Franklin Matters

Nutting
we have a long standing relationship with Bellingham
we get use of an employee and a vehicle, we have the pound
they get busy with beavers, coyotes, deer, etc

occasionally we have a capital expense to replace the vehicle

motion to approve, passed 9-0

Nutting
Tri-County is an assessment
one of eleven communities that comprise the regional
how many students come from the community determine the allocation to the community
it varies depending upon how many students we send them

They have run a tight ship up there, they can come and speak with you if needed
If our assessment is to be changed, the other communities would have to agree to it

have been able to maintain budget from time to time with cuts in materials which is one key area of their expense

Teixeira
what percent of the increase is the increase is students vs the overall increase in their budget
Nutting
the percent of the students drove the budget

Nutting
I don't have the student enrollment numbers with me
I'll have the numbers for you on Monday

Quinn
question on the school committee line
Gagner
like to be their supplies and expenses

motion to approve, passed 9-0

motion to adjourn

Franklin, MA

Live reporting - Recreation

Ryan Jette

Nutting overview
registration fees help make this a self supporting budget

80% of the registrations done online
seasonal staff added due to the Medway expansion
additional clerical help with the

Tri-County work at Beaver St
putting in a concession stand and rest rooms with handicap access
there were old bathrooms there and when we renovated the fields, they came out
we tried to go through the public bidding process and it was way to much money
with Tri-County, we buy the parts and materials, the students do all the work
it will take a little longer to do the work but it is a win-win

Roche
Jeff says you are self-sustaining, it looks like you are making money about $16,000 this year
you have grown so large that you can use a revolving account anymore per State regulations

Jette
The relationship with Medway is going well
We are bringing their folks into ours where our don't sell out
we don't have flag football here, so we do it there

Girls lacrosse has really taken off
it is the largest program in the state
all the female sports have taken off

Flag football has actually surpassed the Pop Warner program
We have a chess club, there is something for everyone

motion to approve, passed 9-0

Franklin, MA

Live reporting - Library

Felicia Oti

Nutting overview
Felicia is shared with Medway, we also provide some cleaning services to Medway
regionalization is a way to go, it takes energy and effort
Franklin is just bigger than all of our neighbors, sometimes that doesn't help
Friends of Library is very active, there is a book sale at the DPW this weekend

My budget is very small, I can take questions
Down $200,000 in four years

Cameron
is it good with Medway
Oti
I see it is a great thing as a work in progress
Nutting
most of the struggle is, concerned it is new, different, changed
building a relationship with the Medway Trustees
slowly and surely are coming to understand what we are trying to accomplish
they will let us know in the next month if they will continue

Oti
last year we did one book, one community
this year we did one book, two communities

Cameron
how is the state minimum requirement
Oti
we are not out of line in other cuts with the Town
Nutting

Oti
hours open offset the budget items to some extent
the Friends book sale can help us from a State perspective

Nutting
Slow steady erosion, days open from seven now only five

Oti
closing on Friday and Saturday becomes a very busy Monday

Sherlock
Spoke for the library services
being utilized by the under and unemployed
Similar to the school cuts, the less advantage student get affected first, the library cuts would affect those needing access to the library databases and resources, as well as the internet access

motion to approve, passed 9-0

Franklin, MA

Live reporting - parking meters

About $10,000-15,000 revenue generated from the meters
additional amount generated from parking fines

harder to track manually than with the meters, the meters keep track

Sherlock raised an issue with the parking for the train station, commuters would take the free spots instead of the $4 charge at the MBTA lot

motion to approve, passed 9-0

Franklin, MA

Live reporting - Police

Chief Williams, Kevin Ryan

Jeff Nutting overview
budget is less than prior with the proposed cuts of the three dispatchers
statistics are continuing to climb so it is getting challenge

Williams
Dispatchers are very busy people
they watch over the visitors to the station
handle the radio transmissions and calls for service
105,000 calls per year
double dispatch was 16 hours a day, 7 days a week

with the cuts, there is now a single dispatch for most of the day
in those times where there is a lot going on, you may catch the voice recording
it is not what we want but times are tough

budget has been cut over the years
we never did get to the 55 officers that at one time we were allocated

over 41,000 incidents
over 4,000 motor vehicle citations
over 400 major motor vehicle accidents
I don't have to tell you about the traffic in our town, 140 and other streets
70,000 people come through the town every day

over a $250,000 less this year than last year

Franklin demographically, we are over $500,000 less than comparable towns
We do more with less, we are lower in manpower
FBI stats show we should have 62 officers, we have 45

grants have upgraded technology so we can get things out very fast
as a result of using the technology, we have been able to make arrests in the two recent armed robberies
what we have lacked in manpower we have made up in technology

grant money from enhanced 911 system will allow us to keep another dispatcher on duty
so instead of cutting three we should have cut four

