Monday, November 14, 2011
Flu Clinic - Dec 12 - Senior Center
FLU CLINIC
DECEMBER 12, 2011
Franklin Senior Center
10 Daniel McCahill St.
From: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM
FREE: For all children under the age of 19
FREE: For those with Medicare Part B as their primary insurance
For all others the cost will be: $12
Brought to you by the Franklin Board of Health and the Visiting Nurse Association of Greater Milford
Please contact the Milford VNA at (508) 473-0862 for additional information.
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Franklin, MA: Election Turnout from 2003 to 2011
The disappointment in the local election turnout is real. When only about one fifth of the registered voters come out to cast their ballot, something is wrong. Especially in Franklin, where history does show that voters can and do turn out, just not for these local municipal elections.
The recent history of voter turnout in Franklin shows four levels of getting to the polls. National elections (2004, 2008 and the special election for Sen Ted Kennedy's seat) draw the most. The next draw is when there are state-wide elections (2006 and 2010). Money issues will bring out about 40 percent of the voters as shown with the three override votes (2007, 2008 and 2010).
At the bottom of the pile: the local election to run our town on a daily basis. The folks that make the important decisions for town operations get the least attention (15-22 percent).
Maybe next time a charter change is discussed, we should give some consideration to changing the cycle to get in with either the State-wide elections or national elections (even years instead of odd years).
The spreadsheet that drove the chart above can be viewed here:
You can also click through to Google Docs to find this spreadsheet:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?
key=0AkwjbnXDBhczdDB6NnUyUWZJbW90azlKbHBzTzdqYWc
The data was taken from the annual reports as published by the Franklin, MA Town Clerk.
Note: that for some years the annual registered voter totals need to be re-calculated as what appears in the report is incorrect. The election result totals are always correct. Specifically, you can look for a recent example in the Annual Report for 2010 - p77, the cross totals don't agree with the indivdual categories
The recent history of voter turnout in Franklin shows four levels of getting to the polls. National elections (2004, 2008 and the special election for Sen Ted Kennedy's seat) draw the most. The next draw is when there are state-wide elections (2006 and 2010). Money issues will bring out about 40 percent of the voters as shown with the three override votes (2007, 2008 and 2010).
At the bottom of the pile: the local election to run our town on a daily basis. The folks that make the important decisions for town operations get the least attention (15-22 percent).
Maybe next time a charter change is discussed, we should give some consideration to changing the cycle to get in with either the State-wide elections or national elections (even years instead of odd years).
The spreadsheet that drove the chart above can be viewed here:
You can also click through to Google Docs to find this spreadsheet:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?
key=0AkwjbnXDBhczdDB6NnUyUWZJbW90azlKbHBzTzdqYWc
The data was taken from the annual reports as published by the Franklin, MA Town Clerk.
Note: that for some years the annual registered voter totals need to be re-calculated as what appears in the report is incorrect. The election result totals are always correct. Specifically, you can look for a recent example in the Annual Report for 2010 - p77, the cross totals don't agree with the indivdual categories
"not all the roads will be taken all at once"
The legislation targets subdivisions built in the 1970s, '80s, and '90s. Those subdivisions are generally not fully up to state standards for town acceptance in areas like curb height or pavement drainage.
The bill also helps deal with a second issue in accepting streets in those old developments: ownership. Unlike subdivisions built now, where the developer owns the streets before turning them over to the town, the roads are a patchwork of ownership - each person owns the piece of road in front of their house.
"To accept a road, you had to go through a legal taking for every property owner in the subdivision, so it would have been utterly ridiculous," said Robert Cantoreggi, director of the Public Works Department.
Vallee said he's been working on the bill, a home rule petition that applies only to Franklin, for five years.
Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x228647720/State-bill-eases-red-tape#ixzz1daW9hKIc
School Committee: Agenda - 11/15/11
Vision Statement
The Franklin Public Schools will foster within its students the knowledge and skills to find and achieve satisfaction in life as productive global citizens.
