St. Mary Women's Faith Formation - Feb 16

Welcome women The St Mary Women's Faith Formation group invites all the women of St. Mary's and surrounding parishes to join us on a faith-filled journey as we seek to deepen our understanding and live our Catholic faith more fully.   As women, we often struggle to balance family responsibilities, work commitments and social obligations.  Where does our Catholic faith fit into the mix?  Has it somehow been set aside for future attention?  Have we gotten so busy that we've forgotten the grace and joy that come from living our faith as Catholic women today? On the third Saturday of each month we will meet from 9:00-10:00 am at newly renovated church HALL where we will join in lite refreshment, view selected segments of Bishop Robert Barron's Catholicism series, discuss our reflections, concerns and questions raised from the segment, and strengthen our common bond as women of faith.   Next Meeting is February 16 Please join us and give yourself the gift of taking a step back once a month from the busyness of your life to reconnect with the grace, joy and peace that is there waiting for you in the heart of your Catholic faith.

Deacon Guy St.Sauveur | 1 Church Square, Franklin, MA 02038 Sent by deaconguy@stmarysfranklin.org in collaboration with Try it free today

"When we fix these water lines, we also get a brand-new road out of it"

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

"Several streets will be torn up and repaved over the next five years after Town Council approved the latest installment of the town’s water main maintenance plan. 

Director of Public Works Robert “Brutus” Cantoreggi on Jan. 30 gave a presentation to councilors on the new five-year plan, which starts in 2020. Water mains and certain streets and sidewalks will be repaired simultaneously, a repeat of a schedule the town’s has used for 20 years of performing work in five-year installments. 

Deputy Town Administrator Jaime Hellen said that by shifting the work area every five years, the town has been able to keep up with leaks in the mains and potholes on the streets. 

“The Town Council has authorized a new $7.5 million (payment) to replace these water mains that have leaks,” said Hellen. “And we’re just at the end of this cycle at the end of 2019.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190207/franklin-oks-new-water-main-project


Note: the MA DEP water permit is based upon the average of 65 gallons of water per day (Page 4). Franklin through conservation efforts uses less than that per DPW Director Cantoreggi, we have been as low as 45 gal per day. 

Page 17 of the presentation outlines the street plan and current year for rework.

The presentation used in the Town Council meeting Jan 30 can be found here

• https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/01/live-reporting-dpw-water-presentation.html

My notes from the meeting can be found here
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/02/town-council-jan-30-2019-recap.html

DPW Director Cantoreggi and Water Superintendent Laurie Ruszala
presenting to the Town Council Jan 30

Zoning Board of Appeals: Public Hearing Notices - Feb 21

Zoning Board of Appeals, Town of Franklin
Public Hearings - Posting
For Hearing on: February 21, 2019
Printed 0n: Thursday, February 7, 2019 and Thursday, February 14, 2019
Notice is hereby given that the Town of Franklin Board of Appeals will hold a Public hearing on February 21, 2019 in the Franklin Municipal Building, 355 East Central Street, Franklin, MA At: 7:35 PM

Applicant: Michele Ellertson – The Dog’s Pace
Address of Subject Property: 25 Kenwood Circle – Unit J (Map 295, Lot 011)
Petition Type: Special Permit
From Section (or Schedule): Article 185, Section 2.21 (Attachment 3)
To Allow: Applicant is seeking to site an animal training center. The use is denied without a Special Permit from the ZBA

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/agendas/02-21-19_meeting_newspaper_page_2_0.pdf

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

Zoning Board of Appeals, Town of Franklin
Public Hearings - Posting
For Hearing on: February 21, 2019
Printed 0n: Thursday, February 7, 2019 and Thursday, February 14, 2019
Notice is hereby given that the Town of Franklin Board of Appeals will hold a
Public hearing on February 21, 2019 in the Franklin Municipal Building, 355 East Central Street, Franklin, MA At: 7:30 PM

Applicant: Milford Regional Physician’s Group
Address of Subject Property: 1262-1288 West Central Street (Map 274-002-000-000 and 274-003-000-000)
Petition Type: Variance
From Section (or Schedule): 185-20, 185 Attachment 10
To Allow: Applicant is seeking to install a total of 275.25 sq. ft. of signage where 60 sq. ft. is allowed. Signs on the upper floors facing the street are not allowed and that equates to 226.75 sq. ft. of the total signage. The building permit for the signs is denied without a variance from ZBA.

