This Chalkboard Chat recaps the School Cmte MASC Workshop & the Nov 28 School Cmte Mtg (audio)

FM #1113 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1113 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my recorded conversation with Franklin School Committee Chair Dave Callaghan. We had our conversation in the Franklin TV & Public Radio studio on Monday, December 4, 2023. 

Two key topics for this conversation were recapping the MASC Workshop on Monday (11/27/23), and then the School Committee meeting on Tuesday (11/28/23). 

The recording runs about 28 minutes so let’s listen to my “chalkboard chat” with School Committee Chair Dave Callaghan. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1113-chalkboard-chat-with-dave-callaghan-12-04-23

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Contact info for Dave Callaghan  callaghand@franklinps.net 

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

MASC Presentation document -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iS3oQAk96xVk-SKYLo8iAgashzFASHvT/view?usp=drive_link 

Audio recording of the workshop ->  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/11/school-committee-participates-in-masc.html 

11/28/23 meeting Agenda doc  ->  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/11/franklin-ma-school-committee-agenda-for_0289625050.html   

Meeting packet folder -> https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/november-28-2023-school-committee-meeting-packet 

Franklin TV video for replay ->  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2J9NdQCWqlM

My notes captured during the meeting via Twitter can be found in one PDF -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dKDfMFeUK43g70Li6XbLlhdVssSKLZAv/view?usp=drive_link

The “Chalkboard Chat” image was the result of a joint collaboration with Mickayla Callaghan. Thank you!

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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/ or www.franklin.news/

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!

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

This Chalkboard Chat recaps the School Cmte MASC Workshop & the Nov 28 School Cmte Mtg (audio)

Franklin, MA: Finance Committee - Agenda for meeting Dec 13, 2023

Finance Committee Meeting

Agenda & Meeting Packet

Wednesday, December 13, 2023 at 7:00 PM

Meeting will be held at the Municipal Building

2nd floor, Council Chambers

355 East Central Street

Agenda

1. Call to Order

2. Public Comment

3. State budget update

a. FY23 Supplemental Budget and FY24 budget revenue projections

4. Future Agenda Items & 2024 Meeting Schedule

5. The Bill Dowd “Deep Dive” Series

a. Public Property & Building, aka “the Facilities Department”

i. FY24 Public Property & Buildings Budget

ii. List of Town Owned Buildings

iii. December 2020 Kaestle Boos study on school facilities current conditions

iv. Franklin School Department Redistricting Analysis

v. Comprehensive School Facilities Planning Subcommittee

vi. 10-year Capital Facilities Plan

b. Grants discussion

i. Ten-year municipal grants history

ii. Ten-year school grants history

6. Recurring Business:

a. Approval of Minutes

i. September 13, 2023

ii. November 08, 2023

b. Stabilization Account Balance

7. Adjourn

The agenda doc includes supporting materials and covers 38 pages (also includes remote participation info) https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/dec_13_2023_fin_com_agenda.pdf

Franklin, MA: Finance Committee - Agenda for meeting Dec 13, 2023

Finance Committee hears about adjustments to the FY 2024 budget and gives approval (audio)

FM #1095 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1095 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the Finance Committee meeting held on Wednesday, November 8, 2023. 

They met as scheduled to review the adjustments to the FY 2024 budget. 

These adjustments are a checkpoint in the full budget process. Some assumptions made early in the process (i.e. for State funds) can now be adjusted to be more real as the State budget, still in development at the time Franklin's was developed, is now finalized. Well, almost but that is another item for another day.

These adjustments are made each year before the Town Council tax classification hearing sets the rate later this month (Tues, Nov 21). 

The Town Administrator's memo outlined the adjustments to reduce new growth, local receipts, and among other items add $1,000 to the Disability Commission to enable the funding for the annual Disability Expo. For some unknown reason, they previously did not have a budget at all ->   https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/11/fiscal-year-2024-fy24-budget-adjustment.html

One of the adjustments made was the removal of the communications position jointly funded between Town and School budgets. At a time when the Town (overall) could really use a central point to handle communications (the past several years have shown the benefits of that position)), they currently are operating without one. What wasn't mentioned in the meeting is that there are plans to hire an outside firm to provide such services at a savings vs. the current position. Stay tuned to this topic.