we do a lot with the money we are looking for tonight

Teixeira
can you tell us about the detail work around town?
Williams
Details are not reflected in this budget, this is outside of our operations and paid for by the contractors and utilities who need the service, it does give us additional feet on the street, an extra set of eyes and ears
Teixeira
so from a tax payer perspective, it is neutral
Williams
Well actually we make a little, not a whole lot but we do get some
Cameron
what if it is a Town detail
Nutting
We charge at the Town rate, not the outside rate
Cameron
my son just finished the DARE program and he loved it
Williams
we love the program, we have four officers in the schools, you can't put a price tag on what we head off by getting into the relationships very early in the youth, guys are coaching football, hockey and lacrosse.

Williams
we are also loosing the parking control officer, the downtown area will not see the presence there
we will provide some coverage but it won't be the same

Cameron
How about regionalization with dispatch
Williams
we have been looking at it, there are things we can do and look at that will help
MA is unique in having so many communities and local control
We are one of the largest groups in the area, I am willing to take on additional but you can see the budget
I need people to do that

Roche
What is the safety equipment needed?
Williams
we took the bullet proof vest out of the operating budget and put into to capital budget
occasionally when we get into a scuffle, something gets cut or damage

Nutting
we appropriated $36,000 for safety vests for all officers

Roche
What about the Quinn bill impact
Williams
right now that is up in the air
10% to 20% above the base for earning a degree
the State has stopped paying, there are court cases reviewing this, it is a mess at the moment
an educated officer is the best one Franklin can get
less issues as a result of an educated officer? No, we don't want to go back

Nutting
it is also a matter of collective bargaining, and we'll be getting into it in the next couple of months

motion to approve, passed 8-1 (Roche, dangerously low)

Franklin, MA

Live reporting - Senior Center

Karen Alves

Senior Center substantially funded by volunteers and grants
service awards were recognized

Oral history project, taping seniors who are willing to tell their story
The family receives a CD with the recording

Grants amounting to $78,000 provide the funding for several personnel

One grant is a per capita grant, amount varies depending upon legislative process

Number of people over 60 will increase from 4,000 to over 7,000 in next ten years
age population has a wide range, i.e. from early sixties to over 100

There is a process now to be certified as a "Senior Center Director"
Work is underway to accomplish that, as well as get the center certified as well

Dial-a-ride saves the Town $40-50,000 a year

motion to approve, passed 9-0

Franklin, MA

Live reporting - Finance Committee (Veterans)

Present: Messere, Huempfner, Cataldo, Cameron, Roche, Quinn, Goldsmith, Teixeira, Feldman
Absent: Maire, Rivera

Veterans - Bob Fahey
The processing of veterans services are unique to MA
Franklin provides the services up front, the State reimburses later at a 75% rate
veterans services are in place when all other resources for help have been exhausted

12 veterans (11 widows of veterans)
can not have more than $1,600 in assets to qualify
9 are seniors, 3 are in their fifties
Per Dept of Veterans Affairs, all applicants must apply for the other benefits offered
265 veterans and dependents receive benefits directly from the VA
$2.3 million dollars annually received as benefits

service connected disability amounts
50% $770
100% $2,673 plus amounts for wife and dependents

Chapter 115 - expended $120,000 of $150,000 allocated
Franklin receives a 75% reimbursement from the State for this service
MA is the only state with a program like this.
MA treats its veterans better than any other state in the US

in 2001, only 8 people were receiving benefits
now there are the 265 plus

motion to approve, passed 9-0

Franklin, MA

Stamp Out Hunger on Saturday, May 8th

Help to Stamp Out Hunger on Saturday, May 8th — the nation's largest annual single-day food drive!

Letter carriers in more than 10,000 communities will collect food items and deliver them to local food banks to help some of the millions of Americans, including an estimated 16.7 million children, who face hunger every day.

Simply place bags filled with nonperishable food items like canned meats, canned fish, broths, baked beans, mixed vegetables, rice and soups next to your mailbox on Saturday, May 8th.

Your Franklin letter carrier will pick up the bags and deliver them to the Franklin Food Pantry.

If you are interested in volunteering at the pantry on May 8th to help sort donations, please email annemarie@franklinfoodpantry.org or visit www.franklinfoodpantry.org.

Note: the picture was taken of the post card delivered with the mail this week to the Sherlock household.

Portions of this was originally posted on the Franklin, MA website here

Franklin, MA

Finance Committee - 05/06/10 - Agenda

The Finance Committee continues it annual budget hearings this evening at 6:30 PM in the Council Chambers.

On Tuesday they reviewed the budgets of the Town Clerk, Board of Health, Board of Assessors, Information Technology, Facilities, and School Department.

