Finance Committee - Meeting Agenda - Oct 13, 2021

Finance Committee Meeting 
October 13, 2021 - 6:30 PM

Agenda

1. Call to Order

2. Election of Officers: Chair, Vice-Chair, Clerk

3. Public Comments

4. Approval of Minutes - 6/16/21

5. Senior and Veterans Tax Workoff Programs:

a. Resolution 21-59: Further Amending The Senior Citizen Property Tax Work-Off Abatement Program

b. Resolution 21-60: Further Amending The Veterans’ Property Tax Work-Off Abatement Program

6. Human Resources Department & Employee Benefits Presentation: Karen Bratt, Human Resources Director.

7. American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Update: Jamie Hellen, Town Administrator

8. Future Agenda Items

9. Adjourn

Please find the agenda and links for the upcoming Finance Committee Meeting posted here: https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/10-13-21_finance_committee_agenda.pdf

Finance Committee - Meeting Agenda - Oct 13, 2021

Attention Franklin Senior Homeowners

You may be entitled to a reduction in the real estate tax you’re required to pay this year!

You may be entitled to a $1,000 tax reduction if you have been continuously domiciled in Massachusetts for 10 years and have owned and occupied a Massachusetts property for 5 years; 

-AND-

You are single,
• Age 70 or older on July 1, 2021,
• Your income last year was $21,393 or less, and
• Your assets (checking, savings, bonds, etc.) not including your home were
$35, 499 or less.

-OR-
You are married,
• One of you was age 70 or older on July 1, 2021,
• Your income last year was $26,385 or less, and
• Your assets (checking, savings, bonds, etc.) not including your home were
$38, 034 or less.

If you are over an above limit, you may still be entitled to a $345 tax reduction if you have owned and occupied your Franklin property as your domicile for at least 5 years,

-AND-
Your assets (checking, savings, bonds, etc.) not including your home were
$50,712 or less,
-AND-
You are a surviving spouse; or single 70 or older July 1, 2021,

-OR- 

You are married and one was age 70 or older as of July 1, 2021.

If you think you might qualify and need information or assistance in completing the application, call the Franklin Senior Center; 508 520-4945.

Some widows of veterans may be eligible for a tax exemption.

Please contact:
Veterans’ Services Office at (508) 613-1315

Download a copy of this info

https://drive.google.com/file/d/14TtJd-wUIgFFTv8em8NOIKUcrIGIH09f/view?usp=sharing

Attention Franklin Senior Homeowners

Panther TV: FHS Senior Awards - Class of 2021 - broadcast at 7:30 PM

Franklin High School's Senior Awards Ceremony premieres tonight at 7:30!! 

Watch it here: https://t.co/STms2Rh0EO via @YouTube  

@FHSPantherbook @FranklinHS @FranklinPSNews @FranklinMatters

Video Link =>  https://youtu.be/OxXsOAEX8y0

the FHS field is set for graduation, Senior Awards are broadcast tonight

FHS PCC: Attention parents, Senior Car Parade can use your help

FHS PCC (@FHS_PCC) tweeted on Fri, May 28, 2021

Attention parents, Senior Car Parade can use your help
Signup form -> https://t.co/FZLWoV3QMY 

Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/FHS_PCC/status/1398376995550072839

FHS PCC: Attention parents, Senior Car Parade can use your help

SPECIAL FORCES MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP - CPT James Ahn

SPECIAL FORCES MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP 

CPT James Ahn Special Forces Memorial Scholarship

CPT James Ahn

 

Captain James Ahn, a graduate of UC Riverside and the Claremont McKenna College Army ROTC program, died in 2015 during a parachute training operation while participating with his Special Forces unit in Washington State. For all of those who knew and loved James, he will never be forgotten. He was the consummate person and professional who was respected by everyone he came in contact with. 

In James' honor, Gain Service Academy is sponsoring an annual scholarship of $1,000 to a Special Forces Veteran who is working towards the completion of a higher education degree. 

