Wednesday, April 13, 2016

VICTORY: Walpole Board of Selectmen pass two anti-pipeline motions!


Everybody,

OUTSTANDING NEWS!  Tonight (Tuesday) at the Walpole Board of Selectmen, after a Spectra presentation and question and answer period, proposed and passed two motions against the Access Northeast pipeline!

The wording of the motions are as follows:

MOTION moved that the Board of Selectmen strongly oppose any pipeline development within a 400-foot radius of any Town Well, as the siting of the pipeline in such close proximity to the Town's water supply would propose an unacceptable threat to public health as the contamination of the Town's drinking water supply would create incalculable damage to the public health, the natural environment and the built environment.  It is simply unacceptable and any new pipeline must be routed as far as possible from drinking water wells and other drinking water sources.
PASSED: 4 YES, 0 NO, 1 ABSTENTION

MOTION that the Board of Selectmen votes to endorse the analysis and position of Attorney General Healey, as supported by the Regional Electric Reliability Options study, which concluded that new gas pipelines are not needed "to keep the lights on" and that, to the contrary, the region can maintain energy reliability through 2030 without any new gas pipelines; and furthermore, there are cheaper, less carbon-intensive options, than a new pipeline, better options such as energy efficiency and demand response, all less costly and less risk-intensive.
PASSED: 3 YES, 1 NO, 1 ABSTENTION

WOOHOO!  FIRST VICTORY ON THE Q1 LOOP!  CONGRATULATIONS, WALPOLE!

Please share this news with people in your towns as well as town leadership.  This is definitely a step in the right direction so let's see what other towns can get on board!

With gratitude,
Carolyn

lawn sign seen on Franklin lawns
lawn sign seen on Franklin lawns

FHS spring sports postponed due to the weather on Tuesday

FHS spring sports suffered postponements due to the weather on Tuesday. The reschedules for the FHS competitions are shown below courtesy of Hockomock Sports.


Boys Tennis

  • Oliver Ames @ Franklin – Postponed to 5/3 at 3:30

Complete boys tennis schedule for FHS
http://www.hockomocksports.com/schedules/boys-tennis/franklin/2016-2/


Girls Tennis

  • Franklin @ Oliver Ames – Postponed to 5/3 at 3:30

Complete girls tennis schedule for FHS
http://www.hockomocksports.com/schedules/girls-tennis/franklin/2016-2/


Boys Outdoor Track

  • King Philip @ Franklin – Postponed to 5/5 at 3:15


Girls Outdoor Track

  • King Philip @ Franklin – Postponed to 5/5 at 3:15
Complete Outdoor Track schedule for FHS


For all the results (and postponements) around the Hockomock League on Tuesday

FHS Panthers
FHS Panthers

In the News: Lion's Heart begins year two, Franklin Art Center classes open for registration, Disabled American Veterans Mobile Service visits Franklin Elks

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin

"The second year for the Franklin chapter of Lion’s Heart - Teen Volunteers and Leaders will officially begin May 1. 
Open enrollment for the organization runs from Feb. 1 to Oct. 1. Teens are assigned to groups beginning April 1. 
In their first year, 32 members logged over 1,200 hours of service in and around Franklin. 
For information: lionsheartservice.org; Allison Bernhardt at allison.bernhardt@lionsheartservice.org."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160411/franklin-lions-heart-to-begin-2nd-year

Lion's Heart
Lion's Heart


The Franklin Art Center is now enrolling for April vacation and spring art classes, available to students in kindergarten and older, adults included.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160411/franklin-art-center-now-enrolling-for-spring-art-classes



The Disabled American Veterans Mobile Service Office will be at the Franklin Elk’s Lodge, 1077 Pond St., from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 20 to assist veterans who have questions regarding their benefits and/or need help with claims.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160412/disabled-american-veterans-mobile-service-office-to-visit-franklin-elks-lodge

In the News: School Committee passes budget, former drug chemist released from prison

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin
"The School Committee voted to approve a $58.3 million fiscal year 2017 budget at its meeting Tuesday night, but the chairman said the process needs to fundamentally change in the future. 
The committee passed the budget - which represents a 2.28 percent over the FY '16 budget - unanimously. 
Committee Chairman Kevin O'Malley was the only member to comment on the budget during the time slated for discussion. He said he did not believe the school district's situation is sustainable. 
"This budget is sufficient to help a good school system to remain good," he said. "It is not sufficient for the students, parents and teachers in our charge."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160412/franklin-school-committee-votes-to-adopt-583m-budget

"A former drug lab chemist convicted of faking test results and tampering with evidence, leading to a review of tens of thousands of criminal cases, is out of prison. 
Annie Doohkan, who lived in Franklin before serving her sentence, has been paroled, a spokesman for the Massachusetts prisons system confirmed to the Boston Herald. Nicolas Gordon, the attorney who represented Dookhan during her criminal case, said she was released about a month ago."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160412/annie-dookhan-released-from-prison

