Franklin Matters

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Live reporting - Town Council - 6/10/09

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

A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - none

B. ANNOUNCEMENTS - none

C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS - Cub Scouts
Citizenship awards presented to several Cub Scouts for showing interest in government by attending the Town Council meeting of 6/10/09

D. CITIZEN COMMENTS - None

E. APPOINTMENTS

Zoning Board of Appeals - Phil Brunelli, as an associate member - approved 6-0, 1 abstention
Municipal Affordable Housing Trust - re-appointment of existing members, one vacancy remains approved 7-0

Town Council - Agenda - 6/10/09

A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

B. ANNOUNCEMENTS

C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS - Cub Scouts

D. CITIZEN COMMENTS

E. APPOINTMENTS

Zoning Board of Appeals
Municipal Affordable Housing Trust

F. HEARINGS – 7:10 PM - FY 2010 Budget – Public Hearing

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS

H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS - Franklin 4th of July Committee

I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION

Resolution 09-40: Acceptance of G.L. Chapter 39, Section 23D and Specification of its General Applicability
Resolution 09-41: Appropriation – Library Repairs
Resolution 09-42: Establishment of Elected Officials’ Salaries- FY 10
Resolution 09-44: Appropriation – Rt. 140/King Street Construction

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

Updated to add two items from the revised agenda

Congresman Jim McGovern - local office hours

On Saturday, June 13th, Congressman Jim McGovern will hold local office hours to meet and talk with us at the following places:

Medway: Coffee Sensations, 116 Main St, 8:00 - 9:00 AM
Franklin: Franklin Public Library, 118 Main St, 9:30 - 10:30 AM
Wrentham: Public Safety Bldg, 89 South St, 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Plainville: Fire Station, 157 South St, 1:00 - 2:00 PM
North Attleborough: Richards Memorial Library, 2:30 - 3:30 PM

This is your chance to talk with Congressman McGovern.

Sign up for his newsletter on his web site here

School Committee Mtg 06/09/09

The collection of live reporting posts from the School Committee meeting on June 9, 2009 can be found here:

Treesavers - Jan Bornstein, book signing

Jan Bornstein will be at Treesavers Books to sign on June 20th from 1:00 to 3:00 PM

For more about Jan's books visit her web site

"There is no new news"

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

Milford Daily News

Posted Jun 10, 2009 @ 12:21 AM

FRANKLIN —

Town Council will hold back-to-back budget hearings tonight and tomorrow, and will consider a general operating budget that is $500,000 less than last year's budget, said Town Administrator Jeffrey D. Nutting.

Nutting will advise the council to pass an $88 million budget, also recommended by the Finance Committee, and make any modifications in a few weeks, when the state is expected to have its final numbers.

He is also recommending the council use the governor's original budget numbers, excluding meals and hotels tax revenue, he said.

The Senate budget gives $875,000 less aid money than town officials were anticipating, though that shortfall is likely to drop, Nutting said.

Read the full article on the scheduled Town Council meeting in the Milford Daily News here

You can find the agenda documents on the Town website here

You should participate at the meeting

in the Council chambers
or via the live feed
or via your cable channel

"changed her course of study"

By Joyce Kelly/Daily News staff

Milford Daily News

Posted Jun 10, 2009 @ 12:09 AM

FRANKLIN —

The School Committee last night closed the public hearing on the budget, unanimously voting to adopt a $50.2 million spending plan for fiscal 2010. They will present it to Town Council tonight.

"We continued the hearing in hopes we'd have new news, but we don't," said School Committee Chairman Jeffrey Roy.

The Franklin Education Association will vote Monday on whether to accept a proposal to defer their wages for one year, which will save the district $800,000 - or 16 teachers' jobs, Roy said.

"Every dollar that comes back in this budget, whatever the source, will go solely to bringing back positions," Roy said.

Read the full article on the School Committee meeting in the Milford Daily News here

You can find all the live reporting posts, including pictures and a copy of the Senior Project presentation, here

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Live reporting - closing comments

Cafasso - a good first step on the high school (as reported) to get the renovations on the State listing.

Armenio - thank you to the parents on the All Night Party committee, they did a wonderful job.

Sabolinski - the Class of 1959 was a great thing to do, Pandora Carlucci did a nice job welcoming the group. That group was a lot of fun.

Pat Slight- big thank you to all involved! The School Committee doesn't get the recognition that they deserve. It is with great pride to say that I graduated from Franklin High.

Brittany MacLeod - The teachers, even in the hard times, the passion they have, Patrick said a lot of what I would like to say.

Roy - about a half million dollars were given out at the awards night. Ms Ohearn an 8th grade teacher had the students write a letter to themselves that she held and sent to them just before their graduation. The students in some cases had forgetten that they had written the letter.

motion to adjourn

Live reporting - Information items

Ogden - it is unclear whether the modular units will be dismantled at Davis Thayer as planned due to the current financial situation. We are looking to get a final answer because if they are going to be there, we'd like to use them.

We did jump the gun to publish the pay-to-ride letter to the parent to ensure sufficient time.
Apparently the letter did go out without some language to indicate a possible change in the amount due to the budget.

