LIve reporting: Budget Hearing #2 - May 26

meeting resumes to continue the budget hearing


F. HEARINGS
– 7:10 PM Budget:FY 2017 Budget Hearing

The budget document can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/05/franklin-ma-town-council-budget-hearing.html

Holds
210 - Police  (Vallee)
220 - Fire (Vallee)
fire expenses (Mercer)

Vallee - question on why no increase in personnel when in a survey we compared to other communities, the other towns must know something we don't know to have more people than we do

Semerjian - Any dept head would want more, you can't just add people and not be able to pay them

Vallee - you submitted for one policeman and I don't think that is adequate

Padula - rephrases question

Semerjian - if we put someone on, and don't have the fear of losing them, you could press harder. We are very fortunate in this communities. We work it the best way we can to make sure we do it within the constraints. There is a whole year to discuss this and nothing has been done since, and we're in the same situation.

Pfeffer - if you need some people, you need to come to the Council and let us work with the Town Administrator

Vallee - what is the problem with 3 ambulances?
McCarragher - We have staff for 7x24 for two not three

Vallee - how many did you request?
McCarragher - I asked to grow the budget for a period of 3-4 years so we could begin to staff the 3rd ambulance 10 hours, and then more and more. Incremental is really the way to grow the budget

Vallee - your responsibility is to do what is right

Pfeffer - How much overtime?
About 300K, but you're not going to reduce that?

Padula - does it take more time for an out of time to respond?
Absolutely,

Padula - we're doing our jobs but we want to look into this more closely

Mercer - last year you gave us some numbers
McCarragher - 1.5 per bed, up to 1.8

Mercer - have these facilities put more of a burden on the ambulance staffing
McCarragher - other communities are looking to bench mark off our numbers too

McCarragher - very few communities do use private ambulances, and it is going lower

hearing closed

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1. Resolution 16-33:Adoption of the FY 2017 Budget
Jones abstaining from vote (due to employment at Tri-County (which is part of the budget))

motion to approve FY 2017 budget of $116,417,305
via roll call, passed 8-1 (Jones abstain)

Motion to adjourn, passed

Live reporting: Town Council - Budget Hearing #2 - May 26, 2016

Present: Pellegri, Padula, Mercer, Vallee, Kelly, Pfeffer, Bissanti, Dellorco, Jones
Absent:  none


A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
no minutes for approval this evening

B. 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.

C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
none

D. CITIZEN COMMENTS
none

E. APPOINTMENTS
none

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
none

H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
none

I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
none

K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
none

L. OLD BUSINESS
none

M. NEW BUSINESS
none

N. COUNCIL COMMENTS
Pfeffer - parade on Monday
all the scout troops present, and schools have their bands march

Pellegri - Veterans Breakfast in the morning at the Elks

recess until 7:10 for budget hearing to resume

Paving preparations started

The grinding up of the top level of pavement happened overnight. The section from Ruggles to the bridge has been ground down the 1-2 inches that is normally done before putting down new pavement. The utility covers are now sticking up and will be a challenge to tires until the new pavement is laid down.

sidewalk work continues in front of the Berry Building

the Cottage and East Central/Main St intersection has been ground down

the grinding overnight ended at the bridge

Voices of Franklin: Jim Hill - "Pipe Dreams"

Pipe Dreams

When I was a child in the 1950s my parents and grandparents bought new homes with gas heat. Since then I’ve lived in several other homes with gas. Like most of my generation natural gas has been part of our lives for a long time. So what’s wrong with that? 

Well the more I learn the more it concerns me. The very word “natural” implies that it must be good for us, but arsenic is natural too. Even the commercials look beautiful and squeaky clean, so it must be good. Right? 

But, if we dig deeper, the truth is revealed. The commercials are so effective that I sometimes forget that natural gas (NG) is a fossil fuel and that it’s really methane and that when leaked increases global warming. Or that most domestic gas is extracted by fracking, a method that uses high pressure chemical infused water to fracture shale polluting air, water, and linked to earthquakes. 

