"Guarantee a spot on the bus for the 23-24 school year! June 12th is the deadline for registration & initial payment.
Seating is not guaranteed after the registration deadline.
Help us, help you and register your child today!
Register and learn more: https://t.co/pYItSGGL3n "Shared from -> https://twitter.com/FranklinPSNews/status/1663568870379077632
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| Franklin Public Schools, MA: bus registration deadline - June 12 |
9:00 AM 12:00 Noon and 6:00 PM Franklin Matters Radio/FPS Voice – Steve Sherlock
Franklin and its local government, services and events (repeats Saturday at 9 AM)
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| Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) |
Library Hours
The Franklin Public Library will be closed Monday, June 19th for Juneteenth. The Library's summer hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., and Friday and Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sunday hours will resume after Labor Day.
Featured Database
Consumer Reports is published by Consumers Union, an independent, nonprofit testing and information organization. Since 1936, CU's mission has been to test products, inform the public and protect consumers. It is a comprehensive source for unbiased advice about products and services, personal finance, health and nutrition, and other consumer concerns. Access to this database is limited to Franklin residents.
Check out the latest additions to the library's collection!
Book Sale
Franklin Library Book Sale
Friday, June 16th, 1:00-5:00 p.m. Saturday, June 17th, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 Noon.
All books are just one dollar!
Bag Sale - $5 A Bag—Saturday, June 17th, from 1:00-4:00 p.m.
Come fill a brown bag with all the books you can!
Franklin Library ESL & Adult Literacy Program
The Franklin Public Library has started an English as a Second Language and Adult Literacy Program to serve Franklin and its surrounding communities. Volunteers and students do not need to be Franklin residents. If interested, please fill out the registration form on the library's website or call 508-520-4941.
Massachusetts Center for the Book 2023 Reading Challenge
June: A book set in a country you've never visited
Do you have a cozy reading corner you've been wanting to spend more time in? Do you have a group of friends who like to select books together? Maybe a little constraint helps you choose what to read next.
If you are looking for a fun, unique reading challenge to take on in 2023, Massachusetts Center for the Book has you covered.
Check it out today! https://www.massbook.org/readingchallenge
There is so much happening at the Library in June, I can't put it all here at once. You'll need to visit the Library page for the remainder -> https://www.franklinma.gov/franklin-public-library/news/june-2023-franklin-library-news-events
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| June 2023 Franklin Library News & Events |
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| Franklin Democratic Town Committee schedules Annual Caucus - June 3 at 12 PM |
FM #1000 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1000 in the series.
This session of the radio show shares the Town Council meeting held in Council Chambers on Thursday, May 25, 2023. All 9 members of the Council were present in the Council Chambers.
The first budget hearing did not complete on Wednesday evening, so Thursday's session opens to complete the first hearing and then starts the second hearing. When the second hearing completes, the legislation for action commences to record the various approvals as noted below.
Quick recap
Police to add to their staff to alleviate a scheduling issue that should help reduce the overtime cost and help moral by reducing the amount of forced overtime
Fire to add to their staff to help provide a third ambulance for coverage during four days of peak call volume. The staff increase is partially offset by additional ambulance revenues
Senior Center gets approval for a van driver for half the year as a step towards full time
Town administration gets approval for a shift from an assistant town administrator to a Deputy Administrator along with a half year funding for an Arts & Culture Director
The Franklin school budget gets an increase of approximately $700K over the $1.1m initially allocated. These funds will be part of a two resolution vote being scheduled for the June 7 Council meeting. 24 school personnel positions were cut this week by the School District to meet their expected budget shortfall of over $2M. Some of those are due to the continued declining enrollment, some of those can be restored with the additional funds being allocated. As was made clear a few times during the hearings, the Town Council only provides a line item of funding to the Schools. The School district and School Committee have the full responsibility for choices on how that money is spent
The Joint Budget Subcommittee will begin meeting (schedule TBD) to work on a strategic plan to address the systemic issues across both the Town and Schools budget requirements. There was consensus on increasing the revenue. Some of the increase can come from a variety of measures (storm water fee, sewer rate increase, zoning changes to increase density, etc.) as well as consideration of a possible override ballot question. In order to get to the override question, the amount of increased revenue (i.e. property taxes revenue) needs to be explored and agreed to put before the taxpayers for their approval. There are already a number of increases planned (or expected) and that needs to be part of the consideration.
Planned
storm water begins July 1, 2023
sewer rate increase for next three years beginning July 1, 2023 to pay for the Beaver St interceptor replacement. Construction along RT 140 begins later this year
possible debt exclusion for Tri-County RVTHS building replacement (amount expected in Aug 2023, vote anticipated in Oct 2023)
Expected
water rate increase to pay for PFAS mitigations
potential debt exclusion for renovation of Davis Thayer (DT) for town use (to make it ADA accessible). Decision on potential use anticipated by Dec 2023 from subcommittee appointed to determine recommendations
potential debt exclusion for new Police station or renovation of existing, committee appointed and soon to begin work on this; their work will include the DT decision as applicable
potential operational override to address systemic revenue issues
The recording runs about 3 hours and 42 minutes. Let’s listen to the Town Council meeting on May 25, 2023. Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1000-town-council-fy-24-budget-hearing-2-05-25-23
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The full agenda and documents associated with it can be found online -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/may_25_2023_town_council_agenda_1.pdf
The Fy 2024 budget document folder ->
https://www.franklinma.gov/town-budget/webforms/fy-24-budget-materials
The Franklin TV video replay for both sessions is available
Wednesday -> https://www.youtube.com/live/P5MzuZ7r7gA?feature=share
Thursday -> https://www.youtube.com/live/BLXhaMDHJDk?feature=share
My Twitter notes captured during the meetings can be found here
Wednesday -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hmk9G_oo0RXsmkV0KOiHADAXXgXbNGxk/view?usp=drive_link
Thursday -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1haEf0ELqCsOMNlz0labwYxe8yBtqsoN9/view?usp=drive_link
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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"
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| Town Council approves FY 24 budget after 9 hours over 2 nights, plan for schools to get $700K more (audio) |
"Move aside hamburgers and hot dogs. Take a seat macaroni and potato salad.On Monday, the top item on the Memorial Day menu for the Franklin High baseball team was soup.Courtesy of Austin Campbell.The Franklin High junior left-hander, whose teammates call him “Soup” due to his last name, dished out a stellar performance on the mound as Campbell nearly collected a no-hitter in a dominating 6-0 win over Saint John’s (Shrewsbury) at Franklin High. "
Franklin 6, St. John’s Shrewsbury 0. WP-Austin Campbell complete game shutout (7inn, H, 2BB & 13Ks)! Offensively, Gerety (2B, R) Lyons (1-3, R,RBI,BB) DiGiorgio (2-3,R,2RBI) Jarosz (HR,R,2RBI) Sidwell (2-3) DePaolo (R,RBI). Franklin finishes reg. 19-3. Next up: MIAA State tourney. https://twitter.com/FHSCoachZBrown/status/1663270359246749706
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| “Soup had a great game. I think it was one of his better ones. He was dealing to everyone; he was dominating today.” |
Exploring all things wine with you!In this episode hosts Kim Simone and Mark Lenzi explore diluting wine with soda.People all over the world mix wine with soda but why? We review and discuss our research.The famous Franklin Wine cooler is discussed.And of coarse Kim and Mark experiment with mixing soda and wine in different ways.
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| L to R: Bill Stack - Eversource, Cobi Frongillo - Aide from Rep Roy’s Office, Fred Cullen - Green Team, Taylor Bennett – National Grid |
Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm)
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