Franklin Matters

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

In the News - fire education, students suspended

Franklin gets boost in fire education funds

by Alison McCall/Daily News staff

Students suspended after Dean College fight

by Alison McCall/Daily News staff

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Holiday Sing-A-Long

via Franklin Public Library by Franklin Public Library on 12/5/11

Things you can do from here:

Subscribe to Franklin Public Library using Google Reader
Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites

Monday, December 5, 2011

What is Franklin's Master Plan?

For those who follow Franklin Matters on Facebook, you may recall the discussion around the recent article on the Big Y construction.

In response to some of the comments I wrote:

The Town has little to do with "waiting". That is all between the landowner and the buyer. Once a permit is applied for, there is a time line to be followed. If the project fits within what has been zoned for the space there is little the Planning Board can do to deny it. The opportunity for us to really have our say is when the 'Mater Plan' is revised. That is supposed to happen soon (actually overdue, but that's another story)

And Central MA Home Search wrote:

I agree with the above comment. A Planning Board's jurisdiction lies only in determining if the project is consistent with the zone in which it's proposed. Reasonable requests can be made during the project review, but denial based on opinion of a 'need' for the project is not in their power. On the plus side, there will be some healthier competition for the larger supermarkets...

The current Master Plan for Franklin was finalized in 1997 and can be found on the Planning and Community Development webpage here
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_Planning/initiatives/master/index

The update guideline document (shown below) has an outdated time line but the process of updating the Master Plan should still be accurate.

MasterPlan_updateguideline

The Cult of Lego

As a place cited for being good to raise a family, there must be a few sets of LEGOs around. Perhaps this would be a good holiday gift idea for the LEGO fan you know.

Cult of Lego Trailer from John Baichtal on Vimeo.

Enjoy!

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Town Council - Agenda - Dec, 7, 2011

A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
– October 5, 2011, October 26, 2011, Executive Session - November 16, 2011

B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
– This meeting is being recorded by Verizon, Comcast, and Franklin Matters

C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS

D. CITIZEN COMMENTS

E. APPOINTMENTS
- Design Review: Adrianna Kelly
- Swearing in of Chief of Police, Stephan Semerjian

F. HEARINGS

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
– Annual Alcoholic Beverages Licenses Renewal

H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
– Elements of Master Plan

I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1. Resolution 11-69: Appropriation – Norfolk County Agricultural High School – FY 2012
2. Resolution 11-70: 2012 Town Council Meeting Schedule
3. Bylaw Amendment 11-667: Amendment to Chapter 139-14, Sewer System Map -2nd Reading
4. Bylaw Amendment 11-668: Amendment to Chapter 179-9.1, Water System Map -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

The full set of documents for this meeting agenda as published are available here (PDF)
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2011tc%20Complete%20With%20Documents/12-07-2011genda.pdf

"a transparent process based on real budget limitations"

"It really is the way of the future," Franklin Superintendent Maureen Sabolinski said of interest-based, or collaborative, bargaining. "It really is the way to negotiate for the 21st century, especially in times of minimal resources."

Interest-based bargaining requires training, and forces both teacher unions and a town's school officials to decide which issues to address during negotiations together, rather than coming to a negotiating table with set lists of demands.

The result, said Boston-based negotiations trainer Mary Ellen Shea, is better relationships between towns and unions, and significant and even money-saving changes to contracts.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/education/x1560337199/Towns-teachers-learn-to-negotiate-better#ixzz1fZEUdiUk

In October, the Boston Foundation released a report on interest-based bargaining:

The report, Toward a New Grand Bargain: Collaborative Approaches to Labor-Management Reform in Massachusetts, presents a new, collaborative approach to the bargaining process in place of the current, adversarial tone of contract negotiations. This latest report in the Understanding Boston series was released at an Understanding Boston Forum at the Boston Foundation on Oct. 19, and featured a panel discussion by labor union, school and Patrick Administration leaders.

Click through to this page to download the report and view a video panel discussion of the report findings.