These two presentations were used during the workshop held on Monday, March 21, 2011.
The first presentation outlines the discussion format for the workshop and then steps through the components of the proposed changes to the zoning (minimum lot dimensions, setbacks, coverage, etc.)
The summary of items agreed to during the discussion can be found in the notes of the meeting
Downtown Proposed DC Zoning 3/21/11
The second presentation document was referenced to show design features from other community's downtown area.
DC Presentation Examples 3/21/11
Thanks to Beth Dahlstrom for providing the documents. These can also be found on the Planning and Community Development web page here and here.
Franklin, MA
Friday, March 25, 2011
"It's a huge issue for municipalities"
"It's so much cheaper if we can get rid of the sources by picking up maintenance practices" and reducing the use of fertilizer with phosphorus, Franklin's Public Works Director Robert Cantoreggi said at a workshop yesterday.
About 35 municipal officials and representatives of engineering firms, environmental companies and other agencies met at the Franklin Municipal Building for the workshop, which was organized by the Charles River Watershed Association and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council.
The workshop came as Franklin, Bellingham and Milford town leaders worry about a federal Environmental Protection Agency pilot program that seeks to tighten stormwater regulations. The EPA has told those three towns that businesses with 2 or more acres of impervious surfaces could have to pay $6,000 to $120,000 per acre to purchase new systems to control runoff.
Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x617855290/Milford-Franklin-and-Bellingham-told-to-target-phosphorous-at-source-to-protect-Charles-River#ixzz1HbNfVydR
Prior posts on the proposed EPA Stormwater regulation:
From August 2010
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/08/epa-storm-water-proposal-information.html
From June 2010 (includes links to the May 12 meeting in Franklin)
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/06/epa-storm-water-proposal-information.html
Franklin, MA
Extension of the School Year Beyond June 30
For those inquiring minds - what if we did have to go beyond June 30th to complete the school year? The State has an answer.
Extension of the School Year Beyond June 30
DESE, in consultation with the Division of Local Services (DLS), issued the following guidance
regarding possible extension of the school year beyond June 30.
Q: If the school year is extended beyond June 30 in order to comply with the 180-day equirement, may the district pay salaries and costs incurred from the current year's budget?
This information can be found on Page 2 of the bulletin located here
Franklin, MA
Extension of the School Year Beyond June 30
DESE, in consultation with the Division of Local Services (DLS), issued the following guidance
regarding possible extension of the school year beyond June 30.
Q: If the school year is extended beyond June 30 in order to comply with the 180-day equirement, may the district pay salaries and costs incurred from the current year's budget?
A: The Department of Revenue's Division of Local Services has advised that the answer is yes. If the school year must be extended beyond June 30 to comply with state law on student learning time, that would extend the scope of the municipality's appropriation for the schools beyond June 30. See Mass. General Laws Chapter 71, Section 40, which provides that the compensation paid teachers is deemed "fully earned at the end of the school year, and proportionately earned during the school year" (emphasis added). Teachers, therefore, could teach school in early July to comply with the 180-day requirement, and any salaries paid would appear on warrants payable for the fiscal year that ended on June 30.
In short, state law permits the school year (and salary payments) to extend beyond June 30 in these circumstances. School officials still should consult with their own legal counsel to determine whether any provisions in collective bargaining agreements or local ordinances would affect the decision to schedule school days after June 30.
This information can be found on Page 2 of the bulletin located here
Franklin, MA
Bay State Greenway Northern Trail Advances
For those following the efforts of the Franklin Citizens Rail Trail Committee, there is news on a similar rail trail development effort through Saugus, Lynn, and Methuen.
Prior posts on the Franklin Rail Trail
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2011/03/franklin-rail-trail-committee-meeting.html
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2011/02/franklin-citizens-rail-trail-committee.html
Franklin, MA
Bay State Greenway Northern Trail Advances
byPrior posts on the Franklin Rail Trail
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2011/03/franklin-rail-trail-committee-meeting.html
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2011/02/franklin-citizens-rail-trail-committee.html
Franklin, MA
Preparing for I-495’s next boom
I am just catching up to this article from the Boston Globe West edition from Thursday. The article doesn't specifically mention Franklin but I would assume we are indeed one of the communities involved in the planning effort.
