SAFE Coalition shares their growth during 2022

"We continue to hear that reaching out for support can be a more significant barrier than actively engaging in care - and we get that! 

PLEASE KNOW YOU ARE NOT ALONE. 

Every day community members, schools, police, fire, and groups in between call and email us with requests for information and support. 

We are here to listen, answer your questions, and offer support on your terms."

Shared from -> https://www.instagram.com/p/CsGytx6Lu6h/

More information about the SAFE Coalition -> https://www.safecoalitionma.org/

SAFE Coalition share their growth during 2022

Town of Franklin, MA: Finance Committee - Oct 26, 2022 - 7 PM

Finance Committee Meeting

Agenda & Meeting Packet

Wednesday, October 26, 2022 - 7:00 PM

Meeting will be held at the Municipal Building

2nd floor, Council Chambers

Agenda

1. Call to Order

2. Public Comment

3. Approval of Minutes: 9-28-22 & 10-18-22

4. The Bill Dowd “Deep Dive” Series:

a. Presentation: Assessing Department, Kevin Doyle & the Franklin Board of Assessors

5. Future Agenda Items

6. Adjourn

Please find the agenda and links for the October 26th, 2022 Finance Committee meeting posted here: https://t.co/nzAX525RCo 

Shared from Twitter -> https://t.co/yJj0iyvERL

Town of Franklin, MA: Finance Committee - Oct 26, 2022 - 7 PM

"FINDING THAT CONNECTION - neurons connecting to one another in a Petri dish" (video)

"So amazing! Psych students- check this out!! https://t.co/VpvEYNadEn"

"In this video, Dr. Lila Landowski shares footage of two neurons connecting in a dish. Here's what Lila had to say about the footage:

You’re watching two neurons that I saw under the microscope sensing one another and connecting.

There are 86 billion neurons in the brain - how do they know how to connect to other neurons or body parts when our bodies are developing?"

Direct link to video ->  https://youtu.be/Rvmvt7gscIM

Shared from Ms Gordo via Twitter: https://twitter.com/ms_gordo/status/1470020817291464707

Strong Towns Event @ THE BLACK BOX - 11/15/21 (audio)

FM #661 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 661 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the Strong Towns Town Hall event with Congressman Jake Auchincloss, State Rep Jeff Roy, Franklin Town Councilor Cobi Frongillo, and Charles Marohn from Strong Towns. 

The event was held at THE BLACK BOX and broadcast via Franklin TV and Zoom. 

After a round of opening remarks, there is a question and answer period with audience participation. Each question asker identifies themselves so you should be able to follow along.

 

The recording runs about 1  hour and 14 minutes, so let’s listen to the Strong Towns Event on Nov 15, 2021. Audio file -> https://player.captivate.fm/episode/9af1799e-c16d-4b73-8329-74515b343b2f

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

My notes from the session

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/11/recap-strong-towns-event-fostering.html 

More about Strong Towns can be found online -> https://www.strongtowns.org/

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

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"

 

FM #655 - Finance Committee Mtg - 11/10/21 (audio)

FM #655 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 655 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the Franklin, MA Finance Committee meeting held on Wednesday, November 10, 2021.

The meeting was conducted in a hybrid format: the seven Finance Committee members present were in the Municipal Building along with some of the public, other members of the public joined via conference bridge, all to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

The recording runs about 29 minutes.

Links to the meeting agenda and associated documents released for this meeting are included in the show notes. The link to my notes taken during the meeting is also provided.

Let’s listen to this segment of the Finance Committee meeting Nov 10, 2021

 

Audio file ->  https://player.captivate.fm/episode/c3c9189c-91ac-4510-856e-de5712479fc5

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

Finance Committee Agenda doc (including connection info) ->  

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/11/franklin-ma-finance-committee-agenda.html

 

My notes captured during the meeting -> 

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/11/recap-finance-committee-hears-of-fy.html

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

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"

 

FM #655 - Finance Committee Mtg - 11/10/21 (audio)

Recap: Finance Committee hears of FY 2022 overall budget reduction of $454K

Quick Recap:

• New growth had been forecasted to be $1,199,593 and is being revised down to be $1,105,000; the $94,593 less revenue is one piece of several moving parts of the budget

• The State numbers (Chapter 70, etc.) were finalized in August and now those numbers become real and update what had been expected when the budget was put together in Mar/Apr. The total net change to the bottom line is a decrease of over $400K. The Town side will absorb about $300K and the school budget will be reduced by $93K. The summary of how the decrease is absorbed can be found on page 12

• Host community agreements are not considered 'general revenue', they are targeted to be mitigations for the impact of the sale of such cannabis products that generate the agreements. They are forecast for a five year revenue period, currently the max allowed under MA general law. The host community agreement funds are therefore allocated to DPW, SAFE Coalition, and Police Department as outlined in the memo/draft resolution on page 13

----
As with most meetings in this pandemic period, I took my notes via Twitter. I participated in the meeting in the Council Chambers. 
 
