eye of the Tiger" running through my head all day!
Visit the PS22 Chorus blog here to read more about them.
Horace Mann, birthday - May 4, 1796
This day (May 4) is Horace Mann's birthday. Given the current discussion around education in his home town, it is appropriate to look at what Horace is known for. The wikipedia entry says:
Mann targeted the public school and its problems. The six main problems he targeted were: (1) the public should no longer remain ignorant and free, (2) that such education should be paid for, controlled, and sustained by an interested public; (3) that this education will be best provided in schools that embrace children of all diversities; (4) that this education must be non-sectarian; (5) that this education must be taught by the spirit, methods, and discipline of a free society; and (6) that education should be provided by well-trained, professional teachers. To sum it all up, Horace Mann worked effectively for more and better equipped school houses, longer school years (until 16 years old), higher pay for teachers, and a wider curriculum.For the remainder of the entry on Horace Mann, born in Franklin, MA on May 4, in 1796 check out his wikipedia entry here.
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Dean College commencement set for May 9, street closings planned
Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:
via Wicked Local Franklin News RSS by GateHouse Media, Inc. on 5/3/09
Dean College's 143rd commencement exercises will take place Saturday, May 9, 11 a.m., at Grant Field, School Street. More than 300 graduates are Associate's degree and Bachelor's degree candidates.
Walter J. Handelsman, Class of 1977, delivers the Commencement Address. Handelsman is a Pulitzer Prize winning editorial cartoonist based at Newsday in Long Island.
During the commencement procession from the Campus Center to Grant Field, the section of Main Street between School and Emmons Street will be closed to traffic from 10:15 to 11:15 a.m. and 1:30 to 1:50 p.m.
In addition, School Street to Hillside Avenue will be closed from 10:15 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Emergency vehicles will be allowed access at all times.
Things you can do from here:
- Subscribe to Wicked Local Franklin News RSS using Google Reader
- Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites
School Committee message to FEA
Jeff Roy, School Committee Chairman, addresses the FEA membership via this 2-part video message.
Part 1
Part 2:
My notes and analysis of the two sides in this discussion can be found here.
Part 1
Part 2:
My notes and analysis of the two sides in this discussion can be found here.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Message to FEA membership
Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:
via Franklin School Committee by Jeffrey Roy on 5/2/09
Several weeks ago, the School Committee requested an opportunity to speak directly with the Franklin Education Association (FEA) membership at its meeting on April 28. We did not get that opportunity. Through the two video segments below, the Franklin School Committee reaches out directly to the rank and file membership of the education union in [...]
Things you can do from here:
- Subscribe to Franklin School Committee using Google Reader
- Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites
Parmenter PCC seeking volunteers, sponsors for 5K event
Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:
via Wicked Local Franklin News RSS by GateHouse Media, Inc. on 5/2/09
The Parmenter Run for All Ages 5K Run/Walk and Kids Panda Dash will be held on Sunday, May 31.
The 5K looped course will begin and end at Parmenter Elementary School, 235 Wachusett St. Franklin. Race start time is 10 a.m.; registration begins at 8 a.m.
A free Kids Panda Dash is set for 9 a.m.
The road race will be professionally timed by Spitler Race Systems. This event includes tee-shirts to the first 150 registered participants, awards to the top three to finish in each male/female age division, time splits and water stops. All proceeds will benefit the Parmenter PCC, which funds school-based student activities.
Organizers are seeking volunteers and local businesses/sponsors to support this community family fitness event.
For additional information go to: parmenter5K.weebly.com; contact Karen Mahon @ parmenter5K@gmail.com; call 508-528-1286.
Things you can do from here:
- Subscribe to Wicked Local Franklin News RSS using Google Reader
- Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites
Cafe Dolce - Kai Olsson
Enjoy some music at Cafe Dolce with Kai Olsson
Saturday 5/2/09 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM
Click through to listen to some samples on Kai's MySpace page
Friday, May 1, 2009
"a community treasure"
FRANKLIN -
The Franklin public school system is one of the best in the nation. It has always stood high in national and state testing. All of this has not been an accident. It is the solid result of some damned good teaching over the last five decades.
I joined the Franklin school system as a teacher some 43 years ago when I graduated from college. For the next 34 years, I observed some truly dynamic growth both intellectually and in the physical school environment.
The students of Franklin have always been special. They have always had a wonderful sense of community and have always, in my experience, responded to any problem with kindness and understanding. As time passed, I saw each new generation growing in toleration and understanding. It is my considered opinion that the young people of Franklin are very special.
I have seen hundreds of gifted and dedicated people serving as faculty over the past five decades giving of themselves and to their students unselfishly.
Read the remainder of James Johnston's essay here
Monument Mosaic
In addition to the World War I monument on the Town Common, the other war monuments also have a place.
A new monument to honor the veterans of the Iraq/Afghanistan conflict will be unveiled on Memorial Day, 2009.
A new monument to honor the veterans of the Iraq/Afghanistan conflict will be unveiled on Memorial Day, 2009.
Monument: World War I
The WW I "doughboy" has been cleaned up. The bronze looks brand new.
Actually since this photo was taken, the small trees directly behind the monument have already been removed as the preparation for the new monument to be unveiled on Memorial Day continue.
If you haven't visited the monuments on the Town Common, please consider doing so.