Mission Statement
The Franklin Public Schools, in collaboration with the community, will cultivate each student's intellectual, social, emotional and physical potential through rigorous academic inquiry and informed problem solving skills within a safe, nurturing and respectful environment.
"The listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law."
1. Routine Business
Citizen’s Comments
Review of Agenda
Minutes: I recommend approval of the minutes from the November 9, 2011 School Committee Meeting.
FHS Student Representatives
Correspondence: Budget to Actual – Miriam Goodman
2. Guests/Presentations
a. School Improvement Plans
1. Keller Elementary
2. Davis Thayer
3. Oak Street
b. MCAS – Joyce Edwards
3.Discussion Only Items
none
4. Action Items
a. I recommend adoption of all Elementary School’s School Improvement Plans as presented.
b. I recommend acceptance of a check for $116.82 from Target for In-House Enrichment at Remington Middle School.
c. I recommend acceptance of a check for $1,000.00 from Hockomock Y Healthy Futures Grant for the Annie Sullivan MS gift account.
d. I recommend acceptance of a check for $600.00 from the ECDC PCC for supplies for ECDC.
e. I recommend acceptance of a donation of a piano from Carole Preble for the Kennedy Elementary School ($500.00 value).
f. I recommend acceptance of the donation of piano moving service from Gallo Moving & Storage for the above mentioned piano to Kennedy Elementary School ($350.00 value).
5. Information Matters
Superintendent’s Report
School Committee Sub-Committee Reports
School Committee Liaison Reports
6. New Business
To discuss future business that may be brought before the School Committee.
7. Executive Session
Contractual Negotiations
8. Adjourn
"give back whenever I can"
"I love animals and saw a need for this," Goulet, 13, said yesterday as volunteers set fence posts in concrete.
About 20 volunteers helped yesterday while 40 people began work on the fence last weekend. Earlier in the year, volunteers cleared brush from the 1/4-acre plot in Dacey Community Fields on Lincoln Street. Town workers have spread mulch throughout the dog park.
"It means a lot," Goulet said of support she has received from the community. "I really didn't expect this much of a turnout but so many people were willing to come out."
Richard Siccone, 62, a lifelong Franklin resident who volunteered yesterday, said the park was a piggery 50 to 60 years ago and the Dacey family later donated the land to the town.
Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/features/x228647724/Teen-organizes-Franklin-dog-park#ixzz1daN8nTWj
Related posts:
It was an idea in 2009
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2009/09/in-news-dog-park-honey.html
It became a proposal to the Town Council
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/08/franklin-ma-town-council-agenda-aug-10.html
And moved forward
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/08/making-way-for-dogs.html
And for additional info visit the dog park website http://franklindogpark.webs.com/
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Friday, November 11, 2011
UNO CHICAGO GRILL "DOUGH RAISER"
Here's another great opportunity to have a quick and easy meal AND support the Franklin Music Boosters at the same time.
UNO Chicago Grill in Bellingham (205 Hartford Ave.) will donate up to 20% of your check to benefit the Franklin Music Boosters. Dine-in or Takeout!
For this one, you'll need a COUPON in order for the Music Boosters to get credit for the meal sales of that day. Please print out a coupon and bring it with you!
View Larger Map
Cheerios collection
Members and friends of the Franklin Federated Church have been stacking the church altar high with hundreds of boxes of Cheerios - all to benefit the patients of The Grow Clinic at Boston Medical Center.
The effort is part of the Mission: 1 project of the United Church of Christ (UCC), one of the two progressive Christian denominations to which Franklin Federated belongs. Nationwide, members of the UCC are working to collect more than i million items of food for the hungry by November 11, 2011. The UCC is also writing thousands of letters to Congress related to issues of hunger and poverty, and raising money for hunger-related ministries in the US and in East Africa.
The Grow Clinic specializes in caring for children diagnosed with Failure to Thrive, and Cheerios are high in nutrition and they make great finger food for young children.
