Monday, February 11, 2013

After Nemo (photo essay)

Walking around Franklin on Saturday afternoon and then again on Sunday provided some good photo opportunities.


Nemo_Franklin_Parmenter
Parmenter School
Parmenter School is ready to open two hours late today


Nemo_Franklin_HistMuseum
Franklin Historical Museum
The Museum, in the snow, with the setting sun.... looking good!


Nemo_Franklin_RocklandTr
Rockland Trust
I am not sure that the brand managers would appreciate with Mother Nature did with their sign!


Nemo_Franklin_Triangle1
Downtown view at the triangle

Nemo_Franklin_Triangle2
Looking west at the triangle
The roads are narrow, be careful moving about


Nemo_Franklin_WinterSt
The storm hid the name of this street
When walking Sunday, the street sign was able to reveal its name. The snow had cleared. (see below)

Nemo_Franklin_KingStSummerSt
King of the hill anyone?
The corner of King St and Summer St heading into Franklin was piled high

Nemo_Franklin_KingSt
King St empty on a Saturday afternoon?
The travel ban was still in effect and folks were abiding by it. Only a few snow plows came by during our walk on Saturday.

nemo_Franklin_TreeShadow
Tree shadow
Sunday brought bright sunshine

nemo_Franklin_SnowWaves
snow sculpted by the wind
Many yards slope and how the wind played with the snow revealed some interesting combinations

nemo_Franklin_FHARoof1
snow overhang
One of the Franklin Housing Association buildings has this nice big snow curve hanging there

nemo_Franklin_FHA2
snow curve, side view
The connections are made one flake at a time

nemo_Franklin_WinterSt2
Winter St
The mystery sign is appropriately Winter St.

Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - Feb 13, 2013



A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
December 5, 2012

B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast channel 11 and Verizon channel 29. This meeting may be recorded by Franklin Matters.

C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS

D. CITIZEN COMMENTS

E. APPOINTMENTS

F. HEARINGS
Acceptance of Lady Slipper Lane, Pasture Way and Symmes Road as Public Ways – Public Hearing – 7:10 PM

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS

H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
Gus Brown, Building Commissioner

I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1. Resolution 13-07: Order of Acceptance of Lady Slipper Lane, Pasture Way, and Symmes Road as Public Ways

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 documents as published for this session can be found here
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2013/021313.pdf

Rail Trail Committee to meet Feb 12, 7:30 PM


The Franklin and Bellingham Rail Trail Committee is scheduled to meet on Tuesday, Feb 12, 2013. The agenda for this meeting is shown below.



Networking Luncheon - Please Join Us!

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

via Franklin Downtown Partnership by noreply@blogger.com (Franklin Downtown Partnership) on 2/10/13

Franklin Downtown Partnership
Networking Luncheon
Friday, March 1st- 1:00
Dean College Campus Center
Dining Hall
Hope you can come and meet other
FDP members.
RSVP Joel Cararra at



Things you can do from here:

Sunday, February 10, 2013

Franklin Schools: 2 Hour Delay - Monday, Feb 11

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "FRANKLIN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT"
Date: Feb 10, 2013 6:16 PM
Subject: 2 Hour Delay
:

A message from FRANKLIN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

Hello

Please be advised that all schools will open 2 hours late on Monday, February 11. 


The DPW did a great job plowing roads and schools however not all sidewalks are plowed at this time. The district will implement emergency transportation for those students who walk to school and are unable to obtain a ride. Buses have been directed to stop and pick up all walkers. For a list of bus stops please go to the transportation page in the Business office link on our web site.

Please be aware that the snow banks are high and roads are expected to be wet so please drive with caution.

District office will be open at the regular time.

Stay safe




To listen to the above message, you will need audio software and speakers on your computer.
This e-mail has been sent to you by FRANKLIN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT. To maximize their communication with you, you may be receiving this e-mail in addition to a phone call with the same message. If you wish to discontinue this service, please inform FRANKLIN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT IN PERSON, by US MAIL, or by TELEPHONE at (508) 613-1777.


All Southside Lines/Routes Alert

Trains to Boston resume in the AM on Monday!


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "T-Alerts Notification"
Date: Feb 10, 2013 11:23 AM
Subject: All Southside Lines/Routes Alert
To: "T-Alerts Notification"
Cc:

Regularly scheduled Commuter Rail service will resume at the start of service on Monday, February 11, 2013.

Please visit MBTA.com/Winter for full details.



Drive cautiously

Be careful driving around Franklin today. Especially when coming from a side street to a main street, the snow is piled high on the corner and you'll have difficulty peeking around to watch for the traffic.

From North Park St to Wachusett

Nemo_Franklin_NParkcorner


From Wachusett to King St

Nemo_Franklin_WachusettSt



Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda - Feb 12, 2013

Vision Statement
The Franklin Public Schools will foster within its students the knowledge and skills to find and achieve satisfaction in life as productive global citizens.

"The listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law."

