Thursday, November 4, 2010

Story Walk: "The Curious Garden"

The book you read on the Story Walk is "The Curious Garden" by Peter Brown.

"The Curious Garden" was inspired by what developed in New York City. An elevated railroad freight line was discontinued, fell into disarray, was re-discovered and became a park with some grass roots efforts instead of being demolished.
The High Line was built in the 1930s, as part of a massive public-private infrastructure project called the West Side Improvement. It lifted freight traffic 30 feet in the air, removing dangerous trains from the streets of Manhattan's largest industrial district. No trains have run on the High Line since 1980. Friends of the High Line, a community-based non-profit group, formed in 1999 when the historic structure was under threat of demolition. Friends of the High Line works in partnership with the City of New York to preserve and maintain the structure as an elevated public park. 
You can find out all about the High Line Park on their website
http://www.thehighline.org/

I had heard about the park via the Renegade Cabaret performances that started as the park began to open. Elizabeth Soychek lived in a 4th floor apartment with a fire escape that overlooked the High Line Park. She was inspired to sign and entertain the walkers along the path. Opening night of the "Renegade Cabaret" was recorded for replay:




Some folks in Franklin are looking to create a community garden. You can find more information about this local group on their website http://www.franklincommunitygardens.org/


Franklin, MA

Franklin won't have to go as far

Bostonians who crave locally brewed Red Barn Coffee now have to look a bit harder or walk a bit farther to get a cup of their favorite java.


Fortunately, Franklinites don't have to go far to get Red Barn. This is the coffee served by Cafe Dolce!



Read the article in the Boston Globe West section today



Franklin, MA

5th Annual Casino Night - Nov 19

On Friday, November 19, 2010, the Franklin Education Foundation (FEF) will hold its 5th Annual Casino Night at the Franklin Elks from 7:00 to 11:00 p.m. The event will feature Black Jack, Roulette and Money Wheel as well as raffles, a Silent Auction, cash bar and FREE hors d’oeuvres. The event is well known as a fun evening out with friends and neighbors, all while contributing to a worthwhile cause.

FEF is currently seeking table sponsors as well as auction donations. If you have an item to donate or if your company is interested in sponsoring, contact FEF. It’s a great way for local companies to show their commitment to education in Franklin.

Admission is $25. To avoid waiting in line at the door, advance ticket purchase is recommended. For ticket purchase, auction donation or sponsorship information, please contact Peter Minor at (508) 541-6700 or peter@peterminor.com. Cash only accepted for chip purchase. Checks and Visa/MC accepted for Silent Auction items. For more information visit www.franklined.org.

Since 1997, The Franklin Education Foundation events have raised well over $190,000 which has been distributed to Franklin public schools in the form of special grants. All Franklin Public School staff members are eligible to submit creative, innovative ideas for programs or activities that would not traditionally be funded by tax dollars. To see a list of programs FEF have funded over the years, visit www.franklined.org.


Franklin, MA

Town Council - 11/03/10




Franklin, MA

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Live reporting - Closing

M. OLD BUSINESS - none

N. NEW BUSINESS - none

O. COUNCIL COMMENTS
Powderly - second the thanks from Jeff for the Economic development summit
I am disappointed in the rejection of the Treasurer/Collector is not going to be appointed
I think that is wrong
the hole is so deep, the cuts will be draconian
6 million can not be solved, it will crush our safety net which are already vulnerable
I think the stakes are devastatingly high, if you voter yesterday, please stay involved


Zollo - Federal and State operating at a deficit, it is unreasonable to expect help from them this time around
I am proud to say I live in Franklin, I am proud of our employees
I don't know of many communities who have continued to cut and still produced!
We don't have choices, we are going to cut across the board and deeply
citizens have spoken multiple times, I am not going to fight that


Kelly thanks for those who participated in the economic summit


Jones - I was out of the country on the 20th, thanks for passing the bylaw on the vacant buildings
many people were impressed with the event last Weds
I am very happy that the Treasurer/Collector was kept 


Pfeffer - where is the press? this is the first meeting? we have Sen Ross here? Where is the MIlford Daily News?
 - when can the Treasure go back before the people?
Nutting - no earlier than next year, it doesn't have to go back to the Legislature but there is a process


Pfeffer - let's not write the citizens off if they have the opportunity for an override next year


