J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
• Resolution 10-85: Authorization to Expend Funds in Excess of Available Appropriations
a regular house keeping requirement, better to be a little under than over
motion to approve - passed 8-0
• Resolution 10-86: Authorization to Borrow for the Purchase of Trash Totters
motion to approve - passed
Discussion
Jeff in order to implement the new system, need to front the cost for the bins/totters
once paid off, the fee could be used to replenish them as needed and still drop over time
Vallee speaking against the purchase now, the timing is wrong
Nutting - We were told to fix this, we spent more than three years on this, we worked with the Recycling Committee, did a ton of research,
Whalen - I am in favor of this
Garella - the negative vote was due to the single bin option, not due to any other numbers. If you don't go with this program, the cost will increase over time.
McGann - clarification question on bidder delivery of new truck
Nutting - either bidder would have to meet the requirements of the RFP
Nutting - we went out with an increase in recycling, we have been to the Council previously on a pay-as-you-throw process and you didn't like that, we have now come with the single stream process
Pfeffer - my concern is with the seniors being able to handle the units
McGann - proceeding to ask Jeff
Mason - discussion is bordering on the item that would come up for discussion next week. This is for the totters, next week is the fee schedule
Nutting - we would need totters for this system
McGann - question on who pays for some items
Nutting - residents already pay for some items, some of which it will increase, the $25 fee may not be the contract, we haven't finished negotiation yet
McGann - how is there such a difference amongst the bidders
Nutting - I can speak to that, they have to meet the requirements of the RFP
Roll call (requires 2/3 majority)
Jones - can we combine this and do this next week
Vallee - I am against this for the reasons I mentioned before
Passed 6-2 McGann, Vallee - both voted no
1 Absent (Zollo)
• Resolution 10-87: Rescission of Authorization to Borrow – Municipal Off-Street Parking
house keeping item, authorized several years ago, taking it off the books but it is not relevant to anything now
Motion to approve - passed 8-0
• Resolution 10-88: Rescission of Authorization to Borrow – Purchase of Street Lights
The purchases were made with cash and we did not need to borrow to pay for them.
Another house keeping item, authorized several years ago, taking it off the books but it is not relevant to anything now
Motion to approve - passed 8-0
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Live reporting - License
G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS - Application for a New Wine & Malt License – Spruce Pond Creamery
Motion to approve, Passed 8-0
H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
none
I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
none
Motion to approve, Passed 8-0
H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
none
I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
none
Live reporting - Town Council
Attending: Kelly, Jones, Vallee, Whalen, Mason, Pfeffer, McGann, Powderly
Missing: Zollo
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – January 6, 2010
Motion to approve, with addition of sentence from S Whalen
Passed 8-0
B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
none
C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
none
D. CITIZEN COMMENTS
Michael Galvin, Franklin Resident, Vice-President - American Waste Services, LLC
speaking on cost for contract bidding of the waste program
"taking away services that residents currently have"
Robert Delllorco gave his five minutes to Michael to continue speaking
\(I'll add the recording of this later)
Gene Garella - Chairman, Recycling Committee
committee voted three times
unanimous to accept a single stream recycling
3-1 vote to accept (to be filled in)
voted against increasing the fee at Beaver St
program adds overflow bags to residents to cover for parties
recycling made easier with single stream
recycling increase should reduce waste tonnage
No questions allowed during citizens comments
E. APPOINTMENTS
none
F. HEARINGS
none
Missing: Zollo
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – January 6, 2010
Motion to approve, with addition of sentence from S Whalen
Passed 8-0
B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
none
C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
none
D. CITIZEN COMMENTS
Michael Galvin, Franklin Resident, Vice-President - American Waste Services, LLC
speaking on cost for contract bidding of the waste program
"taking away services that residents currently have"
Robert Delllorco gave his five minutes to Michael to continue speaking
\(I'll add the recording of this later)
Gene Garella - Chairman, Recycling Committee
committee voted three times
unanimous to accept a single stream recycling
3-1 vote to accept (to be filled in)
voted against increasing the fee at Beaver St
program adds overflow bags to residents to cover for parties
recycling made easier with single stream
recycling increase should reduce waste tonnage
No questions allowed during citizens comments
E. APPOINTMENTS
none
F. HEARINGS
none
More on cyberbullying
... we need to treat bullying as a public health issue. We reduced teen smoking and drunk driving with massive education programs. We can do the same with bullying.
We’ve learned little in the United States, even though the study cited our national anti-bullying efforts to date. I suspect that the reasons the US bullying rate has not moved are complex. But a good place to start is coming up this Sunday as a huge percentage of Americans will sit down in living rooms and bars and watch the New Orleans Saints and the Indianapolis Colts play in the Super Bowl.
Most bullying begins with nasty words, and what will we certainly see on Sunday? We’ll see player after player jawing at each other and talking trash. No media outlet seems above glorifying in some way the top trash talkers in sports, whether it is reminiscing about Muhammad Ali or observing the most flamboyant athletes of the moment.
And read all of Derrick Jackson's column in the Boston Globe here
The MA Trial Court Law Library page here has a great collection on the legislation around cyberbullying
My preference is for starting at home. The schools can help but even if they do all they can, when a kid goes home and it is not reinforced, all the effort is lost.
Wha do you think?
Are your oil fired buners compliant?
From the massgov Twitter stream today, I saw:
When you follow the link you find: (bold added for my emphasis)
Is your oil fired burner compliant?
@massgov: Older oil burners must be upgraded to prevent leaks - A law enacted over a year ago (St. 2008, c.453) requires home... http://ow.ly/16tOyU
When you follow the link you find: (bold added for my emphasis)
The burner in my house failed and was replaced in Sep 2008 so I know we are compliant. This is the first I hear that there is a deadline to be complaint by July 1, 2010.A law enacted over a year ago (St. 2008, c.453) requires homeowners with oil burners installed before 1990 to make a small change to their systems by July 1, 2010 to prevent leaks. According to the Mass. DEP, under the Homeowner Oil Heating System Upgrade and Insurance Law, "Owners of 1- to 4-unit residences that are heated with oil must already have or install an oil safety valve or an oil supply line with a protective sleeve... Installation of these devices must be performed by a licensed oil burner technician." "It is important to note that heating oil systems installed on or after January 1, 1990 most likely are already in compliance because state fire codes implemented these requirements on new installations at that time."
The good news is that the law also requires insurers who offer homeowner's insurance to also offer coverage for oil leaks to those who have certified that they have made the repairs or are exempt from the requirement.
More information, including a diagram of necessary repairs, is available at the Mass. Department of Environmental Protection site.
Is your oil fired burner compliant?
In the News - road repairs
Ashley Studley, Milford Daily News, filed her report from the Finance Committee meeting that took place last night.
Franklin looks at street repairs
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Partial Live Reporting at FINCOM
I didn't get to tune into the Finance Committee meeting Tuesday evening until it was an hour underway. I did catch part of Chief McCarraher's discussion on the needs of the Fire Dept, and then Robert (Brutus) Cantoreggi's discussion on the DPW's needs.
I will catch up to the full meeting when the video is available on demand and report on the capital outlook. The one good item from this is the attempt to start spending something on a regular basis to repair our roads. As you may be aware, there are approx 200 miles of roads, many of which were built in the last 30 years and with no budget for road repair we are asking for trouble.
Yes, some of our roads do get repaired as part of the water enterprise account when water mains need to be repaired and upgraded. Or when we get some Chapter 90 money from the state, approx 750,000 the past several years. The Town has been very thrifty on this front and will need to start spending something significant on a regular basis to begin to handle the demands.
The Finance Committee did not vote on any capital budget items this evening. Based upon what happened last year, Jeff Nutting will wait to see how the winter treats the snow/ice budget before committing to use some of the "free cash" for capital items.
The meeting can be viewed on the internet video archive for the Town here
I will catch up to the full meeting when the video is available on demand and report on the capital outlook. The one good item from this is the attempt to start spending something on a regular basis to repair our roads. As you may be aware, there are approx 200 miles of roads, many of which were built in the last 30 years and with no budget for road repair we are asking for trouble.
