Monday, January 11, 2016

Reminder: Christmas Tree Collection Days - week of January 11

The snow has been washed away by the rain but the Christmas trees are still around and scheduled for pick up with your normal trash pick up day this week.


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Christmas Tree Collection Days

Week of January 11, 2016

On Your Regular Trash Day

put tree out with the trash on your day during the week of Jan 11
put tree out with the trash on your day during the week of Jan 11

This was shared from the notice on the Town of Franklin page

Winter Bear Zentangle Fundraiser - Jan 14th


Thursday, January 14th, the Franklin Art Center is doing a fundraiser for the International Arts Foundation for Kids (IAFK).  IAFK is a new 501(c)3 organization based in Franklin to help art education.

IAFK zen bear poster
IAFK zen bear poster

 "The mission of the International Arts Foundation for Kids a registered 501(c)(3), is to collect new art supplies, new and gently used music and dance equipment, lessons, studio time, tickets to museums, shows and concerts and distribute these items to less fortunate children in the community in which the campaign is conducted."

From 7-9:30 pm, the class will feature Zentangle. Each participant will leave with an 8" x 10" framed Winter Bear and a gift tag. The class will be lead by by Sarah Del Mastro.

The cost for the class is $45.00. This includes the zentangle starter kit and a portion of the cost goes to the IAFK foundation.


Call the Franklin Art Center to register and for more information.

In the News: contractor chosen for Senior Center project, Franklin's fiscal prospects good

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin

"After a process that drew lower-than-expected bids, a local committee voted Friday to award a contract for a renovation of the Franklin Senior Center. 
The Senior Center Building Committee opted to hire general contractor GTC Construction Management of Haverhill. The company bid just more than $1 million on a project that had been estimated to cost in the neighborhood of $1.6 million. 
Committee chairman and Town Council member Tom Mercer said the project had garnered nine bidders - a higher total than expected. 
Fellow committee members noted that there was not much variance among the bids, which was another surprise."
Franklin Senior Center in the rain
Franklin Senior Center in the rain

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160111/franklin-senior-center-contractor-chosen


"The town should be in good financial shape for the next couple of years, but may face challenges in the future, according to a recently-released fiscal forecast. 
Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting put forward his five-year forecast during the most recent Town Council meeting. During a brief oral summary, he spoke about its basic conclusions. 
"It hasn't changed dramatically from last year," he said. "The town is in good shape in the short run, but there continue to be concerns about the future, as fixed costs continue to rise."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160110/franklin-short-term-fiscal-forecast-positive

You can find the five year fiscal forecast referred to here
http://franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_News/022E2532-000F8513

Sunday, January 10, 2016

Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda - Jan 12, 2016

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'
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 December 8, 2015 School Committee Meeting.
Payment of Bills Dr. O’Malley
Payroll Mrs. Douglas
FHS Student Representatives
Correspondence: Budget to Actual – Miriam Goodman

2. Guests/Presentations

a. Jefferson Elementary School Update
b. FHS Substance Abuse Task Force
c. FHS Program of Studies Update
d. FHS Proposal for New Sports Teams
e. Update on Hiring of Football Coach

3. Discussion Only Items

2016-2017 School Calendar – 2 Draft options
BiCounty Collaborative Update
ACCEPT Collaborative Update

4. Action Items

a. I recommend acceptance of four checks totaling $3,350.00 for FHS as detailed:

  • 1. Raytheon $1,000.00
  • 2. Franklin Music boosters $1,800.00
  • 3. Maura Schaeffer $250.00 (scholarship)
  • 4. Anonymous $300.00

b. I recommend acceptance of three checks totaling $12,496.00 from Franklin Music Parents from the Middle and High Schools.
c. I recommend acceptance of a check for $50.00 from Lueder’s for Davis Thayer Elementary School.
d. I recommend approval of the addition of Girls/Boys Freshman Lacrosse and Girls Gymnastics as outlined by FHS Principal.

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. Adjourn


There were no documents released as part of this agenda preventing any preparation for the meeting.

Representative Roy Announces January & February Office Hours


State Representative Jeffrey N. Roy (D-Franklin) announced today that constituent office hours will be held for the Months of January and February on the following days:

January:
  • Friday, January 29th, 10:00-11:00AM, Elizabeth's Bagels, 456 W Central St. Franklin, MA



February:
  • Thursday, February 18th, 8:30-9:30AM, Franklin Senior Center, 10 Daniel McCahill St. Franklin MA
  • Saturday, February 27th, 9:00-10:00AM, Medway Muffin House, 116 Main St. Medway, MA


Christopher Yancich, his legislative aide, will be accompanying him.

Representative Roy stated that all office hours are open to any residents of Franklin and Medway who may have questions or concerns that they wish to bring to his attention.  Walk-ins are welcome; no appointment necessary. He looks forward to hearing from you.

He also invites all constituents to call him at his State House office at (617) 722-2020, stop by Room 527A in the State House, or email him at Jeffrey.Roy@MAhouse.gov.

FHS wrestling win 4 matches, boys hockey tops Foxboro

The FHS boys hockey team cruised against Foxboro winning 9-0. The girls hockey team dropped a close 2-0 match to Medfield. The FHS wrestling team won four matches in the event at Franklin County Tech out in Western MA. All results via Hockomock Sports.

Boys Hockey


  • Franklin, 9 @ Foxboro, 0 – Final 

– Luke Downie, Ryan Hohman, Joe Lizotte and Zac Falvey all scored their first varsity goals in the win for the Panthers.
FHS Panthers
FHS Panthers


Girls Hockey


  • Franklin, 0 @ Medfield, 2 – Final



Wrestling


  • Franklin @ Franklin County Tech 

– Franklin went 4-0 with wins over Maher (64-9), Holliston (38-12), Pioneer (24-6) and Athol (24-9).


For all the results on Saturday around the Hockomock League
http://www.hockomocksports.com/saturdays-schedule-scoreboard-010916/

"we respect those concerns, they're legitimate concerns"



"Affordable housing: Not everyone’s favorite topic. It means constant juggling for local municipalities - balancing the needs of current residents with future residents, deciding what is best for the town and attempting to attract younger people and more taxpayers. And making sure at least 10 percent of their housing stock is deemed "affordable" as required by state law. 
Nowhere is this more evident than in a recent study done by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC). The council recently released a study projecting house needs and demands for MetroWest and the Milford area for 2030. 
The study calls for at least 20,752 housing units to be added by 2030 to meet projected population and households changes. 
One trend among these projections includes a shift of those 55 and older into more rental units instead of owning their homes. Likewise, there is an increased demand in rental units for those younger than 35 and an increase in demand for single-family homes for those aged 35 to 54."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160110/more-affordable-housing-needed-for-future


Additional info on Chapter 40b can be found here
http://www.mass.gov/hed/community/40b-plan/

More about the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) can be found here
http://www.mapc.org/

280 units coming to West Central St via 40b
280 units coming to West Central St via 40b


Related affordable housing posts


  • 280 unit apartment housing coming to Franklin via 40b

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/04/280-unit-apartment-building-at-1330.html


  • Franklin offers affordable housing for 55+

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/12/affordable-housing-for-55-37-grey-wolfe.html


  • Lottery for affordable housing in 2014

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/07/franklin-municipal-affordable-housing.html