Whalen - if we had passed, it would be a lot smaller this time


Mason - thanks to my fellow councilors for their confidence in re-electing me to this position
the Wed event was thinking out of the box, we need to do more of it
regardless of the results of the election, we continue to what we need to, as long as the deficit is here, I will be asking the Council to put an override on the ballot


moving to Executive session, not to return
passed 9-0


P. EXECUTIVE SESSION – Negotiations, Litigation, Real Property, as May Be Required

Q. ADJOURN



Franklin, MA

Live reporting - Action items

J. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS - none

K. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1. Bylaw Amendment 10-651: Chapter 170, Vehicles and Traffic – 1st Reading

comes out of some comments from Mr Ristano and others
we send out salt and trucks about 20 nights and yet you can't park for the 150 nights
can we have a ban for only the times when there is a storm
national weather service calling for the forecast
up to the home owner to determine the weather conditions, but they get to park more frequently
still same time line, from 1:00 - 5:00 AM

Whalen - my concern is that we will tow 40 cars the first time
Nutting - we will give warnings, we will ticket, we don't tow right away, only after you have blocked the road and there is two feet of snow and we're trying to clear it

Whalen -  think it is a great idea and we should try it
Kelly - I think it is a great idea, Police is already taxed at night, they don't need to spend time ticketing

Pfeffer - can we use the reverse 911 to call?
Nutting - if we can target it, we can use the web and cable announcement

Nutting - in my ten years, this is the first time we are reducing the burden
Jones - I think this is a good idea

Motion to move to second reading, passed 9-0


L. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
We will need an executive session

Thanks to Bryan Taberner and others

Storm water presentation Dec 6th
the regulations are coming and it will have a big price tag

Tax rate hearing at the first meeting in December

Tree hearing at the Common on Thursday


Franklin, MA

Live reporting - Budget 2012

2012 Budget Discussion
Signed a contract with KBA for about 500,000, down $300,000 from prior offer
Project manager contract signed, total of two contracts was 800,000 was budgeted at 1 M so they are well within. The MSBA will reimburse 50% of this amount
watching the dolars right out of the gate, on scheduled for bringing a total cost for the decision on renovation sometime late next year

Reduced 1 out of 6 municipal jobs over the past several years
despite that, we still provide quality municipal services
CPI is 2.9, wage increases at 2.25 percent well less than the cost of living

cost of health care is beating the bench mark every year.

people tend to complain about municipal pensions, overhaul started but it will take time
Legislature will try to make that more affordable overtime

getting pretty good bang for the buck

FY 2011 7 of 9 unions have reached an agreement with no pay raises
Firefighters still being worked
(missing contract on the Town side, trades union)

very conservative capital program, save some for snow and ice and for unemployment
no-high school building repairs and continue the sewer water repairs

There is a gap between revenues available and services being provided
consolidated services within Town and with other towns

Lost about $3.8 million dollars in state aid
at risk for cuts in additional state aid under the tight state budget problem

Schools have balanced with additional stimulus funding, that is one time money

If you look at the fixed costs that will go up, look at the one time dollars that have helped us
there will be a shortage
there will need to be policy decisions, a million dollars is 20 jobs
the vast majority of money goes to wages and benefits
We have a big challenge ahead
we will do our best to serve the citizens with what is available

We will have a real number in early February

Pfeffer - what unions haven't settled?
Nutting - There are five unions on the Schools side, one has settled, the others are in process

Whalen -
Nutting - if the state aid doesn't get cut, the deficit will be about 4 million
Special education is always exposed and those costs are going up, the Schools are short 2.5
Excise tax receipts are still down, local receipts based upon economy
the big number is how much is the state aid going to get cut

Whalen - it is reasonable to expect a cut
Nutting - I have talked with a lot of folks and it is uncertain

Whalen - is there any reason why they can't approach the teachers union with the same approach
Nutting - the School Committee negotiates in good faith

Jones -  with worst case, 6 million, how many jobs are we looking at?
Nutting - on an average, 20 jobs per million, 100 jobs for 5 million, which means we pay unemployment
in a good spot, people can get hired elsewhere, but in this economy they likely won't so we'll be paying unemployment

Nutting - recall too, that the Schools do not renew every teacher every year, so that complicates the overall number

Zollo - best case, a 4 million number, worse could scale up from their
somewhere between 80-120 people across the Town and Schools

Unemployment, about 20,000 per person, unless they extend it again
we have some money already, we wouldn't need it all at once

Free cash, 2.5 million, most of it will be taken up by snow and ice and unemployment

Zollo - if the voters don't want to support override, every one is going to have to suffer across the board

Kelly - Town about 250, Schools - don't quote me on the numbers

Vallee - how much do we pay for the debt on our buildings?
Nutting - about 3 million, our target is 3.5% and we are under that

Whalen - I'd like to marry Vallee's and Zollo's comments, I don;t have the numbers in front of me. if you broke it down to the monthly tax bill, it was peanuts like $5
we don't spend a lot of money across the board, given that mountain of evidence we still have citizens who refuse to pay any money of pocket to preserve our Town
unfortunately, it going to be spread deeply and evenly


Franklin, MA