In the News: 'Tis the season, public records, OPEB liability explained

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin

"The Franklin Performing Arts Company will host a special performance of the original holiday musical “’Tis the Season!” for community youth, family and social services organizations at 3 p.m. Dec. 19 at the Franklin High School auditorium, 118 Oak St. 

FPAC will distribute complimentary tickets for the performance through community organizations including the Hockomock Area YMCA, local Best Buddies chapters and the Franklin Food Pantry."

Read the full article online here (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20151118/NEWS/151115487/1994/NEWS

"Ahead of the unanimous passage of what they said was the first public records overhaul in more than four decades on Wednesday, a key House lawmaker said the measure would increase transparency without adding an unfunded mandate on cities and towns. 

"As a former local official and someone who pays a lot of attention to municipal government, I don't view anything in this bill as an unfunded mandate," House Ways and Means Committee Vice Chairman Stephen Kulik said. He said, "Any public agency, including cities and towns, have responsibilities inherent to provide public access to the documents of what they do."

Read the full article online here (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20151118/NEWS/151115463/1994/NEWS

"The Town Council was told at its meeting Wednesday that Franklin is in relatively good shape in terms of other post-employment benefits (OPEB), but should continue to ramp up its contributions. 

Consultant Dan Sherman gave a presentation to the council on the concept."

Read the full article online here (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20151118/NEWS/151115448/1994/NEWS

26th Annual Gourmet Guys - Attleboro Elks Lodge - Nov 20th

An evening of great food, family and friends! An Attleboro institution, Gourmet Guys features a buffet-style feast prepared by our hometown heroes. All proceeds benefit New Hope, a non-profit working to end domestic and sexual violence in our communities.

New Hope

Event Details:

• Tickets: $30 adults; $20 kids/seniors
• Doors open: 6:30 p.m.
• Dinner served: 7:00 p.m.
• Family-Friendly environment
• Raffles and Silent Auctions
• Cash Bar

26th Annual Gourmet Guys - Attleboro Elks Lodge - Nov 20th

In the News: Jamie Barrett performs, RMV adds online services

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin

The Black Box Children’s Series kicks off its second season this Saturday, Nov. 21, featuring Franklin singer-songwriter, guitarist and music teacher Jamie Barrett. 

Back by popular demand with an engaging mix of family-favorite songs, Barrett presents a fun and interactive program for audiences of all ages, beginning at 2 p.m.

Read the full article online here (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20151118/NEWS/151116448/1994/NEWS

The Registry of Motor Vehicles announced Wednesday it will now allow many drivers to pay their road test and license fees online rather than in line. 

Registry officials said the prepay function has the potential to eliminated 50,000 trips a year to its offices. 

Customers who have a regular Class D permit or a motorcycle Class M permit will be eligible to visit massrmv.com before completing a road test and avoid the lines altogether.

Read the full article online here (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20151118/NEWS/151115782/1994/NEWS

Franklin Fracked Gas Pipeline Petition link

Dear Fellow Franklinites, 

I urge you to sign this online petition to oppose a fracked gas pipeline proposed to run through Franklin. 

The petition explains the reasons for our opposition.

proposed route for fracked gas pipeline

https://www.change.org/p/jeffrey-roy-karen-spilka-richard-ross-stop-the-spectra-energy-pipeline-from-going-through-franklin-ma-we-don-t-need-or-want-it?recruiter=424738166&utm_source=share_for_starters&utm_medium=copyLink

Live reporting: Legislation for Action

J. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
none


K. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION

• Resolution 15-36R (Revised) Salary Schedule Full-Time Elected Officials

adjustment to salary to cover for the extension of Debbie Pellegri in her role until the recall completes

motion to approve, seconded, 7-0  via roll

• Resolution 15-71- Acceptance of Deed of Land Off Daniels Street (Parcels B and C in Tanglewood Estates Subdivision) for Conservation Purposes

the parcels had been acquired through negotiation with the developer

motion to approve, seconded, 7-0  via roll

• Resolution 15-73 -Acceptance of Easement on Property at O Greystone Road

motion to amend to write in 'Franklin' as this word was left out
motion to approve, seconded, 7-0  via roll on the amendment 

