Live reporting: Town Council - March 23, 2016

Present: Pellegri, Padula, Vallee, Kelly, Pfeffer, Bissanti, Dellorco, Jones, Mercer (via phone)

Absent: none

• Boy Scout troop 8080 lead the pledge this evening.

A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
– February 24, 2016

B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
– This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast channel 11 and Verizon channel 29. This meeting may also be recorded by others.

March 24, 10 AM to noon, Connections at Work Seminar via SBA
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/03/in-news-small-business-seminar-chris.html

C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS

D. CITIZEN COMMENTS
– Citizens are welcome to express their views for up to five
minutes on a matter that is not on the Agenda. The Council will not engage in a dialogue or
comment on a matter raised during Citizen Comments. The Town Council will give remarks
appropriate consideration and may ask the Town Administrator to review the matter.

E. APPOINTMENTS

• Historical Commission - Jeremy Ball

motion to appoint, seconded, passed 9-0 (via roll call)

• Conservation Commission - Angela Gelineau

motion to appoint, seconded, passed 9-0 (via roll call)

"We're not talking about 'nice to have,' we're talking about essential components."

School Business Administrator Miriam Goodman said the budget would see a decrease of seven full-time educators and three full-time assistants. 

"We're anticipating these reductions will come through retirements and attrition," she said. "We're not looking at a reduction in force." 

Superintendent Maureen Sabolinski said the matter was the result of declining enrollment, particularly at the elementary level. 

"It's a national trend, and we'll continue to watch that," she said. "We have not yet had kindergarten registration - that happens in a few weeks - so we'll see what that enrollment shows."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160322/franklin-schools-present-58m-budget-proposal

screen grab of presentation from broadcast

The full budget proposal presentation document can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/03/fy-2017-school-budget-proposal.html

The Franklin Matters reporting on the portion of the meeting participated can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/03/this-budget-should-be-alarm-to-community.html

In the News: Class of 1966 looking for classmates; Exelon hearings begin in Medway

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin

"The Franklin High School Class of 1966 will hold its 50th class reunion June 3-5. 

The class seeks the following classmates: Warren Bennett, Joseph Boucher, David Calzolari, Nancy Cheyunski, Sandra Cosma, Jean Costello, Patricia Cunningham, Valerie DeLorenzo, Margaret Farrell, Charles Fowler, Constance Grime, Elizabeth Hagopian, Clifford Jones, Joseph Kelly, Charles Kimball, Robin Lister, Sheila Lynch, Donald McPherson, Leo Mastromatteo, Thomas McGuire, Susan Monier, Sharon Mullen, Anthony Parlin, Donna Paturzo, Jorge Pinzon, Anthony Pitasi, Susan Poellmitz, Charles Rosen, Jacqueline Shaw, David Sussan and Allan Thornton. 

To report information, call 508-553-4814 or email lifelong@franklin.k12.ma.us."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160322/frankling-high-school-class-of-1966-seeks-classmates

"Exelon presented its site plan application to the Planning and Economic Development Board Tuesday, a major step in the company’s proposal to build a 200-megawatt expansion of the company’s Summer Street power plant. 

Eric Las, an engineer with Beals and Thomas, the engineering firm retained by Exelon, provided a general overview of the project. 

The plant would operate during high-usage periods, mainly in hot summer and cold winter months. 

During construction, there will be a staging area, and several trees originally meant to provide screening from West Street will be removed, Las said, adding that after construction, the area will be regrown."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160322/medway-planning-board-begins-exelon-hearings

Lifelong Learning: Senior Players Group

NEW THIS SPRING   Senior Players Group  Don't miss out Can you see yourself on this stage? We can. Call today to reserve your spot at one of our Senior Players Information Sessions 508-613-1480 What is the Senior Players Group  Establishing A Senior Players Group Getting Started   Informational Sessions Join us for "All the world's a stage and you're on it" - one of two free information sessions about the program.   Meet Mel Howards, director for the Senior Players Group. Learn more about reading and acting while holding the script: It's called Staged Reading.      NOTE: Based on the outcome of the information session, it is our intention to begin establishing a group that would hold its first meeting on Tuesday, April 26 and will run until May 31 6:00 to 7:30 PM  Franklin High School  Fee: $50 INFORMATION SESSIONS SESSION 1 Wednesday  April 6  1:30 PM  Franklin Senior Center SESSION 2  Thursday April 7 6:30 PM  Franklin High School About Mel Howards  Mel Howards is a professor-Emeritus at Northeastern  University. He is an educator, essayist, playwright and poet. He is the founder of the Senior Players at the University of Southern Maine   Franklin Public Schools -  Lifelong Learning Institute The Center for Adult Education  and Community Learning 218 Oak Street, Franklin, MA 02038  www.FranklinLifelongLearning.com   508-613-1480

FPS- Lifelong Learning Institute, 355 East Central Street, Franklin, MA 02038 Sent by adulted@franklin.k12.ma.us in collaboration with Try it free today

FYHA's Growing Girls Hockey Sessions - registration available

Any girls out there interested in trying hockey for free? 

Check out FYHA's Growing Girls Hockey Sessions. 

• Saturday, March 26, 2016 @ 12:30 pm (Franklin Pirelli Rink) 
• Saturday, April 9, 2016 @ 12:30 pm (Franklin Pirelli Rink) 
• Saturday, April 9, 2016 @ 12:30 pm (Franklin Pirelli Rink) 
• Saturday, April 16, 2016 @ 12:30 pm (Franklin Pirelli Rink) 

Franklin Youth Hockey Association will be running 4 sessions in March for any girl between the ages of 7 and 12 to try hockey for a day or for the entire month. This program is only open to girls interested in joining organized hockey for the first time or who have participated in beginner level skating or hockey skills programs. 

This program is not open to girls who are currently playing on mixed or girls-only teams. 

Participants must register for each session separately and will be required to sign a USA Hockey waiver the day of the session. Full equipment is required for all participants. Skate and equipment rentals are NOT available. 

REGISTER NOW: http://franklinflyers.org/Registration/Default.asp

Franklin Flyers

going, going, .... almost gone

The building at 150 Emmons St continues to be demolished this week. After getting off the train from Boston Tuesday afternoon, I managed to grab some photos in daylight. By the looks of the progress, assuming the weather remains good for this week, this could be down by Friday.

from Emmons St

also from Emmons St

at the corner of West Central

on West Central looking towards Emmons St

"This budget should be an alarm to the community"

Reporting remotely (via the internet) on the first view of the school budget as presented at the Franklin (MA) School Committee meeting on Tuesday, Mar 22, 2016.

• O'Malley - "This budget should be an alarm to the community"

The video replay for this meeting can be viewed here
http://view.earthchannel.com/PlayerController.aspx?PGD=franknma&eID=338

(be sure to scroll within the Storify widget to review all the entries)

decrease of 7 teachers and 3 FTE educational assistants for FY 2017 budget (2016-2017 school year)

The budget proposal can be viewed here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/03/fy-2017-school-budget-proposal.html


The full agenda can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/03/franklin-ma-school-committee-agenda-mar.html