Franklin, MA: Town Council - Budget Hearing #2 - May 25, 2017

The published agenda and documents for the Franklin Town Council meeting scheduled for Thursday, May 25, 2017. This is the second of two Town Council budget hearings. The Finance Committee reviewed the budget department by department in a series of three meetings in April.

If you really want the inside details on the budget, review the notes and video replay from the Finance Committee meetings. The Town Council version of the budget hearings have been a simple reading of the budget line items and amounts and then occasionally a 'hold' for a specific items of interest to one or more Councilors. What used to be rather informative sessions have disappeared the past several years.

• FinCom - 04/05/17 - Budget hearing #3 Franklin TV video replay
• FinCom - 04/03/17 - Budget hearing #2 Franklin TV video replay
• FinCom - 03/29/17 - Budget hearing #1 Franklin TV video replay

(Note: where there are active links in the agenda item column, it will take you to the associated document.)

A. Approval of Minutes
B. Announcements	1. This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast channel 11 and Verizon channel 29.  This meeting may also be recorded by others.
C. Proclamations/Recognitions
D. Citizens Comments	Citizens are welcome to express their views for up to five minutes on a matter that is not on the Agenda.  The Council will not engage in the dialogue or comment on a matter raised during Citizen Comments.  The Town Council will give remarks appropriate consideration and may ask the Town Administrator to review the matter.
E. Appointments
F. Hearings	FY 2018 Budget Hearing: 2nd Hearing: 7:10 PM
G. License Transactions
H. Presentations/ Discussions
I. Subcommittee Reports
J. Legislation For Action
1. Resolution 17-33: Adoption of FY 2018 Budget	1. Resolution 17-33: Adoption of FY 2018 Budget
K. Town Administrator's Report
L. Future Agenda Items
M. Council Comments
N. Executive Session
O. Adjourn

The FY 2018 budget document can be found here

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0wjbnXDBhczeFo1Ni1nMmhTcDg

FY 2018 budget resolution can be found here

https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0wjbnXDBhczVzRZVHlNRUFJWmM

a rafter of turkeys left the Sculpture Park and the new bench as I approached

"a good, quality win for us”

Hockomock Sports .Com Managing Editor Josh Perry provides the recap on the FHS boys lacrosse win over Newton North on Saturday

"The Panthers recently clinched another outright Kelley-Rex division title, Franklin’s third straight outright league title and fifth in a row overall, but there was still a feeling that the team needed a marquee win to add confidence ahead of the state tournament. 

On Saturday afternoon at Pisini Field, Franklin was determined to make a statement about its potential for another tournament run against Newton North. Behind six goals from junior attacker Eric Civetti, eight saves by junior Connor O’Rourke, and a strong performance at the face-off ‘X’ by sophomore Jacob Alexander, the Panthers jumped all over the Tigers and earned a 9-6 win. 

“It was a good team we played and our kids responded real well,” said Franklin coach Lou Verrochi. “That’s a good quality team and a good, quality win for us.”

Continue reading the article online
https://hockomocksports.com/eric-civetti-scores-six-franklin-boys-lacrosse-score-marquee-win/

Franklin junior attacker Eric Civetti scored six goals to lead the Panthers to
a marquee win over Newton North. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)

Click here for a photo gallery from this game
https://hockomocksports.smugmug.com/20162017/Spring-2017/Franklin-Newton-North-Boys-Lacrosse-5-20-17/

Franklin Historical Museum: "The Churches in Franklin"

Joe Landry's next presentation at the Franklin Historical Museum will be on Sunday, May 21 at 1:30 pm. 

Joe will be discussing "The Churches in Franklin" and the role that the Puritan church played in the formation of Franklin as a town. He'll talk about Franklin's beginning as the "Second Precinct of Wrentham" and how it became a separate town in 1778. 

Joe will discuss the different religious denominations that came to Franklin during the early years and the churches that their followers worshiped in. Some structures were lost as a result of fire or hurricane and some were moved to different locations and sold to other religious groups.

Hope you can make it! 

Franklin Historical Museum: "The Churches in Franklin"

For more about the event, visit the Historical Museum on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/events/1443914402573961/


or the Historical Museum webpage  http://franklinhistoricalmuseum.org/

Franklin Republican Town Committee statement on Immigration Event Cancellation

"It is with regret that the Franklin Town Republican Committee announces the cancellation of Thursday night’s talk on immigration by a noted subject matter expert Jessica Vaughan. Due to gross and persistent misrepresentations about Ms. Vaughan and the nature of this event and the implicit threat of disruption by demonstrators and hecklers, our hosts at the Veterans of Foreign Wars who were well aware of the topic and speaker in advance cancelled the event.

