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Thursday, April 2, 2015
Blackstone Valley: Updated April 2015 Events
volunteers, and invite new volunteers to experience the unique opportunities that the Blackstone Heritage Corridor's Volunteers In Parks program has to offer!
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Live reporting: Legislation through to closing
Subcommitee reports
EDC meeting Apr 8 at 6:00 PM to continue to work on the Pond St RFP
J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
condolences to the Rittenhouse family, on Sue's passing
Recylcing Center closed on Easter Sunday
FinCom meeting Tuesday
FEF Trivia next Weds
Welcome Supt Sabolinski back after a broken ankle
Letter from a citizen
snow/ice - About $550,000 over budget; will look for paying it off with 'free cash'
L. OLD BUSINESS
Kelly - looking to get someone to PR, hopefully the budget subcommittee will put that it in the budget
Nutting- it will be put in the budget
Bissanti - this is something that Matt and I discussed 3 years ago, I heard that before, I have read many Franklin articles and a lot of people miss what happens in the room, The reporters get so much and have deadlines, if the PR can be a wire item out to the Milford Daily NEws
Pfeffer - the last time we discussed this, we were going to look at Dean to see if an iterns would work
Nutting - they need to be timely
Vallee - why don't they do something
Nutting - they are scheduled to be at the next meeting
Vallee - go visit the studio, what we want is there
M. NEW BUSINESS
none
N. COUNCIL COMMENTS
Dellorco - I agree we can do more with the PR
P. ADJOURN
motion to adjourn, passed 9-0 via roll call
EDC meeting Apr 8 at 6:00 PM to continue to work on the Pond St RFP
J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1. Resolution 15-13: Appropriation: Town Administration – Insurance Recovery Accountmotion to accept, seconded, passed 9-0 via roll
K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
condolences to the Rittenhouse family, on Sue's passing
Recylcing Center closed on Easter Sunday
FinCom meeting Tuesday
FEF Trivia next Weds
Welcome Supt Sabolinski back after a broken ankle
Letter from a citizen
snow/ice - About $550,000 over budget; will look for paying it off with 'free cash'
L. OLD BUSINESS
Kelly - looking to get someone to PR, hopefully the budget subcommittee will put that it in the budget
Nutting- it will be put in the budget
Bissanti - this is something that Matt and I discussed 3 years ago, I heard that before, I have read many Franklin articles and a lot of people miss what happens in the room, The reporters get so much and have deadlines, if the PR can be a wire item out to the Milford Daily NEws
Pfeffer - the last time we discussed this, we were going to look at Dean to see if an iterns would work
Nutting - they need to be timely
Vallee - why don't they do something
Nutting - they are scheduled to be at the next meeting
Vallee - go visit the studio, what we want is there
M. NEW BUSINESS
none
N. COUNCIL COMMENTS
Dellorco - I agree we can do more with the PR
P. ADJOURN
motion to adjourn, passed 9-0 via roll call
Live reporting: audit results - "an unqualified opinion"
Susan Gagner, Karen Snow,
Melanson Heath audit results
The full set of results can be found in the package
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2015%20Complete%20With%20Documents/040115.pdf
"an unqualified opinion" is the highest rating to be received
9.4% unassigned fund balance
general and budgetary stabilization funds increased since last year
policy to be at 5-10%, and you are right where you want to be
page 14 - funds in two columns
include all the long term assets and liabilities
bonds for the high school increased
OPEB unfunded liability being recognized over 30 years
work underway to get it fully recognized ealier
need to recognize the Franklin portion of the Norfolk County retirement system
$45M is Franklin's piece will show on the statement for FY 15 (next year)
have started funding it with the trust fund
page 15 - unassigned fund balance
increase 8.1 to 9.4%
bond ratting to AA+, part of the increase due to the solid fund balance
page 20 - general fund budgetary results
positive revenue, motor vehicle excess in higher than forecasted, expenses also $1.4 less than expected hence the increase noted
all unrestricted fund balances in enterprise funds are healthy too
solid position, solid and well managed
recognizing these large liabilities is being done, you have been paying down
you are paying them as you are accessed each year
Nutting - when we talk about an annual budget issue, 10 years ago that didn't exist, we are not funding it anywhere we need to. Those pressures didn't exist. I will continue to 'cry wolf'. We are going to have to replace technology sooner as that is the nature of it
Kelly - $134 M in liabilities, how do we compare?