motion to approve, seconded, 7-0  via roll on the amended motion

• Resolution 15-74 -Adoption of Town Council Procedures Manual

procedures manual is comprised of three documents
pretty much the same doc as the last several years, only amended to include the remote participation

motion to approve, seconded, 7-0  via roll


L. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT

hoping to get Oak St to be paved before the weather turns

Downtown wrapping up, a map being posted on the circulation downtown

winter is coming, be careful with the first snow fall

Tree lighting Sunday the 29th, 4:00 PM

proposed council schedule out for Councilors for review

Tax hearing TUesday, Dec 8th

Jan 6th meeting on the pipeline

Jan 12th council workshop

Jan 20th Pond St meeting with those interested


M. OLD BUSINESS
insurance audit? have you heard from him?

Wachusett St, parking lot getting widened
it will be completed before the next meeting

still exploring an environmental lawyer to help with the power plant


N. NEW BUSINESS
group called STOP, coming to speak to provide info on alchohol


O. COUNCIL COMMENTS
SAFE Coalition meeting Dec 8th

Condolences to the McDonald family for their recent loss

looking to Council for helping to get the drug dealers

request to bring the drug dog to a future meeting

Mercer - condolences to McDonalds, he was a three sport athlete

motion to adjourn, 7-0 via roll

Live reporting: OPEB

G. HEARINGS
none

H. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
none


I. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
OPEB, Dan Sherman

also made presentation to FinCom this evening (meeting at 6:00PM)

had been 'pay as you go' costs for retirement
government accounting standards required changes in how this was handled
the amount of the outstanding promise was required to be specified, hence - "unfunded"

what is the time value of the money invested?

400,000 plus 10% of free cash is currently being planned for as part of the budget for the annual contribution. However, the requirement is about $2M so we are 'underfunded'

total unfunded liability = $92,5M
or 1.5% funded

the fact that we are setting money aside in the trust is good in the eyes of the rating agencies

the liability is 161% is low compared to peers, a 'wonderful place to be'

the annual cost of a home is all the ongoing costs, heating, electric, etc.
you also have a mortgage which is your liability

ARC = Annual Required Contribution, the amount that will be the line item eventually added to the budget

most communities are like us, setting something aside but not completely funding the liability

Like Needham, put some aside, gradually up the amount and eventually close the gap

Shrewsbury 2020 or bust, attempting to fully fund

some communities are not doing anything which the rating agencies won't like

Dan is currently a member of the FinCom for Wakefield, putting money aside to get fully funded eventually

pre-funding brings a bunch of advantages

OPEB is the one thing that for an employee is not paid up front, is paid after the employee retires

Q - to clarify on the unfunded and partial pre-funding

Q - can we change the plans we offer?
A - yes, we change the health plans frequently working with the unions

68/32 ratio

probably about 20 of the 350 communities are fully pre-funding

new employees don't get the same benefit as older employees
law change is being looked at for a change in the formula

Padula - recommend a motion to ask for legislative help
Kelly to be added to a future agenda

full copies to be posted to Town webpage in a couple of days

Live Reporting: Town Council - Nov 18, 2015

Present: Padula, Vallee, Kelly, Pfeffer, Bissanti, Dellorco, Mercer (remote via phone)
Absent: Jones
Pellegri (also present but not as a member of the Council yet)

A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

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
none

F. APPOINTMENTS
Franklin Community Cable Access, Inc.- Board of Directors
William K Norman, Rose Turco

re-doing the vote to cover a technicality where last week it was referenced as a committee when they are really to the Board of Directors

Liaisons -SAFE Board

• Dellorco

Communications

• Jones

"Start by asking Great Questions"

StoryCorps invites families across America to participate in its Great Thanksgiving Listen from Nov. 26-29. 