Actually since this photo was taken, the small trees directly behind the monument have already been removed as the preparation for the new monument to be unveiled on Memorial Day continue.
If you haven't visited the monuments on the Town Common, please consider doing so.
"car crash in Bellingham"
Jenna L. Pasquino, 20, of Franklin died early this morning when the car she was driving crashed into a telephone pole, police said.
Pasquino was traveling south on North Main Street at about 2:19 a.m. when her 1998 Toyota Avalon crossed the double line, hit a telephone pole on the opposite side of the road, and flipped over, police said.
Read the remainder of the article in the Franklin Gazette here
Thursday, April 30, 2009
"it is the library's slowest day"
GHS
FRANKLIN —
This year's budget crunch will mean the public library will be closed on Fridays beginning the first week of July, but no staff members will lose their jobs, Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting told the Finance Committee last night.
Following the hearing, Library Director Felicia Oti left with a big smile - most likely, Nutting said, due to the fact that the library got a better deal than anyone had expected.
Initially, he and Oti feared the library would have to lay off staff and reduce hours even further - possibly leaving the library open only three or four days a week.
Friday was chosen because it is the library's slowest day, Oti said. Monday, then Saturday, are the busiest days, she said.
The library avoided layoffs because the union volunteered to defer salary increases, one employee asked to reduce her hours from 35 to 18 per week, the assistant director's hours were cut from 35 to 15, and because two people retired, Nutting said. Those positions will not be filled.
Read the full article on the Library budget in the Milford Daily News here
Slidecast: Strategic Plan Overview (audio)
The Strategic Planning Overview is now available as a slide cast. The slide show has been synchronized with audio to create a complete listening and viewing experience.
This was the presentation to the Town Council on Wednesday, April 15th.
The slidecast without audio is available here
If you have any questions, you can contact me via email (see link on right column) or via a comment.
Updated the survey is available here
This was the presentation to the Town Council on Wednesday, April 15th.
The slidecast without audio is available here
If you have any questions, you can contact me via email (see link on right column) or via a comment.
Updated the survey is available here
FY 2010 Budget schedule
The Town website has not been updated with agendas or meeting minutes for the current series of the Finance Committee FY 2010 budget hearings. During the meeting Wednesday 4/29/09, I was able to confirm that:
There was a budget hearing on Tuesday 4/28/09 that covered the Police, Fire, Planning and Recreation budgets.
The meeting currently scheduled for next Tuesday 5/5/09 will review the School Dept, Tri-County, and IT budgets to complete the FY 2010 hearings.
The committee has their regular meeting scheduled for the first Tuesday in June at which, depending upon the State revenue numbers, they may be able to vote on the final FY 2010 budget.
If that happens, the Town Council is scheduled to do their budget hearings on June 10th and 11th. Worse case, the Town Council may need to meet on June 24th to finalize a balanced budget before June 30th.
This schedule is subject to change. The State revenue numbers are still very fluid.
There was a budget hearing on Tuesday 4/28/09 that covered the Police, Fire, Planning and Recreation budgets.
The meeting currently scheduled for next Tuesday 5/5/09 will review the School Dept, Tri-County, and IT budgets to complete the FY 2010 hearings.
The committee has their regular meeting scheduled for the first Tuesday in June at which, depending upon the State revenue numbers, they may be able to vote on the final FY 2010 budget.
If that happens, the Town Council is scheduled to do their budget hearings on June 10th and 11th. Worse case, the Town Council may need to meet on June 24th to finalize a balanced budget before June 30th.
This schedule is subject to change. The State revenue numbers are still very fluid.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Finance Committee 04/29/09
The collection of live reports for the Finance Committee meeting of Wednesday 4/29/09 are located here:
Live reporting - Enterprise Funds
Cantoreggi
157 miles of water pipe
the business is heavily regulated, EPA, etc.
Water rate had not increased in years. It did increase due to our conservation success, we are selling less but the infrastructure has not decreased and still needs to be maintained.
Chemical cost have been increasing, part of the treatment we do is pH.
$155,000 to 500,000 in the last year, due to the cost of the fluoride chemical
Roche - storm water regulations, how may that bite us?
Cantorregi - storm water monitoring for the whole system and what you can do with it. The Charles River basin catches the run off, into the Charles, then into the ocean. Ideally the water should go into the ground to replenish our aquifer. we have to do a lot more mapping, a lot more testing. Franklin, Bellingham, Milford are targeted for special planning for commercial buildings where they would be required for anything at two acres. The rest of the state is at five acres.
motion for solid waste - approved
motion for sewer - approved
motion for water - approved
157 miles of water pipe
the business is heavily regulated, EPA, etc.
Water rate had not increased in years. It did increase due to our conservation success, we are selling less but the infrastructure has not decreased and still needs to be maintained.
Chemical cost have been increasing, part of the treatment we do is pH.
$155,000 to 500,000 in the last year, due to the cost of the fluoride chemical
Roche - storm water regulations, how may that bite us?
