Franklin MAtters Weekly

Monday, December 17, 2012

Roller coaster ride

The rising high from the successful 12 Days of Donating, the performance of "A Christmas Carol" on Thursday was brought back to earth suddenly on Friday with the school shooting in CT.

Flag at half mast on the Franklin Town Common

The School Department has been busy coordinating with the Police and Fire Departments over this weekend. They provided a couple of timely updates. Chief Semerjian published his comments on Saturday. There was a joint release by Town Administrator Jeff Nutting, Police Chief Stephen Semerjian, Fire Chief Gary McCarraher and School Superintendent Maureen Sabolinski on the preparations for the normal opening of schools on Monday.

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/12/joint-statement-on-franklin-schools.html

Looking ahead to the meetings of this week, the Planning Board continues their discussion on the proposed Stop & Shop gas station among the many items on their agenda. The Town Council recognizes former Rep Jim Vallee with a Citizenship Award. There is a public hearing on the proposed revamping of the site plan review procedures as well as approval of the purchase agreement for the solar energy 'farm' being established at Mount St Mary's among the items on the agenda for the meeting. You can attend in person or view via local cable or web broadcast.

We will survive the roller coaster ride. The spirit of caring and giving in Franklin is alive and well.

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Monday, December 10, 2012

Slowing to the end of the year

The School Committee meeting has a light schedule for its agenda on Tuesday. The Town Council meets again on the 19th. The Planning Board meeting on the 17th may get some attention with the Stop and Shop gas station (among other items) on the agenda.

simple sign of the holiday season along Forest St in Franklin

The Franklin Food Elves will be closing out the 12 Days of Donating this week. The performance of A Christmas Carol to benefit the Food Pantry will be held on Thursday Dec 13. Arranged by the Historical Commission and hosted at the Franklin United Methodist Church, this should be a fun evening.

Folks will be taking time off from work to spend with family around the holidays. For those traveling, please be safe.

As I complete this weekly wrap up, let me remind you that

If you like what I am doing here, please tell your friends and neighbors
If you don’t like something, please tell me

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Monday, December 3, 2012

Next up: Remington-Jefferson school tour, Dec 6 - 6;00 PM

Coming off the Thanksgiving Holiday, one of our family traditions has been listening to Alice's Restaurant. This tradition started many years ago, before we moved to Franklin. My wife and I are native Rhode Islanders and would return for the holidays from our NJ home. The song was one of a standard set to play on the road.

Towards the end of the song, Arlo talks about the movement. How if one person did something, they would think he is crazy. If two people did something, they would think they are gay. How if three people did something, they would be an organization. How if 50 people did something, they would be a movement.

Getting from 3 to 50 to get a movement going is a challenge. You need to catch their attention and give them a reason to act. You are already reading this, so I have your attention. Thank you! The School District has scheduled a series of tours, one school (or school complex) a month for this school year. Members of the School Committee, Central Office and the principal of the school give of their time this Thursday night beginning at 6:00 PM to welcome Franklin residents for a walk through the Remington-Jefferson schools.

Horace Mann Middle School entrance

If you have children in school, you should participate. Even if you don't have children in school, you should participate. This is a great time to see what is happening in school. To ask questions in an informal setting as the tour goes room to room, around the school. From the front entrance to the boiler room, to the gym, to the cafeteria. You get to see the inside of the school that you wouldn't otherwise see!

Join us Thursday night at the Remington Jefferson Schools, 6:00 PM!

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Sunday, November 25, 2012

Time to set the tax rate

We come out of the Thanksgiving holiday into a busy week. The School Committee meets on Tuesday. The tax rate hearing is scheduled for the Town Council meeting on Wednesday, Nov 28th. The annual Holiday Stroll takes place on Thursday, Nov 29th beginning at 4:00 PM.

School Committee Meeting
Scheduled on the agenda is recognition for the Girls Soccer Team for their recent State Championship. A presentation on the latest MCAS data, a change in the current school year calendar (the addition of two reduced schedule days for both elementary and secondary students), and a discussion on the proposed Capital Plan for the facilities and technology needs of the School District.

The full agenda for the School Committee meeting including links to several of the key agenda items can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/11/franklin-ma-school-committee-agenda-nov.html

Town Council Meeting
The tax rate hearing is procedural and based upon math. If the overall Franklin property valuation goes down, the tax rate will go up. It is that simple! Given the recent economic conditions, to see the overall residential property values decline 2% and to see Commercial/Industrial values decline a half percent (.5%), then the tax rate will go up. It is simple math. Even if the automatic 2.5% increase in tax was not included, the tax levy divided into a smaller tax base will raise the rate. Franklin has seen rate increases since the rate bottomed out in 2007. I expect that we'll continue to see something of a rate increase for the foreseeable future.

I have updated my analysis and explanation of the tax rate information and that is summarized here:

Franklin FY2013 TaxRateInfo

The full Town Council agenda will be posted on Monday
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/11/franklin-ma-town-council-agenda-nov-28.html

Holiday Stroll
Sponsored by the Franklin Downtown Partnership, start at Dean College for the tree lighting and then visit the other businesses downtown to check out their happenings. A full listing of events is available on the Downtown Partnership page here
http://www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/2012/11/more-holiday-stroll-happenings.html

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