Maureen Sabolinski, Miriam Goodman, Jeff Roy
Nutting provides an intro
have enjoyed a tremendous relationship with Schools
share technology and facilities, excellent teamwork, always looking to save by doing things together
additional School Committee members present - Paula Mullen, Susan Rohrbach, Roberta Trahan
School budget shortage is $1.9M
Roy -
Budget usually increases approx. $3M
used revolving funds and stimulus money to get down to the 1.9M gap
At the last school committee meeting, discussed several items to reduce the gap with additional cuts or additional fee revenues
The proposed adjustments can be found here
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/05/franklin-ma-school-budget-possible.html
No changes are proposed at Franklin High School due to the changes made last year that would survive the two years; by going from a seven period day to a six period day, 80 elective courses were dropped from the curriculum, students now have an option of only one elective (as opposed to two).
Lost over 100 teachers in the last five years, with an increase in students by 1,000 in same period, hence an increase in class sizes.
Eliminated 6 administrative positions over the past several years.
Dept of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) statistics show that Franklin spends below the State average on all eleven categories that they measure.
Special Ed director left for a slightly smaller district where they have three directors to handle the workload where we have one person to handle the workload on a larger district
Explanation on the elementary early dismissal day once a week. The students already exceed the state require hours of education, by releasing early one day, could eliminate the support positions to save three teacher positions, and still provide preparation time for the teachers
Most school districts are looking to try and increase the school day, we unfortunately are going the other direction
Middle school will see substantial class size increases
Elementary students are required to have 900 hours of education, we provide 960.
By releasing the students an hour and a half one day a week, we can save the positions outlined above and still meet the state requirements
It is very important for families to understand what is going on, we are overburdened adjusting for the need of the budget requirements; 100 teachers lost and 1,000 students gained, results in increased class sizes
Nursing salaries is a correction to bring them into alignment with the standards, this was negotiated several years ago, the contract expires this year
Roche - net minimum school spending?
Roy - the State formula that determines the minimum required by communities to provide for the educational benefits
Nutting - generally Franklin was about 15% above the minimum, that crept under 2 M this year, part of it was how the State changed the formula, if they don't change the formula, we would have to shift dollars from the Town side to the School side to meet the minimum required
Roche - if we continue down this trend, this is the wrong way to go
Nutting - part of is is their commitment to provide Chap 70, it is an economic issue and if their money is short, they will adjust to ensure that they can keep their commitment
Roche - the Long Range/Financial Planning Committee in their report has indicated that we are over reliant on state aid and need to be prepared
Quinn
There seems to be a disconnect between perception and reality, with some folks saying the teachers are overpaid, there are too many administrators, etc. What is your role in explaining the situation for the override?
Roy
Members are ready to answer the questions and discuss the issues, we are available
Quinn
You are probably preaching to the choir here, how are you going to reach the others?
Roy
there are some who even if the Town were burning would not want to put it out
there are 18,000 voters (actually 19,200) when you get 3,000 people this is not a true reflection of the public
Nutting
there is a public forum on Monday May 24th to review the details
Sabolinski
We will go where ever necessary to talk about the budget
Roche
What about thinking out of the box?
Sabolinski
I think shortening the school day is a good example
I think we have been cutting so much, it is cutting down to the bone now
Roy
There have been a lot of creative things done in the last several years
Do you really feel the impact of a 7 to 6 period schedule change?
Some middle school students are seeing the impact with only one elective to choose from
We have done a lot of changes that have not been alarming, we are not pursuing this as a measure of sound bit. It has been a slow erosion over the year, sometime we have to stop
Roche
Utilizing and moving to more efficient school buildings
Roy
If our space needs we more flexible, we would love to do so, we don't have that option
If we were to close Davis Thayer, for example, and then come back in a few years to say we need a new elementary school, folks would quickly say: "What were you thinking?"
Nutting
The capital plan has about 5 million dollars for improvements to non-high school buildings
Roy
Keller has 630 in a school built for 550, to think about eliminating space it just not practical
Sabolinski
we will be looking at a re-districting to shift students from Keller to Davis Thayer, etc as there is still growth in the Keller area
Huempfner
Is there any increase for the salary this year?
Roy
There is only the cost of living increase from last year that was deferred last year and due this year
Nutting
Most of the employees are covered by contract signed 3 years ago, those were legal obligations entered into for good faith, they took changes to their health insurance to save money and deferred their cost of living increase
Huempfner
What percent of staff does is not affected by step/level?
Roy
50%
Cameron
what is the largest grade?
Sabolinski
9th grade is 415, 8th grade is 504
Cameron
Alluded to re-districting? when would that occur?
