2. Resolution 11-50: Additional Appropriation for Comprehensive Feasibility Study of the Franklin High School and Grounds
Tom Mercer, Chair of the School Building Committee
provide an overview of how the proposal has developed overtime
The committee recently decided to ask the MSBA to modify the 'model school' design to lower the track to the same level. This would allow for a gym at 23,000 sq ft which is comparable to the same size facility we have today. How much of this design change would be covered by a favorable refund remains to be determined.
The proposal tonight is to provide additional funding via bond to allow the design work to continue. Given the current timeline for an MSBA decision at the end of January, the voters could see the proposal at the election box in a March time frame. Once approved by the MSBA, the town voters do have 120 days to vote and accept the proposal. If we were to deny the proposal, and the renovation or new building were to continue, the full cost would be borne by Franklin. If we accept the MSBA proposal we can get up to 54% reimbursement, significantly reducing the cost to the Franklin tax payers.
motion to accept, seconded, passed 8-0
3. Resolution 11-51: Support for House Bill No. 00869 – An Act relative to the establishment of municipal lighting authorities
motion to accept, seconded, passed 8-0
The full set of documents for this agenda can be found here
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2011tc%20Complete%20With%20Documents/09-28-2011agenda.pdf
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Real time reporting - Legislation (part 1)
F. HEARINGS
G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS - YMCA – Darkness to Light Program (postponed to future meeting)
J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1. Resolution 11-46: Authorizing Tax Increment Financing Hamilton Storage Technologies Inc, 3 Forge Parkway
Brief 5 minute presentation by the company about what they do and how they have developed. They are in high technology and particularly in biotech. Novartis and Roche Pharmaceuticals are their top two customers
The Tax Increment Financing (TIF) allows Franklin to collect the normal set of taxes on the base value of the property and then a declining additional portion on the increase in incremental value of the work being done to improve the plot/building.
A good deal for Franklin as we tax revenue, they get an incentive to come here (from Hopkinton and Milford). Their incentive is a declining additional tax over a ten year period.
motion to accept, seconded, passed 8-0
The full set of documents for this agenda can be found here
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2011tc%20Complete%20With%20Documents/09-28-2011agenda.pdf
G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS - YMCA – Darkness to Light Program (postponed to future meeting)
J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1. Resolution 11-46: Authorizing Tax Increment Financing Hamilton Storage Technologies Inc, 3 Forge Parkway
Brief 5 minute presentation by the company about what they do and how they have developed. They are in high technology and particularly in biotech. Novartis and Roche Pharmaceuticals are their top two customers
The Tax Increment Financing (TIF) allows Franklin to collect the normal set of taxes on the base value of the property and then a declining additional portion on the increase in incremental value of the work being done to improve the plot/building.
A good deal for Franklin as we tax revenue, they get an incentive to come here (from Hopkinton and Milford). Their incentive is a declining additional tax over a ten year period.
motion to accept, seconded, passed 8-0
The full set of documents for this agenda can be found here
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2011tc%20Complete%20With%20Documents/09-28-2011agenda.pdf
Real time reporting - Town Council - 9/28/11
Present: Kelly, Jones, Vallee, Whalen, Mason, Pfeffer, McGann, Powderly
Absent: Zollo
(missed opening minutes, can catch them later via the on-demand video)
E. APPOINTMENTS
Cultural Council
Design Review
School Building Committee
The full set of documents for this agenda can be found here
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2011tc%20Complete%20With%20Documents/09-28-2011agenda.pdf
Absent: Zollo
(missed opening minutes, can catch them later via the on-demand video)
E. APPOINTMENTS
Cultural Council
Mary Beth Frasermotion to approve, seconded, passed 8-0
Janet Norman
Judith Needell
Judith Prueitt-Prentice
Design Review
Nancy Colemanmotion to approve, seconded, passed 8-0
School Building Committee
Paula Mullenmotion to approve, seconded, passed 8-0
The full set of documents for this agenda can be found here
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2011tc%20Complete%20With%20Documents/09-28-2011agenda.pdf
"we approach education collaboratively"
Following a salary freeze two years ago, raises for last year remained at zero, while raises for this year go up 1 percent at the beginning and 0.5 percent on the last day of the contract.
