Earth Day at the Community Garden Saturday instead of Sunday!

Hello to our Gardeners, Supporters, and Friends!

This weekend is Earth Day and the Town of Franklin is encouraging everyone to pitch in around town on Sunday 4/22 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. 

We hope that you will help us out at the Community Garden location at King Street Memorial Park!

The forecast is for Rain on Sunday, 70% probability in the morning.  Good for the planet, Bad for our workday.

So, we are moving our particular community garden Earth Day event up a day---It will be held on Saturday instead from 9-12 a.m. 

We have a big pile of fresh wood chips to spread, weeds to pull (yes, already!), rocks to pile, compost to turn, pollinator garden beds to dig (flowers!), and more.

Please come lend a hand!  Community Service Certificates will be available for those who need them.

While we have a few gloves, shovels and rakes here at the garden, there might not be enough to go around.  

Please bring your own labeled tools and heavy duty gloves if you can.

If you have extra garden tools or equipment that you would like to donate to the Garden, we'd LOVE to have them!

Thanks to our great new shed---built for us by the awesome Tri-County RVTHS students & paid for with a Franklin Rotary grant!---we now have a place to safely store them.

The water at the garden is not on yet, that will happen some time in mid-May. We will have ice water there to drink for our volunteers this Saturday morning.

How about packing a picnic? 

Thanks for your continued support & we hope to see you at the Garden on Saturday!

Need a map to find us?  The Google map link is below:

http://maps.google.com/maps/place?hl=en&cid=4653072776726811227

Thank you for helping out!

The Franklin Community Garden Green Team

"We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors, we borrow it from our children." -Native American Proverb

www.franklincommunitygardens.org

Visit us on Facebook!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Franklin-Community-Gardens/152040424825578

Follow us on Twitter!

http://twitter.com/#!/FRKLNCommGarden

In the News - bath salts, water ban

Franklin man charged with using bath salts

by Brian Benson/Daily News staff

Franklin institutes water ban early this year

by Alison McCall/Daily News staff

New Health Care Report and Updated Budget Browser

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Health Care Report & Updated Budget Browser  As part of our ongoing analysis of last week's House Ways and Means Budget proposal, MassBudget has produced a new health care report and updated our online budget browser.* Health Care in the House Ways and Means Budget Proposal describes the initiatives affecting MassHealth (Medicaid) and related health care programs.   Information from the House Ways & Means Committee's Budget has been added to our budget browser, allowing you to compare its proposal with state budgets going back to FY 2001. You can also track spending over that time period for any line-item or any group of line-items. READ THE HEALTH CARE REPORT EXPLORE THE BUDGET BROWSER * The report is the second in a series of budget briefs published by the Massachusetts Medicaid Policy Institute (MMPI) and produced by the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center in partnership with the Massachusetts Law Reform Institute. MassBudget provides independent research and analysis of state budget and tax policies--with particular attention to the effects on low- and moderate-income people.

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Franklin, MA: FY 2013 budget documents

When you start a budget, you need to know what revenues you expect to have. For your household, the revenue number would be your expected annual salary (i.e. take home pay). This document walks through the sources of Franklin's expected revenue for FY 2013.

Recall that FY 2013 will begin on July 1 and run through Jun 30, 2013. We are currently operating in FY 2012 which began on July 1, 2011 and will complete on Jun 30, 2012.

The Franklin, MA expected revenue for FY 2013:

Franklin Budget Revenues FY2013


With the revenue number to work with for FY 2013, each department goes through their budget to determine what they will need to operate with for the coming year. The capital requirements are separated and were recently approved by the Town Council. This is the operational budget at a summary level for each line of the budget.

The Finance Committee will review the budget at a detail level with each department manager. This detail review occurs over the course of several meetings. The department manager makes their recommendation, the Town Administrator makes his recommendation (which may differ) and the Finance Committee approves of their version (which may be the same as the Town Administrators or differ in some aspects).

