Friends Of Franklin Library: Meeting Agenda - Jan 8, 2014

FOFL Meeting Agenda for Wednesday January 8, 2014

Meeting time: 7PM
Meeting place: Franklin Library, Community Room


Welcome and introductions

Library Director’s report, and request(s) for funds

• Request for $10,000.00 for purchase of library materials (books, DVDs, and E-books)
• FY2014 budget status update

Comments and updates from the Library Board of Directors

• Overview of Strategic Plan

Acceptance of minutes from last (December 4) meeting

Treasurer’s report

• Discussion and vote on library funds requested

Committee updates

• Membership
• Outreach – Facebook/Twitter
• Downtown Partnership

Continuing items

• Memorial Scholarship
• Meetings with MBLC and MFOL representatives
• FoFL Bulletin board content
• Fundraising opportunities

New Items

• Passes requested by members
• Program suggestions
• Other (open forum)

Companion Caregiver Program available

Have you considered the companion caregiver program currently offered by the Franklin Senior Center?

The grant funded program is designed to provide full time caregivers who are 60 years of age and older, some respite care from one of our trained companions. It is designed for the caregiver caring for someone with a major medical illness or dementia. We can offer 2-4 hours per week for each family.

While currently focused on caregivers over 60, there is hope that with continued success of the program, and additional grant funding, it may be expanded to include those caregivers under 60 who are also providing care for their senior parents and relatives.

The program flyer is shown here. You can download and print your own copy.



For other services offered by the Senior Center, you can visit the Senior Center online
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Senior/index

Women in Negotiation: internal views and external responses

Tuesday, January 14

6:30 PM

Learn how a woman’s internal views on negotiation, and her own negotiation style, may have an impact on her personal and professional life.


GUEST SPEAKER: Jennifer Lampi
A specialist in negotiation techniques, Ms. Lampi has worked closely with Professor Linda Babcock, author of Women Don’t Ask, researching the impacts of gender on negotiation. At Accenture, she has advised teams, coached female executives, and trained people on how to practice and utilize different negotiation techniques.


Location: Dean College - Campus Center.
Free parking on campus at 100 West Central Street, Franklin

FREE ADMISSION

RSVP alumni@dean.edu

SPEAKER’S FORUM - Franklin Water Supply

SPEAKER’S FORUM

The first in a series of public speaking engagements hosted by the Franklin Odd Fellows:
Franklin Water Supply Presentation

Presenter: Laurie Ruszala, Water and Sewer Superintendent

Date: Wednesday, January 15, 2014
Time: 7:00 pm
Location: Franklin Public Library, Community Room (Downstairs)


Agenda:

1. General Overview of water system and regulatory agencies
2. Production
3. Treatment
4. Distribution
5. Water Quality
6. Cross Connection
7. Meter Reading (water conservation/waste)
Questions and Answer Period

Information from the town website:

Currently the Town of Franklin obtains its drinking water from 12 groundwater supply wells. In addition to the 12 water supply wells, the Town operates 6 booster pump stations, 6 water storage tanks, over 2,000 hydrants, 157 miles of water main and approximately 9,000 water services. The Town of Franklin sanitary sewer system is comprised of 137 miles of sewer pipe, over 3,400 manholes and 23 pump stations.

www.franklinmassoddfellows.org

"a celebration at the restaurant when it reopens"

The kitchen at Guru will need to be re-done and take up to 4 weeks due to the fire on Sunday.

The manager of the Guru Bar and Grill said Tuesday the Main Street restaurant will remain closed for up to four weeks after a grease fire on Sunday tore through its kitchen. 

Sandeep Sidhu said the restaurant, which opened at 30 Main St. a little more than a year ago, sustained heavy damage to the kitchen, though he had not received a complete estimate from his insurance company. 

