Annual Report Of The Department Of Public Works: FY 2023 Report

The Department of Public Works provides a wide range of services to the residents of Franklin. The DPW is organized into eight (8) divisions:

1. Administration

2. Engineering

3. Highway and Grounds (including Highway Maintenance and Construction, Central Motors, Snow & Ice, Parks, Town and School Grounds Maintenance and Forestry/Insect Control)

4. Stormwater

5. Water (including groundwater withdrawals, water treatment and distribution)

6. Sewer

7. Solid Waste and Recycling (including the operation of the Beaver St. Recycling Center)

8. Street Lighting

DPW ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISION

The major functions of the Administrative Division include developing capital projects, long range planning, intergovernmental relations and compliance, grant writing, processing various private construction permits and drainlayer licenses, purchasing, budgeting, accounting, payroll, and multiple forms of utility billing.

Capital Projects

The Administrative Division, in conjunction with Engineering and the operating divisions, develops major capital projects.

The DPW continues to design and construct long-range projects over three to four years. Progress on specific capital construction projects is outlined in subsequent portions of this report.

It is important to note that many of these projects are performed by existing staff members, which saves significant amounts of money by avoiding the need to contract out these services. The process of planning, designing, permitting, and oversight of these projects is an arduous task that requires a great level of coordination and cooperation between DPW divisions and other state, municipal and Federal departments.

Grant Writing

The Town was awarded several Grants ranging in all sizes that support projects such as DPW roadway improvements, recycling incentives, engineering studies and workplace training, to name a few.

Our largest award was a $2,220,000 grant from the Massworks Infrastructure Program to support infrastructure improvements along the Grove Street corridor. Work began in July of 2022 and we expect the project to be completed by 2024. In addition to the improvements on Grove St, we were able to utilize an additional roadwork grant, the MASS DOT WRAP grant totaling $463,000, to pay for a portion of the Jefferson Road area cape seal project.

For the fifth year in a row, we partnered with the Great American Rain Barrel Company to offer the discounted purchase of rain barrels to Franklin residents. Along with the discount, residents were eligible to receive a $50 rebate, if qualified.

The Town once again received grants for our innovative programs at the recycling center to support the proper recycling of mattresses, electronics, and Styrofoam. For FY 23, the grant total was approximately $12,000.

We also received a grant totalling $70,000 to perform quiet zone studies for the railroad crossings in town as well as a $4,000 grant from the Department of Industrial Accidents for workplace safety training.

Permits and Long Range Planning

Long range planning is critical in the area of Public Works and must be accomplished consistently in order to ensure that the Town water, sewer, stormwater and roadway infrastructure can support the needs of our residents. Details on specific projects and locations can be found in other parts of this report.

The DPW has continued to work with both the DEP and the Massachusetts Department of Recreation and Conservation to facilitate the final closing and capping of the Beaver Street Landfill Site.

The Town of Franklin has continued to work with other area towns and conservation groups towards ensuring that regional water supplies are protected.

Solid Waste and Recycling Collection Program

The single stream automated solid waste and recycling program continues to be a very successful program. Recycling participation has increased, and recycling contamination rates have decreased. Improvements continue to be made to the Beaver St. Recycling Center to make the facility more attractive and customer friendly.

Hails and Farewells

We had several employees move on from their roles with the DPW and I would like to thank them for their years of dedication and service to the Town of Franklin! Mr. Steve D'Angelo, our Grounds Foreman, retired after 24 years of service. His hard work, expertise, and dedication will be missed! Mr. Mike Cisternelli of the Highway Dept. also retired after 21 years! His dedication and commitment to our Department was always appreciated. Ms. Cindy Elz, a long time Administrative Assistant for the Town, also retired.  Cindy  worked  tirelessly  to  support  many departments over the years including: the Town Administrator's Office, Town Attorney's office, Town Clerk's office and finally finished up her career in the DPW. Her extensive knowledge of the Town and incredible customer service skills will be missed! We also had several employees move on to pursue other endeavors, in particular, Mr. Tom Trinque, a long time employee in our Central Motors Department, Mr. Jim Henchy, a Highway and Sewer Department employee, and Mr. Jon Currier from our Stormwater Division. With these losses there were also gains. We welcomed a new Administrative Assistant to our team, Ms. Rebecca Smiles along with a new Staff Engineer, Mr. Elijah Gerrior. The DPW was also fortunate to hire some new employees to our Operations Team. These included: Mr. Richard Costello, Mr. Andrew Hatch, Mr. Glen Camire, Mr. Corey Lambert, Mr. Steve Nasuti, Mr. Thomas Ruth, Mr. Sean Roddy, and Mr. Joe Clinton. We are lucky to have them all.

We also had the good fortune of promoting many employees on our team. These employees include: Mr. Jay Stearns, Fleet Manager, Mr. Ken Semerjian, Central Motors Foreman, Mr. John Pucel, Grounds Foreman, Mr. Nathan Macdonald, Grounds Crew Leader, Mr. Artur Cardoso, Meter Technician, Mr. Harrison Marcotte, Sign Technician, Mr. John Simons, Mark out Technician, and Mr. Justin Mercer, Saturday Crew Leader. We wish them all the best of luck in their new roles!

Thanks

As the Director, I owe many thanks to my entire staff as they make this department work and serve all residents in a timely manner. Everyone is committed to providing extraordinary service to the Town in the most cost effective manner possible.

The DPW staff are all dedicated professionals who put in so much extra time and effort to make this department a success. The Town and I are very fortunate to have such talented individuals to work with. I would like to thank, The Town Engineer Mr. Mike Maglio, Assistant Town Engineer Ms. Brooke Morganelli (Cotta), Admin & Budget Manager Ms. Kathy Mooradd, Assistant Admin & Budget Manager Ms. Roseanne Szczepanowski, Highway and Grounds Superintendent Mr. Carlos Rebelo, Assistant Highway & Grounds Superintendent Mr. Anthony Brunetta, Water & Sewer Superintendent Mr. Doug Martin, Assistant Water & Sewer Superintendent Mr. Jacob Standley, Environmental Affairs Superintendent, Mr. Derek Adams, and GIS Director, Ms. Kate Sjoberg.

I would also like to thank, Ms. Lynne Marchand, Ms. Paula Juarez, Ms. Marissa Allen, and Ms. Rebecca Smiles, who support the Administration Division as well as Mr. Warren Groth, Mr. Bill Wenners, Mr. Elijah Gerrior, and Ms. Natalie Regan-Lampert, from the Engineering Division. These individuals respond quickly and with courtesy to thousands of requests for assistance and information throughout the year.

We would like to thank the entire Recycling Center staff who continue to do a wonderful job.