Sabolinski
We would spend 2011 looking at it to make some recommendation to be effective for the 2011-2012 school year
Motion to approve, passed 7-2
Franklin, MA
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
Live reporting - Planning and Community Development
Planning and Community Development
Bryan Taberner
Nutting provides an overview
Secured 200,000 grant to clean up the Nustyle building
Secured the 100,000 grant to put solar on the Parmenter School (90,000 - Town kicks in 10,000)
Open Space plan completed
Technical Review Committee
Planner
Conservation agent
Taberner
down a half of a clerical person
almost 8% of total work hours, work still gets down but it gets shifted around
Beth Dahlstrom primary focus on planning and processing of planning items
Downtown improvement project is underway, requires quarterly reports
EPA and brownfields reporting
Taberner managing half time on economic development and half on grants
Cataldo- Question on how the income from grants balances the department expenses
Grant income far exceeds the department expenses, a great return on investment
Rivera - question on the economy and problems and how it reflects on the Town
Taberner - the Nustyle property will be good to get cleaned up and returned to the tax rolls, I work on the economic opportunity areas, attracts new business. Biotechnology bylaws streamlined to enhance the process to attract businesses. Marketing of Franklin area as business friendly.
Quinn - what is the status of the Downtown revitalization project?
Taberner - we have two grant, one $5 million Federal and one $1 million. A presentation is scheduled for Wednesday May 12th in the Municipal Bldg
About a total $7 and a quarter million project, downtown all the way out to the Brick School
Emmons, Dean, etc.
If all goes according to plan, the downtown would go back to two way traffic, with lights, etc.
Construction expected late 2012 or 2013
Motion to approve, passed 9-0
Franklin, MA
Bryan Taberner
Nutting provides an overview
Secured 200,000 grant to clean up the Nustyle building
Secured the 100,000 grant to put solar on the Parmenter School (90,000 - Town kicks in 10,000)
Open Space plan completed
Technical Review Committee
Planner
Conservation agent
Taberner
down a half of a clerical person
almost 8% of total work hours, work still gets down but it gets shifted around
Beth Dahlstrom primary focus on planning and processing of planning items
Downtown improvement project is underway, requires quarterly reports
EPA and brownfields reporting
Taberner managing half time on economic development and half on grants
Cataldo- Question on how the income from grants balances the department expenses
Grant income far exceeds the department expenses, a great return on investment
Rivera - question on the economy and problems and how it reflects on the Town
Taberner - the Nustyle property will be good to get cleaned up and returned to the tax rolls, I work on the economic opportunity areas, attracts new business. Biotechnology bylaws streamlined to enhance the process to attract businesses. Marketing of Franklin area as business friendly.
Quinn - what is the status of the Downtown revitalization project?
Taberner - we have two grant, one $5 million Federal and one $1 million. A presentation is scheduled for Wednesday May 12th in the Municipal Bldg
About a total $7 and a quarter million project, downtown all the way out to the Brick School
Emmons, Dean, etc.
If all goes according to plan, the downtown would go back to two way traffic, with lights, etc.
Construction expected late 2012 or 2013
Motion to approve, passed 9-0
Franklin, MA
Live reporting - Elections
Elections
Debbie Pellegri
budget is up, election workers salary is slightly increased
programming for the election, even for the override (at just one question) they charge by the line
have a special machine for the handicap, was given us but the programming for the election is expensive and it hasn't been used for the last four years.
printing service, street lists, all necessary documents required by general law
cost to do the census, $6500
Steve Sherlock had a question on whether the senior work out program was used for elections, it is not.
motion to approve, passed 9-0
Franklin, MA
Debbie Pellegri
budget is up, election workers salary is slightly increased
programming for the election, even for the override (at just one question) they charge by the line
have a special machine for the handicap, was given us but the programming for the election is expensive and it hasn't been used for the last four years.
printing service, street lists, all necessary documents required by general law
cost to do the census, $6500
Steve Sherlock had a question on whether the senior work out program was used for elections, it is not.
motion to approve, passed 9-0
Franklin, MA
Live reporting - Town Clerk
Town Clerk
Debbie Pellegri
lost one full time due to retirement, switched the position to two part-time positions
which also saves on benefits
Pretty stable budget
binding of all the records, microfiche
cost of cartridges (i.e. printing)
Nutting
Several years ago, took on passport processing to generate additional revenue for the Town
98% of this budget is required by law
Pellegri
When the Board of Health agents are not available, the Town Clerks office steps up to help cover
What other professional services are used?
The code book is kept up to date, the consulting company actually does the printing, etc. for us
It is not really a consulting company more printing and legal review
Motion to approve - $70,770
passed 9-0
Franklin, MA
Debbie Pellegri
lost one full time due to retirement, switched the position to two part-time positions
which also saves on benefits
Pretty stable budget
binding of all the records, microfiche
cost of cartridges (i.e. printing)
Nutting
Several years ago, took on passport processing to generate additional revenue for the Town
98% of this budget is required by law
Pellegri
When the Board of Health agents are not available, the Town Clerks office steps up to help cover
What other professional services are used?