The Twitter hashtag can be found online  #fincom1110
https://twitter.com/search?q=%23fincom1110&src=typeahead_click 
 
Agenda document -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/11/franklin-ma-finance-committee-agenda.html
 

• #fincom1110 meeting about to start agenda and connection info -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/11/franklin-ma-finance-committee-agenda.html
  
• Chair calls meeting to order with 7 members present #fincom1110
  
• Town Administrator Jamie Hellen speaks to the adjustments for FY 2022 as part of the annual budget process. Usually done about this time before the tax rate is set in late Nov/early Dec  https://franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/fin_com_agenda_nov_10_2021.pdf…  #finCom1110
  
• new growth amount to be reduced, use 10 year average, and things have changed since it was forecasted earlier this year #fincom1110 main item of note from memo, packet on page 2, see totals of new growth over last 10 years preparation of savings in good times, paves way
  
• "baring any unforeseen circumstances", everyone is seeing disruptions in supply chains; State revenues finalized after our budget was done, so the numbers are finalized at this time - page 7 in the packet show offsets on Charter school revenue vs. assessments #fincom1110
  
• pause for Qs on revenue sheet; none at this time -  narrative of memo that intros the doc explains these line item changes #fincom1110 Fire/Police changes due to unforeseen retirements and resulting new hire training/staffing items
  
• decrease to Schools also due to the lower revenue growth; Health Dept adjustment due to Health nurse starting later than anticipated, hence salary savings #fincom1110 health ins categories decreases reflect enrollment numbers vs. projections
  
• host community agreements are not 'general revenue', they are targeted to be mitigations for the impact of the sale of such; #fincom1110 memo on 13 outlines where the incoming funds would be used
  
• page 12 - outlines the total general operating budget adjustments #fincom1110 host agreements currently for a 5 year term;
  
• motion to approve general fund adjustments #fincom1110 seconded, passes 7-0 (Corbosiero and Keophanga absent)
  
• motion to approve resolution on host agreements, seconded, passes 7-0
• late receipt of bills from printing (performed during prior fiscal year) #fincom1110 (possible pandemic related problem, hoping it a one time problem) motion to approve, seconded, passes 7-0
  
• motion to adjourn, seconded, passes 7-0 #fincom1110
  
• stay tuned for Town Council meeting coming up at 7 #tc1110  #fincom1110

 
 Audio recording of meeting to be available in couple of days

 

summary of how the decrease is absorbed

Population changes for Franklin, MA from 2020 Census Data

"Like the rest of the nation, Massachusetts is getting more diverse, according to data released by the US Census Bureau on Thursday.

The map below shows how each town in Massachusetts has changed from the 2010 Census to the 2020 one. You can see the percent change in population since 2010, or explore each town’s demographic changes individually. The towns that shrunk the most are redder; those that grew are greener."

Continue reading the article online (subscription maybe required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/08/12/metro/new-census-data-see-how-each-mass-town-has-changed/

Related Boston Globe article ->  https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/08/12/metro/new-census-data-is-being-released-thursday-beginning-2021-redistricting-process-earnest/

Overall population growth has slowed and the community has gotten more diverse.

Population change for Franklin, MA from 2020 Census Data

Town of Franklin - budget growth and split between municipal and schools - FY 2012 to FY 2022

As part of the continuing series to prepare for the Finance Committee budget hearings (which begin next week) and the Town Council budget hearings (in May), check out the link to the details on the history of the budget year over year from FY 2012.

Appendix C1 - Historic Data: Budget Breakdown
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/appendix_c_historic_data_fy22.xlsx_-_budget_breakdown.pdf

The chart depicts the split between the municipal portion of the budget (police, fire, etc...) (orange color) and the school portion (both K-12 and others) (blue color) as well as showing the growth of the budget year by year.

municipal and school split over the FY 2012-FY2022 period

Prior posts

School budget, executive summary by School Superintendent Sara Ahern

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/04/franklin-public-schools-fy-2022-annual.html

Executive summary by Town Administrator Jamie Hellen
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/04/franklin-public-schools-fy-2022-annual.html

Link to Town of Franklin budget proposal for FY 2022
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/04/fy-2022-town-of-franklin-budget-proposal.html

 

"pandemic baby bust" and "broadband access... an equity issue"

"Signs are pointing to a sizable pandemic baby bust" 

"The Covid-19 pandemic has thrown the country into an economic recession and an unprecedented restructuring of our work and social lives. Early on, some likened the public health crisis to a blizzard, imagining that people would stay home, cozy up with their romantic partners and make babies.