Franklin Federated has been collecting Cheerios for The Grow Clinic for years, encouraging members to place them in a shopping cart in the church's foyer whenever they can. This is the biggest effort yet, however, with the church attempting to collect 1,111 boxes for the Mission: 1 project between 11/1/11 and 11/11/11.
Related links:
Franklin Federated Church - http://franklinfederated.org/
Franklin Federated Church - http://franklinfederated.org/
The Grow Clinic - http://www.bmc.org/pediatrics-
United Church of Christ Mission: 1: http://ucc.org/mission1/
For more information, contact Pastor Charley Eastman at 508-528-3803 or Tiffany Vail Miller at 508-553-9085.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Franklin Historical Museum: "Outfitted for war"
Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:
via Boston Globe -- Globe West by Kathleen Burge, Globe Staff on 11/9/11
An exhibit officially opening this weekend at the Franklin Historical Museum tells story of a century's worth of wars through the uniforms of local veterans. The exhibit is expected to contain about 17 uniforms, said Deborah Pellegri, Franklin's town clerk and also chair of the Franklin Historical Commission. One of the most poignant stories is told by an Army uniform that belonged to Staff Sgt. Robert R. Pirelli, who was killed in Iraq in 2007.
Things you can do from here:
- Subscribe to Boston Globe -- Globe West using Google Reader
- Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites
Additional information on the uniform display can be viewed in this document
https://docs.google.com/open?id=1apRZlLAd7TLwqEHuL-hXa8Iz8Rkeiq0A83Jjax-OuYRkA6olfZtoS0hfXJvK
Write-in candidate wins associate spot on Franklin Planning Board
Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:
via Wicked Local Franklin News RSS by Alison McCall/Daily News staff on 11/10/11
The town has filled the Planning Board associate position, two days after the election, with a former member of the Planning Board (Ron Calabrese).
Things you can do from here:
- Subscribe to Wicked Local Franklin News RSS using Google Reader
- Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites
Town Council workshop 11/09/11
The collected reporting from the Town Council workshop held on Wednesday, Nov 9, 2011
Attendance sheets updated
The attendance tracking spreadsheets have been updated for the new Town Council and School Committee. The two worksheets for the past Council and SchCom are still present in the workbook and each tab has been renamed to reflect the term of service. The past sheets are labeled as '2009-2011', current sheets are named '2011-2013'.
I have also added a sheet where I will attempt to record the roll call votes by councilor. I already record the votes during the meeting, putting them into the spreadsheet will allow for an easier analysis of who is voting on what.
The link to the workbook does not change. You can find it here:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AkwjbnXDBhczdEZSWlZLTFVqNmcxZWFTNDNxNk5PZkE
If there is other information you would be interested in having, please let me know.
Partridge closure extended to Nov 18th
Due to construction delays, Partridge St which is closed to all traffic between Harborwood and Dover Circle due to a culvert collapse, will remain closed until Nov 18th.
This notice was originally posted on the Franklin website
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_News/017D32A1-000F8513
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Live reporting - workshop - part 2
Nutting - anything that you would like done, please go through Maxine or the Chair. We are available for questions, etc. but we'd rather not have 9 folks directing our people.
Budget
Capital
Senior Outreach
Economic Development
really open to what the Council needs to operate
electronic agendas were requested by last council, will provide inexpensive laptops to bring to the meetings
ultimately will save a lot of trees
Financial summary, FY 2012 budget as amended last week; current account balances
enterprise accounts are not part of the general funds, they are sustained by the fees generated for that service
TA puts the budget together with the department heads, makes a recommendation to the Finance Committee which in turn makes a recommendation for the Town Council which votes on it.
Calendar of fiscal events for the Town Council(copy to be added later)
TC Workshop 111109
No word from the State on the budget for FY 2013, they need to see what the Federal government will do first
School Building committee wants to get everything into the MSBA for Dec 9 so we can get a decision on their Jan meeting. Debt exclusion requires a 2/3 vote of the Council to put on the ballot. If the time line holds could have the override in Mar/Apr.
