Live reporting: Town Council - Apr 3, 2013

Present: Mercer, Dellorco (7:10),  Kelly, Powderly, Vallee, Pfeffer, Jones, Bissanti

Absent:  Roy


A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
March 6, 2013
motion to approve; approve as amended 7-0
Powderly requested to amend to reflect that the motion was read by

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
Regent Circle neighborhood residents
not paved in the 30-40 years of the residents
settlement and pavement failures, represent safety hazards
sidewalks not walkable


View Larger Map


Paul Piccillo
grass growing in some of the pot holes on the street

Mike Ipoliti (sic)
seconding road conditions as mentioned

Diane Martin
lived on Regent Circle for 39 years
it is a hazard

Wendy Jackson
regarding major accident at the BJ Intersection
after bridge was put in, flashing light taken down, replaced with stop signs
no other way in or out that intersection
it is an absolute disaster
moved the stop sign at BJ's out further
new office, new gas station coming, commercial signs for sale, it will continue to increase traffic

Maureen Chosen
in accident in Sept 2011, the lights were taken down there
Joe Halligan counted a hundred cars, only 2 stopped there
something else needs to be done before the next accident gets worse

Jennifer
in the accident on Saturday
I didn't know what to expect, 8 month old son in car, car t-boned and rolled three times
can't work for four weeks, is a single mom and that is hard
a simple stop light can help


E. APPOINTMENTS

F. HEARINGS

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS

H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS

I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

Five Year Fiscal Forecast: The sky is not falling (but it is getting lower)

Franklin Town Administrator Jeff Nutting's letter to the Town Council, School Committee and Finance Committee with the "Five Year Fiscal Forecast: The sky is not falling (but it is getting lower)"

Mosquito spraying scheduled for April

The official notification from Norfolk county on the mosquito spraying to be conducted in April. The target dates are between April 16 and 26th.

Recycling Center open on Tuesday

Effective April 2, 2013 the Recycling Center on Beaver Street will also be open on Tuesdays from 12-3.

The Center will be open on Tuesday through November.

Remember, only Visa, Mastercard, Discover and checks are accepted.

Stickers can be purchased at the 

DPW office - 257 Fisher St., 

Town Hall - Clerk's office - 355 East Central St, 

the Recycling Center - 445 Beaver St. 

and phone by calling 508-553-5500.

This was posted to the Franklin, MA webpage

http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_News/01AAB59E-000F8513

Franklin Library: Minute to Win It

Minute to Win It

Minute to Win It

Posted by Franklin Public Library at

4:26 PM

Franklin Public Library - 118 Main Street Franklin MA 02038 - 508.520.4940

In the News: OUI arrest, mosquito spraying

Franklin man arrested on second OUI in 3 years

Officer Louis Marguerite put the pieces together: the car’s underbelly bleeding transmission fluid, the liquid trail, the tire marks right before the sidewalk at the end of Echo Bridge Road.

Helicopter mosquito spraying to take place in April

The Norfolk County Mosquito Control District will be conducting helicopter applications of the biorational larvicide BTI (bacillus thuringiensis israelensis) to control mosquito larvae.

Live reporting - Finance Committee - Apr 2, 2013

Present: Smith, Dufur, Feldman,  Roche, Dewsnap, Aparo, Huempfner
Absent: Goldsmith, Quinn

Susan Gagner, Jeff Nutting and Jim Dacey (from right to left as you watch the video broadcast)

motion to approve meeting minutes, approve 7-0


Begin by reading the budget line by line, if any one hold a dept that should be acknowledged
those questions can be answered, then they can go and approve the budget as a single item

Holds

Fire Dept

Dufur - recognition for the excellent Fire Dept presentation. Recommending one part-time addition, recognizing the aging of the department, the growth of the community would increase additional pressure on the service level performance. Overall creates a compelling agrument

Roche - one guy will help but...

Nutting - reviewing additional info in regards to the injuries, last Fri had a graduate from the Academy, a second person coming back in July, another person is being planned for hiring in July, yet another anticipated coming back from injury. Not currently in the budget but planning ahead for a disability retirement, exactly when will it happen, hard to say. Increasing three new people will help shift the burden. The runs have not yet increased but it is anticipated they might. 14 -15,000 hours of OT averaged. Need to think about the burden above the salary to cover the benefits and insurances required. It is not easy but we should be able to hold our breath for another year.

