Live Reporting: Appointments, Hearing

E. APPOINTMENTS	FY 18 Annual Appointments - Boards and Committees (see listing of annual appointments) still vacancies, will provide update link to website for application and process motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0
F. HEARINGS	Public Hearings - 7:10 PM motion to open public hearings, seconded, passed 9-0 craft brewery, spirits and wine tasking rooms proposal space available for tasting room modified to reduce from 33% to 25% of sq footage; should be sufficient, other communities do similar sizing Bissanti - a good stepping stone to help grow business, could be looking to use the Class B empty spaces filled
G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS	Franklin Lodge of Elks - Change of Manager motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0
H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS	Safe Coalition couldn't make it tonight to be rescheduled
I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

Live Reporting: Town Council - June 7, 2017

Present: Pellegri, Padula, Mercer, Vallee, Kelly, Pfeffer, Bissanti, Jones, Dellorco 
Absent: none

A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES	Approval of Minutes - May 10, 2017 (Motion to approve minutes of May 10, 2017 - majority (5) vote) motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0
B. ANNOUNCEMENTS	This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast channel 11 and Verizon channel 29. This meeting may also be recorded by others.
C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS	1. Electric Youth brief introduction and a song to perform

Citizen comments

Briget Stall (sic)

Franklin community Pride proposal

Judy Derosario

resident, volunteer for many organization

vision for Franklin Pride Committee, support for first responders

Susan Burns

30 year resident, raised 2 children here

experience in IT marketing and sales

looking to further discuss proposal

Strawberry Festival or Stroll, the weather seems like it will be sunny for Thursday PM

Attention: MBTA parking lot users - getting out of the Franklin/Dean Station with Main St closed will present a challenge Thursday evening. 


The forecasters are saying the SUN will come out on Thursday!

Just in time for the Downtown Partnership Strawberry Stroll Thursday afternoon from 4 to 7 p.m.

Police will close down Main Street for the event, so plan accordingly.

Strawberry Festival or Stroll, the weather seems like it will be sunny for Thursday PM

This was shared from the Downtown Partnership page

http://www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/2017/06/rain-rain-go-away.html

Franklin Community Leaders Recognized At Hockomock Area YMCA Annual Meeting

The annual meeting of the Hockomock Area YMCA was held on May 17th at Lake Pearl in Wrentham. The organization gave special recognition to several members of the community, including Hailey DeMello and Jeff Nutting.

The Youth of the Year Award was awarded to Hailey DeMello of Franklin. The award recognizes youth members of the Hockomock Area YMCA who, as a result of their commitment and dedication, make a positive impact on the YMCA and the community. DeMello, a senior at Franklin High School, is a camp counselor at the Bernon Family Branch in Franklin, a member on the executive board of the Leaders Club, as well as this year’s captain of the Relay for Life team. 

Hailey DeMello

She attributes her work at a local women’s shelter to the confidence instilled in her during her time at the Y’s Bernon Family Branch, also emphasizing the importance of the work done at the YMCA. “A lot of the work the Y does goes unnoticed,” said DeMello. “But we do it anyway. Because it’s helping people who need it.” Following her high school graduation, DeMello intends to pursue a double major in history and communications at the University of New Hampshire, with the goal to work in either public relations or secondary education.

Jeff Nutting received the Red Triangle Award for the Bernon Family Branch in Franklin – an award which recognizes individuals for their partnership and support of the programs and activities of the YMCA, which meet the changing needs of the community. Nutting has served as the Town Administrator for Franklin since 2001, and from the beginning has been invaluable in providing important services such as clean air, clean water, and well-maintained roads to the town to which he is so dedicated. 

Representative Jeff Roy presents to Jeff Nutting

In the words of Jeff Roy, who presented the award to Nutting, “Jeff Nutting exemplifies all of the actions that are demonstrated by the Red Triangle Award, and I think he epitomizes the notion of where cause meets community.” Nutting himself believes wholeheartedly in the importance of the Bernon Family Branch to local families, saying that “in a difficult world, the Y offers opportunities for so many people whether it is a respite for those who might be struggling emotionally or financially, or a supportive place for people and families to exercise and be active.”