I would especially like to thank the "Crew" and the mechanics that work out of the DPW garage. These are the employees who are not always seen, but provide the day to day services that are all too often taken for granted. They pump, treat and deliver safe drinking water, care for parks and ball fields, maintain the roadways, repair and sustain all Town and school vehicles and handle all our waste. They are always available, day and night, and work long hours to assist in any emergency situation whether it is snow removal, water breaks, sewer backups, wind, lightning storms and flooding, among many others. They are all extremely professional and dedicated to their jobs. I cannot thank them enough.

Respectfully submitted, 

Robert A. Cantoreggi II 

Director of Public Works

Kathy Mooradd

Administration & Budget Manager

“Gettin’ It Done”

With 8 section the full DPW report is too long to republish here. You can find the complete report in one PDF ->

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1thGqmqipOZqA38keGRpsvOpOSPzh9yhH/view?usp=drive_link

The full Town of Franklin FY 2023 Annual Report can be found online

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/annual_report_2023_0.pdf

Annual Report Of The Department Of Public Works: FY 2023 Report

Annual Report for the Treasurer-Collector: FY 2023 Report

I am pleased to present the fiscal year (FY) 2023 Accountability Report for the Treasurer-Collector office.

The Treasurer-Collector's office mission is to perform in the highest professional and ethical manner to safeguard the Town of Franklin's public resources. We also strive to provide a high standard of customer service to the residents and employees of the Town of Franklin.

In Fiscal Year 2022, Franklin was awarded a AAA (Triple-A) bond rating by Stand and Poor's Global Ratings in May. Progressing from the town's previous AA+, the new rating is indicative of exceptionally high credit- worthiness in the eyes of municipal bond issuers.

The Treasurer Collector's office went Green! We now offer our residents the option to go paperless and for the residents' convenience the Town is waiving the ACH fee when paying by electronic check.

During FY 2023, $175,198.20 was collected in back property taxes, interest and fees. Eight (8) property owners paid off all outstanding taxes and redeemed their properties out of tax title. We continue to pursue delinquent taxes through the foreclosure process and there are currently 9 properties in Land Court.

There were 535 Municipal Lien Certificates issued by the Treasurer-Collector's office generating revenue of $26,750. Also collected was $3,355 in fees for duplicate bills and files that we supplied to tax services and escrow agents. During FY23, the Treasurer- Collector's office printed and mailed 10,795 Real Estate Tax bills and 640 Personal Property Tax bills four times a year. We also sent out 35,269 Motor Vehicle Excise Tax bills, and 42,525 Utility bills. The following Demands were also printed and mailed, 546 Real Estate Tax, 109 Personal Property Tax, and 4,900 Motor Vehicle Excise Tax. There were 3,126 Motor Vehicle warrants issued in FY23. There were nine (9) Betterment releases (water, sewer and road). We also collected $104,477 for backflow testing and $59,500 for Sprinkler/Hydrant charges.

The Treasurer also acts as the town's parking clerk. Our deputy collector, Kelley & Ryan Associates of Hopedale, handles the billing and collection of parking tickets. During FY23 we collected $10,869.80 for parking violations.

I would like to thank all town departments for the timely and accurate turnover of fees to the Treasurer-Collector's office. I also would like to acknowledge my team, I am constantly impressed by your performance. Thank you for using your remarkable talents and skills to fuel our mutual efforts. I am really proud to be part of this team. Finally, I like to thank the residents of Franklin for their kindness and support.

Respectfully submitted,

Kerri A. Bertone 

Treasurer-Collector

Treasurer-Collector Interest FY 2023 Report

Treasurer-Collector Chart 2 FY 2023 Report

The Treasurer-Collector Report can also be found in one PDF ->

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1u97VqYPEkA-3KZeCLbUXGNr6T2hMRtCt/view?usp=drive_link

The full Town of Franklin FY 2023 Annual Report can be found online

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/annual_report_2023_0.pdf

Annual Report for the Treasurer-Collector: FY 2023 Report

Annual Report for the Franklin Technology Department: FY 2023 Report

The 2023 Annual Report for the Town of Franklin's Technology Department highlights a year of significant accomplishments and progress in advancing the technological infrastructure and services within the town and school district. Despite the challenges posed by the rapidly evolving technology landscape, the department has been able to maintain excellent customer support metrics and make progress on some key initiatives

Department Overview

The Technology Department oversees all technology related functions of the Town of Franklin and the Franklin Public School District. The Technology Department remains committed to empowering the town and school district with innovative solutions, efficient processes, and robust infrastructure. The department's dedicated team works collaboratively to support the town's operations, ensure data security, and drive digital transformation to increase productivity and create efficiencies wherever and whenever opportunities may arise.

Key Initiatives and Achievements

The fiscal year 2023 saw the successful implementation of several technology projects for both the school and town technology systems. We have upgraded hardware and software across various departments, leading to improved efficiency and productivity. Some of those initiatives are listed here 

• Upgrade to wifi at the police department

• DPW Autocad® computer upgrade.

• Installed new projection systems in all gymnasiums.

• Purchased a new large format scanner for the Health department.

• Replaced all non-functioning video displays at the Franklin High School.

• Upgraded the MediaCAST® video distribution system at the Franklin High School.

• Upgrades to 100 town and school desktop workstations.

 

Upgrades to the town's network infrastructure have enhanced connectivity, allowing for seamless communication and data sharing.

Infrastructure , Network, and Security

• Upgraded the school's internet access to 10GB fiber from Cogent Communications.

• Extended the town's fiber optic network to the new forge hill water department and transfer station.

The department invested in server upgrades to ensure optimal performance and reliability of critical systems.

• Replaced all Domain Controllers throughout town and school buildings.

• Upgraded all servers throughout town and school to Windows Server 2019.

Additional cybersecurity measures have been implemented to safeguard sensitive information and protect against cyber threats.

• Multi-Factor Authentication has been implemented for all town employee accounts and all non-union school accounts. The remaining accounts are in progress and will be completed first quarter FY 24.

• DUO® Multi-factor authentication for high risk. users' Windows® accounts and VPN users.

• Sophos® Managed Detection and Response service monitoring has been implemented throughout the town and school network and computer systems. This system greatly reduces our risk exposure and the potential for a costly ransomware attack.

• DOS Arrest® service has also been purchased and implemented to guard against Denial of Service attacks against the school district which would be catastrophic if such attacks occurred during MCAS online testing.

Remote Work Solutions

The Technology Department plays a pivotal role in enabling remote work capabilities, ensuring business continuity during challenging times.

Challenges

Despite the achievements listed above the Technology Department continues to work through the following persistent challenges.