Yes, some of our roads do get repaired as part of the water enterprise account when water mains need to be repaired and upgraded. Or when we get some Chapter 90 money from the state, approx 750,000 the past several years. The Town has been very thrifty on this front and will need to start spending something significant on a regular basis to begin to handle the demands.
The Finance Committee did not vote on any capital budget items this evening. Based upon what happened last year, Jeff Nutting will wait to see how the winter treats the snow/ice budget before committing to use some of the "free cash" for capital items.
The meeting can be viewed on the internet video archive for the Town here
Text translator for 'teen speak'
Texting is all the rage amongst teens.
Cyberbullying happens to be one theme amongst the many messages sent.
LG has a website to help translate the texting shortcuts used.
You can translate from the short cut to SMS text or from a regular English sentence translate to text.
Related links:
Teen Angels is a group of middle school students working to raise awareness amongst their peers on cyberbullying. The TeenAngels presented to the School Committee earlier this month. You can see what they did here
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/01/live-reporting-teen-angels.html
and here
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/01/teen-angels-pledge-text-think-send.html
Legislation is being discussed to address cyberbullying. I don't think legislation is the answer. Parents, teachers, and the teens themselves can do a better job of creating awareness and changing behaviors.
Cyberbullying happens to be one theme amongst the many messages sent.
LG has a website to help translate the texting shortcuts used.
You can translate from the short cut to SMS text or from a regular English sentence translate to text.
Related links:
Teen Angels is a group of middle school students working to raise awareness amongst their peers on cyberbullying. The TeenAngels presented to the School Committee earlier this month. You can see what they did here
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/01/live-reporting-teen-angels.html
and here
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/01/teen-angels-pledge-text-think-send.html
Legislation is being discussed to address cyberbullying. I don't think legislation is the answer. Parents, teachers, and the teens themselves can do a better job of creating awareness and changing behaviors.
Green Reel - FLOW, Sunday, Feb 7 at 7:00 PM
A series of films on sustainable living called "The Green Reel" will be held Sunday evenings in North Attleboro. The films are presented free of charge. Some refreshments are available. Discussion about the film is encouraged.
"Flow" will be shown Feb 7th at 7:00 PM
"An astonishingly wide-ranging film. An informed and heartfelt examination of the tug of war between public health and private interests." - New York Times
"Lively and engaging...Smartly Done" - Los Angeles Times
“The inconvenient truth at the center of Flow: For Love of Water is that while the oil crisis is intensely debated and documented, disasters involving an even more essential fluid go perilously unnoticed.” - Slant Magazine
“Focusing on pollution, human rights, politics, and corruption, filmmaker Salina constructs an exceptionally articulate profile of the precarious relationship uniting human beings and water. “ - Rotten Tomatoes
----
Official Selection 2008 Sundance Film Festival
International Jury Prize 2008 Mumbai International Film Festival
Best Documentary 2008 Vail International Film Festival
Winner Best Documentary United Nations Association Film Festival
----
Irena Salina's award-winning documentary investigation into what experts label the most important political and environmental issue of the 21st Century - The World Water Crisis.
Salina builds a case against the growing privatization of the world's dwindling fresh water supply with an unflinching focus on politics, pollution, human rights, and the emergence of a domineering world water cartel.
Interviews with scientists and activists intelligently reveal the rapidly building crisis, at both the global and human scale, and the film introduces many of the governmental and corporate culprits behind the water grab, while begging the question "CAN ANYONE REALLY OWN WATER?"
Beyond identifying the problem, FLOW also gives viewers a look at the people and institutions providing practical solutions to the water crisis and those developing new technologies, which are fast becoming blueprints for a successful global and economic turnaround.
The flyer for the full series can be seen here:
"Flow" will be shown Feb 7th at 7:00 PM
Flow (For Love Of Water)
"An astonishingly wide-ranging film. An informed and heartfelt examination of the tug of war between public health and private interests." - New York Times
"Lively and engaging...Smartly Done" - Los Angeles Times
“The inconvenient truth at the center of Flow: For Love of Water is that while the oil crisis is intensely debated and documented, disasters involving an even more essential fluid go perilously unnoticed.” - Slant Magazine
“Focusing on pollution, human rights, politics, and corruption, filmmaker Salina constructs an exceptionally articulate profile of the precarious relationship uniting human beings and water. “ - Rotten Tomatoes
----
Official Selection 2008 Sundance Film Festival
International Jury Prize 2008 Mumbai International Film Festival
Best Documentary 2008 Vail International Film Festival
Winner Best Documentary United Nations Association Film Festival
----
Irena Salina's award-winning documentary investigation into what experts label the most important political and environmental issue of the 21st Century - The World Water Crisis.
Salina builds a case against the growing privatization of the world's dwindling fresh water supply with an unflinching focus on politics, pollution, human rights, and the emergence of a domineering world water cartel.
Interviews with scientists and activists intelligently reveal the rapidly building crisis, at both the global and human scale, and the film introduces many of the governmental and corporate culprits behind the water grab, while begging the question "CAN ANYONE REALLY OWN WATER?"
Beyond identifying the problem, FLOW also gives viewers a look at the people and institutions providing practical solutions to the water crisis and those developing new technologies, which are fast becoming blueprints for a successful global and economic turnaround.
The flyer for the full series can be seen here:
Discover Simple, Private Sharing at Drop.io
In the News - regionalization, elderly growth
One of the avenues to explore to more effectively utilize the limited funding available and maintain services is regionalization. Franklin and Bellingham share animal services. Franklin and Medway share library and recreation services. Franklin and Medway share nursing services for seniors.
This article shows other communities are considering additional services for regionalization.
This article shows other communities are considering additional services for regionalization.
Medway mulls regionalizing nursing, dispatch
Presenting data already collected for the foundation, Boston University professor Lorenz Finison told the commission yesterday that the regional population of residents 75 or older in 2000 is projected to grow about 60 percent by 2030. The study area includes the foundation's coverage zone of 25 cities and towns, a swath that stretches from Needham to Westborough and from Hudson to Bellingham.
Group discusses MetroWest's elderly population
In the News - pension reform
Given the extended discussion during the Budget Workshop held a week ago, this editorial is timely:
Editorial: Next steps on pension reform
Monday, February 1, 2010
FM Budget Workshop Part 3 - 1/25/10
Franklin held conducted a budget workshop on Monday, Jan 25, 2010. This is part three of the session recording. Susan Gagner, Town Comptroller, continues her presentation reviewing page 6, Fixed Costs. There is a whole lot of discussion around this page on pensions, health insurance, unemployment compensation.... All good questions, good answers from Susan and Jeff Nutting, Town Administrator.
Time: 32 minutes, 27 seconds
MP3 File
Session Notes:
Susan Gagner - The Six Year Fixed Cost History
------\
Thank you for listening.
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 music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana" c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission
I hope you enjoy!
Note: email subscribers will need to click through to the website to listen to the audio version.
Live reporting from the workshop can be found here
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/01/live-reporting-special-meeting-budget.html
and here
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/01/live-reporting-budget-workshop.html
Part 1 of the workshop recording can be found here
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/01/fm-budget-workshop-12510-part-1.html
Part 2 of the workshop recording can be found here
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/02/fm-budget-workshop-part-2-12510.html
Time: 32 minutes, 27 seconds
MP3 File
Session Notes:
Susan Gagner - The Six Year Fixed Cost History
------\
Thank you for listening.
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 music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana" c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission
I hope you enjoy!
Note: email subscribers will need to click through to the website to listen to the audio version.
Live reporting from the workshop can be found here
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/01/live-reporting-special-meeting-budget.html
and here
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/01/live-reporting-budget-workshop.html
Part 1 of the workshop recording can be found here
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/01/fm-budget-workshop-12510-part-1.html
Part 2 of the workshop recording can be found here
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/02/fm-budget-workshop-part-2-12510.html
FM Budget Workshop Part 2 - 1/25/10
Franklin held conducted a budget workshop on Monday, Jan 25, 2010. This is part two of the session recording. Susan Gagner, Town Comptroller, continues her presentation reviewing pages 3, 4 and 5.
