Town Council Recap - June 7, 2017

The bylaw providing for brewery, distillery and wine making tasting rooms moved to a second reading at the Town Council meeting on June 7. The Electric Youth performed a song as part of the annual visit before heading off to tour Europe. The change in manager of Elks Lodge was approved. The agenda did change from what was posted as Fire Fighters listed for swearing in and a presentation by the SAFE Coalition were rescheduled.

One of the interesting discussions occurred during a rewrite of the bylaw creating the Library Board of Directors where the phrase: 

"Elected officials or library employees of the Town of Franklin will not be appointed as members of the Board."

The phrasing is open for discussion as the measure was moved to a second reading without amendment. Councilors were encouraged to provide feedback to Town Administrator Jeff Nutting.

Editorial Comment on this: The Councilors would be better off spending time on other items. Respectfully, they are charged with

2-4-1 Except as otherwise may be provided by this Charter, all general, corporate, legislative and appropriations powers of the Town shall be vested in the Town Council. 

2-4-2 The Council may enact bylaws, rules, regulations, and other orders, not inconsistent with this Charter, governing its own proceedings, town functions, and all matters bearing on the exercise of its powers and duties.

They recently approved the $120M operating budget of which the Library accounted for less than 1%. There are better opportunities for the Council to find out what is going on within the Library than by having a member sit on the Board of Directors. 

• The Council can get a periodic update from the Library (as they do with the annual snow and water updates from the DPW). 
• They could spending more time on the actual budget review. Some will recall the budget hearings used to provide an opportunity for each department to present on their operations and cost drivers. 
• There are likely other practical considerations to be made as well.

What do you think about this matter? Feel free to comment or send me an email.

The full listing of Actions Taken by the Council can be found here:
http://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/news/town_council_actions_taken_for_june_7_2017.pdf

My notes taken live during the meeting can be found here:

• Live reporting: Action items to Closing
• Live Reporting: Appointments, Hearing
• Live Reporting: Town Council - June 7, 2017

The Electric Youth being introduced to the Town Council before their song performance

FHS Hall of Famer Maurica (Carlucci) Powell

Good news submitted by one of the Franklin Matters readers:

"Oregon Assistant Coach Maurica (Carlucci) Powell is an FHS Hall of Fame track athlete. She coaches the women's distance runners and set Oregon on this path by leading the women to the NCAA Division 1 Cross Country Championship. Over the years she has coached many of the top American female distance runners. Arguably one of the most successful female track/cross country coaches of all time."

"The University of Oregon women became the first women's program in NCAA Division I history to complete the triple crown of DI cross country, indoor track and outdoor track team titles in one school year. 

Though widely considered to be the best overall team in NCAA history, the Ducks have had their share of ups and downs. Star sprinter Hannah Cunliffe, the 2017 NCAA 60m champion, withdrew from West Prelims due to injury. Their NCAA record holding 4x100m relay was disqualified. On day one, several top women -- including defending NCAA 100m/200m champion Ariana Washington -- did not automatically advance to finals. In the 200m, NCAA leader and 2016 Olympian Deajah Stevens fell to the ground just meters from the finish line and was disqualified. "

http://www.flotrack.org/article/57435-it-took-a-collegiate-record-but-oregon-wins-first-ever-ncaa-triple-crown#.WT0pwJDyvIU

OH MY OREGON DUCKS. Raevyn Rogers puts the team on her BACK and wins the 4x4 and the women's team title! #NCAATF

NEW COLLEGIATE RECORD pic.twitter.com/kgPZxWDTox

— FloTrack (@FloTrack) June 11, 2017

https://twitter.com/FloTrack/status/873759195333513216

Franklin Library: Teen Book Brunch - Sunday June 11

Teens are welcome to join us for breakfast food and a conversation about your favorite reads! Share what books you’re loving lately, and get great book recommendations from others!

Sunday, June 11 at 11:30 AM

The Franklin Public Library is operating from its temporary location at 25 Kenwood Circle until the renovations at the Main St location are completed later this year.

renovations under construction on the Main St build of the Franklin Library

3rd Annual Franklin Cultural Festival Schedule: Saturday, July 29, 2017

THE BLACK BOX

12:00 – 7:30 PM, Inside THE BLACK BOX (TBB)
Art Exhibit, Franklin Art Association

Franklin Restaurants will be selling food throughout the afternoon.

