Friday, April 12, 2024

Franklin Announces DPW Director Cantoreggi Reinstated as of April 11, 2024

On February 15, 2024 the Massachusetts State Ethics Commission announced that Franklin DPW Director, Robert “Brutus” Cantoreggi violated Conflict of Interest Law relative to the unethical acceptance of gifts, G.L. chapter 268A, section 23(b)(2)(i). In the attached Press Release from the State Ethics Commission and the Disposition Agreement between the Ethics Commission and Mr. Cantoreggi, Mr. Cantoreggi admits to the proposed violations and waives his right to a hearing.

On February 9, 2024, when the Town was in receipt of this information, Mr. Cantoreggi was placed on unpaid administrative leave indefinitely and until further notice. Since this time, the Town has been working to gather information in order to fully understand the extent of Mr. Cantoreggi’s actions in his official capacity as Department of Public Works Director.

“While the realization of this ethics violation has been very difficult for Town staff, the Town Council, and the Franklin community at large, this incident was an isolated incident and does not reflect on the entire organization,” stated Jamie Hellen, Franklin Town Administrator. “The Town has independent annual financial town audits in addition to effective standards, training, internal controls and policies in place and a truly remarkable staff culture. These were careless and hubris actions by Mr. Cantoreggi, but do not reflect a widespread problem in the organization.”

The Town has issued a report on the complete findings of its own internal investigation. Notably, and most importantly, zero taxpayers dollars were affected by this violation and succeeding decisions. No bribery allegations, charges, or findings relevant to a quid pro-quo or “something for something” or any other illegal or criminal act were found. There were no procurement violations found.

In addition to a $15,000 fine to the State Ethics Commission and significant damage to Mr. Cantoreggi’s reputation, both personally and professionally, the Town instituted the following corrective measures:
An unpaid suspension for two months; a wage loss of $29,935, or $44,935 in total, when accounting for the civil penalty from the state;
A six (6) day redaction of employee Earned Time (aka “ET” which is equivalent to vacation time) for time off during the two ski trips as they were not work related;
No accrued additional Earned Time during the time of the two-month suspension, which is lost time for a total of approximately 11.3 days (91 hours);
One-year prohibition on attendance at industry sponsored events and conferences in an effort to focus on DPW staff needs and succession planning;
Execution of a “Last Chance” Agreement for any unknown past and future incidents;
Release and waiver of all legal and privacy rights;
Public apology acknowledging impacts on the organization and community; and
Repeating his state mandated Ethics Training and documenting the receipt and review of the Conflict of Interest Law Summary.
Based on the facts of the Ethics Investigation, as well as additional supporting factors and materials that have been laid out, the Town Administrator has decided to reinstate Robert “Brutus” Cantoreggi as the DPW Director, effective Thursday, April 11, 2024 at 7:00 AM.

“I deeply apologize to all of the residents of Franklin for making such a poor decision without truly thinking through the ramifications of it,” said Robert “Brutus” Cantoreggi. “I am very regretful of the unintended consequences my poor judgment has had on the Town, my staff, my colleagues and my family. I have committed my professional career to the Town of Franklin and truly love my job. Over the past eight weeks, I have used this time to reflect and it has reaffirmed how much I value my role as the Public Works Director for the Town of Franklin. It has not been easy being under the scrutiny of false accusations by some, but I have also been humbled by the amount of support I have received by so many others. I will never be able to express my deep gratitude to the members of the community, the Council, and Town Administrator for their time working on this ordeal. Going forward, I will recommit myself to working to be the best Public Works director, colleague, friend, husband and father. I know we have all made mistakes in life, and I can unequivocally say that I have learned huge lessons from this. I am so grateful for the second chance, I will not let you down, and I pledge to do everything in my power to earn back the public's trust.”

The Town Council received a briefing from the Town Administration on March 13, 2024 in Executive Session. In an effort to be transparent and proactive with the public, these materials have been posted on a dedicated webpage.

