Are you subscribed to Town of Franklin alerts and notifications? It is easy to set up

Residents are encouraged to subscribe to the Town's Regroup public safety notification system! 

Visit the link to subscribe and become aware ->   https://franklintown.regroup.com/login

Public Safety alerts are used when there is some emergency situation to bring awareness to the community of part of it. The alerts are geographically targeted so a street, or your neighborhood, or the whole Town can get an alert for something happening nearby. Accidents that close roads, or a response to a fire, or street flooding are the most common uses for these type of alerts.

You create an account for your address and sign up for notification via one or more methods; phone call, text, or email. You can choose to receive the alert in more than one way. Once the account is created, you can change the method, or add an alert to the notifications.

For example, the Health Dept now uses this service for a weekly alert on a health topic. I choose to receive these via email. The public safety alerts I choose to receive via text.

Note: signing up for these alerts is separate from signing up for the newsletter or meeting notifications. Email notifications for meeting agendas can be set up here -> https://www.franklinma.gov/subscribe

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

Are you subscribed to Town of Franklin alerts and notifications? It is easy to set up

Finance Committee hears budgets for public safety & public works and good news on AAA bond rating achieved (audio)

FM #795 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 795 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the Finance Committee budget hearing #2 for the FY 2023 Town of Franklin budget held on Wednesday, May 11, 2022. 

The meeting was conducted in a hybrid format: 7 members of the Finance Committee were in the Council Chambers along with some of the public, 1 member was announced as expecting to join via remote along with some members the public via conference bridge, all to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period. 

• Chair Bill Dowd opens the Finance Committee, 7 members participating. This is the second of three sessions on the FY 2023 budget

• This session covered public safety: police fire, and dispatch as well as public works the DPW divisions and the enterprise accounts for water, sewer, and solid waste

• Each department was reviewed, some were straight forward, some had minor increases or adjustments. For example, 2 positions previously cut in last year's budget were restored in this year's budget for the DPW

• The big news coming from the night was the announcement that the Town had achieved a AAA bond rating. This is a significant achievement and will help the Town save money on all future borrowing requirements

The recording runs about an hour and forty minutes, so let’s listen to the Finance Committee meeting May 11, 2022.

Audio file ->  https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-795-finance-cmte-fy-2023-budget-hearing-2-05-11-22

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Meeting agenda =>   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/_2022-05-11_finance_committee_agenda_.pdf 

FY 2023 budget package => https://www.franklinma.gov/town-budget/webforms/fy-23-budget-materials 

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

My notes for the meeting =>  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SERBrhfi0U1eOLfFR6GWHkcl07UiazpH/view?usp=sharing 

YouTube recording => https://youtu.be/zqiyIdFy8ik 

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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 hears budgets for public safety & public works and good news on AAA bond rating achieved (audio)

JAMA: "State control over health outcomes shows no signs of waning"

"The COVID-19 pandemic removed any doubt that state policies can affect health outcomes. East Coast states (eg, New York, New Jersey) that responded to the first wave of the pandemic in the spring of 2020 with strict protective measures achieved relatively quick control of community spread within as much as 8 weeks,9 and they blunted subsequent surges by reinstating those policies. 

In contrast, states that had spent decades opposing public health provisions were among the most resistant to COVID-19 guidelines and took active measures to resist restrictions. Some elected officials made a political issue out of challenging scientific evidence, embracing dubious theories, and labeling public health safeguards as infringements on personal freedom. Conservative governors used preemption to reverse efforts by mayors and school districts to control local transmission rates.

These policy choices may have been associated with increased COVID-19–related morbidity and mortality. States that rushed to curtail lockdowns in the spring of 2020 experienced more protracted surges in infections and disruptions to their economies.9 In 2021, excess deaths were disproportionately concentrated in states where resistance to COVID-19 vaccination was prevalent. 

For example, excess death rates in Florida and Georgia (more than 200 deaths per 100 000) were much higher than in states with largely vaccinated populations such as New York (112 per 100 000), New Jersey (73 deaths per 100 000), and Massachusetts (50 per 100 000). States that resisted public health protections experienced higher numbers of excess deaths during the Delta variant surge in the fall of 2021 (Figure). Between August and December 2021, Florida experienced more than triple the number of excess deaths (29 252) as New York (8786), despite both states having similar population counts (21.7 million and 19.3 million, respectively).10"

Continue reading the report in the Journal of American Medicine (JAMA) 
 https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/2790238

Figure.  Weekly Excess Death Rate (per 100 000) in Selected States, 2021

Mass. Public Health: DYK that 1 in 3 teens in MA vapes

"Did you know about 1 in 3 teens in Massachusetts vapes? That's why we're asking parents to Get Outraged about the tobacco and vaping industries. 

