Franklin Newcomers and Friends: Game Night - Feb 7

Come join your Franklin friends and neighbors at the Franklin Newcomers and Friends monthly meeting. Meet us upstairs at "3" Restaurant on Wednesday, February 7 at 7:30. Take a break from the cold and warm up at our Game Night. It’s one of our favorite and more social events.

We invite any resident of Franklin, or a surrounding town that doesn't have a Newcomers Club, to join us at "3" Restaurant, 461 West Central Street, Franklin. Complimentary appetizers and beverages are provided and a cash bar is available. We meet upstairs at 7:30 PM on the 2nd Wednesday of the month (occasionally we switch Wednesdays to accommodate holidays or speakers). We run our meetings September through May. Additionally, we hold many fun and varied events to stay connected throughout the year.

For more information, please visit our website www.franklinnewcomers.com or our Facebook page, Franklin Newcomers and Friends Club.

Franklin Newcomers and Friends: Game Night - Feb 7

Annual Report 2017: Insurance Advisory Committee

The Annual Report is compiled and published each year to be ready for voters to obtain at the November election. A PDF copy is also posted online and available for viewing our downloading. 

The following is a text representation of the printed pages 94-95 (actually 101-102 of 264)

INSURANCE ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Each of the municipal and school unions, as well as retired employees has a seat on the Town of Franklin Insurance Advisory Committee (IAC). It provides recommendations to the Town Administrator on health and dental plans. Meetings are an opportunity for employees from the unions to learn about insurance products, industry trends, and to help identify ways to meet employee needs within the framework of the Affordable Care Act, Massachusetts General Law, a changing health care environment, and available financial resources.

With the Affordable Care Act continuing to evolve or be replaced, we anticipate changes, administrative challenges, and premium increases in the coming years. After several meetings to discuss claims trend and customer service questions, the various plans were modified modestly and renewed with Tufts with less than a 1% increase to HMO premium, the plan that covers 95% of our non-Medicare eligible employees. This saved employees and the Town significantly. We will monitor claims and medical trends to share with the IAC in the coming year and continue to work to provide the best benefit possible at the best rate available.

The Town continued a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help offset hospital in patient costs. We are happy to report that few of our employees required an overnight stay in the hospital.

The Town provides dental benefits on an employee paid basis. The Committee again selected Guardian Life Insurance as the provider for its dental plan with no increase to premiums. Approximately 300 employees have elected this benefit.

The Flexible Spending Account vendor was retained. This vendor provides debit cards for employees to use for immediately payment. Employees can avoid an additional out of pocket expense by using the cards. The plan runs on a September 1 through August 31 calendar to more closely coordinate with the Health Insurance Plan and with the school year. We hope the participation in this plan will grow as employees recognize the tax savings available to them, and become more experienced in planning for medical and dependent care costs. Since this program exists on a pre-tax basis, changes at the federal level may cause plan changes. We will monitor any activity about Sec. 125 of the Tax Code to ensure we remain in compliance.

Participants on the IAC consistently brought good questions to the process and have been very effective in exploring alternatives, and making recommendations. We appreciate their willingness to do what it takes to manage the benefits and costs. The insurance environment continues to evolve and it seems inevitable that costs will continue to rise. In the coming year we hope we will be able to reach out through the IAC committee to other employees so that there is wider understanding of benefit plans.

Respectfully submitted

Stephanie Lutz
Human Resource Director

Annual Report 2017: Insurance Advisory Committee

You can find the online copy at the Town of Franklin webpage
http://www.franklinma.gov/town-clerk/pages/annual-reports

and specifically for 2017
http://www.franklinma.gov/town-clerk/files/town-annual-report-2017-revised

FHS boys and girls basketball teams top Attleboro

Via HockomockSports and Twitter we share the results of the FHS sports action on Tuesday

Boys Basketball = Franklin, 76 @ Attleboro, 72 – Final (OT)
– Franklin erased a five-point deficit over the final 90 seconds to send the game into overtime and then outscored the Bombardiers 8-4 in the final period to earn the win. Paul Mahon hit the tying three with less than a minute to play and then hit another triple early in overtime to put Franklin up 73-68. Jalen Samuels poured in a career-high 28 points along with 15 rebounds to lead the Panthers. Samuels scored eight of his points between the fourth and overtime. Sophomore Chris Edgehill added 20 points for Franklin. For Attleboro, sophomore Bryant Ciccio had a career-high 19 points, including 11 points in the fourth quarter to help the Bombardiers build a lead. Kevin Velazquez added a career-best 17 points while sophomore Qualeem Charles had 13 points and 11 rebounds.

