Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - Feb 12, 2014

A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
January 29, 2014- Workshop; January 22, 2014 - Executive Session

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
Financial Forecast – Jeffrey Nutting

I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1. Resolution 14:06: Acceptance of Gift – Franklin Public Library
2. Resolution 14-07: Revoke Civil Service – Fire Department
3. Resolution 14-08: The Woodlands-Approval of Modification (Amendment) to Regulatory Agreement
4. Bylaw Amendment 14-727: Amendment to Chapter 47, Alcoholic Beverages – 2nd Reading
5. Bylaw Amendment 14-729: Amendment to Chapter 179-9.1, Exhibit A, Water System Map - 2nd Reading
6. Bylaw Amendment 14-730: Amendment to Chapter 139-14, Exhibit A, Sewer System Map – 2nd Reading

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

Franklin, MA: Municipal Building

The full set of documents as released for this agenda can be found here
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2014/021214.pdf

Random Smile - Annual Gala Event - March 1, 2014

Rhode Island Convention Center

6pm - Midnight

$85 per person

Semi-Formal/Black Tie Optional

Hot and Cold Hors D’oeuvres

Silent and Live Auctions

Dinner and Dancing

Live Music by The Grab Brothers Band

*Block of rooms at Omni Providence held until Saturday, February 15th*

Random Smile Gala - March 1, 2014

For additional information, check out the Random Smile webpage

http://randomsmile.org/events

In the News: food waste, school retention

Businesses required to change their food waste disposal methods this fall will have multiple options, including anaerobic digestion facilities. These new facilities have been met with mixed reactions from residents. 

Under the new regulations, reusable food must be donated or "repurposed", and the remaining food waste must be composted, used as animal feed, or sent to one of the half dozen anaerobic digesters planned or currently operating in Massachusetts.

Read the full article here: http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20140210/NEWS/140219890/1994/NEWS#sthash.XizQ4AEr.dpuf

The state is taking public input over the next few weeks as it crafts guidelines aimed at keeping students in school by reducing suspensions and expulsions. 

The guidelines are part of a law passed in 2012 that requires public and charter school principals to keep students out of school only as a last resort. The proposed guidelines would require school officials to notify parents of suspensions, allow students to appeal and let those suspended complete assignments.

Read the full article here: http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20140209/NEWS/140206423/1994/NEWS#sthash.0sJyW2fG.dpuf

Walking Franklin (photo essay)

It was a bright sunny day on Saturday so I enjoyed my long walk stopping to take photos along the way.

There is a reason they call this a baseball diamond

The monster tree on Main St at Dean College

Flag in the breeze on the Town Common

Many feet have played in this snow

No train uses these tracks

A rabbit made these tracks

Rockland Trust sign caught extra snow

white snow, white fence with shadows playing

snow for lunch anyone?

Anyone need their snow plowed?

Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda - Feb 11, 2014

Note: The School Committee meeting will be in the 3rd Floor Training room instead of the Council Chambers for this session due to the budget workshop on the agenda.

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.

AGENDA

"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 28, 2014 School Committee Meeting.
Payment of Bills Mr. Clement
Payroll Mrs. Douglas
Correspondence:
1. Budget to Actual – Miriam Goodman
2. Community Reading Day Invitation – Evemarie McNeil

2. Discussion
Policy – Second Reading – KCDA

3. Action Items
a. I recommend acceptance of a check for $6,000.00 from the Jefferson PCC for supplies.
b. I recommend acceptance of a check for $3,288.00 from the Jefferson PCC for field trips.
c. I recommend acceptance of the donation of 10 laptops, valued at approximately $1,000.00, from Ziopharm Oncology, Inc. for the Franklin School District.
d. I recommend acceptance of a check for $558.00 from the Parmenter PCC for a Field trip.
e. I recommend approval of the request of the HMMS Ski Club to travel to Pats Peak in Henniker, NH on March 1, 2014 as detailed.
f. I recommend acceptance of several checks from the Oak Street PCC totaling $2,512.00 for field trips.
g. I recommend approval of the request to take Oak Street 2nd & 3rd graders to Roger Williams Planetarium on May 8th and May 29th as detailed.
h. I recommend approval of the request of Brad Sidwell for the Boys Ice Hockey Team travel to Barnstable, MA for a competition on Feb. 19-20, 2014 as detailed.
i. I recommend adoption of Policy KCDA –Memorial Commemorations as discussed.

4. Worksession
FY15 Budget Worksession

5. Adjourn

Franklin, MA: Municipal Building 

"support the Munroe family"

The Milford Daily News writes of the fund raising event for the Monroe family:

Starting at 10 a.m. today, Delgado and a small group of others will be hosting a yard and bake sale at the VFW Post 3402 at 1034 Pond St. in Franklin. 

