Tri-County students complete wire ties for NASA HUNCH Program

Tri-County RVTHS’s Engineering majors participate in the HUNCH Designing and Prototyping Competition each year and was proud to have three teams of finalists in 2021. Their hard work and dedication was evident to Stacy Hale, HUNCH Founder, when he selected Tri-County as one of the school’s to participate in a special project, the designing and building of EVA Wire Ties. These wire ties are used on the International Space Station (ISS) when an astronaut goes on a spacewalk for a repair. Wire ties are wrapped around cable bundles used during battery replacements.

Hale visited Tri-County in November of 2019 to work with the students for three days. During this time students learned the specific and critical specifications required for the wire ties and created a computer-aided design (CAD). The students worked alongside Stacy building, inspecting, and performing quality control measures to ensure each piece was the exact size and shape required. 

L to R are: Maxwell Rounds (Franklin), Tony Botteri (Walpole), Rick Hamilton (North Attleboro), Stacy Hale (NASA), Tyler McKinnon (Franklin), James Gingras (Millis), Brian Belanger (Plainville)

Tri-County was one of a handful of schools selected throughout the country to work on this project. Our students from the class of 2021 and 2022 manufactured approximately 250 wire ties using an assembly line process. Most, if not all, are currently being used on the ISS.

Hale returned to Tri-County to have a storage locker used in the ISS signed. The honor is used to recognize the hard work and dedication during the manufacturing. The storage lockers are filled with goods that are being shipped up to the ISS and then used to send refuse back to Earth.

 

• What is NASA HUNCH?  

NASA High School Students United with NASA to Create Hardware (HUNCH) Program 

The HUNCH mission is to empower and inspire students through a Project Based Learning program where high school students learn 21st century skills and have the opportunity to launch their careers through the participation in the design and fabrication of real world valued products for NASA.  Find out more on the NASA HUNCH web page -> https://nasahunch.com/

Opportunity to Display Local Art in Franklin Businesses

Dear Franklin Downtown Partnership Businesses:  

This summer businesses will have a unique opportunity to support the Franklin Art Association by partnering with local artists to display their work.   Please read the letter below and contact the Art Association if you would like to partner with a local artist.

The Franklin Cultural District Committee is pleased to announce that it will be hosting the first Franklin Cultural Festival from Wednesday, July 29 to Sunday, August 2, 2015.  

The Celebration will take place in various locations in downtown Franklin including: The Black Box Theater (inside and outside on its stage) and Historical Museum, in locations along Main Street that may include but are not limited to The Cake Bar, Dean College, the Public Library, the Town Common, the Senior Center and the Horace Mann Middle School, and in other locations (businesses, restaurants, etc.) The programming will include fine arts, musicians, performers, actors, dancers, poets, culinary artists and photographers.

The Franklin Art Association is interested in doing a joint venue with the FDP.  We would like to get a sense of whether any members of the Downtown Partnership would be willing to allow artists to display work on their walls and or window, during the festival, possibly  having the artist setup inside or out and paint.

Our belief is the pairing of artists and businesses will be beneficial to both. If you have an interest in this joint venue with the Franklin Art Association, please contact Daydre Hamilton, committee chairperson.

Thank You,  Daydre Hamilton  irresistibles@comcast.net  H- 508-528-4421

Annual Report Of The Finance Committee: FY 2023 Report

I hereby submit the Annual Report of the Franklin Finance Committee for FY2023.

During the year we had some turnover in the membership of the committee. We lost Mike Kasberg, Dave Weich and Tyrel Hansen. On behalf of the Town of Franklin I thank them for their service and wish them well in their next chapter. We subsequently welcomed Mike Hamilton, William Batchelor, and Lauren Nagel. We look forward to having these new inquiring minds on the committee.

Over the last few years, we have worked to change the focus of the committee from basically a very informed approval body to a more proactive approach to understanding the information at a much deeper level. My predecessor as Chairman started what has become a series of "Deep Dives" into each department. This year we reviewed the Assessing Department, the Franklin Public Schools, the compensation plan for the town and the planning and building departments. Each gave us and those watching a much better understanding of what happens every day in those important departments.