This set of recommendations is what the Town Council will review in their two budget hearings currently scheduled for May 23 and 24. The budget total is voted on and becomes effective July 1, 2012.

The Franklin, MA proposed FY 2013 budget:

Franklin Budget Voting FY2013

Note that at the time the Franklin budget was put together, the School Dept had not yet submitted their budget. The place holder that was included 52,710,000 fortunately comes out to be exactly the number the School Dept appears to be bringing forward. I say appears to be as this document is up for discussion by the School Committee and they may make some changes before it goes to the Finance Committee and Town Council.

The School Dept budget as proposed for review by the School Committee:

FPS_FY2013_ExecSummary


You can also view or download these docs from the Franklin Matters Google doc folder
FY 2013 Expected Revenues
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczQnc2a19DSk12cmM

Franklin Budget
https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B0wjbnXDBhczMmdIMjB1NENGOEk

School Budget
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczY0JaRnlQalRkVXM

Franklin, MA: Earth Day

Prepare today for Earth Day Sunday. Very little is mentioned on the Franklin website other than the one notice about registration for Earth Day. When you follow the link you find:

Thank you for your interest in the Franklin Earth Day event on April 22nd, 2012! For over 10 years, the Town of Franklin has conducted this event in an effort to educate the public on recycling, beautification, and general clean up of the town. This year, we are taking online registration for those folks looking to lock in a location in Town that they are interested in cleaning. Please select the area in town you are interested in cleaning and let us know specifics about your planned clean up. Gloves and trash bags can be picked up ahead of time at the Recreation Dept (150 Emmons St).

In the News - men in court

Suspect in Franklin home invasion goes to court

by Alison McCall/Daily News staff

Man in standoff ordered held on house arrest

by Alison McCall/Daily News staff

"re-bury a pair of time capsules beneath the Town Common"

The Milford Daily News reported on the Town Council meeting in part by writing:

Councilors voted on a number of bylaws, deleting a few from the town charter because they are redundant — such as a tobacco law that simply mimics a state law — and adding to others. 

Two were added to in a substantial way. Councilors approved harsher punishments for parking in a fire lane, upping to fine from $15 to $50, and allowed town departments to make people put the number of their home’s address on their residences. 

In the latter, Nutting said the town deals with a couple of people each year who are opposed to putting the number of their address on their home, which Nutting said is a public safety problem. 

Near the beginning of the meeting Jack Lank, president of the United Regional Chamber of Commerce, congratulated Franklin on its recent economic summit, and applauded the town for its willingness to help businesses hoping to settle and grow in the town.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x101301796/Franklin-time-capsules-uncovered-a-little-early#ixzz1sTdDzwro

My set of notes from the Town Council meeting can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/04/town-council-apr-18-2012.html

Franklin Cub Scout Pack 126 walks a mile in other’s shoes

Shoes are something most people in our community take for granted. Ours may be a little worn, or have a broken lace, but they protect the our feet from cuts, bruises and even disease. We may not give them another thought all day once they’re on our feet, but in other parts of the world they’re a precious commodity in short supply. 

The great kids who are part of Pack 126 are learning another valuable life lesson through Scouting. This lesson is about social awareness and helping others. They’re collecting shoes for those who live in poverty and disaster stricken countries and don’t have adequate footwear.

The Scouts from Pack 126 and the other four packs across Franklin will be collecting shoes at the following locations throughout Franklin from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. until May 12th: 

Dacey Community Fields on Lincoln Street
King Street Memorial Park on King Street
Fletcher Field on Peck Street
Beaver Pond on Beaver Street
Town Common across from St. Mary’s Church 

This is just one of the many displays of altruism and community giving show by Pack 126. Others include assisting the elderly with spring yard cleaning, sprucing up the landscape at the Kennedy school and donating time and energy to helping those around them. 

