Wag the Dog | In Franklin Politics the tail often Wags the Dog!

Franklin Public School Board of Education Candidate Forum

Posted on January 23, 2012 by Bryan Maersch

Election 2012

Franklin Public Schools has a record number of six candidates running for two Board of Education seats in the February 21, 2012 primary election. The outcome of the February election is to bring the final selection to four candidates for the final April 3, 2012, Spring election and Presidental Primary . See my original posting of School Board Election 2012 – Off and Running for the names of those candidates in the run for the board.

The Franklin based group of Wisconsin Grandson’s of Liberty is hosting a Candidate Forum on February 13, 2012 from 7 pm. to 8:30 pm at the Root River Center, 7220 West Rawson Avenue in Franklin, WI.

The invitations went out today, to give the candidates plenty of time to prepare as this will be an open question event where questions will come from the audience. This is a great opportunity for Franklin Residents to get their questions answered as to how candidates stand on issues important to voting residents.

Posted in Board of Education, Government | Tagged Election 2012, Franklin Board of Education, Janet Evans | Leave a comment

Campaign Sign Snafu?

Posted on January 18, 2012 by Bryan Maersch

In a recent blog of FranklinNOW’s, Kevin Fischer entitled 2ND UPDATE: Voting for Franklin School Board is very easy, Kevin is reporting that School Board candidate Donald Petre a WEAC union leader/activist for Oak Creek has illegally posted multiple campaign signs without the required disclaimer under Wisconsin law.

I have seen one of these simple black lettering on a white background signs in my neighborhood but have not examined the sign up close. Having priced this type of sign for my own campaign, I would tend to say that these cost Mr. Petrie in the area of $5 a piece and would have not cost him anymore for the disclaimer.

Wisconsin Law specifically requires a disclaimer on all communications – “Paid for by committee, name of treasurer or other authorized agent.” There is a special provision that excludes pins, buttons, pens, balloons, nail files and similar small items on which the information required cannot be conveniently printed (11.30(2)(fm) Wis. Stats).

Furthermore, Kevin Fischer is stating he has found, Mr. Petrie to be a supporter of the RECALL SCOTT WALKER movement, with a display of a Recall Walker sign found in his yard. Fischer concludes in his posting, that this speaks volumes as to how you can expect Donald Petrie to vote if you should choose to elect him to the Franklin Public School’s Board of Education.

I would also tend to conclude, ” if it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, most likely it is a duck”!

UPDATE WEDNESDAY Night 1/18/12: Checked and confirmed that Mr. Donald Petrie does not have the required legal disclaimer on his signs as of this date.

Posted in Board of Education, Government | Tagged Donald Petre, Dr. Steve Patz, Election 2012, Franklin Board of Education | Leave a comment

THE FRANKLIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL is on Hiatus!

Posted on January 6, 2012 by Bryan Maersch

I received an email from my friend Fred Keller. Due to health reasons for one of its publishers, THE FRANKLIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL (Franklin, WI only E-Paper) will take a two-month hiatus effective today, January 6.
THE FRANKLIN INDEPENDENT JOURNAL’s expected return date is Monday, March 5, 2012.

Posted in Best of Franklin, Blogs | Tagged Franklin Independent Journal | 1 Comment

School Board Election 2012 – Off and Running

Posted on January 3, 2012 by Bryan Maersch

The final day to submit your name and forms to run for Franklin Public Schools – Board of Education was January 3rd. Due to the fact that there are six people running for the two slots currently held by Janet Evans and Judith Bialk, there will be a primary to bring those numbers down on February 21, 2012.

In the running are:

Judith A. Bialk
9309 South Sherwood Drive
Franklin, WI 53132
Janet M. Evans
4415 West Hilltop Lane
Franklin, WI 53132
Donald Petre
8050 South 85th Street
Franklin, WI 53132
Aimee R. Schlueter
9303 Briarwood Drive
Franklin, WI 53132
John P. Thompson
4102 Hilltop Court
Franklin, WI 53132
David A. Works
7965 Legend Creek Court
Franklin, WI 53132
You may remember Franklin Parents and Voters rejected David Works during last years election by quite a large margin in favor of Tim Nielson and Linda Witkowski.

