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| Register O'Donnell Promotes Registry of Deeds Internet Research |
Monday, May 27, 2019
Register O'Donnell Promotes Registry of Deeds Internet Research
New work added to the Sculpture Park
Before or after the Parade, plan a visit to the Sculpture Park on Panther Way. There is parking next to the Police Station and off Edwards St.
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| colored PVC piping was added to the Sculpture Park "trees of life" |
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| colored PVC piping was added to the Sculpture Park "trees of life" 2 |
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| colored PVC piping was added to the Sculpture Park "trees of life" |
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| colored PVC piping was added to the Sculpture Park "trees of life" 4 |
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| colored PVC piping was added to the Sculpture Park "trees of life" 5 |
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| view across the old swimming hole to the 'rainbow' |
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| two faces with a view of the rainbow |
Sunday, May 26, 2019
Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda - May 28, 2019
Vision Statement
The Franklin Public Schools will foster within its students the knowledge and skills to find and achieve satisfaction in life as productive global citizens.
A G E N D A
“The listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law.”
1. Routine Business
a. Review of Agenda
b. Citizen’s Comments
i. In the spirit of open communication, “the School Committee will hear public comment not related to an agenda item at the beginning of each regular School Committee Meeting. The Committee will listen to, but not respond to any comment made. A Committee member may add an agenda item to a future meeting as a result of a citizen comment” – from Policy BEDHc. FHS Student Representative Comments
d. Superintendent’s Report
2. Guests / Presentations
a. Retiree Recognition
b. School Start Times Presentation
c. District Improvement Plan Update (Communication)
3. Discussion / Action Items
a. Policy 2nd Reading/Adoption
I recommend adoption of the following Policies as discussed:
- 1. JKAA – Physical Restraint of Students
- 2. ID – Emotional Support Dogs
4. Discussion Only Items
a. Superintendent’s Evaluation (presentation of additional evidence)
5. Information Matters
a. School Committee Sub-Committee Reports (e.g. Budget; Community Relations; Policy; Transportation; Public Schools Advocacy; Ad Hoc Superintendent’s Evaluation)b. School Committee Liaison Reports (e.g. Joint PCC; Substance Abuse TaskForce; School Wellness Advisory Council [SWAC]; School Start Times AdvisoryCommittee [SSTAC], MASC)6. New Business
a. To discuss any future agenda items
7. Consent Agenda
a. Minutes
I recommend approval of the minutes from your May 14, 2019 School Committee meeting as detailed.
b. Transfers
I recommend approval of the budget transfers as detailed.
c. FHS Scholarships
I recommend acceptance of the following FHS Scholarships:
i. Peter Coppola (RE: Andrew Coppola) $2,000.00
ii. Friends of the Franklin Library $1,000.00
d. Parmenter Gift
I recommend acceptance of a check for $290.00 from the Parmenter PCC for field trips as detailed.
e. Music Gift
I recommend acceptance of a check for $1,800.00 from Franklin Music Boosters for in-house enrichment as detailed.
8. Payment of Bills Dr. Bergen
9. Payroll Mrs. Douglas
10. Correspondence
11. Executive Session
a. Pursuant to M.G.L. c. 30A, §21(a)(3) to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining with the FEA/RN unit as an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the School Committee and the chair so declares.
12. Adjournment
The PDF version of this agenda can be found online
https://www.franklinps.net/sites/franklinmaps/files/uploads/scagenda_5-28-19.pdf
The documents released for this agenda can be found online (when released)
https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/school-committee-packet-52819
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| Parmenter School Sign |
Town Council - Budget Hearings Recap - May 22-23, 2019
A disappointing performance by the Town Council in the two budget budget hearings. Why? They conducted a "public hearing" where they did not allow the public to speak on the first night. Is that really a public hearing? The first night was also marred by a series of questions by one councilor badgering a manager with whom he clearly has demonstrated a dislike.
This was a budget hearing not a personnel performance discussion and totally inappropriate in the 'public forum'. That no one interceded to take it offline was also a disappointment.
The second night closed on a high note with the goodbyes and well wishes for the retiring Town Administrator Jeff Nutting. Jeff has been a professional and dedicated manager for the 12 plus years I have observed and reported on the town's business. I wish him well in his retirement.
Oh and yes, the budget as proposed was passed with two votes. The two votes were required to enable Councilor Glenn Jones to participate in almost all of the discussion and only recuse himself from the vote on the Tri-County portion of the budget. A sensible solution to a potential conflict of interest situation.
The schools will cut teachers, kindergarten aides, and high schoolers will pay for parking among the key take aways. Many of the critical needs prepared for by the schools in their initial budget will go unmet. It may be just this year but for the students, it is one year in school that they don't get to do over.
The method of sharing the budget info is not one that works well. While the Council got their questions answered, they easily skipped over including the public in the discussion. Given the reality of tough budget decisions next year and more across the board than the road repair funds and schools, this should also be a consideration. How best to get the residents and voters involved with the budget details?
Links below provide the detailed notes reported during the meetings as well as links to the budget documents.