Who are the boys from Pack 126? While any boy can join, Pack 126 consists mostly of kids who attend Kennedy school, or are home schooled in the neighborhoods surrounding Kennedy. They’re boys whose parents want them to learn some important life lessons in a fun and meaningful way.

What do the Cub Scouts do? Aside from helping out our community and contributing to charitable causes, the Scouts meet regularly in a social, fun and instructional atmosphere. The Scouts go to zoos, monster truck shows, build and race their own pinewood derby cars, camp out, learn about nature and so much more. 

What could possibly make Pack 126 even better? Your child! Every child brings something valuable to the pack. It’s a great place to make friends for kids and parents alike. Join us on the Franklin common on Saturday May 20th from 1:00 to 3:00 P.M. and sign your kid up on the spot with a great group of kids doing amazing things.

Cub Scout Pack 126 website http://www.franklinpack126.org

Related posts on the joint effort by the Franklin Cub Scout troops
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/04/cub-scouts-collecting-shoes.html

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/04/cub-scouts-want-your-usable-shoes.html

2012 HMEA Independence Walk Run Team Customized tees and more

Hello everyone – new and exciting news for the 2012 HMEA Independence 5K Walk Run Roll & Stroll!! Coming up on May 20^th!!!!

Make your own personalized (name and or photo) tee shirts!!! Orders need to be placed by May 4^th to assure delivery!!

We've partnered with an innovative new company, GoodThreads, to offer personalized merchandise that tells your cause story on event day – and after! Buying customized gear is not only an exciting way for you to participate in the event, but it also helps to support 2700 children and adults with disabilities supported by 600 caring and committed staff at HMEA.

Go straight to the Event Store here  http://www.goodthreads.com/Store/HMEA/HMEA.html 

You can personalize shirts (and other gear!) with:

•  Your name

•  Name of a loved one

•  Team name

•  Photos

•  More

How does buying personalized merchandise help HMEA?

1.       Donations

Each time you – or, one of your friends and family members – buy a piece of personalized gear from our event store, HMEA receives a portion of the purchase price as a donation!

2.       Awareness

A great part of the designs in our event store is that we make sure that our logo can be seen each and every time you wear your gear. This means more and more people learn about the great work of HMEA!

3.       Engagement

We're excited to have you be part of this event and our organization! We hope that having your own customized gear is a way for you to reflect often on your personal cause story and share it with others.

We hope you're excited to get your very own personalized event gear! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the GoodThreads support team at info@goodthreads.com

The sooner you start the sooner you'll have your event tee or merchandise!!!

Take Care,

Doug MacPherson

Vice President, Development and Public Relations

8 Forge park East

Franklin, MA 02038

(508) 298-1105

"Be ashamed to die until you have achieved some victory for humanity"

Horace Mann

Franklin high summer sports clinics slated

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Franklin high summer sports clinics slated

via Wicked Local Franklin News RSS by GateHouse Media, Inc. on 4/18/12

Franklin High School Athletic Director Brad Sidwell announces high school sports-specific academies and middle school skills clinics will be offered this summer.

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 - Apr 18, 2012

The collection of posts reported live from the Franklin Town Council meeting on Wednesday, April 18, 2012 can be found here

• Live reporting - closing
• live reporting - Action items
• Live reporting - Jack Lank
• Live reporting - license transfer
• Live reporting: Town Council 4/18/12
• 
  

Live reporting - closing

K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT 
House Ways and Means budget is calling for an increase of $350,000 over and above the Governor's budget

All budgets done by FinCom except for Schools, the budget is balanced
The budget is a little easier than the past several years when we were cutting jobs

Earth day this weekend, register through the DPW website

National Grid will be coming to the next Council meeting to discuss storm preparation and response

