Thursday, March 7, 2013

Franklin Library: Fun Club - Green Slime Time

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

via Franklin Public Library by Franklin Public Library on 3/5/13



Things you can do from here:

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

Live reporting - closing

J. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT 
Congrats to Brustus for becoming a "roads scholar"

Library waiver was granted for this year
more programs will be announced via Facebook and Twitter

Thanks to DPW and public safety folks for work during the blizzard

Annual budget coming out the FinCom and Council this week
level service, no job loses
Schools coming in at 3%, hearing next week
budget hearings scheduled for Mar 13, 14 and 28. Apr 1, 2 at FinCom

Recreation plan for DelCarte property
public hearing Tues Mar 12, 6:30 at 3rd floor training room

Update for Apr 3 meeting on Downtown Project

K. OLD BUSINESS 

Nutting - update on NationalGrid, pole hearings underway, for Partridge St and Maple St


M. NEW BUSINESS 
Roy - an update from Franklin Housing Authority is requested
think and talk about a impact of a casino in Milford

Bissanti - Community Preservations Act could be beneficial, lot of exciting projects under this program

Vallee - lot at Union and Cottage owned by the railroad (CSX)
Nutting we had approached them before to see if they were interested in selling and were not
trying to get CSX to do anything is difficult


N. COUNCIL COMMENTS 
Kelly - library events on Facebook, glad to join the masses

Powderly - wish the girls basketball team good luck!

Jones - Mar 9 - Thayer PCC - bid for the Kids auction, largest fund raiser
Economic Dev meeting Mar 13, 5:30 PM

Bissanti - loved a book reading at Davis Thayer, proud to be part of it



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

P. ADJOURN 
motion to adjourn, passed 9-0 via roll

Live reporting - action items


I. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION 
1. Resolution 13-08: Swahn Lane, A Private Way Acceptance of Covenant with Owner 
motion to approve, 9-0 via roll call

2. Resolution 13-09: Transfer of Tax Title Possession Parcels to Different Municipal Purposes
motion to approve as amended, 9-0 via roll call

annual event, after tax title determine which use of the land is best
motion to amend striking item #3 from the proposal at this time, motion passed 9-0 via roll call

3. Resolution 13-10: Town of Franklin Net Metering Power Purchase Agreement Authorization
motion to approve, 9-0 via roll call

Phase 2 of the solar development discussed before. To be built at the St Mary's. Worth over $6M between cost saved for power and increased revenue from property taxes over 20 years

4. Resolution 13-11:Authorization to Expend Funds in Excess of Available Appropriations 
motion to approve, 9-0 via roll call

standard request for coverage of the snow and ice during winter, likely to get to it spent approx $700K against the $900K budget

5. Bylaw Amendment 13-700: Amendment to Chapter 82, Appendix A, List of Service Fee Rates – 1st Reading
motion to move to 2nd reading, 9-0 via roll call

trash fee currently $204 would rise to $212 for next fiscal year

Powderly - fee did drop earlier, totters paid off, even with the increase we are still paying less than we did before the system switched


Live reporting - High School Building costs


slide included in PDF for agenda
will be added for this later)

$6,612 vs. 5,440
projected to be individualized costs per household over the life of the funding required

for a couple of years up front, you pay slightly more but over the long term, the total payments are less by $1,172 (and it could be more)


Jeff made presentation, Tom Mercer participating via telephone conference call

Nutting - The under ground is done, the steel is rising. The only real unknown left is if when we take down the old school we find something we didn't expect.

Roy - Anytime we can save the taxpayers money it is a no-brainer

Nutting - projected to be about a 20% savings over the life of the bond

Mercer - yes, we have a year spike but otherwise it saves us money in the long term

Jones - many of the naysayers for the school were fearful that the school was going to be a taj mahal and be full of cost overruns. To that we have been under and continuing to reduce is good.

Powderly - I appreciate the diligence in looking to avoid surprises, saving money overall

Live reporting - Police Presentation


PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS

1. Chief of Police, Stephan Semerjian

(Document to be added later)

5000 in 1904 to 33,000 in 2012, arrests rose from 33 to 400+ in those years

Some historical figures and anecdotes told along the way

picture of parking meters from back in the 1940"s

photo of the new building from 1991

map of the four sectors patrolled by the police

photo of firearms seized from one Franklin resident

photo of dispatch station with four monitors operated by a single person when a 911 call comes in

certificate as America's Safest City for 2013 (actually #2 in 2012)

Chief says I am very proud of the guys we have, they want to work, they make it easy for me

Dellorco, they help us so much, there are coaches at the high school, they are involved, they know the kids

There is only one female officer currently

We get what we need to do what we have to do, we're better educated and trained so that helps


Live reporting - Town Council - Mar 6

Present: Mercer (remote) Dellorco, Kelly, Powderly, Vallee,  Pfeffer, Jones, Bissanti, Roy (late)
Absent:

A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
February 6, 2013 

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 

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS 

Franklin Public Schools: Update/Information


A message from FRANKLIN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

Hello:

Weather Update
Many parents/guardians have called or emailed today concerning the status of school. At this time there is no data to make a decision. We will work closely with the Franklin DPW, Police and Fire to make the safest decision. We will not make a decision until tomorrow (Thursday) morning.

Many in our community have inquired as to the last day of school - June 24. As per MA General Law we must be in session for 180 days and we cannot extend the school year beyond June 28.


FHS Winter Carnival 
Fun Event for Preschool and Elementary Children
Date/Time: Sunday March 10   12:00-4:00
FHS Field House
Games, snacks and prizes
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.