or go directly to Flickr
https://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_sherlock/sets/72157615252282453/with/3357418568/
Friday, February 22, 2019
Harlem Wizards in March 2009
Family fun at Tri-County. Harlem Wizards played the Sullivan Rockets in a fund raiser for the PCC in March 2009. Yes, this I think was the first visit of the Wizards. They have returned for several years as a fund raiser for the Franklin Education Foundation (FEF).
or go directly to Flickr
https://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_sherlock/sets/72157615252282453/with/3357418568/
or go directly to Flickr
https://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_sherlock/sets/72157615252282453/with/3357418568/
On this date: Feb 22, 2010
On this date: actually juggling a day since I hadn't published on 2/21/09; here in 2010, I did a weekly summary for the prior week (published on 2/21/10).
Yes, back in the day, I experimented on how to deliver the info and for a period of time I did a weekly summary. This gives a look at the week that was in 2010. Remember when?
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2010/02/fm-58-week-ending-22110.html
The single stream system we use today was introduced in July 2010. It has been a great success. Yet, it was looked upon as a major head ache and fraught with problems and issues in the run up to the implementation.
Yes, back in the day, I experimented on how to deliver the info and for a period of time I did a weekly summary. This gives a look at the week that was in 2010. Remember when?
"The winter school break is ending, the Olympics are underway, let's just take about ten minutes to keep current with what matters here in Franklin, MA as the week ends February 21, 2010
In this session I’ll go back to cover the Town Council meeting on Wednesday, Feb 10. In particular, their decision to reduce the annual curbside solid waste and recycling fee and implement minor increase to fees for Beaver St and to handle specific large items.
Time: 12 minutes, 48 seconds"
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2010/02/fm-58-week-ending-22110.html
The single stream system we use today was introduced in July 2010. It has been a great success. Yet, it was looked upon as a major head ache and fraught with problems and issues in the run up to the implementation.
 |
| Franklin trash and recycle bins or totters |
Franklin Police add therapy dog
Chief Thomas J. Lynch is excited to announce the addition of a Police Therapy Dog to the Department. Therapy dogs are used to comfort people who have been involved in a trauma, or stressful event. They can also help de-escalate situations, and bring a calming presence to a scene.
The 3 month old golden retriever named “Ben Franklin”, will work within the Community Services Division. In addition to responding to calls for service, Ben will regularly visit the schools, senior center, and community events.
Chief Lynch said “There are only a few communities in Massachusetts so far that have embraced therapy dogs as a way to engage, and serve the public. We are proud of the efforts made by the Community Services Division, under the direction of Lieutenant Mark Manocchio, to bring this program online. We see Ben as being a public face of our Agency, and a symbol of our commitment to use all available resources to better serve our residents.”
Ben’s training is being generously donated by Masterpeace Dog Training of Franklin.
The 3 month old golden retriever named “Ben Franklin”, will work within the Community Services Division. In addition to responding to calls for service, Ben will regularly visit the schools, senior center, and community events.
Chief Lynch said “There are only a few communities in Massachusetts so far that have embraced therapy dogs as a way to engage, and serve the public. We are proud of the efforts made by the Community Services Division, under the direction of Lieutenant Mark Manocchio, to bring this program online. We see Ben as being a public face of our Agency, and a symbol of our commitment to use all available resources to better serve our residents.”
Ben’s training is being generously donated by Masterpeace Dog Training of Franklin.
 |
| Franklin Police add therapy dog |
Thursday, February 21, 2019
It is time for your turn
Now it is time for your turn!
You come here often. You see what I do on Facebook.
I share an article, share a photo.
Something about Franklin that matters to me and that I hope will help you understand a little more of what goes on around town. There is much good that does go on. Good news doesn’t get headlines unfortunately.
I will be away for a couple of weeks and while that is not unusual, this time I don’t expect to have internet access to be able to keep tabs on what is happening while I am away. Or to keep posting on Facebook.
So this is time for your turn.
Be bold, share something that matters to you on what is happening around town.
Share a photo.
If you follow high school sports, share what’s happening to the FHS teams as reported by HockomockSports.com or Tri-County via their Twitter feed or one of the newspapers.
Be bold, do good.
You come here often. You see what I do on Facebook.
I share an article, share a photo.