Cantorregi - storm water monitoring for the whole system and what you can do with it. The Charles River basin catches the run off, into the Charles, then into the ocean. Ideally the water should go into the ground to replenish our aquifer. we have to do a lot more mapping, a lot more testing. Franklin, Bellingham, Milford are targeted for special planning for commercial buildings where they would be required for anything at two acres. The rest of the state is at five acres.
motion for solid waste - approved
motion for sewer - approved
motion for water - approved
Live reporting - DPW Street lights
DPW Street Lights - Acct 424
Nutting have made great savings to own and maintain our street lights, it used to be about 200,000 and this year we are only 140,000.
Roche - this is electricity?
Nutting - this is all, electricity, repair, and maintenance. We added the school parking lot and wall unit lights. We anticipate additional savings there.
Nutting - this budget should stay relatively stable. The only unknown is in some subdivisions, the street lights were not put in underground with the proper conduit, so a backhoe is sometimes needed.
Nutting - we have a committee that reviews street light criteria so we have a lot less than some other places. Not having to turn off the lights would require paying the electric company. If we wanted to shut them off, we can do so. We have about 1600 street lights.
Cantoreggi - We have a contract with the Police to survey the lights and report which ones are out. They are already out and about around the town.
Nutting have made great savings to own and maintain our street lights, it used to be about 200,000 and this year we are only 140,000.
Roche - this is electricity?
Nutting - this is all, electricity, repair, and maintenance. We added the school parking lot and wall unit lights. We anticipate additional savings there.
Nutting - this budget should stay relatively stable. The only unknown is in some subdivisions, the street lights were not put in underground with the proper conduit, so a backhoe is sometimes needed.
Nutting - we have a committee that reviews street light criteria so we have a lot less than some other places. Not having to turn off the lights would require paying the electric company. If we wanted to shut them off, we can do so. We have about 1600 street lights.
Cantoreggi - We have a contract with the Police to survey the lights and report which ones are out. They are already out and about around the town.
Live reporting - DPW Highway
DPW Highway - Acct 440
Robert A. Cantoreggi
The DPW budget does reflect a personnel wage freeze for FY 2010.
We did not replace a person from last year.
We do supplement our force with part timers as needed
Storm water is big, we are working on that constantly.
We have been working on increasing the Snow and Ice budget to get it more realistic. This year is still low (600,000) and less than what we actually spent (1.2 million).
Road overlays come from Chapter 90 and not from the town
Stimulus money has not come down to us yet, we do have shovel ready projects.
Roche - what does it cost to pave a mile of road?
Cantoreggi - It is hard to say, it depends upon what we do with the road, to rebuild it up, or to just repave it.
Union St - mile estimated (fill in amount later)
Nutting - we have no drainage money, no sidewalk money, we want to put in 2 million and we would still be short. This is our highest need to maintain the roads. we don't have any money in the budget to maintain our roads.
Cantoreggi - There will be a huge bubble of roads over the next 15 years as they roads age and fall apart. We are doing band-aid patching and that is not going to help us.
Cantoreggi - Chapter 90 put some money in that, that is shovel ready, none of the money has come through.
Nutting - 2 Billion came to the State and there were 29 Billion requests for that money. The State has a huge list of projects and I don't know how they are going to decide.
Roche - Down $233,000 from last year
Nutting - we are going to centralize the inventory of the school furniture. Right now it is each building. A principal may be asking for something that is down the road at another school.
Motion to approve - passed
Robert A. Cantoreggi
The DPW budget does reflect a personnel wage freeze for FY 2010.
We did not replace a person from last year.
We do supplement our force with part timers as needed
Storm water is big, we are working on that constantly.
We have been working on increasing the Snow and Ice budget to get it more realistic. This year is still low (600,000) and less than what we actually spent (1.2 million).
Road overlays come from Chapter 90 and not from the town
Stimulus money has not come down to us yet, we do have shovel ready projects.
Roche - what does it cost to pave a mile of road?
Cantoreggi - It is hard to say, it depends upon what we do with the road, to rebuild it up, or to just repave it.
Union St - mile estimated (fill in amount later)
Nutting - we have no drainage money, no sidewalk money, we want to put in 2 million and we would still be short. This is our highest need to maintain the roads. we don't have any money in the budget to maintain our roads.
Cantoreggi - There will be a huge bubble of roads over the next 15 years as they roads age and fall apart. We are doing band-aid patching and that is not going to help us.
Cantoreggi - Chapter 90 put some money in that, that is shovel ready, none of the money has come through.
Nutting - 2 Billion came to the State and there were 29 Billion requests for that money. The State has a huge list of projects and I don't know how they are going to decide.
Roche - Down $233,000 from last year
Nutting - we are going to centralize the inventory of the school furniture. Right now it is each building. A principal may be asking for something that is down the road at another school.
Motion to approve - passed
Live reporting - Facilities
Continuing the FY 2010 budget hearing
Public Facilities Acct 192
Mike D'Angelo
Jeff provides background on the Facilities arrangement since Mike started doing it on behalf of the schools.
6,300 students, all the public buildings, added hundreds of thousands of square feet to maintain, we are always looking for ways to do it better and cheaper.
Custodians did have 42 now have 32, but the buildings haven't shrunk, they have done a very good job.
You may hear people complain about the condition of the high school, the state came out and was impressed with the shape that it is in. Yes, it needs some fixing but it is working.
