Live reporting: Town Council - May 11, 2016

Present: Pellegri, Padula, Mercer, Vallee, Kelly, Pfeffer, Bissanti, Dellorco, Jones (via remote phone connection)
Absent: none



A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
none for approval
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. 
• FY 2017 Budget Hearings will be held on Wednesday 5/25/16 and Thursday 5/26/16 at 7:00 pm.
• Memorial Day Parade will be Monday, May 30th at 10:30  am
• 4th of July Parade, July 3  2:00 pm

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.
• Dale Kurt, Veterans Officer, memorial breakfast 9:00 AM at the Elks, call the Senior Center to register for this

E. APPOINTMENTS
none

F. HEARINGS
none

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
none

H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS

• FISH of Franklin – Barbara Steele

all volunteer non-profit organization that volunteers to drive folks to appointments. PRoviding this service for 43 years, number of rides has doubled over the past couple of years. Radius of about 20 miles but some do go to Boston, Providence etc.

508-528-2121

"we do ourselves the most good by doing something for others"

• Council on Aging, Karen Alves, Director

upcoming initiatives on mental health, online course on aging and mental health

older adults are reticent to talk about this, physicians are also sometimes not trained to talk about this; substance abuse is also a 'silent epidemic'

regional grant on Elder Affairs, to provide interventions through the Senior Center

coordinate the resource though Police, Fire, etc.

working with Roadside Community Help

cognitive behavioral therapy and yoga

collaboration with the SAFE Coalition in the works

efforts to make Franklin 'dementia friendly community'

training to be available for how to deal with the disability

a process of education

excited to be able to move upstairs to the new space in Sep/Oct timeframe

programing to be expanded with the new space, survey coming this summer

thank you for your support

we are the envy of all the Senior Centers in the area

a conference room, a card room, gift shop expanded (downstairs)

large multipurpose room

elevator upstairs

lending library in honor of Stella Jeon

• Discussion on Cottage Court

it is not a public way, in some sections it is ten feet wide

we will fix the street one last time, no water, sewer, drainage there

cant make a public way with those dimensions

it is like a driveway, they would do it on their own

'spaghetti service' 

no town water goes down the road

the residents do pay property taxes, with meter on the house

readings can be obtained from Cottage remotely

Lupian Way found in the deed that it was to remain a private way

similar to condominium locations, our services run up to the property

if it was ever attended to be a public way we can work with it

it reverts back to 3 Cottage Court which is the listed owner

if you want to take the property, it would need to take care of the storm water

it doesn't meet standards, it would take a minimum of $200,000 or so

they are taxpayers, they are not getting services

there are other private roads in town similar

no sewer, all septic systems

the town has always maintained the stone dust covering and plowing

we'll look at our legal options

• Water Conservation – Brutus Cantoreggi

toilet replacements can qualify for a water rebate

$800/avg year, Could be up to 200/rebate

clothes washer machine, or 2 toilets per household

max amount for Town to use is up to $7500

which had been received from a developer

bring receipt to DPW, would start program on JUne 1

links on website to show what is eligible

do it within 90 days of purchase

Downtown Project Update #28

As many residents have probably noticed, the downtown revitalization project has hit its stride. For the upcoming two weeks, continue to expect frequent, short detours around downtown, while the contractors finalize installation of new sidewalks up East Central to the center and up Main Street. This section of work should conclude within the next two weeks, weather permitting. The contractors are also going to begin milling the street and getting the roadway network ready for paving.

This update will be the first in many to educate the public of when the downtown will become two-way traffic pattern. Please share with your friends and family that downtown will have two-way traffic. The Town will be placing electronic boards around the area to alert drivers of the new two-way traffic pattern. We expect this could occur as early as the end of June, weather permitting. Everything is weather permitting in New England, right?