Nutting - still don't have a collective bargaining agreement with the Fire Fighters union, about to go to arbitration. Would you save some money via reduction in overtime in short term maybe, but the overall costs salary and benefits is a lot of money

Dufur - it is manageable

Feldman - looking at the outlook, it doesn't get rosier

Nutting - scheduled for 91 tours, with the overtime it gets to about 95 tours. Going to the 24 hour shift has had some effect versus what they did with the 10-14 hour shifts

Motion to approve the budget
general fund 95 million etc.
approved 7-0

motion to approve the budget
enterprise budget 10 million etc.
approved 7-0


Old business - none

New business  -
Jeff has submitted a five year forecast "The sky is not falling but it is getting lower"
forecast based upon best estimates, forecast has not really changed over time
"we have eliminated 20% of the workforce"
we don't get 2.5% increase in our revenues
"The only thing that fixes roads is money" I think we need a dedicated override for the roads
it can only be spent on what it was funded for, i.e. roads
as opposed to a general override where it goes to the general funds after the first year

(a copy of the letter will be posted here later)

We are working regionally for safety dispatch, it may come in about 18 months and save us about $100,000. It is the right thing to do and we are doing it. It is hard to get people to come to the table. We share recreation, dog services, and sewer. We tried the library and they left.

Our general fund debt outside of Prop 2.5% is dropping, as our old debt gets paid off. Some of the buildings get paid off over the next couple of years as the high school comes on

I have level funded the state funding and am very concerned about that especially with whatever happens at the Federal level increasing pressures on them

How did the snow and ice come out?
Knock on wood, we should be just under the amount budgeted ($900,000). it is very unpredictable

Has OPEB made it to the state house agenda?
No, it is woefully inadequate. They started on lengthening the requirements for eligibility

Question on auditors report
In the management report, working on a plan to address the recommendations
Fraud risk assessment

Franklin Fire Dept: FY 2014 Budget Presentation

The presentation document as used by Chief Gary McCarraher and Deputy Chief Paul Sharpe for the budget hearing last week can be viewed here:




The notes from the Budget hearing last week can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/03/live-reporting-finance-committee-budget.html

The notes from the first two budget hearings can be found here

• Finance Committee - Budget hearing - 03/14/13
• Finance Committee - Budget hearing - 03/13/13

Rep Roy - April Office Hours

Boston, MA -- State Representative Jeffrey Roy (D-Franklin) announced today that constituent office hours will be held in Medway and Franklin for the Month of April on the following days:

Medway – Saturday, April 6th, 10:00-11:00AM, Coffee Sensations - 116 Main Street Medway, MA 

Franklin – Tuesday. April 16th, 8:30-9:30AM, Franklin Senior Center - 10 Daniel McCahill Street Franklin, MA 

Medway – Thursday, April 25th, 7:30-8:30AM, Medway Senior Center - 76 Oakland Street Medway, MA

Christopher Yancich, his legislative aide, will be accompanying him.

Representative Roy stated that all office hours are open to any residents of Franklin and Medway who may have questions or concerns that they wish to bring to his attention. Walk-ins are welcome, no appointment necessary. He looks forward to hearing from you.

He also invites all constituents to call him at his State House office at (617) 722-2400, stop by Room 134 in the State House, or email him at Jeffrey.Roy@MAhouse.gov.

Hock 5 Rankings Released for Spring Sports

Hock 5 Rankings Released for Spring Sports
http://feedly.com/k/Z4nhNm

As the majority of spring teams open up their 2013 campaigns this week, we have released our Hock 5 Rankings for Baseball, Softball, and Boys and Girls Lacrosse. This is the first time in HockomockSports.com's history we have done Spring Hock 5 rankings. 