The Dean College YMCA Scholarship Award, which is awarded to one deserving high school graduate, was given to Oliva Wilcox at this year’s annual meeting.

Olivia Wilcox pictured with Dean College Dean Gerry Shaw and Dean College President Paula Rooney

Other awards given at the annual meeting included the Chairman’s Award given to The Spier family of Foxborough and the Character Counts Award given to Father David Costa of North Attleboro.

About Hockomock Area YMCA:

Where Cause Meets Community. At the Hockomock Area YMCA, strengthening community is our cause. The Hockomock Area YMCA is an organization of men, women, and children sharing a commitment to nurture the potential of kids, promote healthy living, and foster a sense of social responsibility.

Our YMCA is committed to partnering and collaborating with others to create and deliver lasting personal and social change in the 15 communities we are privileged to serve. The Hockomock Area YMCA is a not-for-profit charitable cause-driven organization with facilities in North Attleboro, Foxboro, Franklin, and Mansfield. For more information visit hockymca.org.

FHS boys tennis playoff run ends, girls lacrosse rescheduled

From Hockomock Sports, we share the results of the FHS spring sports action on Tuesday, June 6.

Boys Tennis = D1 South

#7 Franklin, 0 @ #2 Brookline, 5 – Final

Girls Lacrosse = D1 East

#12 King Philip @ #1 Franklin – Postponed to Wednesday, 6/7 at 5:00.




For the results around the Hockomock League on Tuesday
https://hockomocksports.com/tuesdays-schedule-scoreboard-060617/

FHS Panthers

LET'S LAUGH TODAY in Franklin is on the second Wednesday this month - Wednesday, June 14

Bring more laughter into your life by attending Let’s Laugh Today on Wednesday, June 14th (second Wednesday this month) from 7:30pm to 8:30pm at the Meetinghouse of the First Universalist Society in Franklin, 262 Chestnut Street, Franklin. 

Laughter Yoga is a body/mind practice for well-being that involves deep breathing and a few stretches, playful laughter exercises (no jokes or comedy), clapping and deep relaxation. It has many benefits besides the joy of laughter. It can strengthen the immune system, combat the negative effects of stress, and is a powerful antidote to depression and anxiety. 

Any age and any level of physical ability can participate in this uplifting experience! They do not meet in Franklin in July and August, so be sure to get your laughs in this month! 
 

www.letslaughtoday.com

$5 donation to the church, $10 maximum per family. Please bring your water bottle because laughing is dehydrating. 

Led by Certified Laughter Yoga Teachers, Linda and Bill Hamaker. See www.letslaughtoday.com for opportunities to laugh in other towns. If you have any questions, just call them at 508-660-2223 or e-mail billandlinda@letslaughtoday.com.

MassBudget: Conference Preview - Differences between House and Senate Budgets for FY 2018