Wednesday, May 22
Agenda for the first hearing
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/05/franklin-ma-town-council-agenda-may-22.html
Thursday, May 23
Agenda for the second hearing
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/05/franklin-ma-town-council-agenda-may-23.html
This was a budget hearing not a personnel performance discussion and totally inappropriate in the 'public forum'. That no one interceded to take it offline was also a disappointment.
The second night closed on a high note with the goodbyes and well wishes for the retiring Town Administrator Jeff Nutting. Jeff has been a professional and dedicated manager for the 12 plus years I have observed and reported on the town's business. I wish him well in his retirement.
Oh and yes, the budget as proposed was passed with two votes. The two votes were required to enable Councilor Glenn Jones to participate in almost all of the discussion and only recuse himself from the vote on the Tri-County portion of the budget. A sensible solution to a potential conflict of interest situation.
The schools will cut teachers, kindergarten aides, and high schoolers will pay for parking among the key take aways. Many of the critical needs prepared for by the schools in their initial budget will go unmet. It may be just this year but for the students, it is one year in school that they don't get to do over.
The method of sharing the budget info is not one that works well. While the Council got their questions answered, they easily skipped over including the public in the discussion. Given the reality of tough budget decisions next year and more across the board than the road repair funds and schools, this should also be a consideration. How best to get the residents and voters involved with the budget details?
Links below provide the detailed notes reported during the meetings as well as links to the budget documents.
Wednesday, May 22
- Live Reporting: Legislation for Action to Closing
- https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/05/live-reporting-legislation-for-action_22.html
- Live reporting: Town Council - May 22, 2019 - Budg...
- https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/05/live-reporting-town-council-may-22-2019.html
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/05/franklin-ma-town-council-agenda-may-22.html
Thursday, May 23
- Real time Reporting: Town Council - Budget Hearing...
- https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/05/real-time-reporting-town-council-budget.html
Agenda for the second hearing
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/05/franklin-ma-town-council-agenda-may-23.html
Will be reporting remotely this evening for the Town Council meeting budget hearing #2 #tc0523 pic.twitter.com/0ExWrSvmOC— Steve Sherlock (@FranklinMatters) May 23, 2019
With budget hearing scheduled to open at 7:10 looks like Council meeting won't be starting until then (albeit published for a 7 start) #tc0523 pic.twitter.com/I0DWC91vh9— Steve Sherlock (@FranklinMatters) May 23, 2019
Kit Brady speaking for better funding for schools and our children. #tc0523 pic.twitter.com/DGORGq7KAP— Steve Sherlock (@FranklinMatters) May 23, 2019
Two votes to pass the one FY 2020 town budget #tc0523 pic.twitter.com/w5eT3TN4Ze— Steve Sherlock (@FranklinMatters) May 23, 2019
Town administrator Jeff Nutting makes his final report #tc0523 pic.twitter.com/TfTkY5YY90— Steve Sherlock (@FranklinMatters) May 23, 2019
New town administrator Jamie Hellen making his thanks for Jeff and getting ready for what comes #tc0523 pic.twitter.com/KyaiKlOE1v— Steve Sherlock (@FranklinMatters) May 23, 2019
Rep Jeff Roy presents a resolution from the MA House to recognize Jeff Nutting for his many years of service finishing in Franklin #tc0523 pic.twitter.com/BHYdpRIFvN— Steve Sherlock (@FranklinMatters) May 23, 2019
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| New Town Administrator Jamie Hellen makes his remarks thanking Jeff Nutting for his service and guidance |
FHS baseball, lacrosse teams post wins; T Brogan sets school record in 1 Mile
Via HockomockSports, we share the results of the FHS sports action on Saturday, May 25, 2019.
Baseball = Franklin, 6 vs. Lincoln-Sudbury, 4 – Final
– Franklin beat Lincoln-Sudbury to claim the Pedroli tournament championship. The Panthers built a 4-0 lead, and once the Warriors threatened by scoring twice, added two runs of their own and then held off Lincoln-Subdury in the final innings for the win. Senior Jake Macchi had two hits and scored two runs to earn tournament MVP honors.
Alex Haba also had two hits with an RBI and two runes scored. Scott Elliott (run), Jack Nally (run, RBI), Joe Lizotte (run), Shane O’Neil (run), Cooper Ross (RBI), and JB Floris (RBI) all contributed for Franklin. Brennan Rivera earned the win, allowing one earned run on four hits, two walks, and seven strikeouts in 6.2 innings of work while Liam Dailey fanned the final batter for the save.
Boys Lacrosse = Franklin, 15 @ Cohasset, 7 – Final
For other results around the Hockomock League
https://hockomocksports.com/saturdays-schedule-scoreboard-05-25-19/
And via the Twitterverse
Complete MIAA results can be found online http://miaa.ezstream.net/index.cfm?itemid=8313
Baseball = Franklin, 6 vs. Lincoln-Sudbury, 4 – Final
– Franklin beat Lincoln-Sudbury to claim the Pedroli tournament championship. The Panthers built a 4-0 lead, and once the Warriors threatened by scoring twice, added two runs of their own and then held off Lincoln-Subdury in the final innings for the win. Senior Jake Macchi had two hits and scored two runs to earn tournament MVP honors.