Something about Franklin that matters to me and that I hope will help you understand a little more of what goes on around town. There is much good that does go on. Good news doesn’t get headlines unfortunately.
I will be away for a couple of weeks and while that is not unusual, this time I don’t expect to have internet access to be able to keep tabs on what is happening while I am away. Or to keep posting on Facebook.
So this is time for your turn.
Be bold, share something that matters to you on what is happening around town.
Share a photo.
If you follow high school sports, share what’s happening to the FHS teams as reported by HockomockSports.com or Tri-County via their Twitter feed or one of the newspapers.
Be bold, do good.
 |
| It is time for your turn |
Franklin Annual Report - 2018: Town Clerk’s Office
The Town Clerk’s Office is dedicated to providing friendly, professional service to all citizens. I am extremely proud of how well my staff performs and responds to the demands of the office. Please stop by and say hello!
This past year has been another exciting one! I am very pleased and proud to announce my assistant Nancy Danello and I have completed an extensive 3 year program at the New England Municipal Clerks Institute and Academy towards obtaining our CMC certification.
I hope our residents are as pleased as I am with the convenience and ease of our online software. This has been a convenient way for the public to request and purchase birth, death and marriage certificates. This improvement has also been a great success for our dog owners who need to license a new dog or who must renew their yearly dog license. These document requests and payment options are available online anytime of the day, 7 days a week. To use this service, visit the town website at franklinma.gov and follow to the Town Clerk’s Department.
Population
The total population for FY2017 Census is now 33,871.
Welcome to our New Residents
We continue with our welcome letters to all new residents. Along with a census form, we also send voter registration applications at this time to encourage voter participation: We invite all new residents to stop by the Clerk’s office… it’s a nice way to meet their Town officials and be introduced to the Municipal Building and the many services that are offered here in Town. If you’d like a Voter Registration Form sent to you; just call 508-520-4900 or email (tburr@franklinma.gov) you may also register online at (www.registertovotema.com).
Businesses
A total of 275 businesses were opened or renewed in Franklin during 2017. We wish them the best of luck. All non-incorporate/DBA businesses, according to MGL, shall register with the Town Clerk prior to commencing business. This certificate is valid for four years at a charge of $40.00. Banks will send their customers to us before allowing them to open a business account. This helps us to keep our records updated. We follow up with telephone calls as a reminder!
Underground Storage Tanks/Hazardous Material
Underground storage of gasoline permits are a total of 14 and 17 hazardous material permits. No new certificates have been filed with this office by the Fire Department during 2017.
Planning /Appeal Board Applications
All applications and decisions are permanent record and may be researched at any time through the Town Clerk’s office. Elsewhere in this report you will find our index of applicants/decisions during the year 2017.
Code of Franklin
The Town of Franklin Code Book is maintained and updated through this office, both in hard copy, and on the web at www.franklinma.gov. This book contains all the rules, regulations, by-laws and acts of the Town.
Town Clerk Directory
Our Directory of Town, State and County Officials booklet is available here in the Clerk’s office. This booklet has been a very useful tool to employers, committees, managers and residents. Other publications available in the Clerk’s office are Subdivision and Zoning Regulations and Maps, Resident Listing Books.
Record Retention Schedule
I have continued to keep our records in the best possible order as mandated through the Secretary of State’s office. All of our books are bound, microfilmed and stored in the Town Clerk’s vault each year. This is the history of Franklin and its’ residents and I take pride in maintaining a filing system that continues the safety of each volume.
Vital Records
Certified records of birth, deaths and marriage records are available through the Clerk’s office. They are copied on safety paper at a charge of $10.00 for the first copy and $5.00 per additional. As a note, when you need a copy of your birth record, remember that it is always filed in the town where your mother was living at the time of your birth, the hospital community and the Office of Vital Records in Boston, MA. You can order online on the town clerks web page through Viewpoint.
Dog Licensing
We have over 4,049 registered dogs in Franklin. Dog registration is a State Law requirement. Dogs are required to be licensed to be sure that they are up to date on their rabies vaccinations. Dogs should be licensed at 6 months and older. Licenses are $20.00 (altered) $30.00 (non altered) due by April 1st of each year with a late fee of $30.00 added to the tag fee after April 1st. Residents with (4) or more dogs need to acquire a kennel license through ZBA.