These playful visions have given way to a more sobering reality: The pandemic’s serious disruption of people’s lives is likely to cause “missing births” — potentially a lot of them. Add these missing births to the country’s decade-long downward trend in annual births and we can expect consequential changes to our economy and society in the years to come. Unfortunately, there are no easy fixes."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/04/opinion/coronavirus-baby-bust.html

"broadband access... an equity issue"

"Newly confirmed US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said Thursday the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted significant gaps in broadband Internet access across the country, and vowed to take a “bold” approach to expand that service.

In her first television interview as commerce secretary, the former Rhode Island governor said on MSNBC that her first order of business is getting Americans back to work after a year where unemployment skyrocketed because of restrictions implemented to curb the virus.

“We need to go fast and we need to go big,” Raimondo said, referring to broadband access. She called it an equity issue."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/03/04/metro/raimondo-we-need-go-fast-we-need-go-big-expand-broadband-us/

Jeff Nutting's Letter to the Town Council - Housing Growth Summary

This was shared via Franklin Matters in October, 2016
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/10/jeff-nuttings-letter-to-town-council.html

It is also part of the agenda for the Town Council Meeting Jan 18, 2017.


"Lately, I have been approached by landowners/developers (L/D) seeking my opinion on whether the Town will provide a zoning change so they can develop their land into Condos, Apartments and Zone 7 (which allows 4 times the density of Rural Residential zoning). All the requests require a zoning change for the L/D. While a project may offer some benefit, it is the Town Council that needs to decide on zoning and the pace of development you want for Franklin.

The Town Council adopted an updated Master Plan in 2013 as a road map to continued improvements for the citizens of Franklin. The plan covered a wide range of topics many which the Council have embraced to date, most notably zoning changes, sidewalk construction, as well as open space /recreation issues.

Currently, the economy seems to be in good shape and the demand for housing in Franklin is higher than it has been in a long time. You will recall the tremendous growth of the 1990's and the various steps Town Council took to reign in the growth. They rezoned residential land to industrial land, adopted over-55 housing, bought open space when available, adopt the water and sewer extension bylaws, a growth control bylaw, the so-called circle bylaw, etc.  Further, the Council voted for an impact fee on new homes that was rejected by the Court. All the efforts to control development happened after the spike in housing production of the mid- 1990's and the fast growth created problems that we are still dealing with today. Housing starts continued in the early 2000's at a slower pace and then the recession of 2008 reduced development further.

In review, dwelling units created in the last five years by the Building Commissioner reports the following dwelling units:

• 2011 - 20 units
• 2012 - 57 units
• 2013 - 48 units
• 2014 - 47 units
• 2015 - 38 units

This does not count the two developments on King Street and East Central Street with a total of over 250 units for elderly citizens.

Since 2012, we are averaging about 48 units a year. This seems to be a reasonable and steady growth. Franklin is now at a crossroad again concerning proposed dwelling units. Currently, there are over 800 units in various stages of development.

Under Construction (Various Stages)

• Weston Woods - 40B Apartments - 280
• Lorraine Metcalf – Subdivision - 4
• Cooks Farm - Condos  - 55
• Lincoln Street - Subdivision - 9
• County Side Estates - Subdivision - 8
• Franklin Heights - Condos - 7
• Winter Gardens- Subdivision - 5

Approved

• Uncas Ave - Subdivision - 18
• Upper Union Street - Subdivision - 7
• East Central Street - Apts. - 7
• Chestnut Street - Over 55 - 10

Before Planning Board

• Maple Street - Subdivision 10

In the Works

• Madeline Village -  40B  =  30-40 Decision by ZBA by end of year  
• Pond Street  - Condos  =  96 Expects to file prior to end of year
• At the end of Dean Ave - Apartments = 250 - Expects to file prior to the end of year
• West Central Street - Condos =  30 ?? Recently rezoned 
• Others units that are currently approved = 20 +/-  or under construction

Total possible Dwelling Units 800 +/-

While not all of these units will be constructed at once, we could see well over 600 units in the next 3 years. Further, we do not know how many other "as of right" dwelling units may be proposed in the next couple of years.

The housing development speaks well to Franklin's quality of life and all the improvements that have happen over the last 15 years under the leadership of the various Town Councils that make Franklin a desirable community to live.

Does the Town Council want to maintain the zoning plan adopted in the Master Plan or make changes to the plan? Providing a clear message to L/D's makes a lot more sense than dealing with zoning on a case-by-case basis. It is hard to say yes to one person and no to the next if you do not have an overall game plan.

I suggest this topic be put on a Council agenda or workshop in the near future. I am happy to answer any questions."

Jeff Nutting

new Cook's Farm being built under the Residential 7 bylaw on RT 140

• Additional info is contained in the full PDF

http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Council/October%2019,%202016/R7%20HANDOUTS%201%20AND%202.pdf

• The agenda item for the Jan 18, 2017 meeting

http://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/mai/files/bylaw_16-775_summer_st_referral_to_pb_0.pdf

• 
  

Happy Anniversary!