The dining room sustained minor smoke damage, he said. And indeed, the stink left in the two-alarm fire’s wake was still fresh there on Tuesday afternoon.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x407167000/Main-Street-restaurant-in-Franklin-closed-after-Sunday-fire#ixzz2pnoajWdX

"regulations tighten the town’s rules on smoking in public places"

The proposed regulations are set for a public hearing today at 10:00 AM.

The Board of Health’s public hearing on new tobacco regulations, written by Health Director David McKearney, is set for Tuesday. 

The three-member board will meet at 10 a.m. at the Municipal Building, 355 East Central St. 

The regulations call for raising the legal age to purchase tobacco products to 19 and establish a tobacco and nicotine delivery products permit, administered by the board. The town has never had a local tobacco permit, though businesses selling tobacco products must still acquire a license from the state Department of Revenue.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/blog/healthconscious/x407166500/Franklin-Board-of-Health-hearing-on-tobacco-regs-slated#ixzz2phzM2RNJ

You can read the proposed regulations here:




Or find this document on the Franklin Board of Health webpage
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_HealthNews/01C3F009-000F8513 

(Note: The BoH revised their proposed regulations and posted the new set (1/23/14), took down the old. You'll need to figure out what the difference between the two sets are, there are no revision marking on the new document.)
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_HealthNews/01C7D47D-000F8513

Children's Center - Open House Tours - Jan 14th

The Children's Center at Dean College will be holding Open House tours on Tuesday, January 14th.

Details in the postcard shown here:

Dean College Children's Center - Open House Tours

For more about the Children's Center you can visit their webpage here
http://www.dean.edu/pre_school.aspx

Annual Report 2013: Housing Authority

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
The following Officers were duly elected at the annual organizational meeting of the Franklin Housing Authority held on April 8, 2013.
George A. Danello, Chairman
Christopher K. Feeley, Vice Chairperson
Peter L. Brunelli, Treasurer
Mark A. Teehan, Assistant Treasurer
John R. Padula, Commissioner

Commissioner Peter L. Brunelli and Commissioner John R. Padula have served on the Board for many years. During their service, they were instrumental in assisting the housing authority receive five ‘Outstanding Agency Awards’ from the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials MassNAHRO), including the most recent for obtaining a duplex for the affordable housing of single, low-income persons in the Franklin area. Both Commissioners have been highly respected for their diligent work in providing safe and affordable housing to persons of low income.

Commissioner Brunelli left the Board after serving 18 years and Commissioner Padula left the Board after 22 years of service. Sincere thanks to both from the Franklin Housing Authority.

Diane Padula-O’Neill has been sworn in by the Town Clerk as a new commissioner for the housing authority. We look forward to working with Commissioner O’Neill in the upcoming year.

FHA STAFF
Lisa M. Audette, Executive Director
Candice Day, Administrative Assistant
Carole Blanchard, Office Assistant
Michael Gilligan, Maintenance Supervisor
Frank McAvoy, Maintenance Laborer
James Brunelli, Maintenance Groundskeeper
Anne Ayotte, Service Coordinator

Three highly regarded staff members retired from their positions in the past year. Melva Jackson worked as Office Clerk for 12 years. Diane Lamoureux worked as Office Assistant then Administrative Assistant and retired after 16 years. William Pizzi work as Maintenance Laborer for 10 years. The best of health and happiness is wished for their retirement years.

Modernization of the Franklin Housing Authority Properties
A Contract for Funding Assistance from the Department of Housing & Community Development for the purpose of repairing components of the aged agency for their fiscal year ending June 30, 2013. Several projects were completed using this very timely and important funding including the following: 667 development - roof replacement, catch basin repairs, electric panel replacement, installation of GFCI outlets and common room furniture replacement. 200 and 705 developments – roof replacement, concrete repairs and drain repairs. 689 development received new appliances.

Also, Franklin Housing Authority was awarded $22,500 in Health & Safety funds for the placement of the community room floor, foyer floors and stair treads. The Auditor’s Office did an audit of the modernization and procurement activity since 2010. After 3 months of review, no mistakes were found.

