"Firefighters have been without a new contract since June 2011"

If the council chooses to honor the award, the cost to the town for fiscal year 2012 through fiscal year 2015 is about $525,000, with an additional $70,000 needed for fiscal year 2016, according to Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting, who sought councilors' support of the award in a memo to them last week. 

The main concern for councilors Wednesday night will be whether the town can finance the award. Union leaders say the town’s fiscal health is not an issue. 

“The union knows that this is not a big win for anybody,” said Robert Donovan, the union president. “But a neutral panel has figured out the best way to solve this four-year battle that put us at an impasse. We entered into arbitration because we wanted to solve this problem, and now we have to honor the decision. 

“The character of both parties will show in how they react to this decision,” Donovan added.

Read the full article online here
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150621/NEWS/150629494/1994/NEWS

Fire Dept

The full agenda document for the Town Council meeting on Wednesday can be found here.

http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2015%20Complete%20With%20Documents/062415.pdf

Pages 4 and 5 are the letter from Jeff Nutting to the Council outlining the award details and funding sources. Franklin had prudently been setting money aside each year in anticipation of an award.

Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda - June 23, 2015

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."

Franklin Public Schools 
"the key to learning"

1. Routine Business

Citizen’s Comments
Review of Agenda
Minutes: I recommend approval of the minutes from the June 9, 2015 School Committee Meeting.
Payment of Bills - Mr. Clement
Payroll - Mrs. Douglas
FHS Student Representatives
Correspondence:
Budget to Actual – Miriam Goodman

2. Guests/Presentations

a. Remington Middle School Update
- Paul Peri, Brian Wildeman
b. Jefferson Elementary Update
– Linda Ashley, Sarah Klim
c. FHS Guidance Update
– Heather McVay, Josh MacCreery & Jennifer D’Amico

3. Discussion Only Items

Policy
– First Readings:

KF – Community Use of School Facilities
KF-E1 – Rules and Regulations
KF-E2 – FHS Building Use
KF-E3 – Facility Rental Fee Schedule
KF-E4 – FHS Facility Rental Fee Schedule
KF-E5 – FHS Grounds Rental Fees

- (NEW)
GCCD – Domestic Violence Leave Policy

4. Action Items

a. I recommend moving the following Policies to a second reading:

1. KF – Community Use of School Facilities
2. KF-E1 – Rules and Regulations
3. KF-E2 – FHS Building Use
4. KF-E3 – Facility Rental Fee Schedule
5. KF-E4 – FHS Facility Rental Fee Schedule
6. KF-E5 – FHS Grounds Rental Fees
7. (NEW)GCCD – Domestic Violence Leave Policy

b. I recommend the acceptance of two checks totaling $589.71 for FHS as follows:

1. $189.71 Ahold Financial Svc. – Gift Account
2. $400.00 John T. Ombelets/ Elizabeth A. John - Scholarship

c. I recommend acceptance of two checks totaling $2,370.16 for Keller Elementary School as follows:

1. $370.16 O’Connor Portraiture, Inc. – In-house enrichment
2. $2,000.00 IBM - supplemental curriculum materials

d. I recommend acceptance of the donation of a Maple Tree (value $150 - 250) from the JF Kennedy PCC for playground shade at JF Kennedy Elementary School.
e. I recommend acceptance of a check for $150.00 from the Parmenter PCC for a Field Trip.
f. I recommend acceptance of a check for $25.00 from Target’s Thanks a Billion Program for supplemental supplies at Davis Thayer Elementary School.

5. Information Matters

Superintendent’s Report
School Committee Sub
Committee Reports
School Committee Liaison Reports

6. New Business

To discuss future business that may be brought before the School Committee.

7. Executive Session

Personnel Update

8. Adjourn

Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - June 24, 2015

A. EXECUTIVE SESSION 
– Strategy with Respect to Pending Litigation and Collective Bargaining re Fire Fighter’s Union


B. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – 7:00 PM

C. 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 others.

D. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS

E. CITIZEN COMMENTS

F. APPOINTMENTS – 2015 Annual Committee Appointments

G. HEARINGS

H. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS

I. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS

J. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

K. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION

1. Resolution 15-43: Appropriation – FY15 Fire Wages (Arbitration Award)
2. Resolution 15-44: Appropriation – Other Post Employment Stabilization Fund
3. Resolution 15-45: Appropriation – Roads/Sidewalks/Drainage/Storm water/ Infrastructure

L. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

M. OLD BUSINESS

N. NEW BUSINESS

O. COUNCIL COMMENTS

P. ADJOURN

Franklin Municipal Building

The documents associated with this published agenda be found on the Franklin webpage here:
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2015%20Complete%20With%20Documents/062415.pdf

What if… we can each help turn the tide of Addiction one share at a time?

From Patricia Byrne writing at Stop The Silence

The response to Stop the Silence has been staggering. The speed at which it was shared speaks to the size of the Epidemic of Addiction slithering through our neighborhoods and stealing our loved ones. 