Page 3 - The six year estimated receipts history; Page 4 - The six year State Assessment history; Page 5 - The Franklin Budget breakdown
Time: 14 minutes, 52 seconds
MP3 File
Session notes:
Susan Gagner - The six year estimated receipts history
Susan Gagner - The six year State Assessment history
Susan Gagner - The Franklin Budget breakdown
-----
Thank you for listening.
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 music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana" c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission
I hope you enjoy!
Note: email subscribers will need to click through to the website to listen to the audio version.
Live reporting from the workshop can be found here
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/01/live-reporting-special-meeting-budget.html
and here
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/01/live-reporting-budget-workshop.html
Part 1 of the workshop recording can be found here
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/01/fm-budget-workshop-12510-part-1.html
Page 3 - The six year estimated receipts history; Page 4 - The six year State Assessment history; Page 5 - The Franklin Budget breakdown
Time: 14 minutes, 52 seconds
MP3 File
Session notes:
Susan Gagner - The six year estimated receipts history
Susan Gagner - The six year State Assessment history
Susan Gagner - The Franklin Budget breakdown
-----
Thank you for listening.
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 music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana" c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission
I hope you enjoy!
Note: email subscribers will need to click through to the website to listen to the audio version.
Live reporting from the workshop can be found here
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/01/live-reporting-special-meeting-budget.html
and here
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/01/live-reporting-budget-workshop.html
Part 1 of the workshop recording can be found here
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/01/fm-budget-workshop-12510-part-1.html
FM #56 - Week ending 1/31/10
This is #56 in the series on what matters in Franklin, MA. This session covers the Busget Hearing and the School Committee meeting of the past week and looks ahead to the Finance Comm and Town Council meetings this week.
Time: 10 minutes, 14 seconds
MP3 File
Session notes:
This internet radio show or podcast is number 56 in the series for Franklin Matters.
Take about ten minutes to keep current with what matters in Franklin, MA as the week ends January 31, 2010
In this session I’ll cover the Budget Workshop on Monday, Jan 25 and the School Committee meeting on Tuesday January 26, 2010
I'll also review changes to the Facebook group for Franklin Matters and the introduction of Franklin Matters Weekly.
Monday night, the budget workshop was held at the municipal bldg. Jeff Nutting credited Maureen Sabolinski with the idea to get folks together to review the basics of the budget and the process rather than having to do it three times, once each for the Town Council, School committee and the Finance Committee.
A great idea. It was well attended. The new folks from the TC and SC were there, I think everyone from FINCOM was there. There were also a few other citizens; an FHS teacher, A DPW worker, and and “average joe” citizen.
The presentation started with Susan Gagner, Town Comptroller reviewing the details of the town incomes and expenses. Very well done. Jim Dacey, Treasurer/Collector reviewed debt and interest rate side of the Town business.
The group took a break for some refreshments and conversation. It seemed too short on conversation as we got called back together to review the School budget. Maureen Sabolinski and Miriam Goodman took the lead, then handed off to Sally Winslow and Beth Fitzmaurice to cover the Special Ed nuances.
After 3 hours of good info, solid Q&A, we broke for the evening. I did record the workshop and will be releasing sections of the meeting for others to listen in and learn what we all did.
Some of the documents have been posted to the website for viewing and printing should you want your own copy.
Watch FM for additional segments as they are released.
Two main takeways from the School Committee meeting Tuesday evening. One the budget history for the past several years was presented. This was effectivelythe same document reviewed during the budget workshop on Monday. This is not correct. Although I recorded it that way, the two presentations are indeed separate. The School Committee presentation is posted and does cover the historical aspects of the school budget. The presentation from the workshop is not yet posted but will be as I get to that section of the recording.
The School Committee also started a discussion on setting priorities or ground rules for considering what programs would be cut should it come to that to balance the budget. Sue Rohrbach did a good job starting the discussion and laying out some topic for consideration. She had not prioritized them, that would be a next step to do so. By the time the remaining members of the committee weighed in on items to add, it wasn't really a list that could be called a short one, it seemed to me like everything the schools did was now added to the list.
On the one hand, it shows how serious the budget situation is, there are no sacred cows. Everything is on the table.
On the other hand, with everything on the table, the SC does need to get to the next level of determining some criteria for prioritizing the cuts. I think what they have thus far is not better than what they had earlier.
A copy of the presentation is available on Franklin matters
As I have said here before, the next several months will be very interesting. Franklin citizens can provide and should their input to the charter (how we conduct our business), the downtown project (how we will get in and around downtown), and ultimately the Franklin budget (which will effect everyone because of the services that we all receive from it, altho admittedly, some receive more than others.). If you were waiting for a good time to get involved, the time is now.
In recognition that time your time is short, I have created a separate webpage to post the weekly review. For those who just want the facts, a la Sgt Joe Friday from Dragnet, you can subscribe to FM Weekly and all you will get will be the weekly summary once a week. It should clean up your email and help you stay current.
If you want all the details, stay here at FM and you'll continue to get all that I can learn and share about Franklin.
I still need to attend the meetings, take the notes, etc. in order to produce the weekly so there won;t be any change on the FM front. You'll still get everything without a change.
The addition is the FM weekly for you or one of your neighbors, who just wants the short skinny, they can get it.
On Facebook, there is a group for Franklin Matters. I have created a “fan page” for FM and will be posting new info there, eventually removing the group. What's the difference? The fan page is more like your Facebook profile page and easier to manage for me. No change in content just in the location where you can obtain it.
Looking ahead, there is a FINCOM meeting on Tuesday. They are scheduled to look at the capital budget and begin to make some decisions on what if anything we can do on the capital side.
The Town Council meets on Wednesday. Spruce Pond Creamery is up for a liquor license and then the Council has a couple of items of legislation to approve, one to fund the trash totters or new bins that we discussed last time; two, to clean up some outstanding debt authorizations that we don't need at this time.
As I close this session this week, let me remind you that
Thank you for listening.
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 music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana" c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission
I hope you enjoy!
Note: email subscribers will need to click through to the website to listen to the audio version.
Time: 10 minutes, 14 seconds
MP3 File
Session notes:
This internet radio show or podcast is number 56 in the series for Franklin Matters.
Take about ten minutes to keep current with what matters in Franklin, MA as the week ends January 31, 2010
In this session I’ll cover the Budget Workshop on Monday, Jan 25 and the School Committee meeting on Tuesday January 26, 2010
I'll also review changes to the Facebook group for Franklin Matters and the introduction of Franklin Matters Weekly.
Monday night, the budget workshop was held at the municipal bldg. Jeff Nutting credited Maureen Sabolinski with the idea to get folks together to review the basics of the budget and the process rather than having to do it three times, once each for the Town Council, School committee and the Finance Committee.
A great idea. It was well attended. The new folks from the TC and SC were there, I think everyone from FINCOM was there. There were also a few other citizens; an FHS teacher, A DPW worker, and and “average joe” citizen.
The presentation started with Susan Gagner, Town Comptroller reviewing the details of the town incomes and expenses. Very well done. Jim Dacey, Treasurer/Collector reviewed debt and interest rate side of the Town business.
The group took a break for some refreshments and conversation. It seemed too short on conversation as we got called back together to review the School budget. Maureen Sabolinski and Miriam Goodman took the lead, then handed off to Sally Winslow and Beth Fitzmaurice to cover the Special Ed nuances.
After 3 hours of good info, solid Q&A, we broke for the evening. I did record the workshop and will be releasing sections of the meeting for others to listen in and learn what we all did.
Some of the documents have been posted to the website for viewing and printing should you want your own copy.
Watch FM for additional segments as they are released.
Two main takeways from the School Committee meeting Tuesday evening. One the budget history for the past several years was presented. This was effectively
The School Committee also started a discussion on setting priorities or ground rules for considering what programs would be cut should it come to that to balance the budget. Sue Rohrbach did a good job starting the discussion and laying out some topic for consideration. She had not prioritized them, that would be a next step to do so. By the time the remaining members of the committee weighed in on items to add, it wasn't really a list that could be called a short one, it seemed to me like everything the schools did was now added to the list.
On the one hand, it shows how serious the budget situation is, there are no sacred cows. Everything is on the table.
On the other hand, with everything on the table, the SC does need to get to the next level of determining some criteria for prioritizing the cuts. I think what they have thus far is not better than what they had earlier.