You can find a detail summary of the discussion here:
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/05/finance-committee-050410.html

This evening the following departments are scheduled for review:

Department	Code	Page
Veterans	543	E-21
Council on Aging	541	E-11
Police/Parking Meters	210/2951	B-1, B-87
Library	610	F-1
Recreation	630	F-10

Code refers to the financial entry line for the budget
Page refers to the page of the budget book that the department can be found on

Wouldn't it be nice to have a copy of the same document that they are looking at?
I'd take a PDF version of the document if one is available.

Franklin, MA

Town Council: Franklin Recreational Advisory Board

From the Town Council meeting, Weds May 5th, reported via the video on demand archive

Present: Kelly, Jones, Vallee, Mason, Pfeffer, Zollo, Powderly
Absent: Whalen, McGann

Recreational Advisory Board
coordinates the activities of the various youth sports across Franklin
to ensure quality fields are available for safe play across the sports

1 - Youth Lacrosse
http://www.franklinlax.com/

highest enrollment this year, over 200 signed up
funded entirely by registration fees
donated lacrosse sets to Beaver Pond, Charter School, and Horace Mann fields
coordinate coaching and training with FHS lacrosse players

2 - Youth Soccer
http://www.franklinyouthsoccer.org/

enrollment for spring about 1200, fall enrollment 1500
seven members on the Board of Directors
award $1,000 scholarships to male and female seniors for contributions to the program
soccer cleet exchange program
shared costs with other programs to repair fields; Dacey, Meadowlark, Remington
donated new nets
funded an Eagle Scout project at Dacey
funded repairs at King St fields
all field repairs were coordinated with Franklin DPW
Remington is scheduled to be fixed this fall, to be shut down for play for a year to allow for growth

3 - Youth Football
http://www.franklinyouthfootball.org/

about 340 signed up now for the Fall season, with growth in the number expected to grow as the season approaches
working to get additional lights at the FHS/Horace Mann fields to add another field with lights
provide scholarships to graduating seniors
provide scholarships for families to help pay for their registrations
established Franklin Chargers charity to collect food for the Franklin Food Pantry
coordinate football clinic with Coach Sidwell at FHS
winning isn't everything, we teach
32 students graduating from FHS were all Franklin Chargers and recruited by higher institutions

4 - Youth Softball
http://www.fgsafastpitch.org/

about 650-700 girls from kindergarten through 9th grade, playing from April to end of July
supported totally by volunteers, over 220 people contribute to the execution of the program
2nd largest program in the State of MA
work closely with the Franklin DPW and the other groups
league wide clean up day, over 100 cleaned, raking leaves, etc.
installed two outfield fences, etc at Dennis Pisani Field (off Peck St)
clinics coordinated with FHS
a regional sponsor of the Pepsi Run/Pitch/Hit competition this year
award two scholarships each year to graduating FHS seniors
the scholarships will be renamed in 2011 to honor Kristin Graci

5 - Youth Baseball
http://www.franklinyouthbaseball.com/

program began in 1953; over 1,110 in the program this season
275 coaches for the spring, another 60 coach in the summer
can't drive by a field without seeing some kids playing, especially at this time of the year
new Parks and Recreation Dept can focus on preparing the fields in the spring
invested over $100,000 over the last three years; time and materials for field repair
the field property in Franklin needs to be kept up to avoid injuries
invested in tarps to help with the rain control so the fields don't get washed out
expenses shared with other sports, fields are used by multiple groups

"We appreciate having the space to play, we are doing our part to keep the kids on the fields and stay healthy"

Pfeffer - question to clarify on co-ed status
the programs are mostly co-ed

Zollo - I'll confirm that they are co-ed, my daughters have played multiple sports
what is the single thing the Town can do to help
Ecker - What you are doing now is what is needed with the combined
maintain the fields, let the fields breath every once in a while
otherwise, the fields end up in dirt and rocks
as long as they cut the grass and empty the trash cans
you could always have fields, we are investing in the old Putnam field, about $3,000 on the baseball field
there is space there to also put a soccer area on the Putnam space, this helps to take another field offline to rest and recover; Davis Thayer is one that needs to be rested soon
If you ever need votes, there is a good bunch of folks across the groups

Vallee - thank you, I am amazed at all the work that is done

Jones - my daughters have played soccer, it is well run, the kids enjoy themselves and look forward to the new season, thank you for all you do

Franklin, MA

"There is some hope on the horizon"

"There's no source of local funding for road repairs in town," Mason said. The DPW will "fill potholes and make (minor) repairs... but there's no money for big repairs."

He said Franklin relies on state and federal money for repairs, and though the $900,000 would not be enough to cover all the work that needs be done, it would be a good start.

Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting said many roads need work.

