Joint Budget Subcmte hears of shortfall in new growth, hears update on School Budget, plans next session (video)

The Joint Budget Subcommittee met on Wednesday, Oct 11, 2023 as scheduled. The first ten minutes of the meeting were shared via Zoom, then there was an approx. 10 minute break and the meeting resumed also being broadcast via cable and live streamed to YouTube. 

The 'missing' video was recorded via Zoom and likely will be available later. The audio was captured by Franklin Matters includes the complete meeting and will be shared in a day or so.

Quick recap:

• Town Administrator Jamie Hellen provided a brief update on FY 24, change in new growth coming, reduction of $250K, implications remain TBD
• Schools updated some of their numbers, starting to plan for FY 25, to include the 4 years after, due approx.. Mar/Apr; looking into comparable communities (i.e. Hockomock League)
• Finance Committee meeting Nov 8, Town Council meeting Nov 15, Tax rate hearing set for Tuesday, Nov 21 (Yes, note it is a Tuesday!)
• Next Joint Budget Subcmte session in Jan 2024 (TBD)

video link ->  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3sqZhpIT9Q

Meeting agenda -> 

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/joint_budget_subcommitee_agenda_-_oct_11_2023.pdf

Photo album capturing some of the School presentation

https://photos.app.goo.gl/v1qW8nmPYUQTcLgm8

My notes captured via Twitter and collected in one PDF

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YHP7KFAXd6DDwtAKGLIUwnEFOX_qFte7/view?usp=drive_link

one of the FPS slides used for the budget update

Did you hear Talk Talk Boom's episode with Clay Rice Thompson? (video)

In this episode, Raye Lynn Mercer, the founder and director of Franklin School for the Performing Arts and Franklin Performing Arts Company, chats with Broadway star Clay Rice Thomson, who's currently starring in Moulin Rouge on Broadway. 

He has performed in shows such as Newsies, Matilda, King Kong, and Moulin Rouge. They talk about Clay’s experience from his Broadway debut in Newsies, his experience working with different directors and choreographers, his advice for aspiring performers, and his involvement with the Franklin School for the Performing Arts. 

Recorded at FPAC’s THE BLACK BOX theater in Franklin, MA.

Video link -> https://youtu.be/nIdqzYNsvpE?si=uZXZ6LcCm69iT47W

Franklin School Committee hears and approves of the school improvement plans from all the schools in the District (video)

The Franklin School Committee met as scheduled on Tuesday evening Sep 26, 2023 in the Council Chambers. 6 members participated (one absent (Charles)).

Brief recap

• The meeting focused on the next level of the District Improvement Plan which was introduced in the prior meeting. Administrators from the High school and middle schools, then the elementary schools presented how their goals are tied and support the overall goals
• As revealed during the presentations and follow on clarification, the goals are intended to be consistent across the district. The goals focus on the key efforts underway and refining within them, for example in social emotional learning (SEL)
• During the discussion the cost of the multi-tiered levels of support was raised, and the answer was impactful - "What is the cost of not providing it (such support)?"
• As the improvement plans came up for a vote to approve, the vote passed 6-0 on the plans as modified during the discussion (minor adjustment to a piece of the elementary section)
• ACCEPT Quarterly Report ->   https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/accept_quarterly_report.pdf
  BICO Quarterly Report ->   https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/bico_quarterly_report.pdf

Franklin TV video is available for replay on YouTube ->  https://www.youtube.com/live/RwHxEKRPG_U?si=ikdT_jsy-806Ugn1

Agenda doc ->   https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/scagenda_9-26-23.pdf

Franklin, MA: School Committee - Meeting Agenda - Sep 26, 2023 at 7 PM

The Comcast Franklin TV Channels are Changing - Aug 29, 2023

A new P/E/G channel lineup for Comcast viewers.

by Pete Fasciano, Executive Director 08/27/2023

On Tuesday August 29 Comcast will change our P/E/G channels lineup. Only Comcast customers are affected. Verizon and YouTube streams are not affected. This is a technical change that Comcast is making. They are moving our programs to TV channels that are being vacated by other services.

P/E/G is a shorthand acronym for our three local cable TV channels:

Our Public Access channel (on Comcast 6) offers full production support for local TV programs created by your Franklin friends and neighbors (or perhaps you).