FHA Property
The Franklin Housing Authority manages 161 units of State Aided Elderly/Disabled Housing, 33 units of low income Family Housing and an 8-unit Group Home. Additionally, the Housing Authority is responsible for a four bedroom congregate facility. This program provides a shared living environment for its residents who maintain private bedrooms. Congregate housing was established for residents who are self-reliant, however may need limited support.

Franklin Housing Authority also owns two single family homes and one duplex in Franklin. These properties are reserved for lease to low-income persons and afford these families the opportunity to reside in a residential neighborhood.

Additionally, Franklin Housing Authority is hoping to develop another Chapter 689 housing facility. Chapter 689 housing is reserved for mentally challenged adults and will be overseen by the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services. We have secured a suitable site for this development on Plain Street. Approval has been granted from the Town of Franklin Zoning Board of Appeals and the Design Commission. We anxiously await funding for this very important development.

Special Events Noted with Appreciation
• Rotary Club members served their annual spaghetti dinner to FHA residents and area seniors complete with all the fixings. Commissioner John Padula was the head Chef and also provided some entertainment. Rotary members cooked, served, entertained and picked up after. Rotarians always comment that the smiles and the kind words of appreciation received make their time and efforts very rewarding.
• Boy Scouts of America – Troop 126 - Eagle Scout Candidate Lucas Barrett constructed an agency sign and went on to achieve Eagle Scout status.
• Franklin Youth Hockey League – Under the supervision of Ryan Jette and parents, the Franklin Youth Hockey League raked and removed leaves from the FHA Senior property. About 60 volunteers worked to remove over 100 bags of leaves.

Special Thanks
The Board of Commissioners, Staff and Residents of the Franklin Housing Authority wish to express their thanks and appreciation to the following:
• The Clergy, a continuous support and comfort in the time of need and always.
• Franklin Senior Association Members:
Suzanne Wade, President
Linda Doonan, Vice President
Joyce Hutchinson, Treasurer
Evelyn Pelletier, Secretary
Evelyn Mucciarone, Member at Large
This Association plans pizza parties, holiday gatherings, morning coffee and donuts, card parties and many more events for the enjoyment of all Franklin Seniors.
• Chairman Bob Vallee and all of the Franklin Town Council Members, Town Administrator, Jeffrey Nutting and his staff for their continued support and assistance.
• Council on Aging, Veterans Agent, SHINE Program and Food Pantry for assisting residents with health care concerns and working with the Authority to recognize needs and provide activities, nourishment and specialized services.
• Franklin Police Department, Chief Semerjian and the entire Franklin Police Department for continuous concern, attention and response to the needs of the Authority and its Residents.
• Franklin Fire and Rescue, Chief Gary McCarraher and his department are always professional and respectful.
• Senator Karen Spilka, Senator Richard Ross, Representative Jeffery Roy, U.S. Congressmen Joseph Kennedy III and Senators Elizabeth Warren & Edward Markey for their relentless support of the Housing Programs and Bills with the best interest of our residents at heart.
• Governor Patrick for his support of Massachusetts public housing.
• Norfolk County Sherriff’s Department and Sherriff Michael Bellotti for including FHA in their inmate community service program.
• Dean Bank for the donation to our Senior Community Hall and Senior Tenants Group.

Through the years, the community and the housing authority are finding ways to improve the quality of life for our area seniors and low-income families. With the support of the Commissioners and the community the Franklin Housing Authority continues to be a great, safe and affordable community living opportunity.

Respectfully submitted,
Lisa M. Audette, PHM, Executive Director

Franklin Municipal Building

The full annual report can be obtained from the Town Clerk's office (hard copy) or viewed and/or downloaded from the Franklin website here
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Clerk/annual/2013report.pdf

Annual reports of prior years can also be found online at
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Clerk/annual/

Franklin Trash/Christmas Tree Schedule

During a holiday week, the trash pickup schedule is adjust by one day. So last week, Monday and Tuesday were normal pickups. Wednesday as the holiday (New Year's Day) was scheduled for pickup Thursday, Thursday became Friday, and so on.