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/agendas/02-21-19_meeting_newspaper_page_2.pdf

ZBA: Public Hearing Notices - Feb 21

Notes from the Legislative Forum - Feb 5, 2019

The Legislative Forum hosted by the Franklin School Committee on Tuesday, Feb 5 was an informative evening. My notes taken via Twitter can be read here. I'll share the audio of the 90 minute session later this week.

Updated: Unfortunately, the technical quality of the audio was not worthy of sharing and won't be published.

Dr Anne Bergen opening the School Committee's Legislative Forum tonight at Horace Mann #schcom0205 pic.twitter.com/PmrHpHS8bU

— Steve Sherlock (@FranklinMatters) February 6, 2019

Next up Supt Sara Ahern presents the proposed school budget for FY 2020 pic.twitter.com/pI9tdOEzC9

— Steve Sherlock (@FranklinMatters) February 6, 2019

The class of 2032 will be registering for school next week. What will the world look like when they reach Senior year in high school? #schcom0205

— Steve Sherlock (@FranklinMatters) February 6, 2019

Presentation copy will be on schools web site on Weds. $2.6M increase req'd for level service, $3.8M for some critical needs #schcom0205 pic.twitter.com/XMf3mKaTFW

— Steve Sherlock (@FranklinMatters) February 6, 2019

FY 2020 Superintendent's Recommended Budget from Franklin Matters

Or from the Town of Franklin page
https://www.franklinps.net/sites/franklinmaps/files/news/fy20_superintendents_recommended_budget.pdf

Superintendent Sara Ahern's prepared remarks can be found on this page
https://www.franklinps.net/sites/franklinmaps/files/news/superintendents_opening_remarks_legislative_forum_2-5-19.pdf

Sch Com Denise Schultz up next to introduce the panel of speakers. #schcom0205 pic.twitter.com/qcfQvs0SGM

— Steve Sherlock (@FranklinMatters) February 6, 2019

Rep Jeff Roy, Senator Karen Spilka and MASC Exec Dir Glenn Koocher all at one time had School Committee experience, not usual #schcom0205 pic.twitter.com/TALw3MFVzT

— Steve Sherlock (@FranklinMatters) February 6, 2019

"My best memory of elementary school is recess" Senator Karen Spilka #schcom0205 in context of needing to approach the student education holistically

— Steve Sherlock (@FranklinMatters) February 6, 2019

"There is a commitment to provide funding for quality education here in MA" #schcom0205 pic.twitter.com/VYQkl2Pct3

— Steve Sherlock (@FranklinMatters) February 6, 2019

Are there conversations about schools having to solve all the community issues that walk in the door? Resounding yes. Not easy to do #schcom0205

— Steve Sherlock (@FranklinMatters) February 6, 2019

"You don't appreciate the problems that you don't have" with the MA health care coverage, that one item helps in so many ways #schcom0205

— Steve Sherlock (@FranklinMatters) February 6, 2019

DESE not receptive to reducing time on learning to provide recess or unstructured time. #schcom0205

— Steve Sherlock (@FranklinMatters) February 6, 2019

Great question on how to address the inequity of education between district and charter school students. #schcom0205 all Franklin needs to respectfully have the discussion, many of the charter school students will end up at FHS

— Steve Sherlock (@FranklinMatters) February 6, 2019

More tools in the toolbox for local community to resolve budgeting other than the property tax would be good to do so you don't have to do it all at the state level #schcom0205

— Steve Sherlock (@FranklinMatters) February 6, 2019

Parent reporting Franklin has worst recess/lunch policy among the 15 neighboring communities. Only 20 mins scheduled for each #schcom0205

— Steve Sherlock (@FranklinMatters) February 6, 2019

Rep Roy encouraging participation at the local Senate Ways and Means sessions, schedule to be posted #schcom0205

— Steve Sherlock (@FranklinMatters) February 6, 2019

School Committee Chair, Anne Bergen

FPS Superintendent Sara Ahern

School Committee member Denise Schultz

Left to Right: Rep Jeff Roy, Senator Karen Spilka, and MASC Exec Dir Glenn Koocher

School Start Times Parent/Guardian Education Night - Feb 13

Dear Families,

The School Start Times Parent/Guardian Education Night has been rescheduled for Wednesday, February 13, 2019 at 7:00 PM. 