Storify: Real Time Reporting - School Committee - Apr 12, 2016

The agenda and my other notes can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/04/real-time-reporting-school-committee.html


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



School Committee - photo captured from webcast
School Committee - photo captured from webcast

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Real time Reporting: School Committee - Apr 12, 2016

Present: Bilello, Scofield, Bergen, Douglas, O'Malley, Schultz, Jewell
Absent:  none

1. Routine Business

Citizen’s Comments
none

Review of Agenda
no adjustments

Minutes: I recommend approval of the minutes from the March 22, 2016 School Committee Meeting.
Payment of Bills Dr. O’Malley
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0

Payroll Mrs. Douglas
FHS Student Representatives

  • MICA performances received silver awards
  • Empty Bowls dinner Apr 27th
  • Beauty and the BEast almost two sold out nights
  • one student rep leaning to Lesley and the other to Bentley to continue their studies next year


Correspondence: Budget to Actual – Miriam Goodman

2. Guests/Presentations

a. School Counseling Update
see Storify notes -> http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/04/storify-real-time-reporting-school.html


*** left off real time reporting during the middle school portion of the presentation (missed approx 20 minutes of the meeting)

-----------

Picked up again here, during the Mental Health Awareness Week being scheduled for the high school for May 16-20

Mental Health Awareness Week
Mental Health Awareness Week - May 16-20


3. Discussion Only Items


  • FY 2017 Budget Adoption
  • School Choice 2016-2017
    • recommendation to continue NOT accepting student choice
  • Policy – Second Reading
  • JKA – Corporal Punishment


  • Resolution Chapter 70 Funding
    • Committee to look to endorse the recalculation proposal at next meeting.


4. Action Items

a. I recommend adoption of the FY2017 Proposed School Budget in the amount of $58,250,000.00 as presented.
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0

b. I recommend not accepting any new School Choice students for the 2016-2017 school year.
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0

c. I recommend adoption of Policy JKA – Corporal Punishment as discussed.
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0

d. I recommend acceptance of a check for $2,000.00 from Special Olympics for the Student Activity account for the Unified Track Program at FHS.
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0

only meet on May 2, 3:30 PM at FHS

e. I recommend acceptance of a check for $460.22 from the Parmenter PCC for supplemental supplies.
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0

f. I recommend approval for the recurring field trip to Providence Place Mall on April 15, 2016 for RMS students as detailed.
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0

g. I recommend acceptance of a check for $2,334.28, proceeds from the Book Fair at Davis Thayer.
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0

h. I recommend acceptance of a check for $50.00 from Steven Mollo for in-house enrichment at RMS.
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0

i. I recommend acceptance of two checks totaling $1,014.28 from the JFK PCC for field trips.
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0

j. I recommend approval of the HMMS field trip to Mystic Aquarium on May 2nd as detailed.
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0

k. I recommend acceptance of a check for $400.00 from New England Institute of Technology for field trips at FHS.
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0


5. Information Matters

Superintendent’s Report

  • Kathleen Gerber has accepted Principal position at Davis Thayer
  • organizational meeting with DCF, round table meeting to be hosted quarterly, multiple parties involved, trying to get the agencies involved with DCF and get more proactive, hosted here in Franklin. Police partnership going well. All at no cost to the community.
  • K registration yesterday and today, final numbers not available yet, registration still open
  • Empty Bowls dinner scheduled for Apr 27th to benefit the Franklin Food Pantry, raises awareness on hunger and impact on families in Franklin


School Committee Sub-Committee Reports

  • multigenerational community engagement workshop attended recently, presentation to a future meeting

School Committee Liaison Reports
a. Calendar Committee
  • met three times, whittled down from 8 to 2 calendar options, scheduled for next school committee meeting, this would be for the 2017-2018 school year


6. New Business

To discuss future business that may be brought before the School Committee.
none

7. Motion to Adjourn 

– Dr. O’Malley
motion to adjourn, seconded passed 7-0


Downtown Project - Update #25 - April 12, 2016


This week, expect the curbing construction to continue. Please be aware of any detours the construction crew may have up as you approach downtown. 

The week of April 18th, expect new sidewalk construction to begin. 

The following week (week of Apr 25), please expect Main Street sidewalk and curb construction to get started. 

There will not be any construction crews on Monday, April 18th in observance of Patriots Day. 

The project remains on schedule to be fully completed by Labor Day at the end of the summer. 

Follow the Town on Facebook and Twitter for the most recent updates.


new curbing for the downtown construction project
new curbing for the downtown construction project

Shared from the Town of Franklin
http://www.town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_News/0239D2FB-000F8513