The code book is kept up to date, the consulting company actually does the printing, etc. for us
It is not really a consulting company more printing and legal review
Motion to approve - $70,770
passed 9-0
Motion to approve - $44,863
passed 9-0
Motion to approve - $13,800
passed 9-0
Franklin, MA
Live reporting - Board of Assessors
Board of Assessors
Kevin Doyle
Nutting provides an overview
This is a real success story of efficiency and effectiveness, online access
Bulk of budget is salary and expenses
Doyle
Mapping - maintains the files to drive the maps and GIS information, needs to be updated and required by law to be updated
Abstracts - pays for cost of deeds and plans to file at the Norfolk Land Court; maintains appropriate ownership of the parcels
Office supplies - pretty constant over the years, legal forms, etc.
triennial is due for FY 2011, they came before the FINCOM recently to get additional funding to cover some outside professional services, that is not included in this budget as it is already covered
18,000 for the support contract for database and records used for all the processing as well as enhancements to the software itself
motion to approve - $280,153 for Assessors
Franklin, MA
Kevin Doyle
Nutting provides an overview
This is a real success story of efficiency and effectiveness, online access
Bulk of budget is salary and expenses
Doyle
Mapping - maintains the files to drive the maps and GIS information, needs to be updated and required by law to be updated
Abstracts - pays for cost of deeds and plans to file at the Norfolk Land Court; maintains appropriate ownership of the parcels
Office supplies - pretty constant over the years, legal forms, etc.
triennial is due for FY 2011, they came before the FINCOM recently to get additional funding to cover some outside professional services, that is not included in this budget as it is already covered
18,000 for the support contract for database and records used for all the processing as well as enhancements to the software itself
motion to approve - $280,153 for Assessors
Franklin, MA
Live reporting - Board of Health/Health Services
Board of Health/Health Services
David McKearney
notable reduction in budget
did not backfill an individual who left, will be the first department to visibly supply less services due to the shortage
Milford Nursing Services (VNA) - $20,000 provides visiting nursing services as the Town does not have a nurse on duty to make visits and file the appropriate required reports.
Prior to FY 2010, the Town had two vehicles for the department to use
Now mileage is paid for the use of personal cars in lieu of getting a full vehicle
Brutus Cantorerrgi and John Lombardi get the credit for the analysis on using smaller older cars instead of using the older re0usable police cruisers
The lost person per the budget was not part of the submittal, rather than a adjustment to be made later
Training an existing administrative person to handle some of the inspector duties
David is handling most of the inspection work during the training
Minimal expense budget, has stayed pretty stable, usually turn money back in at end of year
The H1N1 program was covered primarily by the volunteers within the Town that stepped up to provide the service in a quality manner at minimal expense (due to the volunteer efforts and donations of materials).
Nutting - the Town stepped forward to provide the volunteer effort, many thanks to all involved.
Motion to recommend budget for Board of Health
Motion to recommend budget for Health Services
both motions passed 9-0
Franklin, MA
David McKearney
notable reduction in budget
did not backfill an individual who left, will be the first department to visibly supply less services due to the shortage
Milford Nursing Services (VNA) - $20,000 provides visiting nursing services as the Town does not have a nurse on duty to make visits and file the appropriate required reports.
Prior to FY 2010, the Town had two vehicles for the department to use
Now mileage is paid for the use of personal cars in lieu of getting a full vehicle
Brutus Cantorerrgi and John Lombardi get the credit for the analysis on using smaller older cars instead of using the older re0usable police cruisers
The lost person per the budget was not part of the submittal, rather than a adjustment to be made later
Training an existing administrative person to handle some of the inspector duties
David is handling most of the inspection work during the training
Minimal expense budget, has stayed pretty stable, usually turn money back in at end of year
The H1N1 program was covered primarily by the volunteers within the Town that stepped up to provide the service in a quality manner at minimal expense (due to the volunteer efforts and donations of materials).
Nutting - the Town stepped forward to provide the volunteer effort, many thanks to all involved.
Motion to recommend budget for Board of Health
Motion to recommend budget for Health Services
both motions passed 9-0
Franklin, MA
Live reporting - debt stabilization
Roche - question on the debt stabilization fund
Nutting - explanation of the fund's use; to help even out the annual debt amount.
(This was also covered in the Budget hearing in January 2010
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/01/budget-workshop-collection-12510.html )
Roche - desires to keep one pool to avoid 'found' money, would like to close the account and roll the funds into the General Stabilization account
Nutting - Council would need a 2/3 vote to take out of one and put it into the other
Roche - would like to make a recommendation to close the account
Nutting - if you do this after this year, it would simply be less work and accomplish the same thing
I'd consider putting something from it against the fire truck. It think it should be given some discussion.
Roche - withdraws motion for recommendation
Franklin, MA
Nutting - explanation of the fund's use; to help even out the annual debt amount.
(This was also covered in the Budget hearing in January 2010
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/01/budget-workshop-collection-12510.html )
Roche - desires to keep one pool to avoid 'found' money, would like to close the account and roll the funds into the General Stabilization account
Nutting - Council would need a 2/3 vote to take out of one and put it into the other
Roche - would like to make a recommendation to close the account
Nutting - if you do this after this year, it would simply be less work and accomplish the same thing
I'd consider putting something from it against the fire truck. It think it should be given some discussion.
Roche - withdraws motion for recommendation
Franklin, MA
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