Our Educational channel (on Comcast 8) covers as many school sports and student events as we can fit into our busy production schedule. Many are carried live.

Our Government channel (on Comcast 9) covers Council, Committee and Board meetings each week from our two TV control facilities in the Municipal Building.

Comcast Franklin TV Channels

Again, our local P/E/G programming, normally on Comcast 8/96/11, will move to Comcast 6/8/9, on Tuesday, August 29th. Verizon channels 26/28/29 and our YouTube streams are not affected.

While there may be a bit of confusion through September, the channel reassignments place our local channels squarely within the Boston area TV station lineup. These changes will likely prove to be beneficial for Comcast customers (and for us) in the long run.

As we so often say on TV – Stay tuned. 

And – as always –

Thank you for listening to wfpr●fm. 

And, thank you for watching.

Get this week's program guide for Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) online  http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf   

Watch Listen Read all things that matter in Franklin MA

Economic Development Subcommittee agrees to proposal on zoning change for 2 lots from Residential to Business (video)

The Economic Development Subcommittee met as scheduled on August 23, 2023 at 5:30 PM. All four members were present for the brief discussion around the proposal to change the zoning of 2 lots on King St near Fire Station 2 from residential to business. 

A few questions to clarify the matter considering the process and kind of business operation to be allowed were asked. These more likely to be better understood/considered during the formal hearing process assuming the measure continues to get referred by the Town Council to the Planning Board. The Planning Board will review and make their recommendation back to the Council which in turn holds their own public hearings before voting on it.

One of the nuances on the timeline, by starting now, it could get completed (i.e. a final decision by the Council) before the November election, at which point if it was still in limbo, it would need to start all over.

The measure was approved by 4-0 to bring to the Town Council at the next meeting (Sep 6).

map showing location of the 2 lots in question on King St

You may access the agenda and links for this meeting here: https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/edc_agenda_aug_23_2023.pdf

Shared from ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/home/news/economic-development-subcommittee-meeting-august-23rd-2023 

My notes captured via Twitter during the meeting can be found in one PDF ->   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eVFLdGt46ZwOiBLGURB-X6aeax6QRdU3/view?usp=drive_link

Franklin TV video replay -> https://www.youtube.com/live/oqw7ereD3uI

Panther TV: Principal Hanna holds round table with FHS Class Presidents (video)

Mr. Hanna filmed a roundtable discussion with our three class presidents. 

Watch it here: https://t.co/gtFpYp6755

Shared from PantherTV -> https://twitter.com/fhspanthertv/status/1693372552037515672

Watch "When Hate Tried a Small Town" on YouTube

How Scituate responded to the hate incident in July. What incident? "Let's continue to put love out there"

Video link -> https://youtu.be/_30QAaYDqIY

Watch "Life on Earth - So Amazing! - NYC Labor Chorus sings Hallelujah, with new words to celebrate Earth" on YouTube

Earth Movie Theater presents: Life on Earth - So Amazing! Yes, we live on a marvelous planet. These views from above align perfectly with the Hallelujah Chorus from Handel's Messiah, with words adapted by Jeff Vogel and the NY City Labor Chorus. A glorious combination of Earth and music. ============== Earth Movie Theater – Watch Earth from space. . .and listen to joyous music. Astronauts on ISS take photos of Earth, that we convert into movies and combine with world-class music: guitar improv, Bach in Space, classical music, jazz and more. Created by Association of Space Explorers, TERC and Windows on Earth, in glorious 4K and high-quality audio, based on photos from NASA, Crew Earth Observation (CEO) and the International Space Station (ISS). These Astronaut favorite movies are great entertainment, and for Earth science and music education. Explore Earth from Space and experience the Overview Effect. See all the continents: Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Europe, Australia and the edge of Antarctica. See cities at night, clouds, islands and Aurora. New movies released about weekly. Please subscribe! #EarthMovieTheater For more visit: EarthMovieTheater.org

Video link ->  https://youtu.be/VqLOBz8UIX4

School Committee hears of summer learning, approves MOU with Cafeteria workers (audio)

FM #1036 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1036 in the series. 