Snow - comparable to other towns of your size. It will need to be funded but you are about right there where others of your size are.
Kelly -
Snow - there are very few are fully funding, and their funding requirements are smaller. In most cases they are putting a little bit each year and that helps to reduce the liability
Kelly - I can't give enough credit to the town and our staff for getting us to our AA+ rating, nice work
Padula - I am concerned about this, the fact that we are going to have to recognize this doesn't help. How are we going to pay for this?
Nutting - pensions have to be funded by 2040, cost of pensions on an ongoing basis, we didn;t fund it for 50 years like every other community. We need to fess up and pay up. It will be here tonorrow. The state needs to make some stautory laws to help, folks living longer, retirements earlier, so that helps to create the issue.. Rigth now you can work 10 years, 20 hours and then get benefits for the rest of your life. We can't afford to do that. Thos would eat up every dollar of new money if something didnt happen
Feldman - recommendation in management letter
Snow - developing a long term project for a risk assessment, defined and established procedures to ensure towns assets are protected. This is the only unresolved
Nutting - the reason we are in fiscal position, the Council takes the action on the budget not to keep everybody happy but to keep us healthy financially. It is a long term commitment by the COuncil that does the progress. Acolades to the COuncil
Snow - thanks to the Administration and every one involved, we have no issues in getting info and responses,
Melanson Heath audit results
The full set of results can be found in the package
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2015%20Complete%20With%20Documents/040115.pdf
"an unqualified opinion" is the highest rating to be received
9.4% unassigned fund balance
general and budgetary stabilization funds increased since last year
policy to be at 5-10%, and you are right where you want to be
page 14 - funds in two columns
include all the long term assets and liabilities
bonds for the high school increased
OPEB unfunded liability being recognized over 30 years
work underway to get it fully recognized ealier
need to recognize the Franklin portion of the Norfolk County retirement system
$45M is Franklin's piece will show on the statement for FY 15 (next year)
have started funding it with the trust fund
page 15 - unassigned fund balance
increase 8.1 to 9.4%
bond ratting to AA+, part of the increase due to the solid fund balance
page 20 - general fund budgetary results
positive revenue, motor vehicle excess in higher than forecasted, expenses also $1.4 less than expected hence the increase noted
all unrestricted fund balances in enterprise funds are healthy too
solid position, solid and well managed
recognizing these large liabilities is being done, you have been paying down
you are paying them as you are accessed each year
Nutting - when we talk about an annual budget issue, 10 years ago that didn't exist, we are not funding it anywhere we need to. Those pressures didn't exist. I will continue to 'cry wolf'. We are going to have to replace technology sooner as that is the nature of it
Kelly - $134 M in liabilities, how do we compare?
Snow - comparable to other towns of your size. It will need to be funded but you are about right there where others of your size are.
Kelly -
Snow - there are very few are fully funding, and their funding requirements are smaller. In most cases they are putting a little bit each year and that helps to reduce the liability
Kelly - I can't give enough credit to the town and our staff for getting us to our AA+ rating, nice work
Padula - I am concerned about this, the fact that we are going to have to recognize this doesn't help. How are we going to pay for this?
Nutting - pensions have to be funded by 2040, cost of pensions on an ongoing basis, we didn;t fund it for 50 years like every other community. We need to fess up and pay up. It will be here tonorrow. The state needs to make some stautory laws to help, folks living longer, retirements earlier, so that helps to create the issue.. Rigth now you can work 10 years, 20 hours and then get benefits for the rest of your life. We can't afford to do that. Thos would eat up every dollar of new money if something didnt happen
Feldman - recommendation in management letter
Snow - developing a long term project for a risk assessment, defined and established procedures to ensure towns assets are protected. This is the only unresolved
Nutting - the reason we are in fiscal position, the Council takes the action on the budget not to keep everybody happy but to keep us healthy financially. It is a long term commitment by the COuncil that does the progress. Acolades to the COuncil
Snow - thanks to the Administration and every one involved, we have no issues in getting info and responses,
Live reporting: Ping4Alert
H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
Gary McCarraher – Ping 4 Alert
(presentation to be added later)
no user information required, info delivered via GPS location to mobile devices
also enables alerts to be posted to Twitter and Facebook, one tool for all the posts
can be used by Police, Fire, DPW, Schools, Town Administration for all the notices in emergency and standard business uses
While the State uses it purely for emergency notifications, Franklin will try to broaden the uses. For example, during the downtown construction it can notifiy on the delays or detours.
