Good government community meeting Jan 27 at the Franklin library

Warren Reynolds writes:

"On this Saturday, January 27, all Franklin residents are invited to be at the new community room of the recently expanded Franklin Public Library at 10 AM to attend an intriguing presentation and discussion session concerning how to work constructively with town officials to help make Franklin’s municipal government function more effectively and transparently.

The Milford Daily News in a recent article about the upcoming event, quoted meeting co-originator Alan Earls as stressing the supportive, non-confrontational content planned for this session:

“We don’t want it to be an ‘us versus them’ thing at all,” he said. “I realize (town officials) also have a really big challenge in working with the town, because many of us don’t know a lot of what happens, and how it works.”

Continue reading the article by Warren on his page 02038.com
https://02038.com/2018/01/good-government-meeting-jan-27/

Related post
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/01/franklin-town-government-101-jan-27.html

Franklin Town Government 101 - Jan 27

Live Reporting: Town Administration Report to Closing of meeting

K. Town Administrator's Report	K. Town Administrator's Report Town recognized for saving approx $60K  Cherry sheet came out today, off approx $25K awaiting for health insurance numbers, so maybe mid-February should be ready to talk budget
L. Future Agenda Items	L. Future Agenda Items none
M. Council Comments	M. Council Comments Pellegri - listening to the Audit report good position and audit, should give thanks to the Administration and they good work go Pats! Jones - reading letter from Middlesex Savings Bank on $50K for the grant program (full letter to be posted later) Golden Rain Drop Award for Brutus Cantoreggi for his work in storm water
N. Executive Session	N. Executive Session - None Scheduled
O. Adjourn	O. Adjourn motion to adjourn, second, passed 9-0

Live reporting: Subcommittee reports - Legislation for Action

I. Subcommittee Reports	I. Subcommittee Reports 1. Capital discussed Schools, IT and Facilities 2. Budget meeting mid-Feb 3. EDC meeting 1/31
J. Legislation for Action	J. Legislation for Action 1. Resolution 18-01 - Acceptance of Gifts - Council on Aging (Motion to Move Resolution 18-01 - Majority Vote (5)) motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0 2. Resolution 18-02 - Acceptance of Gifts - Franklin Police Department (Motion to Move Resolution 18-02 - Majority Vote (5)) motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0 3. Resolution 18-03 - Local Adoption of G.L. Chapter 64N, Section 3, as Amended: Local Tax on Marijuana Retail Sales and Establishment of Tax rate (Motion to Move Resolution 18-03 - Majority Vote (5)) motion to raise original rate from 2% to 3% based upon change in State regulations discussion on difference between Fed and State regulations, if we ever get some money that may or may not be an issue. The situation is still up in air. In the meantime, this prepares us to obtain 3% on sales if they occur.  motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0 4. Bylaw Amendment 18-798: Chapter 155, Streets and Sidewalks - 1st Reading (Motion to Move Bylaw Amendment 18-798 to a 2nd Reading - Majority Vote (5)) discussion to add to second reading phrasing on the clean up to include a reimbursement of expenses if the DPW needs to do the cleanup motion to move to 2nd reading, seconded, passed 9-0 5. Bylaw Amendment 18-799: Chapter 82, Fees, Appendix B - Sewer Rates - 1st Reading (Motion to Move Bylaw Amendment 18-799 to a 2nd Reading - Majority Vote (5)) effective for bill issued July 1 2018 and there after approx 10% increase, amounting to an increase of about $40/year. First sewer rate increase increase in 5 years, mostly due to the increased assessment from Charles River due to the improvement project they did likely another increase in 5 years depending upon what is to be done with the Beaver St connector necessary but feel awful to do so but the cost of goods just continues to go up motion to move to 2nd reading, seconded, passed 9-0 6. Bylaw Amendment 18-800: Chapter 82, Fees, Appendix B - Water Rates - 1st Reading (Motion to Move Bylaw Amendment 18-800 to a 2nd Reading - Majority Vote (5)) prior rate increase in 2012, several items (i.e projects) to be completed including $15.5M capital improvements required over the next several years; possibly back in three years for another increase for some of the capital improvements add a map or additional description of the wells and locations at least a couple of years before this proposed plant could come online regulations did increase along the way motion to move to 2nd reading, seconded, passed 9-0

Live reporting: Audit Report - FY 2017

H. Presentations/Discussions

H. Presentations/Discussions 1. 2017 Audit

Zake Bentrous (?) 

overall theme - Town is in good financial shape, no major issues

pages 4-12 is the narrative summary

page 13 specific items

statement of net positions

assets increased by about $4M due to the library renovation work

OPEB line changes from this year to next year for accounting purposes

GASB statement 75, full liability needs to be recorded as opposed to over a 30 year period.

last page

will jump from $54M to approx $69M next year

p 15

assigned dropped by $800K (due to the turf field replacements)

unassigned fund balances $10M (bond rating agencies like to see) 9.24% of total

p 19

$1.79M favorable revenues over forecast

$1.13M favorable expenses vs. forecast

$2.9 beat budget (next years free cash)

p 23

$3.3M funding for OPEB

Thanks to all the Town for their help in conducting the audit

Live reporting: Town Council - Jan 24, 2018

Present: Hamblen, Casey, Dellorco, Mercer, Kelly, Jones, Padula, Pellegri, Eamons
Absent: none

