Sunday, September 30, 2012
Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - Oct 3, 2012
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
September 5, 2012
B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast channel 11 and Verizon channel 29
C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
D. CITIZEN COMMENTS
E. APPOINTMENTS
F. HEARINGS
G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
DPW Director – Town Common
I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1. Resolution 12-65:Acceptance of G.L. Chapter 40, Section 42J:Deferral of Water Charges
2. Resolution 12-66:Acceptance of G.L. Chapter 80, Section 13B:Deferral and Recovery
Agreements
3. Resolution 12-67:Acceptance of G.L. Chapter 83, Section 16G:Deferral of Sewer Charges
4. Resolution 12-68:Acceptance of G.L. Chapter 59, Section 5N:Reduction of Property Tax
Obligation of Veteran in Exchange for Volunteer Services
5. Resolution 12-69:Senior Tax Deferrals
6. Bylaw Amendment 12-694:Amendment to Chapter 82, Appendix A, List of Service Fee Rates – 1st Reading
7. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 12-689:Changes to Chapter 185 §5. Zoning Map: Single Family III to Business Zoning District- 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
You can view the full set of documents for this agenda on the Franklin webpage
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2012%20docs/100312.pdf
Parmenter: Modular update
The grounds have been landscaped. The pathway (access road) is ready to be paved.
The spot where the propane tanks were is ready to be paved. The fencing is ready to be replaced.
Soon it will be hard to tell that there were once some modular units in this space. It will be the stuff of memories and stories to be doubted until someone produces the pictures.
The spot where the propane tanks were is ready to be paved. The fencing is ready to be replaced.
Soon it will be hard to tell that there were once some modular units in this space. It will be the stuff of memories and stories to be doubted until someone produces the pictures.
Franklin, MA: Curbside Fall Yard Waste - pick up schedule
From the Franklin webpage
Curbside Fall Yard Waste pickup will be the week of November 5th and the week of November 26th on your normal trash and recycling day. All yard waste must be in compostable bags, open barrels or bundled with compostable twine no longer than 4 feet in length and 18 inches in diameter.
Additional yard waste can be brought to the Beaver Street Recycling Center.You can visit the Franklin DPW weboage for additional information on how to handle your recycling and solid waste. http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_Recycling/index
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Traffic Alert: Harvest Festival on Sunday
Be aware that Main St will be closed to traffic on Sunday, Sep 30 from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM for the Annual Harvest Festival.
For those traveling recently on RT 140, they may have seen the electric sign board put up by the Franklin Police Dept.
Come to downtown Franklin to enjoy the Harvest Festival on Sunday. Be prepared to park outside the downtown proper!
For those traveling recently on RT 140, they may have seen the electric sign board put up by the Franklin Police Dept.
Come to downtown Franklin to enjoy the Harvest Festival on Sunday. Be prepared to park outside the downtown proper!
Enjoy the natural beauty
Leaves changing color. Rain.
What a combination!
Enjoy the natural beauty of Franklin this weekend. Don't let the rain stop you from coming on down to the Harvest Festival on Sunday.
The map of the Harvest Festival was posted yesterday
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/09/harvest-festival-know-where-good-things.html
What a combination!
Enjoy the natural beauty of Franklin this weekend. Don't let the rain stop you from coming on down to the Harvest Festival on Sunday.
The map of the Harvest Festival was posted yesterday
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/09/harvest-festival-know-where-good-things.html
Schedule for School Tours
As mentioned during the School Committee meeting on Sep 11, the schedule of school tours is now available. The first tour comes up Oct 4th at the JF Kennedy School.
The tours are open to the public and will be lead by School Committee members. This effort comes out of the positive feedback received during the tours of the high school before the debt exclusion vote to fund the new high school building in March.
The schedule of school tours will be added to the Franklin Matter's calendar.
The tours are open to the public and will be lead by School Committee members. This effort comes out of the positive feedback received during the tours of the high school before the debt exclusion vote to fund the new high school building in March.
The schedule of school tours will be added to the Franklin Matter's calendar.
"Annie Dookhan pleaded not guilty"
"We can’t speculate on the motive," Coakley said. "To date, we certainly do not have it. We have seen in other cases someone who has a drug habit or someone who is looking for monetary gain. We don’t have that evidence in this case."
Dookhan carried a heavy caseload at the lab, Coakley said, and at first glance appeared to be an "efficient, effective" chemist.
"She had a caseload and was able to effectuate two or three times what other workers were doing," Coakley said, adding that Dookhan appeared to be "proud" of her work.
Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x264121186/Former-state-chemist-from-Franklin-arrested#ixzz27r6s5KVF
Related posts
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x422898823/Franklin-chemist-admits-to-wrongdoing-at-lab
http://www.boston.com/
http://www.wbur.org/2009/10/
http://www.onthemedia.org/
http://www.necn.com/09/20/12/
Thanks to a loyal reader for providing the related links on this developing story
Friday, September 28, 2012
Harvest Festival: Know where the good things are!