Although Jessica has been a respected voice on news media outlets across the country and across the political spectrum -- and has testified before Congress -- she has somehow run afoul of the Southern Poverty Law Center, an organization funded in part by billionaire George Soros -- which has alleged, on what basis we can’t imagine, that Jessica is associated with or sympathetic to a “hate group.” Perhaps those peddling these untruths simply fear accurate information about an important subject in American life today. 

What has happened to the America of Liberty Trees, Patrick Henry’s rousing “give me liberty or give me death,’ and the generations of Americans who risked and sometimes lost their lives fighting to protect our ideals and rights. Freedom of assembly and speech are first and foremost among the rights we all hold dear. So, it is with great sadness that we record the cancellation of this non-partisan event offered as a service to citizens. Intimidation, insinuation, and character assassination through prejudicial, inflammatory, and false language is now the rule rather than the exception. And, so often, particularly on college campuses, this is married to the implicit threat of violence and vandalism. These trends are a true threat to our country and our civil society. Sadly, today they arrived in Franklin with some local Democrats contributing."

"we’re looking forward to beautifying downtown”

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

"Volunteers worked in the downtown and town common areas Saturday morning as part of a “beautification day.” 

Participants planted a variety of flowers along the bridges and roads of downtown and in the common to ensure the areas remained bright and vibrant throughout the warmer months. The day is a joint effort between the Franklin Downtown Partnership and the Franklin Garden Club. 

Eileen Mason, who coordinates the event, said it had been going well through the early morning hours. 

“So far, so good,” she said. “It’s a great day.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170520/sprucing-up-downtown-franklin

Franklin Garden Club members were working on the flower beds
last week in prep for the mulch to be laid out today

Michael's body may have been found

On Sunday May 14, 2017 the Franklin Police Department received a report of a missing person. The parents of 20 year old Michael Doherty, of Franklin, reported their son had not returned home after gathering with friends the previous evening. Officers from the Franklin Police Department immediately began an investigation and a search for Michael. Over the last six days countless man hours have been spent in the efforts to locate Michael, and bring him home to his family. 

At approximately 14:30hrs (5/20/17) two civilians out searching in dense woods and thick underbrush near Rt. 495 located the body of a white male, believed at this time to be Michael Doherty. Positive confirmation will not be available until the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner has issued its findings. 

The thoughts and prayers of all the members of the Franklin Police Department and all of the other agencies that participated in searching for Michael go out to the Doherty family in this time of great tragedy. We would also like to thank the residents who helped search, and those who provided support to all the personnel who worked tirelessly to find Michael. 

Along with the Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office, and Troopers from the State Police Detective Unit, an investigation into what happened to Michael will continue. Due to the ongoing nature of that investigation, no further details will be released at this time. 

We ask that the Doherty’s privacy be respected during this extremely difficult time.

Facebook image

"they just want to find this young man”

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

"After Friday passed without further discoveries, police announced search efforts will resume Saturday. 

Michael Doherty, a Duke University junior and local resident, has been missing since he left a Phyllis Lane house party Sunday morning. A search has been taking place throughout the week, with many different law enforcement agencies and units - including helicopters, search dogs and boat teams - involved. 

Police said they and Franklin Fire Department personnel focused their Friday search on wooded and wetlands areas, and received help from the Metropolitan Law Enforcement Council, the state Environmental Police and other agencies. State police drones were also deployed to help map the search areas and identify places of focus."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170519/doherty-search-in-franklin-will-continue-this-weekend

"The Franklin Police Department is continuing the search for Michael Doherty. Thursday afternoon Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrissey was in Franklin and briefed on the search efforts by Chief Thomas J. Lynch. The State Police also deployed drone assets to help more accurately map the areas to be focused on. 

Today numerous Franklin Police patrol officers, detectives, and supervisors, and Franklin Fire personnel will take part in the search into the woods and wetlands areas. These officers will be joined by team members from the Metropolitan Law Enforcement Council (MetroLEC), Massachusetts Environmental Police, as well as other public safety partners and assets. 

No new evidence has been discovered, and the investigation continues under the direction of the Franklin Police Detective Unit with assistance from other State and Federal agencies."

From the Facebook posting by the Franklin Police Dept
https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10154320269770916&id=162770995915

From the Facebook posting by the Franklin Police Dept

FHS baseball tops Framingham 8-4

From Hockomock Sports, we share the results of the FHS spring sports action on Friday, May 19.