In the coming year we will again perform "Deep Dives" on the larger departments with an eye toward determining what they need to properly serve the town for the next several years. It is important that we let them articulate what they need to provide the high-quality service we have come to enjoy and expect.

Perhaps our most important function occurs each May when the annual budget is presented to the committee. Each and every line of the budget is subjected to review with the appropriate department head present to answer questions. We are the only committee to perform this level of review for the public so it is important that we ask the questions that the public may have. All of our meetings and agendas are posted on the town's website and can be viewed both in person and are available on the Zoom platform as well as viewable on Franklin TV and YouTube.

As we approach the challenges of FY25 it is very important that we fully understand what will be needed to support the services that each department provides.

It is important that I acknowledge the quality of the information we receive from the Town Administrator Jamie Hellen and the Finance Director Chris Sandini. The data is always in the most readable and understandable format that we could ever ask for. Also thank you to the department heads for putting up with some questions from "out of left field" but that's how we and the residents learn.

It is very important that I acknowledge and thank my fellow committee members for their participation and focus during our meetings.

Respectfully submitted,

George Conley, Chairman 

Natalie Riley, Vice Chairman 

Nicole Corbosiero, Clerk 

John Grace

Chuna Keophannga 

Stephanie Koke 

William Batchelor 

Michael Hamilton 

Lauren Nagel

The full Town of Franklin FY 2023 Annual Report can be found online

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/annual_report_2023_0.pdf

Annual Report Of The Finance Committee: FY 2023 Report

In the News - budget balancing, Hamilton digs, Daddario awards, patent law, puppy training

Franklin leaders begin budget-balancing act

by Alison McCall/Daily News staff

Hamilton digs in at Forge Park in Franklin

by Alison McCall/Daily News staff

Daddario Hardware awards $1,000 Shopping Giveaway

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Franklin resident named Boston Patent Law Assoc. president

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

NEADS seeking help training puppies

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

WBZ Radio: Tri-County Students Help NASA Build Space Hardware

In case you missed the piece on the Tri-County students working with the NASA HUNCH program on cable ties for the space shuttle, WBZ did a radio piece of this Tuesday.

The WBZ radio piece ->  https://wbznewsradio.iheart.com/content/franklin-students-help-nasa-build-space-hardware/

The post January 16, 2022 -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/01/tri-county-students-complete-wire-ties.html  

L to R are: Maxwell Rounds (Franklin), Tony Botteri (Walpole), Rick Hamilton (North Attleboro), Stacy Hale (NASA), Tyler McKinnon (Franklin), James Gingras (Millis), Brian Belanger (Plainville)

In the News: Hamilton Storage, Ben's birthday

Tech firm opens in Franklin's Forge Park

by Jessica Trufant/Daily News staff

About a year after breaking ground, Hamilton Storage Technologies’ new Forge Park facility is up and running to accommodate the global technology company’s growing business and product development.

Franklin to celebrate Ben Franklin's 307th birthday

by Matt Tota/Daily News staff

The town has ordered the cake and booked the musician in preparation for its much-anticipated yearly celebration: Benjamin Franklin’s birthday.

Note that the birthday party is Sunday, Jan 20. This Sunday, Jan 13, Franklin author Eamon Earls will talk about his new book on Franklin at the Historical Museum.

"needs to open its doors in Franklin within 18 months"

Steve Senna, a project manager with National Development in Newton, said Hamilton Storage Technologies wants to combine its Hopkinton and Milford offices into a new, 50,000-square-foot building at the intersection of Rte. 140 and Forge Parkway. 

"We thank you for the opportunity to present what we think is a very exciting and in these times very rare development opportunity," Senna told the board. 

The company, which manufacturers refrigerators used in laboratories and also has its European headquarters in Switzerland, was attracted to the 8-acre, 3 Forge Parkway lot because it is close to Interstate 495, commuter rail and a hotel, Senna said. 

