Upcoming Events in Franklin, MA: FRI 5/11/18 - THU 5/17/18

FRIDAY 5/11/18
9-11am   Franklin School Committee Community Coffee @ Franklin Senior Center
9:30am   Mommy Real Talk @ Franklin Public Library
10am-12pm   Knitting Group @ Franklin Public Library
2pm   Tech Help with HMMS Students @ Franklin Senior Center
5:30pm   Heart with Hope Restorative Yoga (for parents and loved ones of those suffering from addiction) @ Sacred Tree Yoga, Norfolk
6:30pm   FHS Music Awards Night @ FHS
7pm   50th Anniversary Comedy Night - Franklin Youth Soccer @ The Black Box
7pm   Yoga for Recovery @ Sacred Tree Yoga, Norfolk

SATURDAY 5/12/18
All Day   Franklin MBTA Line: shuttle buses during weekend Forge Park - Readville
All Day   Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive - please leave non-perishable items near your mailbox for your letter carrier to pick up - benefits Franklin Food Pantry
8-11am   Town Common Garden Spring Clean Up @  Franklin Town Common
9am-3pm   Opening Day Plant Sale @ Grateful Farm (49 Prospect St)
10am-1pm   Franklin Historical Museum Open
10:30am   Mother’s Day Celebration @ Franklin Public Library
2-4pm   Happiness Walk hosted by FHS 40% Club @ HMMS Track
7pm   The 70s - A Musical Tribute @ The Black Box
8pm   Circle of Friends CoffeeHouse: Ante Dovecot @ FUSF
8:45pm   The 70s - A Musical Tribute @ The Black Box

SUNDAY 5/13/18
All Day   Franklin MBTA Line: shuttle buses during weekend Forge Park - Readville
12pm   The Gershwin-Porter Songbook featuring Cindy Jones @ The Black Box
1-4pm   Franklin Historical Museum Open
1:15pm   James Johnston: The Oliver Pond House in Context @ Franklin Historical Museum

MONDAY 5/14/18
10:30am   Move Along @ Franklin Public Library
11am   Toddler Playgroup @ Franklin Public Library
3pm   Monday Crafternoons @ Franklin Public Library
6pm   Elementary String and Choir Concert @ HMMS
6pm   Introduction to Drawing @ Franklin Public Library

TUESDAY 5/15/18
10am   Franklin Senior Center: Historic Tour of Dean College @ Dean College
10:30am   Get Ready for Kindergarten @ Franklin Public Library
11:15am   Todler Playgroup @ Franklin Public Library
6pm   Elementary Band and Chorus Concert @ HMMS

WEDNESDAY 5/16/18
10:30am   Terrific Toddlers @ Franklin Public Library
11am   Toddler Playgroup @ Franklin Public Library
4pm   Construction Junction @ Franklin Public Library
5pm   Book Bites @ Franklin Public Library
7pm   Town Council Meeting @ Franklin Municipal Building

THURSDAY 5/17/18
9:30am   Baby Tummy Time @ Franklin Public Library
10:30am   Story and Craft @ Franklin Public Library
11:15am   Toddler Playgroup @ Franklin Public Library
1pm   Introduction to Drawing @ Franklin Senior Center
5-8pm   Franklin Historical Museum Open
7pm   Franklin SEPAC Workshop: Coping with Bullying @ Franklin Municipal Building
7pm   Healing Hearts Community Support Group @ Franklin YMCA

For the Town of Franklin Public Calendar click HERE.

For all other events and Franklin happenings click HERE.

*To submit an event for the Community Calendar, please use this FORM

Town Administrator's FY19 Budget Narrative (A summary & Narrative about the budget)

"While fiscal challenges remain, our resolve to overcome them is relentless.

The FY 19 proposed budget will be balanced with use of approximately $1,500,000 from our Budget Stabilization Fund (Rainy Day account). While this will work for one year the FY 20 budget will require policy decisions on how to handle the budget shortfall.

We continue to face challenges in properly funding the annual operating budget, Other Post Employment Benefits (OPEB) and roads. We should continue to maintain the capital plan and debt capacity in the annual operating budget to fund capital improvements.

The Town’s property tax revenue (not including debt exclusions) will increase by 2½ % plus new growth, or about $2.65 million. Local receipts, which include the excise tax and permit and license fees, etc., will increase $300,000, mostly due to increased motor vehicle commitments. Net State Aid (based on the Governor’s budget) will increase by $206,000. The FY 19 “net” revenue increase is estimated at $3.2 million.

Proposed FY 19 Highlights

Treasurer Collector – The budget partially funds a Deputy Treasurer Collector in preparation of the retirement of the current Deputy Treasurer Collector in 2019.

Police – We are reviewing the options to staff the police department when the Dispatch center moves in the middle of the fiscal year.

Regional Dispatch – The target date to open the new center is January 2019. The building is currently under construction.