Baseball = Franklin, 8 @ Framingham, 4 – Final

– Franklin junior James Leofanti allowed just two runs in five innings of work in his first career start to earn the win. Leofanti allowed four hits, walked two and struck out four while Ben Guzman struck out three in two innings of work in relief. Offensively, Ryan Hodgkins collected four hits, including a double, while scoring one run and knocking in another. Josh Macchi had two doubles, a run and an RBI, Tyler Gomes had two hits and two runs and Jake Noviello reached base three times, scored once and had three RBI.

Boys Tennis = Franklin, 2 @ King Philip, 3 – Final

– King Philip moved within a game of clinching a share of the Kelley-Rex title with a win over Franklin. Cole Ginter won 7-5, 6-0 at first singles, Martin Matous won 6-0, 6-2 at third singles and Marco DiStefano and Aidan Ignatius clinched the win with a 6-2, 6-4 win at second doubles. Franklin’s Eli Brooks won 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (7-5) at third singles and the team of James Johnston and Rohan Herur won 6-4, 6-1 at first doubles.

Girls Tennis = King Philip, 4 @ Franklin, 1 – Final

Boys Tennis = Franklin, 2 @ King Philip, 3 – Final (HockomockSports.com photo)

More HockomockSports photos from the Franklin KP boys tennis match
https://hockomocksports.smugmug.com/20162017/Spring-2017/King-Philip-Franklin-Boys-Tennis-05-19-17/i-bmXWC49

For the results around the Hockomock League
https://hockomocksports.com/fridays-schedule-scoreboard-051917/

"a comprehensive care system is needed to break the crisis"

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

"An average of more than five Massachusetts residents died each day in 2016 from an opioid overdose, with the synthetic drug fentanyl continuing to fuel the addiction crisis. 

The Department of Public Health’s most recent quarterly report provides a clearer picture of the nature of the ongoing opioid epidemic. Statewide, there were 1,933 confirmed opioid deaths in 2016, a 16 percent increase over 2015, according to the May 10 report. Heroin was present in approximately 33 percent of the deaths, while fentanyl was present in 77 percent. Fentanyl is up to 50 times more potent than heroin. 

Maryanne Frangules, executive director of the nonprofit Massachusetts Organization for Addiction Recovery, said it is encouraging to see the state work to craft public policy in an effort to combat the spread of addiction. Allocating resources, collecting data and running awareness campaigns are part of the effort. 

“More policymakers are listening, and more families and people in recovery are speaking up,” she said. “There is more treatment available, but it’s not at a point where it’s seamless, continuing care.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170519/fentanyl-continues-to-fuel-od-deaths-in-massachusetts

