Town of Franklin September E-Newsletter

11.5 Million Saved, Flu Clinics, Touch A Truck, Restaurant Expo and more!

Subscribe for News September 2023 Edition Biennial Town Election The Biennial Town Election is set for November 7, 2023 at Franklin High School from 6am - 8pm. You can access the official candidacy list for the upcoming election here. The last day to withdraw candidacy is September 22, no later than 1pm. Questions? Contact the Town Clerk's Office at 508-520-4900 or email ndanello@franklinma.gov. October 28 is the last day to register to vote. You may check or update your information via the State's Online Voter Registration tool. For additional Election information, please visit the Town Clerk's webpage. $11.5 Million Saved for Municipal Aggregation Users. Consumers enrolled in Franklin's Municipal Aggregation program have saved $11.5 Million and counting since November 2020. We're excited to announce a renewal of the program with a fixed rate of 15 cents per kWh through November 2025. Read the full announcement here! Real Estate Tax Exemptions for FY 2024 A note from the Assessors Office: As of July 1, 2023, Property Owners who are Seniors 70 or older, Surviving Spouses, Blind, or Veterans with a Purple Heart or a 10% or greater disability may be eligible for a Real Estate Tax Exemption for Fiscal Year 2024. Exemption applications have been available since July 1, were sent to those owners who were eligible in FY 2023, and are continuing to be accepted and processed by the Board of Assessors. If you think you may be qualified, you are encouraged to apply as soon as possible by early Autumn; this way if granted, your exemption credit could be applied to your 3rd (January) and 4th (April) Quarter Tax Bills. Applications are available in person and online via the Assessors webpage here. Questions? Call the Assessors Office at (508) 520-4920. Department of Public Works Rain (Barrel) Drops The fall residential rain barrel program is open! Visit the Great American Rain Barrel website to purchase your rain barrel. Deadline for ordering is September 24 and pickup will be at the DPW Admin Building (257 Fisher St.) on October 4 from 4pm - 6pm. Order your rain barrel today! Touch A Truck Save the date! The Department of Public Works will host a Touch A Truck event on Saturday, October 14, 2023 from 10am - 2pm at 257 Fisher St. Winners of the Hydrant Painting contest will be announced at the event! There will be plenty of trucks including food trucks! Franklin Public Schools Welcome Back! Our talented FPS staff has worked hard throughout the summer to collaborate and prepare for the upcoming school year. Which led to a great first week welcoming students into our buildings. We're ready for the 2023-2024 school year! Free and Reduced Meal Application The Commonwealth of Massachusetts voted to make universal free school meals for all students permanent. This means that breakfast and lunch will continue to be served at no cost to all students through the 2023-2024 school year! Please note that even though meals will be free for all, it is important for families to still complete the Household Application for Free and Reduced Price Meals for the 2023-2024 school year if you believe you might qualify. Senior Center Programs Cardio Fusion – Get your endurance up with our new exercise class with Judi! Every Wednesday at 4pm, $3/class. Live Drum Circle – Jam with percussionist Kimberlee O'Brian on Sept. 8 at 1pm Mobile Food Pantry – Receive a bag of stable items, choice of protein, and dairy items on Sept. 13 at 11am. This monthly mobile food pantry is offered in partnership with the Franklin Food Pantry, Hockomock YMCA and Franklin Senior Center. Pizza and Movie Night – Watch the new Indiana Jones Movie: "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny" on Sept. 14 at 4:30pm. Call to Register $3/person Blues Party – Feeling BLUE that summer is over? Join our Blues party on Sept. 15 at 11am and enjoy live entertainment and a delicious ham dinner. Call to Register $6/person Eat Around the World – OUI are so excited for our taste buds to travel to France with Chef Anne's French cuisine! Join us Oct. 22. Call to Register $6/person Senior Scribblers Book Signing – Our writer's group, the Senior Scribblers, have published a book! Join us to celebrate and get your book signed on Sept. 26 at 10am. There are a lot more programs, so make sure to check out the Senior Connection Newsletter or stop by the Senior Center for more information! Questions? Visit the Senior Center website or call 508-520-4945 to learn more. Upcoming Events Flu Shot Clinics Are you looking to get your Flu Shot? The Franklin Health