Many of Hamilton Storage Technologies' employees live nearby and its clients often come from out-of-state for a week to see how its refrigerators operate, he said.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x1757338933/High-technology-company-eyes-move-to-Franklin#ixzz1Pu42d2CG

"It’s time for vocational schools to get some respect"

Vocational education is in the news with two articles coming across the radar on Sunday. First from the Magazine section of the Boston Sunday Globe. The second from the Milford Daily News (MDN).

The Globe article touts vocational education as something to be considered. The MDN article effectively provides a good example of why.

The links to both articles are shown below:

"On a Monday morning in late spring, city buses arrive like clockwork on Malcolm X Boulevard, disgorging students hunched over cellphones, earbud wires trailing down the fronts of hoodies. They file toward Madison Park Technical Vocational High School, where executive director Kevin McCaskill, in a suit and pin-striped shirt with matching pocket square, and two other administrators greet them as if part of a receiving line. “Good morning! Good morning! Good morning!” McCaskill booms at bleary-eyed kids moving as if they are battling a stiff wind. 

Among those passing through the metal doors is Reno Guerrero, who emigrated several years ago with his mother, older sister, and younger brother from the Dominican Republic to Dorchester. Guerrero, 19, wears a white T-shirt, jeans, and white socks with soccer sandals. His hair is close-cropped, and a shadow of a beard is shaved to precision points at his temples. Clear stone studs sparkle in each earlobe. He is feeling nervous about his senior presentation on engine repair, the culmination of three years of course work plus intensive training in automotive technology. But the nerves are tempered by excitement. He’s learned he’s been accepted to MassBay Community College, and he already has a job lined up for after graduation at a garage that services Boston’s city-owned vehicles. “Cars, for me, is everything right now,” he says. “It’s what I know how to do, and I’m going to do it for life.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.bostonglobe.com/magazine/2016/09/28/workschool/BapGlJ8WGrI5cdQuDmcmNI/story.html

"Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School senior George Wood received the opportunity to tour Europe over the summer, thanks to his cooperative education employer. 

Wood, a computer information systems student from Medway, was hired by Hamilton Storage Technologies Inc. as part of the school’s Cooperative Education Program. Students who qualify for the program receive paid, full-time employment in their respective fields in place of the time they would spend in their career programs. 

After hiring Wood in the summer for the fall semester, Matthew Hamilton, president of the Franklin-based company, chose to send him to Switzerland to receive training from the information technology department."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20161002/tri-county-student-receives-it-training-in-europe

http://www.tri-county.us/

FSPA Broadway Faculty Brings Performing Arts Education to the Public

Over their observed April Vacation, the Franklin School for the Performing Arts (FSPA) presented a series of Master Classes and Industry Q&As to students as well as the general public free of charge on Facebook Live. The week kicked off with a Jazz Dance Master Class with Broadway’s Christopher Rice (Hamilton, The Book of Mormon, Pretty Woman) and Clay Thomson (WICKED, Newsies, Matilda, King Kong). The Broadway performers led students in a warmup and then taught a combination to “All That Jazz” from the musical Chicago.

On Tuesday, attendees enjoyed a live question and answer session with Broadway Digital Marketing Professional Ali Wondely. Wonderly has worked on many Broadway shows including Hamilton, Moulin Rouge, Be More Chill, and Escape to Margarittaville. She discussed with students the business of Broadway and many “off-stage” theatrical career options.

Wednesday continued with a Ballet Master Class with FSPA Ballet Conservatory Director Cheryl Madeux. Madeux received her training at the Nutmeg Conservatory For The Arts and has enjoyed a long professional career, dancing with such venerable companies as the Joffrey Ballet and American Ballet Theatre, and as principal dancer with the Hartford Ballet. She is a summer faculty member for the ABT® Young Dancers Program in NY and an examiner for the ABT® National Training Curriculum.