12:00 – 6:00 PM, Inside TBB
• Heath Nisbett
• Emma Newton
• Universal Singers
• LiveARTS
• Kaye Kelly

12:00 – 8:00 PM, Outside TBB
• Jamie Barrett
• Michele Kelly
• Stelfilia’s Stone
• Victims of Gravity

8:30 PM – Spamalot – FPAC (free ticketed event)

3rd Annual Franklin Cultural Festival Schedule: Saturday, July 29, 2017

The full schedule is available on the Cultural Festival page http://www.franklinculturaldistrict.org/

* note the schedule is subject to change, follow @artshappenhere for updates

FHS girls lacrosse take D1 East Championship

Ryan Lanigan, Editor in Chief of Hockomock Sports .Com provides the game recap for the FHS girls lacrosse victory over Concord-Carlisle in the D1 East final.

"For the second straight year, and third time in the last four seasons, the Division 1 East section runs through the Franklin girls lacrosse team. 

After an overtime thriller in 2014, and one-goal win exactly one year ago, the top-seeded Panthers left the dramatics behind, cruising to a 16-7 win over second-seeded Concord-Carlisle on the turf of Milford High School. 

“It wasn’t easy, Concord is an awesome team, they’re well coached, they have really good players but I think we were just prepared and peaking at the right time,” said Franklin head coach Kristin Igoe Guarino. “It was definitely nice to have a big lead though.”

Continue reading a recap of the game
https://hockomocksports.com/franklin-girls-lacrosse-handles-concord-carlisle-to-earn-another-d1-east-crown/

Follow the link below for a photo gallery from this game
https://hockomocksports.smugmug.com/20162017/Spring-2017/Franklin-Concord-Carlisle-Girls-Lacrosse-06-09-17/

Franklin players celebrate with the D1 East Championship trophy after beating Concord-Carlisle.
 (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)

"Franklin girls lacrosse (22-1) advances to the D1 State Semifinal and will take on the winner of Westboro (18-0) and Longmeadow (21-1) at Babson College. The game is schedule for either Monday or Tuesday night."

3rd Annual Franklin Cultural Festival Schedule: Friday, July 28, 2017

FRANKLIN HIGH SCHOOL

11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
FPS Student Music Concert Band, Orchestra, Chorus students

FRANKLIN TOWN COMMON

12:00 to 6:00: Farmers’ Market
3:00 to 4:30: Attleboro School of Rock Show Team (music performance)
5:00 to 6:00: Let’s Laugh Today Laughter Yoga
6:30 to 8:00: Kevin Wolfe (music performance)

THE BLACK BOX

8:00 PM – Spamalot - FPAC (free ticketed event)

3rd Annual Franklin Cultural Festival Schedule: Friday, July 28, 2017

The full schedule is available on the Cultural Festival page http://www.franklinculturaldistrict.org/

* note the schedule is subject to change, follow @artshappenhere for updates

In the News: 300 Fisher plan drafted; summer meals gap

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"The federal Environmental Protection Agency is moving forward in its efforts to clean up a Superfund site on Fisher Street. 

The agency has drafted a “Community Involvement Plan” and is beginning its preliminary investigation of the BJAT, LLC property. 

Marilyn St. Fleur, a community involvement coordinator with the EPA, said the agency wants to learn more about the town, as a way to better inform the community as the process advances. 

“It’s about providing access to accurate and timely information, and provide opportunities for the public to be actively involved,” she said. “We did the Community Involvement Plan early on in the process - we usually do it a bit later."

http://twitter.com/epanewengland

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170609/franklin-epa-progresses-on-superfund-property

More information on the BJAT Superfund Site: www.epa.gov/superfund/bjat

A copy of the draft Community Involvement Plan can be found here
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczOFpiTURCd2hBNjFudm5tUDYzeXRtcVY5eVU4/view?usp=sharing

Low-income children face summer meals gap

"While nearly 300,000 Massachusetts students get free or reduced-price lunches at school, it’s often a challenge to reach them during the summer. 

“Low-income children are really at risk for hunger and malnutrition during the summer months,” said Jordan Smith, community relations coordinator for Project Bread’s Child Nutrition Outreach Team. 

Last year, federally funded free summer meals programs provided an average of 53,000 lunches per day to children statewide. That represents about 18 percent of students who received free or reduced-price lunch during the school year. 

The U.S. Department of Agriculture provides reimbursements to organizations that serve breakfast, lunch, dinner or snacks through the federal Summer Food Service Program. The state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education oversees the programs in Massachusetts, and receives technical assistance from Project Bread, the nonprofit that organizes the annual Boston Walk for Hunger."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170609/low-income-children-face-summer-meals-gap