• Budget constraints to replace aging hardware and infrastructure within a reasonable technology life-cycle timeframe

• Cybersecurity is a moving target and is a constant concern

• Employee recruitment and retention is always challenging due to limited budgets and competition with the private sector salaries

Mitigation strategies have been employed to attempt to address these challenges and we strive to ensure the smooth functioning of technology initiatives.

Budget Allocation and Expenditure

As can be seen in the town budget documents available online, the lion's share of the technology budget (95%) is licensing fees for the myriad software we utilize throughout the town. Similarly 96% of the non-salary school budget is also licensing and support fees. Very little is left over for discretionary spending such as hardware repair and maintenance.

Future Roadmap

Technology goals for the upcoming year include the following:

• Replacement of 400 Student Chromebooks and consideration of a possible leasing model to create a sustainable funding source for these replacements over the next 4 years.

• Replacement of 300 Teacher Laptops.

• Plan for replacing 130 10-year-old ceiling mounted projectors at the Franklin High School with TouchView® interactive panels (as we have these already throughout all K-8 classrooms)

• Continuous improvements in technology security (wherever that road may lead) including restoration of a Technology Security Specialist full time position.

• Implement an employee tracking system for Human Resources Department.

• Implement an electronic file storage system and onboarding software for the Human Resources Department.

• Work with the Facilities Department to replace the 10-year-old security camera system at the Franklin High School.

Of course this is not a definitive list as the Technology Department is often called on to provide creative solutions to time-sensitive day-to-day challenges that arise within the organization.

Acknowledgments

The Technology Department could never be as successful as we have been without the dedication and commitment to excellence of the amazing team of professional staff that we are so fortunate to employ. Just as I am aware of the lucrative financial draw of the technology private sector, so are the rest of the team, yet, they (and I) choose to work in Franklin. Why?

Because Franklin is a great place to work! The friendly, respectful environment that permeates throughout all departments promotes a sense of purpose and duty that is rare in the workplace today.

I conclude with a gesture of gratitude to all Franklin employees, committee members, partners, vendors and stakeholders that have contributed to the Technology Department's success and Franklin's success!

For more information, please visit the Technology Department website located at: 

https://www.franklinps.net/district/technology-services 

Thank you.

Sincerely, 

Timothy Rapoza

Director of Technology Services

Town of Franklin, Franklin Public Schools

The Technology Dept report can also be found in one PDF ->

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1txb4pMfsgADJyJihQbObpH-Z57Uo1IiL/view?usp=drive_link

The full Town of Franklin FY 2023 Annual Report can be found online

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/annual_report_2023_0.pdf

Annual Report Of The Franklin Public Library: FY 2023 Report

Library Vision

Franklin Public Library strives to be the trusted source of inspiration, enrichment, and opportunity.

Library Mission

The mission of the Franklin Public Library is to foster knowledge and engagement through education, enrichment, and technology.

Strategic Priorities

• Be an informed citizen: local, national, and world affairs

• Foster inclusivity, diversity, equity & cultural awareness

• Connect to the online world

• Satisfy curiosity: Literacy & Lifelong Learning

• Stimulate imagination: Reading, Viewing, and Creating

• Succeed in School: resources & homework help

• Public space: accessible, comfortable, welcoming & safe physical and virtual Spaces

• Augment workforce development

• Bolster strategic communications: build awareness and use of services, programs, and collections.

FY23  Highlights

An Impactful Legacy

In December 2022, the Library received a significant donation of $70,000 from the Franklin Library Association, FLA. The FLA has been the cornerstone of the Library's inspirational history, the rock upon which the Franklin Public Library stands, the reason we still have the Benjamin Franklin Collection. This year, the FLA closed its books after a century of service.

FLA's contributions to our community are impossible to quantify. They acted in varying capacities first by rescuing the original collection from impeding ruin, second by funding the library operations until 1982 when the town took over, and then later by serving as guardians and benefactors of the Library's preservation, digitization and restoration efforts.

To date, they have expended over $525,000 for the preservation, digitization and restoration of a remarkable range of early written local materials with great significance to Franklin's history and the restoration of the beautiful paintings and murals.

A few examples of items that have been digitized and made available for the first time online include works that preceded the FLA to the present:

• Records of Justice Jabez Fisher

• Records of the FLA

• Notes on Franklin History, 1878

• Fire District records, 1868-1917

• School Committee record books, 1880-1919

• List of Residents directories for the Town of Franklin, 1884-2017

• 35 mm microfilm reel of the Franklin Town Records, 1736-1824

These resources are vital for genealogy and local history research.

Restoration of the Murals and Paintings

Previous restoration efforts of the Gallison/Juglaris murals and painting in Memorial Hall, the Delivery Room, and the Reading Gallery were substandard and damaging. With funding from the FLA, the library has done the following:

• Completed a detailed study of the murals and paintings by art and architectural experts to determine the best way to restore them to their original motifs. This required cleaning each work, removing layers of paint from previous restorations, and reinstating the historic colors and designs on the decorative plaster.

• Restored all of the paintings, frames, and murals in Memorial Hall and the Delivery Room

• Invested in a beautiful, glass case to display the original Benjamin Franklin donation

Restoration of the Reading Gallery is all that remains.

The community owes an innumerable debt of gratitude to the FLA for safe-guarding and preserving the magnificent art and architecture, the original Benjamin Franklin collection and other local history collections as well as the irreplaceable historic manuscript collection. These efforts ensure that future generations will continue to benefit from our unique historical collections and enjoy the awe-inspiring splendor of the building.

Vicki Earls, the Head of Reference and Public Services produced two significant documents - a brilliant and inspiring chronicle of the Town's historic districts, and an outstanding work of research clarifying how the Town of Franklin's name came to be. This work titled "What's in A Name? Benjamin Franklin and the Birth of a New Town in Revolutionary America" was publish in the Spring, 2023 volume of The New England Journal of History.

We implemented English as a Second language (ESL) program to help non-native English speakers improve their reading, writing, listening and conversational skills. To date, over 60 volunteer tutors have stepped up to the plate. The Library successfully applied for a $15,000 grant to expand the ESL collection and program.

Based on the feedback received from the 2022 survey, we have increased music events, and implemented weekly art workshops across a broad range of audiences. We shifted collections to increase accessible, comfortable and accepting spaces to accommodate mounting patron demand for more study and work space.

Library partnerships

The Library draws upon local and national expertise, community resources, and partnerships with municipal departments, community agencies, educational and cultural institutions, and individuals to assist in program delivery. In collaboration with the Health Department, we hosted two successful Health Fairs in October and May. 480 people participated in October and 668 in May.

Camille Bernstein teamed up with Steve Sherlock to bring the sophisticated art of creative writing through poetry to residents of all ages during National Poetry month in April.