For the other results around the Hockomock League
https://hockomocksports.com/tuesdays-schedule-scoreboard-01-16-18/


Girls Basketball = Attleboro, 51 @ Franklin, 63 – Final
Josh Perry, Managing Editor for HockomockSports provides the game recap

"During the first half, the Bombardiers had little answer for the dynamic inside-outside combination of Franklin sophomore center Ali Brigham and junior guard Bea Bondhus. The duo combined for 30 points before the break to push the Panthers to a 21-point halftime lead. 

Although Attleboro turned up the energy in the second half, particularly on the defensive side of the ball, the lead proved too great to overcome and Franklin stayed within one game of the Kelley-Rex division leaders with a 63-51 victory. 

Bondhus opened the paint by knocking down a pair of threes in the opening half and spreading the Attleboro defense out with 14 of her 18 points coming before the break. With the outside threat giving Brigham a little space with which to work, the sophomore showed off an array of offensive moves on the post and stepping away to face the basket. 

She scored 16 of her 22 points in the first half and also added 12 of her game-high 20 rebounds. Brigham was also a force on the defensive side with four blocks."

Continue reading the game recap:
https://hockomocksports.com/franklin-girls-basketball-pull-away-in-first-half-to-beat-bombardiers/

For the HockomockSports photo gallery
https://hockomocksports.smugmug.com/20172018/Winter-2017-2018/Franklin-Attleboro-Girls-Basketball-1-16-18/

Franklin sophomore center Ali Brigham scored 22 points (16 in the first half) and pulled down 20 rebounds to lift the Panthers to a 63-51 victory over Attleboro. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)

Exciting night in Attleboro. 2 games ended with buzzer beaters, JV on top 66-65 & Freshmen lost 55-53. Varsity... https://t.co/PiW5I5AK9Y

— FHS Boys Basketball (@fhsboysbball) January 17, 2018

Great team effort over a well coached Attleboro team tonight 62-51. Game ball goes to @ali_brigham with 22pts and 10+ rebs. #Banja

— Franklin Girls Bball (@fhsgvbasketball) January 17, 2018

Great win!! @fhsgvbasketball https://t.co/RrHmaqa8oj

— FranklinHighSchool (@FranklinHS) January 17, 2018

Stop by Chipotle Sunday January 21st between 4 and 8 pm and show the cashier this flyer to make sure 50% of the proceeds are donated to best buddies!! Great opportunity to go out with your buddy group! pic.twitter.com/xRaKBSy8KC

— FHS Best Buddies (@BestFHSBuddies) January 16, 2018

Representative Roy: What's happening in the district - January 2018

View this email in your browser Facebook Twitter Website A new year and still work to be done Yesterday (Monday), as we celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day, I thought back to the time when the civil rights leader took center stage in the Massachusetts State House and spoke to Beacon Hill lawmakers. I wished I could have been there, but it took place on April 22, 1965, a little over a month after the 1965 Bloody Sunday march from Selma to Montgomery. It was King's first ever speech before a legislative body and his words were certainly prescient. He warned us about what could happen when so many Americans are "constantly fighting a nagging sense of "nobodyness." Still, he concluded his speech saying he had faith in America and believed the nation would solve the problem of racial injustice. I share his optimism, but understand that there is still work to be done. I am happy to join you on the continuous path towards social justice. You can view the text of the speech, along with a prayer offered by Reverend Michael E. Haynes of Boston, and the address of the Honorable John F. X. Davoren of Milford, Speaker of the House of Representatives, by clicking here. Please accept my best wishes for a Happy New Year and for continued success. Copyright © 2018 State Rep Jeff Roy, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you either contacted our office or indicated you wanted to keep updated on the 10th Norfolk District and things going on at the State House. Our mailing address is: State Rep Jeff Roy State House Room 236 Boston, MA 02133