In Franklin the SAFE Coalition is working hard to provide support for this cause

http://safecoalitionma.com/

MassBudget: Senate Ways & Means budget proposal

MassBudget    Information.    Participation.  Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center    Democracy. Analyzing the Senate Ways & Means Budget Proposal Like the proposals from the Governor and the House, the Senate Ways and Means (SWM) Committee budget for Fiscal Year 2018 (which begins July 1) would generally maintain existing service levels while making small targeted new investments in several areas, particularly in education. This budget also joins the House in addressing a major fiscal challenge identified by the Governor: the increases in MassHealth costs related to declines in employer-provided health care and increases in private-sector employees receiving their health coverage through MassHealth.  The Governor had proposed a $2,000 per-employee assessment on employers who failed to meet certain benchmarks for providing coverage to their employees. While this amount is significantly less than the $5,000 or more it would generally cost employers to provide coverage for their employees directly, the assessment has been criticized by some in the business community.  The Senate Ways and Means Committee, like the House, authorizes the administration to develop a plan that addresses concerns raised by the business community and generates $180 million in revenue (the Governor's original plan would have generated $300 million in FY 2018). In the House and SWM proposals, the assessment would also expire after two years. By creating only a temporary revenue source for what is likely to be an ongoing expense, the legislature would increase the budget's reliance on temporary revenue, which will make it more difficult to produce a balanced budget in future years. The SWM budget proposes increased investment in early education and care, local public schools, and higher education.  It proposes an increase of almost $15 million for the Commonwealth Preschool Partnership Initiative, which will expand access to early education, particularly for three-year-olds.  The SWM budget also proposes an increase of $129 million in Chapter 70 local aid for education, modestly more than the Governor and House. Unlike those budgets, it recommends substantial increases in higher education funding ($42 million over current funding levels). Like proposals from the Governor and House, this budget does not propose significant new funding to make progress on some of the big challenges our Commonwealth faces, such as significantly expanding early education; making sure that our schools have the resources they need to provide high quality education for all children in the Commonwealth; or fixing our existing transportation infrastructure while constructing the infrastructure for future growth. While tax revenue in FY 2017 has been coming in below projections, the SWM budget, like those of the Governor and the House, continues to use the consensus revenue estimate previously agreed to by the House, Senate and Governor.  There is some uncertainty about what the FY 2017 tax revenue numbers will mean for FY 2018. Revenue connected with people filing and paying their 2016 taxes in April was down substantially, which  reflects economic conditions in the prior year.  On the other hand, the most recent data on withholding taxes - which track current economic performance - were strong (although sales tax receipts, which also reflect current conditions, have not been strong). In other words, while the decline is cause for concern, it is not clear how it will affect the trend going forward. State finance law directs the Governor to make that determination and update his budget accordingly: "If the governor determines ... that the tax revenues or non-tax revenues supporting the general appropriation bill have materially decreased... the governor shall submit to the general court by message recommended corrective amendments to the governor's original budget submission to ensure that total appropriations recommended in the general appropriation bill do not exceed total revenues supporting said bill. Such message shall be submitted to the general court within 15 days from the date of such determination." The rest of this Budget Monitor examines the Senate Ways and Means Committee proposals for major state programs in greater detail. Links from the Table of Contents below allow readers to jump quickly to specific sections. Each section also provides links to our on-line budget tools including our Budget Browser (which provides funding information for every account in the state budget going back to FY 2001) and, where applicable, to our Children's Budget and Jobs and Workforce Budget. Click on a Budget Monitor section below: Child Welfare Disability Services Early Education Economic Development Elder Services Environment and Recreation Juvenile Justice K-12 Education Higher Education Housing Law and Public Safety Libraries Local Aid MassHealth and Health Reform Mental Health Other Human Services Pensions Public Health Revenue State Employee Health Insurance Transitional Assistance Transportation To read the full Senate Ways and Means Budget Monitor, click here (LINK). 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 Sent by nberger@massbudget.org in collaboration with Try it free today

Upcoming Events in Franklin, MA Area: FRI 5/19/17 - THU 5/21/17

FRIDAY 5/19/17
8:30pm   DayBreakers with special guests Copilot and Colbis the Creature @ The Black Box

SATURDAY 5/20/17
8-11am   Downtown Beautification Day @ Franklin Downtown
8:30am-6pm   12th Annual Franklin Elks Ride for Oil for Vets Fund @ Elks Lodge
9am - 12pm  Action and Impact - Community Arts Advocacy Day @ Franklin Senior Center
9am-12pm   Spring Cleaning 5th Grade Fundraiser (Books, Clothes) @ Parmenter Elementary
9am-3pm   Book Sale ($1 a book) @ Franklin Public Library
10-1pm   Franklin Historical Museum Open
12-3pm   Clarion Farm Open House @ Clarion Farm, 444 Lincoln Street
4pm   FSPA Spring Concert @ FHS
5:30-8:30pm   Help Bowl Away Cancer (Relay for Life  FUNdraiser) @ Ryan's Family in Millis
7pm   FSPA Spring Concert @ FHS

SUNDAY 5/21/17
8am-2pm   HMEA IncreadABLE Day and 5K @ Dell (50 Constitution Blvd)
9am-12pm   Bag Sale (fill a bag with books for $5) @ Franklin Public Library
11am-1pm   The Boston Red Sox Fenway Experience @ HMEA IncreadABLE Day, 50 Constitution Blvd.
1-4pm   Franklin Historical Museum Open
1pm   FSPA Spring Concert @ FHS
1:15pm   Trip Down Memory Lane with Joseph Landry: Franklin Churches @ Franklin Historical Museum
4pm   FSPA Spring Concert @ FHS
4:30pm   Downtown Partnership: Spring Progressive Dinner @ Downtown Franklin

MONDAY 5/22/17
8am   SAFE Coalition 2nd Annual Golf Tournament @ Franklin Country Club
7-8:30pm   Learn To Cope Franklin Chapter Meeting @ FUSF

WEDNESDAY 5/24/17
3:30pm   Teen Lounge @ Franklin Public Library
6pm   Kindergarten Info Night @ Oak Street School
6:30pm   Kindergarten Info Night @ Hellen Keller School

THURSDAY 5/25/17
4pm   Family Coloring Book Club @ Franklin Public Library
5-8pm   Franklin Historical Museum Open
7-8pm   Healing Hearts Community Support Group @ Franklin YMCA
7:30pm   Stony Brook Camera Club @ Anglican Church of the Redeemer (31 Hayward St)

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

“Immigration is a controversial topic in the public discourse today'

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

"Chanting “Immigrants are welcome here, say it loud and say it clear,” and holding up signs that read “Hate has no home here,” about 20 protesters gathered in front of the Veterans of Foreign Wars building to support immigrant communities. 