Through partnerships with neighboring libraries we provided a wide range of opportunities to engage with new and exciting material and expanded virtual program offerings such as: author talks, history and art presentations and more.

Working with the IRS, we established a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance site to serve low income patrons in our community. We look forward to expanding this program from two to three days a week in the coming year.

We began collaborations with local small businesses to bring hybrid attendance seminars on various topics of interest.

Keeping the youth engaged with enriching early literacy programs, exciting after school activities, homework help, outreach to the schools and summer reading and learning activities remain a priority.

The Youth Services department has enjoyed a period of growth and community goodwill over this fiscal year, with successes of over 35,000 in program attendance, school and community partnerships, and exciting plans for the future.

We introduced Community Conversations in collaboration with local poet/activist Jamele Adams, who alongside Caleigh facilitated and engaged community members of all ages in meaningful conversations on a range of topics, including generational differences, housing, book banning, racism, food insecurity, to name a few.

 

We worked with local community groups to expand our cultural programming. Annual celebrations include: Diwali, Lunar New Year, and Eid,

The President of Dean College generously offered the use of Dean facilities and grounds to the Library making it possible to accommodate large crowds of over 500 people at programs. Plans for joint grants and activities, such as dance and theatre shows, music & concerts, author visits, outdoor movies, library orientations for Dean students and faculty are underway. This exciting partnership will hopefully activate the sidewalks and streets between the Dean College and the library and grow to include the entire Franklin community in the years ahead.

Following the past season's success, we are expanding our Farmer's Market visits to include adult offerings for the upcoming market season, and will be providing more comprehensive library services onsite, from Museum pass highlights to library app tutorials, in addition to kids crafts and interactive activities.

School relationships:

In addition to our weekly BLAST program which reaches an average of 45-75 students per week at all 3 middle schools. We have expanded to the 5th grade at both Oak St and Keller Elementary. We plan to expand to other 5th grade classrooms in the future.

We offered a graphic novelist panel in partnership with the middle schools in May 2023, which included not just author talks and signings, but also some creative expression and art department faculty and student involvement.

We also expanded upon weekly storytimes at the Early Childhood Development Center (ECDC) to ensure representation amongst the Monday, Wednesday, Friday classrooms. We have continued our quarterly visits to Dean College Children's Center and are also revitalizing our previous partnership with Bright Horizons that we enjoyed pre-COVID. All of these collaborations serve to connect families to library services, familiarize children, teachers, and caregivers with the library's offerings and also boost circulation within the department.

Program Attendance:

We have seen a steady upward trend in attendance numbers for our weekly, weekend, and afternoon storytimes. We have expanded our afternoon programming for all ages, currently providing toddler programs 3 afternoons a week, school-age programs 4 afternoons a week, and a weekly art program for middle school children. Tween and teen attendance at weekly programs is thriving. We have also enjoyed record numbers at our most recent holiday programming, notably our Trunk or Treat event and our Noon Year's Eve Party.

Summer Reading

Our summer reading program seeks to connect families with library resources and provide opportunities for reading, learning, and engagement. Programs include reading logs, activity packets and incentives. So far, over 800 children, teens and adults have signed up for the Summer 2023 Reading program.

 

We are deeply grateful for the Town Administrator's unwavering support and the Town council's continued investment in a strong library. This makes it possible for staff to continue to innovate, adapt and meet the needs of our community.

The Friends provide valuable support through their sponsorship of library events, program incentives, staff appreciation and so much more.

Respectfully Submitted 

Felicia Oti

Director, Franklin Public Library

The full Library report can also be found in one PDF ->

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tarD7SyH1rYcUcs-Dyk0lU6tALo_CY2J/view?usp=drive_link

The full Town of Franklin FY 2023 Annual Report can be found online

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/annual_report_2023_0.pdf

Annual Report Of The Franklin Public Library: FY 2023 Report

Annual Report Franklin Senior Center (COA): FY 2023 Report

The Franklin Senior Center is located at 10 Daniel McCahill Street and is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM.

The Senior Center provides programs, services, and activities along with outreach, information and referral to serve the needs of older adults, people with disabilities and their families. Social services assistance is available to all adult residents in Franklin.

The Senior Center offers health and wellness, nutrition, social service coordination and resources, socialization, recreation and fitness, assistance with transportation, support groups, educational and cultural programs, a supportive day program, volunteerism, intergenerational opportunities, and a variety of other amenities.

The Center's mission is to enhance the independence and quality of life for Franklin's older adults by:

■ Identifying the needs of this population and creating programs that meet those needs.

■ Offering the knowledge, tools and opportunities to promote mental, social and physical well-being.

■ Advocating for relevant programs and services in our community.

■ Serving as a community focal point for aging issues and as a liaison to local, state, and Federal resources for older adults.

FY 2023 Highlights

This fiscal year, the vibrant Franklin Senior Center has continued to expand not only in numbers, welcoming 600 new members throughout the 2022 calendar year, but increasing the number of programs and opportunities available to members, and even adding two new line cooks, Marilyn Howe and Lauretta Taddeo. We also had some change in staffing, as we said goodbye and best wishes to staff, Sue Barbour, Program & Volunteer Coordinator, and Maggie Gundersen, Social Services Coordinator, in November,  previous  Deputy  Director,  Christina LaRose, in February, and Supportive Day Coordinator, Donna Haynes, in June. In March, we welcomed Sarah Amaral as the next Deputy Director, Raeleen Gallivan as the new Social Services Coordinator, Ariel Doggett became the new Program & Volunteer Coordinator, and Kathleen Laughran became the Supportive Programming Coordinator.

Unfortunately, in February the Senior Center was temporarily closed due to a pipe break and water damage. The innovative Senior Center staff, town, and members came together to reinvent and relocate programs to make the best out of the situation. Thank you to the Facilities Dept. for leading the restoration efforts.

New programs and events were added to our active and engaging calendar, most notably Eat Around the World, 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony, Winter Wonderland, Movie and Pizza Nights, Mobile Food Pantry, monthly technology clinics, Bereavement Support Group, and a partnership with Dean College providing classes for seniors.

Director Danielle Hopkins, and previous Deputy Director Christina LaRose were tasked with developing a multi-year strategic plan for the Franklin Senior Center. With assistance, surveys, and S.W.O.T. analysis from the COA Board, FOFE, the community, and the staff, they presented the vision to the Town Council in January and it was received with many accolades. For more information, view this presentation on the town website.

Health and Wellness Programs

Our Wellness Program promotes Healthy and Active Aging through programs and services with assistance from our Health & Wellness Nurse as well as collaborating with the Town's Public Health Nurse and Epidemiologist.

■ Health Clinics: Blood Pressure, Blood Sugar, Pulse Ox readings, Podiatry, Flu Vaccinations, and bi-weekly hearing clinics.