For more details and a scholarship application, go to the link below:   https://www.gainserviceacademyadmission.com/cpt-james-ahn-memorial-scholarship/

Shared from the Town of Franklin page
https://www.franklinma.gov/veterans-services/news/special-forces-memorial-scholarship

Town of Franklin: Citizen Discounts and Exemptions Guide

Citizen Discounts and Exemptions Guide

The Town of Franklin has created an online resource guide for local and state government assistance programs, including information about the Senior Circuit Breaker and a tax credit estimation worksheet. Please find it posted on our website at https://www.franklinma.gov/administrator/pages/citizen-discounts-exemptions

Download the 4 page PDF here   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/uploads/local_state_assistance_programs_4_1.pdf

Shared from https://www.franklinma.gov/home/news/citizen-discounts-and-exemptions-guide

Town of Franklin: Citizen Discounts and Exemptions Guide

FHS boys hockey tops Taunton at Senior Night on Wednesday

 From HockomockSports.com we share the FHS sports results:

Boys Hockey = Taunton, 0 @ Franklin, 13 – Final 

– Franklin’s Ben Jarosz recorded a hat trick as the Panthers took a win at home over Taunton. Sean Connelly, Dylan Marchand, and Matt Gates each scored twice in the win.  

 

For other results around the Hockomock League  

https://hockomocksports.com/wednesdays-schedule-scoreboard-01-20-21/

 

Hard Hat #7 Matty GatesWorked his butt off every shift! Scored his first goal on Varsity then added another as well as an assist. Awesome job Matty!!

@PanthersJvPuck

 

Senior Night! Congratulations to all our seniors and their families.

@FHSSports @PanthersJvPuck

CDC issues two new recommendations for COVID-19 vaccine process

Via CNN

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued new recommendations on getting a Covid-19 vaccine for those with a history of allergies.

The recommendations, published on the CDC’s site on Saturday, suggest that people who have ever had a severe allergic reaction, also known as anaphylaxis, to any ingredient in a Covid-19 vaccine should not get that vaccine.

The CDC considers a reaction severe if it requires the person to be treated with epinephrine or they need to be hospitalized. Symptoms of anaphylaxis can include shortness of breath, a closing of the throat, nausea, and dizziness.

The agency added that people with a history of anaphylaxis to other vaccines or injectable medications should consult their doctor on getting the Covid-19 vaccine.

Continue reading the article online  https://t.co/wHrhfOHraU 

The CNN tweet:  https://t.co/I0jwJKSWYr

Via The Hill

A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advisory panel recommended on Sunday that people 75 and older and certain front-line essential workers be next in line for COVID-19 vaccines.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted 13-1 to advise the CDC to include those 75 and older and specific front-line essential workers, including emergency responders and teachers, in the next phase of coronavirus vaccinations, several news outlets reported Sunday.

These recommendations would apply to phase 1b of the vaccination process, after the committee and the CDC advised that health care workers and residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities get the first vaccinations in the country. Phase 1b will aim to vaccinate about 50 million people before the end of February, according to The New York Times.

Continue reading the article online

https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/531072-cdc-panel-recommends-people-over-75-certain-frontline-essential-workers-be

 

CommonWealth Magazine: "Elderly challenges go well beyond COVID; "Don’t place too many restrictions on telehealth"

From CommonWealth Magazine we share two articles of interest for Franklin: 

Elderly challenges go well beyond COVID

"THE EMERGENCE of promising vaccines to fight COVID-19 is certainly good news, but those older adults on fixed or limited incomes will continue to face serious issues in daily living in a variety of areas.  Many of these issues existed before the pandemic, and some have been made worse as a consequence of the deadly virus.  Older adults, especially those in nursing homes, suffered the highest rates of infection and death from the virus, and those rates were even more disastrous for older adults of color.  The pandemic caused a serious look at the deficiencies in our long-term care system, both institutional and community-based, and most of these deficiencies will remain even after a large portion of Americans have been vaccinated.

In skilled nursing facilities, we’ve learned that older adults should not be forced to live with three or more unrelated elderly in the same room.  We know that nursing home staff are underpaid and often need to work in two or more nursing homes to make a living.  Many staff are also unvaccinated for influenza, and may have the same low rates of vaccination when COVID-19 vaccines are made available.  We’ve also learned that infection prevention and control is an especially weak process in most nursing homes.  These are all factors that made such facilities ripe for attack by COVID-19."

Continue reading the article online

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/opinion/elderly-challenges-go-well-beyond-covid/

Don’t place too many restrictions on telehealth

"FOR DECADES, Massachusetts has been known for having the best health care in the world. As doctors who’ve practiced medicine for a combined 40 years in the Commonwealth, we have seen firsthand how our state has enjoyed the best hospitals and best doctors and providers to deliver the highest standard of care. Our biggest challenge? How to ensure those exceptional services can be accessed by every patient who needs them.