Some things change, some things don't.

Eight years ago the Senior Center was celebrating its opening.
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2007/11/senior-center-entrance-area.html

The common room was filled for the Senior Center open house on Sunday, Nov 11, 2007

There is a Building Committee working on completing the interior 2nd floor and expanding the parking to accommodate the increased usage.

Eight years ago, the Center Commons was still getting the exterior brickwork completed.
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2007/11/franklin-center-commons-building.html

brick work underway in Nov 2007 at what is now the entrance to The Cake Bar

A couple of months ago, Dean College completed the purchase of the building to add to their dormitory options.
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/10/dean-college-buys-franklin-center.html

FranklinMAtters.org began publishing regularly becoming the citizen powered journalism site that it is today. Readership has continued to grow. 

Franklin Matters readership growth from November 2007 to November  2015

How can you help?

• If you like this, please tell a neighbor. 
• If you don't like this, please tell me.

Through this feedback loop, I can continue to provide good information for you.


If you want to stay informed on what matters in Franklin, you can subscribe to receive a daily dose of what matters via email (yes, only one email daily. It should arrive in your Inbox just after 9:00 AM each day.)

Subscribe by following this link http://www.franklinmatters.org/p/welcome.html

Thank you!

In the News - rail trail, state growth, cell phones

Upper Charles River Trail in Milford reopens with cleanup nearly done

by Brian Benson/Daily News staff

Report: State growth lags behind nation

by Bob Salsberg/Associated Press

Partial ban on driving with cellphones passes committee

by Mounira Al Hmoud/Daily News correspondent

Math can explain Franklin

I had heard that the walking speed of people in cities varies according to the size of the city. The larger the size of the city, the faster the walking speed. Think about it and you can see from your own travels that this is true. Walk around Franklin. Go to Boston. Go to New York. You do need to walk much faster in New York to keep up with the flow on the sidewalk don't you?

The walking speed is one aspect of the theory that is coming together now about how cities and companies grow. Why does this matter? What has Franklin done? The population has tripled since the 1960's.

The problems Franklin faced when it was 10,000 people are different that it is now 30,000 people. The ideas that worked for 10,000 won't necessarily work for 30,000 people. Why? A multitude of reasons but there is one basic and fundamental reason that is now explained by Geoffrey West with this new theory.

Watch the video (18 minutes). More than once to get the information and begin to digest it.






Fascinating stuff. Follow the links to the TED Talk page and find additional information on the studies that have brought this theory to light.

I happen to think that Franklin tends to behave like a teenager. We are in that middle stage of growth trying to remain a kid yet forced to recognize that we have an adult-like body. We still want to play but are being forced to work, and not just 'to work' but 'to work' differently than our parents. It is a new and changing world.

How do you think this applies to Franklin?

Note: email subscribers will need to click through to Franklin Matters to view the video.

Live reporting - MCAS Growth Model

d. MCAS Growth Model
      1. Michele Kingsland-Smith
      2. Bob Lima
      3. Maureen Sabolinski

The presentation used:

Growth Analysis

View more presentations from Steve Sherlock.

Franklin was part of the pilot at the State level to participate in this program. The State is gearing for some federal funds and this data pilot was a good step to gain that.

The comparisons amongst the students at a data level to compare apples to apples has not been available previously. This look at the data should help to answer this question.

The test is different year to year, the standards are different. Comparison year to year becomes difficult. How much grown really occurred in the learning? This could not be answered previously.

SGP - Student Growth Profile
CPI - Current Performance Index

One couldn't predict future performance from MCAS results. The value of the new growth model is that this growth can now be forecasted.

The MCAS scores enabled a comparison amongst the Franklin students. Now with the SGP, the comparison can be made statewide. This comparison can truly be made on a cohort statewide level.

Each year, the growth would be re-calculated to produce a new cohort based upon similar performance over three years of testing.

The score for the SGP would be calculated for every subject area in the MCAS environment.

20% rule of thumb, this breaks out the range of growth over 100% into five groupings: 1-19, 20-39, 40-59, 60-79, 80-99.

Data previously was descriptive, now the data can be predictive.

The data shown in the slides is from the pilot and not Franklin District student data.

What this allows us to do is ask questions. What we need to do is to ask the right questions?

This will be a learning year for the District. The Pilot was a great thing to benefit from.

Q - One challenge has been the bar has been raised year to year, does this also measure district growth?
A - You can do a district level report, by grade, by building, a variety of perspectives. At the moment we can only access Franklin data. The ability to do a district level analysis is possible but likely at the State level. What will be presented to the public is still open. We do not know yet. There is no definitive answer yet.

A - Anyone can take data and show issues with it. The strength of the data will be to allow us to show student growth and target assistence to specific groups of students.