“Mr. Cantoreggi’s actions are extremely disappointing, and as the DPW Director he should have known that his acceptance of these gifts violated the Conflict of Interest Law,” stated Tom Mercer, Chair of the Franklin Town Council. “These proscribed actions not only reflect poorly on
 
Mr. Cantoreggi personally but also on the Town of Franklin. While significant reputational damage has been done, I feel the prescribed disciplinary action is on par with the misconduct. As a lifelong Franklin resident and one who values his expertise, he has earned a second chance in my book due to his dedicated and innovative leadership over two decades. While we may individually have our own views on the matter, the entire Town Council has agreed to move forward together. ”

“It is vital that Franklin residents have the utmost trust and confidence in the integrity of their government,” stated Hellen. “With this information I acknowledge a violation of the public’s trust and confidence. I will work with Mr. Cantoreggi to build back public trust and confidence moving forward. Mr. Cantoreggi is remorseful for his lapse in judgment, and I believe if there is anyone who can restore both his own reputation and the reputation of the Town, it is Brutus.”

Town Administrator website with all materials ->

Franklin Announces DPW Director Cantoreggi Reinstated as of April 11, 2024
Franklin Announces DPW Director Cantoreggi Reinstated as of April 11, 2024

FHS softball tops Sharon on Thursday

Via Twitter and our subscription to HockomockSports.com, we share the results of the Spring sports competition for Franklin High School on Thursday, Apr 11, 2024.

Softball = Franklin, 15 @ Sharon, 2 – Final
– For Sharon, seniors Maddie Hu and Natalie David had strong performances at the dish. Hu had a pair of hits, one double and one triple, and came home to score both the Eagles’ runs with David driving her in both times. Annabel Gruss also had two hits for Sharon.

Girls Lacrosse = Franklin, 5 @ Westwood, 11 – Final
– In a rematch from last year’s state semifinal, Franklin fell short on the road in a hard-fought battle at Westwood. Emily Carney had six draw controls and added two goals while Gabi Consigli, Katie Ryan, and Vera Hansen each scored once. Sophia Sacchetti chipped in with a pair of assists while Keira Kucich had a strong game defensively for the Panthers with four caused turnovers.
Tough loss to a very talented Westwood squad... Back at it on Saturday against another top MA team. #allin https://twitter.com/FHSLaxBooster/status/1778555994760528268

For other results around the Hockomock League (subscription required) 

FHS Panther sports results shared via Twitter & subscription to HockomockSports.com
FHS Panther sports results shared via Twitter & subscription to HockomockSports.com

Great Night @ The Museum Gala (photo essay)

Franklin moms with a mission, Erin Gallagher and Meg Hagen, were joined by a healthy sized group of supporters at their Children's Museum of Franklin fund raising Gala on Thursday night at THE BLACK BOX.

Meg Hagen & Erin Gallagher
Meg Hagen & Erin Gallagher


During an interlude of music and food, they shared a brief video highlighting their first donation, happy faces, and youthful activities from their mobile museums. They were also able to confirm that they are in "active negotiations" to open in a space in Franklin in the Fall but were unable to reveal more than that.

The Dean College vocal ensemble provided some musical entertainment
The Dean College vocal ensemble provided some musical entertainment

THE BLACK BOX served the mobile museum and gala purpose delightfully. Space was allocated for tables for guest to eat, drink and converse. There was a delicious spread of food from 3 Restaurant Catering, accompanied by desserts from Birchwood Cafe & Bakery. A few of the mobile creative play stations were set up for the adults to try out.

The table centerpieces were in the fancy and playful theme. My grandson would have been playing with the magna tiles all night had he been there
The table centerpieces were in the fancy and playful theme. My grandson would have been playing with the magna tiles all night had he been there

For more about the Children's Museum check out their web page ->   https://www.childrensmuseumfranklin.org/ 

Registration for the next mobile museum, Sunday, April 21 at Annie Sullivan Middle School is available online for one of two time slots ->   https://www.childrensmuseumfranklin.org/register

And they are always looking for financial help to bring the Museum to reality -> https://www.childrensmuseumfranklin.org/donate

Town Council approves 2 license transactions, listens to friendly 40b proposal & postpones vote to enable further work on proposal (video)

The Franklin Town Council met as scheduled on Wednesday, April 10, 2024. 8 members were present in Chambers, 1 participated remotely. The Council Chambers were over capacity with residents present for one or more of the topics for discussion on the agenda.