Then came COVID-19 – which threatened our nation’s health care system like no time in modern history. Instead of collapsing, our health care system reinvented itself. The rapid and effective use of virtual care (telehealth and other services) allowed us to continue to provide care to patients while the threat of coronavirus kept them at a distance. Patients with behavioral health needs, many of which were exacerbated by the pandemic, were able to still see their mental health providers. Patients with acute stroke could get rapid evaluations in a local emergency department but be transferred for advanced care if necessary. Unlike in-person visits to shops, restaurants, and bars which were abruptly cancelled, much needed virtual visits to medical specialists could continue unimpeded. Regular medical care is like car maintenance, when it is postponed or ignored conditions deteriorate rapidly."

Continue reading the article online

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/opinion/dont-place-too-many-restrictions-on-telehealth/

2020 Virtual Senior Health and Wellness Fair (Video)

"Senate President Karen E. Spilka is excited to announce a one-hour VIRTUAL Senior Health & Wellness Fair that will be broadcast on local public access channels, Facebook, and karenspilka.com on November 20, 2020. Designed to help seniors maintain their mental and physical health during the Pandemic, it will feature expertise and resources from local and state experts, including strategies to beat social isolation with AARP Massachusetts President Sandra Harris; short workshops on at-home fitness, fraud prevention, and getting the right care; and overviews of community organizations and services that can help with transportation, fighting scams, and lifelong learning, as well as helplines and other resources-by-phone."

If you missed the event on Friday, it was recorded and is available for replay anytime you want!  Video link = https://youtu.be/Zylka2zvgOE

virtual Senior Health & Wellness Fair = Nov 20

Senate President Karen E. Spilka is excited to announce a one-hour VIRTUAL Senior Health & Wellness Fair that will be broadcast on Facebook and karenspilka.com on November 20, 2020, at 10 am. EST. 

 

Designed to help seniors maintain their mental and physical health during the Pandemic, it will feature expertise and resources from local and state experts, including: strategies to beat social isolation with AARP Massachusetts President Sandra Harris; short workshops on at-home fitness, fraud prevention, and finding the right care; and overviews of community organizations and services that can help with transportation, fighting scams, and lifelong learning, as well as helplines and other resources-by-phone. There will be fun and entertainment too! 

 

Learn more: https://fb.me/e/31IiyU7w0

 

virtual Senior Health & Wellness Fair = Nov 20

 

Senator Karen Spilka: virtual Senior Health & Wellness Fair - Nov 20

"The virtual Senior Health & Wellness Fair will be LIVE on Friday, Nov 20, 2020! The 60-min show, which will be broadcast on local cable access TV in MetroWest, YouTube & Facebook, will offer expertise & resources from local & state experts, as well as fun!"

More about the event: https://t.co/DViNQ9UMxB 

Shared via Twitter:  https://t.co/RshOb59mAL

Senator Karen Spilka: Senior Health & Wellness Fair - Nov 20

Franklin Senior Center: Medicare Update with SHINE - Oct 19 - 2:00 PM

During the annual Medicare Open Enrollment period (October 15th-December 7th), you will have a chance to change your plans for next year. 

SHINE's certified Medicare counselors can help you understand your plan changes, as well as other options you may have. 

For the link to join, email: adoggett@franklinma.gov.

Franklin Senior Center: Medicare Update with SHINE - Oct 19 - 2:00 PM

“The days just sort of would go by”

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"From the beginning of the pandemic, most were aware of the disease’s devastating mortality rate among older people.

As of Aug. 11, Massachusetts residents over age 70 accounted for 86% of the state’s COVID-19 deaths, according to data released by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. About 65% of the total deaths reported in the state have occurred at skilled-nursing facilities, nursing homes and rest homes.

Still, as COVID-19 tore across the state and new cases surged from March through late June, skilled-nursing facilities, assisted living facilities and many independent living facilities became hot spots for the infectious disease.