"We have an incredible backlog of road issues," Nutting said, adding that old subdivisions built in the 1970s and '80s will eventually need repair. "We have to face the reality that if we don't invest in roads, what we're facing this spring (in construction) is going to be an everyday occurrence."

Read the full article from the Town Council meeting Wednesday May 5th here
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x1773729077/Franklin-wants-to-put-900-000-of-override-money-into-roads

Franklin, MA

Horace Mann Middle School - Yard Sale - 5/8/10

The Horace Mann Middle School in Franklin will hold its second annual yard sale on Saturday, May 8, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the school on Oak Street. Proceeds from the sale will help fund school programs such as field trips and guest speakers.

Among the great finds awaiting bargain hunters are sporting goods, toys, bikes, antiques, furniture, lamps and books. Shoppers can browse booths by local vendors for Mother’s Day gifts including theme gift baskets, jewelry, crafts and potted plants.

The PCC will provide donuts and coffee for sale for early shoppers, and will grill up hamburgers and hotdogs for lunch. They invite residents to spend the day!

In case of rain, the sale will be moved inside the school. The sale starts promptly at 9:00; please no early birds. Anyone interested in donating an item or participating as a crafter can contact the school at (508)-541-6230.

Franklin, MA

In the News - kindergarten, Dean College

Franklin kindergarten information nights slated

from The Milford Daily News News RSS by Staff reports

Two Dean College students charged with attempted robbery

from The Milford Daily News News RSS by Ashley Studley/Daily News staff

Franklin, MA

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Community Health Council - meeting canceled

The Community Health Council meeting that had been scheduled for May 6 at 6:30 PM has been canceled.

The Community Health Council website can be found here

Franklin, MA

quality reporting takes time

A head's up that I won't be live reporting from the Town Council meeting this evening. The New England Revolution have a compressed schedule during May due to the FIFA World Cup in June. Instead of their normal weekend games and an occasional weekday game, they are playing Weds and Sat for the whole month. Ouch, their legs will be tired. That also means I'll miss the live reporting for this week and the 19th. I'll resort to catching the meeting via the on demand video as soon as I can and reporting on what matters.

If you do attend or watch the cable broadcast and want to send along your comments, please feel free to do so.

There is a whole lot happening and your views are welcomed!

Note: Practicing some of the 'asset based thinking' I picked up this past weekend. Instead of saying "No live reporting", I could say "quality reporting takes time".

Franklin, MA

Election updates

May 11th
Absentee ballots for the special election May 11th are available at the Town Clerk's office. This election will determine fulfill the seat left vacant by Scott Brown's election to the US Senate.

Only precincts 2, 3 and 4 are eligible to vote in this special election May 11th

June 8th
The override special election will take place on June 8th. Ballots have not yet been printed and absentee ballots are not yet available for that election.

Stay tuned!

Franklin, MA

Networking Lunch - today

Looking for someone to lunch with today?

Try the Downtown Partnership Networking Lunch at Dean College!

FDP Networking Luncheon
Wednesday, May 5th at noon
Dean College - Golder Room
Campus Center
Lunch is $5.00

Franklin, MA

Tough choices

Water, the essence of life versus Downtown, where some go to live it up

1 - On May 12 you get to make a choice.

a - The EPA is holding a public information session at Tri-County to help businesses understand the new proposed requirements for treating storm water. Franklin, Bellingham and Milford are part of a pilot process that is estimated to cost $70 million dollars. The amount would be shared by businesses large and small, as well as the town governments.

b - Also that night, the plans for the Downtown Revitalization Project will be presented and open for discussion at the Franklin Municipal Bldg.

2 - On May 24th you get to make another choice between water and money

a - Monday night, the open forum on the Franklin override vote for $3 million dollars will be held at the Horace Mann/Thomas Mercer Auditorium at 7:00 PM. Members of Town Council, School Committee amongst others will be available for questions and discussion on the budget details.

b - Also that same night at the same time in the Council Chambers on the 2nd floor of the Municipal Bldg, the Charles River Watershed Association will make a presentation on a storm water management plan to reduce phosphorus from the Spruce Pond Brook sub-basin.

It is a fact that you can live longer without food than you can without water.

Clean water requires money.

In this tough economy, forcing businesses in Franklin (Bellingham, Milford) to compete at a disadvantage against the communities in the rest of the state just doesn't seem fair.

Yet the money discussion on the override is important.

Where should our priorities be?

Couldn't the calendar have been better managed to avoid a conflict?

Franklin, MA

Franklin Matters

Friday, May 7, 2010

Finance Committee 05/06/10

In the News - parking meters, Pulaski Blvd, bottle/can drive

Franklin may do away with parking meters

Pulaski work to go 24-hours a day

Bottle and can drive sponsored by Franklin High party committee

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Live reporting - animal control, Tri-County