"does not expect the council to seek an override"

Current projections show the town would have to cut 25 jobs, including 14 school positions and possibly some police spots. The estimates have some officials worried as they hold off on a budget vote until final numbers are solidified. 

Lingering uncertainty has forced the Finance Committee to push its five budget meetings into early May. The Town Council typically holds its budget hearing over two consecutive nights once the Finance Committee makes its recommendation. 

"Oftentimes, we try to go out with the best info we have and then the state (numbers are better than expected) and it makes us look like we found money," Finance Committee Chairman Jim Roche said. "We're trying to get as close as we can, so it's definitely later than usual."

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x719609467/Franklin-taking-it-slow-on-budget-discussion#ixzz1IjddGXoW


Franklin, MA

It’s a Play Date: YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day™ at the Hockomock Area YMCA

On Saturday, April 9 the Hockomock Area YMCA is encouraging all kids and parents in it’s 15 serving communities, to come to the Y for a play date and commit to being active every day. It’s all part of the YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day™ – the nation’s largest health day for families. As a leading nonprofit strengthening community through healthy living and the Hockomock Healthy Futures Initiative,
the Y holds Healthy Kids Day to teach healthy habits to kids and entire families. The day focuses on inspiring a lifetime love of physical activity and healthy nutrition choices. At a time when one in three children in the United States are overweight or obese (according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), developing healthier habits that include increased physical activity and improved nutrition
is more important than ever. Healthy Kids Day will be celebrated at nearly 1,600 Ys across the country, with more than 700,000 families expected to attend this year. The free event will take place at all three branches in Franklin, North Attleboro and Foxboro from 10-1pm. 

A focus for 2011 is on the Y’s community partners helping families live better. This year we are joined by Whole Foods Market, Bellingham, Franklin Food Pantry, Medway Community Farm, New York Life Insurance, Walgreens, Chestnut Dental Association, Franklin Fire Department, Tim Snow – local caricaturist, Sean Henry - Johnson and Wales Culinary Intern, Leslie Reichert – Green Cleaning Coach,
Self Aesthetics and Therapeutic Specialists, DCU, Garelick Farms and YMCA staff will also be on hand leading movement based activities such as giant Twister and Jenga, open gymnastics, camp games, face painting, eye spy 100 items, bouncy house and more, and promoting Y programs and having fun. A raffle will also be available for a Y gift certificate for one lucky family at registration. 

“In our communities, we know that parents struggle to find the time to incorporate more active play and healthier habits into their family’s daily routine,” says Lauren Marciszyn, Youth and Community Wellness Director, Bernon Family Branch. “Doing so doesn’t have to require extra money or resources. It’s as simple as making plans or a play date with your kids, with two key requirements – be active and have fun. We also want families to recognize how many wonderful organizations we have right in our community that are striving to help them become healthier, more active and connected. Our goal is to make the healthy choice the easy choice.”

For more information, contact Lauren Marciszyn, RD, LDN at 774.235.2737 or visit www.hockymca.org.



Franklin, MA

"the project will affect the parking lot"

The town is finalizing a contract with D&F Afonso Builders of Milford to do the work, which includes repairing the municipal parking lot near the Franklin/Dean College MBTA station, Emmons Street between Main Street and Hillside Road, Dean Avenue between Main and Ray streets, Ray Street and Depot Street. 

At $883,157, the construction company submitted the lowest of 13 bids, Chief Procurement Officer Norma Collins said. 

The work will be paid for with a $1 million state public works grant. It will include fixing deteriorated sidewalks, installing ornamental streetlights, improving drainage systems, reconstructing roads and the parking lot and adding landscaping. 

The town has spent about $100,000 to design the project. Officials plan to save the remaining few thousand dollars between the bid price and the grant price for unexpected costs during construction, Planning Director Bryan Taberner said.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x719609465/Downtown-Franklin-road-repairs-set-to-begin#ixzz1IjcVylEK


Franklin, MA

Aerial Mosquito Spraying: Apr 19 - Apr 22

NOTICE OF ANNUAL AERIAL MOSQUITO LARVAL CONTROL APPLICATION 

The Norfolk County Mosquito Control Project will begin the annual aerial mosquito larval control on April 19, 2011 through April 22, 2011 weather permitting. If the application can not be completed during these dates the application will continue beyond these dates. 