Conclusion
I’m sure you will agree that our office is certainly a very busy one! We find so often that people will call our office first for information when needing assistance and we always welcome their calls and will try to assist them or send them in the right direction. It’s nice to know that people feel comfortable calling or visiting the Clerk’s office for assistance.
I would like to thank my staff, Nancy Danello, Assistant Town Clerk, Michelle Marek, Assistant Election Administrator and Susan Merullo, Administrative Assistant for their dedication and commitment. I would also like to thank the department managers and their staff for their support throughout the past year.
Respectfully submitted,
Teresa M. Burr
Town Clerk / Election Administrator
Notary Public / Justice of the Peace
You can read the full Annual Report for 2018 online
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/uploads/franklin_2018_town_report.pdf
The archive of prior year annual reports
https://www.franklinma.gov/town-clerk/pages/annual-reports
This past year has been another exciting one! I am very pleased and proud to announce my assistant Nancy Danello and I have completed an extensive 3 year program at the New England Municipal Clerks Institute and Academy towards obtaining our CMC certification.
I hope our residents are as pleased as I am with the convenience and ease of our online software. This has been a convenient way for the public to request and purchase birth, death and marriage certificates. This improvement has also been a great success for our dog owners who need to license a new dog or who must renew their yearly dog license. These document requests and payment options are available online anytime of the day, 7 days a week. To use this service, visit the town website at franklinma.gov and follow to the Town Clerk’s Department.
Population
The total population for FY2017 Census is now 33,871.
Welcome to our New Residents
We continue with our welcome letters to all new residents. Along with a census form, we also send voter registration applications at this time to encourage voter participation: We invite all new residents to stop by the Clerk’s office… it’s a nice way to meet their Town officials and be introduced to the Municipal Building and the many services that are offered here in Town. If you’d like a Voter Registration Form sent to you; just call 508-520-4900 or email (tburr@franklinma.gov) you may also register online at (www.registertovotema.com).
Businesses
A total of 275 businesses were opened or renewed in Franklin during 2017. We wish them the best of luck. All non-incorporate/DBA businesses, according to MGL, shall register with the Town Clerk prior to commencing business. This certificate is valid for four years at a charge of $40.00. Banks will send their customers to us before allowing them to open a business account. This helps us to keep our records updated. We follow up with telephone calls as a reminder!
Underground Storage Tanks/Hazardous Material
Underground storage of gasoline permits are a total of 14 and 17 hazardous material permits. No new certificates have been filed with this office by the Fire Department during 2017.
Planning /Appeal Board Applications
All applications and decisions are permanent record and may be researched at any time through the Town Clerk’s office. Elsewhere in this report you will find our index of applicants/decisions during the year 2017.
Code of Franklin
The Town of Franklin Code Book is maintained and updated through this office, both in hard copy, and on the web at www.franklinma.gov. This book contains all the rules, regulations, by-laws and acts of the Town.
Town Clerk Directory
Our Directory of Town, State and County Officials booklet is available here in the Clerk’s office. This booklet has been a very useful tool to employers, committees, managers and residents. Other publications available in the Clerk’s office are Subdivision and Zoning Regulations and Maps, Resident Listing Books.
Record Retention Schedule
I have continued to keep our records in the best possible order as mandated through the Secretary of State’s office. All of our books are bound, microfilmed and stored in the Town Clerk’s vault each year. This is the history of Franklin and its’ residents and I take pride in maintaining a filing system that continues the safety of each volume.
Vital Records
Certified records of birth, deaths and marriage records are available through the Clerk’s office. They are copied on safety paper at a charge of $10.00 for the first copy and $5.00 per additional. As a note, when you need a copy of your birth record, remember that it is always filed in the town where your mother was living at the time of your birth, the hospital community and the Office of Vital Records in Boston, MA. You can order online on the town clerks web page through Viewpoint.
Dog Licensing
We have over 4,049 registered dogs in Franklin. Dog registration is a State Law requirement. Dogs are required to be licensed to be sure that they are up to date on their rabies vaccinations. Dogs should be licensed at 6 months and older. Licenses are $20.00 (altered) $30.00 (non altered) due by April 1st of each year with a late fee of $30.00 added to the tag fee after April 1st. Residents with (4) or more dogs need to acquire a kennel license through ZBA.