The meeting recording runs about 46 minutes, so let’s listen to the Finance Committee meeting Nov 8, 2023.

Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1095-franklin-ma-finance-cmte-mtg-11-08-23

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Agenda ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/nov_8_fin_com_agenda.pdf

Watch the Franklin TV video available for replay (less than 50 minutes) -> 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWsbriG2ngw (meeting begins approx. 2 minutes into the video)

Link to Finance Committee => https://www.franklinma.gov/finance-committee 

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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/ or www.franklin.news/

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"

Finance Committee get to review the FY 24 budget changes on Wednesday, Nov 8 at 7 PM

Finance Committee hears about adjustments to the FY 2024 budget and gives approval

The Franklin (MA) Finance Committee met as scheduled on Wednesday, November 8 to review the adjustments to the FY 2024 budget. Agenda ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/nov_8_fin_com_agenda.pdf

These adjustments are a check point in the full budget process. Some assumptions made early in the process (i.e. for State funds) can now be adjusted to be more real as the State budget, still in development at the time Franklin's was developed, is now finalized. Well, almost but that is another item for another day.

These adjustments are made each year before the Town Council tax classification hearing sets the rate later this month (Tues, Nov 21). 

The Town Administrator's memo outlined the adjustments to reduce new growth, local receipts, and among other items add $1,000 to the Disability Commission to enable the funding for the annual Disability Expo. For some unknown reason, they previously did not have a budget at all ->   https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/11/fiscal-year-2024-fy24-budget-adjustment.html

One of the adjustments made was the removal of the communications position jointly funded between Town and School budgets. At a time when the Town (overall) could really use a central point to handle communications (the past several years have shown the benefits of that position)), they currently are operating without one. What wasn't mentioned in the meeting is that there are plans to hire an outside firm to provide such services at a savings vs. the current position. Stay tuned to this topic.

Watch the Franklin TV video available for replay (less than 50 minutes) -> 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWsbriG2ngw (meeting begins approx. 2 minutes into the video)

Finance Committee get to review the FY 24 budget changes on Wednesday, Nov 8 at 7 PM

Finance Committee get to review the FY 24 budget changes on Wednesday, Nov 8 at 7 PM

Finance Committee Meeting

Agenda & Meeting Packet

Wednesday, November 8, 2023 - 7:00 PM

Meeting will be held at the Municipal Building

2nd floor, Council Chambers

355 East Central Street

Agenda

1. Call to Order

2. Public Comment

3. FY24 Budget Amendment

a. Town Administrator memo, revised budget document and backup materials  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/3a_fy_budget_amendment_materials_0_0.pdf

4. Future Agenda Items

5. Recurring Business:

a. Approval of Minutes - None scheduled

b. Stabilization Account Balance  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/stabilization_fund_balances_9-30-2023.pdf

6. Adjourn

The agenda doc also contains remote participation info ->

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/nov_8_fin_com_agenda.pdf

Finance Committee get to review the FY 24 budget changes on Wednesday, Nov 8 at 7 PM

Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Budget Adjustment details to be reviewed by Finance Committee Nov 8, 2023

To: Finance Committee

From: Jamie Hellen, Town Administrator

Amy Frigulietti, Deputy Town Administrator

Re: Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Budget Adjustment

We are requesting the Finance Committee support the amendment to the FY24 Town operating budget and recommend the changes to the full Town Council for their approval prior to setting the annual tax rate on November 21, 2023. This proposal amends the final budget approved in June 2023.

Five-Year Fiscal Forecast Update

We drafted a five-year forecast, with assumptions, for FY25-FY29. Please review the forecast that was presented at the August 2, 2023 Joint Budget Subcommittee (JBSC). At the October JBSC, we gave high level revenue trends throughout Quarter 1 of FY24. The next forecast will be in 2024.

Revenue Adjustments

The following is a summary of the proposed revenue adjustments to the FY24 operating budget. The total revenue downgrade figure is $310,491.

1. According to the Assessor’s final approval, the town will need to downgrade “New Growth” figures by

$158,380 due to less investment in personal and commercial property improvements. After a few record breaking New Growth years, it appears the economy is beginning to show signs of slowdown.