department will offer FREE Flu Shot clinics. There will be a clinic for adults only and another for kids only. Both will be at the Franklin Senior Center. Adult Flu Shot Clinic | Click to Register September 28, 2023 from 12pm - 3pm Kids Flu Shot Clinic | Click to Register October 11, 2023 from 3pm - 6pm Restaurant Expo The Franklin Health Department will host a Restaurant Expo at the Franklin Public Library on September 27, 2023 from 2pm - 5pm. The Franklin Restaurant Expo allows for food service/restaurant and hospitality industry professionals to connect with a variety of vendors in the region. Interested in reserving a booth or learning more? Visit our event page here. Senior Expo The Senior Expo is back! Join us October 6, 2023 from 10am - 1pm at the Senior Center for live entertainment, raffle prizes, a flu shot clinic, hearing tests and more. This event is geared towards providing resources to our Seniors in a fun way! Learn more about the Senior Expo here. Harvest Festival Get ready for fall during the Franklin Downtown Partnership's 20th annual Harvest Festival on September 30 from 12pm - 5pm on Main Street! Rain date is October 1. There will be music, food, kids' activities, balloons, and plenty of specialty products, art, crafts and more from over 160 vendors. Interested in volunteering for the festival? Email Bryan Taberner at btaberner@franklinma.gov Franklin Public Library Event Highlights! Sept. 14 – Author Talk with Talk: Emily Franklin "The Lioness of Boston" Join us at 6:30pm for readings and conversation with Lioness of Boston Author Emily Franklin! As a special treat signed book plates will be available at the event for your copy of the book! RSVP here. Sept. 16 – Robo-Racer Workshop Have a middle schooler with a passion building and tinkering? Register them today for a 90 min build challenge and engineering experience. Program starts at 10am. Participants will be grouped in teams of 3-4, Hub, motors and LEGO Technic parts will be provided. The Franklin High School robotics team will conduct the workshop. RSVP Here. Sept. 22 – Farmer's Market Fun! Join the Franklin Public Library from 2pm-4pm for a special monthly visit at the Franklin Farmer's Market! Sept. 24 – Wildlife Photography Workshop Registration Required! Zoo admission is NOT included with this program. Discounted admission is available at the Circulation Desk! Join Nature Photographer Steve McGrath on a Wildlife Photography Workshop where you will learn how to use your preferred digital camera like a pro and improve your wildlife photographic technique. This First Class will have a short presentation to discuss tips and techniques for getting great zoo photographs that look like they were taken in the wild! Then off to the Zoo to Photograph for the day, make sure you bring the longest lens you have. There will be a second class at the Library in October, where we will view our Images and Critique them for a show and tell! With an opportunity to show your best work! RSVP here. Sept. 30 – Bluey Bash Celebrate everyone's favorite canine family with an awesome morning of games, crafts, snacks, dancing and more at 10:30am. Library Hours The Library's summer hours are Monday - Thursday, 9am - 8pm. Friday & Saturday, 9am - 5pm. Sunday hours of 1:30pm - 5pm will resume after Labor Day. Library Calendar of Events - September 2023 Veterans' Services Dates to Know Sept. 15 – National POW/MIA Recognition Day - A day to remember and honor those Americans who were prisoners of war and those who served and never returned home Sept. 18 – U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard's 76th Birthday Sept. 21 – Veterans' Council Meeting - 7pm at the Senior Center. All Franklin residents interested in Veterans' events and activities are welcome. Sept. 24 – Gold Star Mothers and Families Day Veterans Memorial Walkway The next engraved brick installation will be in November to coincide with Veterans' Day the deadline for submitting a brick order form is September 15. Veterans need not be from Franklin to be honored with a brick. All members of the U.S. military are eligible. Brick order forms are available in the Town Hall and Senior Center lobbies.  Tune It Out! The Tune It Out guitar lessons program for Veterans will will resume on September 12. Call the Veterans' Services Office for details. Contact Veterans' Services at 508-613-1315 or access their webpage to learn more. Downtown Parking Changes Town Administration and Town Council have since refined the parking bylaw as of July 19, 2023. There is now Depot St. and the Ferrara's municipal parking lot. Visit the Town of Franklin's Online Parking Portal for more information.

