One more apology

I must apologize once again as technology has left me rather helpless. I guess it may be time for a new Computer. However, I have gotten my machine up and running again and a contingency plan for any more trouble so that I can keep my promise to maintain this blog. Again, please forgive me and I will be updating you on the latest City Council meeting on July 12th within a few days.

Sincerley,

Jeff

MONDAYS CITY COUNCIL MEETING

I am currently working on a blog covereing the events at the city Council meeting on March 22, 2010. I hope to have it completed and posted by the end of this week. Please stay tuned for some details.

After the meeting on Monday, I approached a couple of City councilors regarding posting thier opinions and comments on this blog. It is an open invitation to all within our city government to open lines of communications with you.  I would also like to invite you to post comments and or questions you might have regarding any city topic. If you would like, you may email me your question or comment at forfranklinnh@yahoo.com and I will be glad to pass it along.

Work has begun on the City Budget for next year and I am working on finding  dates, times and places of particular workshops that might be held. Unitl, I can get that, I would suggest going to the City's website. I would also strongly encourage you to attend atleast one! The responsability it YOURS to stay engaged, but the other side of that is our city councilors also have a responsability to YOU. I challenge our governing body to SEEK you out to get your thoughts on the budget or any other  matter. Afterall, we have elected them to represent US...and they should take a proactive approach in finding out what you think, especially when it comes to the budget. Right? 

Jeff

THE LATEST

I apologize that nothing has posted regarding the last City Council meeting. I am in the process of moving. Yes, I am still in Franklin and I will be positng the latest news soon.

One thing to remember, there is a City council meeting on Monday, regarding this fiscal years budget. Please plan to attend.

I apologize for the trouble.

If you have any news you would like to post, please let me know. Otherwise feel free to leave a comment.

City Council Meeting February 1, 2010

All Councilors were present at the February 1, 2010 city council meeting with the exception of Councilor Boyd.


There were public hearings on the following Resolutions:

16-10- A $2,990 supplemental appropriation for an infiltration trench at Odel Park. There was an amendment offered by Councilor Anderozzi that the wording should be changed from the Parks and Rec Trust Fund to the Odel Park Trust Fund. The funds for this project are not coming from General Funds but rather contributions made to the Odel Park Trust Fund

17-10- Concerning $4,000 in grant funds for a 2009 “Business United for Water Security Installation grant.

07-10- An ordinance concerning modifications to Chapter 170, Flood plain management and the adoption and acceptance of new Flood Insurance Rate Maps as well as other required regulatory changes.

18-10-Concerning the acceptance of a matching funds grant for $43, 251 for the implementation of police advocacy and prevention services to the victims of domestic violence.

No members of the public came forward for any of the public hearings. The Council unanimously passed all of these resolutions later in the meeting.

State Representatives, Lee Web and Dave Palfrey came forward for comments. One thing that I found interesting is that the States Rainy day fund is down to 10 million dollars.

City Council considered the minutes from the 2010 Inaugural Program, 2009 City Council Business and the January 4, 2010 City Council meeting. There were no amendments.

Dana Nute, the Director of the Housing Rehab and Energy Conservation, Belknap-Merrimack Community Action Program addressed the council regarding a Three million Dollar grant for Lead-Based Paint Hazard Control.

Newly elected School Board Chairman, Kathleen Russo, presented the monthly status report to the Council. She informed the council that there are currently four applicants for the principal position at the High School and that the Superintendents contract has not been renewed, and so the search will begin for a replacement.

Russo asked the City council what kind of information they would like her to report during her monthly updates. The council was concerned primarily with Financial and budget information, which has been apparently lacking in the past. Russo was attentive and seemed to be amenable to provide such information.

Councilor Starkweather, would like more information on academic achievement, although he seemed appreciative of the information regarding school activities, such as the Middle schools effort to contribute to Haiti disaster relief and the Winter Carnival at the High School.

Also, Russo was hopeful that the lines of communication would be more open between the School Committee and City Council after the school board starts meeting at in the same chambers as the City Council. Februarys Committee meeting will be held in the aforementioned chambers.