The natural gas industry tells us that fracking is safe and that it’s producing all the gas we could possibly need. They’re excited. This could produce immense profits especially when it’s exported. But what will it cost us and is there really a NG shortage due to a lack of more pipelines? Why did we have a shortage in 2014 but not in 2015. After all 2015 was colder. 

Carol Churchill at Distrigas, the company that ships liquefied natural gas into Boston, told me that her company can supply all the gas New England needs during peak demand winter days without adding pipelines. She also says the problem in 2014 was that electric utilities didn’t have enough contracts for LNG to cover peak times and in 2015 they did. 

Electric companies now imply that that the sky will fall without a pipeline. Another obscure issue is that the new pipelines will be used to export fracked gas from Nova Scotia. Spectra Energy of Houston, the pipeline builder, denies this, but here’s the evidence. Fracking is really big in Pennsylvania, home of the Marcellus shale fields. To get the fracked gas to Nova Scotia it would travel through an 889 mile pipeline that runs from Dracut through Maine. 

The proposed pipeline through Franklin and eight other towns would dramatically increase NG that would travel under Boston Harbor to Beverly on to Dracut. Spectra has already received permission to reverse the direction from Dracut to reach the Maritime Provinces. 

The following excerpt was posted by Sutherland LNG on Feb 9, 2016. 

“Bear Head LNG and Pieridae Energy each announced that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has granted them separate authority to export as LNG gas imported from the United States to each company’s proposed liquefaction and LNG export terminal in Nova Scotia, Canada. DOE’s orders authorize Bear Head LNG and Pieridae Energy to export the LNG produced from gas imported into Canada from the United States via pipeline to countries that do not have a Free Trade Agreement with the United States.” 

Once the pipeline gas hits the world market where prices are much higher our costs will rise negating any implied savings. In addition, Eversource and National Grid expect electric rate payers to pay a $3 billion tariff on their electric bills to pay for the project. 

Eversouce has a 40% interest in the project and National Grid has a 20% interest. Basically they want to sell their gas to themselves and have us pay for it. Sweet deal for them and their shareholders. They get the profit, we assume the risk. 

According to Representative Roy, if 17% of the worst of the 20,000+ Massachusetts leaks were repaired we could save 40% of escaped gas reducing our bills and decreasing global warming. Isn’t this a better idea? 

But these companies have no motivation to fix leaks because consumers pay for the escaped gas. Yes, demand for electricity will increase, but fortunately offshore wind, solar and Quebec hydroelectricity are renewable options that will easily satisfy our future needs. 

According to the Attorney General’s independent study there’s no need for additional pipelines if we increase conservation efforts and improve demand response. Yes, we can save money and the planet without more NG. So why would we want to pay for the pipeline and more for fracked gas? This gas may be natural but so is arsenic.

James F Hill, Franklin

No Spectra gas pipeline sign on a Franklin lawn

FHS girls lacrosse tops Milford

Girls Lacrosse

• Milford, 3 @ Franklin, 21 – Final 

– Sophomore Kate Morse found the back of the cage twice and had four draw controls for the Panthers. Abby Egan added two goals and two assists and Shannon D’Arcangelo registered a hat trick in the win.

Boys Lacrosse

• Franklin, 7 vs. Dover-Sherborn, 8 – Final

For all the results around the Hockomock League on Wednesday

http://hockomocksports.com/wednesdays-schedule-scoreboard-052516/

FHS Panthers

Franklin School for the Performing Arts - Open House - May 31

The Franklin School for the Performing Arts (FSPA) will hold an Open House from 4-8 p.m. at 38 Main Street in Franklin. The community is invited to meet FSPA faculty and staff, observe classes and rehearsals, tour the facility and learn about the school’s programs in music, dance and drama. 

Whether for recreational interest or serious study, prospective students and families will have the opportunity to hear about performing arts classes for all ages and experience levels. Registration is ongoing for all summer and fall programs. Beginners are welcome and encouraged. 