Delgado said an email to her Facebook friends and to a yard sale website of which she is a member received more than 200 responses within an hour. 

"It really is a group effort," she said. 

Delgado said the group of organizers has received "tons" of donations from the entire local community, including raffle items from local businesses like Pinz, Pepperoncini’s, Bellingham Town Pizza and Noelle Day Spa and Salon.

Read the full article here: http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20140209/NEWS/140206628#sthash.qsCSGCpi.dpuf

Candlelight celebration for Lexi and Sam at the Town Common

"Why the 'Baby Line'?"

The Milford Daily News has a nice write up on the boys Franklin High School hockey team.

The Franklin boys hockey team was having one of its pasta parties as a player's house last year when a video — probably a DVD rather than VHS, considering their age — was unearthed. 

"One of the dads found it from when we were squirts," senior Troy Donahue said. "It was really fun to see what we were like back then. They actually were doing interviews with all of us. It was pretty funny, I think in my interview they asked me for my name and I couldn't get it out. I stumbled over my own name. 

"I'm definitely a lot better at wording things now." 

Most of the Panthers have been playing together since they were babes, so perhaps it's fitting it's been the 'Baby Line' that's been making the difference now.

Read the full article: http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20140208/SPORTS/140206612/1020/SPORTS#sthash.zEZJoL8O.dpuf



The Saturday night game against Milford was reported on by HockomockSports.com

Franklin, 7 @ Milford, 1 - Final - Ryan Spillane recorded a hat trick, Troy Donahue added two goals, Mason Saunders and Vincent Geromini each scored once and Kyle Powers added two assists. Mike Donadio made 17 saves in net for Franklin. Drew Wilde scored Milford's lone goal. 

Appraisal Day - March 9

One of the busy days at the Franklin Historical Museum was the prior Appraisal Day. Lots of folks waited in line to have their antiques appraised. Some found big value, some found little value, all found many stories associated with the items.

Franklin Historical Museum, 80 West Central St, Franklin, MA

You can find more about the Historical Museum on their webpage
http://www.franklinhistoricalmuseum.com/

and follow them on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FHM02038

FHS Basketball results vs. North Attleboro

From HockomockSports.com we get the Friday night results:

This was the type of game that would be expected from the top two teams in the division and with the division lead at stake. North Attleboro and Franklin went back and forth tossing haymakers, but in the end it was the Rocketeers that were able to toss the knockout blow. 

“This is our house and it’s our last home Hockomock league game for us seniors, so we just said that we’ve worked too hard not to come out and avenge ourselves,” said senior captain Ali McHugh about North’s attitude coming into the game. “We didn’t play well the first time, but we just wanted to come out and punch them in the mouth…metaphorically of course.” 

North got revenge for a loss in the Field House back in January by holding on for a 66-60 victory that puts the Rocketeers 1/2-game ahead of the Panthers in the race for the Hockomock League title. Senior guard Jill Costello and junior Danielle Perron each finished with 15 points and junior Melissa Beaupre had 14 for the Rocketeers.

Read the full article here
http://www.hockomocksports.com/1/post/2014/02/north-gets-revenge-on-franklin-and-takes-division-lead.html


The FHS boys basketball team did better against North Attleboro

North Attleboro, 54 @ Franklin, 80 - Final - Marcus Giese led Franklin with 22 points and 16 rebounds, Chris Rodgers chipped in with 13 points and sophomore Tim Prunier added 11 points and four assists. North captain Jake Lang and freshman Tommy Reynolds led the Rocketeers with eight points each.

The full Friday night scoreboard of results across the Hockomock League can be found here
http://www.hockomocksports.com/1/post/2014/02/hockomock-schedule-scoreboard-020714.html

Regional Dispatch Center receives a Community Innovation Challenge (CIC) grant

Representatives Jeffrey Roy, Shawn Dooley, along with Senators Richard Ross and Karen Spilka today announced the Regional Dispatch Center for Franklin, Wrentham, Norfolk and Plainville is one of 37 projects slated to receive funding from the $4 million Community Innovation Challenge (CIC) grant program. The program incentivizes and supports regionalization and other cost saving initiatives that will change the way local governments do business to maintain service delivery and stretch every tax payer dollar as far as possible. 

The grant provides $20,000 to fund the 4-town GIS Mapping Project to assist with the Regional Dispatch Center established by the Legislature in July of last year. Known as of House No. 2189, the law allows Franklin, Wrentham, Norfolk and Plainville to construct, equip, operate and maintain a consolidated regional public safety communications and dispatch center. 