Alex Haba also had two hits with an RBI and two runes scored. Scott Elliott (run), Jack Nally (run, RBI), Joe Lizotte (run), Shane O’Neil (run), Cooper Ross (RBI), and JB Floris (RBI) all contributed for Franklin. Brennan Rivera earned the win, allowing one earned run on four hits, two walks, and seven strikeouts in 6.2 innings of work while Liam Dailey fanned the final batter for the save.
Boys Lacrosse = Franklin, 15 @ Cohasset, 7 – Final
For other results around the Hockomock League
https://hockomocksports.com/saturdays-schedule-scoreboard-05-25-19/
And via the Twitterverse
The Franklin Girls Track Team competed at the MIAA Div1 Track Champ at Norwell. Maggie Doyle 2nd in the Javelin. Julia Fenerty finished 3rd in 800. Bella Pierre finished 5th hurdles. Lindsey Morse (7th) and Dreya Martin (8th) scored in the high Jump. The girls 4x800 finished 6th— FranklinAthletics (@FHSSports) May 26, 2019
Another big win over a strong program, moving to 16-1! The train keeps a rollin! https://t.co/ghd984C4eU— FHS BoysLax Boosters (@FHSlax_boosters) May 26, 2019
4:17:01!!!! Way to go Tyler! #PantherPride https://t.co/WpnBrwKyyK— FranklinHighSchool (@FranklinHS) May 25, 2019
Complete MIAA results can be found online http://miaa.ezstream.net/index.cfm?itemid=8313
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| FHS Panthers |
Franklin Performing Arts Company to Host Golf Tournament - June 3
The Franklin Performing Arts Company (FPAC) will host its Annual Golf Tournament at New England Country Club in Bellingham, MA on Monday, June 3. Golfers and their families are invited for this unique event that offers a day on the course, an awards ceremony, dinner, raffle, and entertainment.
New England Country Club is an 18 hole championship golf course located in Bellingham, Massachusetts. The scenic New England Country Club is one of the best conditioned public courses in the area. This enjoyable 18 hole championship golf course, designed by Hale Irwin, has the look and feel of a private golf course. The rolling hills, tree lined fairways, and multiple tee boxes give each hole a unique character and provide a fair challenge for all ability levels. Breathtaking New England scenery can be viewed from the dining room, tent facility and throughout the golf course.
Nestled in the Metrowest region of Massachusetts, the Franklin Performing Arts Company is a not-for-profit institution committed to live performance with a focus on youth development. FPAC supports educational arts experiences, quality entertainment, and outstanding performance opportunities for professional artists, amateur performers, and students of the arts, as well as performing arts production and presentation programming.
In its home at THE BLACK BOX, FPAC strives to further enhance the cultural life in our region and drive a robust and dynamic downtown center. Celebrate and support the power of the arts to enrich , educate, and inspire.
For more information please email Alan Mercer at amercer@fpaconline.com, visit www.FPAConline.com, or call 508-528-3370.
New England Country Club is an 18 hole championship golf course located in Bellingham, Massachusetts. The scenic New England Country Club is one of the best conditioned public courses in the area. This enjoyable 18 hole championship golf course, designed by Hale Irwin, has the look and feel of a private golf course. The rolling hills, tree lined fairways, and multiple tee boxes give each hole a unique character and provide a fair challenge for all ability levels. Breathtaking New England scenery can be viewed from the dining room, tent facility and throughout the golf course.
Nestled in the Metrowest region of Massachusetts, the Franklin Performing Arts Company is a not-for-profit institution committed to live performance with a focus on youth development. FPAC supports educational arts experiences, quality entertainment, and outstanding performance opportunities for professional artists, amateur performers, and students of the arts, as well as performing arts production and presentation programming.
In its home at THE BLACK BOX, FPAC strives to further enhance the cultural life in our region and drive a robust and dynamic downtown center. Celebrate and support the power of the arts to enrich , educate, and inspire.
For more information please email Alan Mercer at amercer@fpaconline.com, visit www.FPAConline.com, or call 508-528-3370.
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| Franklin Performing Arts Company to Host Golf Tournament - June 3 |
Trash and recycling pickup schedule - delayed one day due to Memorial Day
The trash and recycling pickup schedule will be delayed one day this week due to the Memorial Day holiday. From the recent recycling flyer
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/news/franklin_2018_2019.pdf
Holidays
Collection will be delayed one day if your collection day falls on or after one of these observed holidays. Please note if an observed Holiday falls on a Sunday there will be NO DELAY in collection.
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/news/franklin_2018_2019.pdf
Holidays
Collection will be delayed one day if your collection day falls on or after one of these observed holidays. Please note if an observed Holiday falls on a Sunday there will be NO DELAY in collection.
- Thanksgiving Day
- Christmas Day
- New Year’s Day
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
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| Trash and recycling pickup schedule - delayed one day due to Memorial Day |
MBTA - Monday, Memorial Day - Commuter Rail notice
On Monday, May 27, the Commuter Rail will operate on a Sunday schedule.
All lines will operate normal Sunday train service, not shuttle buses. Please refer to the train schedule for departure and arrival times.
Last Updated: May 24 2019 01:47 PM
The Franklin Line schedule can be found online
https://www.mbta.com/schedules/CR-Franklin/timetable
All lines will operate normal Sunday train service, not shuttle buses. Please refer to the train schedule for departure and arrival times.