Please see the attached flyer and RSVP for planning purposes.

Franklin Public Schools



RSVP for planning purposes
https://goo.gl/forms/d0QjjcAW3dTNmXg23

Download flyer here or below
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczWllHR2hFQUxtYVlwV1VFaE5hSFBQQnZJeUtv/view?usp=sharing


--
Sara E. Ahern, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Schools
Franklin Public Schools
355 East Central Street
Suite 3
Franklin, MA 02038
508-553-4819

School Start Times Parent/Guardian Education Night - Feb 13

FHS wrestling posts win, girls hockey skates to a tie on Wednesday

Via HockomockSports and Twitter, we share the results of the FHS sports action on Wednesday, Feb 6, 2019


Girls Hockey = Canton, 0 @ Franklin, 0 – Final
– "The top two teams in the Hockomock skated to a scoreless tie, but not for a lack of chances. Both defenses played strong and each team had just one power play: Franklin late in the third period and Canton for the final 30 seconds of the game. 

Franklin goalie Gabby Colace made 16 saves for the shutout. “She played outstanding tonight, she made a couple of saves that really kept us in the game,” said Franklin coach Margie Burke. 

Canton netminder Ava Pacitti earned the shutout with 14 saves. “Ava has come so far, she barely saw any time last year and she’s just playing incredible hockey,” said Canton coach Dennis Aldrich. “The girls rally around her. That was the best high school hockey game I’ve been involved this year.”

– Click here for a photo gallery of this game
https://hockomocksports.smugmug.com/2018-2019/Winter-2018-2019/Franklin-Canton-Girls-Hockey-02-06-19/

Wrestling = North Attleboro, 30 @ Franklin, 34 – Final

Big 34-30 Win over North Attleboro to close out the dual meet season. Pins from Jake, Fracassa and Jordan.

— Franklin Wrestling (@FHSWrestle) February 7, 2019

Gymnastics = Oliver Ames, 135.6 @ Franklin, 133.8 – Final

Such a close match up tonight. Nice effort, we have some work to do to get ready for Saturday! Let’s bring it tomorrow at practice girls! Congrats Seniors!! @FHSSports @FHSPantherbook @FranklinHS @FranklinMatters pic.twitter.com/3j0swcQfBW

— FHS Gymnastics (@fhs_gymnastics) February 7, 2019

@fhs_gymnastics photo

For other results around the Hockomock League
https://hockomocksports.com/wednesdays-schedule-scoreboard-02-06-19/

MassBudget: Analyzing the Governor's FY 2020 budget proposal

Includes some new revenues, accompanied by modest plan to update education funding

MassBudget    Information.    Participation.  Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center    Democracy. February 5, 2019 Analyzing the Governor's FY 2020 budget proposal Proposal includes some new revenues, accompanied by modest plan to update education funding The Governor's Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 budget proposal provides modest increases in funding for public education, human services, and several other important investments. This new funding does not, in many cases, reverse deep cuts imposed across the state budget after the tax cuts of the late 1990s and early 2000s - despite a decade of expansion in the economy. Lost revenue from tax cuts has limited the Commonwealth's ability to adequately fund education, infrastructure, and other building blocks of healthy communities and a strong economy. While the Governor's proposal would increase year over year funding for several programs, it provides the same or less funding for programs such as Public Health, Local Aid, Juvenile Justice, Transitional Assistance, and others, according to an analysis by the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget). The Governor's proposal recommends 16 percent less funding for Early Education and Care compared to FY 2001 (adjusting for inflation). Funding for Local Aid is similarly down 38 percent and Environment and Recreation programs remain 29 percent below 2001 levels. Making the necessary investments in our schools, transportation, housing, and other essential programs will require bold, new revenue sources. Tax revenue growth was unusually strong in FY 2018 and may continue to be strong for most of FY 2019. The Department of Revenue expects that, without policy changes to increase revenue, overall revenue growth will slow markedly in FY 2020 - putting a strain on our capacity to support public programs and invest in infrastructure. While the Governor's FY 2020 budget proposal includes a variety of new and expanded taxes and other revenues, a number of previously-scheduled tax cuts and other revenue-losing policy changes will take a significant bite out of revenue totals in FY 2020 and beyond. Much of the additional revenue proposed by the Governor would come from a variety of consumption taxes, which typically are regressive (meaning people with lower incomes contribute a larger share of their household incomes toward these taxes than do people with higher incomes). Meanwhile, the tax revenue reductions mostly come from progressive revenue sources. Therefore, these proposals do not help turn Massachusetts' upside-down tax system right-side up. The Governor's proposal is accompanied by a plan to overhaul Massachusetts' school funding formula that could help ensure that all schools, especially those in low-income districts, are adequately funded. The plan makes some progress, over a seven-year timeline, to implement the 2015 Foundation Budget Review Commission (FBRC) recommendations related to health insurance, special education, and greater support for low-income and English Language Learner students. However, without substantial, new revenues the Commonwealth can only adopt a moderate plan to implement the FBRC recommendations. The budget proposal includes other notable initiatives. For instance, the Governor proposes creating a trust fund to prevent childhood lead exposure and increasing the "Real Estate Transfer Tax" to invest in climate change adaptation. Further, the Governor proposes new systems for negotiating the cost of drugs used under MassHealth and expands eligibility for low-income elders to qualify for the Medicare Savings Plan. Read the full analysis here. http://massbudget.org/report_window.php?loc=Analyzing-the-Governor%27s-Budget-for-FY-2020.html 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 mrivera@massbudget.org in collaboration with Try it free today