Kallie Montagano has rejoined the Franklin Police Department as Mental Health Clinician

Via Franklin Police Facebook Update: 

“Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in.”

- Clinician Kallie Montagano

We are happy to announce that Kallie Montagano has rejoined the Franklin Police Department as our sole mental health clinician.

Kallie Montagano

In 2018 the FPD first partnered with the Jail Diversion Program which brought a mental health clinician to the department. As part of the grant-funded program, we shared a clinician with the Medway Police Department. Kallie was our first clinician with the program. Over time Kallie left us (she got promoted) and we had new clinicians fill her spot.

In July 2023, Chief Lynch brought Kallie back as our sole clinician, independent from the Jail Diversion Program. She is running the Franklin Police Department Co-Response Program. Part of her responsibilities includes providing immediate, on-scene crisis response alongside officers, rapid on-scene de-escalation, mental health assessments, substance use assessments, and referrals to services.

Kallie’s goal is to keep people in the community with a solid foundation of support. If you need her services or know someone who could benefit from her services, don't hesitate to reach out!

Shared from -> 

https://facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0tBmMgC7G8gZE1gAvyS3SfMCu2NQ7ooVZ2xMZPVjcWEjckFFV9gUk4t4GcoM58Mqdl&id=100064353536794&mibextid=Nif5oz

Town Council hears about Dean College, views Fire promotions, gets updates on Tri-County & migrant status (video)

The Town Council met as scheduled on Wednesday evening, Sep 6, 2023. All nine members participated, one remotely, so all votes were via roll call.

APPOINTMENTS

a. Design Review Commission - i. Andrew Pratt

b. Municipal Affordable Housing Trust - i. Jayaprabha Vijayaraghavan 

Both appointments were approved via 9-0 votes 

c. Fire Department - New Employee - i. Jack Lennon: Firefighter/Paramedic

d. Fire Department - Promotions

• Thomas Konieczny: Battalion Chief

• Paul Molla: Captain

• Laurie Kaye: EMS Captain

• Matthew Kelly: Lieutenant

• Michael Berthiaume: Lieutenant

• Jonathan Chalk: Lieutenant 

The Fire Dept had a bunch of promotions and one new hire to swear in and recognize. The promotions are competitive and occurred over time as other members left or retired creating a domino effect, hence they were batched to be all done at once. Photo album of the ceremony can be found ->   https://photos.app.goo.gl/j98XmZmpzjsg5vGZ6

Dean College Update - Ken Elmore, President of Dean College 

President Elmore provided a brief update with highlights from the past year, work underway, and still working on better integration of the college within the community and the community within the college. 

Tri-County Regional Vocational School Financing

The MSBA provided formal approval of the building project committing about $90M towards the $283M total cost, leaving approx. $200M to be funded by the 11 communities sending students. The 11 communities will vote as one entity n Oct 24 to approve the project. A 50+1 percent is required for approval. The funding for the Franklin portion of the project is likely to be $2.1M per year for 30 years, so it will likely be a separate vote for a debt exclusion, possibly as early as the November election. Stay tuned for additional info. The Tri-County School Committee will be sharing info on the project advocating for it's passage.

