Franklin Matters

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Live reporting - License renewals, Master Plan

(five minute recess)

F. HEARINGS
none

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
– Annual Alcoholic Beverages Licenses Renewal
motion to renew licenses for 2012, passed 8-0
3 licenses being held

Maplegate Country CLub
Incontro
one other

H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
– Elements of Master Plan
Bryan Taberner
working for almost 2 years now on elements of the overall plan
remaining work is with the action items
goals and policy sections are open and important
there is also an implementation plan
community services is also a section
open space recreation

Key now to create a committee
various other boards have representation, would like to get Town Council and community representation for the remainder of the work to be done
subcommittees can be devised, not a critical number ot have but should be workable
2 councilors volunteered thus far
call for citizens, contact Jeff Nutting's office

DPW, Jim Estabrook

Jeff Roy interested in the strategic plan component

Live Reporting - Town Council

Present: Mercer, Dellorce, Kelly, Powderly, Vallee, Pfeffer, Bissanti, Roy
Absent: Jones

A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
– October 5, 2011, October 26, 2011, Executive Session - November 16, 2011
motion to approve, passed 8-0 as amended

B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
– This meeting is being recorded by Verizon, Comcast, and Franklin Matters
Senior Outreach Committee will be reformed for this session and function as before

Working session on Dec 14th open to public

C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
none

D. CITIZEN COMMENTS
none

E. APPOINTMENTS
- Design Review: Adrianna Kelly
motion to ratify appointment, passed 8-0

- Swearing in of Chief of Police, Stephan Semerjian
Sworn in by Town Clerk, Debbie Pellegri

retiring Chief Steve Williams and new Franklin Police Chief Semerjian

Chief's wife does the honors of pinning the new Chief (MDN photographer gets a close up)

Tis the season

Seasonal display greets you as you enter the Franklin Municipal Building

Remember: 12 Days of Donating

Franklin Food Elves '12 Days of Donating' Campaign underway

The Franklin Food Elves and the Downtown Partnership have launched the "12 Days of Donating" food drive to benefit the Franklin Food Pantry. The launch occurred at the third annual Holiday Stroll on Thursday, December 1.

The charitable community service group's goal is to collect 1,200 pounds of food and $1,200 in 12 days to benefit the Franklin Food Pantry. The campaign will run through December 12. The Elves have placed bins at six downtown locations where people can drop off non-perishable food items.

According to the Franklin Food Pantry, more than 1,000 residents use its services. Recent Census data shows the need is greater; more than 3,000 Franklin residents, or 9% of the town's population, are struggling. That need increases in winter due to the cost of heat.

If the Food Elves reach their goal and collect 1,200 pounds of food, participating businesses pledge an additional $1,200 in matching funds. Franklin Food Elves co-founders Melissa and Cameron Piana and the FDP hope that the community will support the Food Pantry by helping them reach this goal. What will 1,200 pounds and $1,200 do for Franklin? 1,200 pounds of food can provide 923 meals to those in need. The $1,200 can provide an additional 6,000 meals.

Look for food donation bins at these locations:
• Franklin Downtown Partnership office, 9 East Central Street
• Jane's Frames, 11 East Central Street
• Printsmart Office Supplies, 20 East Central Street
• Berry Insurance, 9 Main Street
• Dean Bank, 21 Main Street
• Dean College, Campus Center

For more information about the Franklin Food Elves and the "12 Days of Donating" campaign, please contact the Franklin Downtown Partnership at downtown.Franklin@yahoo.com or at (774)571-3109. For more information about the Franklin Food Pantry and what items are needed, please go to their website, www.franklinfoodpantry.org/.

“It was really disturbing to me"

The college does not intend to expel any other students, Chalk said, but Deputy Police Chief Stephan Semerjian said his department will press charges against some of those involved in the attack.

“There’s a lot more to do,” Semerjian said, adding that the incident remains under investigation and that detectives are trying to contact the students. “I would say they are all Dean students. We do know who they are.”

Neither the college nor police released identities of those shown on the video or those expelled.
The Friday assault was caught on camera and posted online Monday. It shows a group of young men circling a fellow student and laughing as another student intimidates and repeatedly punches him, then takes his shoes.