Left to right, Ross, Roy, McCarragher, Dooley

“The CIC Grant is essentially the foundation for the Regional Dispatch Center,” said Franklin Fire Chief Gary McCarraher, who was at the State House on Thursday to collect the grant. “It will create a model for better, faster response times, enhanced efficiency and it will allow towns to share resources across borders.” 

"This grant comes on the heels of the passage of the bill establishing a regional dispatch center in our communities, and will supply the necessary mapping technology to make it successful," said Representative Jeffrey Roy (D-Franklin). "Combining the dispatches for all of the towns will improve the response times, save taxpayer dollars, and make the citizens of the region safer. And this grant provides some of the state-of-the-art tools and latest technology that will enhance public safety." 

“I am pleased that Franklin’s innovative GIS mapping project is receiving this critical funding. The project is a terrific example of communities collaborating on creative, more efficient ways to provide local services and use information technology effectively,” said Senator Karen Spilka (D-Ashland). 

“I am so pleased to see the towns awarded this grant, which will be an important step towards developing the Regional Dispatch Center,” said Senator Richard Ross (R-Wrentham). “This innovative plan will go great lengths toward providing high quality and efficient emergency response in the communities.” 

“As a citizen, an on-call firefighter/EMT, and a State Representative of this community, I am extremely proud that we have been awarded the Community Innovation Challenge (CIC) Grant. This will help fund our Regional Public Safety Dispatch Center which will provide enhanced services to our towns, resulting in more rapid emergency response while providing the cost benefit of shared services,” said Representative Shawn Dooley (R-Norfolk)

Photo courtesy of Rep Jeff Roy

Upcoming Events in Franklin, MA Area: FRI 2/7/14 - THU 2/13/14

FRI 2/7   3:30pm-4:30pm   Silly Science and Mystical Math: Levers and Pulleys and Gears ... Oh My. Grades 1-4, Franklin Public Library. Registration required.
FRI 2/7   6:30pm-8:30pm   Art Night Uncorked. Franklin Art Center.
FRI 2/7   7pm-11pm   Comedy Night to benefit Franklin Fusion Softball. Elks Lodge, Franklin.
FRI 2/7   7pm   You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown - The Musical. Horace Mann Middle School Auditorium, Franklin.


SAT 2/8   10am-noon   Surviving the Challenge of Caregiving. Hampton Inn, Franklin.
SAT 2/8   2pm   You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown - The Musical. Horace Mann Middle School Auditorium, Franklin.
SAT 2/8   7pm   Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. New England Chapel, Franklin.

SUN 2/9   10am-2pm   Yard Sale/Raffle Fundraiser to benefit Munroe Family. VFW Post, Franklin.
SUN 2/9   11am-4pm   Destination Dog Open House. 7 Forge Parkway, Franklin.
SUN 2/9   1pm-4pm   Free Classes to Sample at the Hockomock YMCA branches.

MON 2/10   7pm   Planning Board Meeting, Franklin Municipal Building, Council Chambers.

TUE 2/11   11:30am-1pm   Discovery Luncheon: Emeritus Assisted Living. Hampton Inn, Franklin.

WED 2/12   6:30pm   Report Card Changes Info Session. Kennedy and Oak Street Schools. Oak Street Elementary School - Library. Franklin.
WED 2/12   7pm   Town Council Meeting, Franklin Municipal Building, Council Chambers.

For camps, activities and happenings for upcoming February vacation visit Franklin Living blog.

For more details on above events click HERE and select the event of interest.

*If you have any suggestions for the calendar, please email Renata@BetterLivingRE.com

"We make a life by what we give”

Did you know it that in leap years, February is the only month that ends on the same weekday it begins. You don’t need to worry about that this year as this is not a leap year. However, it does remain the shortest month of the year. So there is only so much time left to plan and execute for Valentine’s Day.

Yes, that day.

All hearts and flowers.

Maybe some bling.

Maybe a Franklin Pride bead?

Franklin Pride

Aside from wearing it proudly, the best part about the Franklin Pride bead is that each purchase contributes to the Franklin Food Pantry. You make someone happy with the Franklin Pride bead and you help a neighbor. That sounds like a win - win!

Franklin Pride with bracelet

This Valentine’s Day wouldn’t that be a nice touch to add to the gift?

Franklin Pride with necklace

The Franklin Pride bead can be purchased through this link. Franklin Pride can be purchased (as shown) with a choice of necklace, or bracelet, or the bead alone.

The Franklin Food Pantry is pleased to collaborate with Confidence Beads and Beads for a Cause to make the Franklin Pride Bead available to you. Confidence Beads operates the store, handles the transaction and delivery of the item(s) you order. They will periodically make the donation to the Food Pantry based upon your purchases.