Conclusion
I’m sure you will agree that our office is certainly a very busy one! We find so often that people will call our office first for information when needing assistance and we always welcome their calls and will try to assist them or send them in the right direction. It’s nice to know that people feel comfortable calling or visiting the Clerk’s office for assistance.
I would like to thank my staff, Nancy Danello, Assistant Town Clerk, Michelle Marek, Assistant Election Administrator and Susan Merullo, Administrative Assistant for their dedication and commitment. I would also like to thank the department managers and their staff for their support throughout the past year.
Respectfully submitted,
Teresa M. Burr
Town Clerk / Election Administrator
Notary Public / Justice of the Peace
You can read the full Annual Report for 2018 online
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/uploads/franklin_2018_town_report.pdf
The archive of prior year annual reports
https://www.franklinma.gov/town-clerk/pages/annual-reports
 |
| Franklin Annual Report - 2018: Town Clerk’s Office |
Autism & Creating a Fulfilling Life for the Family and Child with Special Needs - Feb 28
Autism & Creating a Fulfilling Life for the Family and Child with Special Needs
Join us as we welcome author, journalist, public speaker and special needs parent Susan Senator. Susan is the mother of three boys, the oldest of whom has severe autism. Using her experiences and speaking from the heart, Susan speaks about the impact that autism has had on her family. She has authored books including: Making Peace with Autism, Autism Adulthood, and The Autism Mom's Survival Guide. Susan speaks around the country and maintains a blog and website, www.susansenator.com.
When: Thursday, February 28 at 7:00 PM
Where: Third floor Training Room of the Franklin Municipal Building, 255 East Central Street, Franklin, MA.
This event is free and open to the public.
If you have any suggestions for workshops or social events for the kids, please send us an email at franklinsepac@gmail.com.
WWW.FRANKLINSEPAC.ORG
Join us as we welcome author, journalist, public speaker and special needs parent Susan Senator. Susan is the mother of three boys, the oldest of whom has severe autism. Using her experiences and speaking from the heart, Susan speaks about the impact that autism has had on her family. She has authored books including: Making Peace with Autism, Autism Adulthood, and The Autism Mom's Survival Guide. Susan speaks around the country and maintains a blog and website, www.susansenator.com.
When: Thursday, February 28 at 7:00 PM
Where: Third floor Training Room of the Franklin Municipal Building, 255 East Central Street, Franklin, MA.
This event is free and open to the public.
If you have any suggestions for workshops or social events for the kids, please send us an email at franklinsepac@gmail.com.
WWW.FRANKLINSEPAC.ORG
 |
| Franklin SEPAC: Autism & Creating a Fulfilling Life for the Family and Child with Special Needs |
Gallery 218 - the K-12 Art Gallery
Gallery 218 was the K-12 Art Gallery for Franklin Public Schools at the old FHS building. These photos were from one of the shows featuring art from alumni (including my daughter - Allie)
or go directly to Flickr
https://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_sherlock/albums/72157613647068690
or go directly to Flickr
https://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_sherlock/albums/72157613647068690
On this date: Feb 21, 2009 - energy efficiency
In 2009, I find I did skip posting on 2/21/09, and shared the Milford Daily News article about energy efficiency steps being taken by Franklin on 2/22. These energy efficiency steps are being continued today.
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2009/02/you-dont-see-difference.html
Franklin was named a "green community" in 2018. One of the reasons it took so long to get named is we were already too efficient to qualify for the state designation.
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/06/franklin-green-community-recognition.html
"Michael D'Angelo, the facilities director for the schools and the town, takes pride in Franklin taking the lead in using technological advances early in the game.
"We were doing it before it was popular," said D'Angelo, who is constantly researching ways to make the schools as energy-efficient as possible - he's currently eyeing the installation of solar panels three years down the road, when he says they will be cost-effective."Read the post in the archives for 2/22/09
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2009/02/you-dont-see-difference.html
Franklin was named a "green community" in 2018. One of the reasons it took so long to get named is we were already too efficient to qualify for the state designation.