One last item that seemed to spark some debate was the consideration of a contract with the Andover Rescue Squad for Emergency Medical Service at a cost of $10,000 per year for one year. Councilor Feener seemed rabidly opposed to the price in which Andover would pay Franklin. He indicated that the amount should be doubled to $20,000 and there was an amendment saying as much. However, the amendment was later withdrawn in favor of limiting the time frame of the contract to six months. Councilor Bowers agreed with that approach, but the resolution was ultimately tabled.

According to the Fire Chief, Franklin responds to Andover on a Mutual Aide Basis currently without compensation and his position was that the contract would at least bring some equity to the situation. Although there was some agreement on this point the Council decided that the contract as proposed was still not equitable. There were other details on the contract that bothered some councilors; specifically, Councilor Anderozzi, wanted the agreement to be made with either the Squad or the Town, but not both. It seems that the proposed contract was with both the Town and the Andover Rescue squad, which is apparently a private entity.

The council went into closed session.

Please feel free to post a comment or question.
Members of the public are invited to post a blog on any topic, please email me at forfranklinnh@yahoo.com. 
City Councilors and the Mayor are invited to blog on any topic. Please email me at forfranklinnh@yahoo.com.
School Committee members are invited to blog on any topic. Please email me at for franklinnh@yahoo.com.

City Council Meeting on February 2, 2010

Franklin Council Convened on Monday February 2, 2010. I am currently working on an update of what happened at the meeting. It should post in a few days.
Meanwhile, Please feel free to post a comment, or let me know if there is any links you would like me to add to the Blog.

Thanks-
Jeff

Recycling Information

In the February Three City News, there is an article on the Franklin Recycling Program. I have attached the link. Just click on the Title " Recycling Information" and it will take you right to it.

WHAT DO YOU WANT?

Now that the blog is back up and running, I am asking all readers to let me know if there is anything you would like to add. If you have a link you would like to see added, an issue addressed or you would like to post a blog, please let me know by emailing me at forfranklinnh@yahoo.com. This is designed to be a community blog.

Thanks
Jeff

OTHER ITEMS FROM THE JANUARY 4TH COUNCIL MEETING

Other items considered at the January 4th Council meeting included scheduling public hearings on a $2, 990supplemental appropriation to construct an infiltration trench at Odell Park. This project will be funded by the Park and Rec Trust fund. No money will come from the city budget. The council also set a public hearing on the following:


1) Accepting a grant from NHDES in the amount of $4,000.

2) Floodplain Management of the Municipal code

3) Acceptance of matching funds grant in the amount of 43,251 for the states Attorney Generals Office to implement a police advocacy and prevention services to victims of domestic violence. $14,000 would come from the 2010 budget.

The Council considered naming the covered bridge at Lagace Beach, but decided to include the community in the naming of that bridge.


Recycling update:
Look for the containers for the city’s new recycling program to be delivered the first full week of April and Trucks gong out on April 19th.

INAUGURAL PROGRAM

Last night, I had the distinct honor of attending the 2010 Inaugural during which, newly elected and re elected city officials took the oath of Office. It is at times like these that I am reminded of how privileged we all are to live in such a great a country. I know many think that a local Inaugural is really no big deal. However, to the contrary, It is a big deal! I am sure you have heard the expression that all politics are local. Well, it is true that city politics may not be as glamorous as that of the national level, but to witness our local representatives take an oath to the citizens is as important. These men and women volunteer their time and work to make their community a better place to live. Certainly we don’t all agree on how best to achieve that goal, but make no mistake, our City officials deserve our recognition for taking on the tasks which, are sometimes thankless.
It is wonderful that we may disagree on many issues, but still unite behind a common cause.
All of those in attendance were treated to a wonderful rendition of "God Bless America" and the "Battle Hyme of the Republic" sung by the Serendipity singers. There was also a very stirring version of our "National Anthem" sung by the Mayors grown daughters. Below is a text of Mayor Merrifield’s inaugural address.

The new city council met for the first time and I will cover those topics in a future blog, later this week.