Negotiations for a new contract will have to begin soon, school officials said, but School Committee members say they are upbeat. Union leadership, they said, seems committed to a less confrontational approach than in the past.
"There is agreement by both sides to review the salary structure," School Committee Chairman Jeffrey Roy said.
"It represents closure for me and a move away from the negotiation table," committee member William Glynn said of the brief hiatus between negotiations. "We don't often talk about the deep-seated problems, the systemic problems."
Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x1656493025/Deal-gives-small-raises-to-Franklin-teachers#ixzz1ZEnaMLdk
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
"we're at the point where that's no longer possible"
But the budget cuts that took effect July 1 caused the department to drop from 10 on-duty firefighters to nine. Three firefighters are left in the King Street station on a fire engine, but everyone else has been moved into the downtown station, which, Allen said, has caused problems already.
"Am I concerned? Absolutely. I continue to advocate the best system is an ambulance and an engine in each fire station," Fire Chief Gary McCarraher said at the Sept. 14 Town Council meeting. "We can't afford that right now, and we're doing the best we can with what we've got."
At that meeting, McCarraher said response times could be delayed, but he does not have conclusive evidence yet after going through less than two months of data.
"The simple, brass tacks are we have been cut year after year," Allen said. "We need the public to know that we are having a difficult time helping them."
Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x1656492907/Franklin-Fire-Department-says-cuts-hurting-response-time#ixzz1Z92lJpVR
How hungry are you?
How much do you know about hunger in America? Take Feeding America's hunger quiz to get more information on the issue.
"We will put those numbers out to the public as soon as they're available"
"I think it's a really well thought-out and efficient design," said Sabolinski, adding that the building will also save money in heating bills and other operational costs. "We're not building something just for today. I think it's very utilitarian and it ... will also stand the test of time."
The first suggestion the School Building Committee gave was that space, including larger classrooms, be added throughout the design, since Whitman-Hanson has 1,350 students, and Franklin has 1,650.
The School Building Committee-approved modification that received the most discussion was the gymnasium, which would replace the current field house. The field house is 30,000 square feet, Ai3 principal architect Scott Dunlap said, although it has only 22,000 square feet of usable space. The gymnasium in the proposed new school could have 23,000 square feet of usable space.
Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x1656492899/Franklin-committee-makes-new-high-school-design-its-own#ixzz1Z90wD2rA
Franklin, Marlborough charter schools earn MCAS kudos
"Benjamin Franklin Classical in Franklin was noted for its Grade 8 English scores."
Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:
via The Milford Daily News News RSS by Staff reports on 9/26/11
Franklin and Marlborough charter schools are among the 15 charter public schools ranked Number 1 in the state on various 2011 MCAS tests, according to the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education data released today.
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Senate Adopts Spilka's Amendments to Protect Local Communities
SENATE ADOPTS SPILKA'S AMENDMENTS TO PROTECT LOCAL COMMUNITIES
"I have filed these amendments to make sure the needs of surrounding communities are better addressed and understood so we can have the best possible outcome for our towns, our residents, and the Commonwealth as a whole," said Spilka. "And as the debate continues, I will continue to fight to protect and support my district's residents, communities, neighborhoods, and local businesses."
The first amendment adopted makes clear that the initial studies an applicant is required to provide to the Gaming Commission would not be deemed to prevent the need for corresponding studies and reports prepared for host or surrounding communities. Host and surrounding communities will be significantly impacted and this amendment ensures that a municipality has the ability to receive additional studies on these impacts from the Commission or gaming applicant that they need to fairly negotiate agreements.
The second amendment adopted authorizes the Commission to provide for reasonable costs of negotiating agreements between municipalities and applicants – the Commission may require applicants to pay these costs. Since the negotiation process can be burdensome, complex, and expensive for host and surrounding communities, this will give them the tools they need to ensure effective and fair representation.
Spilka has already fought hard to include protections for communities that find themselves impacted by another community's choice to host a gambling facility in the current version of the bill. After hearing from and discussing this issue with many of her constituents and local officials, Spilka submitted amendments to strengthen these community safeguards and ensure that surrounding communities and the public are involved in the entire process.