For more information, call FSPA at (508) 528-8668. Visit online at www.fspaonline.com.

Franklin School for the Performing Arts

In the News: firefighters graduate, HMMS update to School Committee

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin

"Chief Gary McCarraher is pleased to announce that three Franklin firefighters graduated from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy recently. 

Nicholas Garland, 34, of Franklin; Christian Mills, 30, of Taunton; and Keith Schnabel, age 40, of Wrentham were three out of 24 graduates from the 243th class of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy’s 45-day Career Recruit Firefighting Training Program. A ceremony was held at the Department of Fire Services in Stow on May 20. 

All three firefighters have been with the Franklin Fire Department since March 7. They completed a two-week orientation at the department before their class began at the academy on March 21."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160525/franklin-firefighters-graduate

Franklin Fire Dept

"Educators from Horace Mann Middle School spoke at this week's School Committee meeting about preparing their students for change and grooming them to be leaders. 

Principal Rebecca Motte, Assistant Principal Mary Cotillo, reading specialist Erin O'Leary and a number of Horace Mann students gave a presentation to the committee about their efforts over the past school year. 

The talk included a video - intended to prepare fifth-grade students for their transition to middle school - in which a student asked his peers about common sources of anxiety the shift engenders. The hope, the presenters said, is to create a welcoming environment for new students."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160526/franklin-school-committee-hears-horace-mann-highlights

Team O'Neil Fundraiser for Chris B O'Neil Children's Fund - Jun 17

TO BENEFIT THE CHRIS B. O’NEIL CHILDREN’S FUND

JUNE 17, 2016 = 7PM TO MIDNIGHT 

• Silent Auction 
• 50/50, Squares, etc. 
• Photo Booth 
• Dancing and more ...

FRANKLIN ELKS LODGE 
1077 Pond St, Franklin 

$50 donation/ticket Register Online Only! 
Only 200 Tickets available! 
To donate visit website https://trooperchrisboneilchildrensfund.org/

or Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/trooperchrisboneil

TO BENEFIT THE CHRIS B. O’NEIL CHILDREN’S FUND

In the News: 2-way traffic coming to downtown, school explores growing hydroponic plants

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin

"The town has begun its efforts to inform local drivers of the upcoming change to two-way traffic in the downtown. 

The change, slated to take place in late June, will be the result of the two-year downtown streetscape project, and will affect West Central, Emmons and Main streets. 

Deputy Town Administrator Jamie Hellen said local officials will be looking to inform the public through a wide-ranging campaign. 

"We'll be doing weekly posts on social media, as well as the traditional channels," he said, adding that local newspapers and websites had been approached about the change."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160524/franklin-informing-residents-of-traffic-changeover

work continues along Main St putting in curbing and new sidewalks in advance of redoing the road surface and then changing the traffic from one way to two way in June

"Officials from Parmenter Elementary School shared the lessons learned through a third-grade hydroponic gardening program. 

The program - new at Parmenter this year - was chosen to illustrate the school's approach to creating learning experiences for its students. The school's three third-grade teachers gave a presentation on the matter at Tuesday's School Committee meeting. 

Teacher Edward Tighe said that when students were first shown the hydroponic equipment, they did not know what it was. 

"It has been an amazing four months of discovery - not just for the students, but us teachers as well," he said. "We've made many mistakes, the kids have seen those mistakes and we've worked together to come up with solutions."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160524/franklin-garden-advances-science-learning

LET'S LAUGH TODAY in Franklin is on Wednesday, June 1st

LET'S LAUGH TODAY in Franklin is on Wednesday, June 1st !

laughter yoga

Experience the health benefits of joyful laughter on Wednesday, June 1st (and every first Wednesday of the month except in July and August)) from 7:30pm to 8:30pm at the Meetinghouse of the First Universalist Society in Franklin, 262 Chestnut Street, Franklin. 