Franklin, MA
Planners in 37 communities along I-495 recently embarked on a $300,000 state-funded study organized by the quasi-public Metropolitan Area Planning Council to map out where residents might best channel new development, preserve open space, and build more on infrastructure. The study is due to be completed by the end of this year.
The regional planning council is also working with the 495/MetroWest Partnership, a nonprofit public-private collaboration based in Westborough, and other local organizations on the effort.
“This region is the state’s economic engine,’’ said Paul Matthews, the partnership’s executive director. “Because there is no central city, it tends to be overlooked a bit. Let’s make sure we have our ducks in a row as the economy picks up again in terms of development. What development do we want accomplished? Those are major questions for us to sort out."
via Boston Globe -- Globe West by John Dyer, Globe Correspondent on 3/24/11
Franklin, MA
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Citizens Against Waste: Substitute pay questions
How much total pay is made to substitute teachers?
I was surprised to see the number of substitute people and some of the amounts are pretty high. Are teachers paid straight salary?
How is leave handled?
Is excessive teachers absence accounted for?
My thanks to Maureen Sabolinski, Superintendent of Schools, for providing the answers to these questions.
If you have a question about Franklin's budget, please use the form to ask it. I'll get you a response.
The collection of Citizens Against Waste questions can be found here
Franklin, MA
$485,509 in FY10
Our teachers are invested in being in school to work with students. They are committed to providing an exceptional educational program and they understand that includes attendance. As per the contractual bargaining agreement, a teacher may be absent from work due to illness, family illness, or for a personal day. Also a teacher may be requested to participate in a professional development program as a requirement by the district administration which necessitates absence from the classroom. When teachers are not in the classroom, substitutes are required to provide instruction to students.
This budget provide compensation for substitutes who cover day to day absences and for teachers who are on long term leaves of absence ( e.g. medical leave, maternity leave)
I was surprised to see the number of substitute people and some of the amounts are pretty high. Are teachers paid straight salary?
Substitute teachers are not paid a salary and they do not accrue benefits.
Daily rates for sub teachers are: $60/day, college students; $80/day, non-certified; $100/day, certified; $125/day for long-term sub.
How is leave handled?
When a staff member is unable to work due to a medical condition, a paid leave of absence may be requested. The request is made to the superintendent and is accompanied by the appropriate medical documentation. If all documentation is in order a leave is granted in accordance with requirements outlined in the contractual bargaining agreement.
Is excessive teachers absence accounted for?
Absences for all school personnel are recorded and accounted for by Human Resources and the Payroll Office. Attendance data is recorded and updated on the pay stub for all employees.
My thanks to Maureen Sabolinski, Superintendent of Schools, for providing the answers to these questions.
If you have a question about Franklin's budget, please use the form to ask it. I'll get you a response.
The collection of Citizens Against Waste questions can be found here
Franklin, MA
Franklin, MA: Express Line v2 #3-1
Franklin's Express Line newsletter has just been published.
Express Line Volume 2 - Issue 3-1
Note: email subscribers will need to click through to Franklin Matters to read the document.
You can subscribe to your own copy of the newsletter by signing up on the Franklin website here. You will have four choices:
This newsletter is the first option "News and Announcements"
Franklin, MA
Express Line Volume 2 - Issue 3-1
Note: email subscribers will need to click through to Franklin Matters to read the document.
You can subscribe to your own copy of the newsletter by signing up on the Franklin website here. You will have four choices:
- News and Announcements
- Police News and Announcements
- Recycling News
- The Franklin Connection
This newsletter is the first option "News and Announcements"
Franklin, MA
"You can't stop people from shopping on Memorial Day"
"The attendance is very sparse, and it's sad," Vallee, a former JAG officer who serves in the National Guard, said yesterday at a hearing on legislation that would ban retailers in Massachusetts from opening on Memorial Day. "It saddens me because it is a very important day in our history and our culture."
The 44-year-old Franklin Democrat said after the hearing that he supports the bill, sponsored by Sen. Michael Knapik, R-Westfield, but is unsure about its prospects on the Veterans and Federal Affairs Committee, of which he is co-chairman.
He's expecting resistance from retailers, who see the ban as likely to boost tax-free holiday sales on the Internet.Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x1840140189/Veterans-legislators-back-ban-on-Memorial-Day-store-sales#ixzz1HVe5bm2o
Franklin, MA
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