For baseball, two DI teams - Franklin and Taunton - who met in the playoffs last year battle for the top spot in the preseason poll.Click here for the Baseball Hock 5  

In softball, both newcomers Milford and Taunton made the poll, but only one of them was chosen to be the unanimous number one to start the season. Click here for the Softball Hock 5 

For boys lacrosse, the Davenport took the majority of the spots in the poll, including the top spot. And in girls lacrosse, the Kelley-Rex took the one, three, and five spots.Click here for the Boys Lacrosse Hock 5Click here for the Girls Lacrosse Hock 5

In the News: STAR, summer camp, Stony Brook

The Franklin Public Schools Summer STAR program has expanded its summer courses and is offering new classes specifically designed for incoming 5th and 6th grade students.

http://www.wickedlocal.com/franklin/news/x2082723775/Franklin-STAR-program-expands-summer-courses?rssfeed=true

Registration is now open for summer camp at the Hockomock Area YMCA. All three branches in Foxborough, North Attleboro, and Franklin will hold camp information days on Saturday, April 6, from 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

http://www.wickedlocal.com/franklin/news/x2082723755/Hockomock-YMCA-branches-plan-camp-information-days?rssfeed=true

Spring! What more is there to say?  Join the naturalists at Stony Brook Wildlife Sanctuary, 108 North St., Norfolk, for a number of exciting programs.

http://www.wickedlocal.com/franklin/news/x898158015/Stony-Brook-slates-April-programs?rssfeed=true

Finance Committee - Agenda - Apr 2, 2013

The agenda for the Finance Committee (FinCom) meeting on Tuesday, April 2 is shown below. They will conclude their budget hearings with their vote on the budget. The budget voting doc is not yet posted to the Franklin webpage. When it is, I'll update the link.



Information on the three budget hearings can be found here:

• Finance Committee - Budget hearing - 03/28/13
• Finance Committee - Budget hearing - 03/14/13
• Finance Committee - Budget hearing - 03/13/13

The overall budget summary can be found here
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_Admin/FY%202014%20Proposed%20Budget/FY%2014%20Proposed%20Budget.pdf

Life is good Co-founder Bert Jacobs at Dean College

Life is good

Life is good Co-founder, Bert Jacobs, brings the good vibes to the Dean College campus as part of the Dean Leadership Institute's Executive Lecture Series. This event is free and open to the public, but you must RSVP by emailing DLI@Dean.edu with the names of people attending.

Location: Dean College Campus Center, 6:30 PM

"a voyage of discovery"

The Milford Daily News has an article on the interns from Dean College working with the Franklin Historical Commission.

"It’s gratifying for the historical commission in that the materials are not just sitting there: people are creating new knowledge," he said, adding "I like it as a history professor because my students are getting some real world experience." 

Alan Earls, a member of the commission, said that the intern’s scholarly exuberance freshens up the monotonous inventory process. 

"The thought is that students can bring their academic capabilities into it," Earls said. "We welcome the hands and minds." 

He added, "We hope to do more with Dean. They have a great history program there and a strong connection with the town."

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x898157795/Dean-College-student-interns-get-inspired-at-Historical-Museum#ixzz2PChZvF2C

Dean student Alan Procknow presented on the industrial revolution as seen in Franklin, during the Franklin Downtown Partnerships' Holiday Stroll in November 2012.  http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/11/alan-procknow-franklins-industrial.html

Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - Apr 3, 2013

A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
March 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

H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS

I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1. Resolution 13-21: Acceptance of Real Estate Payment Agreement Between Town and Franklin Community Cable Access, Inc., RE: Property at 23 Hutchinson Street
2. Resolution 13-22: Long Range Financial Planning Process
3. Resolution 13-23: Appropriation: Town Clerk, Poll Workers, Expenses
4. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 13-706: Changes to Chapter 185-5. Zoning Map, Adult Use Overlay District – Referral to Planning Board
5. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 13-707: Changes to Chapter 185-47. Adult Entertainment Establishment Districts – Referral to Planning Board
6. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 13-708: Changes to Chapter 185-3. Definitions – Referral to Planning Board
7. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 13-709: Changes to Chapter 185-4. Districts Enumerated – Referral to Planning Board
8. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 13-710: Changes to Chapter 185-5. Zoning Map, Medical Marijuana Use Overlay District – Referral to Planning Board
9. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 13-711: Changes to Chapter 185-7. Compliance Required – Referral to Planning Board
10. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 13-712: Changes to Chapter 185-49. Medical Marijuana Use Overlay District – Referral to Planning Board

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 full set of documents released for this meeting can be found here:
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2013/040313.pdf