Mike
Consumables and parts, all prices went up, gas has come down but the prices have not
Hopefully some of the costs will maintain and not increase further
It has been a long time since I have been able to say that energy has gone down
Goldsmith -
D'Angelo - we clean FHS with 6 people, if someone is out we need to backfill
Goldsmith -
D'Angelo - I have been doing that with energy for 9 years. We bid that separately. We went to them in January and extended contracts at reduced rates. Next year electricity will be 10% less.
Cataldo - The building and rental lease is that the modulars?
D'Angelo - Yes, there is need for them in some of the buildings. These are really rental payments not lease. We should have these for a few more years.
Nutting - we are applying for a new grant to do an energy audit. If we get it, we'll do the analysis and see what we get.
Nutting - we are replacing fixtures with low water use facilities to cut down on water use. We'll relocate the facilities department to the DPW to free space for the schools and put the groups together for efficiencies. We are always looking to do things better, faster, cheaper.
Feldman - where is the grant from?
D'Angelo - From the state. NationalGrid has stepped up their programs.
Nutting - we are looking at the requirements in becoming a green community. There are zoning issues, building issues, it will be a team effort.
Feldman - there is also some Federal stimulus money there.
Roche - What was the increase at the high school?
Nutting - 30% water rate increase was part of it.
D'Angelo - in a lot of the water increase, we actually spend on irrigation of school and town fields, not on the use of the buildings itself.
Roche - HVAC contracts went up significantly
D'Angelo - we were significantly under budgeted going into this year. Remington/Jefferson is now 12 years old and that is driving my costs. The high school is driving cost due to the parts that are required.
Powderly - The HVAC increase at Horace Mann, Oak, ECDC
D'Angelo - when the budget came over from the Schools, it was broken out by school per DOE. It really is better to look at the complex rather than the schools individually. For example; Oak, Horace Mann, ECDC. I can look at 166 monitor points at the Horace Mann complex. That is good but it also means that you have 166 parts to potentially repare/replace as they go.
D'Angelo - a lot of our budget is routine maintenance. Right now we are going to make the jump into cooling, so a lot of the money is routine maintenance that pays off in the long run.
Nutting - we have purchased a work order system that will go online in JUly or thereabouts. We'll have better data to come back with an analysis on what is breaking where, and get to inventory control to keep track of what is being used
1,200,000 square feet of this one million is the schools
D'Angelo - cameras in all the new buildings, we do video recording. The town side didn't do much of that. We just implemented a buzz at the substation so if someone is not there, they get directly to the main station so a dispatcher there can view them and help them.
Roche - increases are significant, I need to take a hard look at. If we can't put food on the table, why paint the door?
D'Angelo - we take better care of our buildings by watching who goes into our buildings. we have a capital list to add a school that didn't have anything at the time it came on line. Some camera change outs have driven costs. The high school is heavily used, checking on locker access, etc. I don't see the costs sky rocketing, I do see replacements but generally what I replace cost less than what it was originally.
When I did my budget a year and a half ago, items cost far less than what they do now. We are just trying to keep up with the trash bags, toilet paper, etc.
Powderly - I am struggling with this being the only budget that was not level funded.
D'Angelo - it is actually much simpler. I pay for anything in all the buildings. No one else has that item in their budget. I don't get the choice to make a decision to tell the Library you are not getting air conditioning until July. We are doing what everbody else is doing, taking the car to the repair shops to keep it running.
Motion to approve budget (in excess of $6 million) passed
Public Facilities Acct 192
Mike D'Angelo
Jeff provides background on the Facilities arrangement since Mike started doing it on behalf of the schools.
6,300 students, all the public buildings, added hundreds of thousands of square feet to maintain, we are always looking for ways to do it better and cheaper.
Custodians did have 42 now have 32, but the buildings haven't shrunk, they have done a very good job.
You may hear people complain about the condition of the high school, the state came out and was impressed with the shape that it is in. Yes, it needs some fixing but it is working.
Mike
Consumables and parts, all prices went up, gas has come down but the prices have not
Hopefully some of the costs will maintain and not increase further
It has been a long time since I have been able to say that energy has gone down
Goldsmith -
D'Angelo - we clean FHS with 6 people, if someone is out we need to backfill
Goldsmith -
D'Angelo - I have been doing that with energy for 9 years. We bid that separately. We went to them in January and extended contracts at reduced rates. Next year electricity will be 10% less.
Cataldo - The building and rental lease is that the modulars?
D'Angelo - Yes, there is need for them in some of the buildings. These are really rental payments not lease. We should have these for a few more years.
Nutting - we are applying for a new grant to do an energy audit. If we get it, we'll do the analysis and see what we get.
Nutting - we are replacing fixtures with low water use facilities to cut down on water use. We'll relocate the facilities department to the DPW to free space for the schools and put the groups together for efficiencies. We are always looking to do things better, faster, cheaper.
Feldman - where is the grant from?
D'Angelo - From the state. NationalGrid has stepped up their programs.
Nutting - we are looking at the requirements in becoming a green community. There are zoning issues, building issues, it will be a team effort.
Feldman - there is also some Federal stimulus money there.
Roche - What was the increase at the high school?
Nutting - 30% water rate increase was part of it.
D'Angelo - in a lot of the water increase, we actually spend on irrigation of school and town fields, not on the use of the buildings itself.
Roche - HVAC contracts went up significantly
D'Angelo - we were significantly under budgeted going into this year. Remington/Jefferson is now 12 years old and that is driving my costs. The high school is driving cost due to the parts that are required.