The week continued with a Theater Dance Master Class with NYC actor, director, and choreographer Chaz Wolcott. Wolcott is known for his roles in the touring companies of Newsies and CATS as well as his stint on So You Think You Can Dance. He led the virtual class in a warmup and then taught his own choreography to “Dancin’ In the Street.” 

Chaz Wolcott (Newsies, So You Think You Can Dance) teaching 

Theater Dance for FSPA via Facebook Live

FSPA April Break finished on Friday with a live Q&A with Broadway’s Christopher Rice discussing Swings, Understudies, and Standbys. Rice informed the attendees on the different kinds of “coverage” roles that exist within the cast of a show and answered questions on how an actor prepares for that challenge.

The students at FSPA have long benefited from the school’s Broadway connection, as the school consistently brings in guest teachers from New York. Tony Award winner Beth Leavel comments, “I wish I had a Franklin School for the Performing Arts in my life when I was growing up. It’s invaluable.” FSPA students have even gone on to perform on the Great White Way themselves, noting the school as a major part of their success. Dan Gleason (‘06) of the Broadway cast of WICKED says, “I owe a lot of my consistent vocal health and technique to my years at FSPA. Healthy singing habits were ingrained in my body and it has become second nature.”

Fall registration is now open at the Franklin School for the Performing Arts. Call 508-528-8668 or visit www.FSPAonline.com for more information. Follow FSPA on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Franklin Cultural District: #artshappenhere - Farmers Market & Franklin TV Block party among highlights

The Farmers Market resumes its busy self this Friday. Franklin TV hosts a 'block party" on Saturday. La Cantina & 67 Degrees provide music & liquid refreshments as #artshappenhere continues within the Cultural District this weekend.

Note: Franklin author Susan K Hamilton has her book launch at Escape Into Fiction on Tuesday.

 
Thursday, August 25
6:00pm - Kendo (live music) (La Cantina Winery)

Friday, August 26
2:00pm - Farmers Market (Franklin Town Common)  

Town Common

4:30pm - Riana's Plate (food truck) (67 Degrees Brewery)
6:00pm - Patrick Durkin (live music) (La Cantina Winery)
6:00pm - Dave Penza (live music) (67 Degrees Brewery)

Saturday, August 27
11:00am - Yoga in the Taproom (ticketed event) (67 Degrees Brewery)
9:00am - State Primary - In Person Early Voting (Franklin High School)
10:00am - Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

2:00pm - South Street Six (live music) (La Cantina Winery)
3:00pm - Franklin Cable Block Party (Franklin TV Studios Hutchinson St)
4:00pm - Franklin Cable Annual Meeting  (Franklin TV Studios Hutchinson St)

Sunday, August 28
1:00pm - Franklin Historical Museum (always free)  

Main St sign for "Escape Into Fiction"

Monday, August 29
9:00am - State Primary - In person early voting (Franklin High School) 

Tuesday, August 30
9:00am - State Primary - In person early voting (Franklin High School)

5:00pm - Author Susan K Hamilton book launch for "Stone Heart"  (Escape Into Fiction)

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The Franklin Art Association Art Gallery remains open during business hours at Escape into Fiction (Main St, Franklin)

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

The Town meeting calendar is found  https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar

The School district calendar is found  https://www.franklinps.net/calendar-by-event-type/26 

Franklin Cultural District: #Artshappenhere

Emmons Street Discussion on Wednesday Town Coucil Agenda

An email from the Downtown Partnership

The downtown Emmons Street property discussion is on the agenda for both the 5:30 Economic Development meeting and the 7:00 Town Council meeting this Wednesday. 

A citizen's group called the "Gateway Committee" will be presenting their letter regarding suggestions for the RFP for this town property. 

Both meetings will be held at Town Hall.  The Economic Development meeting will be in the conference room or lecture room.

Emmons St early this year in snow

Dear Mr. Vallee: 

The future redevelopment of 150 Emmons Street, the site of the former Municipal Building in
downtown Franklin, is located at one of the key gateways to Franklin Center. The property has a rich, longstanding history. For these reasons, we as interested citizens would like to see the redevelopment of the site remain a key gateway into downtown Franklin, which will maximize short-term and long-term benefits to the Town and its residents. 