Learn more at https://t.co/FTB7qi7p7f   or https://www.mass.gov/get-outraged"

Shared from Twitter:
https://twitter.com/MassDPH/status/1446860505855893505?t=j13Eu0ioyUas-REjwf4DLw&s=03

Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda - Oct 12, 2021

Franklin School Committee 

October 12, 2021 - 7:00 PM

Municipal Building – Council Chambers 

I. Routine Business
A. Review of Agenda
B. Citizen’s Comments

In the spirit of open communication, “the Committee will hold a public participation segment (also called Citizen’s Comments) about matters not related to an agenda item at the beginning of each regular School Committee meeting. The Committee will listen to, but not respond to any comment made…. A Committee member may add an agenda item to a future meeting as a result of a citizen comment…. The Committee will hear public comments related to an agenda item when the Chair deems appropriate during the Committee meeting. Topics for discussion during the meeting must be limited to those items listed on the Committee meeting agenda for that evening…. ” - from Policy BEDH

C. FHS Student Representative Comments
D. Superintendent’s Report
 
II. Guests/Presentations
A. Safety Presentation – Lucas Giguere, Asst. Supt.; Ryan Augusta, AP FHS
https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/10_12_21_fps_school_safety_update.pdf

III. Discussion/Action Items
A. Superintendent’s Goals 2021-22
The Chair recommends approval of the Superintendent’s Goals for 2021-22 as detailed.  https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/discussion_action_a_-_supt_goals.pdf   and https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/superintendent_proposed_goals_2021-2022.pdf

B. MASC Resolutions
I recommend adoption of the MASC Resolutions as follows:
1. Resolution 1: Dedicated Funding For Schoolbased Clinics And Services
2. Resolution 2: Homework Gap And Wifi/Internet Access
3. Resolution 3: IDEA Full Funding Act
4. Resolution 4: Recess
5. Resolution 5: Zero-Tolerance Policies
6. Resolution 6: Alternative To MCAS
7. Resolution 7: School Committees And Receivership
8. Resolution 8: Electric School Buses
9. Resolution 9: Prohibiting The Use Of Native American Mascots

https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/discussion_action_b_-_masc_resolutions.pdf

C. Policy First Reading
I recommend moving policy GCF - Professional Staff Hiring to a second reading as discussed.
D. Policy Elimination
I recommend elimination of policy GCD - Professional Staff Vacations and Holidays as discussed.

IV. Discussion Only Items
A. Back to School Status Update – October 8, 2021

https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/back_to_school_status_update_october_8_2021.pdf

V. Information Matters
A. School Committee Sub-Committee Reports (e.g. Ad Hoc Supt. Evaluation, Budget, Community Relations/Public Schools Advocacy, Policy, Transportation)
B. School Committee Liaison Reports (e.g. Joint PCC, Substance Abuse Task Force, School Wellness Advisory Council)

VI. New Business
A. To discuss any future agenda items

VII. Consent Agenda
A. Approval of Minutes
I recommend approval of the minutes from the September 28, 2021 School Committee meeting as detailed.
B. Athletics Gift
I recommend acceptance of the following Athletic Department gifts totaling
$6,669.82 as follows:
1. $328.12 All American Publishing (Supplemental Supplies)
2. $441.70 All American Publishing (Supplemental Supplies)
3. $5,900.00 MIAA, Inc. (Supplemental Supplies)

VIII. Payment of Bills Dr. Bergen

IX. Payroll Atty. Pond-Pfeffer

X. Executive Session

Pursuant to M.G.L. c. 30A, §21(a)(3) to discuss strategy with respect to litigation as an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the litigating position of the public body and the chair so declares.

XI. Adjournment 

Meeting agenda - https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/scagenda_10-12-21.pdf

Meeting Packet folder ->  https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/october-12-2021-school-committee-meeting-packet

slide on the process for safety from the Safety Presentation

Franklin (MA) Police: Consider this lockup routine before you go to bed

A good reminder from the Franklin Police Department:

Franklin (MA) Police: Consider this lockup routine before you go to bed

Shared from Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CUJEHqqMXl7/?utm_medium=copy_link

And a good reason to use this routine every day:

"LOCK YOUR CARS. LOCK YOUR CARS. LOCK YOUR CARS. 