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/06/franklin-green-community-recognition.html
 |
| Franklin Green Community recognition event - Jun 7, 2018 |
Franklin Police complete ONE MIND pledge
The Franklin Police Department is pleased to announce that they have completed a pledge they took to improve their response to those suffering from mental illness in their community. The pledge is part of an initiative called the One Mind Campaign started by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), a 30,000 member professional association for law enforcement that provides training, technical assistance, and recruitment services. To join the One Mind Campaign, law enforcement agencies must pledge to implement four promising practices in a 12-36 month period to ensure successful future interactions between police officers and persons with mental illness.
In the law enforcement community, mental illness has become a common focus, with some departments estimating that as many as 20% of their calls for service are related to mental health declines. Chief Thomas J. Lynch made the decision to join the International Association of Chiefs of Police’s One Mind Campaign because the need to better our interactions with those suffering mental illness was being seen in daily response to calls for service.
In completing the One Mind Pledge, the Franklin Police Department established a sustainable partnership with a local mental health organization, developed and implemented a model policy to address officers’ interactions with those affected by mental illness, and ensured that all of their officers received some type of mental health awareness training, with at least twenty percent of the department completing the more intensive Crisis Intervention Training.
The 40-hour Crisis Intervention curriculum is designed by local agencies to train a team of specialized officers to respond to calls that involve individuals with mental health disorders such as depression or intellectual disability. The curriculum includes education on various de-escalation techniques as well as live role-play scenarios of officers responding to persons who need mental health assistance.
Other initiatives that the Franklin Police Department has pursued in response to the needs of the community include the Jail Diversion Program, which brought in a Masters level mental health clinician as a co-responder with police officers on calls for service related to mental health problems.
Chief Lynch stated: “I’m proud of my officers for being partners in this pledge not just because it was a Departmental goal to improve our response to these types of calls, but because we have the genuine opportunity to better serve our community. Police officers by nature want to help people. Giving our officers the skills to better serve all aspects of our population only serves to create better outcomes for all involved.”
For more information about the One Mind Campaign, please visit the IACP’s website: http://www.theiacp.org/onemindcampaign/. A list of all agencies who have taken the pledge is also available there.
In the law enforcement community, mental illness has become a common focus, with some departments estimating that as many as 20% of their calls for service are related to mental health declines. Chief Thomas J. Lynch made the decision to join the International Association of Chiefs of Police’s One Mind Campaign because the need to better our interactions with those suffering mental illness was being seen in daily response to calls for service.
In completing the One Mind Pledge, the Franklin Police Department established a sustainable partnership with a local mental health organization, developed and implemented a model policy to address officers’ interactions with those affected by mental illness, and ensured that all of their officers received some type of mental health awareness training, with at least twenty percent of the department completing the more intensive Crisis Intervention Training.
The 40-hour Crisis Intervention curriculum is designed by local agencies to train a team of specialized officers to respond to calls that involve individuals with mental health disorders such as depression or intellectual disability. The curriculum includes education on various de-escalation techniques as well as live role-play scenarios of officers responding to persons who need mental health assistance.
Other initiatives that the Franklin Police Department has pursued in response to the needs of the community include the Jail Diversion Program, which brought in a Masters level mental health clinician as a co-responder with police officers on calls for service related to mental health problems.
 |
| Franklin Police complete ONE MIND pledge |
Chief Lynch stated: “I’m proud of my officers for being partners in this pledge not just because it was a Departmental goal to improve our response to these types of calls, but because we have the genuine opportunity to better serve our community. Police officers by nature want to help people. Giving our officers the skills to better serve all aspects of our population only serves to create better outcomes for all involved.”
For more information about the One Mind Campaign, please visit the IACP’s website: http://www.theiacp.org/onemindcampaign/. A list of all agencies who have taken the pledge is also available there.
Health Connector for Small Business Presentation Offered in Franklin
The Franklin Downtown Partnership and the Milford Regional Chamber of Commerce are hosting a presentation by the New England Business Association titled "Health Connector for Small Business: An Informational Session" on Tuesday, March 5 from 8 AM to 9:30 AM. The session, which is free and open to the public, will be held in the Campanella Board Room of Dean College’s Campus Center, 99 Main St., Franklin.
The presentation will explain the new Massachusetts Health Connector shopping platform for small business. The platform makes it easier for small businesses to offer health insurance to their employees. Employers can choose from a variety of plans by multiple providers.