The Franklin (MA) School Committee met on Tuesday, August 8, 2023 as scheduled.  Five members were present (2 absent). The 5 provided quorum to enable official business. They did break for an Executive Session, and returned to open meeting to authorize a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the cafeteria workers “as discussed" (in the executive session) before closing the session. 

Let’s listen to the School Committee meeting of August 8. The time they left the room for their Executive Session was shortened for airplay and replaced by a brief audio bit. The total meeting audio runs about 49 minutes.

Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1036-franklin-ma-school-committee-mtg-08-08-23

--------------

School Committee page -> https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-committee 

Franklin TV Video link -> https://www.youtube.com/live/iSxi_lTYFe4

You can find the full agenda doc

https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/scagenda_8-8-23.pdf

My notes captured via Twitter can be found in one PDF ->   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QjbZCZ5vs2CHatsKM6MEUOBGdNiTFRs5/view?usp=drive_link

The Superintendent’s report and presentation are supposed to be posted to the packet folder the day after the meeting. As we go to post this, they are not yet public.  https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-committee/pages/august-8-2023-school-committee-meeting-packet 

--------------

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial. 

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

 

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

 

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

------------------

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

an update on summer learning was shared

"In our darkest hour, hope lingers here"

The chorus is helpful....

"I will not hate, and I will not fear

In our darkest hour, hope lingers here"

from LOW LILY "Hope Lingers On" [Official Music Video]" on YouTube

Video link -> https://youtu.be/lv9R60CSQ54

Low Lily web page -> https://www.lowlily.com/

"In our darkest hour, hope lingers here"

How are boat wakes related to duck wakes? It is explained via math

"If you look at the wake behind a duck, or a kayak, or a ship, you might notice two things: first, it’s a feathery, rippled pattern, and second, that pattern looks the same regardless of whether it’s made by a duck, kayak, or ship— even though they’re all moving at different speeds and the waves are different sizes. 

How is this possible? Minutephysics digs into the Kelvin wake pattern."

The 4+ minute video explains the math ->  https://ed.ted.com/best_of_web/kEQUGWqB?s=03#review

How are boat wakes related to duck wakes?

Scan these QR Codes to scan to get to each of the YouTube channels for Franklin TV

All access -> Franklin, MA All-Access TV - YouTube https://bit.ly/3JURLCl 

Pride TV ->  Franklin Pride TV - YouTube  https://bit.ly/3JTQhYY 

Town hall -> FRANKLIN TOWN HALL TV - YouTube  http://bit.ly/43lBwVE 

Or go to Franklin.tv and click on the individual channel image ->

Franklin.tv

"We gathered on the site of the great battle of our Civil War in order to prevent another one"

Via Braver Angels 

"On July 5, 2023—160 years after the Battle of Gettysburg—the unthinkable happened.

We came to @Gettysburg to launch a movement, bringing together 650 conservatives and liberals on equal terms to clarify differences, find common ground where it exists, and strengthen our nation.

It was hard to pull off.

How do you bring people of opposing viewpoints together during such an intense time of division?

We leaned on a small, scrappy staff and a dedicated group of volunteers who put everything they had into making the convention happen.

And then, it did."

Read the full thread in this PDF ->   https://drive.google.com/file/d/188dE76N8YydAEV743jbqwyZ-aDyTAgwb/view?usp=drive_link

View the YouTube playlist of the convention that gathered 600 folks in Gettysburg College this July 2023 -> https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKRBV_e51mrpjB5Dfc6mQWqR4eZxvteDY

witf.org, the public news service for 17 communities in Central PA provides some video of some of the conventions goers. ->    https://www.witf.org/2023/07/14/hundreds-gather-at-gettysburg-college-to-bridge-political-divides-through-constructive-conversations/

For more about Braver Angels, the group that organized this event ->    https://braverangels.org/our-mission/

"We were led by our two co-Chairs, Erica Manuel (

@ericut

), CEO & Executive Director of

@InstLocGov

and Wilk Wilkinson (

@wilksopinion

), host of

@DeratetheHate

podcast"

Master Plan Update Committee gets update on Open Mtg law compliance (video)

The master Plan Update Committee met in the 3rd floor training room on Wednesday, June 28, 2023. The room was newly outfitted to broadcast via Zoom, live stream to YouTube and to both cable channels (Comcast & Verizon).