Last Updated: May 24 2019 01:47 PM
The Franklin Line schedule can be found online
https://www.mbta.com/schedules/CR-Franklin/timetable
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| Approaching South Station |
Saturday, May 25, 2019
"I ask the citizens to thank the employees for the work they do"
From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190525/franklin-town-administrator-jeff-nutting-says-farewell
"As the Town Council wraps up the fiscal 2020 budget, a prominent town official is wrapping up his career.
Town Administrator Jeff Nutting attended his last Town Council meeting on Thursday night. He is officially entering retirement after 18 years in Franklin.
During a farewell speech, he gave some insight into himself and how much he loved his job. He also offered some advice for the future and reminded everyone he’s still just a phone call away.
Over a 43-year career working for multiple municipalities in a variety of positions, he said he was guided by countless mentors."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190525/franklin-town-administrator-jeff-nutting-says-farewell
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| after stepping down from the Administrator's seat, Jeff sat in the front row to listen to the accolades from the Town Council members |
THE BLACK BOX presents The Racky Thomas Band - May 31
THE BLACK BOX, Franklin’s premier music, theater, and event venue, will present The Racky Thomas Band on Friday, May 31 at 8 pm. The Racky Thomas Band has been a torchbearer for the blues since its formation in 1995, when Thomas collaborated with bassist Todd Carson, guitarist Nick Adams, and drummer Ted Larkin to make a demo CD, and perform around the Boston area.
Racky Thomas has a vast repertoire of tunes – blues from world-class bluesmen, rocking electric blues, classic and obscure blues, and Racky Thomas blues including "Matchbox Blues", "Biscuit-Bakin' Woman", "Mona", "Sugar-coated Love", "Big Road Blues", "Hoochie-Coochie Man", and "Mojo Workin". This dynamic and truly entertaining band is a must see for not only blues enthusiasts, but for anyone who likes an uplifting, toe tapping, and booty shaking good time.
THE BLACK BOX is located at 15 W. Central St. in Franklin, MA and features a full bar.
Tickets for The Racky Thomas Band can be purchased at www.theblackboxonline.com, by calling the box office at 508-528-3370, or at the door. Follow THE BLACK BOX on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
For more about The Racky Thomas Band https://www.rackythomas.com/
Racky Thomas has a vast repertoire of tunes – blues from world-class bluesmen, rocking electric blues, classic and obscure blues, and Racky Thomas blues including "Matchbox Blues", "Biscuit-Bakin' Woman", "Mona", "Sugar-coated Love", "Big Road Blues", "Hoochie-Coochie Man", and "Mojo Workin". This dynamic and truly entertaining band is a must see for not only blues enthusiasts, but for anyone who likes an uplifting, toe tapping, and booty shaking good time.
THE BLACK BOX is located at 15 W. Central St. in Franklin, MA and features a full bar.
Tickets for The Racky Thomas Band can be purchased at www.theblackboxonline.com, by calling the box office at 508-528-3370, or at the door. Follow THE BLACK BOX on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
For more about The Racky Thomas Band https://www.rackythomas.com/
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| THE BLACK BOX presents The Racky Thomas Band - May 31 |
“I just realize how great the Franklin community and our friends are"
From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190524/dodgeball-tourney-to-raise-money-for-franklin-family
More info on the tournament on the Random Smile page
https://www.randomsmile.org/wiffle/dodgeball
"After Jill Pisano’s ALS diagnosis about a year and a half ago, a group of family friends and high school students is determined to help her fight the disease and its increasing medical costs – in the form of dodgeball.
The “Hope for Jill Pisano” Dodgeball Tournament will be held Saturday at the Horace Mann Middle School gym. Sponsored by the Random Smile Project of Franklin, the event plans to raise money for Pisano, a Franklin resident who was diagnosed in the fall of 2017 with ALS, according to her husband, Rob Pisano. The progressive, neurological condition, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, affects the nerve cells that control voluntary muscle movement. It currently has no cure.
Even while battling the “terrible” disease, his wife showed she is “just an unbelievable person with unbelievable strength,” Rob Pisano said."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190524/dodgeball-tourney-to-raise-money-for-franklin-family
More info on the tournament on the Random Smile page
https://www.randomsmile.org/wiffle/dodgeball
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| DODGEBALL TOURNEY - May 25 - benefit Jill Pisano |
FHS boys tennis tops Bishop Feehan 4-1
Via HockomockSports, we share the results of the FHS sports action on Friday, May 24, 2019.
Softball = Franklin, 0 vs. Bridgewater-Raynham, 1 – Final
Boys Tennis = Franklin, 4 @ Bishop Feehan, 1 – Final
– Franklin won three matches in straight sets and one more in a super tiebreaker to take care of Feehan. Rohan Herur won 6-1, 6-2 at second singles while Lucas Gulick picked up a 6-2, 6-0 win at second singles. The team of Saketh Saripalli and Vayshnav Malhotra earned a 6-1, 6-4, and the second doubles team of Saket Gandham and Shoyaib Shaik rallied for a 4-6, 7-5, 10-8 win.