Powderly - The HVAC increase at Horace Mann, Oak, ECDC
D'Angelo - when the budget came over from the Schools, it was broken out by school per DOE. It really is better to look at the complex rather than the schools individually. For example; Oak, Horace Mann, ECDC. I can look at 166 monitor points at the Horace Mann complex. That is good but it also means that you have 166 parts to potentially repare/replace as they go.
D'Angelo - a lot of our budget is routine maintenance. Right now we are going to make the jump into cooling, so a lot of the money is routine maintenance that pays off in the long run.
Nutting - we have purchased a work order system that will go online in JUly or thereabouts. We'll have better data to come back with an analysis on what is breaking where, and get to inventory control to keep track of what is being used
1,200,000 square feet of this one million is the schools
D'Angelo - cameras in all the new buildings, we do video recording. The town side didn't do much of that. We just implemented a buzz at the substation so if someone is not there, they get directly to the main station so a dispatcher there can view them and help them.
Roche - increases are significant, I need to take a hard look at. If we can't put food on the table, why paint the door?
D'Angelo - we take better care of our buildings by watching who goes into our buildings. we have a capital list to add a school that didn't have anything at the time it came on line. Some camera change outs have driven costs. The high school is heavily used, checking on locker access, etc. I don't see the costs sky rocketing, I do see replacements but generally what I replace cost less than what it was originally.
When I did my budget a year and a half ago, items cost far less than what they do now. We are just trying to keep up with the trash bags, toilet paper, etc.
Powderly - I am struggling with this being the only budget that was not level funded.
D'Angelo - it is actually much simpler. I pay for anything in all the buildings. No one else has that item in their budget. I don't get the choice to make a decision to tell the Library you are not getting air conditioning until July. We are doing what everbody else is doing, taking the car to the repair shops to keep it running.
Motion to approve budget (in excess of $6 million) passed
Live reporting - Finance Committee 04/29/09
Attending:
Brett S. Feldman
Juan Rivera
Patricia Goldsmith
Phyllis Messere
Rebecca Cameron
Mark Cataldo
James Roche
Tina Powderly
Missing:
Craig Maire
Robert Teixeira
Library Acct 610
Felicia Oti
Police budget request cut 200,000, Fire request cut 600,000
Library will be closed on Friday's, hours cut to 52
will apply for a waiver to maintain certification from Library Board
Jeff hopeful that the waiver won't be an issue given what is going on
Discussions with Medway still ongoing, Town Meeting required for approval
Rivera - commendation to the Library for all the work and services you provide. Question on cost of office supply increase? Just cost related?
Oti - yes,
Nutting - focus on keeping open as much as possible, keeping 52 hours (80% level) so cutting the book budget is one way to come and balance the budget
Oti - meet minimum in hours (50.5) will only need to apply for waiver for the overall budget dollars
Powderly - What was the change in subscriptions?
Oti - We drop the access to some databases but maintains the access to the Minutemen inter-library loan. There are other sources to access the info provided via the databases.
Roche - What was the total Library staffing in 1999?
Oti - 19
Roche - big budget, easy target, what kind of services do we really want?
Cameron - How is morale? Foot traffic is increasing.
Nutting - To say morale is good or bad, they have a job. You show up and do the best you can. In any place, I have ever worked, no one has ever said morale is great.
Oti - It is low.
Feldman - Is there any utilization of volunteers?
Oti - we do use the tax workout volunteers
Rivera - How is the inter-library
Cindy Dobrinski - Library Board Director, library use has increased considerably, especially over the last several months. Even in support of the school system. She references the library video (I have the link) where the student compares the librarian to the teacher and the librarian allows him to think. She urges consideration when they make their final deliberation.
Brett S. Feldman
Juan Rivera
Patricia Goldsmith
Phyllis Messere
Rebecca Cameron
Mark Cataldo
James Roche
Tina Powderly
Missing:
Craig Maire
Robert Teixeira
Library Acct 610
Felicia Oti
Police budget request cut 200,000, Fire request cut 600,000
Library will be closed on Friday's, hours cut to 52
will apply for a waiver to maintain certification from Library Board
Jeff hopeful that the waiver won't be an issue given what is going on
Discussions with Medway still ongoing, Town Meeting required for approval
Rivera - commendation to the Library for all the work and services you provide. Question on cost of office supply increase? Just cost related?
Oti - yes,
Nutting - focus on keeping open as much as possible, keeping 52 hours (80% level) so cutting the book budget is one way to come and balance the budget
Oti - meet minimum in hours (50.5) will only need to apply for waiver for the overall budget dollars
Powderly - What was the change in subscriptions?
Oti - We drop the access to some databases but maintains the access to the Minutemen inter-library loan. There are other sources to access the info provided via the databases.
Roche - What was the total Library staffing in 1999?
Oti - 19
Roche - big budget, easy target, what kind of services do we really want?
Cameron - How is morale? Foot traffic is increasing.
Nutting - To say morale is good or bad, they have a job. You show up and do the best you can. In any place, I have ever worked, no one has ever said morale is great.
Oti - It is low.
Feldman - Is there any utilization of volunteers?