Highlights of Additional Amendments filed by Senator Spilka:
· Changing the definition of "surrounding communities" to ensure fairness to all impacted communities and to give them a seat at the table during the process;
· Giving surrounding communities and substantially impacted communities the ability to vote – not just host communities;
· Ensuring public sentiment is taken into consideration by requiring the Gaming Commission to consider the public support or opposition in the host and surrounding communities;
· Increasing surrounding community involvement in the long term mitigation process by allowing each Local Community Mitigation Advisory Committee to appoint one member to the Subcommittee on Community Mitigation – which currently only has representatives from the host communities;
"Working on my constituents' behalf to further strengthen our communities is the reason I get up in the morning and their priorities come first," said Spilka. "These amendments were submitted with the needs and concerns of my constituents foremost in my mind."
The Senate will resume debate Tuesday, September 27th in the afternoon.
Franklin to be sprayed for mosquitoes tomorrow
Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:
via The Milford Daily News News RSS by Staff reports on 9/26/11
Areas of Franklin, Dedham and Milton will be sprayed for mosquitoes tomorrow, the Norfolk County Mosquito Control Project has announced.
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Monday, September 26, 2011
Franklin's Express Line
The Franklin, MA "Express Line" has updates on the high school building project, the election races for Nov 8th, and the DPW recycling program:
Express Line Volume 2, Issue 5 - 9/22/11
Note: Email subscribers will need to click through to Franklin Matters to view the document
Express Line Volume 2, Issue 5 - 9/22/11
Note: Email subscribers will need to click through to Franklin Matters to view the document
Franklin Food Pantry - Fall Update
Fall is here and we have many invitations to share with you…
Visit us at our booth at the Franklin Downtown Partnership Harvest Festival on Sunday, October 2nd from 11am - 4pm. Our booth will be located in the Berry Insurance lot. The Harvest Festival is a fun community event filled with great music, over 100 crafters, farmers market, children's activities and more.
Food donations for the Franklin Food Pantry will be accepted at the Franklin Library's semi-annual book sale held on Friday, October 14th from 4pm – 7pm and Saturday, October 15th from 9am – 4pm at the Franklin DPW Garage, Public Service Way off Hayward Street. Please consider donating from our current needs list below.
Food donations for the Franklin Food Pantry will also be accepted at the Franklin Newcomers Craft Fair on Saturday, November 12th from 9am – 4pm at Tri-County High School, 147 Pond Street. Please consider donating from our current needs list below.
Food donations for the Franklin Food Pantry will also be accepted at the Franklin Newcomers Craft Fair on Saturday, November 12th from 9am – 4pm at Tri-County High School, 147 Pond Street. Please consider donating from our current needs list below.
Thanks to the generosity of our community, we distributed more than 12,000 bags to more than 850 neighbors this past year, an increase of 26 percent. We received more than 83,000 lbs of donations from our community and picked up over 48,000 lbs from the Greater Boston Food Bank to help fill our shelves this past year. We distributed over 115,000 lbs during more than 6,300 visits, averaging 42 new clients each month. We are grateful for the 300+ volunteers who joined us to help us sort, check dates and stock our shelves with these community donations.
Good food nourishes the body and the spirit. With regular, nutritious meals, we are free to grow, to think, to smile, to live. We aim to provide our clients with a wide range of opportunities for gaining access to local, fresh, nutritious food choices. Our first annual phone-a-thon successfully generated over $11,000 to help us increase our nutritious offerings. A Big Thank You to all of our Franklin neighbors for your support!
We purchased 10 CSA Shares from Grateful Farm in Franklin and distributed free, fresh, local produce to clients every Saturday morning at the Pantry from 8am – 9am.
Our Giving Garden located at the King Street Memorial Park Community Gardens is growing strong thanks to a wonderful team of volunteers.
We are inviting all backyard gardeners to share any excess backyard produce with the Franklin Food Pantry through our Plant a Row program. Produce can be dropped off at the Pantry Tuesday thru Friday 9am – 1pm or Saturday mornings between 7:30 – 8am.
Thanks to a grant received from the MetroWest Community Health Care Foundation, we launched our Produce Points program at the Franklin Farmers Market on the Town Common every Friday from 12noon – 6pm through October 28th. If you know anyone who is receiving food stamps, please spread the word that we are doubling their money to spend at the Franklin Farmers Market every Friday. (i.e. if they want to spend $5 of SNAP benefits, we give them $10 to spend at the Market). Visit the Produce Points table at the Franklin Farmers Market to learn more.
