Joint Budget Subcmte hears of shortfall in new growth, hears update on School Budget, plans next session (video)

The Joint Budget Subcommittee met on Wednesday, Oct 11, 2023 as scheduled. The first ten minutes of the meeting were shared via Zoom, then there was an approx. 10 minute break and the meeting resumed also being broadcast via cable and live streamed to YouTube. 

The 'missing' video was recorded via Zoom and likely will be available later. The audio was captured by Franklin Matters includes the complete meeting and will be shared in a day or so.

Quick recap:

• Town Administrator Jamie Hellen provided a brief update on FY 24, change in new growth coming, reduction of $250K, implications remain TBD
• Schools updated some of their numbers, starting to plan for FY 25, to include the 4 years after, due approx.. Mar/Apr; looking into comparable communities (i.e. Hockomock League)
• Finance Committee meeting Nov 8, Town Council meeting Nov 15, Tax rate hearing set for Tuesday, Nov 21 (Yes, note it is a Tuesday!)
• Next Joint Budget Subcmte session in Jan 2024 (TBD)

video link ->  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3sqZhpIT9Q

Meeting agenda -> 

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/joint_budget_subcommitee_agenda_-_oct_11_2023.pdf

Photo album capturing some of the School presentation

https://photos.app.goo.gl/v1qW8nmPYUQTcLgm8

My notes captured via Twitter and collected in one PDF

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YHP7KFAXd6DDwtAKGLIUwnEFOX_qFte7/view?usp=drive_link

one of the FPS slides used for the budget update

Brick School Ribbon Cutting - Oct 13, 2023 (photo essay)

Friday the 13th was a good day for the brief outdoor ceremony to acknowledge completion of the Brick School exterior renovations. The renovations were funded by the Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds approved by the Franklin voters in 2020.

This is the first of the historical preservation projects to be completed with this funding. The Historical Museum cupola is also scheduled to be funded with CPA. Much has also been made of the 200 acres of open space purchased through the CPA funds.

the front view as newly renovated

the original sign was restored by "Signs by Cam

banner of the Alarm Robotics group renting the facility

sign acknowledging the use of CPA funding

Councilor Debbie Pellegri & Chair Tom Mercer share a laugh

the ribbon cutting moment

Additional photos can be found in the album online ->

https://photos.app.goo.gl/rNo6sntFN2TFSZTcA

Sierras Pizza & Pub schedules Greek Night on Tuesday

Franklin's Most Favorite Pizza & Pub 370 King St. Franklin, MA 02038 | Phone : (508) 488-9900  Catering : (781) 479-9440 | info@sierrasfranklin.com So Here Is The Bottom Line GREEK NIGHT is Here ! As Always  Best Regards It is Our Pleasure Serving You & thank you for allowing us to do so. This Is Mike Da Greek & I Approve This Message Sierras Pizza & Pub Online :mysierras.com Site :sierrasfranklin.com Contact Us 370 King St Franklin, MA 02038 ( 508 ) 530 - 0868  CONFIDENTIAL COMMUNICATION AND LEGAL NOTICE: The information in this message may be proprietary and/or confidential, and protected from disclosure. If you have received this communication in error, please notify CardConnect Boston immediately by replying to this message and deleting it from your computer.   © Copyright 2023 Sierras Pizza & Pub. Rights Reserved.

How to avoid Medicare Open Enrollment scams

How to avoid Medicare Open Enrollment scams By Bridget Small October is time for cooler days, warmer drinks, and the start of Medicare Open Enrollment Period.  If you have Medicare, October 15 – December 7 is when you can make changes to your Medicare health and Part D prescription drug plans.  About now, you'll probably be seeing ads from plans by mail, email, phone, and on TV. You might hear from scammers, too — but how will you know? Read more ->  https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2023/10/how-avoid-medicare-open-enrollment-scams

Vaccines and what they do "reduce your risk of hospitalization and death"

"Rick from Maryland is among the many readers who expressed bewilderment about becoming infected despite vaccination. “My wife and I are both in our 80s with diabetes," he wrote. "We got the new vaccine as soon as it became available. Not even two weeks later, we both tested positive. We are fine other than for a stuffy nose, but we are wondering what happened. Some of our family members are against vaccines, and they are using our experience to explain why they are not getting vaccinated.”

Rick brings up an important point: We need to be clear about what the coronavirus vaccines do and what they don’t. As with every medical intervention, health-care providers must set expectations so that people don’t view anticipated outcomes — in this case, testing positive — as failures.