2. Cumulatively, Local Receipts are on target through Quarter 1 (9/30/23) but we are requesting a downgrade by $150,000 to reflect three trends:

a. Building fees have not met projections through September due to fewer overall permits, as well as the types of permits for smaller construction projects.

b. Hotel tax will likely slightly decline due to the Commonwealth’s lack of a firm commitment for the entire fiscal year in funding the 6% local option tax for the hotel temporarily housing migrant families through the state's Emergency Assistance Shelter Program. That said, the state has recently committed to paying the local tax for 90 day durations, per family, which is good news.

 

We are confident the Commonwealth with be working with cities and towns throughout the fiscal year to ensure we receive as much of our revenue projections as possible; and

c. A modest reduction in meals tax revenue to correspond with the loss of traditional hotel rooms.

3. State Aid, Assessments & Other Revenues should see an overall decrease of approximately $2,111 after the state local aid, education, county assessment, and state budget formulas settle out. Please note the Legislature has not finalized FY24 yet, with potential overrides of the Governor’s vetoes and a supplemental budget filed by Governor Healey pending.

Expense Adjustments - Decreases

The attached resolution depicts the changes within each departmental account on the voting document. A summary of proposed expense reductions are as follows:

1. Line item 123 - The Town Administrator’s personnel and expense budgets will be reduced $58,014. The total reflects the reduction in costs for the Marketing & Communications position for 8 months ($22,514), six months of unfilled Administrative Assistant positions ($26,500), and additional expenses that are not anticipated to materialize in the Administrator’s expense budget (sign lease $9,000). Please note the Marketing & Communications position was a joint position with the School Department, which reduced the financial obligation in the school budget as well. The benefits for that position was reduced in line item 910, as the town budget included the benefits for this position.

2. Line item 390 - Tri-County School will be reduced $100,553 due a decrease in Franklin students attending the school, thus our assessment was lower.

3. Line item 910 - Benefits to be reduced $148,257 due to fewer health insurance subscribers and an increase in employees on the high deductible plan.

Expense Adjustments - Increases

1. Create a Disability Commission line item and add $1,000 to the budget for expenses. As many of you know, the Commission has spearheaded an annual fair with vendors and activities. For some reason, the Commission has never had a line item in the budget. The Town should be funding expenses for the conference and have funds like all of the other boards and committees in town.

2. Add $5,000 to the Elections budget for a pilot to test a new voting tabulator machine. The Clerk hopes to test this out in the March primary to evaluate its effectiveness for the money.

Stormwater Adjustment-Decrease

As this is the 1st year with a Stormwater Enterprise Fund, we propose reducing the Stormwater budget by $200,000 and plugging the gap with County ARPA funds to ensure the Town can depict to DOR a solvent enterprise fund with a small and proper surplus at the close of the fiscal year.

Please let us know if you have any questions

This memo was shared from pages 2-3 from the FinCom meeting agenda doc which also contains remote participation info ->

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/nov_8_fin_com_agenda.pdf

Finance Committee get to review the FY 24 budget changes on Wednesday, Nov 8 at 7 PM

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

FM #1078 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1078 in the series. 

This session shares the Town of Franklin (MA) Joint Budget SubCommittee meeting held on Wednesday, October 11, 2023. The meeting was conducted in the Council Chambers. Remote participation was enabled for the public for this session. 

The Joint Budget Subcommittee is composed of the 4 members of the Town Council, 4 members of the Finance Committee and 3 members of the School Committee (to avoid a committee quorum for each of the respective bodies).

Chair - Tom Mercer, Brian Chandler, Cobi Frongillo, and Melanie Hamblen of the Town Council

George Conley, Nataly Riley, Nicole Corbosiero, and Lauren Nagel of the Finance Committee

David McNeill, David Callaghan, and Denise Spencer of the School Committee

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)

The show notes contain a link to the agenda, the Franklin TV meeting video, and to my notes.

The recording runs 75 minutes, so let’s listen to the Joint Budget Subcommittee meeting of October 11, 2023. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1078-franklin-ma-joint-budget-subcmte-mtg-10-11-23

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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 

Joint Budget Subcommittee page ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/joint-budget-subcommittee 

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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/  or www.franklin.news/

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"

one of the FPS slides used for the budget update