Franklin Matters

Thursday, January 25, 2018

Good government community meeting Jan 27 at the Franklin library

"On this Saturday, January 27, all Franklin residents are invited to be at the new community room of the recently expanded Franklin Public Library at 10 AM to attend an intriguing presentation and discussion session concerning how to work constructively with town officials to help make Franklin’s municipal government function more effectively and transparently.

The Milford Daily News in a recent article about the upcoming event, quoted meeting co-originator Alan Earls as stressing the supportive, non-confrontational content planned for this session:
“We don’t want it to be an ‘us versus them’ thing at all,” he said. “I realize (town officials) also have a really big challenge in working with the town, because many of us don’t know a lot of what happens, and how it works.”

Continue reading the article by Warren on his page 02038.com
https://02038.com/2018/01/good-government-meeting-jan-27/

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

Franklin Town Government 101 - Jan 27

Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Live Reporting: Town Administration Report to Closing of meeting

K. Town Administrator's Report	K. Town Administrator's Report Town recognized for saving approx $60K Cherry sheet came out today, off approx $25K awaiting for health insurance numbers, so maybe mid-February should be ready to talk budget
L. Future Agenda Items	L. Future Agenda Items none
M. Council Comments	M. Council Comments Pellegri - listening to the Audit report good position and audit, should give thanks to the Administration and they good work go Pats! Jones - reading letter from Middlesex Savings Bank on $50K for the grant program (full letter to be posted later) Golden Rain Drop Award for Brutus Cantoreggi for his work in storm water
N. Executive Session	N. Executive Session - None Scheduled
O. Adjourn	O. Adjourn motion to adjourn, second, passed 9-0

Live reporting: Subcommittee reports - Legislation for Action


I. Subcommittee Reports	I. Subcommittee Reports 1. Capital discussed Schools, IT and Facilities 2. Budget meeting mid-Feb 3. EDC meeting 1/31
J. Legislation for Action	J. Legislation for Action 1. Resolution 18-01 - Acceptance of Gifts - Council on Aging (Motion to Move Resolution 18-01 - Majority Vote (5)) motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0 2. Resolution 18-02 - Acceptance of Gifts - Franklin Police Department (Motion to Move Resolution 18-02 - Majority Vote (5)) motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0 3. Resolution 18-03 - Local Adoption of G.L. Chapter 64N, Section 3, as Amended: Local Tax on Marijuana Retail Sales and Establishment of Tax rate (Motion to Move Resolution 18-03 - Majority Vote (5)) motion to raise original rate from 2% to 3% based upon change in State regulations discussion on difference between Fed and State regulations, if we ever get some money that may or may not be an issue. The situation is still up in air. In the meantime, this prepares us to obtain 3% on sales if they occur. motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0 4. Bylaw Amendment 18-798: Chapter 155, Streets and Sidewalks - 1st Reading (Motion to Move Bylaw Amendment 18-798 to a 2nd Reading - Majority Vote (5)) discussion to add to second reading phrasing on the clean up to include a reimbursement of expenses if the DPW needs to do the cleanup motion to move to 2nd reading, seconded, passed 9-0 5. Bylaw Amendment 18-799: Chapter 82, Fees, Appendix B - Sewer Rates - 1st Reading (Motion to Move Bylaw Amendment 18-799 to a 2nd Reading - Majority Vote (5)) effective for bill issued July 1 2018 and there after approx 10% increase, amounting to an increase of about $40/year. First sewer rate increase increase in 5 years, mostly due to the increased assessment from Charles River due to the improvement project they did likely another increase in 5 years depending upon what is to be done with the Beaver St connector necessary but feel awful to do so but the cost of goods just continues to go up motion to move to 2nd reading, seconded, passed 9-0 6. Bylaw Amendment 18-800: Chapter 82, Fees, Appendix B - Water Rates - 1st Reading (Motion to Move Bylaw Amendment 18-800 to a 2nd Reading - Majority Vote (5)) prior rate increase in 2012, several items (i.e projects) to be completed including $15.5M capital improvements required over the next several years; possibly back in three years for another increase for some of the capital improvements add a map or additional description of the wells and locations at least a couple of years before this proposed plant could come online regulations did increase along the way motion to move to 2nd reading, seconded, passed 9-0

Live reporting: Audit Report - FY 2017

H. Presentations/Discussions

1. 2017 Audit

Zake Bentrous (?)

overall theme - Town is in good financial shape, no major issues

pages 4-12 is the narrative summary

page 13 specific items

statement of net positions

assets increased by about $4M due to the library renovation work

OPEB line changes from this year to next year for accounting purposes

GASB statement 75, full liability needs to be recorded as opposed to over a 30 year period.

last page

will jump from $54M to approx $69M next year

p 15

assigned dropped by $800K (due to the turf field replacements)

unassigned fund balances $10M (bond rating agencies like to see) 9.24% of total

p 19

$1.79M favorable revenues over forecast

$1.13M favorable expenses vs. forecast

$2.9 beat budget (next years free cash)

p 23

$3.3M funding for OPEB

Thanks to all the Town for their help in conducting the audit

Live reporting: Town Council - Jan 24, 2018

Present: Hamblen, Casey, Dellorco, Mercer, Kelly, Jones, Padula, Pellegri, Eamons
Absent: none

Agenda Item	Summary

A. Approval of Minutes	A. Approval of Minutes 1. December 13, 2017 motion to approve, second, passed 9-0 2. December 20, 2017 motion to approve, second, passed 9-0
B. Announcements	B. Announcements This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast channel 11 and Verizon channel 29. This meeting may also be recorded by others.
C. Proclamations/Recognitions	C. Proclamations/Recognitions
D. Citizen Comments	D. Citizen Comments - Citizens are welcome to express their views for up to five 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. Raye Lynn Mercer Joe Landry sharing photos and videos 246 years ago succeeded from Wrentham, Feb 16 set up like a museum, sports in one area tiered ticketing process based upon years in Town Franklin Trivia, if you pass the test, you get your ticket refunded at THE BLACK BOX to benefit the arts in Franklin 7:00 PM to 11 PM, bar open Teresa Burr, Town Clerk announcement and reminder on town census sent in email; return address is incorrect please send it to the proper Town address
E. Appointments	E. Appointments
F. Hearings	F. Hearings
G. License Transactions	G. License Transactions 1. Table and Vine Inc. - Change of Manager motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0

Franklin Art Association: February 2018 Meeting -Vincent Crotty

The Franklin Art Association will meet on Wednesday, February 7, 2018 from 6:30 to 9:00 PM at the Franklin Senior Center, 10 Daniel McCahill Street in Franklin.

Refreshments and social time will begin at 6:30 PM followed by a short business meeting and a demonstration by Vincent Crotty, an oil artist, born in Ireland, and now residing in the Boston area. Crotty's work has been recognized with awards from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, the John Stobart Foundation in Boston, and plein air competitions internationally.

Meetings are free and open to the public. For more information log on to www.franklinart.org

Esker Park, Weymouth Oil 30" x 30" 2017Winner, 1st Place Overall, PleinAir Salon Art Competition, April/May 2017

As Data Privacy Day approaches, do you know where your data is?

Data Privacy Day began in the United States and Canada in January 2008 as an extension of the Data Protection Day celebration in Europe. Data Protection Day commemorates the Jan. 28, 1981, signing of Convention 108, the first legally binding international treaty dealing with privacy and data protection. Data Privacy Day is observed annually on Jan. 28.