Storm water regulations are coming, sometime.
all debt currently is declining principle level interest, the high school is proposed to be level/level
cable access corporation being set up; once corporation is set up, transfer of money and potential for leasing space to be worked out. $1.5M in the cable account currently with more coming in. Agreement likely to be for five years between Town and cable access with renewal options.
collective bargaining update coming during an executive session, nine units with contracts
Copies of reports from the department heads are provided for review, if you have any questions, please let us know.
When you get phone calls, there are three sides to the story.
Pictures for the website needed for next time.
2 ways to get something on the agenda, talk to the chair or you can make a motion (and need five votes - majority)
next meetings are the 16th and 30th
Budget
Capital
Senior Outreach
Economic Development
really open to what the Council needs to operate
electronic agendas were requested by last council, will provide inexpensive laptops to bring to the meetings
ultimately will save a lot of trees
Financial summary, FY 2012 budget as amended last week; current account balances
enterprise accounts are not part of the general funds, they are sustained by the fees generated for that service
TA puts the budget together with the department heads, makes a recommendation to the Finance Committee which in turn makes a recommendation for the Town Council which votes on it.
Calendar of fiscal events for the Town Council
TC Workshop 111109
No word from the State on the budget for FY 2013, they need to see what the Federal government will do first
School Building committee wants to get everything into the MSBA for Dec 9 so we can get a decision on their Jan meeting. Debt exclusion requires a 2/3 vote of the Council to put on the ballot. If the time line holds could have the override in Mar/Apr.
Storm water regulations are coming, sometime.
- Zoning changes some coming next week to add more bio-tech overlays
- DelCarte dam engineering effort underway, how it will be fixed and how we will fund that remains to be figured out. Two dams are registered.
- Downtown Project on schedule for 2013, public hearing to be scheduled
- Trash fee for FY 2012 - may be a minor adjustment
- portable classrooms plan being put together on removal over time
- David Thayer renovations on the horizon (get an architect to do an assessment first) what are the enrollment projections, by removing the modular unit you will need the room for the students
all debt currently is declining principle level interest, the high school is proposed to be level/level
cable access corporation being set up; once corporation is set up, transfer of money and potential for leasing space to be worked out. $1.5M in the cable account currently with more coming in. Agreement likely to be for five years between Town and cable access with renewal options.
collective bargaining update coming during an executive session, nine units with contracts
Copies of reports from the department heads are provided for review, if you have any questions, please let us know.
When you get phone calls, there are three sides to the story.
Pictures for the website needed for next time.
2 ways to get something on the agenda, talk to the chair or you can make a motion (and need five votes - majority)
next meetings are the 16th and 30th
Live reporting - Town Council workshop
Present: Vallee, Pfeffer, Roy, Jones, Kelly, Dellorco, Bissanti, Powderly
Nutting, Cerel, Kinehart
Absent: Mercer
Workshop - first year with the charter change that the Council doesn't get sworn in until next week.
Copy of charter provided. Bylaws are online. Mark Cerel undergoing a review of the bylaws to bring them up to current terminology
Council procedure manual - typically approved at one of the first meetings
Mark Cerel to touch base on open meeting law, conflicts of interest, etc.
open meeting law presentation
memo addressing email use
quorum in case of council would be five members, meetings doesn't have to be in person to qualify, email qualifies whether in serial or all at once. There is case law on this with a Boston case where their council was shuffling in and out of the meeting.
demands for public records do include personal email if referencing town business
think twice before email
commenting on public internet sites you are representing yourself as an individual citizen, not a representative of the position
posting does require 48 hour notice although there can be an emergency but there are requirements around what constitutes an emergency
sanctions for open meeting law can be significant civil fine as well as possibly setting aside the law/resolution that was the result of it
issuance of a new alcohol license or for a violation, know what is relevant and not, allow for an impartial hearing. even when you do everything right, you may still end up in litigation. We have insurance for this but the first 10,000 is still on us with the deductible we have.