“We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.”

― Winston S. Churchill

This was also posted to the Franklin Food Pantry website

Democrats to elect delegates to state convention (2014)

Democrats in Franklin will be holding a caucus at the Franklin Public Library, in the Community Room on Saturday, March 1st at 10:00 am to elect fourteen (14) delegates and three (3) alternates to the 2014 Massachusetts Democratic Convention, where Democrats from across Massachusetts will vote to endorse candidates for statewide office. The convention will be held on Friday June 13 and Saturday, June 14, 2014
at the DCU Center in Worcester. Check-in for the caucus will begin at 9:30 am.

Candidates running for statewide office need 15% of the delegates elected at the caucuses to gain a place on the primary ballot. Attending the convention is a great way to network with Democrats and progressive organizations across the state.

Franklin Democrat Town Committee

"This is going to be an exciting year as we build on our recent successes and prepare for the elections in 2014," commented Massachusetts Democratic Party Chairman Senator Tom McGee. "Caucuses are the next step in growing our community organizing strategy for victory. People who were part of candidate campaigns in 2012 and 2013 have the opportunity to become part of their local Democratic Party organizations."

"We have a lot of great candidates running for statewide office," Senator McGee added. "Anyone who is interested in getting involved in a campaign for Governor, Lieutenant Governor or any other statewide office, can attend their local caucus and learn how to get involved.

The caucus is open to all registered Democrats in Franklin, and the Democratic Committee welcomes participants. Delegates will be divided equally between men and women, and all ballots will be written and secret. Youth, minorities, and people with disabilities who are not elected as delegates or alternates may apply to be "add-on" delegates. The Franklin Public Library building is handicapped accessible. Details on the rules can be found at www.massdems.org.

The Franklin Democratic Town Committee normally meets on the third Monday of the month at the Franklin High School, in the media center. For more information on the caucus or the committee please contact the committee Chair, Denise Schultz, at 508-612-5950 or DeniseLynnSchultz@gmail.com or http://www.franklindemocrats.com/.

For general information on the Convention or the Democratic Party please contact
617-939-0800 or contact@massdems.org

In the News: Democratic governor candidates, Franklin Ed Foundation, BAA virtual marathon

The five Democrats running for governor met on Wednesday to debate the state's troubled child welfare agency, a proposed $2.2 billion rail line and health care. 

Candidate Don Berwick has become more fully supportive of a single-payer, MassHealth-for-all health care system, while his rival for the office Joe Avellone has become vocal in opposing that tack. 

"The more I've looked at it the more I'm convinced it's the right way to go," Berwick told the News Service after a debate at the Boston Globe. At a forum in Jamaica Plain, Berwick said he would favor the universal health care model supported by some liberal activists if health care costs continue to grow.

See more at: http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20140205/NEWS/140207806/1994/NEWS#sthash.6UqW3MDI.dpuf

The Franklin Education Foundation has set a date for this year’s Trivia Bee. 

The foundation, which supports teachers at Franklin Public Schools with annual grants, will hold its popular fundraising event Wednesday, March 19, at 7 p.m. at the Horace Mann Middle School, 224 Oak St. 

Since 1997, the Bee has been the foundation’s largest fundraiser, helping it donate more than $300,000 to the schools.

See more at: http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20140206/NEWS/140207869/1994/NEWS#sthash.hYIqgZJe.dpuf

The Boston Athletic Association today announced the launch of a new mobile app that will allow a virtual community of runners to participate in this spring’s Boston Marathon. 

Available for Apple and Android devices, the application lets runners from all over the world pick a distance of their choosing and participate “in the athletic spirit of the event,” a press release from the association said.

See more at: http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20140205/NEWS/140208355/1994/NEWS#sthash.Xdf8zsoQ.dpuf

If you subscribe to the Boston Globe, you can help

If you are a Boston Globe subscriber, please read on. If you are not, you can skip to the next article.

If you are a Boston Globe subscriber, you may have received this letter in the mail recently. If you did not send it to the circular file or recycle bin, you can act and help the Franklin Food Pantry.

The Globe is allowing subscribers like you and I to cast votes for non-profit organizations. Those non-profits with the most votes will benefit from the largest ad. The Franklin Food Pantry would like to take advantage of this 'free' ad in the Boston Globe.

The ad would help is tell the Franklin Food Pantry story to a larger audience.

This is where you can help.

Find the letter, fill out the card specifying the Franklin Food Pantry as the 501(c)(3), put it in the envelope provided by the Globe, and mail it.

The Franklin Food Pantry thanks you!