■ Fall Prevention: Our Wellness Nurse continuously offers multiple Safety & Balance clinics to evaluate and address balance and muscle strength, while offering tips and techniques to enhance safety.

■ Grab Bar Program and Home Safety: We are able to provide Home Safety Assessments to evaluate elders' homes to determine if the risk for dangerous falls can be reduced. If needed, we have a volunteer that is able to install grab bars and or adaptive devices free of charge. We have successfully been able to install grab bars in two homes every month. The Grab Bars are graciously purchased by F.O.F.E. (Friends of Franklin Elders) for continued success of this program.

■ Fitness: We offer a multitude of classes and fitness opportunities tailored to older adults including Cardio Strength, & Balance, Zumba, Chair Yoga, Tai Chi, Chair Exercise, Walking Club, Bocce, Pickleball, Chair Volleyball, Pound Fitness, Reversing the Aging Series, Line Dancing, and Meditation. This year we added to this roster a Vinyasa Yoga class, a dance class, and a self defense class tailored specifically for seniors. We were able to provide some of these classes virtually. The Senior Center's Fitness Room offers free use of equipment, including treadmills, an elliptical bike, and stationary bikes.

■ Support: Support Groups offered include Low Vision, Hearing Loss, Autoimmune and Mobility Disorder, and Caregivers Support. This year, we started a monthly Bereavement group.

■ Weight Loss: Many struggle with weight loss, so we decided to have fun while empowering our members in healthy 6-week weight loss competitions: "Don't Be a Butterball" (fall) and "Don't Be a BeachBall" (spring). Each week, our Health and Wellness Nurse and Head Chef offered weekly classes for support covering topics such as food journaling, meal prepping, information on fad diets, portion control, and accountability/ consistency. Every Friday, we also have T.O.P.S. (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly) who meet weekly to help members support their weight loss journey.

■ Mental Health Counseling: The Senior Center is part of a consortium of local Senior Centers, which provides access to timely, flexible mental health services with a licensed clinician. This enables elders who experience mental health challenges to get effective, appropriate treatment.

■ Health Education: Monthly informational and educational presentations were offered by our Health & Wellness Nurse and our Public Health nurse and Epidemiologist: Five Wishes, Stop the Bleed, Hands Only CPR, Anatomy of the Brain, Neuropathy, Cellulitis, Arthritis, Basic First Aid, and more.

Dementia Friendly

The Town of Franklin and The Senior Center continue to be a Dementia Friendly Community. The Senior Center provides the following programs to support caregivers and their loved ones:

■ Supportive Day Program: The Sunshine Club provides a structured, supervised, and stimulating day program for seniors with mild to moderate dementia or cognitive decline, chronic illness, or those who are socially isolated. In turn, it provides a respite opportunity for their loved ones/caregivers. Members enjoy activities that encourage  independence,  social  interaction, fitness and gentle exercises, intellectual stimulation, music, crafts, games, and friendship.

■ Caregivers Support Group offers support to caregivers caring for their loved ones with Alzheimer's or Dementia, and is led by two facilitators who have completed a training program with the Alzheimer's Association.

■ Memory Cafe - a monthly gathering where those living with dementia and their care partners can enjoy a social event without stress and anxiety. It's an hour of music, socialization, and engagement and is supported in part by a generous grant from the Franklin Cultural Council, a local agency supported by the Mass Cultural Council, a state agency.

■ Education. Partnering with local resources such as the Alzheimer's Association and various Memory Care Operations, we provided educational opportunities such as Compassion Fatigue and Burnout, 10 Warning Signs, Normal Aging vs. Memory Loss, Various Forms of Dementia, and more.

Outreach/Social Service Coordination

The Senior Center provides assistance in obtaining housing, employment, home care services, tax abatements, long-term care placement, transportation, evictions, legal referrals, prescription drug programs, SNAP, fuel assistance, COVID-19 vaccine appointments, Mass Health, mental health, elder dental services, Disability and Supplemental Security Insurance, as well as assistance with low income and financial hardship referrals. Our Social Service Coordinators can assist Franklin's adult and disabled residents regardless of age, and can provide home visits to homebound residents.

The Senior Center's Vision and Hearing Support programs have been recognized at both state and national level. These programs provide support, information, referral, and training. Our vision program grant continues to allow our Senior Center to house a regional office for the Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (MABVI), where residents can meet with a MABVI professional for individual vision consultations. Weekly, the Senior Center provides both in-person and telephone programs for blind, low-vision, and homebound seniors. We, in collaboration with MABVI, provide a monthly adaptive technology class, support group, and low vision adjustment counseling.

The Community Intervention Team (CIT), partnering with the Franklin Fire Dept., continues to create greater coordination of community resources and services to assist Franklin residents who are high- risk. Currently 20 vital service groups throughout the town of Franklin are involved.

The Senior Center also offers a monthly legal clinic and the SHINE (Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Everyone) program, which provides assistance for Medicare/Medicaid and other health insurance needs. AARP was also able to provide free income tax preparation at the Center for 179 individuals this year, and Self Help Inc., processed over 460 applications for fuel assistance from residents, many of which were prepared by the Senior Center staff.

Nutrition and the Common Grounds Cafe

The Common Grounds Cafe, which is located inside the Center and offers  breakfast and lunch daily, continues to have much success. The Cafe offers freshly prepared, nutritious, and affordable meals. Along with our Full-Time Head Chef and Kitchen Manager, we also hired two part-time line cooks. The Cafe is open to all, and is a great way for newcomers to get acquainted with the Senior Center. Last year, we served over 11,180 meals at the Cafe. Monthly Parties. The Senior Center hosts monthly social events with live entertainment and a delicious 3-course meal. Themes have included: Luau, Tailgate, Illusions, Friendsgiving, April Showers. We are also extremely appreciative of the Franklin Police Department who provided and served a delicious Turkey Dinner in January, and the Franklin Fire Department, who cooked and served a fantastic Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner. 

So much going on, this is not the complete report. The full Senior Center report can be found in one PDF ->

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rYSQ9xwZ9tu6U5ND_G7EY3cdwwsjG2uM/view?usp=drive_link

The full Town of Franklin FY 2023 Annual Report can be found online

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/annual_report_2023_0.pdf

Annual Report Franklin Senior Center (COA): FY 2023 Report

Annual Report Of Department Of Planning And Community Development: FY 2023 Report

The Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD) maintains a professional staff that provides the Town of Franklin with a wide array of planning services. DPCD's mission is to plan and implement comprehensive policies and initiatives that work to fulfill the land use-related goals of the people of Franklin. We make every effort to maintain the character of the community while enhancing its economic, cultural and social vitality.