A copy of the presentation is available on Franklin matters
As I have said here before, the next several months will be very interesting. Franklin citizens can provide and should their input to the charter (how we conduct our business), the downtown project (how we will get in and around downtown), and ultimately the Franklin budget (which will effect everyone because of the services that we all receive from it, altho admittedly, some receive more than others.). If you were waiting for a good time to get involved, the time is now.
In recognition that time your time is short, I have created a separate webpage to post the weekly review. For those who just want the facts, a la Sgt Joe Friday from Dragnet, you can subscribe to FM Weekly and all you will get will be the weekly summary once a week. It should clean up your email and help you stay current.
If you want all the details, stay here at FM and you'll continue to get all that I can learn and share about Franklin.
I still need to attend the meetings, take the notes, etc. in order to produce the weekly so there won;t be any change on the FM front. You'll still get everything without a change.
The addition is the FM weekly for you or one of your neighbors, who just wants the short skinny, they can get it.
On Facebook, there is a group for Franklin Matters. I have created a “fan page” for FM and will be posting new info there, eventually removing the group. What's the difference? The fan page is more like your Facebook profile page and easier to manage for me. No change in content just in the location where you can obtain it.
Looking ahead, there is a FINCOM meeting on Tuesday. They are scheduled to look at the capital budget and begin to make some decisions on what if anything we can do on the capital side.
The Town Council meets on Wednesday. Spruce Pond Creamery is up for a liquor license and then the Council has a couple of items of legislation to approve, one to fund the trash totters or new bins that we discussed last time; two, to clean up some outstanding debt authorizations that we don't need at this time.
As I close this session this week, let me remind you that
- If you like what I am doing, please tell your neighbors
- If you don’t like something, please tell me
Thank you for listening.
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 music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana" c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission
I hope you enjoy!
Note: email subscribers will need to click through to the website to listen to the audio version.
Finance Committee - Agenda - 2/2/2010
Balances as of December 2009
Citizens Comments
Approval of Minutes
Discussion
Capital Improvement Plan 2010
Old Business
New Business
Adjournment
Gen Stab 4,593,427Call to Order
PW Stab 129,321
Debt Stab 378,688
Traffic Stab 21,327
Overlay Surplus - 0 -
Free Cash 2,173,842
Citizens Comments
Approval of Minutes
Discussion
Capital Improvement Plan 2010
Technology – Town/School Tim Rapoza, Maureen Sabolinski
Facilities – Town/School Mike D’Angelo
School Vans – Mike D’Angelo
Police – Chief Williams
Fire – Chief McCarraher
DPW – Brutus Cantoreggi
Old Business
New Business
Adjournment
Town Council - Agenda - 2/3/2010
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – January 6, 2010
B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
D. CITIZEN COMMENTS
E. APPOINTMENTS
F. HEARINGS
G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS - Application for a New Wine & Malt License – Spruce Pond Creamery
H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
• Resolution 10-85: Authorization to Expend Funds in Excess of Available Appropriations
• Resolution 10-86: Authorization to Borrow for the Purchase of Trash Totters
• Resolution 10-87: Rescission of Authorization to Borrow – Municipal Off-Street Parking
• Resolution 10-88: Rescission of Authorization to Borrow – Purchase of Street Lights
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
B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
D. CITIZEN COMMENTS
E. APPOINTMENTS
F. HEARINGS
G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS - Application for a New Wine & Malt License – Spruce Pond Creamery
H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
• Resolution 10-85: Authorization to Expend Funds in Excess of Available Appropriations
• Resolution 10-86: Authorization to Borrow for the Purchase of Trash Totters
• Resolution 10-87: Rescission of Authorization to Borrow – Municipal Off-Street Parking
• Resolution 10-88: Rescission of Authorization to Borrow – Purchase of Street Lights
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
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Budget Workshop Collection - 1/25/10
Franklin held conducted a budget workshop on Monday, Jan 25, 2010. This is the collection of live reporting and audio recordings from the workshop.
Live reporting from the workshop can be found here
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/01/live-reporting-special-meeting-budget.html
and here
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/01/live-reporting-budget-workshop.html
Parts 1 through 4 cover the Town portion of the budget with Jeff Nutting, Susan Gagner and Jim Dacey leading the discussion.
Part 1 of the workshop recording can be found here
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/01/fm-budget-workshop-12510-part-1.html
Part 2 of the workshop recording can be found here
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/02/fm-budget-workshop-part-2-12510.html
Part 3 of the workshop recording can be found here
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/02/fm-budget-workshop-part-3-12510.html
Part 4 of the workshop recording can be found here
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/02/fm-budget-workshop-part-4-1252010.html
Parts 5 through 8 cover the Schools portion of the budget with Maureen Sabolinski, Miriam Goodman, Sally Winslow, and Beth Fitzmaurice leading the discussion.
Part 5 of the workshop recording can be found here
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/02/fm-budget-workshop-part-5-12510.html
Part 6 of the workshop recording can be found here
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/02/fm-budget-workshop-part-6-12510.html
Live reporting from the workshop can be found here
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/01/live-reporting-special-meeting-budget.html
and here
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/01/live-reporting-budget-workshop.html
Parts 1 through 4 cover the Town portion of the budget with Jeff Nutting, Susan Gagner and Jim Dacey leading the discussion.
Part 1 of the workshop recording can be found here
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/01/fm-budget-workshop-12510-part-1.html
Part 2 of the workshop recording can be found here
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/02/fm-budget-workshop-part-2-12510.html
Part 3 of the workshop recording can be found here
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/02/fm-budget-workshop-part-3-12510.html
Part 4 of the workshop recording can be found here
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/02/fm-budget-workshop-part-4-1252010.html
Parts 5 through 8 cover the Schools portion of the budget with Maureen Sabolinski, Miriam Goodman, Sally Winslow, and Beth Fitzmaurice leading the discussion.
Part 5 of the workshop recording can be found here
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/02/fm-budget-workshop-part-5-12510.html
Part 6 of the workshop recording can be found here
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/02/fm-budget-workshop-part-6-12510.html
Part 7 of the workshop recording can be found here
Part 8 of the workshop recording can be found here
In Part 9, Jeff Nutting provides some closing remarks and Bob Richer (citizen at large) provides some good feedback on the session.
The final segment, Part 9 of the workshop recording, can be found here
In the News - Haiti, cyberbullying
Network needed for aid in Haiti
from The Milford Daily News News RSSThe New England Chapel is located in Franklin
------
Cyberbullying too real for teens
Teen Angels is a group of middle school students working to raise awareness amongst their peers on cyberbullying. The TeenAngels presented to the School Committee earlier this month. You can see what they did here
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/01/live-reporting-teen-angels.html
and here
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/01/teen-angels-pledge-text-think-send.html
Saturday, January 30, 2010
FM - Budget Workshop 1/25/10 - Part 1
Franklin held conducted a budget workshop on Monday, Jan 25, 2010. This is part one of the session. Susan Gagner, Town Comptroller, reviews the first pages of her presentation.
Time: 28 minutes, 30 seconds
MP3 File
The files discussed in this segment of the workshop can be found here
Susan Gagner - Overview Page 1
Susan Gagner - Overview Page 2
Susan Gagner - 6 Year Operating Revenue Summary
Susan Gagner - 6 Year State Aid History
Thank you for listening.
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 music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana" c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission
I hope you enjoy!
Note: email subscribers will need to click through to the website to listen to the audio version.
Time: 28 minutes, 30 seconds
MP3 File
The files discussed in this segment of the workshop can be found here
Susan Gagner - Overview Page 1
Susan Gagner - Overview Page 2
Susan Gagner - 6 Year Operating Revenue Summary
Susan Gagner - 6 Year State Aid History
Thank you for listening.
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 music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana" c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission
I hope you enjoy!
Note: email subscribers will need to click through to the website to listen to the audio version.
Budget workshop documents
The documents from the Budget Workshop held on Monday, Jan 25, 2010 can be found stored within a folder on Google Docs. You should be able to view the files and print each individual PDF on your printer should you want a copy for more detailed review.