The most important reason to stay up-to-date on coronavirus vaccines (and the flu vaccine and RSV vaccine, for that matter) is to reduce your risk of hospitalization and death. On this front, the coronavirus vaccine has delivered consistently strong results. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the bivalent vaccine reduced the chance of critical illness by 69 percent in the week to 59 days following the shot. The protection remained three to four months later, though it diminished to 46 percent."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/10/12/covid-vaccine-booster-benefits-limitations-protection/

Vaccines and what they do "reduce your risk of hospitalization and death"

Franklin's Event Outlook: October 13, 2023 to October 19, 2023

Friday, October 13

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

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

4:00pm - Pumpkin Patch & Sale (St John’s Episcopal Church)

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

7:30pm - Disney’s The Little Mermaid (ticketed event) (THE BLACK BOX)

Saturday, October 14

10:00am - Pumpkin Patch & Sale (St John’s Episcopal Church)

10:00am - Archaeology at Franklin State Forest (near Beaver & Grove St intersection)

10:00am - Touch a Truck (DPW yard on Fisher St)

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

11:00am - Putting for Patient (FHS Gymnasium)

12:00pm - Public Square Rosary Rally (St Mary's Church)

2:00pm - Red Apron Charcuterie (food selection) (La Cantina Winery)

2:00pm - Disney’s The Little Mermaid (ticketed event) (THE BLACK BOX)

3:00pm - Michael McArthur (live music) (La Cantina Winery)

7:30pm - Disney’s The Little Mermaid (ticketed event) (THE BLACK BOX)

Sunday, October 15

7:30am - All you can eat Breakfast (Franklin Rod & Gun Club)

12:00pm - Pumpkin Patch & Sale (St John’s Episcopal Church)

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

2:00pm - Disney’s The Little Mermaid (ticketed event) (THE BLACK BOX)

3:00pm - Leslie Amper - live in concert plays Schumann (LIVEArts, 262 Chestnut St)

Monday, October 16

4:00pm - Pumpkin Patch & Sale (St John’s Episcopal Church)

6:00pm - Town Hall hosted by Senator Rausch (Franklin Senior Center)

Tuesday, October 17

4:00pm - Pumpkin Patch & Sale (St John’s Episcopal Church)

6:00pm - Conversation with the Candidates (Franklin Elks Lodge)

Wednesday, October 18

11:00am - Franklin Q&A

1:00pm - Senior Scribblers (writing group)

4:00pm - Pumpkin Patch & Sale

Thursday, October 19

8:30am - Town Council Office Hours

4:00pm - Pumpkin Patch & Sale

6:00pm - Open Mic Night

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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: October 13, 2023 to October 19, 2023

Do you want a "Kindness Matters" sign? 20 available; first come, first text

via Mary O'Neill

I have 20 additional "kindness matters" signs. Folks can text me if they would like one.  Send text to 508-440-1265. 

First 20 to text can claim their sign. 

I will be at the Town Common bandstand on Sunday at 3:00 PM to deliver them.

thank you! 

Mary O' Neill

 

Do you want a "Kindness Matters" sign? 20 available; first come, first text

Senator Rausch schedules Town Hall event in Franklin - Oct 16 at 6 PM

Please join Senator Rausch for her upcoming Town Hall event in Franklin! The Senator will provide a brief update on the state legislature and other activity from Beacon Hill, and then open the floor to a Q&A to hear directly from constituents. 

You can join Senator Rausch at Franklin Senior Center on October 16 starting at 6:00 PM. Doors will open at 5:45 PM and no RSVP is needed!

Shared from -> https://www.beccarauschma.com/townhalls

Senator Rausch schedules Town Hall event in Franklin - Oct 16 at 6 PM

 

Town Administrator's Report: Migrant Status from the Town Council Mtg Oct 11, 2023 (audio)

FM #1076 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1076 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the Town Administrator’s Report segment from the Town Council Meeting of Oct 11, 2023. Town Administrator Jamie Hellen provides an update on the Migrant Housing status.  

The report segment runs about 8 minutes. Let’s listen to this segment of the Town Council meeting on Wednesday, October 11, 2023. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1076-town-administrators-report-migrant-status-10-11-23

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Town Administrator page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/administrator

Town Council agenda doc ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/town_council_agenda_-_oct_11_2023.pdf 

Update from Sep 20 meeting -> 

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/09/town-administrators-report-on-migrant_20.html 

Update from Sep 6 meeting ->

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/09/town-administrators-report-on-migrant.html 

Notification on migrant temporary housing

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/08/ma-notifies-franklin-of-plans-to-house.html

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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.  

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news/

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

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You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

Franklin, MA: Town Council Agenda for Wednesday, Oct 11, 2023 at 7 PM