The DPCD's staffing reflects the diverse skills needed to complete the many activities and roles the Department participates. DPCD's activities and services include, but are not limited to comprehensive planning, economic development, subdivision plan, site plan and conservation plan review, open space and wetlands preservation, historic preservation, zoning by-law and subdivision regulation development, downtown revitalization, brownfields redevelopment, affordable housing, public transportation, transit oriented development, natural hazard mitigation and municipal vulnerability planning, and sustainable development including use of smart growth and low impact development concepts. The Department regularly identifies and sources funding for various community development projects and activities. DPCD balances its approach to these initiatives through long-term planning and public participation. For the last four fiscal years DPCD staff has also had responsibility of operating the Town's Passport office.

Support of Town Boards and Committees 

DPCD personnel provide staff support to several boards, commissions and committees, including the Planning Board, Conservation Commission, Design Review Commission, Technical Review Committee, the Municipal Affordable Housing Trust, and the Cultural District Committee. Approximately 60 to 65 percent of the Department's total staff hours are utilized on Planning Board and Conservation Commission related issues. Since the start of the COVID-19 Pandemic DPCD staff has needed to spend much more of available staff time on running public meetings; in efforts to ensure citizen engagement and comply with open meeting law regulations, meetings have been conducted remotely using the Zoom platform.

In addition, DPCD staff provides professional technical assistance to other public entities on an as needed basis, including Town Council, Zoning Board of Appeals, Town Council's Economic Development Sub-committee, and various ad hoc committees, including the Master Plan Update Committee and Open Space and Recreation Plan Update Committee.

 

Site Permitting and Guidance

DPCD is not a permit granting authority; its function during the permitting process is to integrate laws, regulations and plans with the Town's goals to ensure that the best interests of the Town and its residents are served. DPCD personnel organize and attend meetings, provide technical assistance, offer professional opinions, and guide developers, businesses and residents through the Town's various permitting processes.

Conservation and Natural Resource Protection 

DPCD provides support to the Conservation Commission, as provided by MGL Chapter 131, Section 40. Conservation and Natural Resource Protection Staff, specifically the Town's Conservation Agent, is responsible for speaking for the Conservation Commission when they are not present (see separate Conservation Commission Annual Report). Although not a permit authority, the Conservation Agent does have limited police powers to regulate activities previously approved by the  Conservation Commission, stop unauthorized activities, and promote and protect Franklin's natural resources, including its wetlands, streams, brooks, ponds, lakes and watersheds. In addition, Conservation staff provides administrative support and reviews applications being presented to the Conservation Commission, manages the Commission's peer review consultants, and provides professional support to other Town Boards and Departments.

During the 2023 fiscal year DPCD staff worked on various conservation and land use related projects, including continued implementation of the DelCarte Conservation Property Master Plan; this year work included coordination of the seventh year of pond treatments. A priority for DPCD's Conservation and Natural Resource Protection Staff during FY23 was working with the Conservation Commission and other organizations and staff to manage update of the Town's Open Space and Recreation Plan.

Comprehensive Planning and Zoning DPCD is responsible for traditional land-use related activities including updating the Town's plans, and amending and creating zoning bylaws. A description of zoning and land use issues worked on by DPCD during FY23 is summarized below.

Zoning Bylaw Amendments 

DPCD worked on several amendments to Franklin's Zoning Bylaw during FY23. Several years ago DPCD began a project to better define the Town's zoning districts by following parcel lines. Where parcels are within two or more zoning districts DPCD developed zoning map amendments to move Zoning District boundaries so each parcel is only in one zoning district, in most cases based on the current land use. During FY23 DPCD developed and Town Council approved Zoning Map Amendments 23-887 and 23-891, finally completing this multi-year Zoning Map update project. DPCD developed Zoning Map Amendment 23-899 that updates the Marijuana Use Overlay District map. The Amendment is expected to be approved by Town Council during the first quarter of FY24.

During FY22 DPCD worked on a planning/zoning study with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) to identify a vision for downtown and surrounding neighborhoods and make zoning changes that will unlock development potential and foster a vibrant, mixed-use neighborhood. The "Franklin For All” Project was a community-driven three phased process. During the last quarter of FY22 MAPC developed a final project report in the form of four project status memos and an Executive Summary. The Vision & Zoning Recommendations memo contained eleven recommendations that was used during FY23 by DPCD and the Town Council's Economic Development Sub-committee to begin Phase III of the Franklin For All Project, Rezoning. Several related Zoning Bylaw Amendments were developed during FY23, including:

Zoning Bylaw Amendment 22-889 made several small changes to the Zoning Bylaw's use regulations, including allowing multifamily housing in the Commercial I and General Residential V zoning districts By-Right, up to 1 unit per 2,250 SF of lot area. The amendment also added multifamily with Three Housing Units to the use regulations.

Zoning Bylaw Amendment 22-890 added a new section to the Town's Zoning Bylaw, §185-51 Inclusionary Zoning. Multifamily developments with 10 or more housing units are now required to have at least ten percent of the housing units as affordable.

Zoning Bylaw Amendments 23-894, 23-895, and 23- 896 added a definition for Accessory Dwelling Units and related regulation to the Town's Zoning Bylaw.

DPCD developed Zoning Bylaw Amendment 23- 898R that makes two small changes to the Zoning Bylaw's dimensional regulations including increasing the maximum percent of impervious lot coverage in the General Residential V Zoning District. The bylaw amendment is expected to be approved by Town Council during the first quarter of FY24.

Additional zoning bylaw amendments are being developed including adding a 40R Smart Growth Overlay Zoning District, which will be presented to the Town in the first half of FY24.

During the last half of FY23 DPCD staff took the first steps towards updating the Town of Franklin's 2013 Master Plan. DPCD staff provide administrative and technical support to the Master Plan Committee and its five subcommittees, as well as coordinate the efforts of the consultant team hired to develop an updated plan. The Master Plan update process will continue through FY24 and hopefully be completed by the summer of 2024.

U S Passport Application Acceptance Office

The U.S. Department of State designated the Town of Franklin as an official U.S. Passport Application Acceptance Facility over 20 years ago. For the last several years DPCD has managed the Town's Passport Application Acceptance Office, which is located on the first floor of the Municipal Building. The Passport Application Acceptance Office is open three days per week (by appointment only) to assist residents of Franklin and surrounding communities with passport applications. During FY23 Passport Office personnel reviewed/accepted DS-11 Passport applications for 785 applicants, and took 550 passport photos. Applicants utilizing the Town's Passport Application Acceptance Office services were hoping to travel to over 50 countries.