Oti - we do use the tax workout volunteers
Rivera - How is the inter-library
Cindy Dobrinski - Library Board Director, library use has increased considerably, especially over the last several months. Even in support of the school system. She references the library video (I have the link) where the student compares the librarian to the teacher and the librarian allows him to think. She urges consideration when they make their final deliberation.
Refreshing post from Franklin teacher
Click through to read this on the School Committee blog...
Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:
via Franklin School Committee by Jeffrey Roy on 4/29/09
I saw this post on milforddailynews.com this morning and thought it was worth repeating here. It is said to be from a Franklin teacher. To me, it exemplifies the typical Franklin teacher: hard-working, dedicated, and caring. It also captures empathy for the residents in Franklin, other teachers, the School Committee, and administration. [...]Things you can do from here:
- Subscribe to Franklin School Committee using Google Reader
- Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites
Back story and request for clarifications
As in most issues there are two sides to the story. Here are my notes from the first School Committee meeting on Tuesday 4/28/09 where they gathered information from the principals in preparation for the teacher unions response to the School Committee counter offer.
If there are any corrections to be made, let's get them out so we all start with the same information.
Note: feedback from the School Committee is marked in GREEN and there is a bold highlight in BLUE to indicate the sentence(s) changed.
On the 27 versus 32 meetings
The teachers are required to attend 27 meetings during the school year plus they "may be required" to attend five meetings for a total of 32 meetings.
The 27 meetings are generally scheduled as three meetings per month (except December and June).
These meetings are generally scheduled on Wednesday's.
The meetings are used differently amongst the elementary, middle, and high school buildings.
One consistently is the principal's meeting for the building.
One generally is a department (i.e. subject) meeting.
One generally is a grade level/team meeting.
The five meetings are generally scheduled other than on Wednesday's.
Due to scheduling mistakes and calendar nuances, not all buildings have 32 meetings scheduled this year although the principals claim to need them to conduct their business appropriately.
In the 2001 contract, the elementary school teachers increased from 150 minutes of preparation to 220 minutes in return for the five meetings.
In the 2004 contract, to keep the five meetings, there was an agreement to give up two professional development days.
Contrary to the teacher's claim that there is "no cost" associated with this request, there is. In order to provide the additional prep time, activity monitors were hired by the district to cover for recess, lunch, and other non-instructional periods to provide the teachers the prep time.
While the 2004 contract was agreed to, the parties also agreed to work on a "side letter" to address the time associated with the meetings.
The teachers claim that there has been no progress on the side letter.
The School Committee/District did have at least five meetings with teacher union representatives participating on this matter.
Clearly, the issue has not been resolved, but there was an agreement to schedule the five meetings in advance of the school year to provide the teachers additional time to plan to attend them.
On scheduling meetings before report cards
The teachers are requesting not to have to attend a meeting in the two weeks prior to a report card so that their time can be focused on preparing the accurate and detailed report cards required.
The School Committee proposed that teachers would not be required to attend a meeting in the two weeks prior issuing report cards for the 2009 - 2010 school year (FY10) updated 4/29/09 per School Committee feedback
My two cents:
The real issue tying these two items together is teacher time. There is an instructional time requirement from the state. There are work hours per the contract. Neither of these reflect the actual hours required for teachers to prepare for instructional time and to review and correct student class work/home work.
There is a common misconception that teachers are only "working" during school, that when the school bell rings, the students leave and the teachers are free to do as they please.
This is far from the case. Teachers can spend more hours outside the classroom preparing for instruction (i.e. elementary level) or correcting class work/home work (i.e. middle/high school) than the actual classroom time.
The nature of the instructional time varies from elementary through middle school to high school. Let's get some agreement on the real hours of teacher classroom time, classroom preparation, and classroom post work (i.e correction of papers, preparation of report cards, etc.).
Superintendent Ogden has stated that the 6.5 hour school day is obsolete as well as the current school calendar overall. I agree. Those two items were based in our farming heritage and should be brought to the modern world. Learning should be a life long experience, it has pretty much become that. If you as an adult are not keeping up with changes in your area, you will fall behind and find yourself obsolete.
Based upon what is actually done, let's get an agreement on what is required and should be subject to compensation and what can be considered "over and above" the requirements.
-----------
On providing reasons for the "personal" day
Two paid "personal" days are provided to the teachers per the contract.
The days used to be "use it or lose it".
The contract language changed in 2004 to require a reason to be provided for personal days.
The days can be denied if they are for
The teachers have asked for a "permanent" removal of the requirement to provide the reason. The School Committee proposal to the FEA was to remove the requirement to provide a reason for personal days for the 2009 - 2010 school year (FY10)
It should also be noted that as part of the 2004 negotiation any unused personal days are converted to sick days. updated 4/29/09 per School Committee feedback
My two cents:
One possible solution would be to reword the contract such that if the day being requested fell on the calendar before or after a holiday or vacation, to require the reason be provided. If the day requested was not before or after the holiday/vacation day, then allow it to be granted without requiring a reason. Then the request for a "personal" day remains a "personal" day.
-----------
The notes from the first meeting can be found here
The notes from the second meeting can be found here
My disclosure statement can be found here
If there are any corrections to be made, let's get them out so we all start with the same information.
Note: feedback from the School Committee is marked in GREEN and there is a bold highlight in BLUE to indicate the sentence(s) changed.