Given the progress being made to date, the project looks to be on schedule for completion toward early August.

new curbing in advance of the new sidewalks being installed downtown

This was shared from the Official Town of Franklin page
http://franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_News/023DDC0C-000F8513

"Our revenues are pretty much constrained to tax increases"

Local officials released a $116 million fiscal year 2017 budget proposal this week - a measure the Town Council will deliberate upon later this month. 

The $116,417,305 total operating budget would represent about a 2.5 percent increase over the $113,608,899 fiscal year 2016 budget. Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting said the budget essentially provides level services without reducing staff or seeking an override. 

"I am asking the council to increase firefighter staffing by one," he said. "I'm also asking for a deputy treasurer/collector in advance of retirements."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160510/franklin-releases-budget-proposal

The full budget document can be found here  http://franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_News/023DBE49-000F8513

Franklin Municipal Building

Dean College 2016 Commencement Exercises - Saturday, May 14th @ 11a.m.

Dean College 2016 Commencement

WHEN: 

Saturday, May 14, 2016 at 11:00 a.m.


WHERE: 

Awpie Way (Front Lawn of Dean Hall) Dean College, 99 Main Street, Franklin, MA 02038


WHAT: 

Dean College will be celebrating its 150th commencement ceremonies Saturday, May 14th at 11:00 a.m. Commencement speakers include Dr. Paula M. Rooney, Dean College President, Mark D. Boyce, Chairman of the Dean College Board of Trustees, Candice Coco Lam, Associate Degree student speaker, Jaclyn Coutoumas, Bachelor's Degree student speaker, and Allison Clarke, School of Continuing Studies speaker.

Founded in 1865, Dean College is a private, residential college located in Franklin Massachusetts, 45 minutes from Boston, Massachusetts, and Providence, Rhode Island. Dean College offers baccalaureate degrees, associate degree programs, as well as a robust schedule of part-time continuing and professional education credit and certificate programs throughout the calendar year.

Dean College

Summer STAR Class - Accessorize Yourself! - for entering grades 3. 4. 5

Franklin Public Schools ~ Lifelong Learning Institute Accessorize Yourself ! Summer STAR Class July 11 to 15, 8:30 am to 12:30 pm for entering grades 3, 4, 5 If you are looking to add a little "blink" to your daily wardrobe, look no further.  We will be creating many wonderful projects during the week.   T-shirt Transformations We will take an ordinary t-shirt and turn it into a new accessory such as a scarf or hand bag. Duct Tape  Duct tape comes in so many colors and patterns that we can create interesting bracelets and lanyards. Summer Accessories We don't want to forget about our sunglasses and flip flops.  Just adding a few jewels, beads and flowers and we have just created a new item to wear this summer! Register Today FPS, Lifelong Learning - lifelong@franklin.k12.ma.us - 508.553-4814

"oppose this misguided, unnecessary, dangerous and costly project"

"Residents from Walpole, Sharon, Canton and other surrounding towns filled the front end of the Walpole High School auditorium Monday night to speak out against the proposed Spectra pipeline. 

"I urge you to take every step possible as a member of MEFS (Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board) and the human race to oppose this misguided, unnecessary, dangerous and costly project," said Bri McAlevey of Sharon. 

On Monday night, the Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board held one in a series of public hearings on the proposed 10.1-mile Atlantic Bridge Project, known colloquially as the Spectra Energy pipeline project. Four miles of the project would run through Walpole, with other sections running through Milford, Bellingham, Medway, Millis, Franklin, Norfolk, Sharon, Stoughton and Canton."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160510/state-board-hears-spectra-pipeline-opposition

No Spectra sign on Franklin lawn

Environmental Merit Award for Regency Transportation

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin

"Sixteen winners from Massachusetts were recognized Tuesday at the 2016 Environmental Merit Awards ceremony of the US Environmental Protection Agency’s New England regional office. The environmental leaders were among three dozen recipients across New England honored for helping to improve New England’s environment. 