Joining first responders, doctors and nurses — familiar heroes in times of crisis — residents, caregivers and staff at these facilities found themselves on the front lines of the pandemic. Too often, they found themselves alone in the fight."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required) 

https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200824/senior-living-facilities-bore-brunt-of-covid-19-in-massachusetts-now-hear-from-staff-and-resident-about-life-on-front-lines?rssfeed=true 

FHS senior girls video

"Very well done! Would not want to judge which is better: boys vs. girls - no thanks, will just play both on replay for a long time!"

Senior girls video: https://youtu.be/Fosf3DUk1FA




In case you missed the senior boys video:  https://youtu.be/m6CYmDrTWxE

US Census Bureau - Report on Housing for Aging Population

As the School Department looks at the demographics to determine the projected enrollment over the next ten years, one aspect of the 19 assumptions provided in the report, was a given turnover in housing to "maintain" a stable population.  Higher turnover could increase population, lower turnover could lessen population. 

Given our population is also growing older, aside from services provided by the Senior Center, do we have enough housing for the older population? This report on a US perspective takes a look at that aspect.

"The U.S. Census Bureau has released a new population report on the readiness of housing to meet the needs of the nation’s aging population. The report – Old Housing, New Needs: Is America’s Housing Ready for an Aging Population? – uses data from the 2011 American Housing Survey (AHS) to provide national-level estimates of housing units with aging-accessible features, such as handrails or grab bars in bathrooms, step-free entryways, and wheelchair-accessible kitchens, as well as geographic differences in the prevalence of homes with these features.

This report also examines the demographic and economic characteristics of households where older adults reported difficulty using these home features compared with households where older adults reported no such difficulty."

Shared from the US Census
https://www.census.gov/library/publications/2020/demo/p23-217.html

Download from the US Census page:
https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2020/demo/p23-217.pdf

Or the Franklin Matters copy:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aI3EyGi_Of0iCYvUSQKLNL7zPPlOu2VK/view?usp=sharing

US Census Bureau - Report on Housing for Aging Population

Calling All Franklin High School Senior Parents — Adopt A Senior!

Let's put a smile on our Senior's faces! We have recently created an "Adopt a Senior" Facebook Page, so please join today. Currently we have 194 senior families that have posted, but our goal is to have as many senior families that would like to participate included!

We request that all FHS Senior Parents post a picture of their child along with a brief profile, no later than May 8 at 5 PM and indicate on the top line, "Not Adopted".

Let's bring our community together to celebrate the Franklin High Class of 2020!

Please note: If you would prefer your child not to appear on the Facebook  posting, or you would like one of us to post for you, please send an email to one of the Administrators (Daniela Masters ( dmasters11@verizon.net), Nicole Nesbit ( nandjn@verizon.net), Roseanne Szczepanowski ( TRLM16@comcast.net) or Laura Gagnon).

Feel free to share this information with all FHS Senior Parents that may not have social media accounts.

The Adopt a Senior Facebook Page and details can be found here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/609321069796002/

Thank you for your support!
Parents of FHS Class of 2020 

Calling All Franklin High School Senior Parents — Adopt A Senior!

@FranklinHS Message for the Class of 2020

"Tonight (Friday May 1), at 8:20 (20:20 military time), we send this message."

Tonight, at 8:20 (20:20 military time), we send this message. @FPS_FAA @FHSPantherbook @FranklinHSDrama @FranklinHSMusic @fhs_choral @FranklinMatters pic.twitter.com/CivMVywc2I

— FranklinHighSchool (@FranklinHS) May 2, 2020

The lights at FHS on May 1 between 8:00 and 8:20

Stadium lights to honor the Class of 2020

"To the Class of 2020, we are all thinking of you and wishing you the best! The future is bright!"

To the Class of 2020, we are all thinking of you and wishing you the best! The future is bright! #BeTheLight #FHSseniors #Classof2020 @FranklinHS @FHS2020_ @FHSPantherbook @TOFranklinMA @FranklinRec pic.twitter.com/5HFRlHWfjl

— Franklin Public Schools, MA (@FranklinPSNews) April 24, 2020

Shared from Twitter:
https://twitter.com/FranklinPSNews/status/1253773337140047873?s=09

Stadium lights to honor the Class of 2020

FHS seniors get creative 'that way'!

"We'll Get It That Way.

 #StaySenior 

Enjoy:"

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Y-DGxhUYlXJumJF-5votDNXJ2x6c1LOj/view?usp=sharing




Shared via Twitter:

https://twitter.com/FranklinHSXC/status/1251681188093341697?s=09