Live reporting - action items

4. Action Items
a. I recommend acceptance of a check for $500.00 from Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Malone for future enrichment programs for the ECDC. approved 7-0
b. I recommend the continuation of the School Choice Program for the 2009-2010 School Year. approved 7-0
c. I recommend the request of Corine Minkle to declare damaged and outdated books at Oak Street Elementary School as surplus. approved 7-0
d. I recommend acceptance of a check for $2,000.00 from Natalie Brunelli for the John A. Brunelli Memorial Scholarship at FHS. approved 7-0
e. I recommend adopting the FY10 Budget in the amount of $50,297,820.00. approved 7-0

Added to listing
f. I recommended approval for the FHS Girls Track Team to attend a meet on Sat JUne 13th, 2009 approved 7-0

Live reporting - school choice

Ogden - this is much influx because the budget is so influx. You have a need to vote to continue or not. We may keep the student population we have and not expand it any further.

Kelly - Can you explain how it works?

Ogden - once you vote in the affirmative, we will open up an application on the school website. Once the listing is acquired, we will see how many if any of the students could be accommodated. If there are any, there will be a blind lottery to select from amongst the applications.

About 25% of the existing students are children of school employees

Kelly - I know from conversations with school employees it is a great thing for them to have the kids here where they are working. They understand they may not be able to count on it.

Sabolinski - We'll need to look a couple of years out to see what seats could be made available.

Armenio - where are we on the kindergarten numbers?
Sabolinski - we have been flat
Ogden - I suspect that until you make the final decision on full day kindergarten, we may not see some of those that may be currently slotted with a private full day kindergarten.

Sabolinski - add backs would not change the middle school numbers

Live reporting - FY 2010

No additional news, teachers union has scheduled a vote for June 15th.
We are scheduled to go forward with the public hearing at the Town Council tomorrow night (June 10th)

motion to close the budget hearing
passed 7-0

Live reporting - Elizabeth S Fitzmaurice

Introduction to

Elizabeth S Fitzmaurice (Beth)

17 years experience in Army Reserve, taught at West Point
Currently working in North Brookfield as Director of Pupil and Academic Services.

philosophy, high expectations for students

Cafasso - what drew you here?
Fitzmaurice - Franklin has a good reputation even in these times of stress

Cafasso - what is your number 1 priority?
Fitzmaurice - I met with Linda today, this is a well run area, I look forward to continuing her work

Live reporting - Senior Project

Sasha Warner, Judy O'Neil (names to be double checked)

survey says
100% of mentors said the project was beneficial to both the students and the teachers

Franklin High School - Senior Project Overview

View more OpenOffice presentations from Steve Sherlock.

proposal written during May of Junior year by students
21 students were selected
class during 3rd term
projects worked on during the 4th term

The Five P's

Proposal
Paper
Project
Portfolio
Presentation

Brittany MacLeod "The trial and error and realization of how much work is required generated much pride in the final output."

Project requirements
weekly meetings with mentor, time sheets, daily reflection (written), self evaluation, evaluation by site advisor, exhibition of project

unpaid internships, minimum of 60 hours over the period

Brittany "One thing I definitely learned is that everyone in the company counts"

Lindsey Corek - Milford Hosp - nutrition; "counseling with patients... I became comfortable and confident in dealing with people in a confidential manner. This confirmed by passio for nutrition."

Alyssa Breen - Riverside Community Care - developed more of a passion for the mental health field. Offered a position scheduling at the front office for them during the summer."

Allison Negro - Norwood Hosp - "a really good opportunity to understand that this is something I may not really want to do." Heading for Univ of New Haven to study forensics.

Will O'Leary - Canaccord - worked in the Compliance Dept to ensure that the money processed complied with the existing laws and regulations. He thought he was going to have an interest in Finance but he is not so interested in that now. He will be attending Dean College and studying sports management.

Brittany MacLeod - Changed her mind from her original desire to pursue advertising.

All the students would highly recommend this project to incoming seniors.

Pat Slight - Appreciated the chance to get out of the school building and find that there is so much opportunity ahead. This program helped him avoid senioritis. This will really help him drive through college.

Armenio - this is a fabulous program, several of you realized what you don't want to do.

Rohrbach - What if anything would you do to improve this for next year?
Slight - 60 hours wasn't enough time, should increase to 70 next year. It is already in the works.
Negro - Better time management as well as the increase amount of time will avoid some of the problems a few of the students had this year.

Ogden - this project has been in the incubator for a long time, thanks to the faculty for the hours for bringing this to fruition.

Live reporting: New logo awards

c. Strategic Planning Logo Awards

Ella Reed
Ben Fretz
Cam Goldsmith
Brett vanVort
Patrick McClellan Hurd
Jillian McGrath
Madison Wendell
Lyndsey Donahoe
Pooja Agaraal
Michelle Reinertson
Samantha Fitzpatrick
Collin Berg
Ellie Mancin
Erin Lee
Kasey Lynch
Breanna Metras
Caleigh Smith
Emma Campbell
Joe Nevells
Ashley Monterotti
Kevin MacAllister
Nichole Higgins
David Joany
Anna Humphreys
Madison Hinckley
Andrew DeSignore
Jill Downing
Kristen Dumas – final selection

From 250 initial entries, whittled to thirty for the high school students to work with and create 5 logos

and the final logo is shown above

Updated - 6/10/09: The listing of names was updated with the help of Rosanne (Gosch) Walsh