Each year EPA New England recognizes individuals and groups in the six New England states who have worked to protect or improve the region’s environment in distinct ways. The merit awards, given out since 1970, honor individuals and groups who have shown particular ingenuity and commitment in their efforts."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160510/epa-recognizes-franklin-hopedale-companies

Regency Transportation

Regency Transportation can be found on the web at http://regencytrans.com/

Live reporting: to Closing

5. Information Matters
Superintendent’s Report

• unified track meet rescheduled to Wed, May 11, 3:30 PM
• up coming events with the summer program; band, art, chorus, high school experience and many other opportunities are available
• 1966 reunion class to participate at the FHS graduation
• Transportation letters went out last week, if no letter, call the Central Office; K-6 over 2 miles eligible; middle and high school busses will be filling up
• May 25th School Budget hearing at Town Council; how do you measure adequacy? It is usually not adaquite

School Committee Sub-Committee Reports

• Policy Sub Committee
• more policies coming up for update next meeting

School Committee Liaison Reports
Coffee hours scheduled for various times and places



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

7. Motion to Adjourn 

• Dr. O’Malley

meeting closed

Live reporting: Calendar discussion and action items

3. Discussion Items

• Calendar Committee Decision

Sabolinski updated on meeting with the FEA leadership to review the proposed calendars to discuss the impact

1 - PDD day for Aug 29th, students back on the 30th - move the PDD day to the Friday of that week, less of an impact on students
2 - half day before Thanksgiving, it was transitioned to a day off recently in light of requests for full day off
3 - Feb vacation has biggest impact on staff, looking to tackle the snow day issue with alternatives to make up snows days with days in school

special needs parents as well as others are concerned about the break up of the instructional periods so the kids don't get into a rhythm; the heat was a piece but not a huge issue

the schools are still used during the school breaks so there is no savings from  heating
therefor there is no financial impact for the changes to the calendar

it would be so much easier if the State adopted a statewide calendar

DESE has guidelines and Burlington has piloted the process so it would be easy enough to do with a combination of technology and 'blizzard bags', we would propose the plan, have you approve, and then get DESE to sign off on it

Donna Grady - FEA President
why are we changing the calendar, we don't have data that we have an identified problem
some folks are still confused by this calendar being two years out
teachers get frustrated by the choppiness of the school beginning period (Sep-Oct)
what is the impact on instruction going to be?
there are other issues with completing in June 8th, summer camps etc are not yet open

vote on recommendation on one of two calendars
Option 1 - no change to Feb
Option 2 - change to Feb
vote on Option 1 was 7-0 

motion to make half day to full day, seconded for the 2017-2018 calendar
vote on this motion was 7-0

motion to move the PDD from Aug 29th to the Friday before the Labor Day weekend
vote on this motion was 7-0

"a sign of the School Committee being responsive to what has been heard"
we have two years of calendars set so people will be able to plan accordingly


4. Action Items
a. I recommend approval of the request of Nancy Schoen to take Middle School Music students to Canobie Lake Park, Salem, NH on Friday, June 10, 2016 as detailed.
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0

b. I recommend acceptance of a check for $2,290.00 from Franklin Music Parents for in-house enrichment.
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0

c. I recommend acceptance of a check for $190.00 from BJ’s Wholesale Club for district wide in-house enrichment.
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0

d. I recommend acceptance of two checks totaling $3,295.00 for the Paul Castelline Memorial Scholarship.
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0

e. I recommend acceptance of a check for $435.60 from General Mills-Box Tops for Davis Thayer.
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0

Live reporting: School Wellness Advisory Committee (SWAC)

Was the wellness committee

School Wellness advisory Committee Presentation May 10, 2016 from Franklin Matters

It is a standing committee, multiple parties represented

we set goals and have tangible progress each year

Page 4 - role/requirements of group

Page 5 - three goals set in mental health, physical activity and nutrition

the guidance update provided at a prior School Committee meeting reflects some of the details of the goals achieved

over 200 in ski program during winter

expanding implementation of breakfast to all the schools, one at a time
school gardens growing, raised beds at some of the schools

hydroponic garden at Parmenter growing lettuce, chard, and tomatoes

84.5% of the students on grades 6-12 responded to the wellness survey
21.5% of the parents, and 51.8% of the faculty