The Franklin TV broadcast of the 4 hour session is available for replay on YouTube ->  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4WPC4cB_S4

Agenda and supporting documents for this session -> 

Quick recap:
  • Approved license transaction for Table & Vine, mostly paperwork and ownership changes due to the family estate planning with no impact on the daily operations of the beer & wine license in operation at the Big Y
  • Approved the all alcohol license transfer for Dacey's Market with restrictions to maintain current operation. 
  • Long discussion on the proposed friendly 40b to be built in the land currently held by the Stobbart's Nursery. Multiple issues and questions were raised, many were not yet answered so in light of that the Council chose to have the administration and departments work with the developer and neighbors to work on the items in question before coming back to the Council
  • As this is the second friendly 40b, and there are multiple issues raised, the process could be revised to better address some of the process issues (notification to abutters, clarification on what the Council vote really means, etc.)
  • Resolution 24-17: Local Acceptance of GL Chapter 166 Section 32A was approved. Apparently this resolves a potential conflict where a part-time inspector is also prohibited from doing work in the Town. Whatever electrical work would be performed would still require inspection by another individual to avoid conflict of interest
  • Another happy occasion for the Council to thank the individuals/businesses for their contribution to Resolution 24-18: Gift Acceptance - Veterans’ Services Department ($2,250), Senior Center ($1,500), Franklin Historical Museum (~$600)
  • During the Town Administrator's report, Jamie revealed he was reinstating suspended Director Robert "Brutus" Cantoreggi effective Thursday, April 11. A web page would be published with all the information involved in reaching this decision
My notes captured via Twitter can be found in one PDF file -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1labnvYVykW4HGk01mHIQDk7d725ikuLn/view?usp=drive_link

Photo album with the slides as captured during the presentation on Wednesday


listens to friendly 40b proposal & postpones vote to enable further work on proposal
listens to friendly 40b proposal & postpones vote to enable further work on proposal

Public Hearing scheduled by the Planning Board for the Tri-County RVTHS new building - May 6

In accordance with the Town of Franklin Zoning By-Laws, the Franklin Planning Board will hold a public hearing at the Town Hall (and can also be attended remotely) on Monday, May 6, 2024 at 7:00 PM in the Town Council Chambers of the Franklin Municipal Building, 355 East Central Street, for a Site Plan application titled “Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School” prepared by Stephen Powers of Samiotes Consultants Inc., Southborough, MA and submitted to the Department of Planning & Community Development on April 9, 2024, by the Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical School District, Franklin, MA.

The property is located in the Rural Residential II Zoning District (Assessors Map 259 Lot 004) at Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School on 147 Pond Street. The Applicant is proposing the redevelopment of the existing school campus for a new school building and associated reconfigured vehicular and athletic areas.

Please note: This will be your only written notice of this public hearing. Should the Planning Board vote to continue this Public Hearing, the date and time will be posted on the Planning Board’s website under Agendas.

Please contact the Department of Planning & Community Development at (508) 520-4907 if you require further information or if you need to make arrangements to provide translation services for the hearing impaired, or for persons with language barriers.

Copies of the plan and supporting documentation may be reviewed in the Department of Planning & Community Development during regular office hours.

Greg Rondeau, 
Chairman

Public Hearing scheduled by the Planning Board for the Tri-County VTHS new building - May 6
Public Hearing scheduled by the Planning Board for the Tri-County VTHS new building - May 6

Calling out for former HMMS 8th graders who are graduating in 2024!

"If you were a @HMMSLightning 8th grader the year the world shut down, YOU are graduating this year - and WE WANT TO SEE YOU! 
Mark your calendar for May 22. 
Please spread the word #Classof2024 https://t.co/ejH8dFUlj5"

Calling out for former HMMS 8th graders who are graduating in 2024!
Calling out for former HMMS 8th graders who are graduating in 2024!

Senate Authorizes $375M for Local Transportation Infrastructure

Chapter 90 funding would support cities and towns with road and bridge construction, public transit improvement, and EV infrastructure

Today, the Massachusetts Senate unanimously approved $375 million in bond authorizations for statewide transportation projects, including the state's Chapter 90 program, which would create a reliable funding source for local infrastructure investments like roads, bridges, regional transit equipment and infrastructure, bicycle infrastructure, and electric vehicle infrastructure, among other things.

Projects funded by the annual legislation often improve quality of life for residents in every region of the state, and many play a role in environmental mitigation.

Every city and town in the Commonwealth would receive a share of $200 million in funding to be used on maintenance and construction of roads and bridges. $150 million would be allocated equally to six programs targeting specific transportation infrastructure, and $25 million would be allocated to cities and towns through the rural roads program.