However, the snow storm arrived Friday so there was no pickup for those from Thursday. They were rescheduled for Saturday. Which meant that those who normally would get picked up on Friday, didn't get picked up at all last week and should get get picked up twice this week.

Friday is scheduled for Monday
Monday - Tuesday
Tuesday - Wednesday
Wednesday - Thursday
Thursday - Friday
Friday - Saturday

This schedule assumes that there won't be another weather event this week to disturb the revised schedule.

This is also the week that Christmas trees are scheduled to be picked up on your day of pickup.

Franklin Public Library: Board of Directors Meeting - Agenda

Franklin Public Library Board of Directors Meeting
January 6, 2014
7:00 PM
Library Meeting Room


1. Call to Order

2. Public Comments

3. Minutes

4. Report of Board Members
Strategic Plan

5. Report of Library Director
One Book, One Community – Book Selection
Book Sale Revenues
Book Sale Coordinator
Renovation/Construction

6. Agenda Items February

7. Adjourn

YPO Networking - Jan 15th

The United Regional Young Professionals Organization (YPO) will be holding its first event of 2014 at Twenty8 Foods and Spirits in Foxboro located in the Renaissance Boston Patriot Place Hotel and Spa at  Patriot Place, in Foxboro on Wednesday, January 15th from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. The event will be the first of 3
monthly networking events to support The Julia Cekala Charitable Foundation. Subsequent events will also be held at Twenty8 on the 3rd Wednesday of February and March from 6 p.m. - 8 p.m..

Young Professionals Organization 

The Julia Cekala Charitable Foundation was created by her parents to support the community through recreation, education and medical assistance. Among those efforts are making long and short term stays
more comfortable for patients and their families at both Massachusetts General Hospital and Children’s
Hospital in Boston. They have created Julia’s Playground and Julia’s Garden, a memorial park in North Attleboro to provide peace and play for children and their families in the community. Their fundraising helps to support the continued expansion and maintenance of the park as well educating the community about autism and kidney donation and transplantation.

The cover charge is $5.00 with pre-registration on the YPO website or $10 at the door. Half of the event
proceeds will be donated directly to The Julia Cekala Charitable Foundation. Additional cash donations will also be accepted at the event.

Networking will be from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. and light appetizers will be provided. Don’t miss the opportunity to make connections, build relationships and support a great local charity!

The United Regional YPO consists of a diverse group of young professionals who have an interest in social and business networking, community involvement and professional development.

You may register for this event on the YPO’s website unitedregionalypo.org or by contacting 508-488-YPO1 (9761).

Annual Report 2013: Fire Dept

The Franklin Fire Department is divided into two divisions: Operations and Maintenance, which is the largest and responsible for dispatch, emergency medical services, fire suppression and hazardous materials response. Administration and Support Services is responsible for personnel, budget and finance, training, code compliance and coordinating the Town’s emergency preparedness.

Our Mission

The mission of the Franklin Fire Department is to: Have a positive impact in the lives of citizens and visitors of Franklin in their time of crisis by providing compassionate, contemporary, community driven services.

Safeguard human life from the perils of fire, sudden illness, injury or other emergency medical condition, natural and man-made disasters as well as preserve the environment and property from ensuing destruction.

Be responsible for a safe, productive and pleasant work environment for our employees, and provide them opportunities to gain new skills and advance their personal career goals.