Key findings, parents are not always aware of what is going on in the schools
need to do a better job of communicating and sharing the information (Page 15)

"While you have spoken to the high number of yeses, there are 25% of the parents are saying there is not enough being done"

sought alternative ways, through partnerships (i.e. Reebok with the BOKS program)

collaboration, Franklin will help train the Y summer staff in some of the 'zones of regulation' so there will be consistent language used

track/field and wrestling are both non-cut sports

trying to meet the needs of kids either in the morning or after school
with different physical activities

Live reporting: FHS Update

Principal Peter Light

FHS Update - May 10, 2016 from Franklin Matters

• FHS Math

FHS Math team was first in the division and then qualified to the State meet
compete in five different categories of math topics
team members compete in different categories to work on their strengths
also work in groups to solve problems
goal setting session at beginning of year was to 'win this thing'

• Robotics Club

The "Rattle City Robotics" team
new robot required for each school year, needs to be designed and programmed to compete
looking for sponsors
Froyo Party, May 23 20% of sales from 3:00 - 9:00 PM
coupon needed to present to get funding

• Computer Science

only in second year
this year less often but have more impactful time
entered code days in Boston
competed twice already this year
24 hours, noon Sat to noon on Sun, no sleep but lots of fun
pitch ideas, form team and then start building a project

1st time, a cowboy game
award for good teamwork
award for creativity

2nd time, a robot revolution game
award for best game

• Poetry Out Loud

over 1,000 students read poems in the competition this year
24 past FHS students came in to be judges
once whittled down to 45, semi-final round
final round 12 read

chose poem from the poetryoutloud.org site

Blackberry Picking, Seamus Heaney (read outloud)
http://www.poetryoutloud.org/poem/181384

Mingus at the Showplace (read outloud)
http://www.poetryoutloud.org/poem/27402

• Panther TV Club

The video was posted earlier
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/04/student-produced-video-on-autism.html

• Science National Honor Society 

successful science night Mar 30, over 300 students came with parents
included additional programing, opened to grades from K up

robotics game was to drive the robot to pop a balloon
the kids loved popping the balloons

video summary of the night



Environmental Club, Recycling Club, Communications Group

• Empty Bowls

The empty bowls dinner raised over $6,000 for the Franklin Food Pantry
long history with the empty bowls club, maybe 15 years ago
approx. 50 students participating weekly
engaged with the arts and giving back to the community
about 650 families are served by the Food Pantry





all roads in Franklin lead to the high school so it makes it easy for the collaboration among the schools


"This is a small sample of what is happening at the high school"

"I love hearing the students thank their teachers, it reflects on your parents and family"


(4 and half minute break to let the high school students and faculty_

• NEASC - New England Association of Schools and Colleges

accreditation body for the New England area

David Soulard, guidance counselor, co-leader of the team
for the 10-year cycle
(presentation doc pages 23 to the end)

year long effort to evaluate against 7 standards
visitors next March 2017 will come to do an onsite portion of the report evaluation

recommendations lead to a 3-5 year study and remediations where required

teaching and learning standard

• core values, beliefs and learning expectations
• curriculum
• instruction
• assessment of and for student learning

multiple surveys to gather information/data from students, faculty and family members

107 faculty members involved with the seven standard areas

over 2100 Endicott Survey responses to be analyzed

Q - What can we do to help you?
nothing at the moment, other than perhaps adding more hours to the day
it will be hard work but we are underway

Q - What have you seen thus far in the gaps?
things are in process, the standards are evolving, the curriculum is also evolving
the primary focus is the framework and the standards, NEASC can be prescriptive in their language, we want to be careful how we approach this

funding down the road, when we look at funding, that is a discussion will be something we have had hear, will we have the funding to replace the chromebooks when they need to be?

it is hard to see what the needs are when everything is new and shiny