Girls Tennis = Franklin vs. Bishop Feehan, 4:00
For other results around the Hockomock League
https://hockomocksports.com/fridays-schedule-scoreboard-05-24-19/
Softball = Franklin, 0 vs. Bridgewater-Raynham, 1 – Final
Boys Tennis = Franklin, 4 @ Bishop Feehan, 1 – Final
– Franklin won three matches in straight sets and one more in a super tiebreaker to take care of Feehan. Rohan Herur won 6-1, 6-2 at second singles while Lucas Gulick picked up a 6-2, 6-0 win at second singles. The team of Saketh Saripalli and Vayshnav Malhotra earned a 6-1, 6-4, and the second doubles team of Saket Gandham and Shoyaib Shaik rallied for a 4-6, 7-5, 10-8 win.
Girls Tennis = Franklin vs. Bishop Feehan, 4:00
For other results around the Hockomock League
https://hockomocksports.com/fridays-schedule-scoreboard-05-24-19/
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| FHS Panthers |
Global Running Day - Make a pledge to run - June 5
Make your own pledge to run on June 5 2019 at globalrunningday.org. While you’re there, learn how your kids can be part of the Million Kid Run.
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| globalrunningday.org |
Franklin Police Media Release, Westerly Apartments Incident
"On May 24th, 2019 at approximately 3:30 PM Franklin Police responded to the Westerly Apartments on West Central Street for a report of suspicious activity. A young female reported that an older black male, with dreadlocks, operating a brown jeep with a loud exhaust approached her, and attempted to lure her to the vehicle. The young female refused and was not harmed during the incident. The vehicle then left the area.
Franklin Police detectives are conducting an investigation at this time. If anyone was in the area and has more information, they are asked to contact the Franklin Police at 508-528-1212"
This is an automatic message from Town of Franklin MA. You can subscribe to receive your notifications directly https://www.franklinma.gov/subscribe
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| Franklin Police Media Release, Westerly Apartments Incident |
MA State Senate Passes FY 2020 Budget
After adding $74.4 million in additional funding to its original proposal during three days of deliberations, the Massachusetts State Senate passed a $42.8 billion budget for Fiscal Year 2020. The final budget makes targeted investments in education, transportation and mental health services, among other priorities.
"I would like to express my deepest appreciation to the members of the Senate for their kindness, thoughtfulness, willingness to work collaboratively, and commitment to service during this entire budget process," said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). "Together, we worked hard to produce a fiscally responsible budget that reflects our Senate values."
"I am proud of the collaborative process that the Senate employed this week, my first budget debate as Chair. Through robust debate, we made further investments across several key areas including substance use treatment and supports, civics education, security upgrades at non-profits, and suicide prevention," said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. "Through respectful and thoughtful deliberation, and under the leadership of Senate President Spilka, the Senate has passed a budget that reflects our commitment to ensuring equity and boldly moving Massachusetts forward. Thank you to my colleagues in the Senate for their many steps passionate advocacy over the course of our debate."
The most notable area of investment is in K-12 public education funding. The Senate budget funds Chapter 70 at $5.176B, an increase of $268.4M over FY 2019. This funding level is the largest year-over-year increase in public education funding in 20 years, and also represents a significant down payment to fully fund the recommendations of the Foundation Budget Review Commission (FBRC) through focusing on school districts with the most pressing costs related to low-income students in economically disadvantaged communities, employee health benefits, special education, and English language learners. This level of investment also allows for a minimum aid increase of at least $30 per pupil over FY 2019 for every school district across the state, as well as 100% effort reduction to bring all school districts to their target local contribution.
Education funding also gets a boost through $345 million to fully fund the Special Education Circuit Breaker and reimburse school districts for the cost of educating students with disabilities at the statutorily required 75% reimbursement rate; $75.8 million to reimburse school districts for regional school transportation costs, including an additional $2 million added through the amendment process; and $100 million to reimburse school districts for costs incurred when students leave to attend charter schools. Funding for public higher education includes $558 million for the University of Massachusetts, $293.2 million for the state's fifteen community colleges, and $274 million for the nine state universities.
"After a week of productive and substantive debate and discussion with my Senate colleagues, I am more confident than ever that the Senate's budget for Fiscal Year 2020 will meaningfully address many of the Commonwealth's greatest collective needs," said Senator Jason Lewis (D-Winchester), Assistant Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means and Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Education. "I'm especially pleased that this budget makes substantial new investments in education, reflecting the Senate's longstanding commitment to supporting public education and laying the groundwork for the Massachusetts Legislature to update the Commonwealth's school funding formula and ensure that every school district is adequately and equitably funded."
The Senate budget funds MassHealth at a total of $16.55 billion to maintain access to affordable health care coverage for over 1.8 million people and ensure comprehensive care for children, seniors and low income residents. Cost containment measures included providing MassHealth with additional tools to tackle the rapidly growing cost of pharmaceutical drugs by permitting the Secretary of Health and Human Services to directly negotiate for rebates or cost effective payment arrangements with pharmaceutical manufacturers. The budget also explores new and creative cost savings initiatives for MassHealth to purchase prescription drugs and requires greater transparency from pharmacy benefit managers. The budget also includes $10 million for a new behavioral health outreach, access and support trust fund to support a loan forgiveness initiative for behavioral health workers and a general public awareness campaign to further the Senate's priority to increase access to mental health care.