"Getting around our communities is a fundamental part of everyone's day," said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). "Whether the commute takes you on the sidewalk, through a bike lane, across a small bridge, onto your Regional Transit Authority, or to the T, your journey should be quick and safe. By passing today's legislation, we are empowering our cities and towns with the funding to make improvements to the infrastructure our residents travel on, regardless of where they go and how."

"Our transportation infrastructure is so vitally important to the state's economy, and this Chapter 90 funding addresses many outstanding issues in keeping the Commonwealth's roadways, bridges, and public transportation system in peak operating condition. I'm pleased that over $375 million has been allocated to municipal roadways, local streetscape improvements, and enhancements to our mass transit system," said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means.  

"Throughout our district, people and businesses rely on transportation infrastructure, whether roads, trains, buses, bridges, bike lanes, or sidewalks," said Senator Becca Rausch (D-Needham). "I was proud to vote yes to put our state dollars to work for our communities."

Of the $375 million in total authorizations, the legislation would allocate $25 million to each of the following programs that target specific infrastructure areas:

  • Municipal Pavement Program, which focuses on the improvement of municipally owned state numbered routes.
  • Municipal Small Bridge Program, which provides financial support to cities and towns for small bridge replacement, preservation, and rehabilitation projects.
  • Complete Streets Funding Program, which provides funding to municipalities for streets that provide safe and accessible options for all travel modes such as walking, biking, transit, and vehicles.
  • Municipal Bus Enhancement Program, which provides grant funding to build out infrastructure related to mass transit by bus.
  • Mass Transit Access Grant Program, which provides grants for design and construction improvements to access commuter rail stations or other mass transit stations, such as parking lots, drop-off and pick-up zones, bike storage infrastructure, and electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
  • Municipal/RTA EV Grant Program, which provides grants to Regional Transit Authorities and municipalities for the purchase of electric vehicles and related charging equipment.

A previous version having been passed by the House of Representatives, the legislation now awaits final enactment in each branch, before being sent to the Governor's desk for her signature.


Link to the actual legislative text -> https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H4529

Senate Authorizes $375M for Local Transportation Infrastructure
Senate Authorizes $375M for Local Transportation Infrastructure

Paper Products for the School Nutrition Program - Invitation for Bid

IFB - Paper Products for the School Nutrition Program

In accordance with MGL c.30B, it is the intention of the Town to enter a contract for the 2024-2025 school year with a supplier and distributor of paper products for the school nutrition program for the Franklin Public Schools. 

Additional Information:  Paper Products for School Nutrition Program

Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/purchasing/bids/ifb-paper-products-school-nutrition-program

Paper Products for the School Nutrition Program - Invitation for Bid
Paper Products for the School Nutrition Program - Invitation for Bid


Town of Franklin: April is Alcohol Awareness Month

April is Alcohol Awareness Month. Watch for early warning signs in your teen of an alcohol problem:
Shared from -> https://niaaaforteens.niaaa.nih.gov/signs-problem 
Town of Franklin: April is Alcohol Awareness Month
Town of Franklin: April is Alcohol Awareness Month


And if you do know of someone that needs help, reach out to the SAFE Coalition ->   https://www.safecoalitionma.org/

Franklin TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) schedule for Friday, Apr 12, 2024

  • wfpr.fm or 102.9 on the FM dial = Friday

9:00a/12:00p /6:00p Chapters – Jim Derick  Insightful, life-affirming stories and interviews

10:00a/1:00p/7:00p Music to Lift the Spirit - Jim Derick & Frank Falvey

11:00a/2:00p/8:00pm Senior Story Hour – Senior Center Scribblers Group

  • Franklin All Access TV - Our Public Access Channel         (Comcast 6, Verizon 26) = FRIDAY

8:30 am Frank Presents: Corey Shea
10:00 am Riffin' on Main Street: Jacob Juncker
11:00 am Senior Connection: Disabilities Commission
12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin': Quinoa
12:30 pm Cooking with Linda: Marry Me Chicken
1:00 pm Master Plan Committee Open House
1:30 pm Pizzapalooza: Meat-Lovers Pt. 2
2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Summer 2018 Show 6
3:00 pm Winning Ways with the MIAA: Referee Shortage Pt1
5:00 pm Second Sunday Speaker Series: Joe Landry & Scott Mason
6:30 pm Joe Landry: Grocery Stores and Markets
8:00 pm Endless Konnections: Introduction
8:04 pm Endless Konnections: Natasha Ward Pt 1
9:00 pm Circle of Friends: Ellis Paul

