Important Information re: Vigil Friday

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From: "Neighbor Brigade" FranklinMA@neighborbrigade.org

To: FranklinMA@neighborbrigade.org

Sent: Thursday, January 16, 2014 8:56:29 AM

Subject: Important Information re: Vigil Friday

Hello again, We received an email of concern about Friday nights vigil and a wake happening at the same time down the street from the common for a loss in the McGrath family.  Please be respectfully answering any concerns among your peers and remind others that the Vigil has evolved to bring strength and unity for this family and it is not being facilitated by the Neighbor Brigade.  Below is the note sent to the concerned friend of the McGrath's and she was very positive in this response, Thank you : Neighbor Brigade has passed on the info and is not the facilitator of this Vigil. We are a group of community volunteers that are supporting the Monroe's in its right time because of our Mission. I have received the info for the vigil from a friend of the family that we are connected with and she gave me permission and "encouraged me to spread the word". It is my understanding that 3 women (names are not necessary) have invited this to happen as a community and they are from the Davis Thayer school where the children belonged. I hope this helps and I also hope both families can be appropriately and respectfully able to mourn and be allowed opportunity to come together in unity to help these grieving families. Lastly, I have not received any info about a need to help the McGrath family and just want to let you know that we are sorry for their loss.  Neighbor Brigade is an available resource of volunteers who help families in day to day needs as they grieve and recover.  Please feel free to ask us anymore questions or let me know if there is anything else we can help you with, Sincerely, Franklin Neighbor Brigade Leaders -- Linda Gagnon FranklinMA@neighborbrigade.org www.neighborbrigade.org Like us on Facebook!

neighbor brigade | p.o. box 248 | lexington, ma 02420 | 781.325.8580
 www.neighborbrigade.org | support@neighborbrigade.org
friend on Facebook

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This email and the information it contains is intended for Neighbor Brigade volunteers only. Please do not forward this email. If you would like to encourage a friend to join, please direct them to www.neighborbrigade.org/chapters/FranklinMA. Thank you!

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Timely communications still an issue

The Town Council voted to purchase the recreation land that the FinCom approved, appointed Jim Dacey Treasurer to complete the move of that position from elected to appointed, and heard the apology from Waste Management on the trash schedule delays.

The trash schedule delays should be resolved this week although with the Martin Luther King holiday coming next week, the schedule will 'normally' be offset one day. The combination of the New Year's holiday, the weekend storm, the deep freeze causing equipment trouble and then regulations on hours worked conspired for this situation. There should be an alert coming from the DPW that will announce that extra trash will be picked up with no charge to the household for the 'extra bag' to help offset the problem.

The Town Council was rightly upset with the lack of communications from the DPW/Town Administration. There could have been a notification on Friday night to let folks know that the trucks would not be running on Saturday. That notification did not happen and the buzz began to build until we finally got official notification late Sunday and early Monday morning. But that was too late!

The Council also moved to second reading a water and sewer map adjustment to enable a 9 or 18 unit subdivision off of Uncas St. The developer had an approved project some years ago, ended up in court with the Franklin over the details and apparently has reached an agreement where they will provide some additional improvements to the area (i.e. Hill St) in return for the town agreeing to proceed. The second reading will come up at the Feb 5th meeting.

Yours truly spent 15 minutes presenting to the Council on lessons learned while operating Franklin Matters. I could have talked longer but kept to a short and hopefully to the point agenda. Communication is so easy to do and in some cases so hard to execute. Case in point with the recent DPW/Waste Management trash schedule. They did well to give us the first notification about the delay in schedule due to the snow storm. They did not do well to explain that the Saturday pickup would not occur.

It takes a service oriented approach to bring those communications to the forefront every time. Unfortunately as well as many of the Franklin employees do, there sometimes is not this mindset of sharing the info. It will take time to change that.

Franklin Municipal Building

The full set of notes taken live during the meeting can be found here

• Live reporting - Closing
• Live reporting - Legislation
• Live reporting - Public Hearing
• Live reporting - Waste Management
• Live reporting - Town Council - Jan 15, 2014
• 
  

MASSBudget: A Preview of the State's FY 2015 Budget

MassBudget    Information.    Participation.  Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center    Democracy. FY 2015 Budget Preview  On January 22nd, the Governor is expected to submit his budget proposal--his plans for what we should do together through state government in Fiscal Year 2015. This includes how we fund our schools, maintain our roads and transit systems, keep our communities safe, and balance our budget. Once again in FY 2015, Massachusetts will face a substantial gap between ongoing revenue and the cost of maintaining current services and commitments. Our "Budget Preview" estimates that gap to be roughly $500 million.     There are three basic reasons that Massachusetts continues to confront difficult fiscal challenges: The income tax cuts of 1998-2002, which still cost the state over $3 billion per year Health Care cost growth, which has slowed in recent years but which had been growing faster than our state economy  The still-sluggish economy here in Massachusetts and across the U.S. Our "Budget Preview" provides an estimate of revenue growth for FY 2015, along with the cost of maintaining current services and the fiscal challenges moving forward. Read MassBudget's BUDGET PREVIEW The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) produces policy research, analysis, and data-driven recommendations focused on improving the lives of low- and middle-income children and adults, strengthening our state's economy, and enhancing the quality of life in Massachusetts. MASSACHUSETTS BUDGET AND POLICY CENTER 15 COURT SQUARE, SUITE 700 BOSTON, MA 02108