Laughter Yoga is a unique and playful practice that does not rely on humor, jokes or comedy. Laughter Yoga will have you smiling frequently and laughing heartily. It can strengthen the immune system, combat the negative effects of stress, and is a powerful antidote to depression and anxiety. 

LET'S LAUGH TODAY in Franklin is on Wednesday, June 1st

Any age and any level of physical ability can participate in this uplifting experience! New laughers are always welcomed! $5 donation to the church, $10 maximum per family. Please bring your water bottle because laughing can be dehydrating. Led by Certified Laughter Yoga Teachers, Linda and Bill Hamaker. 

If you have any questions, just call them at 508-660-2223 or e-mail billandlinda@letslaughtoday.com. See more information and other opportunities to laugh at www.letslaughtoday.com.

FHS Boys Lacrosse completes Hockomock League season unbeaten

Boys Lacrosse

• Franklin, 19 @ Milford, 1 – Final 

– Franklin posted an undefeated league record for the season straight season. (Overall record is 12-4)

Girls Lacrosse

• Franklin, 5 @ Westwood, 15 – Final 

– Kendall Reardon and Kenzie Pleshaw each scored two goals for the Panthers and Emily Spath scored one.


For all the results around the Hockomock League on Tuesday
http://hockomocksports.com/tuesdays-schedule-scoreboard-052416/

FHS Panthers

Live reporting: Discussion items to Closing

3. Discussion Only Items

Policy – First Readings

• IHBA-R - Programs for Students with Disabilities

policy with an "R" indicates the regulation
upon legal review shortening and simplifying the language
similar to parent handbook

• IHBHA - Alternative School Programs

also reviewed by legal council, updated language to bring to current regulations
to meet needs of diverse needs of students

• IJOAB - Extended Field Trips

added finger printing as a requirement in addition to CORI for volunteers on overnight trips
added language to enable the Superintendent to cancel the trip for the safety of the students

4. Action Items

a. I recommend moving the following Policies to a second reading at the next School Committee meeting:

IHBA-R - Programs for Students with Disabilities
IHBHA - Alternative School Programs
IJOAB - Extended Field Trips

motion to move to second reading, seconded, passed 6-0

b. I recommend acceptance of a check for $150.00 from various donors for the FHS Castelline Scholarship.

motion to move to second reading, seconded, passed 6-0

5. Information Matters

Superintendent’s Report

• New director of music - Diane Plouffe

a coordinated effort with multiple stakeholder groups involved
end result the candidate was among us

Senior project culminating events on Weds
Awards night Thursday
Graduation next week

• met with the Charter School last week to review their plans for the future

• Central office went as a team to a conf to participate in "return on investment"

there will be more to come, are what we spending our dollars on really helping what we need for/from the students
did bring a different perspective to the business approach
learning ways to analyze the data

School Committee Sub-Committee Reports
a. Policy Sub Committee

School Committee Liaison Reports

• school committee coffees being held, three more scheduled

attendance is growing at the sessions

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

consider better survey on school calendar to have data for next time

as this is mid-term, what is staus on progress to goals
Superintendent Sabolinski to provide


7. Motion to Adjourn
– Dr. O’Malley

Live reporting: Horace Mann update

b. Horace Mann Update

Colin came up with the idea of a transition video for the 6th graders coming to Horace Mann
should help to reduce anxiousness

lockers create nervousness
locker buddies
switching classes

"pencils are like gold"

The video will be used for the Oak and Thayer students 

"Keep your locker clean"

8th grader got a concussion during 7th grade and had subsequent incidents during this year but the teachers and her classmates helped her out

part of drama club, provided confidence to speak in public

part of student council, raising money for school mascot

screen grab of presentation showing field trip to Chatham to complete the "Finest Hours" reading activities

8th grader is also a soccer player and used to making quick decisions

started stress relief to begin understanding the transition to high school

viewed all of the options for elective classes to take, overwhelming at first

explained honors vs CP classes

select a variety of options to provide a variety of options for career path

taking a deep breadth and calming down, will try hard and while not scared will take next step to high school

