Franklin Police: "fill-a-cruiser" toy drive - Nov 27

Franklin Police (@franklinpolice) tweeted at 11:15 AM on Thu, Nov 19, 2020:

 Franklin Police: "fill a cruiser" toy drive 

Shared from Twitter: https://t.co/xBipFTurhm

@OakStElementary shares news on a $5K award from Staples for @mrs_perro

"Congratulations to Mrs. Perro! Thanks to our parent community she was a WINNER in the @StaplesStores #ThankATeacher campaign, and Oak Street was awarded $5,000 worth of Staples supplies.  

Thank Staples Thank you @AngelaKinsey and HUGE Thank you to @mrs_perro!" 

https://t.co/7kXSVUW8c6

@OakStElementary shares news on a $5K award from Staples for @mrs_perro

View this email in your browser  https://mailchi.mp/art/new_10m_covid_relief-546250?e=b386273bd4 New $10M Grant Program Provides State Cultural Organizations COVID Relief   Mass Cultural Council to Administer Cultural Organization Economic Recovery Program in Partnership with Baker-Polito Administration's Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development  BOSTON – The Mass Cultural Council, in partnership with the Executive Office of Housing & Economic Development, has launched the Cultural Organization Economic Recovery Grant Program, which offers grant assistance to Massachusetts nonprofit cultural organizations negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This new $10 million initiative is part of the Baker-Polito Administration's Economic Recovery Plan. Of the $10 million, $2 million will be dedicated to supporting small cultural nonprofits, in alignment with the FY20 COVID supplemental budget.   "The Commonwealth's cultural institutions are a vital component of our identify and this grant program arrives at a crucial time for those organizations that have suffered significantly as a result of the pandemic," said Governor Charlie Baker. "I'm pleased we can target these resources toward these necessary institutions as we continue working to ensure they survive and thrive long into the future."    Cultural organizations have suffered staggering economic loss in recent months because of the COVID-19 public health crisis with a reported $484 million in lost revenue and more than 30,000 cultural jobs impacted. The Cultural Organization Economic Recovery Grant Program will efficiently distribute funds to organizations that urgently need them. The deadline to apply for funding is Friday, December 11, 2020; grant awards will be distributed early in calendar year 2021. "We are so pleased with this collaboration with the Baker-Polito Administration," said David T. Slatery, Acting Executive Director, Mass Cultural Council. "Our cultural sector has been financially devastated by the pandemic. This vital new program will provide urgently needed relief to cultural organizations across the Commonwealth. We know that the cultural sector must be completely restored for the Commonwealth's economy to fully recovery."   "The cultural sector has a strong history of enriching the lives of Massachusetts residents through an approach that promotes education, inclusion, and diversity," said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. "Recognizing the importance of this sector's mission, this grant program will allow us to focus our support for these organizations and institutions so they can continue to play a significant role in our daily lives." Since March, 898 cultural organizations have responded to Mass Cultural Council's four COVID economic impact surveys. These organizations collectively identify more than $116.8 million in COVID-related capital improvements and non-capital recovery strategies necessary to reopen and safely reengage with the public. Sixty-two percent of these organizations have made the difficult decision to layoff or furlough employees or reduce their wages and/or hours – choices that have impacted 30,616 cultural employees statewide.   "I'm grateful to the Mass Cultural Council for their collaborative efforts to support this vital sector," said Housing and Economic Development Secretary Mike Kennealy. "Not only are these institutions vital to our culture and history, they also generate commerce in key areas across the Commonwealth, they attract visitors from out of state, and the industry employs a large workforce with skillsets that are unique and specialized." The Cultural Organization Economic Recovery Grant Program will grant cultural organizations up to $100,000, or three months of supported operating expenses. On an extremely limited basis, Mass Cultural Council and EOHED reserve the right to award a small number grants worth up to $500,000 for organizations experiencing extraordinary losses. An organization must demonstrate extraordinary need and show that they face remarkable challenges that threaten its viability for this higher award amount to be considered. Program guidelines, eligibility requirements, and the grant application for the Cultural Organization Economic Recovery Grant Program are available online (https://massculturalcouncil.org/organizations/cultural-organization-economic-recovery-program/). out the Mass Cultural Council Mass Cultural Council is an independent state agency that promotes excellence, inclusion, education, and diversity in the arts, humanities, and sciences, fosters a rich cultural life for all Massachusetts residents, and contributes to the vitality of our communities and economy. The Council pursues this mission through a wide range of grants, initiatives, and advocacy for artists, communities, organizations, and schools.

MBTA: Franklin Line notice - shuttle bus -through December 20

On weekends through Dec 20, buses replace service on the Franklin Line at Forge Park through Walpole to allow for double-track extension work. They will operate on a normal train schedule. Trains will operate between Norwood Central and S. Station

The shuttle buses will operate on the normal weekend train schedule and will be ADA accessible, though bikes will not be allowed on board. Trains may experience delays of up to 20 minutes due to the shuttle busing, please allow for additional travel time.

Visit mbta.com/FRKwork and mbta.com/FRKdoubletrack for more details.

Last Updated: Nov 20 2020 12:15 PM

If you want to take the train to Boston, drive to Walpole (park there) and avoid the shuttle.