Franklin Schools – We have provided the largest year over year increase ($3,000,000) in school funding in a decade. This will help relief much of the pressure of the school use of revolving funds but will not resolve the long term funding issues the Town/school face.

The Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter School – The school is relocating to its new location on Washington Street in 2019. This may increase busing costs for the schools when they open.

DPW – We increased the snow and ice Budget by $50,000 for a total of $1,003,500. This is still below the five year rolling average.

Board of Health – The Health office is merging with the Inspectional services
This will eliminate a part time clerk while providing full office coverage for the Health Department. Further we will be contracting for percolation tests and septic inspections.

Library – The opening of the renovated/addition to the library requires additional staffing. Further we are trying to close the gap between our current funding and the Minimum Appropriation Requirement (MAR) of the State Library Board. If the budget is approved we will close the gap from .85% to 90% of the minimum. We would need an additional
$100,000 to meet the requirement. The last time we were in compliance was FY 09.

Employee Wages/Benefits –Wages are generally increasing 3%, Pension costs increased by about 10% or about $450,000, OPEB is funded at $550,000 and health insurance continues to be a challenge. Thanks once again to the employees for working together to constrain health insurance increases. This is critical to maintaining staffing levels.

Budget Overview
In compliance with Article Six, Sections 6-3-1 through 6-5-2 of the Franklin Town Charter, I am submitting the proposed FY 19 budget to the Town Council and Finance Committee.

Process
Each department is required to submit a proposed budget to the Town Administrator. The Town Administrator, the Comptroller, and the individual Department Heads review their budget request.

The Town Administrator also reviews the highlights of the Town’s fiscal plan with the budget subcommittee of the Town Council. Based on input and the meetings with the Department Head, the Town Administrator makes a budget recommendation to the Town Council and the Finance Committee. The Finance Committee reviews the Town Administrator’s proposed budget and forwards their recommendations to the Town Council. The Town Council holds two public hearings prior to adopting the budget.

Financial Policy Summary

While the budget process identifies issues and concerns that the Town will address on an annual basis, it also must do so based in a framework of sound financial management. The Town Council has adopted fiscal policies in the past and should continue to update and review them on a regular basis. Below is a summary of current policies:

Balanced Budget
 Annual costs funded from current revenues.
 Do not defer current costs to future years.

Current status 
– Whenever possible we refrain from using one time funds to balance the budget. FY19 is an exception due to extra challenges we face. We have not addressed our GASB 45 obligation (post-retirement health insurance) although this year we have budgeted $550,000 to continue to fund the obligation of about $70 million (2017 actuarial study).

Compensation and benefits
 Budget with current revenues
 Compensate at market rates

Current status 
– We have nine municipal unions. All unions have collective bargaining agreements through June 30, 2019.

Revenues
 Estimate annual revenues in detail and project for the following three years.
 Maintain full and fair market value of property assessments.
 Ensure fees charged cover costs incurred.

Current status 
– Future revenue projections are included in the budget. New growth and local receipts have been adjusted to reflect the trends in actual collections. Included in the projection are the enterprise funds direct and indirect charges that pay back the general fund for costs attributable to those funds. Again this year we are charging the water and sewer enterprise accounts for their OPEB obligation.

Financial Reserves
 Adequately fund and maintain reserves (Stabilization, Free Cash, Overlay Surplus)
 Maintain Stabilization account at $5 million or 5% of recurring general fund revenue (less debt exclusions and SBA reimbursement).
 Short-term revenue surpluses shall fund non-recurring projects.
 Free Cash will be used to fund the capital budget and for unforeseen expenses.
 Overlay surplus will be used for capital budgets and non-recurring expenses.

Current status 
- the General Stabilization fund balance is just about $5.1 million dollars which is slightly under the Town’s policy of 5% of general fund revenue.

Long-Term Debt - Proposed
 Reserved for large capital projects.
 Net general fund debt service (not including debt exclusions) shall be targeted at not more than 3.5% of recurring general fund revenue. We are currently well below that number.

Current Status 
- The FY 19 budget calls for a general fund debt service of$6,843,101. According to the independent bond rating agency Standard and Poor’s, our debt level is moderate and manageable. Our debt plan will help to obtain our goal of improving the infrastructure of the Town without the need for debt exclusions (except schools) while maintaining a reasonable debt level. We were recently upgraded to AA+ one grade below the highest rating of AAA."


This was shared from the Town of Franklin page
http://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/news/2018-05-16_town_council_narrative_fy19_final_version_2.pdf

And can also be found here
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1srWLWOHO81af4aQq8cNWIJcLAtImjRJG

Town Administrator's FY19 Budget Narrative (A summary & Narrative about the budget)

FHS baseball tops Catholic Memorial 5-1

Via HockomockSports we share the results of the FHS spring sports action on Thursday, May 10, 2018.