"This Senate budget reflects our strong commitment to increasing access to quality, affordable health care, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to receive a quality education, and expanding access to behavioral health services," said Senator Cindy F. Friedman, Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means and Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing. "As our state continues to grapple with the opioid crisis, I'm especially proud that this budget makes strong investments in mental health treatment and harm reduction initiatives to ensure more resources for families and their loved ones. I want to sincerely thank Chair Rodrigues and Senate President Spilka for their leadership, hard work, and collaboration during this process and for facilitating a thoughtful and efficient debate."
The Senate's budget includes a total of $42.8B in spending, a 3.2% increase over the Fiscal Year 2019 General Appropriations Act. The FY 2020 budget reduces reliance on the use of one-time revenue sources and directs $268M to the Stabilization Fund to continue to build the Commonwealth's financial safety net.
"This budget was the product of bipartisan input, debate, and adoption. It recognizes important Senate priorities such as public education, aid for cities and towns, health care, senior care, transportation, substance abuse and more while creating opportunities to increase efficiencies and reduce government costs," said Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R- Gloucester). "We deposit more than $260 million into the Stabilization Fund, provide tools for MassHealth to pursue savings, probe the MBTA pension problem, respond to the growing skilled nursing home crisis, and we take steps to foster greater economic prosperity for all; this is a bold budget that avoids broad-based tax hikes and adheres to principles of fiscal discipline"
Additional education investments include:
· $2.5M for the Early Colleges program to allow students to earn college credits and get a head start on the transition to college, with $815K added on the floor
· $2M for grants offered through the Massachusetts Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment Initiative to support high school students with intellectual disabilities ages 18–22 with access to higher education opportunities
· $12M for grants to the Head Start program to maintain access to early education services for low-income families
· $7.5M for the Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative to expand access to preschool in underserved areas
· $6.5M for Youth-At-Risk Matching grants, including support for YWCAs, YMCAs and Boys & Girls Clubs, after adding $1.9M on the floor
· $2.5M for Rural School Aid , after adding $1M on the floor
Additional health care investments include:
· $150.2M for a range of substance abuse treatment and intervention services, including $3.5M in new funding to open five new recovery centers
· $5M for investments in the substance use disorder workforce, including training on medication management, medication-assisted treatment and treatment of co-occurring disorders
· $93.4M for children's mental health services, including $3.9M for the Massachusetts Child Psychiatric Access Program (MCPAP) and $675K for MCPAP for Moms to address mental health needs of pregnant and postpartum women
· $16.5M for Family Resource Centers to expand to new communities and meet increased demand for services
· $489M for Adult Support Services, including assisted outpatient programming and comprehensive care coordination among health care providers
· $25M to fully fund Department of Developmental Services Turning 22 services to help young people with disabilities transition to adulthood
· $5M for the coordination of a comprehensive statewide strategy, in partnership with municipalities, public health harm reduction organizations and other stakeholders, to promote existing harm reduction efforts and community-based harm reduction services
· $1M for the Healthy Relationship grants program to support teen dating violence prevention efforts, after adding $850K on the floor
The Senate's budget invests in programs and policies to educate, train, and prepare Massachusetts workers in order to provide them with opportunities to grow and succeed. Opportunity investments include:
· $38.5M for adult basic education services to improve access to skills and tools necessary to join the workforce
· $15.6M for summer jobs and work-readiness training for at-risk youth, after adding $1.2M on the floor
· $7M for the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund to connect unemployed and under-employed workers with higher paying jobs
· $2.5M for the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative Innovation Institute
· $2.5M for the Precision Manufacturing Program
· $2M for Small Business Technical Assistance grants
· $2M for the Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership
· $1M for Regional Economic Development Organizations to support economic growth in all regions of the state
The Senate's budget maintains the Senate's commitment to increasing access to quality, affordable housing, investing in low-income housing and homelessness services and supports.
Housing investments include:
· $178.7M for Emergency Assistance Family Shelters, after adding $800K on the floor
· $110M for the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP)
· $48.3M for assistance for homeless individuals
· $30.8M for the HomeBASE diversion and rapid re-housing programs
· $21M for Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT), including $3M to continue expanding eligibility for individuals in need, including persons with disabilities, seniors, unaccompanied youth, after adding $1M on the floor
· $8M for the Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP) providing rental assistance to people with disabilities and $2.7M for grants to improve or create accessible affordable housing units
· $7.5M for rental subsidies to help those suffering from mental health find or maintain stable housing, after adding $1M on the floor
· $5M for housing and supportive services for unaccompanied homeless youth
· $2.9M for the Home and Healthy Good program, including $500K for a new housing program to support those experiencing homelessness who also have complex medical and behavioral health needs.
The FY 2020 budget furthers regional equity and supports cities and towns by directing significant resources to local and regional aid. This includes increased funding for Regional Transit Authorities (RTAs) to $90.5M and ties future funding to inflation, while incentivizing RTAs to adopt best practices to ensure that commuters, students, seniors and people with disabilities are able to rely on public transportation to access jobs, education and opportunity. In addition to traditional local aid, the Senate's budget increases payments in lieu of taxes (PILOT) for state-owned land to $30M. PILOT funding has been a beneficial source of local aid that provides cities and towns with additional resources to support core public services.