"All In"

annual tradition of the 'crazy reading ladies'  just 'greatness'

if you have read the book and complete the work, you can go to the movie

'three-peat'

if they read the book each year, you earned the title 

the students chose the book "The Finest Hours" this year via popular vote

make books accessible, via library, audio book, and other creative ways

after school sessions to discuss as it goes

usually four to eight weeks to read

the power of social media is amazing, they are still getting used to

the author found about the school reading activity via a tweet

the author hosted a writing workshop for students

Mel Guthro sang every word to the Coast Guard song when introduced at the assembly

explained more detail than the book or movie covered

the piece of the boat was gifted the school

trip to Chatham to visit the lighthouse, beach where the event occurred

they saw the actual boat as it has been restored

How can they top that?

Follow the "Crazy Reading Ladies" on Twitter  https://twitter.com/allinreading

Live reporting: School Committee - May 24, 2016

Present: Bilello, Bergen, Douglas, O'Malley, Schultz, Jewell
Absent: Scofield


1. Routine Business
Citizen’s Comments
none

Review of Agenda
none

Minutes: I recommend approval of the minutes from the May 10, 2016 School Committee Meeting.
motion to approve, second, passed 6-0

Payment of Bills - Dr. O’Malley
Payroll - Mrs. Douglas
FHS Student Representatives
last night for the students as they graduate on June 3rd
last day of school as on Monday, Chromebook returns on Wednesday
Senior week next week, beginning Tuesday
graduation on Friday, June 3rd followed by the All Night Party

Netflix unblocked for the summer on chromebooks
plastic bag petition being circulated

token of appreciation for both seniors

Correspondence: none

2. Guests/Presentations
a. Parmenter Update
Tom Morris, Principal
Shannon Barca, Assistant Principal

http://parmenterelementary.vt-s.net/Pages/index

3rd grade hydroponic garden
growing lettuce and understanding the growth process

sample unit plan provided to School Committee
seedlings planted in rock wool

tomato plant root structure approx. 7 ft long
Parmenter 'think board' used to post questions for the school community to answer and respond to

Parmenter Elementary School teachers at the School Committee meeting

3rd grade's hydroponics unit on display! What do you notice/wonder? #parmenterschool #thinkboard #hydroponics #ubd pic.twitter.com/utxSbcC72k

— Parmenter Elementary (@ParmenterAP) April 13, 2016

one of many units being worked on this year

hydroponic garden chosen to explore science and compare/contrast with traditional gardening
to be understanding and discerning 

YMCA provided a grant via Mass In Motion to the schools, some chose to start last year
some chose to start this year, need someone to 'own it'

Would also need to work with the Health Dept to provide the produce for school use in the cafeteria; currently the volume doesn't allow for such

use grade level research rubric to provide grading for the students with the learning process on the unit; students have come back with YouTube videos from other schools who are also exploring hydroponics

curriculum coordinators have been lost over time, should be a goal of the committee to bring the role back, each school is doing something but the coordination among is not as shared as it could be

You can follow Parmenter School via Twitter updates  https://twitter.com/ParmenterAP

Jewell comment on doing their own thing and fostering the science locally disagreed with by O'Malley as then the district would not be doing what it needed to do

Bilello added that use of the standards and the 'understanding by design' process tied in other aspects of the overall curriculum in the right way

Do you have some time to help FISH?

FISH is an all volunteer, non profit organization that provides free transportation to Franklin residents to medical appointments. They have been providing this service for almost 43 years. 

FISH - provides transportation to
Franklin residents for medical appointments

They are in need of volunteers, particularly drivers. They are looking for men and women who are able to volunteer for as little as a few hours per month. Most of the FISH clients have appointments within about a 20 mile radius of Franklin. 

If anyone is interested in helping or would like more information, they may call FISH at 508-528-2121, leave a name and # and they'll be in contact.