Franklin, MA: Town Council - budget hearing 1 of 2 - May 22 at 7 PM

Franklin Town Council

Agenda & Meeting Packet

May 22, 2024 - 7 PM

1. ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE CHAIR

a. This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast channel 9 and Verizon Channel 29. This meeting may be recorded by others.

b. Chair to identify members participating remotely.

c. Upcoming Town Sponsored Community Events

2. CITIZEN COMMENTS

a. Citizens are welcome to express their views for up to three minutes on a matter that is not on the agenda. The Council will not engage in a dialogue or comment on a matter raised during Citizen Comments. The Town Council will give remarks appropriate consideration and may ask the Town Administrator to review the matter.

3. PUBLIC HEARING - 7:00 PM

a. FY25 Town Council Annual Operating Budget Hearing

i. FY25 Voting Document

ii. FY25 Town Administrator Budget Message (per Town Charter Section 6-4-1)

iii. Appendix A1 - Town Administrator Recommended Budget Voting Document & Budget Book (per Town Charter provision 6-5-1 & 6-5-2)

iv. Appendix B1 - Franklin Superintendent's Recommended FY25 Budget Executive Summary

v. Appendix C1 - Historic Data: Budget Breakdown

vi. Appendix C2 - Historic Data: Operating Revenue

vii. Appendix C3 - Historic Data: Fixed Cost

viii. Appendix C4 - Historic Data: Local Aid

ix. Appendix C5 - Historic Data: Local Receipts

x. Appendix C6 - Historic Data: Assessments

xi. Appendix C7 - Historic Data: New Growth

xii. Appendix C8 - Historic Data: Free Cash Balances

xiii. Appendix C9 - Historic Data: FC & RE

4. ADJOURN

Note: Two-Thirds Vote: requires 6 votes

Majority Vote: requires majority of members present and voting

Agenda doc (also contains remote participation info)

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/may_22_2024_town_council_meeting_agenda.pdf

Franklin, MA: Town Council - budget hearing 1 of 2 - May 22 at 7 PM

Franklin, MA: Capital Budget Subcommittee - May 22 at 6 PM

Capital Budget Subcommittee Meeting

Agenda & Meeting Packet

May 22, 2024 - 6:00 PM

Discussion:

1. FY24 Capital Plan “Round 2”

a. Town Administrator’s Recommended Actions with the remaining FY24 Free Cash = $1,707,000

i. Town Operating Budget Appropriation $1,507,000

ii. Creation of Real Property Acquisition Stabilization Fund  

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/1a_ii._24-33_town_council_creation_of_the_property_acquisition_stabilization_fund.docx_2.pdf

Agenda doc (also contains remote participation info)

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/capital_budget_subcommittee_agenda_-may_22_2024.pdf

 

Franklin, MA: Capital Budget Subcommittee - May 22 at 6 PM

Voices of Franklin: Selena Cousin -"the Franklin community desperately needs this override"

Friends and neighbors, the Franklin community desperately needs this override. As many of you know, each and every part of a community needs to be strong and healthy in order for a town to thrive. Admittedly, I’m still a relative “newcomer” to Franklin—my family has only lived here a little over 2 decades. But in that time, we have supported Franklin in many ways—even some that don’t directly benefit our own family—because looking out for each other is what it means to be part of a community. 

Just to share a few examples, we have supported the Franklin Food Pantry, we have supported building (and later expanding) a beautiful new Franklin Senior Center, we supported building the new Tri-Country Regional Vocational High School, we supported expanding the Franklin Public Library and we have supported the Unified Sports program. While these programs in Franklin don’t directly benefit any members of my own family, they are undoubtedly essential for the well-being of our entire community. I know most of you can add your own examples of ways you volunteer and contribute to our town, including ways that benefit not just your own family, but others as well. 

Well, now it is time for us all to support our Franklin Public Schools (FPS) in the upcoming override election. Our schools desperately need more money, and as a parent and an educator, I have sadly watched over 22 years worth of cuts be made to FPS programs and activities at the expense of the youngest members of our community. Many of the cuts seemed small at the time, but when combined over a couple of decades, the effects have been absolutely devastating to our schools. Simply put, our school district just cannot survive any more cuts. Our district will no longer be positioned to attract, hire, and retain the most promising and talented teachers here in  Franklin, and without them, our schools will quickly fall into mediocrity. 

