Town of Franklin

“A Great Place to Live and Raise a Family”

News: Quick—Accurate—Convenient.

Franklin Express Line Volume 1, Issue 10, 7/1/10

Welcome
We Want to Visit You!
We welcome any opportunity to meet with you and your neighbors and organi-
zations or groups for a discussion about the issues facing our town. We’ll come
to you or you can come here. Feel free to contact me any time to schedule a
meeting for just you, a few, or a hundred people.

Finances, Finances, Finances

Spotlight Late Breaking News:
FY 11 Budget

The Governor signed the FY11 State Budget yesterday and as predicted, Local Aid was reduced
by 4%.which translates into over $1,000,000 in less State Aid for Franklin. Further, all predic-
tions suggest FY 12 will pose an even greater challenge. We will keep a close eye on the poten-
tial for mid year reductions in Local Aid and commence planning for FY 12.

Special Override Election Results

“It is your government and your town and the decision is yours. Please vote on June 8, 2010
at the High School Field House. Let your voice be heard.” - May 23rd edition of Franklin Ex-
press Line

The Override Election was held and a total of 7,966 votes were cast. The override question
failed with a split of 3,820 votes for and 4,143 votes against. In the May of 2007 Special
Election, 8,759 voters approved a $2,700,000 override and in the Special Election of June
2008, 7,693 voters defeated a $2,800,000 override. There are approximately19,900 regis-
tered voters in the Town of Franklin.
We have heard the voice of the people who vote. We have made the cuts. The Town has
eliminated 9 positions and the School Department,15. We will continue to provide all the
citizens of Franklin the very best service that we can.
Our financial difficulties will not, however, go away. Without a solution to our funding
problems to address increasing fixed costs and expenses or unfunded state mandates, the
subject of potential overrides will not go away.
As always, please feel free to contact me with suggestions, comments, or questions.

Solid Waste and Recycling News

By now you have received your new trash and recycling carts from Waste Management. Our
new contract with Waste Management begins on July 1, 2010.

You also received the Municipal Services Guide - Summer Edition in your mail and inside is
complete information on the new system. Also by mail, you received a brochure from the DPW
and Waste Management on the new automated system including instructions on use and
frequently asked questions. If you can not locate either document, you can find the information
on the Department of Public Works page on the Town’s website: www.franklin.ma.us. Once at
the Department of Public Works page, click on the Recycling and Solid Waste Icon.
 Town of Franklin
News: Quick—Accurate—Convenient.

Franklin Express Line Volume 1, Issue 10 7/1/10, Pg 2

continued
The new recycling system is single stream. That means you no longer have to separate and sort
your recyclable material. All materials must be in the two carts to be picked up by the automated
trucks. Your trash should be bagged prior to putting it in the trash cart to keep it clean. The lids
must be closed.

Each trash and recycling cart has an electronic identification tag embedded in it that identifies the
address it belongs at. Please contact the DPW for lost, stolen, or damaged carts.

Recycling at the Beaver Street Recycling Center is available with a Permit. Permits cost $20.00
and are valid July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011. Permits are available at the DPW Administration
Building at 257 Fisher Street, the Town Clerk’s Office at 355 East Central Street and at the Re-
cycling Center during open hours. You can recycle your current trash barrels and recycle bins at
the Recycling Center on Beaver Street for free until Labor Day. Bring your clean trash barrels
and recycling bins to the Beaver Street Recycling Center on Tuesdays 12-3, Fridays 8-3, and
Saturdays 8-3. No permit required for these items only.
Did you know that you can now recycle your old large plastic items at the Recycling Center?
Plastic items such as lawn furniture, toys, playhouses, slides, coolers, laundry baskets, 5 gallon
water containers, buckets with metal handles, etc. DO NOT BRING PVC piping/tubing, vinyl
siding, vinyl materials such as tents and inflatable items and pools, plastic grocery bags, glass,
metal, wood, paper, clothes, Styrofoam, flexible water hoses, or small plastic containers or used
narrow-neck liquid containers. If you are unsure please see the attendant or call the DPW before
you head to the Recycling Center.
AS OF JULY 1, 2010 YOU MUST USE YOUR NEW CARTS ONLY. YOU CAN NOT
USE YOUR OLD TRASH OR RECYCLING BINS. TRASH OR RECYCLING LEFT
OUT IN ANYTHING ELSE (EXCEPT EXTRA BAGS PURCHASED AT DPW)WILL
NOT BE TAKEN.
IMPORTANT TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
DPW: 508-553-5500 WASTE MANAGEMENT: 800-972-4545

High School Renovations - Update

There will be a meeting with the School Building Authority on Tuesday, July 13th to begin
choosing an architect to perform a feasibility study. It is expected the study will be complete by
late winter or early spring 2011.

Have you visited the Franklin Historical Museum at its

new location downtown next to the Fire Station at 80
West Central Street? The hours are Thursdays 5-8 pm,
Saturdays 10 am to 1 pm, Sundays 1-4 pm.