Pre-registration is required. Register online at www.newenglandbusiness.org/events. Contact Sophia at sophia@newenglandbusiness.org or 781-890-9070, ext. 221 with questions.
 |
| Health Connector for Small Business |
Pre-registration is required. Register online at www.newenglandbusiness.org/events. Contact Sophia at sophia@newenglandbusiness.org or 781-890-9070, ext. 221 with questions.
Wednesday, February 20, 2019
Franklin Annual Report - 2018: Town Administrator
The Town Administration works with the Town Council together to improve the quality of life of our residents. We are diligent in balancing the budget and keeping an eye on the Town’s future needs and maintaining its assets.
Accomplishments in FY18 include:
The Town has created an Agricultural Commission. After many interviews seven great candidates were selected with five being full members and two associates.
In January 2018 Franklin was designated as a Green Community from the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources and was awarded a grant of $183,000 in June of 2018.
The Town went out to bid twice for municipal aggregation for bulk purchasing of electricity to lower rates for citizens however we did not get good rates and will continue to pursue.
We created a Town Budget webpage with helpful resources such as how the budget process works, Operating and Capital budgets, and Fiscal forecasts. A balanced budget was submitted to the Town Council and was approved. We have received five year Capital plans from all departments including the Water And Sewer Enterprise fund. Having long term Capital plans prevents larger costs down the road.
LED Street light conversion contracts were executed and set the table for a fall 2018 install
As part of our expansion of customer service we have expanded our Viewpoint Online Permitting System and will continue adding new applications throughout the year to make for a more convenient process.
Subsidized Housing Inventory, is still over 10% with 11.89% of our housing stock considered affordable by State law.
We continue to update the Town’s website to make information easily accessible for the public. All Agendas and Minutes of all boards and committees are web-based and continuously updated. These can be found on the boards and committees’ pages on our website. You can follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube for News and Announcement as well as visiting our website at www.franklinma.gov.
Personnel
The Town hired Finance Director/Comptroller, Christopher Sandini to replace retired Comptroller, Susan Gagner.
Other
The Town Administrator’s Office has moved the Passport Acceptance Office and the Affordable Housing Office from the third floor to the first floor to better convenience the applicant. You can apply for your passport by appointment on Monday, Wednesday or Friday.
We have reorganized The Board of Health, Planning, Building, Inspections, and Conservation Departments combining them into one office to better serve our customers.
The Towns Safety Committee worked with representatives from each department and MIIA representatives and earned $70,000 in insurance premium savings and was recognized by Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA) as a leader in preventing risk in the workplace through employee training programs.
Franklin Bends the Trend by working with Insurance Advisory Committee to keep insurance rate increases for employees to a minimum, The Town has changed Health Insurance Carrier to Harvard Pilgrim and now also offers a Qualified High Deductible Health Care Plan.
The Town also received a $10,000 loss control grant for preventative maintenance. This grant will be used towards a program that will schedule routine maintenance tasks that will prevent larger, costly repairs in the future. In turn will save on costs and improve safety, reliability and conservation of assets.
Worked with the Recreation Director to secure $200,000 in grant money for King Street Memorial Park renovations. This grant will go towards new basketball courts, pickleball courts and a playground.
The Town received a grant from the State of $50,000 to expand the Veterans Memorial Walkway on the Town Common.
Our goal is to deliver high quality customer service while keeping costs under control. There will be difficult challenges to our budget in the coming year; but you can be assured that the Town Administration and Town Council will work together to solve budgetary issues.
It is my pleasure to submit the annual report of the Town Administrator for your review, and please feel free to write, email, or stop by with any questions, concerns, or comments.
Respectfully submitted,
Jeffrey Nutting, Town Administrator
You can read the full Annual Report for 2018 online
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/uploads/franklin_2018_town_report.pdf
The archive of prior year annual reports
https://www.franklinma.gov/town-clerk/pages/annual-reports
Accomplishments in FY18 include:
The Town has created an Agricultural Commission. After many interviews seven great candidates were selected with five being full members and two associates.
In January 2018 Franklin was designated as a Green Community from the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources and was awarded a grant of $183,000 in June of 2018.
The Town went out to bid twice for municipal aggregation for bulk purchasing of electricity to lower rates for citizens however we did not get good rates and will continue to pursue.