  • Franklin Pride TV - Our Educational Channel          (Comcast 8, Verizon 28) = FRIDAY

7:00 am Public School Event: Lifelong Music Pt. 2 05-13-19
8:30 am Mental Health: Kallie Montagano & Sonja Wagner
10:00 am Rec Basketball: 5th & 6th Grade Boys Championship
12:30 pm FHSTC - Flowers for Algernon
1:30 pm Jazz Cafe 2019
6:30 pm FHS Track and Field: v North Attleboro 05-09-23
10:00 pm U. S. Army: Jazz Ambassadors 04-01-19

  • Franklin Town Hall TV - Our Government Channel (Comcast 9, Verizon 29) =  FRIDAY

8:00 am  Zoning Board of Appeals 03-28-24
2:00 pm  Zoning Board of Appeals 03-28-24

Get this week's program guide for Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) online  http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf   

Thursday, April 11, 2024

Deadline for ordering bricks for Veterans Memorial Walkway - April 15

The next engraved brick installation is scheduled for May 2024. 

Bricks may be purchased to pay tribute to anyone who served or is currently serving in the U.S. military. 

The deadline for the May installation is April 15, 2024. Bricks are $100 each and order forms are available in the Town Hall and Senior Center lobbies and on the Veterans' Services page ->    https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/brick_order_form_with_shannons_name.pdf 

Thank you to all who have honored our Veterans by supporting this project. Please contact the Veterans' Services Office at: (508) 613-1315 for more information.

Deadline for ordering bricks for Veterans Memorial Walkway - April 15
Deadline for ordering bricks for Veterans Memorial Walkway - April 15

Special Programs in honor of Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day at the Historical Museum - Apr 27 & 28

April 27 & 28 Special Programs in honor of Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day (April 24), which marks the beginning of the organized killing of Armenians within the Ottoman empire in 1915. This event was responsible for many survivors fleeing to America, many of whom established a vibrant local community in Franklin, including Camp Haiastan, still located on Summer St.

Saturday, April 27 – During regular museum hours, we expect to share items from Franklin’s Armenian past as well as short films about the Armenian Genocide plus the Silent Saturday showing of Ravished Armenia.
Silent Saturday showing of Ravished Armenia

Sunday April 28 - Franklin’s Mark Minichelli will discuss the history of the genocide and the local community and will share video of his grandmother, Helen Boghosian, a genocide survivor who lived most of her life in Franklin.

The Franklin Historical Museum is located at 80 West Central Street, Franklin. The museum is open Saturday mornings from 10AM-1PM and Sunday afternoons from 1:00PM-4:00PM. When visiting the museum, please consider donating a non-perishable item for the Franklin Food Pantry. 

Questions? Contact Alan Earls at 508 560 3786.   

Visit the Franklin Historical Museum online at https://www.franklinmuseum1778.com

FHS baseball, girls & boys lacrosse, and the girls tennis teams all post wins on Wednesday

Via Twitter and our subscription to HockomockSports.com, we share the results of the Spring sports competition for Franklin High School on Wednesday, Apr 10, 2024.


Baseball = Franklin, 6 @ Taunton, 2 – Final 
– Franklin overcame an early deficit, scoring six unanswered runs between the second, fourth, and fifth innings to bounce back from a loss on Monday, taking down rival Taunton. The host Tigers plated a pair in the bottom of the first when Dwayne Burgo had an RBI ground out to score Andrew Cali (two hits) and Joseph Benoit (two-out walk) scored on a wild pitch. Franklin wasted little time striking back as Lukas Phillips (walk), Sean Kryzak (single), and Mike Davide (bunt single) all reached to start the inning. A one-out single from Henry Digiorgio drove in Phillips, and Kryzak scored on an RBI groundout from Matt Luccini. Dom Caccavelli (walk) scored on a wild pitch in the fourth to take the lead before Franklin tacked on three more in the fifth. A leadoff double from Luccini led to pinch runner Cole Sidwell scoring on a single from Matt Miller, Rex Cinelli (two hits) scored on a passed ball, and Miller came home on a wild pitch. Jake Shaughnessy got the win for the Panthers with two earned runs allowed on six hits and two walks, striking out six in 6.2 innings of work; Leo Meuse came in and got a strikeout for the final out. Juniors Johnny Escobalez (2.1 IP, 0H, 2BB, 1K) and Ryan Crowley (0.2IP, 1K) both pitched well in relief for Taunton.