The goal of this project is to preserve the voices of a generation, in a single weekend. Equipment required is a smartphone or tablet and the StoryCorps App, available free for Apple and Android devices. The stories recorded can remain private or become part of the Library of Congress. The free app allows for up to 40 minutes per listening session to be recorded.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20151117/NEWS/151116642/1994/NEWS

Story Corp - recording booth

The Getting Started quick ref card
https://storycorpsme.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2015/10/Getting-Started.pdf

Interview tips
https://storycorpsme.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/2015/10/Interview-Tips.pdf

Review some sample questions to ask  https://storycorps.org/great-questions/

Downtown Partnership - Networking Luncheon - Nov 20

Please join us for our upcoming Networking Luncheon
Friday, November 20, at 1 p.m.
Dean College Smith Dining Center

Dean College Smith Dining Center

This luncheon is a great opportunity to talk about your business and grow relationships with other professionals in a relaxed atmosphere while enjoying a delicious lunch. It is an ideal way for new businesses to get the word out about their ventures and make new connections.

The Franklin Downtown Partnership holds these networking luncheons every 3rd Friday of the month. Networking Committee Co-Chairs Gary Donelan and Matt Lechter are looking in to after-hours events at local businesses, and are actively looking for speaker ideas. Please contact them with topics that you feel are instrumental to your business success.

Gary Donelan, gary.donelan@middlesexbank.com
Matt Lechter, mlechter@dean.edu

Franklin represented on Hockomock Cross Country All Stars - 2015

From Hockomock Sports, we share the All Stars for Cross Country. Nicole Clermont was named the MVP for the Girls

the top 16 girls at the Hockomock Cross Country Championships, Oct 31, 2015

Girls Cross Country

HOCKOMOCK LEAGUE MVP

• Nicole Clermont, Franklin

HOCKOMOCK LEAGUE ALL STARS

Catherine Song, Canton
Lindsey Nelson, Foxboro

• Nicole Clermont, Franklin
• Kate Hartnett, Franklin
• Brittany Robinson, Franklin
• Sabrina Roche, Franklin

Erin Quinn, King Philip
Julie Romano, Mansfield
Jenise Madden, Milford
Ann Roberts, North Attleboro
Elizabeth Peckham, Oliver Ames
Olivia Timbone, Oliver Ames
Carly Ryter, Sharon
Ariadne Tolay, Sharon
Amanda Baptiste, Taunton


HONORABLE MENTIONS

• Nicole Mucciarone, Franklin

Boys Cross Country

HONORABLE MENTIONS

• Ryan Spelman, Franklin

Girls

http://www.hockomocksports.com/the-2015-hockomock-girls-cross-country-all-stars-hms/

Boys

http://www.hockomocksports.com/the-2015-hockomock-boys-cross-country-all-stars-hms/

Franklin's Meals on Wheels Program can use your help!

Got a few hours in the morning that you want to use helping others? 

Meals on Wheels needs your help!

Deliveries are any weekday from 10:30 AM - 12:00 noon (routes are in Franklin and 2 surrounding towns).

Kitchen help is from 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM (in Franklin). Call 508-520-1422 with questions.

Franklin Lifelong Learning: Decorating Holiday Cupcakes - Dec 2

Make the Holidays Special

Franklin Public Schools  -  Lifelong Learning Institute The Center for Adult Education and Community Learning Invite you to Decorate Holiday Cupcakes Get creative for the holidays and have some fun with cupcake art. Join our friends from the cake bar and learn how to make your cupcakes special. During this hands-on class you will be decorating four cupcakes .... and taking them home, too!  You will learn four different decorating techniques, using fondant decorations.  For those who want to continue practicing at home after the class, extra supplies will be available for purchase on the night of the class at a 10% discount to all attendees. (Cash and checks will be accepted).                                                             Wednesday, December 2                             Time: 7:00 to 8:30pm                              Location: Franklin High School, 218 Oak Street                              Cost: $50 NOTE: Participants should be at least 18 years of age.  REGISTER NOW

The Center for Adult Education & Community Learning | 218 Oak Street | Franklin | MA | 02038

In the News: MCAS 2.0, Clerk recount Thursday, Sen Spilka visits Franklin, Methodist Church events

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin

After test-driving the PARCC exam for two years, Massachusetts will instead opt for a new hybrid exam beginning in 2017. 

“This is going to be one of the most important policy decisions I think any group in the commonwealth will make for many years to come,” Board of Elementary and Secondary Education Chairman Paul Sagan said. 

The board voted 8-3 Tuesday to adopt Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Mitchell Chester’s proposal to develop a new standardized test that incorporates elements of both PARCC and MCAS. Chester touted the new exam as a “next-generation MCAS” and “MCAS 2.0.”