Agenda Item	Summary
A. Approval of Minutes	A. Approval of Minutes 1. December 13, 2017 motion to approve, second, passed 9-0 2. December 20, 2017 motion to approve, second, passed 9-0
B. Announcements	B. Announcements 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	C. Proclamations/Recognitions
D. Citizen Comments	D. Citizen 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 a 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. Raye Lynn Mercer Joe Landry sharing photos and videos 246 years ago succeeded from Wrentham, Feb 16 set up like a museum, sports in one area tiered ticketing process based upon years in Town Franklin Trivia, if you pass the test, you get your ticket refunded at THE BLACK BOX to benefit the arts in Franklin 7:00 PM to 11 PM, bar open Teresa Burr, Town Clerk announcement and reminder on town census sent in email; return address is incorrect please send it to the proper Town address
E. Appointments	E. Appointments
F. Hearings	F. Hearings
G. License Transactions	G. License Transactions 1. Table and Vine Inc. - Change of Manager motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0

Franklin Art Association: February 2018 Meeting -Vincent Crotty

The Franklin Art Association will meet on Wednesday, February 7, 2018 from 6:30 to 9:00 PM at the Franklin Senior Center, 10 Daniel McCahill Street in Franklin. 

Refreshments and social time will begin at 6:30 PM followed by a short business meeting and a demonstration by Vincent Crotty, an oil artist, born in Ireland, and now residing in the Boston area. Crotty's work has been recognized with awards from the Massachusetts Cultural Council, the John Stobart Foundation in Boston, and plein air competitions internationally. 

Meetings are free and open to the public. For more information log on to www.franklinart.org

Esker Park, Weymouth Oil 30" x 30"     2017Winner, 1st Place Overall, PleinAir Salon Art Competition, April/May 2017

As Data Privacy Day approaches, do you know where your data is?

Data Privacy Day began in the United States and Canada in January 2008 as an extension of the Data Protection Day celebration in Europe. Data Protection Day commemorates the Jan. 28, 1981, signing of Convention 108, the first legally binding international treaty dealing with privacy and data protection. Data Privacy Day is observed annually on Jan. 28.

As parents/guardians you can share these tips about data privacy with your kids




Find out more about data privacy and Stay Safe Online
https://staysafeonline.org/resource/stop-think-connect-tips-parents-raising-privacy-savvy-kids/

Find out about protecting your privacy online
https://staysafeonline.org/stay-safe-online/managing-your-privacy/

As Data Privacy Day approaches, do you know where your data is?

Franklin Public Schools: 2 hour delay due to icy conditions - Weds, Jan 24

Dear Franklin Public Schools Faculty, Staff, and Families,

Due to icy road conditions this morning, the Franklin Public Schools will be opening with a 2-hour DELAY on Wednesday, January 24, 2018. Roads are being treated, however, it will take some time for the salt to be effective.

Preschool and Delayed Openings: the morning preschool session will be cancelled. Full and extended day preschool will have a delayed opening. The delayed opening does not affect the afternoon preschool.

Please allow for extra time and care this morning to arrive safely.

Sincerely,

Franklin Public Schools

Franklin Public Schools: 2 hour delay due to icy conditions - Weds, Jan 24

FHS girls and boys basketball teams top Canton

Via HockomockSports, we share the results of the FHS basketball games on Tuesday, Jan 23, 2018


Boys Basketball = Canton, 46 @ Franklin, 74 – Final
– Franklin raced out to a 17-6 lead at the end of the first quarter and built a 33-16 lead heading into the break in a big win over Canton. The Panthers extended the lead to 57-36 after three quarters. Junior Jalen Samuels and sophomore Chris Edgehill each scored 22 points in the win for the Panthers.

Girls Basketball = Franklin, 52 @ Canton, 26 – Final
- Franklin had seven players score at least five points in the game and put in what head coach John Leighton called the “best defensive effort” of the season by holding Canton to four points in the first half. Megan O’Connell was the top scorer for the Panthers with 12 points, while Breanna Atwood added nine and Ali Brigham had eight.


For the other Hockomock League results
https://hockomocksports.com/tuesdays-schedule-scoreboard-01-23-18/

FHS Panthers

MassBudget: What the federal tax law means for Massachusetts

And what the Commonwealth can do in response

MassBudget    Information.    Participation.  Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center    Democracy. Study Finds Federal Tax Changes Primarily Benefit Massachusetts' Highest Income Households, Outlines Potential State Responses Rather than making the kinds of investments in people and communities that could strengthen the economy and expand opportunity, the federal government recently enacted a $1.5 trillion tax cut package that is tilted sharply towards very high income-households and corporations.  The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center's new report finds that in 2019 the average tax cut - including the effects of corporate cuts that eventually flow through to individuals - for the highest-income one percent of Massachusetts households will be $84,720. These tax cuts will likely lead to deep cuts in federal programs that people in Massachusetts rely on, and will make it very unlikely that the federal government will be able to address issues like making higher education affordable, improving public schools, or strengthening our transportation infrastructure. The report also explores a number of specific provisions of the federal tax law that could directly affect state finances because of interactions between our state tax code and the federal code including the following: A gradual erosion of the value of the state Earned Income Tax Credit Extension of 529 college savings plans to subsidize private primary and secondary school tuition Various changes to corporate tax rules that could have positive and negative effects on state tax revenue Read the report 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