The Water Line Replacement Plan (draft)

The Franklin practice of replacing water lines and rebuilding roads is a smart one. It makes sense to do both activities together. Granted there is some inconvenience while the work is being done but that is essentially unavoidable.

The current bond to fund the water line replacements runs out this year. The DPW has drafted the plan that would be funded by a new $7.5 million bond issue for the 2015-2019 years.

The bond issue would be funded within the current tax rates and annual budget. It would NOT require an override vote. This is separate from the proposal to provide additional funds to tackle the road repairs with an override vote. The need for the override vote for the Initiative 2014 proposal is that the current water line replacement funding (along with current and projected state aid) does not provide sufficient funding to repair all the roads in a timely manner.

The Town Council will be asked to approve the $7.5 million bond issue at a future meeting.

The plan for 2015-2019 can be found in this set of documents

Crescent St construction during Sep 2013

The Initiative 2014 can be viewed here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/03/live-reporting-dpw-update-initiative.html

MassBudget: Building a Foundation for Success: Early Ed and Care in Massachusetts

MassBudget    Information.    Participation.  Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center    Democracy. Building a Foundation for Success A new MassBudget report examines options for improving educational opportunity for children in Massachusetts by expanding access to early education and care and improving quality. The research is clear that the education and care that children receive when they are three and four years old is critical to setting them on a path to success in school and in life. While some children in Massachusetts are in pre-kindergarten programs in our public schools, and others are served by Head Start and programs funded by our state Department of Early Education and Care, close to twenty thousand lower income children in Massachusetts are not able to attend publicly funded early education and care programs. This has a direct effect on the ability of those kids to thrive and also on their parents' ability to remain in the workforce. Building a Foundation for Success examines options that range from covering all lower income children through our existing early education and care system to educating all three and four year olds in our public schools. It also describes potential hybrid models that would build on the strengths of both our public schools and private providers. For each option the paper examines issues of cost, quality, and access. the paper doesn't prescribe a particular structure for the state or for each program. Rather it presents a number of paths for building a system that can provide all of our children with the support they need to develop into the successful and productive adults needed to build a strong economy and a healthy. Read the full report here. The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) produces policy research, analysis, and data-driven recommendations focused on improving the lives of low- and middle-income children and adults, strengthening our state's economy, and enhancing the quality of life in Massachusetts. MASSACHUSETTS BUDGET AND POLICY CENTER 15 COURT SQUARE, SUITE 700 BOSTON, MA 02108

Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center | 15 Court Square | Suite 700 | Boston | MA | 02108

Davis Thayer sign with announcements

On the rounds Sunday, I caught this photo of the Davis Thayer sign with their upcoming announcements

• Picture day - Apr 10
• Eat at Rick's - Apr 16

Davis Thayer sign 4/6/14

Have you found Rick's on the internet?  http://www.ricksinfranklin.com/

Join the YPO on Wednesday April 16th from 6-8 pm at Twenty8!!

Upcoming Events The United Regional Young Professionals Organization is a community of diverse individuals who share a common interest in professional relationship building, career development, social engagement and civic leadership. As an affiliate of the United Regional Chamber of Commerce, the United Regional YPO provides a platform for individuals to engage with their peers and community while providing guidance and support to help them grow personally and professionally.    YPO @ Twenty8 Monthly  Networking Night 3rd Wednesday of the Month    Join the YPO on the 3rd Wednesday of each month from 6-8 pm for our monthly networking events!  Make connections, build relationships and fundraise for a worthy cause with your peers in Twenty8's modern, yet casual setting in Foxboro. Situated in the Patriot Place Complex inside the Renaissance Boston Hotel & Spa, Twenty8 Food & Spirits has become one of the hottest dining spots in Foxboro, MA and is the perfect backdrop for networking.  Register Now & Save 50%! STAY CONNECTED

Forward this email United Regional YPO | 42 Union Street | Attleboro | MA | 02703

Franklin, MA: FY 2014 Capital Plan - draft

As reported during the Finance Committee meeting last week, the draft capital plan was reviewed. My notes can be found here:  http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/04/live-reporting-finance-committee.html

The official memo from Town Administrator Jeff Nutting is shown here. It walks through the highlights of what is proposed to fund for the capital plan. There are two speadsheets at the back that work through the numbers on what is proposed as well as the source of funds.