Softball = Taunton, 10 @ Franklin, 1 – Final 
– Taunton set the tone with a big first inning and Catherine Larson impressed in her first start of the season as the Tigers returned home with a win over Franklin. The Tigers pushed across six runs in the first inning, added one more in the third, and plated a trio in the fourth. Mia Torres (two runs), Bella Bourque (RBI), Adrianna Amaral (two doubles, RBI, run), Larson (two RBI, run), and Madison Crowley (double, three RBI) all had two hits for Taunton. Larson allowed one run on five hits and no walks, striking out nine in a complete game performance for the win. Marley Allen had two hits for the Panthers.

Boys Lacrosse = Franklin, 5 @ Sharon, 3 – Final 
– Franklin overcame a two-goal halftime deficit and pitched a shutout in the second to take down the upset-minded Eagles. Sharon scored twice in the first and once more in the second to stake a 3-1 edge at the break. Drew Hansen, Tom Quinn (one assist), and Dylan McEvoy scored third quarter goals to push the Panthers in front and Anthony Lampasona had the lone goal of the fourth to help secure the win. McEvoy finished with two goals while Zach Langevin had two assists in the win. Matt Corvi was terrific in the cage with 16 saves while Ben Paterson won 11-of-12 faceoffs.

Girls Lacrosse = Sharon, 4 @ Franklin, 18 – Final 
– Franklin took care of business at home, racing out to a big lead against visiting Sharon and never looking back. The Panthers had a dozen different players register a point in the win including three points from Izzy Cross (two goals, one assist) and one goal each from Julia Flynn (assist), Callie Joyce, Erin Peterson, Kendall Mone, and Ailish Houlker. Maise Streesman made five saves in the net for the win.

Boys Tennis = Taunton @ Franklin, 3:45

Girls Tennis = Franklin, 3 @ Taunton, 2 – Final 
– Franklin took two from singles and one more from doubles in a match that featured five great battles. Senior Brooke Taylor prevailed in a tiebreak to win the second singles match in straight sets (6-0, 7-6 (2)) while sophomore Isabelle Simino emerged from a three-set thriller with a 6-3, 5-7, 7-5 win at third singles. Franklin added a first doubles win from juniors Brooke Daniels and Sydney Tolonen (6-3, 7-5). Taunton sophomore Sarah Riveiro earned a 6-2, 7-6 (5) win at first singles while the all-senior tandem of Caroline Pietnik and Sam Parrett battled their way to a 7-5, 7-5 win at second doubles.


For other results around the Hockomock League (subscription required) 

FHS Panther sports results shared via Twitter & subscription to HockomockSports.com
FHS Panther sports results shared via Twitter & subscription to HockomockSports.com

School Committee votes to approve $81M budget, now has to work to get it funded all or in part, and deal with the results (video)

The Franklin Public School Committee conducted its scheduled meeting on Tuesday, April 9, 2024. The Franklin TV broadcast of the session is available for replay on YouTube -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8KxgjR7dhk


Photos of the presentation doc shared ->   https://photos.app.goo.gl/PxKxwydbV64HKmFx9

Quick recap:
  • Horace Mann Middle School provided an update on their school year , goals and objectives
  • School Committee voted for their budget totaling $81,319,261.00. Now they need to work with the Town Council to fund it all or in part and deal with the results
  • Joint meeting April 24 at FHS Auditorium with Town Council and School Committee
  • School Committee voted unanimously not accept new School Choice students for the 2024-2025 School year. Not a change, likely to be possible in future depending upon school district long term planning results available later this year (i.e. redistricting)
  • Voted unanimously to adopt policy JFABB – Admittance of Foreign Exchange Students
My notes captured via Twitter are available in one PDF ->   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nL3N1QI_hV-xrY0VllU2iZyJw4HOREcK/view?usp=drive_link

one slide from the HMMS presentation on curriculum flow
one slide from the HMMS presentation on curriculum flow & delivery



Callaghan & McNeill joint statement made during Citizen Comment at the Town Council Mtg - Apr 10, 2024

Text of the Citizen Comment statement jointly made by Dave Callaghan, School Committee Chair, and Dave McNeill, School Committee Vice-chair at the Town Council meeting on Wednesday April 10, 2024.