Planning and Implementation of Community Development and Economic Development Projects 

Each year the DPCD works on many community and economic development initiatives. The Department develops strategies, proposes policies, bylaw changes and Town Council resolutions, manages projects, and seeks grants in efforts to balance Franklin's community livability with its economic viability. DPCD encourages responsible community development that meets the goals and objectives of the Town's various planning documents, and the State's Sustainable Development and Smart Growth Principles. Some of DPCD's more important recently completed or ongoing projects and initiatives are summarized below.

Affordable Housing 

Since 2017 the Town of Franklin's most important affordable housing project has been the proposed 60-Unit Franklin Ridge Senior Housing project on Veterans Memorial Drive. DPCD has consistently worked with the Project Proponent, Town Administration, the Municipal Affordable Housing Trust, and professional staff from the Town's Engineering and Water/Sewer departments to move this important project forward. During FY23 DPCD took the lead, working with Town of Franklin's Engineering and Water and Sewer Department professional staff, to develop a FY23 Community One Stop for Growth grant proposal that would pay for construction of needed infrastructure improvements. In October 2022 the Town received notice it was being awarded a $3.2 million MassWorks grant for the Veterans Memorial Way and Franklin Ridge Infrastructure Project. Funds will pay for final design/engineering and construction of the extension to Veterans Memorial Way, including roadway, sidewalks and all required utilities, and a booster pumping station that is required to enhance water pressure and fire protection for the Franklin Ridge Senior Housing Project, as well as the existing Eaton Place affordable senior housing development, Bright Hill Subdivision, and two additional Municipal Affordable Housing Trust owned parcels. This infrastructure portion of the Franklin Ridge housing development work, which is being managed by the Town, will begin in July 2023 and is expected to be substantially complete in 18 to 24 months.

Regional Planning 

DPCD regularly attends meetings and works on various regional planning issues with a variety of regional organizations, including Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), the Southwest Advisory Planning Committee (SWAP Committee), and the I-495/MetroWest Corridor Partnership. Franklin's Town Planner Amy Love is currently very involved with regional planning issues as the Town's representative to the Metropolitan Area Planning Council, and the SWAP Committee. In addition, the DPCD occasionally supports the initiatives of other regional organizations including the Franklin Bellingham Rail Trail Committee, Friends of the SNETT, the MetroWest Tourism and Visitors Bureau, and the Charles River Watershed Association.

Downtown Revitalization 

For more than twenty years the Town has made revitalization of Downtown Franklin a major focus and has worked to improve the Downtown in a variety of ways. DPCD continues to work on projects related to implementation of the Franklin Center Plan, which was developed in 2002 and 2003 to provide Town officials with a vision and basic strategy for revitalization of Downtown Franklin. One important component of the Franklin Center Plan is Cultural Uses. The issue of Cultural Economic Development has been a focus for DPCD for many years, including providing assistance to the Town's Cultural District Committee in a variety of ways on a range of projects, including grant writing, grant management, and providing staff support in preparing for and running monthly meetings.

DPCD works regularly on a wide range of economic development projects and programs, and is one of DPCD's top priorities, second only to providing excellent administrative and technical assistance to the Town's boards, commissions and committees. Potential benefits to the Town from successful implementation of DPCD's business retainage and attraction initiatives are significant. Efforts focus on increasing the value of Franklin's commercial and industrial tax base, filling the Town's empty and underutilized industrially zoned buildings, and attracting  the  right mix of companies to the community. DPCD regularly communicates with realtors, property owners and businesses to make them aware of State and Federal technical assistance programs and financial resources that can be made available to further their development, and to raise awareness of DPCD as a resource for local businesses.

DPCD works regularly with Massachusetts Office of Business Development (MOBD), MassDevelopment and other agencies in efforts to attract the right mix of companies to the Town of Franklin's industrial and commercial areas.

At the end of FY22 DPCD met with a representative from MOBD and representatives of Plansee USA LLC to discuss Plansee's plans to expand their operations at 115 Constitution Boulevard. The company was researching State and Local incentives that may be available to manufacturers looking to make major investments in their facilities. Plansee representatives agreed the company would work to obtain Investment Tax Credits from the State, and a Tax Increment Financing agreement (TIF agreement) from the Town. On June 30, 2022 Plansee provided the Town with a letter of intent to seek development incentives through the Massachusetts Economic Development Incentive Program (EDIP), including a TIF agreement from the Town. DPCD worked with Plansee, MOBD and the Town Administrator during the first weeks of FY23 to assess the proposed expansion project, and develop a TIF agreement, which was approved on July 20, 2022 by Town Council approval of Resolution 22-44. In September 2022 the Massachusetts Economic Assistance Coordinating Council approved the ten year TIF, certified the company's economic development expansion project, and approved $125,000 in State investment tax credits. Plansee is a technological leader in high precision machining, and part of the company's expansion included a state-of-the-art Manufacturing Training Center, which opened later in the fiscal year.

DPCD will continue to undertake a wide range of community and economic development projects, programs, and planning initiatives that will keep the Town of Franklin's goals and objectives current and representative of residents' needs and desires. DPCD is proud of its accomplishments and welcomes public input on all of its efforts to improve the quality of life for the residents of Franklin.

Respectfully submitted,

Department of Planning & Community Development Staff.

The Dept of Planning & Community Development report can also be found in one PDF ->  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tIWf8cDeUFjhWHxYNgdS6f95en3KloEG/view?usp=drive_link

The full Town of Franklin FY 2023 Annual Report can be found online

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/annual_report_2023_0.pdf

Annual Report Of Department Of Planning And Community Development: FY 2023 Report

Annual Report Of The Recreation Department: FY 2023 Report

The Recreation Department is located at 275 Beaver Street, Franklin MA 02038. 

The Recreation Department offers Franklin residents a variety of programs and activities for youth and adults, as well as coordination of youth sports organizations field use and facility rental. The department operates and schedules activities for Beaver Pond (beach and turf field), Fletcher Field (baseball fields and courts), Dennis Pisani Softball Field, Henry "Ski" Faenza Playground (Nason Street Tot Lot), King Street Memorial Park, Dacey Community Field, and Meadowlark Lane complex. The department is also responsible for scheduling the use of all school athletic fields for our youth sports organizations. Our department works closely with the various town youth sports organizations and the Athletic Director Karrah Ellis to schedule all youth sports activities around the high school team practices and games. 

The Franklin Recreation Department had a great fiscal year and really expanded their program offerings and participation numbers. From July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023 we enrolled 6,635 participants. We have seen larger participation in our summer camp, street hockey, field hockey and pee wee baseball programs.