We would like to go on record, however, that this committee strongly urges the Town Council to wait on any development of this property until we can assess the true and real impact of the upcoming Streetscape project that will include a new two-way traffic pattern both on West Central Street and Emmons Street. 

As a committee and a community, our overarching priority is to preserve the quintessential New England character and charm that downtown Franklin provides by including conditions in the future request for proposal that will define how the gateway to downtown will be developed. The following conditions help marry the principles that the Town has defined for the commercial district by creating a neighborhood identity that promotes pedestrian activity, human interactions, safety and livability. 

This parcel is in the heart of the proposed Franklin Cultural District. A community green space would offer economic benefits to the town by encouraging foot traffic and bringing people downtown to shop or dine. Additionally, this space could provide a venue for a multitude of cultural activities, for example outdoor art exhibits, an artisan marketplace, or music and theatre performances. 

● We request that approximately 20% of the property, roughly 8,000 square feet, be retained by the town of Franklin, specifically the southwest parcel of land, in
perpetuity, to be used as community green space. Maintaining the corner of this
parcel would allow the Town of Franklin to control the initial welcoming impression of visitors to the downtown area.
● We fully concur that a statue or monument in honor of Horace Mann is  appropriate and needed, and we support this measure that has been broadly talked about in discussion of the future use of this space. We recommend that the statue and green space project be designed and managed by a community committee in conjunction with the Town, rather than an outside developer, so the statue is done to the community's specifications. We suggest securing state funding for this important project.
● We suggest that the building frontage to Route 140 have limited setback, after landscaping provisions, to continue and enhance the New England style main street appeal that exists in the downtown area.
● We request that parking be sufficient and adequate for the building use but not a
primary focus of the development, with consideration given to the streetscape project and traffic pattern changes that have yet to occur.
● We explicitly request that no drive-through of any sort be permitted in this
development.

We feel strongly that these conditions above,incorporated in the request for proposal,
together with the long-term planning recommendations above, will lead to a welcoming
private/public investment to the gateway of downtown Franklin. 

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Signed, the Supporters of the Franklin Gateway Committee

Del Arnold, Michael Lucier. Karen M Young
Sue Bencuya, Christopher Lucier, Pamela Williams
Hannah Close, Amanda Lucier, Bruce Wood
Vicki Coates, Stephanie Miksis, Deborah Ryan
Jane Curran, Lisa Maxwell-Rounds, Raye Lynn Mercer
Alec Danz, Maxwell Morrongiello, Hallie Wetzell
Stacey David, Lisa Piana, Connie Jones
Gary Donelan, Nancy Rappa, Roberta Trahan
Gail Eckberg, Guy Rezendes, Lisa Carlucci
Barbara Evans, Joanne Roche, Karilyn Hammer
Tom Fahey, Rev. Carol Rosine, Selena Cousin
Alan Mercer, Marjorie Sardella, Maura O’Brien
Richard Fotland, Carl Scheinman, Claire Griffin
Denise Schultz, Theresa McDougall, Thomas G. Curran
Paul Guarino, John Sheridan, Wayne McDougall
Tina Guarino, Sue Sheridan, Robert Piana
Daydre Hamilton, Jean Sirois, Richard Guardabascio
Jim Kupfer, Chris Sternadore, Suzanne Sayward
Maria Lucier, Lynn Wetzell, Lisa Buccella
Kathleen M. Kirchmyer, Bill Buccella, Virginia Gillis
Claire Malette,. Kathleen Nosek, Rebecca Skinner
Jim Hill, Erica Luttazi, Bob Hamilton
Brenda Hutchinson, Kelly Luttazi, Rita Fahey
Joshua Close, Julie Dolan, Paul Peterson
Judy Luttazi, Katie Buccella, Sam Pasquantonio
Patricia Prewitt, Steve Luttazi, Terri Frank
Kevin Dolan, Kim Rezendes, Carolyn Marr
Tina Powderly, Bob Hamiilton

FPAC’s The Little Mermaid brings Broadway to MetroWest Region

The Franklin Performing Arts Company (FPAC) will open their 2023-24 Season with Disney’s The Little Mermaid. FPAC is known for bringing Broadway talent to their casts and creative teams and the Disney hit is no exception. Broadway’s Christopher Rice-Thomson will direct and choreograph the show running October 13-22 at THE BLACK BOX.