At FHS alone, just about everything that is not a core academic requirement or legally required by the state will be GONE. I can’t think of a single FHS student that will not be impacted negatively if this override does not pass. Our high school students stand to lose the most—all art classes, all music classes, band, orchestra, chorus, all theater classes, AP classes, elective classes, National Honor Societies, Franklin Arts Academy, Franklin Theater Company, athletics, after school clubs—ALL GONE!!!—along with some of the very best and most talented teachers in the district who teach these classes and lead these programs. The elementary and middle schools will also be severely impacted as well. 

As a community, we have generously supported each other in so many different ways over the years. Now it is time for us to stand up and support THOUSANDS of the most vulnerable and deserving members of our community—the kids. Please, let’s all send a strong and unified message to the thousands of amazing students and the hundreds of dedicated, talented teachers who teach them that we strongly support public education here in Franklin. Alone, we can do so little, but together we really can make a big difference for kids and for our town. Let’s VOTE YES and continue to ensure that our Franklin Public Schools are the very best they can be for many years to come.

Selena Cousin

Franklin

If you have something to say, you can find the guidelines here
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/03/introducing-voices-of-franklin.html

Voices of Franklin: Selena Cousin -"the Franklin community desperately needs this override"

FHS girls Outdoor Track team takes 1st Place in Hockomock Championships for 4th year in row

Hockomock League Outdoor Track Championships May 18, 2024

Milford High School https://live.sstresults.com/meets/36634/track-scores/genderMSR%7C36634%7C3 

Team results - Girls

1 Franklin 133

2 King Philip Regional 102

3 Oliver Ames 93.33

4 Mansfield 74.5

5 Canton 56

6 Taunton 52.33

7 Attleboro 36.5

8 North Attleborough 36

9 Stoughton 31.33

10 Sharon 22

11 Foxborough 20

12 Milford 6

Team results - Boys

1 Attleboro 102.5

2 Mansfield 76

2 Taunton 76

4 Oliver Ames 75

5 Milford 60

6 Franklin 54

7 King Philip Regional 52

7 North Attleborough 52

9 Stoughton 50.5

10 Sharon 43

11 Foxborough 13

12 Canton 9

Individual Winners  https://live.sstresults.com/meets/36634/reports/winners

Boys 100m - Finals Dmitrius Shearrion Taunton 11.11

Girls 100m - Finals Nina Kyei-Aboagye Sharon 12.46

Girls 100m Hurdles - Finals Sarah Dumas Franklin 15.45

Boys 110m Hurdles - Finals Aloiye Okhipo Milford 15.45

Boys 200m Dmitrius Shearrion Taunton 22.13

Girls 200m Nina Kyei-Aboagye Sharon 25.52

Boys 400m Ben Parson Milford 50.22

Girls 400m Alex D'Amadio King Philip Regional 58.94

Boys 400m Hurdles Josy Brown-Wright Sharon 57.58

Girls 400m Hurdles Sarah Dumas Franklin 1:05.10

Boys 800m Connor Peterson North Attleborough 2:00.55

Girls 800m Emersyn DePonte Taunton 2:26.08

Boys 1 Mile Brendan Thomas Oliver Ames 4:32.30

Girls 1 Mile Emersyn DePonte Taunton 5:09.07

Boys 2 Mile Brendan Thomas Oliver Ames 9:14.33

Girls 2 Mile Emilia Smith Attleboro 11:02.00

Boys Discus Throw Nick Gallagher King Philip Regional 129-08

Girls Discus Throw Sophia Olaniyan Taunton 118-03

Boys High Jump Carson Crump North Attleborough 6-02.00

Girls High Jump Sarah Dumas Franklin 5-02.00

Boys Javelin Throw James Scott Franklin 153-03

Girls Javelin Throw Elizabeth Hopkins Franklin 126-06

Boys Long Jump Adrian Rivera Attleboro 22-01.50

Girls Long Jump Katherine Oliver Canton 18-01.50

Boys Shot Put Ancil Alexander Taunton 52-02.25

Girls Shot Put Lily DeForge Franklin 39-05.00

Boys Triple Jump Adrian Rivera Attleboro 44-02.00

Girls Triple Jump Katherine Oliver Canton 36-09.00

FHS girls Outdoor Track team takes 1st Place in Hockomock Championships for 4th year in row

Photo credit to Coach Bailey -> https://x.com/FranklinHSXC/status/1791959666030768151