On the 27 versus 32 meetings
The teachers are required to attend 27 meetings during the school year plus they "may be required" to attend five meetings for a total of 32 meetings.
The 27 meetings are generally scheduled as three meetings per month (except December and June).
These meetings are generally scheduled on Wednesday's.
The meetings are used differently amongst the elementary, middle, and high school buildings.
One consistently is the principal's meeting for the building.
One generally is a department (i.e. subject) meeting.
One generally is a grade level/team meeting.
The five meetings are generally scheduled other than on Wednesday's.
Due to scheduling mistakes and calendar nuances, not all buildings have 32 meetings scheduled this year although the principals claim to need them to conduct their business appropriately.
For example, the high school had scheduled a meeting that resulted in a conflict with a district wide meeting.The five meetings originated in the 2001 contract although the need for additional meetings was acknowledged in negotiations prior to this contract.
In the 2001 contract, the elementary school teachers increased from 150 minutes of preparation to 220 minutes in return for the five meetings.
In the 2004 contract, to keep the five meetings, there was an agreement to give up two professional development days.
Contrary to the teacher's claim that there is "no cost" associated with this request, there is. In order to provide the additional prep time, activity monitors were hired by the district to cover for recess, lunch, and other non-instructional periods to provide the teachers the prep time.
While the 2004 contract was agreed to, the parties also agreed to work on a "side letter" to address the time associated with the meetings.
The teachers claim that there has been no progress on the side letter.
The School Committee/District did have at least five meetings with teacher union representatives participating on this matter.
Clearly, the issue has not been resolved, but there was an agreement to schedule the five meetings in advance of the school year to provide the teachers additional time to plan to attend them.
On scheduling meetings before report cards
The teachers are requesting not to have to attend a meeting in the two weeks prior to a report card so that their time can be focused on preparing the accurate and detailed report cards required.
The School Committee proposed that teachers would not be required to attend a meeting in the two weeks prior issuing report cards for the 2009 - 2010 school year (FY10) updated 4/29/09 per School Committee feedback
My two cents:
The real issue tying these two items together is teacher time. There is an instructional time requirement from the state. There are work hours per the contract. Neither of these reflect the actual hours required for teachers to prepare for instructional time and to review and correct student class work/home work.
There is a common misconception that teachers are only "working" during school, that when the school bell rings, the students leave and the teachers are free to do as they please.
This is far from the case. Teachers can spend more hours outside the classroom preparing for instruction (i.e. elementary level) or correcting class work/home work (i.e. middle/high school) than the actual classroom time.
The nature of the instructional time varies from elementary through middle school to high school. Let's get some agreement on the real hours of teacher classroom time, classroom preparation, and classroom post work (i.e correction of papers, preparation of report cards, etc.).
Superintendent Ogden has stated that the 6.5 hour school day is obsolete as well as the current school calendar overall. I agree. Those two items were based in our farming heritage and should be brought to the modern world. Learning should be a life long experience, it has pretty much become that. If you as an adult are not keeping up with changes in your area, you will fall behind and find yourself obsolete.
Based upon what is actually done, let's get an agreement on what is required and should be subject to compensation and what can be considered "over and above" the requirements.
-----------
On providing reasons for the "personal" day
Two paid "personal" days are provided to the teachers per the contract.
The days used to be "use it or lose it".
The contract language changed in 2004 to require a reason to be provided for personal days.
The days can be denied if they are for
- leisure or recreational purposes
- extending a holiday or vacation period
The teachers have asked for a "permanent" removal of the requirement to provide the reason. The School Committee proposal to the FEA was to remove the requirement to provide a reason for personal days for the 2009 - 2010 school year (FY10)
It should also be noted that as part of the 2004 negotiation any unused personal days are converted to sick days. updated 4/29/09 per School Committee feedback
My two cents:
One possible solution would be to reword the contract such that if the day being requested fell on the calendar before or after a holiday or vacation, to require the reason be provided. If the day requested was not before or after the holiday/vacation day, then allow it to be granted without requiring a reason. Then the request for a "personal" day remains a "personal" day.
-----------
The notes from the first meeting can be found here
The notes from the second meeting can be found here
My disclosure statement can be found here
"that meeting never happened"
FRANKLIN —
After a 20-minute executive session, School Committee Chairman Jeffrey Roy announced the board and teachers union have not yet come to an agreement on wage concessions.
At the behest of Superintendent Wayne Ogden and the School Committee, the Franklin Education Association had agreed to a one-year wage deferment to save jobs on April 13, but attached three conditions. The union also offered to forgo course reimbursements to save the district another $200,000.
The School Committee then made a counter offer, which would give the union some of what it sought.
The union rejected the counter proposal yesterday afternoon and again put forward its original offer, which had three stipulations: The removal of five floating after-school meetings, permanent removal of the need to give a reason for personal days, and the permanent requirement that no meetings be scheduled two weeks prior to the issuing of report cards, according to a copy of the proposal.
Read the full article on the School Committee/teachers dispute in the Milford Daily News here
"The sky is the limit"
FRANKLIN —
The Fourth of July Coalition is gearing up for its second five-day Independence Day celebration, and is excited to report it will feature a parade, said group secretary Warren Revell.
The coalition didn't have time or funds to hold a parade or fireworks last year, he said, but there is a slim possibility for both this time around.