Featuring a cast of New York and New England talent, the show is led by NYC’s Malia Monk as Ariel, Mike Cefalo (recently on Broadway in New York, New York) as Eric, Miracle Myles. as Sebastian, Katie Gray as Ursula, and Daniel Barrett as Scuttle. Boston Conservatory Voice Professor Craig Juricka will appear as King Triton. Berklee student Christian David and NYC’s Emiliano Morales will play eels Flotsam and Jetsam. FPAC Student Apprentice Aida DiChiara will take the stage as Flounder alongside FPAC favorites Nick Paone and Michael Baratta as Chef Louis and Grimsby. 

The ensemble is made up of New York and Boston professional performers, local artists, and students from collegiate performance programs including Harvard, Boston Conservatory, Berklee, and Dean College: Caitlin Beirne, Elena Baker, Liz Byrne, Maria Norris, Megan Elyse Fulmer, Melissa Campbell, Aidan Leach, Arielle Hardy, Brandon Wong, Brennan Stefanik, Gia Chessa, Hadasa Barmor, Julia Ormond, Laryssa Humphrey, Lindsay Tomas, Melissa Baratta, Myranda Rose Silva, Rachel Alvarez-Robinson, Takaaki Matsumoto, Tess Stevens, Tim Ayres-Kerr, Xochitl Tejeda-Cerda, and Yianna Zicherman.

The ensemble is joined by Student Apprentice performers from the Franklin School for the Performing Arts Dacia Biello, Ani Corkran, Devin Curley, Emmett Eastman, Lila Hartman, Kayla Hoben, Hailey Hulbig, Colette Lelievre, and Matthew Packard. 

Based on one of Hans Christian Andersen's most beloved stories and the classic animated film, Disney's The Little Mermaid is a hauntingly beautiful love story for the ages. With music by eight-time Academy Award winner, Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater, and a compelling book by Doug Wright, this fishy fable will capture the heart with its irresistible songs, including "Under the Sea," "Kiss the Girl," and "Part of Your World." On staging this iconic story at THE BLACK BOX, director/choreographer Rice-Thomson comments, “THE BLACK BOX is so unique and truly allows us to tell the story a million different ways.”

Rice-Thomson, who recently finished a stint touring North America with Hamilton, has appeared on Broadway in The Book of Mormon and Pretty Woman. He is also the creator of the viral dance series “#Tappy.” His impressive performance credits also include a five year history with FPAC. Rice-Thomson first came to Franklin in 2018 when he starred in their production of Newsies. Since then he has appeared in shows like last season’s Something Rotten!, many galas and concerts, and choreographed The Sound of Music. He even premiered Christopher Rice’s The Tappy Christmas Special: LIVE with FPAC in 2019. “I never thought I’d say that I have a home-away-from-home in Franklin, Massachusetts, but I am so thrilled I get to say that now,” says Rice-Thomson. “So many things about the beautiful town and supportive community stuck with me. I am honored to be back with my Franklin family for this exciting new production of The Little Mermaid!”

Disney’s The Little Mermaid runs October 13-22 at THE BLACK BOX. For tickets and more information, visit FPAConline.com or call the box office at 508-528-3370.

Malia Monk (Ariel), Mike Cefalo (Prince Eric, recently on Broadway in New York, New York), and Miracle Myles (Sebastian)

Finance Committee takes a 'deep dive' (sorta) into the Faculties budget (audio)

FM #1116 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1116 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the Finance Committee meeting held on Wednesday, December 13, 2023. 

They met as scheduled to get an update on the State revenue forecast, take a “deep dive” into the Facilities budget, and get an update on grants for Town and School over the past 10 years.  