The Harvest Festival map!
See where
See where
- the music performances will be
- the kids play area is located
- the food tents are
Hoffman Farm at Farmers Market - today noon to 6:00 PM
The Farmer's Market is open today on the Town Common from noon to 6:00 PM. The Hoffman Farm is one of the local farms present. The Milford Daily News has a timely article on the growth of the Hoffman Farm here in Franklin.
Read more about the Hoffman Farm: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x264120541/Franklin-farmer-plows-new-ground#ixzz27kwcuN2t
Where in Franklin is the Town Common?
View Larger Map
"My father told me, ‘You’ll never make it,’ " Hoffmann said on Thursday morning as he strode through the 18-acre parcel off Daniels Street that he obtained in May for $100,000.
Preparing to start his second farm, Hoffmann has spent the last nine years proving those words wrong.
"I’ve redeemed this land from the woods," he said, standing in a field of gnarled roots and branches. "Minus the machinery, it’s exactly what the early settlers did."
Read more about the Hoffman Farm: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x264120541/Franklin-farmer-plows-new-ground#ixzz27kwcuN2t
Where in Franklin is the Town Common?
View Larger Map
Voters should ignore Question 1 on Election Day
Franklin voters should have received the November ballot information package put out by the Secretary of the Commonwealth's office. The familiar red pamphlet outlines the ballot text and background information for the three ballot questions we get to vote on November 6.
The first ballot question is one that can be skipped over.
Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x422900332/Former-opponents-agree-Right-to-Repair-ballot-question-is-moot#ixzz27krtjcYT
If you haven't already registered to vote, you can still do so by October 17th.
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_Clerk/Voter%20Registration%20Information.pdf
If you are going to be out of town or can't make it to Franklin High School on Nov 6, you can get an absentee ballot. Information for that is available here
http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/eleifv/howabs.htm
The first ballot question is one that can be skipped over.
The new law fulfills ballot Question 1’s requirement that car manufacturers make all repair codes and other diagnostic information available to independent mechanics.
The law also gives concessions to the automobile industry by extending the deadline of a mandate that all new cars sold in the state have an onboard diagnostic and repair information system to 2018 from the ballot question’s 2015 requirement.
The issue won a place on the ballot after advocates gathered 120,000 signatures earlier this year. By the time the Legislature passed its own version of the law, it was too late to legally remove the question from the November ballot.Yes, timing is everything. The Legislature heard the voters and acted. Now the best thing we can do is get out to vote for everything else on the ballot and skip question 1.
Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x422900332/Former-opponents-agree-Right-to-Repair-ballot-question-is-moot#ixzz27krtjcYT
If you haven't already registered to vote, you can still do so by October 17th.
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_Clerk/Voter%20Registration%20Information.pdf
If you are going to be out of town or can't make it to Franklin High School on Nov 6, you can get an absentee ballot. Information for that is available here
http://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/eleifv/howabs.htm
In the News: 4th Congressional debate
Kennedy said his public service record shows he can fight to give people, including small business owners, better opportunities.
"The number one issue in this district is jobs and the economy. But it’s almost bigger than that. There are people who are not getting that access to opportunity. I’ve spent my entire life fighting for people in that position [while working] in the DA’s office," he said.
The debate, moderated by WCVB anchor Ed Harding and political reporter Janet Wu, gave Bielat and Kennedy a chance to distinguish their platforms.
To help the economy, Bielat said he favored tax cuts over government spending because "tax relief lets families and businesses make the best decisions. Families and businesses know best. The result is you get more efficient expenditure of capital than government spending."
On the other hand, Kennedy said the government plays an important role in giving small businesses access to capital, strengthening education, "putting Americans to work" and "removing uncertainty in the market."
Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x264120504/Kennedy-Bielat-trade-jabs-in-4th-Congressional-District-debate#ixzz27kvJpQMe
The debate reported on here is scheduled to air on Sunday at 11 a.m on The Boston Channel, WCVB, TV 5
Thursday, September 27, 2012
What's with teenagers? (video)
As parents, we either have had teenagers, or those youngsters now will soon become teenagers. Life is consistent in that it advances one day at a time. So why are the teenage years so challenging?
In this TED Talk,
In this TED Talk,
"Cognitive neuroscientist Sarah-Jayne Blakemore compares the prefrontal cortex in adolescents to that of adults, to show us how typically “teenage” behavior is caused by the growing and developing brain."
"So adolescence is defined as the period of life that starts with the biological, hormonal, physical changes of puberty and ends at the age at which an individual attains a stable, independent role in society."
"So what's sometimes seen as the problem with adolescents — heightened risk-taking, poor impulse control, self-consciousness — shouldn't be stigmatized. It actually reflects changes in the brain that provide an excellent opportunity for education and social development."