"This is a town (where) you can't just put something in front of the people - you gotta put out a quality product," Revell said.
"I'm excited, because the town needs a parade. It draws people into the town; fireworks don't. Hopefully, it'll get businesses to be in the parade," he said.
Most likely, there will not be fireworks, he said, because of the cost.
Read the full article on the 4th of July plans in the Milford Daily News here
Treesavers: Paul Barcelo
Paul Barcelo, author of The Sweet War Man
Will be appearing at Treesavers Books to sign his new book, The Sweet War Man.
Paul Barcelo completed Army Infantry training at Fort Benning, Georgia, then rotary wing training at Fort Wolters, Texas and Fort Rucker, Alabama. He flew one tour as a UH-1 pilot in Republic of Vietnam. He resides in Franklin, Massachusetts with his wife and four children. This is his first novel.
May 16, 2009 from 2:00 to 4:00 PM
Cafe Dolce - Kai Olsson
Enjoy some music at Cafe Dolce with Kai Olsson
Saturday 5/2/09 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM
Click through to listen to some samples on Kai's MySpace page
Financial Planning - Town Forum
This is the collection of posts covering the discussion of the draft report by the Financial Planning Committee taking a long term view of the financial situation we face.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
School Committee Mtg 04/28/09
The collection of live reports from the two school committee meetings held on Tuesday 4/28/09
Updated to include the "Back story" posting in the appropriate time sequence of events
- Live reporting - Subcommittee reports
- Live reproting - Superintendent
- Live reporting - Action items
- Live reporting - New lunch process
- Live reporting - School Committee resumes
- Live reporting - Executive session
- Live reporting - Teacher's proposal
- Live reporting - School Committee 2nd Mtg
Updated to include the "Back story" posting in the appropriate time sequence of events
Live reporting - Subcommittee reports
School Committee Sub-Committee Reports
Trahan - thanks to Maureen and Wayne for their help in preparing the Financial Planning Report.
Cafasso - thanks, it was a good report.
School Committee Liaison Reports
New business - need to discuss the state inspection report from the High School
Budget hearing is scheduled for the second meeting in May
Athletic fees to be taken up next meeting
Trahan - thanks to Maureen and Wayne for their help in preparing the Financial Planning Report.
Cafasso - thanks, it was a good report.
School Committee Liaison Reports
New business - need to discuss the state inspection report from the High School
Budget hearing is scheduled for the second meeting in May
Athletic fees to be taken up next meeting
Live reproting - Superintendent
Superintendent’s Report
a. Using Data to Monitor Student Achievement
b. Best Buddies Prom -Saturday at Adirondeck 5:30 to 9:00 PM
c. Bicycle Racks - installed in next 2 weeks at schools that don't have them
d. FHS Modular Classroom - taking it down, rather than leaving it empty was going to be safer
e. Implementation of Point of Sale Technology / Food Service
DOE is now Dept of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE)
Swine Flue - DPH guidelines already posted on school web site
hand washing is one of the best ways to prevent this, really pushing it in a more religious way
a. Using Data to Monitor Student Achievement
b. Best Buddies Prom -Saturday at Adirondeck 5:30 to 9:00 PM
c. Bicycle Racks - installed in next 2 weeks at schools that don't have them
d. FHS Modular Classroom - taking it down, rather than leaving it empty was going to be safer
e. Implementation of Point of Sale Technology / Food Service
DOE is now Dept of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE)
Swine Flue - DPH guidelines already posted on school web site
hand washing is one of the best ways to prevent this, really pushing it in a more religious way
Live reporting - Action items
4. Action Items:
a. I recommend budget transfers as detailed. Motion to Approve; Passed 7-0
b. I recommend acceptance of a check for $2,500.00 from the Oak Street PCC for nurses and bus fees for upcoming field trips. Motion to Approve; Passed 7-0
c. I recommend approval of the ASMS 8th grade trip to Conn. River Valley and Eastern NY on May 1, 2009. Motion to Approve; Passed 6-0, 1 - Abstain
d. I recommend acceptance of the donation of 12 cases of copy paper for the Franklin Public Schools from Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Johnson. Motion to Approve; Passed 7-0
e. I recommend acceptance of the donation of $4,200.00 from the ASMS PCC to pay for two 8th grade field trip coach buses. Motion to Approve; Passed 7-0
f. I recommend declaring the graphic arts classroom modular at FHS as surplus. Motion to Approve; Passed 7-0
a. I recommend budget transfers as detailed. Motion to Approve; Passed 7-0
b. I recommend acceptance of a check for $2,500.00 from the Oak Street PCC for nurses and bus fees for upcoming field trips. Motion to Approve; Passed 7-0
c. I recommend approval of the ASMS 8th grade trip to Conn. River Valley and Eastern NY on May 1, 2009. Motion to Approve; Passed 6-0, 1 - Abstain
d. I recommend acceptance of the donation of 12 cases of copy paper for the Franklin Public Schools from Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Johnson. Motion to Approve; Passed 7-0
e. I recommend acceptance of the donation of $4,200.00 from the ASMS PCC to pay for two 8th grade field trip coach buses. Motion to Approve; Passed 7-0
f. I recommend declaring the graphic arts classroom modular at FHS as surplus. Motion to Approve; Passed 7-0
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