Read the full article online here (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20151117/NEWS/151116385/1994/NEWS

The votes cast in the town election earlier this month will be recounted Thursday to definitively name the winner of the town clerk race. 

Current Town Clerk Deborah Pellegri said candidate Diane Padula-O'Neill has formally requested the reconsideration after coming up 32 votes shy in the Nov. 3 count. 

The recount will take place at 10 a.m. at the Franklin Municipal Building, Pellegri said.

Read the full article online here (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20151117/NEWS/151116015/1994/NEWS

State Sen. Karen Spilka visited the Franklin Downtown Partnership office recently, viewing the progress being made on the Downtown Roadway and Streetscape Improvement Project and discussing the FDP’s work on a number of downtown initiatives. 

Franklin Downtown Partnership Executive Director Lisa Piana and Planning and Community Development Director Bryan Taberner reviewed the Streetscape construction project’s progress to date. They also shared plans for new development and improvements to the downtown, such as a new retail building, park, and Horace Mann statue at the corner of Emmons and West Central streets.

Read the full article online here (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20151117/NEWS/151116182/1994/NEWS

Franklin United Methodist Church, 82 W. Central St., will host the following Christmas events.

• Caroling: 2:30 p.m. Dec. 6.
• Quiet time service, or Blue Christmas service: 7 p.m. Dec. 17.
• Christmas Pageant: 10 a.m. Dec. 20.
• Christmas Eve services: 5 p.m. and 11 p.m. Dec. 24.

For information, call the church at 508-528-1092.

http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20151117/NEWS/151116064/1994/NEWS

Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - Nov 18

The agenda for the Town Council meeting scheduled for Wednesday, Nov 18th can be found here

 

A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

 

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

• Franklin Community Cable Access, Inc.- Board of Directors
• Liaisons -SAFE Board
• Communications

 

G. HEARINGS

 

H. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS

 

I. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS

• OPEB, Dan Sherman

 

J. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

 

K. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION

1. Resolution 15-36R (Revised) Salary Schedule Full-Time Elected Officials
2. Resolution 15-71- Acceptance of Deed of Land Off Daniels Street (Parcels B and C in Tanglewood Estates Subdivision) for Conservation Purposes
3. Resolution 15-73 -Acceptance of Easement on Property at O Greystone Road
4. Resolution 15-74 -Adoption of Town Council Procedures Manual

 

L. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT

 

M. OLD BUSINESS

 

N. NEW BUSINESS

 

O. COUNCIL COMMENTS

 

P. EXECUTIVE SESSION

 

Q. ADJOURN

 

 

The associated documents for the Town Council meeting scheduled for Wednesday, Nov 18th can be found here

 

http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2015%20Complete%20With%20Documents/111815.pdf

 

Franklin Municipal Building

Downtown Project Update #17 - major construction downtown is finished for this year

The major construction of the downtown is finished for this construction year. They anticipate coming back in the spring (April?) and being finished by the end of July. The construction next year will include finishing up the curbing and paving East Central Street from the RR Bridge to Ruggles Street, redoing the RR Bridge to accommodate two-way traffic and full depth reconstruction on Main Street from the RR Bridge to Emmons Street. The traffic island on the bridge will be much smaller once the project is complete. 

Over the next few weeks, there will be general clean-up of the area, temporary hot top in areas that are gravel, removal of all the equipment at 150 Emmons Street and elsewhere, temporary striping and crosswalks, and installation of the period lighting, etc. Please be reminded that there is a two-hour parking limit on East Central Street where the parking meters were removed. 

new STOP sign at the corner of Emmons and West Central Sts

Attention: The crosswalk on West Central Street that is used by Dean College has been relocated closer to the intersection on Emmons and West Central Street. When the new lights are activated next year, there will be a push to walk light but in the meanwhile, there are temporary stop signs at the intersection of Emmons and West Central. Please stop and look to make sure there are no pedestrians in the crosswalk prior to turning right from Emmons to West Central.  

If anyone has a question, please feel free to reach out to the DPW Director, Brutus Cantoreggi or Town Engineer, Michael Maglio at 508-553-5500 or Jeffrey Nutting, Town Administrator at 508-520-4949.