Baseball = Franklin, 5 vs. Catholic Memorial, 1 – Final
– Franklin senior Colby Fitzgibbons went a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate and classmate Bryan Woelfel tossed a complete game with just one run allowed to lead the Panthers to a win over CM. Woelfel scattered nine hits while walking just one, striking out one. Fitzgibbons added an RBI and a run scored while Jake Macchi (two RBI, double), Steve Luttazi (double, run), and Jack Nally (double, run) all finished with two hits for the Panthers. Jake Noviello and Alex Haba each added a hit and a run scored.


For the other results around the Hockomock League
https://hockomocksports.com/thursdays-schedule-scoreboard-05-10-18/

FHS Panthers

"95 percent of adults who smoke started smoking before the age of 21"

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

"House lawmakers voted Wednesday raise the statewide age for purchasing tobacco and e-cigarettes to 21 and to ban vaping from workplaces. 

The bill (H 4479), which passed 146-4, next heads to the Senate, which passed similar legislation last session. 

Pharmacies would also be barred from selling tobacco products under the bill, which received strong bipartisan support. Many pharmacies have already removed cigarettes from their shelves, and 175 cities and towns have raised their tobacco purchase age up from 18 – the minimum age statewide, according to the Cancer Action Network. 

Cigarettes and other addictive and harmful tobacco products have long posed public health quandaries, and electronic cigarettes – which deliver to the user a heated vapor that often includes nicotine – have become popular more recently, especially among young people."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20180509/increase-of-tobacco-purchasing-age-to-age-21-easily-clears-house

FHS students with Rep Jeff Roy at the State House (Facebook photo via Catherine Moran)
earlier this year when the students were lobbying for this bill

FSPA Summer Theater Auditions - May 14

Franklin School for the Performing Arts (FSPA) will hold placement auditions for FSPA Summer Theater programs on Monday, May 14 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at 38 Main Street in downtown Franklin. Students may audition for the musical 42nd Street (Grades 8-12), an original parody 21st Street (Grades 3-8), two straight plays (Grades 3-7 and Grades 8-12), a cabaret (Grades 5-12), and Broadway Boot Camp (Grades 5-12). There are opportunities for all ages and levels, and all students who audition for the musical and play productions will be cast. Those unable to attend the auditions on the 14th should call FSPA at (508) 528-8668 to schedule a makeup appointment.

The ultimate show-biz musical, 42nd Street features the beloved Broadway standards, “We’re in the Money,” “Lullaby of Broadway,” and the title tune. To audition, please prepare 16 bars of a musical theater song. Repertoire from the Golden Age (musicals written before 1965) is preferred, but not mandatory. Tap experience is not required. For the plays, students may present a monologue, but that is optional. Cold readings may also be part of the audition. Plays will be chosen for each age group based on enrollment. The plays will rehearse August 20-24, with a performance on August 24th at THE BLACK BOX theater in Franklin. The musicals will be presented at THE BLACK BOX at the conclusion of FSPA’s two-week musical theater program, which runs from August 6-17.

FSPA Summer Theater Auditions - May 14

FSPA Summer Theater also includes a Broadway Boot Camp and cabaret show. The Cabaret week (July 23-27) focuses on repertoire choices, song interpretation, and presentation, and concludes with a cabaret style revue at THE BLACK BOX. The three-day Broadway Boot Camp (July 30-August 1) brings guest instructor Ben Cameron to FSPA for song and dance master classes and coaching on individual performance skills. Ben Cameron has appeared on Broadway in Aida and the original casts of Wicked and Footloose. He is currently the creator/host of Broadway Sessions at The Laurie Beechman Theater.

In addition, FSPA summer programming offers ballet intensives and one-week creative arts camps, along with voice, instrumental, and dance classes. The summer session runs from July 2 to August 24. To register, call FSPA at (508) 528-8668. For more information, including a summer session brochure with full program descriptions, dates, faculty, and tuition, call FSPA or visit www.FSPAonline.com.

Timeless CrossFit and Fitness Women's FIT Boxing - May 15

Timeless CrossFit and Fitness Women's FIT Boxing!

Enrollment is Now OPEN! The next session begins next week and I'd love to have you come give it a try. Every Friday is Bring A Friend Day and FREE Class 4-5 PM!

No time like right now to get fitter and have a blast doing it!

"Can't Is Not An Option" ~mc

webpage = www.timelesscrossfit.com
email = mc@timelesscrossfit.com

Timeless CrossFit and Fitness Women's FIT Boxing - May 15

Football Night in Franklin - Grades 2-9 - Sign up NOW

FREE FOOTBALL CLINIC
Football Night in Franklin

Skills, Drills, Fundamentals and Fun

****All Participants will receive a Franklin Football Jersey****

****Food will be served free of charge****

WHO: All kids grades 2-9 (Incoming Fall 2018)
WHAT TO BRING: Cleats, Shorts, Water

Coaches Bain and Tirrell are putting on a free youth clinic. Complete with BBQ. Sign up here https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0f4eaaad28a13-football

Football Night in Franklin - Grades 2-9 - Sign up NOW