Posted in Board of Education, Government | Tagged David Works, Election 2012, Franklin Public Schools, Janet Evans, Linda Witkowski, Tin Nielson | 1 Comment

The Inevitable School Building Referendum

Posted on December 31, 2011 by Bryan Maersch

One of the main reasons I attended the Franklin Public Schools – Board of Education meeting on November 30th was to listen to the report by the architects that the school system chose to move along building plans for FPS. I had intented to complete this earlier but with pne kid in college and the other in High School, the holidays, ect., it just had to wait until now.

The speaker was Kitt Dailey, Public Information Specialist for Eppstein Uhen, one of Milwaukee’s largest architectural firms. According to Kitt, her firm is very experienced at working with school systems and the referendums required to get schools built.

I found it fascinating that Eppstein Uhen will be providing not only the architectural plans, but costs and materials for the Franklin Public School district to push forward a plan for a building referendum. They will be working with the district to present plans, set up community meetings until the School Board members feel they have a proposal that could be presented to the electorate for a referendum as soon as the November Presidential elections.

Kitt presented a time line goal as follows:

February – March 2012 – Get community feedback via two public meetings held at the Middle School and the High School. These would be similar to those held last year where those in attendance would go table to table and express their view.
April 2012 - Would bring us another community survey which would present the options being considered and they could gather more specific feedback on those options.
By June 2012 - The board would possibly have a better sense of what the community wants and determine whether a November 2012 referendum should move forward.

Kitt further expanded on the plan that if the Board feels in June that the community is NOT ready for a referendum then they would go back to adjust and refine their plan.

Ms. Dailey said and I quote ” Be Prepared for what you hear and respond to it accordingly.”

Here is the three part video of that presentation.

Part 2

Part 3

Posted in Board of Education, Government | Tagged Dr. Steve Patz, Franklin Board of Education, Franklin Public Schools | Leave a comment

You be the Judge

Posted on December 14, 2011 by Bryan Maersch

On November 30, 2011, I attended a regular meeting of the Franklin Public Schools Board of Education. I was aware that the board had on their agenda a review of the Franklin Public School System – Teachers Handbook. I was pleased to find out that new board member and small businessman Tim Nielson had done a preliminary review of the Handbook and was going to give a high level review of the document, presumably for discussion among the other board members which seemed in my estimation to be clueless.

In attendance were quite a few teachers, which in my first impression were there to present to the board the new and exiting classes that would be available at the High School in the area’s of Technology and Foreign Language. It appears that the new classes were not the only reason there were so many of our educators at this meeting which included Ms. Marquerite Dargiewicz a teacher’s union representative and Art teacher at Ben Franklin and Country Dale Elementary Schools. In reality it was their interest in Mr. Nielson’s presentation instead, at least that was my impression.

In an article by the Franklin Independent Journal, Fred Keller posted that he received an email from a Franklin Parent that stated that remarks from both Board Member Judith Bialk and Superintendent Steve Patz were aimed at shutting down member Nielson. As I did attend this meeting I did find many of the remarks by both Bialk and Patz to be condescending toward Tim Nielson. Bielak comments were especially condescending implying that since Tim Nielson was new to the School Board, he had no experience in these types of matters. In addition Ms. Bialk feels that 12 sick days a year that can accumulate yearly up to 120 days are not excessive and was taken back that Mr. Nielson would even bring up that that was excessive. Unfortunately Ms. Bialk does not have even a quarter of the business experience or personnel benefit negotiations that Mr. Nielson does. She has after all been in the education field for a good part of her life and has no bias at all

But you be the judge in this 4 part video in it’s entirety on the subject of the Franklin Public Schools Teachers Handbook.

Further Reading:

Franklin Independent Journal – Did Franklin School Teacher and Union Rep Threaten School Board Member’s Kids?
Franklin Independent Journal – School Board Members Respond to November 30 Board Meeting Comments by Union Rep

Posted in Board of Education, Government | Tagged Dr. Steve Patz, Franklin Board of Education, Judith Bialk, Tim Nielson | 9 Comments

Franklin’s Alderman Steve Taylor blog on Moving Forward

Posted on November 29, 2011 by Bryan Maersch

Franklin’s Village Idiot Alderman Steve Taylor can’t keep from spewing his anger toward any and all who refuse to believe he is the second coming of our Saviour.