Local investments include:
· $1.129B for unrestricted general government aid to support community investments in education, health care, public safety and roads and bridges
· $29.1M for the Board of Library Commissioners, $11.5M for regional library local aid, $9.9M for municipal libraries and $3.3M for technology and automated resources
· $18M for the Massachusetts Cultural Council to support local arts, culture and creative economy initiatives, after adding $1M on the floor
· $18.1M for local Councils on Aging to strengthen programs and services in senior centers in communities across the state, after adding $1.4M on the floor
· $11M for Shannon Grants, which are distributed to municipalities for youth gang violence prevention, after adding $2M on the floor
A Conference Committee will now convene to reconcile the differences between the Senate budget and the version passed by the House of Representatives in April. Fiscal Year 2020 begins on July 1, 2019.
For more on the Senate budget visit their web page
https://malegislature.gov/Budget/SenateDebate
"I would like to express my deepest appreciation to the members of the Senate for their kindness, thoughtfulness, willingness to work collaboratively, and commitment to service during this entire budget process," said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). "Together, we worked hard to produce a fiscally responsible budget that reflects our Senate values."
"I am proud of the collaborative process that the Senate employed this week, my first budget debate as Chair. Through robust debate, we made further investments across several key areas including substance use treatment and supports, civics education, security upgrades at non-profits, and suicide prevention," said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. "Through respectful and thoughtful deliberation, and under the leadership of Senate President Spilka, the Senate has passed a budget that reflects our commitment to ensuring equity and boldly moving Massachusetts forward. Thank you to my colleagues in the Senate for their many steps passionate advocacy over the course of our debate."
The most notable area of investment is in K-12 public education funding. The Senate budget funds Chapter 70 at $5.176B, an increase of $268.4M over FY 2019. This funding level is the largest year-over-year increase in public education funding in 20 years, and also represents a significant down payment to fully fund the recommendations of the Foundation Budget Review Commission (FBRC) through focusing on school districts with the most pressing costs related to low-income students in economically disadvantaged communities, employee health benefits, special education, and English language learners. This level of investment also allows for a minimum aid increase of at least $30 per pupil over FY 2019 for every school district across the state, as well as 100% effort reduction to bring all school districts to their target local contribution.
Education funding also gets a boost through $345 million to fully fund the Special Education Circuit Breaker and reimburse school districts for the cost of educating students with disabilities at the statutorily required 75% reimbursement rate; $75.8 million to reimburse school districts for regional school transportation costs, including an additional $2 million added through the amendment process; and $100 million to reimburse school districts for costs incurred when students leave to attend charter schools. Funding for public higher education includes $558 million for the University of Massachusetts, $293.2 million for the state's fifteen community colleges, and $274 million for the nine state universities.
"After a week of productive and substantive debate and discussion with my Senate colleagues, I am more confident than ever that the Senate's budget for Fiscal Year 2020 will meaningfully address many of the Commonwealth's greatest collective needs," said Senator Jason Lewis (D-Winchester), Assistant Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means and Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Education. "I'm especially pleased that this budget makes substantial new investments in education, reflecting the Senate's longstanding commitment to supporting public education and laying the groundwork for the Massachusetts Legislature to update the Commonwealth's school funding formula and ensure that every school district is adequately and equitably funded."
The Senate budget funds MassHealth at a total of $16.55 billion to maintain access to affordable health care coverage for over 1.8 million people and ensure comprehensive care for children, seniors and low income residents. Cost containment measures included providing MassHealth with additional tools to tackle the rapidly growing cost of pharmaceutical drugs by permitting the Secretary of Health and Human Services to directly negotiate for rebates or cost effective payment arrangements with pharmaceutical manufacturers. The budget also explores new and creative cost savings initiatives for MassHealth to purchase prescription drugs and requires greater transparency from pharmacy benefit managers. The budget also includes $10 million for a new behavioral health outreach, access and support trust fund to support a loan forgiveness initiative for behavioral health workers and a general public awareness campaign to further the Senate's priority to increase access to mental health care.
"This Senate budget reflects our strong commitment to increasing access to quality, affordable health care, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to receive a quality education, and expanding access to behavioral health services," said Senator Cindy F. Friedman, Vice Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means and Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing. "As our state continues to grapple with the opioid crisis, I'm especially proud that this budget makes strong investments in mental health treatment and harm reduction initiatives to ensure more resources for families and their loved ones. I want to sincerely thank Chair Rodrigues and Senate President Spilka for their leadership, hard work, and collaboration during this process and for facilitating a thoughtful and efficient debate."
The Senate's budget includes a total of $42.8B in spending, a 3.2% increase over the Fiscal Year 2019 General Appropriations Act. The FY 2020 budget reduces reliance on the use of one-time revenue sources and directs $268M to the Stabilization Fund to continue to build the Commonwealth's financial safety net.