1. Routine Business
Citizen’s Comments
Review of Agenda
Minutes: I recommend approval of the minutes from the January 29, 2013 School Committee Meeting.
Payment of Bills Mrs. McIntyre
Payroll Mrs. Douglas
FHS Student Representatives
Correspondence:
1. Budget to Actual

2. Guests/Presentations
a. MASS Academic Excellence Awards
b. Best Buddies Grants
c. FHS Project Update – Tom Mercer

(Note: The document for this can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/02/high-school-construction-update.html)

d. District Improvement Plan (DIP) – Maureen Sabolinski, Sally Winslow, Joyce Edwards

(Note: The document for this can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/02/fps-district-improvement-plan-checklist.html)

3. Discussion Only Items
Policy – First Reading
1. JLCCB – Wellness Policy

(Note: The current and proposed documents can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/02/fps-wellness-policy-proposed-revision.html)


4. Action Items
a. I recommend moving Policy JLCCB-Wellness to a second reading for the next School Committee meeting on February 26, 2013.
b. I recommend approval of the request of Mary MacMurray to take JF Kennedy Music Students to the Veteran’s Auditorium in Providence, RI on April 11, 2013 for a musical performance as detailed.
c. I recommend approval of the rescheduling of the previously approved ski trip for HMMS students due to frigid temperatures to Mt. Sunapee, Newbury, NH to March 2, 2013.
d. I recommend acceptance of a check for $500.00 from Harvard Pilgrim Health Care for a mini-grant awarded to Karen Lindblom at Remington Middle School.
e. I recommend acceptance of a check for $20.00 from Robert and Joyce Cullins for district wide in-house enrichment.
f. I recommend acceptance of a check for $3890.00 from the Franklin Music Boosters for Middle School concerts and chorus.
g. I recommend acceptance of the donation of dictionaries for all Franklin third grade students from the Franklin Elks Lodge 2136.
h. I recommend acceptance of a check for $1,490.00 from the Horace Mann PCC for in-house enrichment.
i. I recommend acceptance of a check for $242.28 from Wells Fargo Community Support / Doug Lee for in-house enrichment for FHS.

5. Information Matters
Superintendent’s Report
School Committee Sub-Committee Reports
School Committee Liaison Reports

6. New Business
To discuss future business that may be brought before the School Committee.

7. Executive Session
Contractual Negotiations

8. Adjourn

FPS: Wellness Policy - proposed revision

The Wellness Policy is up for discussion and possible revision on the School Committee agenda.

The current policy document:




The proposed revision to the policy:

FPS: District Improvement Plan - checklist

The District Improvement Plan checklist is scheduled for discussion at the School Committee meeting on Tuesday, Feb 12, 2013.




High School: Construction Update

This document is scheduled for discussion at the School Committee meeting on Tuesday, Feb 12, 2013





All Southside Lines/Routes Alert

No trains to Boston today!


---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: T-Alerts Notification
Date: Sun, Feb 10, 2013 at 6:44 AM
Subject: All Southside Lines/Routes Alert
To: T-Alerts Notification


Due to severe weather that impacted the Boston area, MBTA service is suspended on all modes through Sunday, February 10, 2013.

Service will resume as soon as possible.

Please visit MBTA.com/Winter for full details.


MBTA Crossing at Union St, Franklin
The tracks are fairly clear so it must be the signal/power problem in Quincy that was mentioned during the Governor's update yesterday that is still the cause. With no power at this main tower in Quincy, no signals can get to anywhere on the system.

Voices of Franklin: Fluoridegate (video)


Franklin resident Rich Aucoin sends along the link to this hour long documentary on fluoride.

FLUORIDEGATE is a new documentary that reveals the tragedy of how government, industry and trade associations protect and promote a policy known to cause harm to our country and especially to small children who suffer more than any other segment of the population. While their motivation remains uncertain, the outcome is crystal clear: it is destroying our nation!





For more information on fluoride, you can visit the Franklin Fluoride Council webpage
http://franklinfluoridecouncil.com/

or the Fluoridegate webpage  http://www.fluoridegate.org/

Making our government open, transparent and accessible"

The paper has a recap of some area communities and the effort to put public meeting information in digital format.
Franklin’s website includes Town Council meeting packets dating back to 2008. 
Assistant to the Town Administrator Maxine Kinhart said staff make electronic packets for councilors, so it is just one more step to post online. 
"We just did it as a convenience to the citizens," she said. "They’re all public records so we just put it all out there." 
Kinhart said the town made computers available for councilors to use at meetings, but they prefer to bring their own devices.

Read more: Towns look to go digital in putting documents online - Franklin, MA - Wicked Local Franklin http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x898128772/Towns-look-to-go-digital-in-putting-documents-online#ixzz2KUlUsWw9

The Franklin School Committee puts together an Adobe document package that contains the individual files for the agenda, action items, presentations, etc.

I am not aware of the Planning Board going digital. The problem there is with all the drafting documents. Some of those documents are huge and while it is possible to put them in digital format, the usability of viewing them online is not as good as simply holding the paper document.Some day!

Blizzard Nemo 2013 Update

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "TOWN OF FRANKLIN"
Date: Feb 9, 2013 1:50 PM
Subject: Blizzard Nemo 2013 Update



Hello.  This is Gary Premo calling with updated information on the storm.  The Governor's issued driving ban will be lifted at 4pm.  Please stay off the roads until then so the DPW crews can clear the streets of snow.

No significant power outages have been reported in town.  If you are experiencing an outage, please call national Grid directly at 1-800-322-3223 or 1-800-465-1212.  Bldg Commissioner Gus Brown reminds residents to clear around ALL exhaust vents (fireplaces, furnaces, dryers).  Deputy Fire Chief Paul Sharpe asks for your assistance in clearing out any hydrants near your property.  Let the clean-up continue.  Thank you for listening.  Goodbye.

This e-mail has been sent to you by TOWN OF FRANKLIN. To maximize their communication with you, you may be receiving this e-mail in addition to a phone call with the same message. If you wish to discontinue this service, please inform TOWN OF FRANKLIN either IN PERSON, by US MAIL, or by TELEPHONE at 508-520-4938 or REPLY TO THIS EMAIL.

In my walk around on Saturday afternoon, I did see some hydrants cleared.

Nemo_Franklin_FireHydrant
Franklin fire hydrant cleared of snow