Consider donating an item from our Fall Needs list below. Donations can be dropped off at the Food Pantry (in Rockland Trust parking lot) Tuesdays - Fridays between 9am and 1pm or placed in our collection bin on our front porch anytime.
If you prefer to write a check or donate online, remember our relationship with the Greater Boston Food Bank stretches monetary donations much further; $20 can provide up to 100 meals! Every tax deductible donation helps us support more than 850 neighbors throughout the year.
Health and Beauty Products - Shampoo, Soap, Deodorant, Razors etc.
Cleaning Products - Laundry, Dishwasher, All Purpose etc.
Paper Products - Toilet Paper, Kleenex, Paper Towels, Feminine etc.
Baked Beans / Dry Beans
Baking Mixes / Flour / Sugar
Canned Meat / Fish
Canned Pasta (chef boyardeeish)
Cereal
Coffee / Tea
Flavored Rice and/or Pasta Side mixes
Potatoes
Soups / Stews / Broths
Spices / Seasonings
Fresh and Frozen Produce always welcome
Cleaning Products - Laundry, Dishwasher, All Purpose etc.
Paper Products - Toilet Paper, Kleenex, Paper Towels, Feminine etc.
Baked Beans / Dry Beans
Baking Mixes / Flour / Sugar
Canned Meat / Fish
Canned Pasta (chef boyardeeish)
Cereal
Coffee / Tea
Flavored Rice and/or Pasta Side mixes
Potatoes
Soups / Stews / Broths
Spices / Seasonings
Fresh and Frozen Produce always welcome
September and October Volunteer opportunities:
Friday, Sept 23rd 3pm - 6pm (@ Franklin Farmers Market on Town Common)
Friday, Sept 30th 3pm - 6pm (@ Franklin Farmers Market on Town Common)
Wednesday, Oct 5th 1pm - 2pm (@ Food Pantry)
Friday, Oct 7th 3pm - 6pm (@ Franklin Farmers Market on Town Common)
Friday, Oct 14th 3pm - 6pm (@ Franklin Farmers Market on Town Common)
Wednesday, Oct 19th 11am - 12noon (@ Food Pantry)
Friday, Oct 21st 3pm - 6pm (@ Franklin Farmers Market on Town Common)
Friday, Oct 28th 3pm - 6pm (@ Franklin Farmers Market on Town Common)
Saturday, Oct 29th 9:30am - 10:30am (@ Food Pantry)
Thank you for making a difference!
--
Anne Marie Bellavance
Franklin Food Pantry
43 West Central Street
PO Box 116
Franklin, MA 02038
(508) 528-3115
www.franklinfoodpantry.org
Note: for those who did receive the email version of this, I did remove the first three paragraphs as I am posting the letter too late for those to be of a help.
Sunday, September 25, 2011
"You don't really think of this as a fundraising place"
The Upton business was already holding a paintball event and Owner David Painter said he was happy to add a fundraising component when contacted by Franklin Town Councilor Glenn Jones, an avid paintball player.
"This has been a way to show our support as a local business," said Painter, noting he has run breast cancer and multiple sclerosis fundraisers in the past. "We try to give back to the community as much as possible."
The business donated $5 of each admission charge to the pantry. Jones also ran a raffle for a paintball rifle, selling tickets for $5. Organizers estimated the event raised $500, money Jones said is needed at the pantry.
The food pantry added 22 new families during the month of June and saw a surge in requests for food after Tropical Storm Irene because many residents had to throw away spoiled food after a multi-day power outage, he said.
Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x372775459/Paintball-tourney-raises-cash-for-Franklin-Food-Pantry#ixzz1YxLAzkiS
On behalf of the Franklin Food Pantry Board of Directors, I would like to say thanks to Glenn Jones and the others who participated in this effort to help the Pantry! Every little bit helps.
Franklin commuter line will be delayed Sept. 25, Oct. 2
Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:
via Wicked Local Franklin News RSS by GateHouse Media, Inc. on 9/24/11
On Sunday, Sept. 25 and Sunday, Oct. 2, the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Company will perform necessary track work on the Franklin commuter rail line between the Norwood Central and Walpole stations. This essential work, which is necessary for safe, reliable service, is scheduled from 6:00am to 8:00pm on Sundays to minimize interruptions to customer service.
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