Present: Feldman, Padula, Mercer, Kelly, Vallee, Pfeffer, Jones, Bissanti, Williams
Absent: none
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
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.
D. CITIZEN COMMENTS
Mike Leblanc
asking for a public discussion, the debacle on Lincoln St/Daniels St
appears to be a miss-managed project
starting late, rushing too early
residents can't turn in or out due to the dividers
dip in the road at Winterberry Road
traffic nightmare
Town should hold contractor to re-do the project sections to do it properly
Someone should be held responsible for the work they are doing
Steve Sherlock
offer to Town Councilors to get word out on the dedicated override for the roads coming up on the November ballot
C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
Eagle Scout - rescheduled
The Franklin Garden Club
(photos to be added)
E. APPOINTMENTS
- Franklin Cultural Council
Ian Kabat
Karen Wellerson Juhl
motion to approve, seconded passed 9-0
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Friends of Franklin Library: Meeting - Oct 1, 7:00 PM
The Friends of Franklin Library will hold their monthly (October) meeting tonight, October 1, at 7:00pm in the Community Room at the Franklin Public Library.
Among other things, we'll be talking about next Sunday's Harvest Festival (we'll be in front of the Post Office) as well as an event we are co-sponsoring with the Franklin Garden Club, "starring" Neal Sanders, a local mystery author. This will be on October 7 at 7PM at the Alumni Restaurant on East Central Street; admission is an item for the Franklin Food Pantry. There will also be an opportunity to purchase Neal's books (and they're good mysteries, with a local flavor).
Anyone interested is welcome to attend.
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| not that we are wishing for any snow: Ben reads outside the library |
Additional info on Neal Sanders can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/09/author-neal-sanders-oct-7th.html
Look for your new Franklin brochure!
The new Franklin brochure has been printed and will be distributed to businesses and residents in Franklin and surrounding communities in the next several weeks.
Created by the Franklin Downtown Partnership, the piece details many of the entertainment, dining, shopping, business, and recreation options available in Franklin. It also highlight’s the town’s notable cultural and historic sites such as the Historical Museum, the bronze sculptures, and the Franklin Public Library. Included in the brochure are two maps and a comprehensive listing of nearly 150 Partnership member businesses and organizations to make finding what you’re looking for easy and convenient.
“We have talked about producing a town brochure for years. With support from the town Planning Department and the MetroWest Visitors Bureau, we were able to make it a priority this summer,” says Nicole Fortier, Partnership president.
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| Franklin Downtown Partnership brochure - p1 |
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| Franklin Downtown Partnership brochure - p2 |
The brochure will be distributed to Franklin Downtown Partnership members in September and October. Copies of the brochure have been included in the Dean College new student welcome packets, and local realtors plan to use the piece as a tool to help new residents get to know their surroundings.
Wider distribution to all residences in Franklin, Wrentham, Millis, Medway, Norfolk and Bellingham will be on October 1 as an insert in each town’s newspaper. Copies also will be available at the October 5 Harvest Festival at the FDP information table.
“This brochure gives our member businesses excellent exposure in nearby towns and with visitors to the area. Franklin continues to change and grow, and more changes are on the way. This piece tells our residents and the surrounding communities that Franklin is open for business and has options galore,” says Lisa Piana, Downtown Partnership executive director.
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| FDP President Nicole Fortier, Communications Coordinator Terri Frank, and Executive Director Lisa Piana at the Partnership office, 9 E. Central St. |
The Franklin Downtown Partnership is a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization dedicated to revitalizing downtown Franklin. Interested in membership or volunteer opportunities? For more information please go to our website, www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/, or contact the executive director at downtown.franklin@yahoo.com.
This was shared from the Franklin Downtown Partnership page here
http://www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/2014/09/franklin-brochure-press-release.html
Franklin Matters is proud to be a member of the Downtown Partnership! We are listed in the new brochure in the Media section.
"We monitor it and empty it often"
The Milford Daily News reports on the 2nd reading of the proposed bylaw to regulate charitable organization collections bins.
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20141001/NEWS/141009784/1994/NEWS
The full agenda for the Town Council meeting can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/09/franklin-ma-town-council-agenda-oct-1.html
The bylaw aims to limit where the bins can be placed and, through the threat of fines, assure they are maintained. Councilors will vote on the measure during Wednesday's meeting, which begins at 7 at the Municipal Building, 355 East Central St.
Under the bylaw, charities and churches can use a bin on their property, but all other containers will be restricted to the industrial district and the recycling center.
And addressing concerns over lax maintenance, the bylaw states that bins "shall be kept clean and in good repair" with the surrounding area kept "clean and free of debris at all times."Continue reading the Milford Daily News article here (subscription maybe required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20141001/NEWS/141009784/1994/NEWS
The full agenda for the Town Council meeting can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/09/franklin-ma-town-council-agenda-oct-1.html
Berry Insurance: 8th Annual Halloween Costume Drive
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Recap: bomb threat at FHS
Milford Daily News reports on the bomb threat on FHS on Tuesday.