Brief recap:

• Attorney Mark Cerel provides some background and insights in how to operate safely within the Open Meeting law. Nuances around quorum of the committee as a whole (7) and of the subcommittees (2 or 4), and what could happen if members of the main committee attend a subcommittee meeting they are not part of (watch & listen = ok; vs. actively participate = problematic).
• Subcommittees announced (not yet posted to Committee page nor part of agenda doc)
• discussion around the mission statement, potential for revision, send comments to Chair by July 19 for compilation and review at next meeting July 26
• discussion around draft timeline to be reviewed next time along with a draft outline for public engagement

Agenda link https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/master_plan_agenda_-_june_28th_2023.pdf 

My notes captured via Twitter during the meeting can be found in one PDF -> 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1y533UJVzT9oQz5gNym4dvb9DtwIRBvOE/view?usp=drive_link

Video link -> https://www.youtube.com/live/uLHDkS1FTRQ

Master Plan Update Committee met June 28, 2023 beginning at 6:42 PM

Making Sense of Climate #27 - Dave helps us understand how energize Franklin works! (video)

This is a special session of the radio show sharing my conversation with Ted McIntyre, Franklin resident and climate activist via the Zoom conference bridge Thursday, April 20, 2023.

We are joined by Dave Rittenhouse who helps us walk through the features of the new Energize Franklin webpage:  www.energizefranklin.org/

This discussion continues our journey understanding the MA roadmap toward net zero and while it helps me “make sense of climate”, we hope it helps with your understanding as well. 

If you have climate questions or Franklin specific climate questions, send them in and we’ll try to answer them in a future session.  

Video link -> https://youtu.be/myUzRaFXpsI

Making Sense of Climate #27 - Dave helps us understand how energize Franklin works! (video)

School Committee agonizes over budget cuts, hears an update from Oak St and about the middle school school civics program (video)

The Franklin School Committee met on Tuesday, June 13 for their penultimate session for this school year. The Franklin TV video recording is available for replay.

Video link -> https://www.youtube.com/live/EVNd_SfjvbY?feature=share

Brief recap:

• Moment of silence to recognize the tragic passing of an FHS graduating senior
• During the Superintendent's Report, 2 highlights were shared. (1) a quick overview of the Spanish trip during Spring break. (2) recognition of three FHS outdoor track athletes for their accomplishments at the Meet of Champions
• Recognition of Michelle Kingsland Smith retiring for the 2nd time this year with 50 years of education experience. Recognition of Miriam Goodman's retirement as Business Administrator
• Middle school civics program provided an update on the process across the three schools and a student presentation from Horace Mann.
• The Oak St Elementary team provided and interactive question and answer update on the happenings and progress within the school this year
• The additional funds from the Town saves some positions but there are still 26.7 positions removed from the budget, 16 of which were enrollment related. The Committee agonized over the cuts, appreciating the effort and thought that went into trying to minimize the impacts of these. One member said as hard as it is this year, we'll look back to this budget next year as a good one. And that is not something to look forward to

Meeting packet folder ->  https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/june-13-2023-school-committee-meeting-packet

Meeting agenda doc (includes remote participation info) ->   https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/scagenda_6-13-23.pdf

Franklin, MA: School Committee Meeting Agenda for June 13, 2023

Town Council recognizes Electric Youth, approves annual appointments, authorizes additional funds for School budget (video)

The Town Council met as scheduled on Wednesday, June 7 and in a session lasting just over 3 hours, they covered and accomplished a bunch.

Quick recap:

Recognition

• Electric Youth 2023 were recognized with a proclamation and provided  song for the Council (and audience). They have a pair of 'Bob Voyage' concerts June 16 & 17 at THE BLACK BOX and then leave on their European tour the week after

Appointments

• The Annual Reappointments of Boards and Committees was approved, there are a few positions still open, some are in process of being filled, some are still looking for candidates
• Davis-Thayer Building Reuse Advisory Committee recommendations by year end

Public hearings

License corporate formalities
Zoning Bylaw for Accessory Dwelling units

• The set of zoning bylaws was moved to a second reading with modification to one of the three measures in the set of three. There are three as one covers the bylaw language, one covers the definition, and one covers the use table. The use table received the modification to revert the language to what originated from the EDC Plus committee. 