The files can be found here
Susan Gagner - Overview Page 1
Susan Gagner - Overview Page 2
Susan Gagner - 6 Year Operating Revenue Summary
Susan Gagner - 6 Year State Aid History
Susan Gagner - 6 Year Estimated Local Receipts
Susan Gagner - 6 Year State Assessment History
Susan Gagner - 6 Year Budget Breakdown
Susan Gagner - 6 Year Fixed Cost History
Susan Gagner - School Budget Chapter 70 History
Susan Gagner - Net School Spending - Page 1
Susan Gagner - Net School Spending - Page 2
The files uploaded and available now are from the presentation by Susan Gagner, Franklin Town Comptroller. I will be adding the remaining files as time allows.
I want to share the recording of the presentation and discussion from this workshop and will be releasing sections of the workshop as time permits.
Note: as is was checking the files to ensure that you would be able to view them without a Google Account, I did see an error - "Sorry we are unable to retrieve the document for viewing. Please try again later." I was able to refresh and view the document on the second try.
The files can be found here
Susan Gagner - Overview Page 1
Susan Gagner - Overview Page 2
Susan Gagner - 6 Year Operating Revenue Summary
Susan Gagner - 6 Year State Aid History
Susan Gagner - 6 Year Estimated Local Receipts
Susan Gagner - 6 Year State Assessment History
Susan Gagner - 6 Year Budget Breakdown
Susan Gagner - 6 Year Fixed Cost History
Susan Gagner - School Budget Chapter 70 History
Susan Gagner - Net School Spending - Page 1
Susan Gagner - Net School Spending - Page 2
The files uploaded and available now are from the presentation by Susan Gagner, Franklin Town Comptroller. I will be adding the remaining files as time allows.
I want to share the recording of the presentation and discussion from this workshop and will be releasing sections of the workshop as time permits.
Note: as is was checking the files to ensure that you would be able to view them without a Google Account, I did see an error - "Sorry we are unable to retrieve the document for viewing. Please try again later." I was able to refresh and view the document on the second try.
Gov Patrick's budget for FY 2011
Gov Patrick released his budget on time. The budget home page can be found here:
The full process steps starting with the release of the Governor's budget can be found here
There is a budget guide to read about how to find out what you want to know. The guide can be found here
The home page for the FY 2011 budget can be found here
Respectfully, this is a whole lot of good information.
What does it mean for Franklin?
The key dollars for the Franklin budget comes in the Local Aid section
The totals for FY 2011 proposed by Governor Patrick are:
This totals to $30,548, 750 which is $852,318 less than the $31,401,068 Franklin received for FY 2010.
What does this mean? Too earlier to tell. This is only the first step in the long State budget process. It is not good that we are starting with less than last year. I don't think it likely that either the House or Senate will increase what the Governor has already proposed, but that is my two cents.
What comes next?
Stay tuned in to the budget discussions.
Franklin has a similar process. Each department prepares their budget. It is reviewed by the Town Administrator and presented to the Finance Committee. The Finance Committee hold public hearings to review, adjust and recommend a budget to the Town Council. The Town Council holds budget hearing to solicit input from any interested Franklin residents before voting on a budget. Franklin also needs to pass a budget to begin operations on the new fiscal year July 1.
The full process steps starting with the release of the Governor's budget can be found here
There is a budget guide to read about how to find out what you want to know. The guide can be found here
The home page for the FY 2011 budget can be found here
Respectfully, this is a whole lot of good information.
What does it mean for Franklin?
The key dollars for the Franklin budget comes in the Local Aid section
The totals for FY 2011 proposed by Governor Patrick are:
| Municipality | Chapter 70 | Unrestricted General Government Aid |
|---|
| FRANKLIN | $28,371,695 | $2,177,055 |
|---|
This totals to $30,548, 750 which is $852,318 less than the $31,401,068 Franklin received for FY 2010.
What does this mean? Too earlier to tell. This is only the first step in the long State budget process. It is not good that we are starting with less than last year. I don't think it likely that either the House or Senate will increase what the Governor has already proposed, but that is my two cents.
What comes next?
- The House Ways and Means Committee reviews the Governor's budget and then develops its own recommendation.
- Individual representatives submit budget amendments which are then debated on the House floor. Once debated, amended and voted on by the full House, it becomes the final House budget bill and moves to the Senate.
- The Senate Ways & Means Committee reviews both the Governor's and House budgets and develops its own recommendation.
- Individual representatives submit budget amendments which are then debated on the Senate floor. Once debated, amended and voted on, it becomes the final Senate's budget bill.
- State Finance law requires the Governor to submit budget revisions to his proposed budget if revenue forecasts predict a shortfall after the original submission.
- House and Senate leadership assign members to a "conference committee" to negotiate the differences between the House and Senate bills. The conference committee report can only be approved or rejected - no additional amendments can be made.
- Once approved by both chambers of the Legislature, the Governor has ten days to review it. The Governor may approve or veto the entire budget, or may veto or reduce particular line items or sections, but may not add anything.
- The House and Senate may vote to override the Governor's vetoes. Overrides require a two-thirds roll-call vote in each chamber.
- The final budget is also known as the General Appropriations Act (GAA) or "Chapter xxx of the Acts of 2010."
Stay tuned in to the budget discussions.
Franklin has a similar process. Each department prepares their budget. It is reviewed by the Town Administrator and presented to the Finance Committee. The Finance Committee hold public hearings to review, adjust and recommend a budget to the Town Council. The Town Council holds budget hearing to solicit input from any interested Franklin residents before voting on a budget. Franklin also needs to pass a budget to begin operations on the new fiscal year July 1.
Democratic Party donation
Michael Walker Jones (center), Chairman of the Franklin Democratic Party, presented a check for $200 to a teacher (left) representing the Franklin High School Democrat's Club. School Committee Chair, Jeff Roy (right) observed.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Now at your service
Let's face it, you are busy. Time is short.
You may not have time to read all that is posted here.
Yes, there is a whole lot happening and I do post quite a bit.
But you'd still like to keep up with what matters in Franklin.
Now you have two new options.
1 - Franklin Matters Weekly
Once a week, I'll post the summary of what has happened the prior week with a brief look at the week ahead. You can subscribe to this new site via email or RSS Feed or iTunes
Franklin Matters Weekly can be found here:
http://franklinmattersweekly.blogspot.com/
2 - Facebook Fan page
Along with this move to the weekly version, I will eventually disable the Facebook group. But no worry, there already is a new fan page - "I believe Franklin, MA Matters" to join or become a "fan" of.
You can search on Facebook for Franklin Matters, follow this link or visit the new Franklin Matters Weekly and find the Facebook widget to take to you the new Facebook page.
What won't change?
The attention to detail in posting here from the Town Council, School Committee, Finance Committee and other important town events will continue.
If you want all the details on all that matters, stay here. You'll still get notification that the weekly summary is ready. You won't miss anything.
But for those who want the shorty and skinny version, Franklin Matters Weekly is now available just for that purpose.
As I close this posting, let me remind you that
You may not have time to read all that is posted here.
Yes, there is a whole lot happening and I do post quite a bit.
But you'd still like to keep up with what matters in Franklin.
Now you have two new options.
1 - Franklin Matters Weekly
Once a week, I'll post the summary of what has happened the prior week with a brief look at the week ahead. You can subscribe to this new site via email or RSS Feed or iTunes
Franklin Matters Weekly can be found here:
http://franklinmattersweekly.blogspot.com/
2 - Facebook Fan page
Along with this move to the weekly version, I will eventually disable the Facebook group. But no worry, there already is a new fan page - "I believe Franklin, MA Matters" to join or become a "fan" of.
You can search on Facebook for Franklin Matters, follow this link or visit the new Franklin Matters Weekly and find the Facebook widget to take to you the new Facebook page.
What won't change?
The attention to detail in posting here from the Town Council, School Committee, Finance Committee and other important town events will continue.
If you want all the details on all that matters, stay here. You'll still get notification that the weekly summary is ready. You won't miss anything.
But for those who want the shorty and skinny version, Franklin Matters Weekly is now available just for that purpose.