Ethic law was passed in 2009, what changed was the penalty. Ethic law is a criminal statue. This is serious business. Upon swearing in, you will be given an online requirement for training. The training that was initially released was something not pertinent to local town business. A revision should be ready for the next cycle.
By definition of the statue, council members are "municipal employees" - statue applies to you and your immediate family... The family definition is extensive. Need to be aware of the prohibitions. Bribery or gifts and solicitations are targeted. Public official are prohibited from accepting or soliciting.
Compensation can be goods or services. The council is a licensing authority, if you are out to dinner and the owner of the establishment sends over some freebies, be careful. Can't do that. There is a fine line between the actual gift and the perception of a gift.
Ethic Commission has two functions, one is as an adviser. You can provide a circumstance and they can let you know what the situation would be. The safest way to go is to check with them. The Ethic Commission will take anonymous tips. They have the ability to fine up to $25,000 as well as imprisonment.
You can't use your position to gain a benefit. "Do you know who I am?" are the six most dangerous words.
The general improvement of downtown is one thing but if the benefit would be substantial for an individual, then that would be dangerous and the individual should recuse themselves.
The standards now include prohibitions on the following:
Nutting, Cerel, Kinehart
Absent: Mercer
Workshop - first year with the charter change that the Council doesn't get sworn in until next week.
Copy of charter provided. Bylaws are online. Mark Cerel undergoing a review of the bylaws to bring them up to current terminology
Council procedure manual - typically approved at one of the first meetings
Mark Cerel to touch base on open meeting law, conflicts of interest, etc.
open meeting law presentation
memo addressing email use
quorum in case of council would be five members, meetings doesn't have to be in person to qualify, email qualifies whether in serial or all at once. There is case law on this with a Boston case where their council was shuffling in and out of the meeting.
demands for public records do include personal email if referencing town business
think twice before email
commenting on public internet sites you are representing yourself as an individual citizen, not a representative of the position
posting does require 48 hour notice although there can be an emergency but there are requirements around what constitutes an emergency
sanctions for open meeting law can be significant civil fine as well as possibly setting aside the law/resolution that was the result of it
issuance of a new alcohol license or for a violation, know what is relevant and not, allow for an impartial hearing. even when you do everything right, you may still end up in litigation. We have insurance for this but the first 10,000 is still on us with the deductible we have.
Ethic law was passed in 2009, what changed was the penalty. Ethic law is a criminal statue. This is serious business. Upon swearing in, you will be given an online requirement for training. The training that was initially released was something not pertinent to local town business. A revision should be ready for the next cycle.
By definition of the statue, council members are "municipal employees" - statue applies to you and your immediate family... The family definition is extensive. Need to be aware of the prohibitions. Bribery or gifts and solicitations are targeted. Public official are prohibited from accepting or soliciting.
Compensation can be goods or services. The council is a licensing authority, if you are out to dinner and the owner of the establishment sends over some freebies, be careful. Can't do that. There is a fine line between the actual gift and the perception of a gift.
Ethic Commission has two functions, one is as an adviser. You can provide a circumstance and they can let you know what the situation would be. The safest way to go is to check with them. The Ethic Commission will take anonymous tips. They have the ability to fine up to $25,000 as well as imprisonment.
You can't use your position to gain a benefit. "Do you know who I am?" are the six most dangerous words.
The general improvement of downtown is one thing but if the benefit would be substantial for an individual, then that would be dangerous and the individual should recuse themselves.
The standards now include prohibitions on the following:
- Accepting compensable employment which is "inherently incompatible" with one's public responsibilities
- Soliciting or receiving anything of substantial value (value of $50) or using official position to secure favorable treatment
- Acting in a manner which would cause a reasonable person to conclude that official can be improperly influenced. (Liability can be avoided by filing of written disclosure.)
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