screen grab of the MassBudget - Budget Browser

In the News: Gov Baker talks climate change in DC; Housing crisis leads to homelessness

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

Gov Baker talks climate change in DC

"In testimony before a U.S. House committee Wednesday, Gov. Charlie Baker told Congress to set politics aside and follow Massachusetts’ lead on adapting to a changing climate and preparing to deal with more powerful weather, including setting specific targets for greenhouse gas emissions reductions. 

The Republican governor has made climate change adaptation and resilience a central part of his agenda as he begins a second term in office. Last month, he proposed raising a real estate transfer tax to pay for a $1 billion, decade-long program to help Massachusetts cities and towns prepare for and clean up after the impacts of climate change. 

The governor told the U.S. House Natural Resources Committee that states “need strong federal leadership and a bold bipartisan vision on climate change.” He said climate policy is not a partisan issue in Massachusetts because “we understand the science and know the impacts are real because we are experiencing them firsthand,” and called on federal lawmakers to row in the same direction. 

“The magnitude of the impacts from climate change requires all of us - at the federal, state and local levels - to put politics aside and work together. That is the path we have taken in Massachusetts,” Baker said."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190206/baker-talks-climate-change-in-dc

Housing crisis leads to homelessness

"Looking out her window, Kristen McCorquodale reflected on eight years of chasing affordable housing to avoid homelessness. 

It was a January afternoon and temperatures the day before fell below zero degrees. 

“This isn’t May. This isn’t like the last time,” she said, referencing a few years prior when her family lived out of a Ford Expedition. 

McCorquodale, 35, is from Somerville. But over the last decade, she and her husband, Dan, along with their three children, have lived in Beverly, Gardner, Worcester, Marlborough, Dorchester and – most recently – Fitchburg. Their homes during that time included apartments, basements, shelters and a small Boston unit with two families and no working toilet."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190205/housing-crisis-fuels-homelessness-in-massachusetts

In the News: Polito, Roy file legislation on teen sexting

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

"Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito said she’ll “put my shoulder behind” a bill she announced Wednesday to rewrite the state’s laws around sharing sexually explicit images, saying the state must respond to technological changes and protect its youth. 

The bill, which Gov. Charlie Baker is filing for the second time, addresses the forms of image-sharing sometimes known as sexting and revenge porn. It would have anyone under the age of 18 to be diverted from the criminal justice system, at a prosecutor’s discretion, and create a new penalty for adults distributing explicit images for revenge or embarrassment purposes. 

“While we are very progressive in this commonwealth and proud that we are first in many areas, 40 other states have laws in place to protect from the distribution of sexually explicit images,” Polito said during a meeting of the Governor’s Council to Address Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence. “This is not a place where we’re leading and clearly we have the opportunity to do so.” 

.... 

Last session, the Judiciary Committee redrafted Baker’s bill and two others into a new piece of legislation, which ultimately died in the House Ways and Means Committee."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190206/polito-roy-file-bills-on-sharing-explicit-images

Polito, Roy file bills on sharing explicit images