L. OLD BUSINESS
Pfeffer, facilities manager
Nutting, coming to the next meeting

Vallee, met with Dean recently to discuss contribution to the community

Kelly, I think it would be good to have Dean present on what they do for the community
Powderly, not to single out Dean, the largest non-profit using our resources and not paying taxes. It would be educational to see what they are doing and how equitable it is.
Bissanti,
Jones, discuss at the next Economic Development Committee meeting to work on a set of question for the student. Do need to have continued communications.
Pfeffer, Dean has grown from a junior college, to a full college. Is everyone aware of the opportunities that Dean provides?
Mercer, I can remember back some time that met quarterly the Dean Council, a very helpful group, had regular communications between the two entities


M. NEW BUSINESS
Bissanti, how do we approach an available liquor license
Nutting, when we tripped over on population, and had a new one, we advertised, received applications and then the Council awarded. Can make a motion to put an item on the next agenda to discuss process
Bissanti made motion to review process to offer a new liquor license
motion passed 9-0 via roll call


N. COUNCIL COMMENTS
Pfeffer questioning status of the trees in the front of town  hall
Bissanti, thanks to K+Councilor Jones efforts on the summit

O. EXECUTIVE SESSION 
Negotiations, Litigation, Real Property, as May Be Required

motion to go to executive session, passed 9-0 via roll call

live reporting - Action items

I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS 
none

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1. Resolution 12-24: Authorization for Installation on the Town Common
discussion on the two capsules moved from the front of the sign needed due to the construction on RT 140

motion to approve, passed 9-0, via roll call

2. Bylaw Amendment 12-674: Amendment to Chapter 48, Tobacco Products – 2nd Reading
bylaw no longer required, superseded by state law


motion to approve, passed 9-0 via roll call




3. Bylaw Amendment 12-675: Amendment to Chapter 63, Numbering of Buildings – 2nd Reading
motion to approve, passed 9-0 via roll call


background, some folks don't want to identify their homes so this helps to define the authority and penalties as a last resort, usually occurs a couple of times a year


4. Bylaw Amendment 12-676: Amendment to Chapter 84, Fire Alarms - 2nd Reading
motion to approve, passed 9-0 via roll call


the old fire alarms have been removed, this bylaw change takes them off the books


5. Bylaw Amendment 12-677: Amendment to Chapter 86, Fire Lanes – 2nd Reading
motion to approve, passed 9-0 via roll call


expands the fines from $15 to $50 for parking in the fire lanes


6. Bylaw Amendment 12-678: Amendment to Chapter 95, Garbage, Rubbish and Refuse – 2nd Reading
motion to approve, passed 9-0 via roll call

clean up of bylaw references

Live reporting - Jack Lank

H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS 
Jack Lank, Chamber of Commerce


largest business organization in the region
wanted to thank Bryan Taberner about the business process here in Franklin
the business process here is head and shoulders above the others in the area
you go to a department, that's not my job, you need to go to another window
not here, the person will get up and go over to the other desk to get you involved with what you need to get done


The 2nd economic summit held recently
about 60 representatives from a variety of businesses took part
resources provided, still getting phone calls, had personally received 4
Chamber tends to be one of the first call for information on Franklin
Jack has information from Bryan and company
You guys truly get it


Never once have I heard it about the Town of Franklin
We truly appreciate it at the Chamber of Commerce
we have concrete evidence to provide


Kelly - how is the economy doing from what you have seen?
Lank - haven't gotten a tremendous amount, the four I just mentioned, established businesses here in Franklin that are looking to expand, one has added one, another 3, another 10, so there is some expansion. You can get that info from the Franklin website. We have seen a small up tick


Bissanti - are you saying that the special permit process is not that bad
Lank - from a number of phone calls, it is not good for me to reveal the source


Jones - thanks for your comments at the summit
 Lank - 2 of the calls have already been set up with training for new hires.




Vallee - going back to announcements momentarily
The budget hearings will be May 23, 24
There will be only one meeting in July and Aug and those dates are 7/18, 8/15

Live reporting - license transfer

F. HEARINGS 
none

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS 
Transfer of License – Ferrara Imports, Inc


motion to approve, passed 9-0 via roll call