"This budget was the product of bipartisan input, debate, and adoption. It recognizes important Senate priorities such as public education, aid for cities and towns, health care, senior care, transportation, substance abuse and more while creating opportunities to increase efficiencies and reduce government costs," said Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr (R- Gloucester). "We deposit more than $260 million into the Stabilization Fund, provide tools for MassHealth to pursue savings, probe the MBTA pension problem, respond to the growing skilled nursing home crisis, and we take steps to foster greater economic prosperity for all; this is a bold budget that avoids broad-based tax hikes and adheres to principles of fiscal discipline"
Additional education investments include:
· $2.5M for the Early Colleges program to allow students to earn college credits and get a head start on the transition to college, with $815K added on the floor
· $2M for grants offered through the Massachusetts Inclusive Concurrent Enrollment Initiative to support high school students with intellectual disabilities ages 18–22 with access to higher education opportunities
· $12M for grants to the Head Start program to maintain access to early education services for low-income families
· $7.5M for the Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative to expand access to preschool in underserved areas
· $6.5M for Youth-At-Risk Matching grants, including support for YWCAs, YMCAs and Boys & Girls Clubs, after adding $1.9M on the floor
· $2.5M for Rural School Aid , after adding $1M on the floor
Additional health care investments include:
· $150.2M for a range of substance abuse treatment and intervention services, including $3.5M in new funding to open five new recovery centers
· $5M for investments in the substance use disorder workforce, including training on medication management, medication-assisted treatment and treatment of co-occurring disorders
· $93.4M for children's mental health services, including $3.9M for the Massachusetts Child Psychiatric Access Program (MCPAP) and $675K for MCPAP for Moms to address mental health needs of pregnant and postpartum women
· $16.5M for Family Resource Centers to expand to new communities and meet increased demand for services
· $489M for Adult Support Services, including assisted outpatient programming and comprehensive care coordination among health care providers
· $25M to fully fund Department of Developmental Services Turning 22 services to help young people with disabilities transition to adulthood
· $5M for the coordination of a comprehensive statewide strategy, in partnership with municipalities, public health harm reduction organizations and other stakeholders, to promote existing harm reduction efforts and community-based harm reduction services
· $1M for the Healthy Relationship grants program to support teen dating violence prevention efforts, after adding $850K on the floor
The Senate's budget invests in programs and policies to educate, train, and prepare Massachusetts workers in order to provide them with opportunities to grow and succeed. Opportunity investments include:
· $38.5M for adult basic education services to improve access to skills and tools necessary to join the workforce
· $15.6M for summer jobs and work-readiness training for at-risk youth, after adding $1.2M on the floor
· $7M for the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund to connect unemployed and under-employed workers with higher paying jobs
· $2.5M for the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative Innovation Institute
· $2.5M for the Precision Manufacturing Program
· $2M for Small Business Technical Assistance grants
· $2M for the Massachusetts Manufacturing Extension Partnership
· $1M for Regional Economic Development Organizations to support economic growth in all regions of the state
The Senate's budget maintains the Senate's commitment to increasing access to quality, affordable housing, investing in low-income housing and homelessness services and supports.
Housing investments include:
· $178.7M for Emergency Assistance Family Shelters, after adding $800K on the floor
· $110M for the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP)
· $48.3M for assistance for homeless individuals
· $30.8M for the HomeBASE diversion and rapid re-housing programs
· $21M for Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT), including $3M to continue expanding eligibility for individuals in need, including persons with disabilities, seniors, unaccompanied youth, after adding $1M on the floor
· $8M for the Alternative Housing Voucher Program (AHVP) providing rental assistance to people with disabilities and $2.7M for grants to improve or create accessible affordable housing units
· $7.5M for rental subsidies to help those suffering from mental health find or maintain stable housing, after adding $1M on the floor
· $5M for housing and supportive services for unaccompanied homeless youth
· $2.9M for the Home and Healthy Good program, including $500K for a new housing program to support those experiencing homelessness who also have complex medical and behavioral health needs.
The FY 2020 budget furthers regional equity and supports cities and towns by directing significant resources to local and regional aid. This includes increased funding for Regional Transit Authorities (RTAs) to $90.5M and ties future funding to inflation, while incentivizing RTAs to adopt best practices to ensure that commuters, students, seniors and people with disabilities are able to rely on public transportation to access jobs, education and opportunity. In addition to traditional local aid, the Senate's budget increases payments in lieu of taxes (PILOT) for state-owned land to $30M. PILOT funding has been a beneficial source of local aid that provides cities and towns with additional resources to support core public services.
Local investments include:
· $1.129B for unrestricted general government aid to support community investments in education, health care, public safety and roads and bridges
· $29.1M for the Board of Library Commissioners, $11.5M for regional library local aid, $9.9M for municipal libraries and $3.3M for technology and automated resources
· $18M for the Massachusetts Cultural Council to support local arts, culture and creative economy initiatives, after adding $1M on the floor
· $18.1M for local Councils on Aging to strengthen programs and services in senior centers in communities across the state, after adding $1.4M on the floor
· $11M for Shannon Grants, which are distributed to municipalities for youth gang violence prevention, after adding $2M on the floor
A Conference Committee will now convene to reconcile the differences between the Senate budget and the version passed by the House of Representatives in April. Fiscal Year 2020 begins on July 1, 2019.
For more on the Senate budget visit their web page
https://malegislature.gov/Budget/SenateDebate
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| https://malegislature.gov/Budget/SenateDebate |
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