Many have asked how they can help, others have asked how to get help. Much needs to change for the tide of Addiction to turn. Gloucester MA is at the front of the charge. They have created an Angel Program to help addicts instead of jailing them. 

We must admit this Epidemic is hiding in our communities. We need to recognize that families from all walks of life are re-enacting the same play behind different doors in cities, suburbs and small towns alike. We plead, sob, and scream to our addicts and to each other from a battle-worn script as we live our shared nightmare. Addiction is stealing the future of so many and decimating the lives of everyone who loves them. We need to step out from behind the doors and come together to help one another.

Continue reading Patricia here
https://stopthesilencespeakthetruth.wordpress.com/2015/06/17/what-if/

You can read more about Gloucester's Angel Program here -->
http://jgpr.net/2015/05/05/gloucester-police-chief-announces-major-drug-policy-changes/

As resources become available, Patricia will be posting them to this "Resources" page --> 
https://stopthesilencespeakthetruth.wordpress.com/local-resources-by-state/

The Addict's Mom

Community Coalition - June 30th - 7:00 PM

Franklin can come out from behind closed doors to the High School Auditorium on 7:00 PM Tuesday, June 30. The meeting will introduce the formation of a Community Coalition to help with our own problem.

Fight Hunger Paintball Challenge – July 12, 2015

"In memory of Quinton Buehrens"

Proceeds to support The Franklin Food Pantry

Come spend the day “FIGHTING HUNGER”

No family should ever go hungry and the Franklin Food Pantry works miracles every day supporting those families in Franklin that are in dire need of Food and other supplies.

• Time: 8:30 am to 5:00pm
• Registration: 9:00am
• Games start at 10pm and ends at 4pm

Fight Hunger Paintball Challenge

In the News: Community Coalition, South Meeting House

State legislators, medical experts and officials from the town’s school district and police department will meet later this month to garner local solutions to the state’s opioid epidemic. 

State Rep. Jeffrey Roy, D-Franklin, has arranged the June 30 meeting, which starts at 7 p.m. in the Franklin High School auditorium, 218 Oak St. 

The public session will establish a direction for the new community coalition that aims to create a support network for residents struggling with addiction. And Roy has invited medical and law enforcement experts to shed light on the opioid crisis in Massachusetts.

Continue reading the article in the Milford Daily News
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150620/NEWS/150629622/1994/NEWS

Related posts on the community coalition and opioid problem can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/06/what-if-we-can-each-help-turn-tide-of.html
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/06/representative-roy-announces-community.html

When first constructed in 1861, the South Franklin Congregational Meeting House on Washington Street served a need of convenience for its flock. 

The Congregationalist community in that area, known as Wadsworth then, had to trek several miles to reach their only church in the center of town, and in inclement weather or harvest seasons, traveling there could prove difficult, according to town historical records. 

So, to allow them to practice their faith without taking the burdensome trip, the South Franklin Congregationalists erected a church in their part of town. The historic wood building still stands today — only that niche it met 154 years ago no longer applies. 

Yet the town’s oldest religious structure may not sit vacant for much longer.

Continue reading the article here
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150621/NEWS/150629621

"this hasn't been done before, so it can't be done"

Via Ann Williams writing on the Pour Richard's Facebook page

Inertia-noun 

A tendency to do nothing or to remain unchanged.

"Inertia, or maintaining the status quo, can be a good thing. If you're hiking up the side of a mountain, you want the rocks to stay put. But business is different; if you are standing still, there are 5 other businesses that aren't. By standing still, you're actually losing ground.

At Pour Richard's, we take the path less traveled. Instead of selling the heavily advertised brands you find in the big box stores, we feature wines, beers, and spirits from small producers. The best part of my job is finding exciting new products- a new nanobrewery in Northampton, a better version of an Irish Cream- and then translating that excitement to our customers.

We do that by tasting, by talking, and hopefully, occasionally by pairing the wine (beer, cocktail) with the food that it was meant to accompany. It's a great way to introduce our customers to something new. It's also fun.

Our customers-wonderful, adventurous, fun people-have embraced this approach. Franklin has been an absolutely awesome place to do business-with one small exception: food.

When we have a product or an event that we feel would be enhanced by food, we'd like to do it legitimately: file a food safety plan, pay the town $50, and post a limited license to serve samples. Recently, we tried to do just that. I received my Servesafe food safety certification, filed an extensive food safety plan, and applied for permission to serve samples of Brazilian BBQ with caipirinhas. But Franklin does not currently allow non-food businesses to apply for these one-day permits. After several mostly cordial conversations with the town's health inspector, the only discernible reason for this seems to be inertia: this hasn't been done before, so it can't be done.

sometimes it just feels like this....

We understand that resisting inertia can be uncomfortable. But progress and growth don't happen without stepping out of the comfort box. If we've complied with all of the safety codes, why can't we receive a permit? Is inertia a good reason to say no?"

#shopFranklin