Present: Doug Hardesty, Deb Bartlett, Orrin Bean, John Hogan, Ken Harvey, Craig DiMarzio, Graydon Smith, Tina Powderly (ex officio), Jeff Nutting (ex officio)
Absent: none
meeting opened after the committee was sworn in by Town Clerk Deb Pellegri
the group made a round of introductions
draft charter presented for discussion and revision, 'strawman'
focus on the facts and details of the financial issues
when decisions are made that will affect a multi-year outlook, the committee should be able to weigh in on those in a timely manner; would not be focusing on the day-to-day operational items, the Town Council has the oversight of the Administrator, who in turn directs the activities of the town departments.
what are the cost drivers?
They vary. Collective bargaining is a challenge. to adjust the co-pay requires talking with each of the 13 unions. The State also has a myriad of rules and regulations around purchasing, bottom line it doesn't always guarantee the best price.
Most of the expense side is statutorily driven. We do need a clerk, a health inspector, etc. However, this is no law that says we have to have a police and fire department.
We are paying for the inefficiencies of a long term parochial system which is very, very difficult to change at the local level.
"We know what we want to do it if we could do it" The more attention that is brought to it, the better chance we'll have of actually getting something done.
Charter is not finalized as we wanted to get time for people to think about it and have an opportunity to suggest changes before the Town Council does finalize it.
"come up with a document to tell the story to the town in a way that is credible"
group assignments to draw on individual preferences and strengths
review of the final report of the prior committee from last year (PDF)
review of the Chap 70 story, growth from $4M to $28M over about 15 years
due to census data from 1990's on community wealth and the rapid growth of the school population from 3,000 to 6,000
There are things that are not in the school budget that the Town provides; facilities being the major one, debt service is another.
Charter school - how is that funded? The State sends a portion of our Chap 70 directly to the Charter School. The funding formula has been debated forever.
The Governor's budget due is Jan 26th followed in the next several weeks by the House and the Senate versions with an overall conference committee agreement before getting finalized by July 1
discussion on timeline for deliverables, a brief update (similar to the mid-year report) in an April time frame with updates to sections as needed. Look at when the data will be available and include that in the timelines (i.e. the tax rates are set in Dec so would be available from the State after that).
"It is great in telling what we paid for it, can you tell me what I actually got for it?" Can we benchmark ourselves on what we are achieving?
What new analysis do we want to do and add to this document?
Next meeting Jan 26th
Franklin, MA
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
MassBudget Briefs: Fiscal Year 2012 Budget, Chapter 70 Previews
|
Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center | 15 Court Square | Suite 700 | Boston | MA | 02108 |
Downtown Partnership - Meeting Info
Monday, January 10 at 7 pm
Dean College's Alden Center (S11)
located in the Arthur W. Pierce Center for Science and Technology
The public is invited to provide feedback to the PWED grant-funded portion of the Downtown Franklin Roadway and Streetscape Improvement Project.
Networking Luncheon
Friday, January 14 at 1:00 pm
Dean College Campus Center Cafeteria
Cost: $5
Please note: We will be meeting in the new cafeteria, NOT the Golder Room.
For more details please email Joel Carrara at jcarrara@printsmartoffice.com
General Meeting
Thursday, January 20 at 8:30 am
Dean College Campus Center, Golder Room, 2nd Floor
We welcome all new members!
We encourage downtown business owners to attend!
Networking Luncheon
Friday, February 11 at 1:00 pm
Dean College Campus Center Cafeteria
Cost: $5
For more details contact Joel Carrara at jcarrara@printsmartoffice.com
"it doesn't fit the script"
Here is one listing that I am glad MA did not make. The list also helps to put our budget crisis into perspective. As bad as it is, there are others far worse.
Franklin, MA
But there's one state, which is fairly high up on the list of troubled states that nobody is talking about, and there's a reason for it.
The state is Texas.
This month the state's part-time legislature goes back into session, and the state is starting at potentially a $25 billion deficit on a two-year budget of around $95 billion. That's enormous. And there's not much fat to cut. The whole budget is basically education and healthcare spending. Cutting everything else wouldn't do the trick. And though raising this kind of money would be easy on an economy of $1.2 trillion, the new GOP mega-majority in Congress is firmly against raising any revenue.You can read the full post here
Franklin, MA
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Tree Pickup - Alternatives
Thanks to Paula Lombardi, Office Manager for the DPW, for providing the following info:
- If you have missed your day of pick up this week maybe you can contact a friend or relative in Franklin who may have a Wednesday, Thursday or Friday pickup and ask if you can put the tree at their curbside.
- The Beaver Street Recycle Center is open Friday and Saturday throughout the year from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm.
- All trees must be free of ornaments and tinsel. Do not place in a plastic bag.
Food security: waste not, want not
A good friend of mine pointed this movie out to me over the holidays. Hunger and food security are big issues world wide. The Franklin Food Pantry is working to provide food for those who need it amongst us.
I hope that this doesn't spoil your appetite.
I do hope that you'll consider portions when eating.
To learn more about food security, consider reading from these sources:
Franklin, MA
I hope that this doesn't spoil your appetite.
I do hope that you'll consider portions when eating.
To learn more about food security, consider reading from these sources:
- Food security learning center http://www.whyhunger.org/programs/fslc.html
- USDA Food Security resources http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsec/Resources.htm
- Community Food Security Coalition http://www.foodsecurity.org/
Franklin, MA
Christmas trees will be picked up on your trash day this week
I went digging for my copy of the Curbside Chronicle to find out the Christmas Tree pick up schedule. Good thing I did. The trees will be picked up on the day of your regular trash schedule this week. Yes, this week from Jan 3 - Jan 7.
Last year, the tree pickup was scheduled for Saturday of this week. I guess I will be taking down the tree tonight to make our Wednesday trash schedule day.
FranklinCurbsideChronicle_JanMar_2011
Franklin, MA
Last year, the tree pickup was scheduled for Saturday of this week. I guess I will be taking down the tree tonight to make our Wednesday trash schedule day.
FranklinCurbsideChronicle_JanMar_2011
Franklin, MA
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