Not to sound like a broken record but over the last 2 weeks the department has taken 4 reports of stolen cars from neighborhoods overnight. Each of these incidents involved cars being left unlocked with keys left inside them. Cars were stolen from Southgate Road, A Street, Mary Anne Drive, and Mary Jane Road.  

All 4 of these cars have been recovered and are being processed by Franklin Detectives. These cars are being found abandoned or unoccupied in Framingham and Providence. Don’t allow yourself to fall victim to these crimes. Never leave your keys unlocked in your cars overnight."

Shared from Facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/162770995915/posts/10157832171275916/

Boston Globe: "Local officials say Baker is failing to invest in state’s broken public health system"

"Local public health officials were excited when the Baker administration recently announced a modest grant program to help beleaguered towns and cities be better prepared for the next pandemic. For the first time in decades, they said, the state was investing new money on the front lines of disease prevention.

But then came Governor Charlie Baker’s announcement on Thursday that not a single dollar out of $2.8 billion in federal pandemic relief funding he plans to allocate would go toward public health programs. Instead, he said, the money would be used to ease the state’s housing crunch and other priorities.

Now, some of the same leaders who were praising the administration days ago are lamenting what they say is Baker’s shortsightedness. They believe the governor is missing a historic opportunity to make a dramatic new investment in the state’s tattered public health system."

Continue reading the article online (subscription maybe required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/06/19/metro/local-officials-say-baker-is-failing-invest-broken-public-health-system-mass/

FM #527 - Finance Cmte Budget Hearing #2 - 04/28/21 (audio)

The meeting was conducted in a hybrid format: members of the Finance Committee, selected guests, and Town Administration personnel were in the Council Chambers, the remainder were remote along with the public via the Zoom conference bridge, all to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

The show notes contain links to the meeting agenda including documents released for this agenda. 

Let’s listen to this budget hearing on "Public Safety"

Audio file = https://player.captivate.fm/episode/bf3786c3-b901-4478-8bba-2808a097615f

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

• April 28 Agenda = Public Safety (Police, Fire, Regional Dispatch)
 https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/_2021-04-28_finance_committee_agenda_.pdf

• Town budget page for FY 2022

https://www.franklinma.gov/town-budget/pages/fy-22-budget-materials

• My notes from the meeting

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/05/recap-fincomm-budget-hearing-2-042821.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 www.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 #527 - Finance Cmte Budget Hearing #2 - 04/28/21 (audio)

Recap - FinComm Budget Hearing #2 - 04/28/21 - Public safety

Quick Recap:

• Public safety up for review this evening; Police, Fire, Inspection, and Regional Dispatch
• Police still understaffed vs. FBI stats but at larger staff than in recent years. Takes a newbie a year to get trained and on the street. One reason transfers are preferred if available
• Fire awaiting grant status possible award in Jun/Jul. If awarded, those individuals would be in addition to staff. Only hire paramedic qualified individuals.
• MECC expanding by two more communities (Millis, Mendon) with room for one more (maybe after that).

----

As with most meetings in this pandemic period, I took my notes via Twitter during the meeting reporting in real-time via the virtual session.

 

The Twitter hashtag can be found online  #fincom0428

https://twitter.com/search?q=%23fincom0428&src=typed_query

Photos captured during the meeting and shared via Twitter can be found in one album https://photos.app.goo.gl/6sggWUkqV9YYLy578

The agenda for this meeting can be found

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/_2021-04-28_finance_committee_agenda_.pdf 

• Part 2 of the 4 part Budget Hearing by the Finance Committee about to begin at 6:30 PM. Connection info and agenda doc -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/_2021-04-28_finance_committee_agenda_.pdf   #fincom0428
• Full budget doc to follow along on Police budget -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/budget_book_ta_level_fy22_with_page_numbers_v3.pdf  #fincom0428

