Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Birke's advice

Sometimes, the way the message is delivered is better. "Think local. Choose organic and know your farmer."



Birke Baehr is 11 and planning to be an organic farmer


Franklin, MA

Finance Committee - 11/30/10 - Agenda

Town of Franklin
Finance Committee Agenda
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
7:00 PM
Municipal Building Council Chambers
(post agenda to web site) (meetings are recorded)

Balances          as of   9/30/10
Gen Stab               4,689,302
PW Stab                   74,656
Debt Stab               179,980
Traffic Stab                4,529
Overlay Surplus             -0-
Free Cash           2,133,006


Call to Order
Citizens Comments
Approval of Minutes

Action Items:

2011 Capital Budget:

Roads - $200,000 (FY 11 Hotel/Motel tax)
Fire Truck - $180,000 (Debt Stabilization)
Water Improvements - $1,200,000 (Water Retained Earnings)
Sewer I & I Improvements - $300,000 (Sewer Retained Earnings)
Departmental Capital - $833,000 (Free Cash)

Bond Authorizations:

School Repairs - $2,000,000
Water Improvements - $7,500,000

Discussion Items:

Jeff Nutting – Current Financial Policies
Proposed General Fund Operational Policies
Proposed Enterprise Account Policies
Future Capital Projects
Tax hearing

Old Business
New Business
Adjournment



Franklin, MA

Printsmart Office Products

Catching up to the photos that I took during the visit to the new location of Printsmart Office Products during their Grand Opening:




If you haven't seen the video tour provided by Joel Carerra, follow this link.

Note: email subscribers will need to click through to Franklin MAtters to view the photos


Franklin, MA

Downtown Zoning/Bylaw Proposal

The proposed bylaw changes for the downtown zoning and sign changes were discussed on Nov 17th at the Town Council meeting. Here is the handout format for the presentation by Bryan Taberner that night.

TC 11-17-10 Downtown Bylaw Changes Presentation

This will also be located in the original posting for the meeting that night.


Franklin, MA

In the News - kidney donation, capital budget


Franklin woman donates kidney to her neighbor





Franklin FinCom to discuss capital projects tomorrow night


Actually since this was posted to MDN website on Monday, the meeting is Tuesday.


Franklin, MA


Monday, November 29, 2010

Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - 12/1/10

A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – November 3, 2010

B. ANNOUNCEMENTS -Meetings of the Town Council are Recorded

C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS

D. CITIZEN COMMENTS

E. APPOINTMENTS
Franklin Disability Commission - Ronald Wainrib

F. HEARINGS

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
Transfer of Package Store License to Union Street Wine & Liquors

H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS

I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1. Resolution 10-64: Appropriation – Sewer Enterprise Retained Earnings
2. Resolution 10-65: Appropriation – Water Enterprise Retained Earnings
3. Resolution 10-66: Authorization to Borrow-Water Infrastructure Improvements
4. Resolution 10-67: Appropriation – Recreation Gift Account
5. Resolution 10-68: Appropriation – Road, Sidewalk, Drainage Improvements
6. Bylaw Amendment 10-651: Chapter 170, Vehicles and Traffic- 2nd Reading

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



Franklin, MA

Santa arrives on the Franklin Town Common - photos

In addition to the brief video posted Sunday, here are some photos of Santa on the Town Common:




Note: email subscribers will need to click through to Franklin MAtters to view the photos

Franklin, MA


Picture Added:

I finally got a round to adding the picture to the Remington Teacher recognition from the last School Committee meeting.



From Left to Right:: Joe O’Halloran, Jeff Roy, Mary Kass, and Paul Peri


This was originally posted (minus the picture) during the School Committee meeting on 11/16/10


Franklin, MA

Sunday, November 28, 2010

Santa arrives on the Franklin Town Common - video

Yes, Santa did arrive via fire truck to the Franklin Town Common Sunday afternoon, just after 4:00 PM.

The video is a little choppy until Santa gets in his chair.



What are you going to wish for Christmas?