Differences between Senate and House budgets for FY 2018

MassBudget Information. Participation.  Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center Democracy. Conference Preview:  Differences  between House and Senate Budgets for FY 2018 With a Conference Committee of three Representatives and three Senators meeting to meld the proposals of the two branches into a final budget to present to the Governor, we are entering the final stages of the annual budget debate. As MassBudget's new Budget Monitor describes,the House and Senate proposals have a lot in common: both modestly increase funding for K-12 education and both make new investments in early education (although in different ways); both take steps to address the cost increases borne by the state as the result of fewer employees getting health care coverage from their employers; and both increase funding for affordable housing to help reduce homelessness. Both branches also incorporate revenue from the Governor's initiatives to require larger on-line retailers to collect state sales taxes. There are also significant differences that will need to be worked out in conference: the Senate provides more funding for higher education and raises modest amounts of additional revenue by taxing on-line rentals through services such as Airbnb and by changing the way taxes are calculated on hotel rooms booked on-line; the House funding levels are higher than the Senate in several areas including MassHealth and the Municipal Regionalization and Efficiencies Incentive. The Senate also included a proposal that was not in the House budget to begin a process of examining the costs and benefits of tax expenditures. The state loses over a billion dollars a year in revenue as a result of various special business tax breaks that are part of our tax code and not regularly evaluated. In the links below, this Budget Monitor describes all of the major differences between the House and Senate budget proposals in each section of the budget. While the May tax revenue numbers came in a little above projections, overall tax revenue for the year is $439 million below projections with one month to go. The good news is that revenue from income tax withholding has been reasonably strong - and that is a good measure of current economic circumstances. The big drop we saw in April was due mostly to payments with returns when people filed their 2016 taxes. Part of that drop may have been due to taxpayers with significant business and investment income anticipating federal income tax cuts in 2017 and shifting income from 2016 to 2017 (such as by waiting to sell stocks that had increased in value). But while there are some positive signs, tax revenue this year is below projections and there is always the danger that our national economy will weaken. It will be important for the 2018 budget to be as structurally balanced as possible. The budgets enacted by the two branches of the Legislature both rely on over $500 million in temporary solutions. This is considerably more than the amount relied on in the Governor's budget because he had proposed addressing the state costs of fewer employees getting health care coverage from their employers by enacting a permanent assessment on employers who don't meet certain benchmarks for providing coverage. That plan would have raised $300 million in FY 2018 and more in future years. The House and Senate plans would raise only $180 million in FY 2018 and nothing after two years. MassBudget's new Budget Monitor describes the major amendments adopted during the Senate budget debate and examines the differences between the House and Senate proposals. The links below also allow readers to jump quickly to specific sections. Click here to read the full Budget Monitor, "Conference Preview: Differences Between the Senate and House Budgets for FY 2018." Individual sections:  Child Welfare Disability Services Early Education Economic Development Elder Services Environment and Recreation Higher Education Housing Juvenile Justice K-12 Education Law and Public Safety Libraries Local Aid MassHealth and Health Reform Mental Health Other Administrative Other Human Services Pensions Public Health Revenue (tax and non-tax) State Employee Health Insurance Transitional Assistance Transportation Additional Line Item Differences The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) produces policy research, analysis, and data-driven recommendations focused on improving the lives of low- and middle-income children and adults, strengthening our state's economy, and enhancing the quality of life in Massachusetts. MASSACHUSETTS BUDGET AND POLICY CENTER 15 COURT SQUARE, SUITE 700 BOSTON, MA 02108

Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, 15 Court Square, Suite 700, Boston, MA 02108 Sent by nberger@massbudget.org in collaboration with Try it free today

MassBudget

"the work is in the best interests of preserving it"

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

"The town is set to begin herbicide treatment of the ponds at the DelCarte Conservation Property next week as part of an ongoing effort to fight invasive species there. 

According to a town release, the treatment will take place on June 13, depending on weather conditions; rain would delay the process. 

Deputy Town Administrator Jamie Hellen said it is the beginning of a multi-year process to remove invasive species from the property. 

“We’re excited to finally get going,” he said. “What’s happening is invasive species - mostly plants, but some fish as well - are suffocating the ecosystem there.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170606/franklin-to-remove-invasive-plants-at-delcarte

the floating walk way at DelCarte in the rain recently

Note: the treatment had been scheduled for June 7 but the weather forecast likely changed the date and could change it again.


The prior notification can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/05/delcarte-invasive-plant-treatment.html

FHS baseball ends playoff run, boys tennis postponed

From Hockomock Sports, we share the results of the FHS spring sports action on Monday, June 5.

Baseball = D1 South

#1 Franklin, 3 vs. #8 Durfee, 15 – Final

Boys Tennis = D1 South

#7 Franklin @ #2 Brookline – Postponed to Tuesday, 6/6 at a time and location to be announced.