In a recent blog he wrote explaining his pathetic exes for slashing our Police and Fire department budgets while keeping our city inspection department, planning department, health department, DPW and Library at full staffing (even a move our own Mayor disagrees with).

Our paranoid Alderman Taylor says:

In politics having thick skin is a must. So, it doesn’t bother me that my usual critics have called me a villain, a shyster or sleazy. These are the same people who constantly criticize without offering any solutions. But, what bothers me is that these same people continually mislead the public in order to push their own political agenda or the agenda of others.

In his own words he continues on:

That is why I refuse to play political games like one of my colleagues (more to
come on future blog). I won’t take a position merely for political popularity
when I know it will cost you more money in the end after I am no longer serving
you and able to be held accountable.

I ran for re-election on my record during my first three years in office and the
results were pretty good. Therefore, I will continue to conduct myself in the
same manner I always have.

This is how our common council president plays politics. More of what comes of tonights meeting will be available on this blog. I look forward like many of you to the day the 4th district is represented by someone who is not an embarrassment to this city like Alderman Taylor is.

Please feel free to read the Alderman’s blog on FranklinNOW and do read what some of his constituents have to say about him and his rants! Oh but they don’t count, just the good ones about him!

Posted in Government, Local Government | Tagged CCP Steve Taylor, Mayor Tom Taylor | Leave a comment

My Franklin Neighbor Needs Help

Posted on November 7, 2011 by Bryan Maersch

If you have ever followed Franklin happenings during the Franklin HUB existance, you may remember Franklin HUB writer, Mark Dudzik. Mark and his wife Denise have been my neighbors since 1999. They have two great kids, and Mark is an incredible dad. His contagious smile, easy going manor and friendly personality was one of the reasons I enjoy living my neighborhood. Mark currently works for the Burlington Standard Press /Waterford Post and Westine Report as a Reporter & Editor .

Given all this, I was not aware until I saw his wife and children this past Sunday for Trick or Treat that Mark had been participating in the annual Maywood Earth Ride on his bicycle on September 17th. During the ride, he was separated from other riders and was hit by a pickup truck while crossing the intersection of county Highway E and Garton Road in Sheboygan county. See JS-Online here.

Mark has been hospitalized with head trauma injuries since the accident and faces months of recovery and rehabilitation despite the generosity of friends and co-workers.

Next week Sunday, his co-workers are sponsoring a benefit for Mark and his family.

I know that many of the Alderman, Mayor Taylor and Former Mayor Fred Klimetz know Mark from his days with the Franklin HUB . I hope to see them there or on the list of donations.

If you wish to help, please feel free to send donations to:
Friends of Mark Dudzik Benefit
North Shore Bank – 116 S. Pine Street
Burlington, WI 53105

Mark Dudzik

Posted in Best of Franklin | Tagged Community Spirit | Leave a comment

IMAGINE

Posted on November 3, 2011 by Bryan Maersch

Nuff said……

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Common Council Dodges the Bullet for Now

Posted on October 19, 2011 by Bryan Maersch

….. So to speak. I am of course referring to the Concealed Carry Ordinance, Mayor Taylor proposed at the October 18th meeting of the Common Council which he did not attend.

None of the Aldermen in attendance committed to both parts of the ordinance that would have in one part make the carrying of a concealed weapon a ticketable offense vs a forfeiture crime. A forfeiture crime would require a civil lawsuit instead of allowing law enforcement being able to ticket someone breaking the new law.

The second part would of made City Hall, the Library and other city buildings a posted area that would prohibit a permit holder to carry their weapon in the specified city buildings.

Please enjoy the five parts (it took over 40 minutes) of the Common Council discussing the proposed Mayor Tom Taylor ordinance. Please also note, that even Chief Oliva is not really on board with the Mayor’s Ordinance to push to prohibit, concealed carry permit holders from being able to carry in the city buildings.

The Franklin Common Council Committee of the Whole is scheduled to take this ordinance up again on October 31st and vote on it on November 1st Common Council meeting.