Fire Dept uses it for burning alerts.
other departments will be coming online in coming weeks
Executed through emergency management
need one unified message in an emergency
working to coordinate with the departments
each department has access uniquely
we have a grant through MEMA
Fire Dept has been the point of contact for the town
Feldman - I am already on it and it works well
McCarragher - Ping4 is a for profit company in NH, grants have been providing the funding
Live reporting: License transfer and hot box purchase
G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
Transfer of Liquor License – Jimmy D’s d/b/a the GBU
license had been held by Saco Rose
Padula, Kelly - recused themselves as they have relationships with the owner
motion to approve, seconded, passed 6-0 via roll
Legislation
2. Resolution 15-14: Appropriation: Capital FY 15 – Diesel Asphalt Hot Box
Carlos Rebello, here to answer question
the hot top would provide a better patch than the cold patch previously used
there is a hot mix plant in Bellingham so it will be easy to get mix
could be up and running in three weeks
Kelly - had been suggested a couple of years ago at the Senior Center, we do listen, it may have taken some time but it is being implemented
Padula - did we ever have a hot box?
Rebello - no
Rebello - it is all on the trailer, easier to use, goes down hot
researched to find the diesel unit rather than a propane unit
shoudl be around for 10 years
Bissanti - have they changed the mix?
Rebello - making high performance patch, $120/ton, vs $68/ton for the hot mix
Williams - can this be used around the year?
Rebello - yes, that is the whole point
Padula - why wouldn't we buy the high performance patch?
Rebello - we do that now, we want to fill them as quick as possible
move to change the motion to $25,000 from $30,000
seconded, passed 8-0 via roll call
(Dellorco arrived late)
motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0
Live reporting: Town Council - Apr 1, 2015
Present: Feldman, Padula, Kelly, Vallee, Pfeffer, Bissanti, Williams
and Mercer - via remote participation (means a roll call for all votes)
Absent: Dellorco (actually arrived late)
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
February 4, 2015, March 4, 2015, March 18, 2015, March 18, 2015 – Executive Session
motion to approve, seconded, 8-0 (via roll call)
B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast channel 11 and Verizon channel 29. This meeting is being recorded by Franklin Matters.
C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
Purple Heart Town
text of the proclamation can be found in this document
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2015%20Complete%20With%20Documents/040115.pdf
D. CITIZEN COMMENTS
none
E. APPOINTMENTS
Horace Mann Statue committee
Jeff Roy, Bob Dellorco, Lisa Piana, Mary Olsson
F. HEARINGS
none
and Mercer - via remote participation (means a roll call for all votes)
Absent: Dellorco (actually arrived late)
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
February 4, 2015, March 4, 2015, March 18, 2015, March 18, 2015 – Executive Session
motion to approve, seconded, 8-0 (via roll call)
B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast channel 11 and Verizon channel 29. This meeting is being recorded by Franklin Matters.
C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
Purple Heart Town
text of the proclamation can be found in this document
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2015%20Complete%20With%20Documents/040115.pdf
D. CITIZEN COMMENTS
none
E. APPOINTMENTS
Horace Mann Statue committee
Jeff Roy, Bob Dellorco, Lisa Piana, Mary Olsson
F. HEARINGS
none
Franklin Public Schools: Connect Ed update - Text Messaging being added to Phone Calls
A message from FRANKLIN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
March 31, 2015
Parents, Faculty, Staff and Students,
As part of our review of safety protocols we are planning some upgrades to our communication protocols. Our Connect Ed/Blackboard Connect message system which uses email and phone calls to convey information, can take some time to make sure all 6,800 contacts are reached. This is an effective system for inclement weather notification or sharing other forms of non-urgent communication. To enable us to get emergency notifications out faster we have subscribed to the SMS text message service from Connect Ed/Blackboard. We will only use this feature to make you aware of an urgent emergency situation such as a lockdown or evacuation of a school.