Note: email subscribers will need to click through to Franklin MAtters to view the video

Franklin, MA

Town Council - Agenda - 12/01/10 - documents

The full agenda and associated documents for the Town Council meeting scheduled for Weds, Dec 1, 2010

TC_20101201_agenda


Franklin, MA

In the News - recycling system

All signs point to success for Franklin's new recycling system

from The Milford Daily News News RSS 


Franklin, MA

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Content, conversation, community, and conversion!

I have referenced the three C's (content, conversation and community) many times. Todd and Ted cover them in this interview and show how they lead into the fourth C - conversion. I think this presents a great opportunity for us here in Franklin. Only 25 minutes!

---------

via The Fresh Ground Podcast by freshground on 11/17/10

FG_Podcast_Ep_22.jpgEd Gaskin interviewed Fresh Ground co-founder Todd Van Hoosear for his "Up Close with CMOs" segment on The Pulse Network. Todd gives an overview of how Fresh Ground helps with the Four Cs: Content, Community, Conversation and Conversion. Ed does a great job at playing the skeptical CMO, and what results is, I think, an interesting discussion on social media marketing. We hope you like it.


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Franklin, MA

Friday, November 26, 2010

FM #78 - MCAS 2010 - Franklin, MA

This is #78 in the series of internet radio shows or podcast for Franklin Matters.


This podcast is linked to the presentation made by the District Leadership Team at the Franklin, MA School Committee meeting on Tuesday, November 16, 2010 to create a slidecast.


The agenda item is introduced by School Committee Chair, Jeff Roy. The group presenting is introduced by Michelle Kingsland-Smith. Several members of the Leadership Team take part in the presentation and they announce themselves as they begin each section.


At the end of the presentation (about 50 mins), there is a Q&A section (approx 22 mins) with the School Committee. To help you listen and follow along, I have duplicated each slide that was the subject of the question as it was asked. Hence, the overall presentation document is longer than the original which can also be found online at the link included.



I'll concur with the comments about the quality of the presentation, this is one of the better ones I have seen. The data is clear, well organized and while it does raise some questions (deliberately in some cases), answers to the questions were well prepared for.


As I close this session this week, let me remind you that

  • If you like what I am doing here, please tell your friends and neighbors
  • If you don’t like something, please tell me

Thank you for listening!


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 and Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission

I hope you enjoy!

Note: email subscribers will need to click through to Franklin Matters to view this slidecast.


The presentation as reported on live during the meeting:



The original copy of the presentation:
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/11/franklin-ma-mcas-2010-presentation.html


Franklin, MA

"Let’s Talk about Cyberbullying"

Thursday, December 9, 2010
7:00PM – 8:30PM
Dean College
Campus Center Multi-Purpose Room


We are all reading about cyberbullying in the news. Now Franklin’s own home-grown expert Teenangels and their founder, cybersafety expert and head of StopCyberbullying.org, will help the Franklin community understand how it works, how big a problem it is and what we can do about it. The Teenangels are teens who train under Dr. Aftab for 2 years to become cybersafety experts in their own right. They are sought after by the media, governmental agencies and Congress for what they know and their practical approach to addressing cyber-risks.
Parry Aftab is Executive Director of WiredSafety.org, the largest online safety and educational program and the cybersafety contributor to the Today Show, Good Morning America, Dr. Phil, CNN and MSNBC. She is best known for empowering families to use digital technologies more safely and responsibly. She is a member of Facebook’s five member international safety advisory board and MTV’s advisory board.
This event is sponsored by: Franklin WiredTeens Club, Franklin Community Health Council, and the Franklin Anti-Bullying Task Force.

The flyer for the event can be found here:

Aftab Cyber Bullying Event 12-9-10

Related posts on Cyberbullying
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/11/bullying-plan-presentation.html

http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/11/bullying-plan-comments-wanted.html



Franklin, MA


Franklin, MA: Police toy drive

The Franklin Police will be conducting their annual toy drive. Details in the flyer below

FranklinPolice_toydrive_2010




Franklin, MA