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20141001/NEWS/141009783/1994/NEWS
#1
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/09/franklin-public-schools-fhs-update.html
#2
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/09/franklin-public-schools-fhs-update-2.html
A bomb threat emailed to Franklin High School Principal Peter Light prompted officials to evacuate the school early Tuesday morning, but authorities later confirmed the threat a hoax after a search of the building’s three floors.
Although they never believed the threat to be credible, school and law enforcement officials still enacted their emergency response plan at about 6 a.m.Continue reading the article here (Subscription maybe required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20141001/NEWS/141009783/1994/NEWS
Police Chief Stephan Semerjian's statement
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Police/chief/01EAA59D-000F8513The Franklin Public Schools issued two updates on Tuesday
#1
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/09/franklin-public-schools-fhs-update.html
#2
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/09/franklin-public-schools-fhs-update-2.html
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| Franklin High School |
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Franklin Public Schools: FHS Update #2
A message from FRANKLIN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
Hello- Here is an update that Principal Light is sending to FHS families. The students at FHS returned to class at about 9:30. Teachers processed the incident with students and counselors were available for those students who needed additional support. All students were safe and law enforcement officials were exceptional in their response. Thank you for your patience and assistance.
FHS Families,
Thank you for your patience and understanding during what was a difficult morning at FHS. The purpose of this email is twofold: to update you with additional information about the incident this morning, and to confirm that tonight's curriculum open house is happening as planned.
I will review the information regarding today's incident with interested families from 5:45 until 6:15 tonight in the school auditorium, but below is a synopsis of the events of today as they unfolded. This is the same information that I will share with families tonight at 5:45.
I know our faculty are eager to showcase what they will be doing with students throughout the year, so I ask that if you have questions about today's incident you either attend our session in the auditorium tonight at 5:45, or I, or another member of the school administration would be happy to speak with you one on one regarding any questions or concerns you have.
Thank you in advance.
Peter Light
Principal
Today's Incident:
Early this morning, I received an email that made a threat against the high school. I immediately notified the Franklin Police and the Superintendent of Schools who in turn reached out to state law enforcement officials. The threat was immediately deemed not credible, but after consulting with Franklin Police, we requested a full sweep of the building by the state police. By the time initial communications with law enforcement had occurred and we had developed an understanding of the situation, students had already boarded busses and had begun to congregate outside the school.
Initial estimates were that the full sweep of the school would be complete prior to busses arriving. Based on this information and because students had started to arrive at school or had already boarded busses, we made the decision, alongside law enforcement, to begin school as scheduled but have students start at the Horace Mann Middle School. At this time we notified parents of an ongoing issue at the school which would necessitate us starting the day at Horace Mann Middle School.
Faculty and staff escorted our students as they arrived on campus to locations within the Horace Mann/ Oak Street complex. At no time did students enter FHS prior to the start of the school day. As we worked with law enforcement in the early part of the school day, we thought we could return to the school shortly after the scheduled opening. We then received information that this would be delayed until approximately 9:00AM, and then shortly after 9:30 AM we were given the final "go-ahead" to bring students back into the school.
By 10:00 AM, all students had reported to G period classes and teachers were provided information about the morning's incident to share with students. Faculty were also briefed on how to monitor students who may need additional support and counselors were available to meet with students as needed.
As the Franklin Police noted in their press release, not all details of the threat are able to be shared as this is an ongoing investigation, and we do not want to hamper the investigation into this matter. Throughout the morning, school administration worked with local, state and federal authorities to insure the safety of students and to provide the authorities with information necessary to conduct the investigation. We will continue to monitor the investigation as it progresses, but want to insure all of our students and families that FHS continues to be a safe environment.
Some questions I have received:
Q: I only received the call this morning to my home telephone. Why wasn't this sent to email and to cell phones?
A: This situation unfolded very quickly and when the message was sent, I accidentally selected a feature that only placed the call to home telephones. Because I was immediately pulled into monitoring students and working with police, I was unaware this was sent only to home telephones. Now that I am aware of this issue, I will make sure this does not happen again in the event of an emergency.
Q: The message this morning said only that there was an "issue" at the building, but made no reference to a threat. Why?
A: Based on the information we had available and after consulting with law enforcement authorities, it was determined that this was the best course of action at the time. The situation this morning unfolded very quickly and while it was determined early on that student safety was secured, information about the incident, the timeline for resolution and our work in ensuring students could move to Horace Mann Middle School in an orderly fashion all impacted how we distributed information. As with all situations, we will review our response and use information gathered to make the best decisions in the future.
Q: Why were students held at the middle school so long?
A: Initial estimates were for a much faster resolution to the incident, however, the size of the school impacted officials' ability to complete the sweep of the building as quickly as initially expected. As the situation unfolded, we reacted to information as it was made available to us. It is unfortunate that students had to wait so long before returning to the high school, but it was out top priority to ensure that the school was safe.
Q: Is the school safe now?
A: Yes, the school is safe. Once we returned to the school and classrooms, we resumed all school and extra-curricular activities as scheduled. The investigation is ongoing, but the school has been cleared by law enforcement.
Thank you for your time and please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions or concerns.
Peter Light
Principal
This e-mail has been sent to you by FRANKLIN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT.
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