We created a Town Budget webpage with helpful resources such as how the budget process works, Operating and Capital budgets, and Fiscal forecasts. A balanced budget was submitted to the Town Council and was approved. We have received five year Capital plans from all departments including the Water And Sewer Enterprise fund. Having long term Capital plans prevents larger costs down the road.
LED Street light conversion contracts were executed and set the table for a fall 2018 install
As part of our expansion of customer service we have expanded our Viewpoint Online Permitting System and will continue adding new applications throughout the year to make for a more convenient process.
Subsidized Housing Inventory, is still over 10% with 11.89% of our housing stock considered affordable by State law.
We continue to update the Town’s website to make information easily accessible for the public. All Agendas and Minutes of all boards and committees are web-based and continuously updated. These can be found on the boards and committees’ pages on our website. You can follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube for News and Announcement as well as visiting our website at www.franklinma.gov.
Personnel
The Town hired Finance Director/Comptroller, Christopher Sandini to replace retired Comptroller, Susan Gagner.
Other
The Town Administrator’s Office has moved the Passport Acceptance Office and the Affordable Housing Office from the third floor to the first floor to better convenience the applicant. You can apply for your passport by appointment on Monday, Wednesday or Friday.
We have reorganized The Board of Health, Planning, Building, Inspections, and Conservation Departments combining them into one office to better serve our customers.
The Towns Safety Committee worked with representatives from each department and MIIA representatives and earned $70,000 in insurance premium savings and was recognized by Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA) as a leader in preventing risk in the workplace through employee training programs.
Franklin Bends the Trend by working with Insurance Advisory Committee to keep insurance rate increases for employees to a minimum, The Town has changed Health Insurance Carrier to Harvard Pilgrim and now also offers a Qualified High Deductible Health Care Plan.
The Town also received a $10,000 loss control grant for preventative maintenance. This grant will be used towards a program that will schedule routine maintenance tasks that will prevent larger, costly repairs in the future. In turn will save on costs and improve safety, reliability and conservation of assets.
Worked with the Recreation Director to secure $200,000 in grant money for King Street Memorial Park renovations. This grant will go towards new basketball courts, pickleball courts and a playground.
The Town received a grant from the State of $50,000 to expand the Veterans Memorial Walkway on the Town Common.
Our goal is to deliver high quality customer service while keeping costs under control. There will be difficult challenges to our budget in the coming year; but you can be assured that the Town Administration and Town Council will work together to solve budgetary issues.
It is my pleasure to submit the annual report of the Town Administrator for your review, and please feel free to write, email, or stop by with any questions, concerns, or comments.
Respectfully submitted,
Jeffrey Nutting, Town Administrator
You can read the full Annual Report for 2018 online
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/uploads/franklin_2018_town_report.pdf
The archive of prior year annual reports
https://www.franklinma.gov/town-clerk/pages/annual-reports
|
| Franklin Annual Report - 2018: Town Administrator |
Grand Opening of the Franklin (MA) Senior Center on 11/11/07
From the photo archive - the grand opening of the Senior Center was held on Nov 11, 2007.
or view at Flickr
https://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_sherlock/sets/72157612392922276/with/1975354895/
or view at Flickr
https://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_sherlock/sets/72157612392922276/with/1975354895/
On this Date: Feb 20, 2008 - Pirelli Arena dedicated
We shared the news on this date in Feb 2008:
From the archives on this day, 2/20/2008
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2008/02/pirelli-rink.html
Sgt Pirelli is also in the recognized in the archives in 2009 when the Iraq/Afghanistan monument is dedicated with his name inscribed
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2009/05/fm-40-memorial-day-2009.html
"At 8:18 p.m., all the shouting, banging and stomping at Veterans Memorial Skating Rink halted.
Young men in blue and white uniforms skating in circles and slamming pucks at their goal lined up, facing their opposition in silence. For a few brief moments, only the sound of bagpipes honoring fallen soldier Robert Ryan Pirelli could be heard.
Following Gov. Deval Patrick's approval Friday, the town renamed the arena last night at the final Panthers home game of the season in memory of Staff Sgt. Pirelli, a former Panther hockey player who was killed by enemy fire in Iraq last year."