Police

• P 52 and following covers the Police budget currently at 53 FTE would like to get more to be aligned with similar Community size #fincom0427 1 sargent aligned with 15 patrol personnel; span of control and additional administration would be desirable. Facing retirements
• Possible 2 this year, 4 in mid 2022, senior patrol person always badge #1; incentive to get 9 months notice of retirement, to avoid gap of hiring, training and actually getting to the streets to work #fincom0428 Q on jail diversion program covered by grant joint with Medway
• FBI stats say 1.9 patrol per 1000/population, would run out to about 70. Don't need to be that high just that 53 is light and with increase in population and buildings, the call volume is going up. #fincom0427 It takes a person about a year to get training to hit the streets
• The training and salary package has been an incentive to get transfers in which allows them to get to the streets quicker #fincom0428 chief advocated for parity in the salary package and it has worked well. Cost of body cameras and particularly the storage of the video
• He would prefer to have the body first, also with police reform there are 16 Committees looking at this so why start something now and have to change it out later. #fincom0428 we are not in civil service and happy not to be, able to recruit without it.
• #fincom0428 we are an attractive Community to work for, recent hires are good examples of what we can do. A job posting generates more applications than needed to fulfill a spot. A test is done every 3 years. I love self sponsors. That shows initiative for a job.
• Self sponsors wait for seats, dept sponsors get priority. #fincom0428 

Fire

• Now onto the Fire Dept, refer to pages 57-61. Ambulance billing rates now looked at annually, grant group being very productive. 180 days notice and 90 days actual date notice req'd for retirement
• Refresh the listing of hierarchy every two years, training and reorganization attractive to new hires. We do hire paramedics and prefer to not drop to EMT level #fincom0428 results of SAFER grant due around Jun/Jul. Likely would be additional staff, would have some time
• To start building a budget to support the hires after the grant ran out. The sun, moon and stars may align on this. #fincom0428 looking to stock the 3rd ambulance to be ready if needed. We are ready to go back for a look at ISO 1, not so much a staffing thing, equipment key
• All fee revenue goes into the general fund except for that supporting the enterprise funds #fincom0428 applied again for grant, setting aside approx $600k in case grant doesn't renew. Assume it does, the these funds go to the MECC stabilization fund. There is still room for 1

MECC

• Community to add to the regional dispatch, Millville and Medway Mendon coming on as planned this summer Moving to inspection, pages 64-65  #fincom0428 
• Moving to animal control, a regional agreement with Bellingham, we provide space, they run the program without complaints
• Motion to adjourn, seconded,  passes 9-0
• Back again Thursday for DPW and stormwater among other items! #fincom0428

 

Recap - FinComm Budget Hearing #2 - 04/28/21 - Public safety

How does the Town of Franklin budget look displayed as a pie chart?

The budget hearings opened Tuesday night with General Government functions reviewed. Wednesday (6:30 PM) night is Public Safety (Police, Fire, Dispatch).

FY 2022 Budget
Police	$5,970,843
Fire	$6,428,747
DPW	$5,426,385
Library	$1,039,373
Facilities	$7,261,523
Other Municipal	$10,568,138
Fixed Costs (non-excl Debt-Benefits)	$16,964,310
School K-12	$67,914,184
Regional	$2,486,887
Total Operating Budget	$124,060,390

• April 28 Agenda = Public Safety (Police, Fire, Regional Dispatch)

 https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/_2021-04-28_finance_committee_agenda_.pdf

School budget is up for review Tuesday, May 4

Prior posts

How much state aid does Franklin get?

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/04/how-much-state-aid-does-franklin-get.html

What are the fixed costs of the Town of Franklin budget?

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/04/what-are-fixed-costs-of-town-of.html

Town of Franklin - budget growth and split between municipal and schools - FY 2012 to FY 2022  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/04/town-of-franklin-budget-growth-and.html

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

Town of Franklin: Finance Committee - Agenda - March 10, 2021

Finance Committee Meeting
Agenda & Meeting Packet
March 10, 2021 = 6:30 PM

Agenda
1. Call to Order
2. Public Comments
3. Approval of Minutes
4. FY21 Capital Program Recommendations
5. Public Safety & MECC Discussion

a. Gary Premo - MECC Director

b. Chief TJ Lynch - Franklin Police Chief

c. Chief Jim McLaughlin - Franklin Fire Department

6. FY22 Revenue Projections
7. Future Agenda Items
8. Adjourn

Full agenda doc and meeting packet (with connection info)

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/agendas/finance_committee_agenda_for_march_10_2021.pdf

The Finance Committee Agenda includes an update from the MECC