6 Finance Committee members participated; 4 in Chambers (Chair Conley, Hamilton, Riley & Nagel), 2 participated remotely (Keophannga & Sansoucy)

Quick recap:

• State revenue forecast for FY 2024 not meeting expectation, no cuts yet per Governor, does likely mean less revenue for next years budget although local aid is usually one of the last to get affected, something to stay tuned into

• Budget hearings for May 2024 were confirmed as May 6 for General Government, May 8 for Public safety (Police, Fire, & Dispatch) and DPW (water, sewer, storm water) and Schools on May 15. Proposed meeting calendar to be updated with this decision

• Deep dive into Facilities

• Discussion on the list of facilities provided, yes it is facilities not just the buildings

• Extended discussion on the Upper Union St solar farm which we don't own but for which we own the electrical output and which leads to credits on the Town electrical bill that are used for multiple other electrical improvements, upgrades

• This turned into a discussion on the heating efficiencies of some buildings; FHS for example was built with better insulation and the walls are R40, vs. the 3 middle school complex buildings are rated R19. This means the heating cots for those buildings are higher due to the less efficient (i.e. insulation factors)

• While mentioned in passing that the Master Plan Committee has a subcommittee on facilities, and the Schools are working on their long range comprehensive facilities plan, there were no further details added at this time. Members of the School Committee and Central office were present but did not get to provide any additional info

• The 10 year projection of expenses across the buildings was split evenly between Town and School per Chair Conley. It was not discussed how these expenses would be funded. It was mentioned that the Facilities budget is the first to get hit when a budget shortfall is needed to be adjusted for. Projects get postponed until funding is available (hence the listing of projects that exists, some of which have been awaiting for some time)

• Discussion on the 10 year report of grants received by the Town and Schools. These made for interesting reading although some of them are not purely "grants" (i.e. the cable access fees are included, they are present due to the accounting for them). One quick take away from the grant report is that the Town has been quite successful over time in obtaining grants and while they will continue to do so, the grant amounts are not sufficient to really make an impact on either the Town or School budget. Averaging approximately 4 million (combined Town & School) on a $150M budget is respectfully valuable but “small change”

The meeting recording runs about an hour & 20 minutes, so let’s listen to the Finance Committee meeting Dec 13, 2023. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1116-franklin-ma-finance-cmte-mtg-12-13-23

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Agenda ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/dec_13_2023_fin_com_agenda.pdf 

Watch the Franklin TV video available for replay https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4WDEAYIeJU 

Public Property & Building, aka “the Facilities Department”

i. FY24 Public Property & Buildings Budget  

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/fy24_public_property_buildings_budget.pdf 

ii. List of Town Owned Buildings  

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/list_of_town_owned_buildings_0.pdf 

iii. December 2020 Kaestle Boos study on school facilities current conditions  

https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/franklin_comprehensive_facilities_assessment_-_final_updated_12.1.2020_1.pdf 

iv. Franklin School Department Redistricting Analysis 

https://www.franklinps.net/district/redistricting-analysis 

v. Comprehensive School Facilities Planning Subcommittee  

https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-committee/pages/subcommittees-and-liaisons 

vi. 10-year Capital Facilities Plan    

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/5a._vi_-_facilities_capital_improvement_plan_fy23.12.07.23.xlsx_-_10_year_plan.pdf 

b. Grants discussion

i. Ten-year municipal grants history  

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/5b._i_-_grant_reporting_project_for_fincom_-_town.pdf 

ii. Ten-year school grants history  

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/5b._ii_-_grant_reporting_project_for_fincom_-_school.pdf 

My notes captured via Twitter during the meeting and found in 1 PDF -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Vn59WoX94X8yvI0CFWCqw1X6A9m5ePjd/view?usp=drive_link 

Link to Finance Committee => https://www.franklinma.gov/finance-committee 

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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.  

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

 

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news/

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

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Franklin, MA: Finance Committee - Agenda for meeting Dec 13, 2023