Father Gagnon, Members of the City Council for 2009 and 2010, honored guests, family, friends, and fellow citizens of Franklin:

Shakespeare thought that “brevity [was] the soul of wit”, but it is also an indispensible attribute for any political leader. I will attempt to make good use of “brevity” tonight.
During my campaign for mayor this fall, a great friend and supporter said to me that “some things really need to change in Franklin. And some things absolutely have to stay the same.” The trick, for us, is to figure out which is which.
I offer to you that, despite our challenges, Franklin is a very attractive destination. Recall the high school seniors from Merrimack who visited every NH city and town this past summer – and chose Franklin as their favorite! Certainly, we are blessed with abundant natural beauty, great community spirit, and a frugal city government, and you should also know that between 2001 and 2008, property values in Concord rose 71% and in Dover about 68%... in Manchester and Rochester they rose about 66%. In Bow, property values gained 44% from 2001-2008.
In Franklin, our property values rose over 90% - faster than the entire state of NH. People are clearly voting with their dollars for this great city. I plead with our city leadership to recognize that greater litigation, greater taxation, and greater regulation will only reverse this positive trend.
So how do we improve (what I like to call) the “best place on earth”? The city council has taken significant action to address great strategic issues and change the city. These plans will be a large part of their efforts in 2010. They will demand the focus and skill of the best professional municipal team in NH to become a reality. And thank God that team is in place here.
Councilors have invested heavily in a new curbside recycling program that will change the nature of a critical city service. It will require the active participation of our residents to succeed.
With a heavy financial effort from our rate-payers and assistance from outside sources, the city will implement a water filtration system that will improve our drinking water quality, ending a decades-long problem in Franklin.
We will also reconfigure the flow of downtown traffic – opening the Franklin Falls Mill District to auto traffic and subsequent capital investment and economic growth.
On a separate, but I think parallel, track with the Council, I have been very grateful for the widespread interest in the Mayor’s “Alcohol and Drug Abuse Task Force”. Thanks to the efforts of a tremendous volunteer group that seems to grow every day, our city may soon benefit from significant grant funding to combat a long-standing social problem that plagues not only Franklin, but NH and a nation beyond --- and may perhaps make Franklin a dramatic example of improving social health.
Also, a few weeks ago, I was delighted to recognize and proclaim a “sister-city” for Franklin: Pedro Afonso in the state of Tocantins in Brazil. I look forward to working with Mayor Chagas and Governor Enrique Amorim in 2010 – to explore what bonds we can create in science, commerce, and through our schools.
And last year I challenged to the City Council and the Planning Board to contact a successful business outside Franklin and invite them here. I also asked them to adopt a local business and learn their needs.
This year, I would like to expand the effort and really “go for broke”. I want to ask every citizen of Franklin to become an ambassador to a new business. Reach out to a potential employer for our people and ask them to “Choose Franklin”—where the trend-breaking example & our largest employer is Webster Valve…. now celebrating an amazing 50 years of operation and the return of manufacturing jobs to Franklin from China.
And let us all commit to support our Franklin businesses whenever and wherever we can. I hope that 2010 will see a concerted effort by the business community and our citizens to do exactly that, because it will benefit all of us if we do.
And finally, let the change that is coming this year in our school district mark a beginning-- and not an end—knowing always that student achievement is the true bottom line. And that Franklin students are capable of delivering the very best results. We know this to be true.
In closing, I hope you will allow me to rephrase Ronald Reagan a bit, when I say that we are “too great a [city] to limit ourselves to small dreams… Let us renew our determination, our courage, and our strength… our faith and our hope… We have every right to dream heroic dreams.”
So let’s dream “big” for 2010, Franklin, so that the words of Isaiah about Jerusalem will be true for us as well: “… [That your] heart shall thrill and be enlarged; …[because] the wealth of the nations shall come [to you].”
I wish you all a happy New Year with my best wishes, and may God bless our great city.


-Mayor Ken Merrifield Inaugural Address to the City of Franklin, New Hampshire -January 4, 2010.

Back Up and Running

I must apologize for the lengthy time off, but I have had technical issues with my computer and made it impossible to post any blogs. However, with the new Year and some hours working on correcting the issue, this blog is back up and running.
Again my sincere apologies and please stay tuned for more coverage of Franklin issues.

Thanks
Jeff