The newsletter was shortened for publication here, to view the full contents View this link in your browser

Franklin Public Schools: Schools opening on time on Wednesday, Jan 17

Dear Franklin Public Schools Faculty, Staff, and Families,

The Franklin Public Schools will be opening ON TIME on Wednesday, January 17, 2018. If parents/guardians feel the conditions are unsafe, please exercise your discretion and keep your child home.

Emergency busing will be in effect. Bus drivers will pick up students who are walking along a bus route on the way to school.

Please allow for extra time and care this morning to arrive safely.

Sincerely,

Franklin Public Schools

Franklin Public Schools: Schools opening on time on Wednesday, Jan 17

In the News: STEM learning at the YMCA; snow/ice budget status; candidates for new DESE commissioner

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

"STEM learning doesn’t usually come to mind when thinking about the YMCA, but in Franklin, they’re changing the rules. 

The Bernon Family Branch of the Hockomock Area YMCA is taking a stab at STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) with a new technology lab, club and after-school program. 

“We saw an opportunity to take a lead,” said Executive Director Scott Martin. “We found a way to offer this to kids who did not have access to it before.” 

With programming to 3D print design, the YMCA’s tech lab is a vibrant place to keep the mind engaged, but still have fun."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20180116/franklin-ymca-branch-debuts-stem-program

"With two months remaining in the winter season, snow and ice budgets from nearby municipalities are being chipped away because of the persistent cold. 

Though all towns have access to emergency funds in the events of the budget runs dry, the monetary concern is still there. 

Franklin
Total: $950,000
Spent: $500,000
Remaining: About $400,000 

“It’s New England, we’ve come to expect this,” said Deputy Town Administrator Jaime Hellen. “Our team is prepared and we’re ready to tackle any challenge. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20180116/snow-ice-budgets-melting-away

"The superintendent and receiver of the Lawrence school system and educators from New York and Texas are the finalists to become the next education commissioner in Massachusetts, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education announced Monday. 

Lawrence receiver Jeff Riley, Penny Schwinn, chief deputy commissioner of academics for the Texas Education Agency, and Angélica Infante-Green, deputy commissioner of the Office of Instructional Support P-12 in New York State Education Department, will be interviewed next week by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education. 

The board hopes to recommend a candidate to Education Secretary James Peyser later this month.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20180116/state-three-finalists-for-education-commissioner

"my tagline at the time was: 'this is math, not politics'.”

In the Franklin Matters series of posts about local government, the Freakonomics Podcast has a great interview with Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo that is shareworthy:

"Our latest Freakonomics Radio episode is called “How to Be a Modern Democrat — and Win.” (You can subscribe to the podcast at Apple Podcasts or elsewhere, get the RSS feed, or listen via the media player above.) 

Gina Raimondo, the governor of tiny Rhode Island, has taken on unions, boosted big business, and made friends with Republicans. She is also one of just 15 Democratic governors in the country. Would there be more of them if there were more like her?"

subscribe to Freakonomics Radio

The Freakonomics Podcast page also has a transcript of the interview and other supporting info  http://freakonomics.com/podcast/modern-democrat-win/

Editorial Note:

Central Falls, RI made news when it went bankrupt largely due to unfunded pension liabilities. Franklin also has significant pension liabilities (OPEB). We are taking steps to fund these but we also have other funding requirements for roads and schools to name just two that are top of mind. 

What can we do now to help prepare for 2028 when Franklin will be (hopefully) celebrating its 250 anniversary? I think we can start by talking to one another. To borrow the line from Gina, "this is math, not politics."

What should our priorities be? What can we do to fund them?

Events to find out info and join the conversation:

• Jan 27 - Franklin Town Government 101

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/01/franklin-town-government-101-january-27.html

• Feb 13 - Legislative Forum on School Funding

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/01/franklin-school-committee-legislative.html


#Franklin2028