As I close this posting, let me remind you that
- If you like what I am doing, please tell your neighbors
- If you don’t like something, please tell me
Winter Street
This street is well named for the conditions as I was walking home Thursday evening.
It was a pleasant walk. Everything around was sugar coated and white again!
Thursday, January 28, 2010
School Preliminary Budget - FY 2011
The presentation document was added to the post for Tuesday evening's School Committee meeting and copied here to save you clicking through to find it.
For the text to accompany this document, click through here
For the text to accompany this document, click through here
In the News - high school renovation planning moves along
Take a step at a time and you make progress towards your goal. With the selection of a project manager, one that has worked with the Town on other major projects (Fire station, Senior Center, etc.), the next step is to select an architect.
Franklin inches closer to renovating high school
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Senator-elect Scott Brown plans for six 'Citizen Open House' events
U.S. Senator-elect Scott Brown today announced the dates and locations for a series of "Citizen Open Houses" starting this Friday in Chicopee.
In a press release, Brown's office said the senator-elect would make six stops over three days to thank the people of Massachusetts for his victory in last week's special Senate election. He invited all members of the public to attend.
"We won this election thanks to the grassroots support of the people, and I want to personally show how much I appreciate that support and tell them that I will always strive to be an independent voice in Washington," said Brown.
The open houses scheduled include:
Friday, Jan. 29, at noon at the Hu Ke Lau restaurant, 705 Memorial Drive, Chicopee
Friday, Jan 29 at 7 p.m. at the Falmouth Inn, 824 Main St., Falmouth.
Saturday, Jan. 30, at 1 p.m. at the Kowloon Restaurant, 948 Broadway Street – Rt. 1 North, in Saugus
Saturday, 3:30 p.m. at Lenzi's Catering, 810 Merrimack Ave. – Rt. 110, Dracut.
Saturday, 6 p.m. at the Maxwell–Silverman Restaurant, 25 Union St., Worcester.
Sunday, Jan. 31 at 5 p.m. at Christina's Function Facility, 2 Washington St. – Rt. 1, Foxboro.
In a press release, Brown's office said the senator-elect would make six stops over three days to thank the people of Massachusetts for his victory in last week's special Senate election. He invited all members of the public to attend.
"We won this election thanks to the grassroots support of the people, and I want to personally show how much I appreciate that support and tell them that I will always strive to be an independent voice in Washington," said Brown.
The open houses scheduled include:
Friday, Jan. 29, at noon at the Hu Ke Lau restaurant, 705 Memorial Drive, Chicopee
Friday, Jan 29 at 7 p.m. at the Falmouth Inn, 824 Main St., Falmouth.
Saturday, Jan. 30, at 1 p.m. at the Kowloon Restaurant, 948 Broadway Street – Rt. 1 North, in Saugus
Saturday, 3:30 p.m. at Lenzi's Catering, 810 Merrimack Ave. – Rt. 110, Dracut.
Saturday, 6 p.m. at the Maxwell–Silverman Restaurant, 25 Union St., Worcester.
Sunday, Jan. 31 at 5 p.m. at Christina's Function Facility, 2 Washington St. – Rt. 1, Foxboro.
Horace Mann/Oak St complex closed today due to gas leak
Heard via a phone call from Mrs Sherlock (who teaches at Oak St) and then confirmed with the Franklin Fire Dept Twitter update.
Thayer Scoreboard Restored
Updated 1/27/10 12:25 PM - The scheduled presentation has been canceled for today. When the new date/time has been finalized, it will be posted here.
A letter from Glenn Jones:
A letter from Glenn Jones:
Thanks Glenn! Wish I could be there myself.The Davis Thayer School has had an antique scoreboard hanging in the corner of the gym unused for over 30 years. It dates back some 50 years or more. I spoke with a gentleman who claims it worked when he went to the DT 50 yrs ago. It was slated to be thrown away, but I took it upon my self to remove the old scoreboard and refurbish it. With some great help and contributions, I have been able to restore it back to it original grandeur.
I will be presenting it back to the Davis Thayer School onWednesday January 27th @2pm.All are welcome to come and see history come back to life.
All photos provided by Glenn:
work in progress
The finished product with the lights on
The finished product in daylight
Importance of Kindergarten registration
As a follow-up to the announcement here yesterday on the Kindergarten registration scheduled for next week, I received this letter from a Franklin parent:
Stay tuned for updates on the budget as the situation develops over the next couple of months.
Let me restate what I wrote earlier this week (bold added for emphasis):
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/01/franklin-ma-kindergarten-registration.html
It was also discussed at the School Committee meeting Tuesday evening that full-day kindergarten is desired, expected, a goal but is not guaranteed at this time due to the uncertainties in the budget.I was at my school's PCC meeting and one piece of information that I did not realize was that the registration for Kindergarten in February helps determine the staffing of the Kindergarten teachers for the next year. Even if a parent is not sure if the child is going to the public school they should register them in February and then if they change their mind let the school know. From my understanding what happened last year is many students were not enrolled by their parents until July so it brought the counts in the class to 25 students.
It would be helpful for parents just starting the school process to understand why they need to register their child in February even if they are not 100% sure that is where they are going to get a better grasp of staffing needed for the next school year. Of course a class might still be this large if they cut kindergarten teachers in the budget but the forecast of how many teachers are needed is not truly shown in the February registration statistics if we have such a large number of parents registering in July.
Stay tuned for updates on the budget as the situation develops over the next couple of months.
Let me restate what I wrote earlier this week (bold added for emphasis):
Kindergarten registration information can be found hereIn summary, the next several months can be very interactive. Franklin citizens can provide their input to the charter, the downtown project, and ultimately the Franklin budget. If you were waiting for a good time to get involved, the time is now.
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/01/franklin-ma-kindergarten-registration.html
School Committee Mtg 01/26/10
The collection of posts that were reported live from the School Committee on Tuesday Jan 26, 2010 can be found here:
- Live reporting - closing items
- Live reporting - Superintendent
- Live reporting - action items
- Live reporting - Discussion only items
- Live reporting - Q&A - Preliminary budget discussi...
- Live reporting - FY 2011 Preliminary Budget Discus...
- Live reporting - FHS London Trip
- Live reporting - Sidewalk Snow Removal Presentatio...
- Live reporting - School Committee
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Live reporting - closing items
Subcommittee reports
We have a proposal to establish email addresses for the committee members. Can proceed with that one. Need clarification on the option of a group mailbox.
The Building Committee interviewed on the 13th of Jan the finalists for the Owners Project Manager (OPM). The selection Daedelus (sic) will be entering into contract negotiations, they have been involved with our prior major Franklin projects.
New business
Q - is full day kindergarten on or not?
A - if we get the full service budget of 53.5 we expect to have a full day kindergarten
At this point it is a desire, an expectation, a goal but it cannot be counted on.
Roy and Sabolinski to attend the Rotary Club
motion to enter executive session, roll call vote, passed 7-0
We have a proposal to establish email addresses for the committee members. Can proceed with that one. Need clarification on the option of a group mailbox.
The Building Committee interviewed on the 13th of Jan the finalists for the Owners Project Manager (OPM). The selection Daedelus (sic) will be entering into contract negotiations, they have been involved with our prior major Franklin projects.
New business
Q - is full day kindergarten on or not?
A - if we get the full service budget of 53.5 we expect to have a full day kindergarten
At this point it is a desire, an expectation, a goal but it cannot be counted on.