For the results around the Hockomock League on Monday
https://hockomocksports.com/mondays-schedule-scoreboard-060517/

FHS Panthers

8th Annual Massachusetts Walking Tour prepares for 11 day trek through the Blackstone Valley - Stopping in Franklin

The 8th Annual Massachusetts Walking Tour, founded by songwriting duo Mark Mandeville & Raianne Richards, will be coming this year to the Blackstone Valley – performing 11 free community concerts while traversing the state on foot. Since 2010, Mandeville and Richards have organized now over 100 coffeehouse style concerts which showcase local musicians and artists across the state – creating a quality evening program for all ages and an opportunity for talent young and old to be enjoyed by a listening audience. Venues chosen for these community concerts include public libraries, town parks, and historical properties – and this year all events have been funded through local cultural council grants from the Massachusetts Cultural Council program.

The concert at Franklin Public Library will feature local performers “Rhythm & Flow”, Matt Zajac, Jackson Gillman with the MA Walking Troupe to follow. This event is sponsored by the Franklin Cultural Council.

The MWT will lead a group hike Meet at the SNETT crossing (approx 372 Lake St, Bellingham, MA. Arriving 9:30-10am ) and walk the SNETT to Chilson Beach (over shoots the library by 1 mile). 3 miles. approx 2 hours. Alternative: Meet at Chilson Beach (598 Beaver Street, Franklin, MA arriving around 1pm ) – 0.25 mile trail along Eastern Shore of the pond. Parking near the beach.0.25 Miles.

Carrying approximately 40-50 lbs of gear and instruments, the Massachusetts Walking Troupe, including veteran members Mark Kilianski (guitar, banjo) and Amy Alvey (fiddle), will be hiking from concert to concert using the Blackstone Valley’s many recreational trails – Southern New England Trunkline Trail (SNETT), Charles River Bikeway, and trails within DCR’s Riverbend Farm to name a few. In addition to evening concerts, the troupe will also be organizing a series of short group hikes wherein the community will be invited to meet up with the Massachusetts Walking Tour as they travel between towns. 

These public hikes will highlight some of the Blackstone Valley’s recreational hiking trails, routes which appear in local author Marjorie Turner Hollman’s book Easy Walks In Massachusetts. All daily routes and "Easy Walks" are available to view and download at www.masswalkingtour.org.

The Eighth Annual Massachusetts Walking Tour will take place between June 15 and June 24, starting in Webster and ending in Blackstone. All concerts will be from 6-8pm and here is a complete listing of events:

Eighth Annual Massachusetts Walking 
Tour arrives in Franklin - June 23

June 15 – Memorial Beach – Webster MA
June 16 – EN Jenckes General Store – Douglas MA
June 17 – River Bend Farm – Uxbridge MA
June 18 – Kiwanis Beach – Upton MA
June 19 – Hopedale Unitarian Parish – Hopedale MA
June 20 – Milford Senior Center – Milford MA
June 21 – Medway Public Library – Medway MA
June 22 – Bellingham Public Library – Bellingham MA
June 23 – Franklin Public Library – Franklin MA
June 24 – Blackstone Boys and Girls Club – Blackstone MA



For more information on these events or for videos of previous year’s Massachusetts Walking Tours, please visit:
www.masswalkingtour.org

"to what extent are drugs an issue in your community?”

ICYMI: From the Boston Globe West edition on Sunday

"The summer before Cassidy Latham entered Brockton High School in 2013, her sister, who worked at High Point Treatment Center, approached her with a question: Would she be interested in joining a new drug use prevention program there? 

Latham did not have personal or familial experience with drug use, but her sister wanted to have a variety of teenagers participate in the program. Latham had received some drug education in health classes when she attended South Middle School, where she learned about the dangers of drug use and heard from guest speakers who had struggled with addiction. But she and her peers agreed that it wasn’t entirely effective. 

The program Latham joined at High Point took a remarkably different approach: The teens were given cameras and a basic question: “to what extent are drugs an issue in your community?” The camera was the device to help them answer that question."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/regionals/south/2017/06/02/photovoice-youths-see-impact-addiction-new-light/uwKRfrboxxeDzmt2C7FZGO/story.html

Addiction is like “having your life locked up. The drugs just take
over, it’s not even you,” wrote the photographer, Cassidy Latham of Brockton, in 2013.