Operational Objectives

• Initiating advanced life support to patients within 8 minutes of receiving the telephone call at our communications center.
• To access, extricate, treat and transport and transport trauma patients to a level one trauma medical facility within one hour of the occurrence of the injury.
• Interrupt the progression of fires in structures within 8 minutes of open flame ignition.
• To insure response readiness remains greater than 70%.
• Provide safety and survival skills for all school students in grade K through 5 consistent with the Student Awareness Fire Education (SAFE) initiative of the Commonwealth.
• Provide educational opportunities for department members to insure optimal performance and safety.
• To develop and maintain “best practice” to insure personnel and citizen safety.
• Insure fire safety through timely, consistent code compliance services to all external customers.
• Provide all department services in a manner that satisfies the needs of our customers.

Message from the Fire Chief

Fiscal Year 2013 has been a very difficult year in maintaining a high level of emergency services for the
community. Reductions in authorized staffing levels experienced in Fiscal Year 2009 have reached their
natural and predicted impact. During the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2013, the department suffered a number
of duty related injuries and extended injuries. (We believe there is a causal relationship between years of
diminished staffing levels and increases duty related injuries.) As a result, we were unable to sustain, either
financially or by staffing, sufficient minimum daily staffing levels (10 personnel) to provide the level of
emergency services the community had previously enjoyed. In November of 2012, we these conditions
forced the department to reduce minimum daily staffing to 9 personnel. The effect on service level has
been negative, with a decrease in response time in the King Street District by 5%, increase in on-scene times
by over 50% and an increase in overall time of incident, department-wide by 9%.

This challenged the safety level for our citizens and firefighter alike. In terms of positive outcomes for medical related emergencies, we know that a one minute increase in response time can increase patient morbidity by 13% one year after the incidents. Additionally, I believe the reduced staffing has had a negative impact on our employees. The department’s loss time accident rate has increased by 40% since down staffing occurred in 2009. In addition to the rate increase, loss time has increase 5 fold, to nearly 3,400 work hours lost in Fiscal Year 2013 due to duty related injury.

This year the department also marked a milestone with the retirement of Lieutenant Paul Beach. Lieutenant Beach began his employment with the department in 1983 as a Call Firefighter and was appointed as a Career Firefighter in 1985. During his nearly 27 years of service to the Town, Paul served in many capacities, serving his last 15 years as the Department’s Technology Officer, leading the department’s transition from paper to the digital age. We wish him and his wife Jean a long, happy and healthy retirement.

This year the department responded to more than 3,400 emergency responses – an overall increase of less than 1% from last year. This modest increase reflected no major increase in any call type category from Fiscal Year 2012.

In addition to emergency response, the department also continued to try to expand its fire prevention education activities, providing safety and survival education to the most vulnerable population to fire – our children and seniors. Through the dedicated efforts of SAFE Officer Robert Donovan, the department continued to educate over 100 children per month as well as attend various activities at the Senior Center. Lieutenant Tom Carlucci with Firefighter Keith Darling and Doug Perro provide dedicated assistance in completing this important service to our citizens.

Our employees continue to be the chief reason for maintaining our current the level of success and level of services we provide our citizens. They continue to work tirelessly to protect life and property within Franklin. In addition to their on-duty responses, our employees commit countless hours in continuing education and training targeted to maintain and improved upon their emergency skills.

Additionally, they continue to press forward in attempt to provide the highest level of service to the
community based upon advancement in the fire-rescue field and advancements in technology. These efforts
have yielded significant and broad insight into the requirements necessary to maintain and improve upon
the services we provide to the citizens of Franklin.

Respectfully Submitted,

Gary B. McCarraher, Fire Chief

Franklin Fire Dept - Tower 1 unit at the downtown fire station

The full annual report can be obtained from the Town Clerk's office (hard copy) or viewed and/or downloaded from the Franklin website here
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Clerk/annual/2013report.pdf

Annual reports of prior years can also be found online at
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Clerk/annual/

Fallen Hero: John Emidio Pasquantonio

Lance Corporal John Emidio Pasquantonio was born in Franklin on March 14, 1949, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Carlo Pasquantonio. John lived with his parents and 3 sisters on Grove St. while attending the Franklin Schools. John enlisted in the Marines, at age 17. 