Roy and Sabolinski to attend the Rotary Club
motion to enter executive session, roll call vote, passed 7-0
Live reporting - Superintendent
5. Information Matters
Superintendent’s Report
a. Finance Workshop Training
well attended last night by Town Council, FinCom and a couple of residents
b. MSBA/FHS Project
looking to clarify the request and provide the data
c. Kindergarten Registration
forms available on the website
d. MASBO Compensation Study
e. Data Team
instructional data team working to understand the data and prepare action plans
Superintendent’s Report
a. Finance Workshop Training
well attended last night by Town Council, FinCom and a couple of residents
b. MSBA/FHS Project
looking to clarify the request and provide the data
c. Kindergarten Registration
forms available on the website
d. MASBO Compensation Study
e. Data Team
instructional data team working to understand the data and prepare action plans
Live reporting - action items
4. Action Items
a.I recommend acceptance of the donation of 5 digital cameras and one camcorder from Mr. Robert Salzberg of Resh, Inc. for the Davis Thayer Elementary School. removed as duplicate from prior meeting
b. I recommend acceptance of a check for $1148.00 from the Oak St. PCC for a Gr. 2 field trip to Stony Brook in May as detailed. motion to accept, passed 7-0
c. I recommend acceptance of a check for $1000.00 from the Panther Lacrosse Association to be used towards the fitness center at FHS. motion to accept, passed 7-0
d. I recommend acceptance of a check for $500.00 from the Singleton Family Foundation for the FHS Special Education Department. motion to accept, passed 7-0
e. I recommend acceptance of a check for $3000.00 from the Davis Thayer PCC for field trips as detailed. motion to accept, passed 7-0
f. I recommend acceptance of the donation of a Visual Presenter from Mr. Robert Salzberg of Resh, Inc. for the Davis Thayer Elementary School. motion to accept, passed 7-0
g. I recommend approval of the request of Ms. Leardi & Mrs. Waters of the FHS for a trip to London, England on June 25, 2010 as detailed. motion to accept, passed 7-0
h. I recommend adoption of Policy ADA – School District Goals & Objectives. motion to accept, passed 7-0
i. I recommend approval of the request of Peter Light for an additional Assistant Track coach at a cost of $1,467.00 to be funded from the Athletic Revolving Account to assist with increased student participation. motion to accept, passed 7-0
j. I recommend adoption of Policy ACE – Non-Discrimination on the basis of Disability. motion to accept, passed 7-0
a.
b. I recommend acceptance of a check for $1148.00 from the Oak St. PCC for a Gr. 2 field trip to Stony Brook in May as detailed. motion to accept, passed 7-0
c. I recommend acceptance of a check for $1000.00 from the Panther Lacrosse Association to be used towards the fitness center at FHS. motion to accept, passed 7-0
d. I recommend acceptance of a check for $500.00 from the Singleton Family Foundation for the FHS Special Education Department. motion to accept, passed 7-0
e. I recommend acceptance of a check for $3000.00 from the Davis Thayer PCC for field trips as detailed. motion to accept, passed 7-0
f. I recommend acceptance of the donation of a Visual Presenter from Mr. Robert Salzberg of Resh, Inc. for the Davis Thayer Elementary School. motion to accept, passed 7-0
g. I recommend approval of the request of Ms. Leardi & Mrs. Waters of the FHS for a trip to London, England on June 25, 2010 as detailed. motion to accept, passed 7-0
h. I recommend adoption of Policy ADA – School District Goals & Objectives. motion to accept, passed 7-0
i. I recommend approval of the request of Peter Light for an additional Assistant Track coach at a cost of $1,467.00 to be funded from the Athletic Revolving Account to assist with increased student participation. motion to accept, passed 7-0
j. I recommend adoption of Policy ACE – Non-Discrimination on the basis of Disability. motion to accept, passed 7-0
Live reporting - Discussion only items
3. Discussion Only Items
• Second Reading:
• Second Reading:
Policy ADA – School District Goals & Objectivesno further discussions needed, moving to action items
Policy ACE – Non-Discrimination on the basis of Disability
Live reporting - Q&A - Preliminary budget discussion
Glynn - what are ramifications of not going for the NEASC accreditation?
Sabolinski - we will no longer have an external evaluation of our standard educational processes
Glynn - The technologists that we cut hurt our development as a 21st Century
Sabolinski - yes, those folks would help the teachers learn and implement technology into their classrooms
Cafasso - Q on tying the numbers back to the last year budget documents
Goodman - carefully explained the difference in the numbers to tie them together
Trahan - is the wage deferment in these?
Sabolinski - no, that was last year, nothing for this year at this point.
Decision making tree
Rohrbach - I put some thoughts down (handout to be added later)
1 - District wide impact on staff/program reduction
accreditation
community priorities
Communities needs to provide some guidelines on how much we can cut and how low we can go
Roy - FY 2006 we spent more in 2 catagories, FY 2007, we only did one category, in FY 2008 we are under in all eleven categories, we expect to be under in FY 2009 numbers. The amazing thing is that we are still a high performing district despite that.
What is a broad definition for core academic areas? Should music and art get equal treatment with the other core subject matters.
It is a balance between the core and the extra-curriculars as we are trying to educate the whole child.
Starting the discussion now gets a better chance to keep to it.
Are these ranked in order of priorities? or are these just a general listing
It would be interesting to see where the principals and administration would come up with their listing and how close it would be to this
I am not a fan of going through a death by 1,000 cuts
If I can live with a program going away, if it is gone it is gone. You need to be able to live with it going away and not coming back.
You can start talking about reductions until you know what the magnitude is?
Possible Saturday working session with Principals to get to hear from them directly
Sabolinski - we will no longer have an external evaluation of our standard educational processes
Glynn - The technologists that we cut hurt our development as a 21st Century
Sabolinski - yes, those folks would help the teachers learn and implement technology into their classrooms
Cafasso - Q on tying the numbers back to the last year budget documents
Goodman - carefully explained the difference in the numbers to tie them together
Trahan - is the wage deferment in these?
Sabolinski - no, that was last year, nothing for this year at this point.
Decision making tree
Rohrbach - I put some thoughts down (handout to be added later)
1 - District wide impact on staff/program reduction
- number of students affected
- K-12 continuum - feeder program considerations
- FPS educational philosophy
- Educational policy i.e. DESE
- Financial savings
- Financial costs i.e. unemployment
- Grant funding
- School Committee guidelines i.e class size
- Space needs
- Collective bargaining
accreditation
community priorities
Communities needs to provide some guidelines on how much we can cut and how low we can go
Roy - FY 2006 we spent more in 2 catagories, FY 2007, we only did one category, in FY 2008 we are under in all eleven categories, we expect to be under in FY 2009 numbers. The amazing thing is that we are still a high performing district despite that.
What is a broad definition for core academic areas? Should music and art get equal treatment with the other core subject matters.
It is a balance between the core and the extra-curriculars as we are trying to educate the whole child.
Starting the discussion now gets a better chance to keep to it.
Are these ranked in order of priorities? or are these just a general listing
It would be interesting to see where the principals and administration would come up with their listing and how close it would be to this
I am not a fan of going through a death by 1,000 cuts
If I can live with a program going away, if it is gone it is gone. You need to be able to live with it going away and not coming back.
You can start talking about reductions until you know what the magnitude is?