As in previous years, the Norfolk County Mosquito Control Project will use helicopters to target large wetland areas in Franklin. The wetlands will be treated with BTI (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis) pellets to control mosquito larvae. 

To view a map of the targeted wetlands in the Town of Franklin, please visit the project’s website at www.massnrc.org/ncmcp 

If you have questions regarding the application of the BTI pellets, please contact the Director of the Norfolk County Mosquito Control Project, Mr. John J. Smith at 781-762-3681

This was originally posted on the Franklin website
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_News/016EADEE-000F8513

Franklin, MA

"a situation that requires urgent action"

Unlike the state, municipalities must negotiate with local unions before increasing co-pays or deductibles, a requirement the report's sponsors and the Massachusetts Municipal Association want dropped. 

At issue is what role collective bargaining should play in revising the system and whether municipalities should join the state plan or simply use it as a model. 

Unions made other concessions to get better health care, state fire union head Ed Kelly said, but are open to deductibles and larger co-pays as long as bargaining is protected and a safety net established for especially sick employees and their relatives. 

"We don't have our heads in the sand," he said. "We know this is a problem."

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x532922584/Report-says-health-coverage-for-municipal-employees-costs-too-much#ixzz1IjbLPUOK


Franklin, MA

High School Experience 2011

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

High School Experience 2011

via Lifelong Learning by Pandora Carlucci on 4/4/11

The High School Experience is scheduled for the week of August 15, 2011, Monday through Friday, from 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM. This week is for incoming grade 9 students and is co-directed by Ms. Cerce and Ms. Yankee, faculty members at FHS.

The HSE introduces freshmen to the culture, beliefs and norms of FHS and provides strategies for success in academics, as well as in extra curricular activities. The students will meet other students from all 4 middle schools, meet faculty members from the Freshman Collaborative, as well as administrators and members of the FHS staff, and participate in a variety of project adventure games and activities.

Registration is ongoing. If you would like to learn more about this initiative, please email us: lifelong@franklin.k12.ma.us

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Citizens Against Waste - athletic field lights

A question came in about the lights at the athletic field:

This may not quite fit the form of question you are looking for, but we drove by the high school last night at 7 PM, and all the field lights were blazing while not a soul was there. Any idea why that would be? Seems like an awful waste of electricity.

An email from Jeff Nutting revealed:

According to Ryan Jette, a lacrosse game was scheduled to start shortly after 7 pm. The lights are on a timer an go off at 8:30 pm

If you recall last Friday, April 1, we had some typical New England spring weather with about an inch of snow before changing to rain. The fields were too wet to play so the game schedule was changed and the lights program was not.

----


If you have a question, please ask and we'll get an answer
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2011/03/citizens-against-waste.html


The collection of questions and answers can be found here
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2011/03/citizens-against-waste-question.html


Franklin, MA

May Road Races

The 3rd Annual Parmenter 5k will be held on Sunday, May 15th. Additional details and registration information can be found on the event website http://parmenter5k.weebly.com/



The 10th Annual HMEA Independence 5K Walk Run Roll and Stroll in the Park will be held on Sunday May 22, 2011. Additional details can be found on the HMEA website



I plan on running the Parmenter 5k as I will be working the registration desk and providing the 2 mile split times for the HMEA 5K. If you are going to either race, say hi!


Franklin, MA

In the News - Tufts CEO

Tufts Health Plan CEO to speak at Dean College

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Franklin, MA

Author: Laura Spinella

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

April 4, 2011

via Lifelong Learning by Pandora Carlucci on 4/4/11

Adult Education and Community Learning presents Laura Spinella on Wednesday, April 6 at 7 PM at Franklin High School.

Ms. Spinella is a Franklin resident and freelance writer for newspapers and magazines. She will present on the process of writing an book and then navigating the publishing process. This looks to be an exciting evening for Franklin writers-to-be.

For more information on this opportunity contact Joan Borgatti, Coordinator of Adult Education: borgattij@franklin.k12.ma.us

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