The demonstration was initially planned to protest a discussion on immigration hosted by director of policy studies for the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS) Jessica Vaughan that would have taken place in the building Thursday night. 

However, the event, sponsored by the Franklin Republican Town Committee, was cancelled during the afternoon after Larry Bederian, commander of the VFW Post 3402, refused to host political events under the VFW’s roof. 

“We will not have a part of it. We are neutral,” said Bederian. “The VFW is not to be used for political harassment.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170518/franklin-group-hate-has-no-home-here

sign on some Franklin lawns

Thursday's Boston Globe covered a study by MIT on the effects of immigration on Boston's economy.

"At hotels, nursing homes, and restaurants in and around Boston, roughly half the workforce is made up of immigrants. Among doctors, scientists, and software engineers, a third were born in another country. 

Greater Boston’s economy relies on immigrants much more heavily than the country as a whole. And with the city’s unemployment rate at less than 4 percent and foreign-born workers providing nearly all the growth in the labor market in recent years, a continued stream of immigrant workers is essential for the local economy to thrive, according to a report out Thursday by MIT researchers that provides a detailed breakdown of who these local immigrants are and where they work. 

President Trump’s clampdown on immigration could have serious consequences on Boston-area employers, local workforce development and business leaders say, and some are calling for more liberal immigration policies to fuel the region’s economic growth."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2017/05/17/mit-study-immigrants-vital-boston-economy/l9PszENhVRsffVWvQVa1yO/story.html?event=event12

"Executive Summary

Immigration is a controversial topic in the public discourse today. Are we a stronger nation and economy because of our historic openness to immigration or should we close the borders and restrict access? What would happen to the economy if we took these steps, and what would be the impact on jobs, employers and economic growth?

The goal of this report is to answer these questions for the Boston area. We will see that our
economy and our firms depend heavily on immigrants, and the implications of restricting
immigration are grim indeed.

America is a nation of immigrants, as is Massachusetts and the Boston area even more so. In
2015, immigrants accounted for 13 percent of the United States civilian population, yet they
represented 16 percent of the Massachusetts civilian population and 22 percent of the Boston area civilian population. Even more strikingly, immigrants make up 29 percent of the adult working age civilian population in the Boston area.

If immigrants represent a large fraction of the people in the Boston area, then it makes sense to expect that they are important to the local economy. This report addresses this, but does so by focusing on a narrow version of the question – how do immigrants contribute to the workforce of the employers in the region? The many other contributions of immigrants to our economy—such as their consumption of goods and services and their entrepreneurial energy—will be left to another investigation.

The findings in this report are based on an analysis of large scale surveys conducted in 2014 and 2015 and additionally on interviews with employers that we conducted during the winter of 2017.

Details on the surveys and how we organized the data are provided in the box on methods below.

Some of the highlights of our findings are:
• Boston immigrants are settled members of our community. They are just as likely to be married and have children as are natives, and 68 percent have lived in the United States for 11 years or more.
• Boston’s immigrants come from all parts of the world. For example, 32 percent are from Asia and 25 percent are from the Caribbean and Central America.
• Boston’s immigrants constitute 27 percent of employees aged 25 to 64. Many industries are
heavily dependent on them, and in 18 industries immigrants constitute 20 percent or more of the workforce. For example 22 percent of employees in professional, scientific, and technical industries, 56 percent of employees in hotels and motels, 53 percent of employees in home health, and 29 percent of employees in hospitals are immigrants. The Boston region could not succeed economically nor provide goods and services to its citizens without the contribution of the region’s immigrant employees.
• Employers speak highly of the contributions of immigrants to the success of their firms and express concerns that immigration may be curtailed.
• Immigration is a key source of growth for our workforce. In 2015, a remarkable 54 percent of working age people moving into the Boston area were immigrants, and two-thirds of them came directly from abroad.
• Despite the central role of immigrants in our workforce, significant challenges to fulfill the
true potential of immigrants remain. Too many immigrants have low earnings and low levels of education. Policies to address these challenges are important."


The full MIT Study PDF can be viewed here
https://jvs-boston.org/images/pdf/Osterman%20Report%20-%20Final.pdf

The full MIT Study PDF can be viewed here