From the archives on this day, 2/20/2008
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2008/02/pirelli-rink.html
Sgt Pirelli is also in the recognized in the archives in 2009 when the Iraq/Afghanistan monument is dedicated with his name inscribed
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2009/05/fm-40-memorial-day-2009.html
Franklin Historical Museum: Sunday Speaker, Franklin's birthday party
The Land where the Sun comes up First … The March edition of our Second Sunday Speaker Series features Benjamin Roine on the topic of Native American History.
Roine’s presentation will discuss Native Peoples and Cultures of Massachusetts and Southern New England. Roine’s history will cover from ice age hunters to the myriad of groups that resided in the area when Europeans first made contact with them.
Explore the initial period of colonization and the ‘Middle Ground’ that existed between the Native peoples and European Colonists. We cannot truly consider our history unless we learn about the people that lived on the lands where we now live. Join us Sunday, March 10 at 1:10 PM and discover more about the people that walked these lands before us.
Join us for our annual Birthday Party for the Town of Franklin. Incorporated March 2 1778 during the American Revolution, Franklin celebrates its 241st birthday this year. Each year, every resident of the town, born on March 2nd is invited to the museum to share their birthdays.
The event is open to the public and all are welcome for cake. Invited guests are entered into a drawing for a special prize. Join us Saturday, March 2 at 11:00 AM to help celebrate the town.
The museum is located at 80 West Central Street, we are wheel chair accessible and always FREE. The Second Sunday Speaker Series and the Town’s Birthday celebration are sponsored by The Friends of the Franklin Historical Museum.
Roine’s presentation will discuss Native Peoples and Cultures of Massachusetts and Southern New England. Roine’s history will cover from ice age hunters to the myriad of groups that resided in the area when Europeans first made contact with them.
Explore the initial period of colonization and the ‘Middle Ground’ that existed between the Native peoples and European Colonists. We cannot truly consider our history unless we learn about the people that lived on the lands where we now live. Join us Sunday, March 10 at 1:10 PM and discover more about the people that walked these lands before us.
Join us for our annual Birthday Party for the Town of Franklin. Incorporated March 2 1778 during the American Revolution, Franklin celebrates its 241st birthday this year. Each year, every resident of the town, born on March 2nd is invited to the museum to share their birthdays.
The event is open to the public and all are welcome for cake. Invited guests are entered into a drawing for a special prize. Join us Saturday, March 2 at 11:00 AM to help celebrate the town.
The museum is located at 80 West Central Street, we are wheel chair accessible and always FREE. The Second Sunday Speaker Series and the Town’s Birthday celebration are sponsored by The Friends of the Franklin Historical Museum.
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| Franklin Historical Museum: Sunday Speaker, Franklin's birthday party |
Reminder: Ski Trip Planned - Saturday, March 2, 2019
Lifelong Community Learning has announced a March 2 ski trip to Bretton Woods, NH. Participants will enjoy a day on the slopes without thinking about the driving.
Transportation will be provided by a chartered motor coach departing Franklin High School parking lot at 5:30 AM and will depart Bretton Woods at 4:30 PM to return home. Individuals under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
For more information, and to register, go online to www.FranklinLifelongLearning.com and click on Community Learning-Special Events.
You can also call Lifelong Community Learning at 508-613-1480.
NOTE: If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Brenda Reed at 508-613-1483 or email at reedb@franklinps.net.
Get a copy of the Flyer
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhcza2NKOGRqLTg3T09iR0JadzEtSG5zM0FBZkxV/view?usp=sharing
Transportation will be provided by a chartered motor coach departing Franklin High School parking lot at 5:30 AM and will depart Bretton Woods at 4:30 PM to return home. Individuals under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
For more information, and to register, go online to www.FranklinLifelongLearning.com and click on Community Learning-Special Events.
You can also call Lifelong Community Learning at 508-613-1480.
Lifelong Community Learning is a program of the Franklin Public Schools Lifelong Learning Institute, dedicated to providing diverse and enriched education and experiences for all area residents and children – a resource for all ages.
NOTE: If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Brenda Reed at 508-613-1483 or email at reedb@franklinps.net.
Get a copy of the Flyer
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhcza2NKOGRqLTg3T09iR0JadzEtSG5zM0FBZkxV/view?usp=sharing
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| Saturday Ski Trip Planned - March 2, 2019 |
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