Possible Saturday working session with Principals to get to hear from them directly
Live reporting - FY 2011 Preliminary Budget Discussion
Maureen Sabolinski, Sally Winslow, Miriam Goodman
The State numbers are not yet available, these factors will change over time
The goal for tonight is to provide a historical overview, where we are, and where we would like to be
teachers peaked at 517 - 2006, now down to 399 for 2010
110 FTE since FY 06
administrative 3 asst principals, 4 central office administrators
K-5 Spanish reduced to 1x a week
Elimination of French at the Middle School
K-5 health eliminated
K-5 PE reduced
Grade 4-5 instrumental eliminated
Curriculum and instructional services
Textbook line item elminiated, rely on capital to obtain books
Eliminated 10 custodial positions cut (separately from the Facilities transfer to DPW)
Pay to ride fees ass and increased
Sports fees added and increased
Per pupil expenditures $9,751 State avg $12,449
good chart comparing us to 20 other districts of similar enrollment (i.e. 5,000 to 7,000 students)
we are in the middle of the districts on school size, we are on the bottom of this set on per student spending
Special Education costs have increased from 16% in 1998 to 21% in 2010
FY 2000 to FY 2003 health increased at 13.86%, however we have done better in avoiding rising costs as much as possible. The increase was only 3.91% FY 2004 to FY 2010
saved tens of thousands of dollars in printing and ink costs by going electronic where ever possible
FHS Wireless Technology helps to allow students to bring their own systems into the school environment
Edline K-5 report cards being piloted
ConnectEd software enhanced communications to parents, reduced flyers
Food service point of sale program now more accurate and accountable
In house special education programing, slows the rate at which the budget needs to grow by servicing the students in house where possible
Chapter 70 funding - 56% in 2010, in 1998 only 28%
Potential, level service needs $53,500,000
The value of all of our homes is directly related to the school performance
The State numbers are not yet available, these factors will change over time
The goal for tonight is to provide a historical overview, where we are, and where we would like to be
teachers peaked at 517 - 2006, now down to 399 for 2010
110 FTE since FY 06
administrative 3 asst principals, 4 central office administrators
K-5 Spanish reduced to 1x a week
Elimination of French at the Middle School
K-5 health eliminated
K-5 PE reduced
Grade 4-5 instrumental eliminated
Curriculum and instructional services
Textbook line item elminiated, rely on capital to obtain books
Eliminated 10 custodial positions cut (separately from the Facilities transfer to DPW)
Pay to ride fees ass and increased
Sports fees added and increased
Per pupil expenditures $9,751 State avg $12,449
good chart comparing us to 20 other districts of similar enrollment (i.e. 5,000 to 7,000 students)
we are in the middle of the districts on school size, we are on the bottom of this set on per student spending
Special Education costs have increased from 16% in 1998 to 21% in 2010
FY 2000 to FY 2003 health increased at 13.86%, however we have done better in avoiding rising costs as much as possible. The increase was only 3.91% FY 2004 to FY 2010
saved tens of thousands of dollars in printing and ink costs by going electronic where ever possible
FHS Wireless Technology helps to allow students to bring their own systems into the school environment
Edline K-5 report cards being piloted
ConnectEd software enhanced communications to parents, reduced flyers
Food service point of sale program now more accurate and accountable
In house special education programing, slows the rate at which the budget needs to grow by servicing the students in house where possible
Chapter 70 funding - 56% in 2010, in 1998 only 28%
Potential, level service needs $53,500,000
The value of all of our homes is directly related to the school performance
Live reporting - FHS London Trip
Peter Light, Principal Franklin High School
Tina Leardi, Marushka Waters
A week in London , time at the West End theaters, chaperoned with ratio of 1-8
If 35 students from Franklin go, it will be "our" trip.
75 brochures were handed out so far.
this is on the action items later this evening.
Tina Leardi, Marushka Waters
A week in London , time at the West End theaters, chaperoned with ratio of 1-8
If 35 students from Franklin go, it will be "our" trip.
75 brochures were handed out so far.
this is on the action items later this evening.
Live reporting - Sidewalk Snow Removal Presentation
2. Guests/Presentations
a. Snow Removal / Sidewalks – Robert A (Brutus) Cantoreggi
The presentation is similar to what was shown to the Town Council reviewed earlier this month. You can view that presentation here
Roy - How are the decisions reached on school cancellations?
Sabolinski - Process starts in October, meeting with DPW to plan for the process, notifications, etc. Decisions on school closings rely on the safety officials (Police, Fire). Timeline is an issue. High school and middle school staff report at 6:45, need to make decision before 5:30 AM to alleviate unnecessary travel. Responsibilities further refined between Facilities and custodians based upon experience. In a town this size, we heard from about 10 people, considering our size, that is good.
Cantoreggi - The Facilities transfer was a good thing, we have learned along the way. The Police call us when the road conditions turn bad. We are prepared and on standby until we get the call. At night we can be ore efficient as no one is on the road, once the day starts, it gets more difficult as our trucks are in with the traffic.
Sabolinski - inclement weather notice sent out, posted on Schools website (PDF) There is a regular practice for the buses to pick up students walking along the road.
Glynn - How do you determne when to stop?
Cantoreggi - After the snow has stopped and after we have cleared the roads, we'll also do the push back to clear the road to the gutters. If another storm came along, the gutters would be blocked, we could get drainage problems. Can't have that so we clear it to the gutter.
Rohrbach - could you go into the process on the sidewalk routes?
Cantoreggi - I did not bring the map, it is on the DPW website, as is this presentation. (Note: The presentations can also be found here)
Rohrbach - You mentioned that you have vacancies, does that mean you use more contractors?
Cantoreggi - We have folks out that we have not backfilled. We do have some Franklin equipment that sits idle during a storm as we don't have manpower to run it. We do use contractors more, it is a more expensive option.
a. Snow Removal / Sidewalks – Robert A (Brutus) Cantoreggi
The presentation is similar to what was shown to the Town Council reviewed earlier this month. You can view that presentation here
Roy - How are the decisions reached on school cancellations?
Sabolinski - Process starts in October, meeting with DPW to plan for the process, notifications, etc. Decisions on school closings rely on the safety officials (Police, Fire). Timeline is an issue. High school and middle school staff report at 6:45, need to make decision before 5:30 AM to alleviate unnecessary travel. Responsibilities further refined between Facilities and custodians based upon experience. In a town this size, we heard from about 10 people, considering our size, that is good.
Cantoreggi - The Facilities transfer was a good thing, we have learned along the way. The Police call us when the road conditions turn bad. We are prepared and on standby until we get the call. At night we can be ore efficient as no one is on the road, once the day starts, it gets more difficult as our trucks are in with the traffic.
Sabolinski - inclement weather notice sent out, posted on Schools website (PDF) There is a regular practice for the buses to pick up students walking along the road.
Glynn - How do you determne when to stop?
Cantoreggi - After the snow has stopped and after we have cleared the roads, we'll also do the push back to clear the road to the gutters. If another storm came along, the gutters would be blocked, we could get drainage problems. Can't have that so we clear it to the gutter.
Rohrbach - could you go into the process on the sidewalk routes?
Cantoreggi - I did not bring the map, it is on the DPW website, as is this presentation. (Note: The presentations can also be found here)
Rohrbach - You mentioned that you have vacancies, does that mean you use more contractors?
Cantoreggi - We have folks out that we have not backfilled. We do have some Franklin equipment that sits idle during a storm as we don't have manpower to run it. We do use contractors more, it is a more expensive option.
Live reporting - School Committee
Attending: Douglas, Cafasso, Rohrbach, Mullen, Roy, Trahan, Glynn
1. Routine Business
• Citizen’s Comments - none
• Review of Agenda - add FHS London Trip to agenda
• Minutes: I recommend approval of the Open Session and Executive Session minutes from the January 12, 2010 School Committee Meeting.
correction on meeting date should be Feb 5th not 4th
page 4 - FY 2011 budget, add a sentence referencing a one page summary
page 6 - should say "fiscal review" instead of "financial audit"
motion to approve, excluding the minutes from the Executive Session, passed 7-0
• Payment of Bills - Mr. Glynn motion to approve, passed 7-0
• Payroll - Mrs. Douglas
• FHS Student Representatives
• Correspondence: none
Vision Statement
The Franklin Public Schools will foster within its students the knowledge and skills to find and achieve satisfaction in life as productive global citizens.
The Franklin Public Schools will foster within its students the knowledge and skills to find and achieve satisfaction in life as productive global citizens.
Mission Statement
The Franklin Public Schools, in collaboration with the community, will cultivate each student's intellectual, social, emotional and physical potential through rigorous academic inquiry and informed problem solving skills within a safe, nurturing and respectful environment.
The Franklin Public Schools, in collaboration with the community, will cultivate each student's intellectual, social, emotional and physical potential through rigorous academic inquiry and informed problem solving skills within a safe, nurturing and respectful environment.
1. Routine Business
• Citizen’s Comments - none
• Review of Agenda - add FHS London Trip to agenda
• Minutes: I recommend approval of the Open Session and Executive Session minutes from the January 12, 2010 School Committee Meeting.
correction on meeting date should be Feb 5th not 4th
page 4 - FY 2011 budget, add a sentence referencing a one page summary
page 6 - should say "fiscal review" instead of "financial audit"
motion to approve, excluding the minutes from the Executive Session, passed 7-0
• Payment of Bills - Mr. Glynn motion to approve, passed 7-0
• Payroll - Mrs. Douglas
• FHS Student Representatives
• Correspondence: none
Franklin, MA: Kindergarten registration
For students entering Kindergarten in September 2010, registration will occur on
http://www.franklin.ma.us/auto/schools/FPS/KInfo/default.htm
- February 2
- February 4
- February 8
http://www.franklin.ma.us/auto/schools/FPS/KInfo/default.htm
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