Strawberry Stroll - June 16, 2011

The Strawberry Stroll is Thursday, June 16, 2011. Sponsored by the Franklin Downtown Partnership many of the businesses downtown will be participating.

FDP Strawberry Festival 2011


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Struggle and Strength

Inspirational sign from the recent Relay for Life in Franklin:



"Where there is no struggle, there is no strength" Oprah Winfrey

"Prospect Street residents have not objected to the work"

After a hearing before the Planning Board last month, Cantoreggi looked at the trees and determined an oak near 324 Prospect St. did not need to be cut, he said. 

"I think they wanted the tree down because it was in their way," Cantoreggi said. "I was more of the stance that the tree hadn't failed and I didn't see an immediate safety concern. It's a large beautiful tree. I didn't want to see it cut down." 

National Grid had initially wanted to cut 10 trees but scaled back the plan after touring the area with Cantoreggi, company representatives said at the hearing.
The work is part of a program in which the company identifies areas with frequent outages caused by falling trees or branches and trims or cuts trees to reduce the problem, company representatives said at the hearing. 

"Tree-related outages are among the leading cause of service interruptions for our customers," National Grid spokeswoman Deborah Drew said in an interview.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x1166553320/Franklin-agrees-to-a-little-tree-trimming-off-Prospect-Street#ixzz1P9BiGuWF

Town Council agenda document - Jun 15

After the public hearing on the zoning changes proposed for the Downtown District, the agenda gets into an interim contract with the fire fighters union. The fire fighters have been working without a contract for several years. The details on an interim agreement are contained here.

The Town Council is also scheduled to ratify the employment contract with Town Administrator Jeff Nutting. The details of the contract are contained here.

Town Council - Agenda - 6/15/2011



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"serve food that is safe for students with allergies"

The board will consider allowing administrators to negotiate with Whitsons Culinary Group at the Tuesday meeting. 

The committee gave administrators authorization in April to seek proposals, hoping that a private company could better meet new federal nutrition requirements and have greater purchasing power than the current district-run food system. 

Whitsons, Sodexo, Aramark and Chartwells submitted proposals, Chief Procurement Officer Norma Collins said. 

School officials toured a district that already uses Whitsons and gave a subcommittee studying the issue positive comments on the company's proposal, Roy said. 

"They're going to retain our current (cafeteria workers)," Roy said of the proposal. "They're going to offer meals that comply in every way with the federal regulations. They have a great track record in the industry. ... I hope they can come up with a financial package that makes sense for Franklin." 

New nutrition requirements included in federal legislation will require school districts to add more fruits and vegetables, reduce sodium and serve whole grain breads, among other changes. Legislation also strengthens requirements for nutrition education in schools, cafeteria worker training and food sold from vending machines and school stores.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x1166553264/Franklin-school-board-to-vote-on-private-food-service#ixzz1P3rFlnMN

Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - Jun 15, 2011

A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

B. ANNOUNCEMENTS

C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS

D. CITIZEN COMMENTS

E. APPOINTMENTS
- 2011 Annual Committee Appointments

F. HEARINGS - 7:10 PM

Zoning Bylaw 11-652: Amendment to Chapter 185 §4. Districts Enumerated
Zoning Bylaw 11-653: Amendment to Chapter 185 §7. Compliance Required
Zoning Bylaw 11-654: Amendment to Chapter 185 §12. Schedule of Lot, Area, Frontage, Yard & Height Requirements
Zoning Bylaw 11-655: Amendment to Chapter 185 §2. Parking, Loading, and Driveway Requirements, Subsection B
Zoning Bylaw Amendment 11-660: Amendment to Chapter 185 §45. L. (1) Administration and Enforcement

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS

H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
Precincts – Debbie Pellegri, Town Clerk
Franklin 4th of July Committee

I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION:

1. Resolution 11-28R: Public Works Stabilization Account

2. Resolution 11-31: Grant of Utility Easement - Off Wachusett Street

3. Resolution 11-32: Ratification of Local 2637, I.A.F.F. Contract

4. Resolution 11-33: Ratification of Town Administrator’s Contract

5. Resolution 11-34: Authorization to Join State - Wide Public Works Municipal Mutual Aid Agreement

6. Resolution 11-35: Authorization to Join State - Wide Public Safety Mutual Aid Agreement

7. Zoning Bylaw 11-652: Amendment to Chapter 185 §4. Districts Enumerated Zoning- 1st Reading

8. Bylaw 11-653: Amendment to Chapter 185 §7. Compliance Required Zoning 1st Reading

9. Bylaw 11-654: Amendment to Chapter 185 §12. Schedule of Lot, Area, Frontage, Yard & Height Requirements. – 1st Reading

10. Zoning Bylaw 11-655: Amendment to Chapter 185 §2. Parking, Loading, and Driveway Requirements, Subsection B - 1st Reading

11. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 11-660: Amendment to Chapter 185 §45. L. (1) Administration and Enforcement – 1st Reading

12. Bylaw Amendment 11-661: Chapter 151, Solid Waste and Recycling - 2nd Reading

13. Bylaw Amendment 11-662: Amendment to Chapter 82, Appendix A, List of Service Fee Rates- 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

Note: the full set of documents for this agenda including the compensation details on the Fire Dept contract and Town Administrator Jeff Nutting's contract can be found here

"friends who are willing to do anything to help"

"I can remember at my husband's first diagnosis, the doctor came up to me," she said. "He touched my shoulder and said, 'This will be harder for you than it is for him.' " 

The doctor was right, Frieda Schwartz said, since it was difficult to complete household chores and care for her husband while worrying about his months of treatments. 

"We were so lucky to have had the support of friends and family," she said.
That's why Schwartz, a longtime participant in Franklin's Relay for Life, was excited to learn that this year's event would feature a breakfast recognizing caregivers of cancer patients who bake meals, watch their children and stay with them in the hospital.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x1166553262/Franklin-Relays-For-Life-cares-for-cancer-helpers#ixzz1P3m69EmX




Additional photos from the Relay for Life can be found here:
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2011/06/relay-for-life-slideshow.html