While the Finance Committee has approved the plan, the numbers won't be final until the snow/ice expense totals are complete. The winter storms have caused an overspending in the snow/ice budget so some of the 'free cash' will cover that shortfall. The remaining amount of 'free cash' will then be split among the proposed items.

You may recall that Franklin using their 'free cash' as their source of funds for the capital plan. You should recall that the 'free cash' is not really cash, nor is it 'free'. It is an accounting function for an annual budget. At the beginning of the year, amounts are budgeted for revenue and expenses.

When revenues exceed what is forecasted (which is a good thing and something Franklin does regularly) that becomes an amount that would contribute to 'free cash'.
When one or more departments spend less than their budget during that annual budget period, that amount also contributes to 'free cash'.

The state DOR validates the amount of 'free cash' for each community and releases the final number by about Nov/Dec. This is money that the community can use for one-time expenses and thereby Franklin uses for their capital budget.

Why not use 'free cash' for something else? 
The money is available this year but there is no guarantee of it recurring. If the amount was added to a departments regular budget, then that amount would be committed to and need to be funded which would raise a priority question or potentially force a raise in property taxes.

Links for additional info on 'free cash' from the MA.gov website

• DOR certification

http://www.mass.gov/dor/local-officials/local-information-technology/gateway-help/taxrate/b-1-free-cash-certification-and-appropriation.html

• Data bank reports on 'free cash'

http://www.mass.gov/dor/local-officials/municipal-data-and-financial-management/data-bank-reports/debtfinancial-indicators.html

Capital Plan draft for FY 2014
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczV1FPWU1pMXg1bzA/view?usp=sharing




One of the more interesting items in the proposal is that of a 'sprinkler park' to be added to Fletcher Field. Specifically where remains to be determined. The $150,000 amount is estimated to be 75% reimbursed by the state with a grant. The money does need to be spent up front however.

What would the sprinkler park look like?
The photo below is a sample of what it could look like.

possible sprinkler park for Fletcher Field

Franklin Walk - Tree'd

The walk Saturday was somewhat warmer than other Saturday's but not as sunny.

There were many clouds but no rain (fortunately - at least by the time I went out).

I found a bear but not a fierce one

outside 1776 Financial Services, East Central St

I began to notice the trees. Yes, really notice them. They are standing. Bare. Bending with the breeze.

tree at Rockland Trust, East Central St

While a common conversation recently was that we had had enough of winter, the trees did not complain.

leaning trees along King St

They may have leaned with the wind, or bent with the snow, maybe even lost a branch when the snow was too heavy.

large and old tree on King St near Peck

Some trees are really big and old. Some stand in groups. Some stand in rows.

Evergreen tree on King St

When trees get together, their fingers seem to hold up or reach for the clouds in the sky

tree skyline in Franklin

There may be a couple more weekends to observe the trees around us before the bud and break out in leaves. Take a walk and see what trees are in your neighborhood.

"there is not an opt-out option"

On Sunday, the Boston Globe MetroWest section had an article on the growing discussion around standardized testing. PARCC is being piloted here in Franklin as well as other communities around the state. Some communities are trying to get out of the piloting and the article quotes Franklin's Joyce Edwards:

Joyce Edwards, director of instructional services for the Franklin school system, said every step had been taken to ensure that the testing, which will be conducted this week and in May in eight schools across the district, will have as minimal an impact on daily instruction as possible. 

“There is always an extra burden when there is extra testing,” Edwards said. “We took every exemption available to avoid double-testing. Beyond that the state has been quite clear there is not an opt-out option.” 

PARCC

Franklin’s schools obtained MCAS exemptions from the state for students who take the PARCC pilot test. If students take a PARCC test in English or math, they won’t have to take the same section in MCAS. 

Edwards said if an opt-out was allowed by the state, the district probably would have offered it. 

“We absolutely would have considered that,” she said. “We don’t believe in double-testing and the loss in instructional time.”

You can find the full article online here (subscription required)
http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/regionals/west/2014/04/05/some-school-districts-less-than-excited-about-new-standardized-test/yLaSdLSF26svfASDhAmYHO/story.html