As part of the implementation of Franklin Public School District text messaging alert system, you will be receiving a text message from Blackboard Connect inviting you to subscribe to any text announcements sent by the school.
We will use Blackboard Connect phone call/email to communicate information such as weather closings, closing for gas or water leaks, sporting events, and any type of general outreach or notifications. We will use the SMS text message service to let you know about a lockdown or evacuation of a school. You will have the option of declining a subscription if you wish to do so. Please note that the messaging subscription will be included in the cost of your existing data plan; you will not incur any additional charge to receive Blackboard Connect messages.
Below is an example of the Confirmation Message that is sent automatically:
Franklin Pub Schools: You are now subscribed to receive text alerts. Reply HELP for help, STOP 4819 to cancel. Msg&data rates may apply.
If you reply with HELP, you will receive this message:
BbConnect Notify Alerts: 2msgs/mo. Msg and data rates may apply. Reply STOP to cancel. Info: www.blackboardconnect.com/sms/terms.asp, 888-599-2720
Coming Attractions: #FPSNEWS Twitter account
If you opt out but then later decide you would like to opt back in, text SUBSCRIBE 4819 to 23177 or 63079.
Please watch for the invitation to subscribe to Blackboard Connect on your mobile phone. We hope that you will take advantage of this important communication tool. You can opt out at any time. Please remember that if you cell phone number changes you need to report the change to your child's school.
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| community entrance to FHS |
This e-mail has been sent to you by FRANKLIN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT. To maximize their communication with you, you may be receiving this e-mail in addition to a phone call with the same message.
Franklin Downtown Partnership: General Meeting Agenda - Apr 2
Franklin Downtown Partnership GENERAL Meeting Agenda
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Dean College Campus Center @ 8:30 am
Golder Room
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| Downtown Partnership sign |
I. Open Meeting
II. Adoption of Agenda
III. Introductions
IV. Town Updates - Jeff Nutting
V. Streetscape Project Presentation - Jeff Nutting
- Timeline
- Traffic Details
- New Drawings
- Period Lighting and Planters
VI. Report from Executive Director - Lisa Piana
- 2015 Meeting and Event Schedule
- FDP Membership Renewal
- FDP Quarterly Updates
- Shop Local Campaign
VII. Shop Local and “Positive” Campaign
- Tom McAuliffe-President WMRC Radio
VIII. New Business
IX. Adjourn
Next General Meetings: June 4, September 3, and November 5
This was shared from the Downtown Partnership page here
http://www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/2015/03/general-meeting-agenda.html
Franklin Library: Kevin Gardner - author of "The Granite Kiss"
Kevin Gardner, author of The Granite Kiss is scheduled to speak at the Franklin Library on Thursday, Apr 2 at 6:30 PM.
This event was shared from the Library webpage here
http://franklinpl.blogspot.com/2015/03/kevin-gardner-discovering-new-england.html
Author Kevin Gardner describes the granite kiss as "that inevitable experience in stone work when a fingertip or two fails to escape the contact point between two large stones on the occasion of their first meeting." In this elegant, literate primer on the fundamentals of building with stone, Gardner distills 30 years of experience in building, restoring, and repairing traditional New England-style dry stone walls into principles and practices that are adaptable to a wide variety of designs and circumstances.
Gardner addresses the inherent design challenges that arise when working with the typical rounded, hard-to-use fieldstone of New England; gives valuable advice on acquiring materials, preparing the site, and laying out a footing; outlines the basic principles of constructing single-, double-faced, and retaining walls; and reveals how to build walks, patios, planters, ramps, foundations, wells, steps, corners, pillars, and stiles. He considers the mythology of the stone wall and its place in the New England imagination: why we revere the miles of old farm walls that wander through our woods and fields, and why we are driven to preserve, restore, and duplicate them.
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| The Granite Kiss author - Apr 2, 6:30 PM |
This event was shared from the Library webpage here
http://franklinpl.blogspot.com/2015/03/kevin-gardner-discovering-new-england.html
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