  The Town Council in their actions during the April 12, 2023 meeting modified the use table to expand coverage for 'by right' for additional residential zones. The Planning Board did not like the expansion and in turn recommended the 'original' language over the modified. The Town Council after some discussion agreed to the original language and moved that to second reading

Pair of resolutions to adjust the FY 2024 Budget to provide an additional $736K to the schools

Resolution 23-39: FY2024 Budget Adjustment 

Resolution 23-40: MECC Stabilization Account Transfer to MECC Appropriation FY24 

Folks may recall that at the end of the Finance Committee budget hearings and repeated at the end of the Town Council budget hearings, Town Administrator laid out the plan for providing additional funding for the school budget. The MA Senate passed their version of the State FY 2024 which set into play this "plan b" earlier than Jamie had outlined. The two resolutions passed unanimously. The additional funds restore 8 of the 30 positions targeted to balance the budget. Of the 22 that remain to be cut, some number (I recall it was 16) were going to be cut anyway as the result of declining enrollment. Stay tuned for the School Committee meeting scheduled for June 13 where they will approve the 'final' budget and confirm the number affected

Interesting to note that while most if not all of the Town departments that gave up the funds to enable this transfer were present, only Dave McNeill, the School Committee Budget Subcmte Chair spoke to acknowledge the transfer to increase the school budget and express appreciation for this action. If other members of the School Committee were present virtually, they remained quiet. (They at least were not in the Council Chambers.) 

Franklin TV video link ->  https://www.youtube.com/live/eejInS90WgM?feature=share

Council agenda and documents released for the meeting ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/town_council_agenda_-_june_7_2023.pdf

My notes in this ThreadReader PDF -> 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hc2egjV3zKOqJmIziMKApdR4z24gNMya/view?usp=drive_link

Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda for June 7, 2023 

For the poets and friends of poetry among us

via US Poet Laureate Ada Limon: 

"A week from today (June 1), I’ll be unveiling my poem that will be sent to the second moon of Jupiter, engraved on the spacecraft called the Europa Clipper. Come join us at the Library of Congress! Tickets are still available! The link is in the bio. I’m not going to lie, I’m a little anxious!"

Link to the event info (includes live stream to YouTube) ->   https://www.loc.gov/item/event-408467/live-at-the-library-nasa-and-us-poet-laureate-ada-limon-unveil-her-poem-for-europa/2023-06-01/

Direct link to YouTube Live Stream -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8UC3eQIQMw

Shared from ->  https://www.instagram.com/p/CsrhWravB13/

For the poets and friends of poetry among us

The Guardian: "US food pesticides contaminated with toxic ‘forever chemicals’ testing finds"

We heard at the Town Council meeting last week that PFAS regulations will require additional cost to mitigate yet, PFAS is still prevalent and not yet stopped being produced. This article helps to confirm the extensive spread of PFAS in our environment.

"Some of the United States’ most widely used food pesticides are contaminated with “potentially dangerous” levels of toxic PFAS “forever chemicals”, new testing of the products finds.

The Environmental Protection Agency has previously been silent on PFAS in food pesticides, even as it found the chemicals in non-food crop products. The potential for millions of acres of contaminated food cropland demands swifter and stronger regulatory action, the paper’s authors say.

“I can’t imagine anything that could make these products any more dangerous than they already are, but apparently my imagination isn’t big enough,” said Nathan Donley, environmental health science director at the Center for Biological Diversity (CBD), which co-authored the study. “The EPA has to take control of this situation and remove pesticide products that are contaminated with these extremely dangerous, persistent chemicals.”

Continue reading online (subscription maybe required) ->

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/may/07/food-pesticides-toxic-forever-chemicals-pfas

PFAS at the Town Council meeting skip to 1:51:00 of the recording to view

https://www.youtube.com/live/mhRDmkdk7og?feature=share

Spraying pesticide at grape vineyard in the San Joaquin Valley, California. Photograph: Education Images/UIG/Getty Images