Thursday, October 15, 2020

Franklin Cultural District Newsletter - October 2020

Welcome from The Chair ... Nancy Schoen

"With the changing of the leaves and the cool crisp evenings we are reminded that fall is now officially here. During the last seven months we have seen our local arts establishments close their performance venues and pivot to offering many performances online. While the future is still uncertain, we in Massachusetts are fortunate that we are now well into Phase 3 of the state’s reopening plan. This phase of the plan allows performance venues to hold both outdoor and indoor performances at a reduced capacity. Many local restaurants are also continuing to serve customers at both indoor and outdoor spaces.

Having a strong arts and cultural presence in Franklin provides opportunities for our community to come together during these challenging times. As our arts establishments and restaurants work to find their way in this pandemic let’s all do our best to patronize these businesses in Franklin. If you are not quite ready to attend a live performance or go out for a meal, purchasing a gift card that you can use in the future is a wonderful way to support our local businesses!"

Continue reading the Franklin Cultural District Newsletter https://conta.cc/374C0Gb 

Franklin Cultural District Newsletter - October 2020
Franklin Cultural District Newsletter - October 2020

 

Community Relations Sub Committee Meeting - Oct 20 - 3:00 PM

Community Relations Sub Committee Meeting

Tuesday, October 20, 2020 at 3:00pm

Virtual Meeting (Links in agenda)


Agenda:
Approval of May 20th and July 6th Meeting Minutes
Next Newsletter content:
o Graphic to include in next newsletter – “Get to know Title 1 Tutors”
o Equity Policy JBB
o Updates from Budget Sub Committee
o Calendar of Events
o Other Ideas?
Virtual Coffee Hours?
Senior Center
Newspaper – Judy O’Gara

Community Relations Sub Committee Meeting - Oct 20 - 3:00 PM
Community Relations Sub Committee Meeting - Oct 20 - 3:00 PM


The rainy day fund, pandemic spending, deceptive framing all in one MA FY 21 budget

Pulling together multiple sources today.

"Despite the pandemic-related recession and high unemployment rates, and an expected drop in state tax revenues, Gov. Charlie Baker on Wednesday released a budget proposal for the current fiscal year that is actually higher than the budget he proposed in January.

Baker, a Republican, is recommending a fiscal 2021 budget of $45.5 billion, or 3.8 percent more than was spent in fiscal 2020. The budget he released in January would have spent $44.6 billion, or 2.3 percent more than in the prior fiscal year.

The high budget is largely driven by excessive spending in MassHealth, the state’s Medicaid program. It would be paid for with an influx of federal money as well as a $1.3 billion draw from the state’s $3.5 billion rainy day fund.

“The rainy day fund is there to support services when it’s raining, and I think most people would agree it’s raining,” Baker said at a State House press conference."
https://commonwealthmagazine.org/government/baker-releases-45-5-billion-revised-fy21-budget-proposal/

"The revised budget is built on a projection that state tax revenues will be $3.6 billion lower than originally estimated, due to the economic slowdown caused by the pandemic. Overall, the updated budget would be balanced through a blend of increased federal assistance, a drawdown of $1.35 billion from the state’s $3.5 billion stabilization fund (preserving $2.1 billion for future needs), and changes to a range of appropriation recommendations.

The Division of Local Services released revised Cherry Sheet amounts for each city and town today based on the new budget recommendation. The DLS update includes receipt and assessment items for municipalities and regional school districts. (Link to updated Cherry Sheets for regional school districts.)

The governor said that he hoped the Legislature would return a final budget to him by Thanksgiving."

https://www.mma.org/gov-files-revised-fy21-budget-with-ugga-ch-70-matching-july-commitment/

"Today, Governor Baker filed his FY21 budget with you. While I had hoped for better than the inflation-only increase that was passed in July, I to some degree was also resigned to it. However, to hear the Governor repeat the deceptive framing posed by Secretary Peyser yesterday, that the funding to schools this year surpasses that laid out by the Student Opportunity Act, is infuriating. I have had reason to wonder if the Governor has any understanding of the school funding formula before this, but this statement has confirmed that he either does not or chooses willfully to ignore the principle upon which it is based.
Pandemic funding is precisely that: it is funding for an EMERGENCY. To have that funding then touted as filling the gaping hole in our basic needs is simply wrong; having to spend money to repair my car does not take away my need for gas money.
Moreover, the funding for the pandemic has been flat: it is distributed regardless of student need, regardless of community need. Every student in every district, whatever its wealth, received that emergency funding. The state's funding formula, on quite the other hand, is progressive: it recognizes that greater need requires greater resources to meet.  "
http://who-cester.blogspot.com/2020/10/a-plea-from-worcester.html

“I’ve got everything that I need. I’m ready to roll.”