John was married to the former Jacqueline Mucciarone of Franklin and he left a son, John Carlo, who currently lives here in Franklin. 

Corporal Pasquantonio, assigned to the USS Iwo Jima, had been sent ashore as a forward observer for the Navy guns on the coast of Vietnam, in Quang Tri province, when he was struck by a mortar shell and killed instantly on April 30, 1968. Prior to his death, John had repeatedly volunteered for this hazardous duty landing on the coast by helicopter. Cpl. Pasquantonio was award the Cross of Gallantry Medal, which compares with America's bronze star award, by the South Vietnam government. 

Lance Corporal John E. Pasquantonio was 19 years old at the time of his death in Vietnam.

Note: as I was updating links I realized that I had skipped this one when I was putting the series together in November.  The full set of Fallen Heroes from the Vietnam War have been added to the Fallen Hero collection.  http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/08/franklin-fallen-heroes-series.html

Helen Owens Fitness - Open House - Jan 11

My name is Helen Owens and I am a Fitness Instructor. I am a resident of Franklin and I just recently started my own little business, Helen Owens Fitness, teaching fitness classes here in Franklin. I rent the studio space located at 835 W. Central St. #3, right next to Kingdom Cuts and behind the 99 Restaurant.

My friend subscribes to your newsletter/blog and suggested that I reach out to you in hopes that you might consider my new, small business interesting or useful enough for Franklin residents to take advantage of, to include in your postings.

Helen Owens Fitness

I offer Zumba, dance-FIT, and Total Body Conditioning classes. I welcome people of all fitness levels! My objective is to show that fitness can be FUN and doesn't have to be dreaded. So I try to provide a FUN, FRIENDLY and WELCOMING fitness experience for all!

Classes are pay-as-you-go, so no contracts or monthly fees. Your 1st class is FREE. After that, drop in any class, any time for $10. Or you can get discounted class packages (6x classes for $50; 10x classes for $75).

I am also having an OPEN HOUSE party on Saturday, January 11, starting 9am. I am offering a FREE 1-hour Zumba/dance-FIT combo class. There will also be chances to WIN raffle prizes with purchase of a class package. It's a good opportunity for people to come meet me, try a class, and have some fun!

I've attached information about my classes for you to review and share, if you choose. I will be running my first ad in THE SHOPPER next week, which will hit households in Franklin, Bellingham, Wrentham and Norfolk!

Helen Owens Fitness

(617)680-4885

dancingmama75@gmail.com

LIKE my Facebook page: facebook.com/helenowensfitness

In the News: grease fire, train accident, local author

Grease fire guts kitchen in Franklin restaurant

Firefighters were called to a Franklin restaurant Saturday afternoon after grease in a deep fryer ignited, causing some smoke damage to the building.

The Guru Bar and Grill

Man’s leg pinned under train in Franklin

A man was taken to Rhode Island Hospital on Friday with serious but non-life threatening injuries after one of his legs was caught under a train when he fell onto the tracks at the Forge Park station, according to an MBTA spokeswoman.

Franklin author Laura Spinella

To those unfamiliar with the literary business, her career might appear to be stumbling. In fact, the Franklin mother of three has had her share of success, even as she humbly acknowledges to being "a little fish in a big pond." 

Spinella’s first novel, "Beautiful Disaster," a story set in the Deep South about two former lovers reconnected, was nominated in the "Best First Book" category at the 2012 RITA Awards, which recognize the top authors and novels in the popular romance genre. 

And in November, Spinella published her sophomore novel, "Perfect Timing," named by the Open Book Society, an online discussion group of readers throughout the state, as one of the "best reads of 2013."

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x407166377/Franklin-author-finds-success#ixzz2pWdnpdAh

Laura's website  http://lauraspinella.net/