Dear Chair Mercer, Vice Chair Dellorco and Members of the Franklin Town Council,

Thank you for your time and dedication to our wonderful community. As we collectively face the financial challenges ahead, it's imperative to recognize the stark reality: The Town of Franklin is grappling with a $10.1 million shortfall, and the School Department will need a $9.3 million increase in Fiscal Year 2025 - $7.3 million just to maintain current service levels and an additional $2.1 million to stabilize and partially restore from cuts that were made last year. 

In an effort to fund the school budget, there's been a reliance on temporary measures such as one-time investments, deferred projects, and depletion of reserve accounts. However, these strategies obscure the reality: the annual cost of educating students has risen far beyond what a 2.5% increase can accommodate.

On April 9th, 2024, the School Committee voted to approve the FY25 School Budget in the amount of $81,319,261. We are asking for the Town Council’s support to fully fund this budget that addresses the $9.3 million increase, up to and including initiating an operational override for the community to vote upon as a ballot question in time to fund the FY25 budget. 

We recognize the economic impact of this request for our community, and it is not a decision taken lightly; however, there are also consequences of inaction. Without intervention, we can anticipate a future of continued layoffs, overcrowded classrooms, rising user fees, a "pay-to-play" system for athletics, and a general decline in services across the board.

Fully funding the School Committee’s approved FY25 School Budget will stabilize our budget moving forward, allowing the school district to maintain appropriate class sizes, provide much-needed mental health support, keep up with rising cost drivers and obligations, and continue to provide the host of educational services this community has come to expect. Moreover, the School Department can transition from a reactive budgeting approach to one that enables them to proactively implement meaningful changes which would result in a sustainable budget, fostering agility and efficiency in delivering education for years to come.

Thank you once again for your dedicated service to the residents of Franklin and the betterment of our community. We look forward to our open dialogue and collaboration with you toward our common goal of making Franklin the most vibrant community it can be.

Sincerely,

Dave Callaghan                  Dave McNeill

 

School Committee joint statement made during Citizen Comment at the Town Council Mtg - Apr 10, 2024
School Committee joint statement made during Citizen Comment at the Town Council Mtg - Apr 10, 2024

State Rep Jeff Roy: What's happening in the district - April 2024


What's happening in the district?

It's busy season on Beacon Hill as committees continue to report out bills and the Legislature takes action on them. Last week, the House advanced a bill that includes $200 million for the state's Chapter 90 program, providing municipalities with a funding source for transportation-related improvements, including road and bridge repairs. Under the bill, Franklin will receive $939,828 and Medway will get $395,457. Having passed the House of Representatives 155-0, the bill now goes to the Senate for their consideration.

We also passed two bills that update the Massachusetts General Laws by removing out-of-date and offensive terms related to persons with disabilities, and by renaming the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC) as MassAbility. The language in the first bill removes all variations of outdated terms such as "handicapped," "disabled," and "retarded" and replaces them with current terminology such as "person with a disability" and "person with an intellectual disability."

As lawmakers, we know that words matter and this legislation is our latest effort to ensure that our state laws do not use antiquated words that carry negative connotations, or words that also serve as a reminder of past injustices. Removing archaic language in legislation plays an important role in reducing social stigma and ensuring that state agencies and courts view people with disabilities as entitled to full, equal, and integrated lives in the community.

A few weeks ago, the House and Senate also passed legislation that I filed to help prevent abuse and exploitation, while also enhancing protections for survivors. The legislation addresses teen sexting and image-based sexual assault, commonly referred to as "revenge porn." It represents a coordinated effort and a holistic approach to address an increasingly prevalent behavior and provides mechanisms to protect individuals victimized by those who threaten, intimidate, and harass the subjects of these images. It will help those who have become entangled in the web and transmittal of images that can cause traumatic and lifetime harm.

The Committee I chair (Telecommunications, Utilities & Energy) released a number of bills addressing clean energy generation, to promote transportation electrification infrastructure, supporting load aggregation programs in the Commonwealth, modernizing competitive energy supply, and to expedite permitting for electric decarbonization infrastructure projects. The bills have moved on to the Committee on Ways & Means and we look forward to taking further action on the bills as the session progresses.

I will keep you updated on these and other actions in future issues of the newsletter.

Jeff


Copyright (C) 2024 State Rep Jeff Roy. All rights reserved.

State Rep Jeff Roy, State House Room 43, Boston, MA 02133

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