From the Milford Daily News, an article of interest for Franklin:

In the past, Election Day has always been the main event during election years, but this year it could very well be like the credits that scroll at the end of a long and dramatic movie -- one with an eagerly anticipated bonus reel at its conclusion.

Local town clerks are reporting that they’ve been busy sending out thousands of mail-in ballots to voters who are considering skipping the polls on Nov. 3, and starting this weekend they’ll be opening doors to voters choosing to take advantage of early in-person voting.

In Franklin, interim Town Clerk Nancy Danello said the voting booths have been ready and waiting for the influx of early voters inside the gym at Franklin High School ever since the last of the ballots were counted following the September primary, and they’ll remain until after Election Day.

Danello’s got a team that’s been working diligently on keeping up with the mail-in ballot requests -- over the course of two days alone they prepared and mailed out a whopping 10,000 mail-in ballots -- and they’re now preparing to kick it up a notch with the early in-person voting.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)


In the News: mystery about the expanded 'shelter in place' order; individual to be arraigned on multiple charges

From the Milford Daily News, an article of interest for Franklin:

"Police from Franklin sent out a Reverse 911 on Sunday ordering residents to “shelter-in-place” during a standoff with an armed man who fired at police officers.

Although that is not an unusual move, what happened afterward was. The order was also sent to residents in several other nearby communities, including Milford, Blackstone, Mendon, Wrentham, North Attleboro and Walpole.

How that happened is a mystery, according to Franklin police Sgt. Brian Johnson."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
 
 
The man who authorities say fired several shots at police officers during an armed standoff at the Spruce Pond condominium complex on Sunday is expected to be arraigned Thursday in Wrentham District Court.

Police filed charges against Thomas E. McManus, 53, of 46 Quince Landing, related to the incident on Sunday.

Police charged McManus with six counts of armed assault to murder with a firearm; assault and battery with a dangerous weapon; assault and battery on a police officer; discharging a firearm within 500 feet of a dwelling; disorderly conduct; disturbing the peace; and three counts of vandalizing property.
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required) 

Wednesday, October 14, 2020

Community Preservation Act: Frequently Asked Questions - answered by CPAForFranklin

Question of the Day: 
"Is there really any open space left to save in Franklin?"
 
Question of the Day: 
 “I don’t mind paying more on my taxes for saving open space, but I don’t want to pay more for the other uses. If money raised gets split up, will it really ever be enough to do anything with?”
 
Question of the day:
"Does adopting the CPA mean there will be an additional tax when I sell my home?"
 
Question of the day: 
"How is the CPA amount calculated? Will the CPA surcharge be figured as 2% of my property value under the CPA?"
 
Question of the Day: 
"Doesn’t the Town have enough affordable housing for those who need it?"
 
Question of the Day: 
“How many communities have adopted the CPA? And have any revoked it?” 
https://www.cpaforfranklin.org/2020/10/question-of-day-how-many-communities.html
 
Question of the Day:  
How is the allocation of local funds prioritized? 
 
Questions of the Day:  
1 - Who decides how Franklin’s CPA funds would be spent? 
2 - How will Franklin decide which projects will be funded? https://www.cpaforfranklin.org/2020/10/question-of-day-two-questions.html

 

If you have a question about how the Community Preservation Act (CPA) works, please email CPA4Franklin@gmail.com.  
 
As additional questions are asked and answered they will be posted to the page here https://www.cpaforfranklin.org/p/frequently-asked-questions.html
 


Town of Franklin, MA: Sample Ballots for the November 3rd election

Sample Ballots for the November 3rd election can be found on the Town Clerk's website here 
 
 
For additional info from the Town Clerk visit
 
For the Election Collection for Franklin residents during this election season of 2020
 
Town of Franklin, MA: Sample Ballots for the November 3rd election
Town of Franklin, MA: Sample Ballots for the November 3rd election