MBTA: Franklin Line notice - shuttle bus -through December 20

"House, Senate budgets contain plenty of policy proposals"

From CommonWealth Magazine we share an article of interest for Franklin:

"So much for a “narrow” budget.

When the House and Senate Ways and Means committees released their fiscal 2021 budget proposals, both were relatively narrow with few policy initiatives. Chairs Aaron Michlewitz and Michael Rodrigues both stressed the need to adopt the budget on a quick time frame, with the state’s temporary budget expiring at the end of November and the fiscal year already five months in. House Speaker Robert DeLeo said at a Massachusetts Association of Health Plans conference that the budget “is not an appropriate place for major policy reform.”

But through the amendment process, lawmakers have now adopted numerous significant policy proposals. Whether a conference committee will be able to resolve differences quickly remains to be seen. Gov. Charlie Baker has line item veto power over the budget, so policy proposals could also die on his desk – although Democrats, with a veto-proof majority in both bodies, could override him.

The most obvious example is a provision expanding abortion access, which was passed in similar forms by the House and Senate. Senate Republican Leader Bruce Tarr objected to having a major policy proposal taken up in a lame duck budget session, as did Baker – though the governor did not say whether he would veto it."

Continue reading the article online

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/the-download/house-senate-budgets-contain-plenty-of-policy-proposals-2/

 

 

Franklin's weekend Nov 21-22, 2020

A relatively quiet weekend to enjoy. Be safe, be social at a distance (and masked!)

Saturday, November 21
9:00am - Help decorate downtown Franklin
10:00am - Winter Farmers Market

Sunday, November 22
1:00pm - Historical Museum (open and free admission)

Find the full calendar  https://www.franklinmatters.org/p/blog-page.html

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:  https://forms.gle/oPdi8X3ZbHHyrHzo6
 

Community Calendar

 

Town Council Budget Subcommittee - meeting recap - Nov 18, 2020

Quick recap:

•  "incredibly good news" on FY 2021 budget compared to what had been feared in June 2020
• Added back $75K to both Town Clerk and Recreation budgets based upon requirements and changes due to the pandemic
• Adjusted new growth number back upwards and then recommended to set aside $850K in the Budget Stabilization account. This had been emptied by withdrawals to balance the recent budgets
  

 

Budget Subcommittee agenda and supporting documents: https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/agendas/budget_subcommittee_agenda.pdf

Photos captured during the meeting and shared with the Twitter thread can be found online https://photos.app.goo.gl/Ksn5Q4qwUrcJ3Eq36

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As with most meetings in this pandemic period, I took my notes via Twitter during the meeting reporting in real-time via the virtual session.
 
The Twitter hashtag can be found online  #bsc1118
https://twitter.com/hashtag/bsc1118?src=hashtag_click

• Chair Matt Kelly opens meeting reading protocol statement and connection info #bsc1118
• Town Administrator Jamie Hellen provides update on FY 2021, "incredibly good news". 2 minor adjustments for budget to Town Clerk and Recreation budget lines. Also recommending putting $850K into budget stabilization fund #bsc1118
• Major change in calculation comes from adjusted new growth over what had been the forecast at the beginning of the pandemic. Effectively, building for the most part has continued hence the growth adjustment #bsc1118 hotel/motel revenue down and no surprise there
• Revenue sheet talked to by Jamie #bsc1118
• Additional sheets with COVID federal funding accounted for which all dries up 12/31/20. #bsc1118 Federal action may happen but not willing to bet on it. Q on CARES act what happens in Jan, can still apply for FEMA reimbursement. At some point that will also run dry
• Looking at run rate, we could need $1M to $1.5 M in the capital funding that we don't propose using until we know more. #bsc1118 global supply is getting tough, supplies are getting hard to come by. After winter with snow/ice behind us, we could look at capital
• Otherwise we have the funding set aside to prepare for some contingency. Health insurance also a positive move and credit to the Human Resources dept and insurance group. Unemployment insurance is one area over budget #bsc1118 anticipating to level out over the year
• Schools did have layoffs, town did some furloughs, likely to be able to bring the Library folks in Jan 2021. Q on maintenance contracts requiring extension in lieu of the capital budget on hold. No issues raised from department heads at this time. #bsc1118
• Would still like to see equipment requests for capital rather than wait. #bsc1118 Kelly - we need to thank the town folks for asking the hard questions; making the adjustments. "We got $200k less than last year and Wayland gets more. I don't think they are fighting hard enough"
• #bsc1118 thanks for keeping folks in Franklin out of an override once again. Memo coming to outline a budget calendar, we will get the full plan on capital requests. Will have likely in Jan, three votes in recommendations.
• #bsc1118 motion to add $75k for recreation budget; motion to add $75k for town clerk budget; motion for setting $853k to budget stabilization fund; all three motions passed - possible vote 3-0 for sure, Kelly, Hamblen, Mercer, didn't see anyone else (Note: Pellegri is listed as a member, was at Town Council meeting after but did not speak or was shown via the broadcast for this meeting)
• Motion to adjourn, passed (same 3-0) vote. Catch you shortly at Town Council meeting at 7. #bsc1118

 

sheet showing the two additions of $75 and the set aside of $850K