Recreation Programs Summer Camp

An eight week summer camp was held at King Street Memorial Field from June 27-August 19, 2022. The program hours were Monday-Friday from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm daily. Activities included: organized games, arts and crafts, water inflatables, sports, and weekly field trips. The 8 week camp featured camp shirt tie dye on Tuesdays, field trips on Wednesdays, a giant slip and slide/water slide every Tuesday and Thursday, and Pizza day Fridays. The Franklin Summer Camp Directors this year were Jonathan Geromini and Tim Shannon. The Franklin Summer Camp  staff  included:   Lily  DiGiacomo,  Ryan Angermeier, Jason D'Valentine, Sean Vinson, Derek Terwilliger, Alexis Halet, Benjamin Zia, Brendan Grace, Joey Simone, Tim O'Keefe, Katie Jones, Kendall Jones, Savannah Nosek, Kyle Palmieri, Norah MacCallum, and Jason D'Matteo.

Pre-Season Flag Football Camp led by flag football coordinator, Jack Geromini. The 3 day camp from 9:00 am-12:00 noon helped prepare players for the season with practice time and games.

Chilson Beach

Chilson Beach was open from June 18-August 20, 2022 with a swim at your own risk policy. No lifeguards were on duty. We did have gate guards on duty to check for residency as the beach remains Franklin residents only. The pond was tested weekly by RI Analytical for safe swimming. For information on Chilson Beach and our water testing results, please visit: http://www.franklinma.gov/recreation-department/pages/beaver-pond

At the above website, residents can check the water quality and E-coli levels as we run a water quality check every week to make sure it is safe for swimming.

On the turf field at Beaver Pond, we continue to host soccer, field hockey, flag football, and boy's lacrosse at the youth level. The turf field was used for the Franklin Recreation Department's NFL Flag football, Franklin Youth Soccer, and Franklin Youth Boys Lacrosse, as well as yoga for senior citizens, tai chi, boot camp, and many other recreational activities. At the High School level, we continue to host FHS girls field hockey and FHS Girls Soccer in the fall and FHS Boys Lacrosse in the spring. A portable recycled plastic walkway is on site for handicap accessibility to the water edge and playground area. The turf field was recently resurfaced in 2017.

Youth Basketball Program

The Youth Basketball program now involves over 1,000 children, 122 teams, 218 coaches, and utilizes every school gymnasium in town. The Recreation Department continued its basketball program to include High School aged kids in FY2023. The program has grown to offer this intramural basketball program for the Summer, and Winter seasons. This intramural program gives kids in grades 9-12 a chance to continue playing pick-up basketball on Monday, Tuesday and Saturday nights. The program utilizes school gyms at Horace Mann Middle School, Remington Elementary, J.F. Kennedy School, Keller Sullivan Middle School, Keller Sullivan School and Franklin High School gym. In FY 2023 the youth basketball program ran from November 12 -March 11 on Saturdays. The FYBL is divided into nine divisions: Kindergarten (co-ed), 1st & 2nd Grade Boys, 1st & 2nd Grade Girls, 3rd & 4th Grade Boys, 3rd-5th Grade Girls, 5th & 6th Grade Boys & 6th-8th Grade Girls, 7th & 8th Grade Boys, and High School

 

Intramural division. The K-4th grade leagues are non-competitive learning experiences for the children with the focus on fundamental basketball skills. Grades 5th-8th grade basketball leagues start to teach the kids different rules, zone defense, pressing, and traits of competitive basketball. Ten players are drafted to each team and games are played weekly on Saturdays.

Pee Wee Baseball

The Pee Wee Baseball program is an introductory baseball program for children ages 4-6 years old. It was created in 1999 by Recreation Director, Ryan Jette. Since then, the program has grown to over 280 kids in the spring and summer tee ball program. Taking his lifelong baseball coaching experience coupled with past employment with Major League Baseball International, Ryan created a beginners baseball program that teaches kids the proper techniques of hitting, fielding, base running and throwing. This year, our Pee Wee Baseball program was run by Program Coordinator, Sean Fitzpatrick. We also ran a summer pee wee league for 6 year olds that was popular.

Track and Field

The Recreation Department's track and field program numbers have increased drastically. On top of offering our annual Winter Track and field program to over 100 athletes ranging from Kindergarten to Eighth grade, we are now offering Spring, Fall and Winter track programs. These running programs are coached by Stacey Federico and she also receives help from High School track athletes.

NFL Flag Football

The Recreation Department teamed up with the NFL to bring this non-contact flag football league to kids aged 6-14 years old. 383 kids signed up to play each Tuesday & Thursday evening at the Beaver Pond Turf Field. Reversible NFL game jerseys, playbooks, belt/flag setup and access to the NFL Kids website gives kids the opportunity to follow their favorite player or team. Players learned the fundamentals of throwing, catching, running and teamwork. This program continues to be one of the best programs the Recreation Department runs and it is because of our wonderful program coordinator, Jack Geromini who has been supervising this program for 20 years.

 

Girls Lacrosse

In FY 2023, our 8 teams participated in the Founders League. This league provided excellent competition for our growing players. There were 2 teams at the 1st-2nd grade division. There were 2 teams at the 3rd & 4th Grade division. There were 2 teams at the 5th & 6th Grade level. And there were 2 teams at the 7th & 8th Grade level. All levels play in 8 regular season games. Franklin Girls Lacrosse is one of the largest girls' lacrosse programs in the area.

NHL Street Hockey

This summer, our street hockey program was very popular with over 125 kids and 12 NHL teams represented. We hold a skills clinic for the first four sessions to evaluate the player skills. Then, we break them up into equal teams so that games will be fair and fun for all. Teams play twice a week, Monday and Wednesday 5:00pm-8:00pm. Jack Geromini is the program coordinator with the help of FHS hockey team players. Our Street Hockey program participated at the beautiful Fletcher Field rink located at 51 Peck Street.

Girls Field Hockey

Franklin Recreation offers girls youth field hockey in many formats throughout the year. The fall season runs from the end of August-end of October.. Our Recreation Department actually runs the Commonwealth Field Hockey League with just under 100 teams from all over Massachusetts. Kim Carney, our Program Coordinator organizes the entire league and spends countless hours formulating schedules, rosters, website and coordinating officials for the games. The Kindergarten developmental division is an in-house program featuring practice sessions and some in-house small-sided games. The1st & 2nd grade, 3rd & 4th grade, 5th & 6th and the 7th & 8th grade teams will play in the Commonwealth League with 8 games vs. surrounding towns. 147 girls comprise nine teams from Franklin in the fall. Franklin Recreation also runs the entire league for over 28 towns and 110 teams from around the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. We manage the website, create the schedule, organize officials and oversee all the entire league.

The full Recreation Department report can be found in one PDF ->

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1t1fuocQeWiZED08xPG7pQBus__pmY2HO/view?usp=drive_link

The full Town of Franklin FY 2023 Annual Report can be found online

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/annual_report_2023_0.pdf

Annual Report Of The Recreation Department: FY 2023 Report