Monday, July 30, 2012

Debate moved to Council Chambers - Municipal Bldg


Received an update on tonight's debate: 
In case you didn't hear, due to a power outage at HMMS, the debate has been moved to the Council Chambers at the Franklin Municipal Building. Still starts at 7:30 PM

More questions for Democratic Debate

The debate this evening will NOT be available live via cable. It will be recorded and available for replay. So you'll have a choice of watching the Olympics, the Red Sox or coming out to the debate in person!

In addition to the questions posted yesterday, I have come up with some more.

Why am I posting the questions in advance?
One, the issues we face shouldn't be a secret.
Two, it is more important to find out what the answers to these questions are.

Franklin and most MA communities are faced with Other Pension and Employee Benefits (OPEB) requirements that are underfunded. What is your position on what the Legislature can do to help?

Gov Patrick is reported to be signing the Casino proposal for Taunton today. At least one news article says it will be challenged because the return to the state is “excessive”. Whether you’ll get a chance as a legislator to have a vote in that matter is open right now. What do you think about casinos as a source of state revenue?

There has been talk of the Legislature revising the Chap 70 funding formula. Franklin is a significant beneficiary of these funds. What would be your position on a revision of the formula?

What is your position on the State budget priorities? Should MA government focus on infrastructure (roads, bridges, etc.) or education, or??

What is your position on taxes overall? How should the business of providing government services be funded?

What is your position on usage fees? Are there cases where it makes sense to use them in lieu of a more broadly based tax?

What is your position on the governance of utilities, their service rates and performance?

The Franklin library, along with other departments in Franklin, faces an annual budget issue. The MA Library Board of Governors is the body that provides oversight to the library systems. What is your position on what the Legislature should or should not do to help?






Big Y traffic controls in blinking mode

The final preparations to repave RT 140 in front of the new Big Y are underway.

Big Y: getting ready to pave RT 140


The top layer of RT 140's surface has been removed in preparation for a new layer of asphalt.

Big Y: getting ready to pave


New traffic controls are in blinking mode.

Big Y: traffic controls


All this in preparation for the Aug 23rd opening for the Big Y

Related posts on the Big Y:
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/07/big-y-hitting-mailbox.html

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/07/franklins-big-y-getting-ready.html

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/06/big-y-plans-to-hire-150-plus.html

In the News: performing arts, recycling



Chinese educator at home in Franklin

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Big Y hitting the mailbox

If your house is anything like mine, you have now received the third mailing from the Big Y. Each mailer opens to tout that they "not just another grocery store". In the past two weeks, there have been coupons. The coupons all are valid from Aug 23rd (the store opening day) until Sep 19.


Big Y - Franklin, MA

In related news, for those wishing that this had been a Trader Joe's - they will open at Patriot Place on Sep 7th


What about the debate?

The Democratic candidates are having a debate on Monday evening, July 30. The Thomas Mercer Auditorium at Horace Mann Middle School will be the location for this event. It begins at 7:30 and should end by 9:00 PM.

More details here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/07/10th-norfolk-democratic-candidate.html

If you have a question you'd like to ask the candidates, you can add your question to the list here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/07/what-would-you-ask-candidate.html

The current list of questions can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/07/10th-norfolk-collected-questions-for.html

10th Norfolk: Collected questions for Democratic debate

My questions:

What have you done or are planning to do to prepare for serving Franklin in the Legislature?

Two part Q: What do you see as Franklin’s key issue at the State level and how do you plan to address it?

Do you have any relationships with folks in or around the State House or in the Legislature that you can leverage when you are in office to help serve Franklin? Please elaborate.

Based upon the flyer on the door, it seems like you are both walking the neighborhoods. What is one thing that going door to door does for your campaign?

How much will websites and other social media tools help your campaign?

Questions submitted by others in Franklin:

If elected what changes would you propose to help commuters from Franklin/Medway afford to get into Boston for work?

What are your thoughts about the MA higher education costs. Is there anything you would propose to help more students afford MA State higher education?

Local officials often complain to voters that costly state mandates tie their hands and prevent them from making common-sense fiscal policies for the town. What will you do as state rep to remove burdensome state mandates and un-tie local officials' hands?

What will be your priorities if you are selected to serve in the state legislature?

How can we make health care in Massachusetts more affordable for the commonwealth, cities, towns, businesses and individuals?

How do you feel about what Gov Patrick has done so far about containing health care costs?

My question to all is This... I think all of you are educated well, are lawyers and have held local seats on a board but what Policical experience so you have that I may not know about that you feel makes you qualified to be sucessful at this job?


Don't see a question topic here that you would like an answer to, add yours to the mix via email or the form here  http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/07/what-would-you-ask-candidate.html