LEGISLATION FOR ACTION

a. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 23-898: A Zoning Bylaw to Amend the Franklin Town Code at Chapter 185, Attachment 9, Schedule of Lot, Area, Frontage, Yard and Height Requirements - Second Reading 

b. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 23-899: Marijuana Use Overlay District, A Zoning Bylaw Amendment to the Code of the Town of Franklin at Chapter 185, Section 5, Zoning Map - Second Reading 

Both the second readings of the above bylaws were approved with 9-0 votes 

c. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 23-901: A Zoning Bylaw Amendment to the Code of the Town of Franklin at Chapter 185, Section 5, Zoning Map 

This measure was referred to the Planning Board and will come back to the Council for further action at a future meeting

d. Resolution 23-49: Authorization for Intermunicipal Agreement with County of Plymouth for County of Plymouth to Provide Parking Ticket Computerization and Processing Services to Franklin 

The intermunicipal agreement was approved by a 9-0 vote. An interesting way to combine services and save money in so doing. 

e. Resolution 23-50: Acceptance of Private Road Covenant with Owner-Developer of Prospect Hills Estates with Access Road Off Prospect Street 

The private road covenant was approved by a 9-0 vote. This means the Town of Franklin will not maintain the road. 

f. Resolution 23-51: Gift Acceptance - Veterans’ Services Dept. ($1,525) 

TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT -  Migrant Housing Update 

Town Administrator Jamie Hellen provided an update. This audio segment of the meeting was shared separately. https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/09/town-administrators-report-on-migrant.html

The Franklin TV video is available for replay ->    https://www.youtube.com/live/lUOJJj5hec8?si=IUzMbo_9nNGYa59y&t=194

My full set of notes captured via Twitter during the meeting are collected in a single PDF for easier reading  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_Go0RhESjzP4F3KWutGqZ-kxO3-Fdn0l/view?usp=drive_link

Town Council agenda doc ->  

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/town_council_agenda_-_9.6.23.pdf

Ken Elmore, President of Dean College

Cruise night at Sierra's Brick Oven Pizza - Mondays through October, 2023

Cruise night at Sierra's

 

"ONLY A COUPLE MORE WEEKS LEFT OF 𝐂𝐑𝐔𝐈𝐒𝐄 𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓!! Come join us on Monday nights and check it out!"

Shared from ->   https://facebook.com/groups/1551606135109407/permalink/3515828055353862/

   

Medicare covers opioid treatment services

While prescription opioid pain medications can help treat pain after surgery or an injury, they carry serious risks like addiction. If you or a loved one are struggling with opioid use disorder, Medicare covers treatment services that can help.

These services may include medication coverage, counseling, drug testing, individual and group therapy, and more. Certain services, like counseling and therapy, are available both in-person and virtually.

Learn More -> https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/opioid-use-disorder-treatment-services

The first step is talking with a doctor about treatment options. People with Medicare can also visit Medicare.gov to search for treatment locations nearby.

Sincerely,

The Medicare Team

Franklin's Event Outlook: September 8, 2023 to September 14, 2023

Friday, September 8

2:00pm - Franklin Farmers Market (Town Common)

2:00pm - Thrift Threads thrift shop (Franklin Federated Church)

5:00pm - Freak Flag (live music) (67 Degrees Brewery)

6:00pm - Ayla Brown & Ralph Bellamy (ticketed event) (La Cantina Winery) 

Saturday, September 9

10:00am - FSPA Open House (38 Main St)

10:00am - Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

10:00am - Rise Up (social meetup) (Sculpture Park)

4:00pm - Patrick Durking (live music) (La Cantina Winery) 

5:00pm - Michael Rivelis (live music) (Birchwood Bakery)

Sunday, September 10

1:00pm - Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

1:15pm - Second Sunday Speaker (Franklin Historical Museum)

Tuesday, September 12

7:00pm - FBRTC Meeting (67 Degrees Brewery)

Wednesday, September 13 1:00pm - Senior Scribblers (writing group) 6:00pm - Volunteer Fair Thursday, September 14 2:30pm - Free Child Car Seat Check

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The Franklin Art Association Art Gallery remains open during business hours at Escape into Fiction (Main St, Franklin)

Find the full Community event calendar  https://www.franklinmatters.org/p/blog-page.html

The Cultural calendar displays only the cultural events      https://www.franklinculture.org/things-do/pages/calendar

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:  https://forms.gle/oPdi8X3ZbHHyrHzo6

The Town meeting calendar is found  https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar
The School district calendar is found  https://www.franklinps.net/calendar-by-event-type/26 

Franklin's Event Outlook: September 8, 2023 to September 14, 2023