This email was sent to shersteve@gmail.com by nberger@massbudget.org |   Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy. Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center | 15 Court Square | Suite 700 | Boston | MA | 02108

Comedy Night – Presented by Franklin Fusion Softball

Comedy Night – Presented by Franklin Fusion Softball

Franklin Fusion

Featuring Comedian Mike Hanley- Mike has recently headlined at Foxwoods, RI Comedy Connection, Comedy Works and The Hartford Funny Bone.  

Join us Friday February 7, 2014 from 7pm-11pm at the Franklin Elks- 1077 Pond St. Franklin, MA.  Doors open at 7pm show starts at 8pm. Tickets are $25 each and include appetizers, desserts and entertainment. Cash Bar will be available.  Also enjoy Silent Auctions/Raffles and Sport Memorabilia 

For tickets or more information contact-Any Fusion softball player or email franklinfusion@yahoo.com

In the News: funeral arrangements, Treasurer appointed, benefit fraud, chest recall

The Ginley Funeral Home in Franklin published an obituary for the two siblings Thursday, three days after they died in what authorities Tuesday called a tragic accident at their Chestnut Street home. 

According to the funeral home, Lexi and Sean’s funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Jan. 20 at St. Mary’s Church, 1 Church Square. The brother and sister will be laid to rest at Union Street Cemetery, 150 West Central St.

See more at: http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20140116/NEWS/140119163#sthash.XH0xHVHA.dpuf

James Dacey Jr., a longtime resident, will continue to serve as treasurer/collector after the Town Council ratified his appointment Wednesday. 

Dacey is the first treasurer/collector to be named by the council since voters last year approved changes to the charter, making the job an appointed position. Dacey was one of the major proponents of the change.

See more at: http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20140116/NEWS/140119174#sthash.kob2ppZ3.dpuf

Three men, including one from Franklin, were arraigned Monday on charges that they collected a combined total of more than $106,000 in unemployment benefits while continuing to work, according to Attorney General Martha Coakley’s office. 

See more at: http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20140116/NEWS/140119165#sthash.RpWusodo.dpuf

Following the news that two Franklin children died after accidentally locking themselves in a wooden hope chest, local second-hand furniture store owners are examining their shops and wondering what they can do differently to prevent such a tragedy.

See more at: http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20140116/NEWS/140119161#sthash.bxQ0R9Xd.dpuf

Town Wide Vigil Friday - Jan 17 at 7:00 PM

Brigade FranklinMA@neighborbrigade.org

Subject: Town Wide Vigil Friday

Hello again, As some of you have asked and discussions have been had, there will be a town wide-community vigil on the Town Common at 7p.m. Friday the 17th. All are welcome to take part in supporting the Munroe Family. Thank you, Linda Gagnon, Cheryl Ferri and Karen Anderson, Chapter Leaders -- Linda Gagnon FranklinMA@neighborbrigade.org www.neighborbrigade.org Like us on Facebook!

CLICK HERE TO LOGIN

neighbor brigade | p.o. box 248 | lexington, ma 02420 | 781.325.8580
 www.neighborbrigade.org | support@neighborbrigade.org
friend on Facebook

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This email and the information it contains is intended for Neighbor Brigade volunteers only. Please do not forward this email. If you would like to encourage a friend to join, please direct them to www.neighborbrigade.org/chapters/FranklinMA. Thank you!

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Franklin Town Common (in snow)

Live reporting - Closing

K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
about $400K of the 900K in the snow and ice spent thus far

budget review to start, Feb 6th 6:00PM meeting

Feb 4 bid opening for the downtown project

workshop Tues 1/21 for the municipal bldg
workshop for zoning on Jan 29th


L. OLD BUSINESS
Jones - recurring presentation by one of the dept heads

M. NEW BUSINESS
Kelly - facilities director for presentation sooner rather than later
to hear from Brutus about the plans and expectations as the State and their contractor does their work
issue with the grass cutting at the downtown Fire Station should be referecned

N. COUNCIL COMMENTS
Mercer - thoughts and comments to
walk through the new high school 6:00 at Feb 10th, will meet at the end of the field house parking lot

Jones - thanks that the trash issue has been resolved

Bissanti - condolences to the Monroe family
thanks for the flag raising and lowering services with the Elks
there were three services just last week alone and another one coming

Vallee - the one issue we had was communication and it failed again
we want phone calls, not just emails


P. ADJOURN
motion to adjourn