MassBudget: Massachusetts Ranks 25th in Taxes
State and local taxes in Massachusetts are roughly in line with the national average, according to data released today by the census bureau. Massachusetts ranks 25th among all states--meaning there are 24 states with a higher level of taxation and 25 with lower rates.
The most accurate way to compare taxation across states is to measure it as a percentage of personal income. That is, you look at the total amount of money collected through state and local taxes and then see what share that is of the total income earned in the state. When you do that for Massachusetts, you find that the level of taxation is 10.2%--below the national level of 10.6%.
|
| ||||||
Springfield: 1st MassDOT "Your Vision Our Future" Meeting
According to the published schedule for these meetings, it looks like the closest meeting will be in Framingham.
Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:
via Commonwealth Conversations: Transportation by Klark Jessen on 9/26/12
MassDOT will kick off a series of statewide public meetings tomorrow, Thursday, September 27, in Springfield, engaging with residents, community leaders and business owners to discuss the future of transportation in the Commonwealth.
The meeting is scheduled as follows:
Thursday, September 27, 6-8 pm, Springfield Technical Community College One Armory Square, Building 2, Scibelli Hall Theater, Springfield
Legislation passed in August requires the Department to host at least six public meetings in advance of developing a long-term financing plan for the state's transportation system next year. To ensure that all regions of the Commonwealth are represented, MassDOT will hold 15 meetings.
Representatives from each division of MassDOT – RMV, Highway, Aeronautics and MBTA/Rail and Transit – will be available to answer questions and provide information.
An informational website is available at: http://www.mass.gov/massdot/yourvisionourfuture
Those who are unable to attend the meetings but wish to submit comments can do so at yourvisionourfuture@dot.state.ma.us
The meeting is scheduled as follows:
Thursday, September 27, 6-8 pm, Springfield Technical Community College One Armory Square, Building 2, Scibelli Hall Theater, Springfield
Legislation passed in August requires the Department to host at least six public meetings in advance of developing a long-term financing plan for the state's transportation system next year. To ensure that all regions of the Commonwealth are represented, MassDOT will hold 15 meetings.
Representatives from each division of MassDOT – RMV, Highway, Aeronautics and MBTA/Rail and Transit – will be available to answer questions and provide information.
An informational website is available at: http://www.mass.gov/massdot/yourvisionourfuture
Those who are unable to attend the meetings but wish to submit comments can do so at yourvisionourfuture@dot.state.ma.us
Things you can do from here:
- Subscribe to Commonwealth Conversations: Transportation using Google Reader
- Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Franklin High School: Update to School Committee
While I was unable to attend the School Committee meeting on Tuesday, I want to thank Superintendent Maureen Sabolinski for sending this document along to share with you.
FHS Update 9-25-12 Final
FHS Update 9-25-12 Final
"sighs of relief from town officials"
The constructions bids for the new Franklin High School were opened and ended up $1.1M under the estimated cost.
Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x1238767627/Bids-for-new-Franklin-High-School-below-budget#ixzz27ZBgVDWO
The collection of posts on the new high school can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/12/collection-high-school-building-project.html
"The builder has an excellent reputation," said Superintendent Maureen Sabolinski. "And the price was very good, very good for the community. It’s very fulfilling."
Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting said going with the model school program rather than repairing the town’s 41-year-old high school, which town officials initially discussed doing, was the better choice.
"I think the numbers proved today that what we were asking the citizens to support was the right decision," Nutting said. "I think we are going to have an awesome education facility for the next 50 years or so."
As long as the bid came in at or below the estimated budget, he said, "We were going to be happy. Now that it’s well below the estimate, that’s good for the state and good for the tax payers of Franklin."
Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x1238767627/Bids-for-new-Franklin-High-School-below-budget#ixzz27ZBgVDWO
The collection of posts on the new high school can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/12/collection-high-school-building-project.html
In the News: Harvest Festival
Zentangle demo planned at Franklin Harvest Fest
The weather outlook isn't great for Sunday. The Festival will be held rain or shine so let's all hope and pray for some sunshine!
Additional information on the Harvest Festival can be found on the Downtown Partnership webpage
http://www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/
FHS SOCCER - FIVE GUYS FUNDRAISER - THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4th 4:00PM - 10:00PM (FLIER)
The Franklin High School Soccer Boosters are holding their annual FIVE GUYS Fundraiser
Thursday, October 4th, from 5:00PM - 10:00PM at the FIVE GUYS Restaurant in Franklin Village.
A portion of the receipts for the evening will be graciously donated by FIVE GUYS to the FHS Soccer Boosters organization, which supports the Franklin High School Varsity, Junior Varsity, and Freshman Boys and Girls Soccer Teams.
Please come out this Thursday night to enjoy a great meal at Five Guys and support the Franklin High School Soccer Teams at the same time!
Thank you in advance; your support is greatly appreciated.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)