LET'S LAUGH TODAY in Franklin is on Wednesday, January 9

Trade all your holiday stress for laughter on Wednesday, January 9 from 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM at the Meetinghouse of the First Universalist Society in Franklin, 262 Chestnut Street, Franklin. 

Come and enjoy this unique exercise of guided laughter exercises combined with gentle breathing that brings more oxygen to the body's cells. This oxygen boost gives enhanced vitality, energy and a feeling of real well-being. Any age and any level of physical ability can participate in this uplifting experience! 

New laughers are always welcomed! $5 donation to the church, $10 maximum per family. Please bring your water bottle because laughing can be dehydrating. 

LET'S LAUGH TODAY

Led by Certified Laughter Yoga Teachers, Linda and Bill Hamaker. www.letslaughtoday.com.  

If you have any questions, just call them at 508-660-2223 or e-mail billandlinda@letslaughtoday.com. 

MA Senate Ends 2017-2018 Session

Senate passes initiatives to increase financial literacy, shore up pipeline safety, and provide increased funding for line of duty benefits

The Massachusetts State Senate closed out the 2017–2018 legislative session today with action on a number of bills, spanning issues such as public safety, education, and consumer data protection, among other things. The Senate also passed a supplemental budget designed to address time-sensitive funding needs.

"I am proud of the work the Senate has done this session, and its commitment to working on important issues up to very last day," stated Senate President Karen E. Spilka. "I would like to thank each and everyone in the Senate for their insight, willingness to collaborate, and dedication to the people of the Commonwealth as we continue to move Massachusetts forward."

In response to public safety concerns raised by the Merrimack Valley gas fires, the Senate enacted legislation that requires all utilities to engage a professional engineer to review utility work plans. This follows a bill, signed by the Governor yesterday, that extends unemployment insurance (UI) benefits for workers locked out by National Grid for 26 weeks, or until the lockout ends, whichever comes first.

The Senate approved final passage of a consumer data protection bill, known as the 'Equifax' bill, that helps consumers protect their private information through free security freezes, free credit monitoring when a credit reporting agency is breached, and requiring prior consent from an agency to access a consumer's report, as well an explanation for the disclosure.

To better serve the needs of our students, the Senate passed a bill that allows for the establishment of standards for students in kindergarten through grade 12 on personal financial literacy. The bill also permits educational institutions to incorporate personal financial literacy standards into existing mathematics, social science, technology, business, or other curricula. The Senate also passed an initiative that improves governance and oversight of educational collaboratives and allows them to provide services to individuals with developmental disabilities over the age of 22 in certain circumstances.

The Senate acted to end gender discrimination in disability insurance, bringing it into line with insurance provided by employers and subject to federal nondiscrimination law. It also passed a supplemental budget to provide sufficient funding to cover line of duty benefits for the year.

The end-of-session activity follows the recent passage of a new law designed to regulate and tax short-term rentals, while creating a framework in which this innovative industry segment can grow.

Bills passed by both the House and Senate will be sent to the Governor, who has ten days to sign them into law. The next legislative session begins tomorrow, January 2, 2018


The MA Senate End of Session Report
https://malegislature.gov/cc/Reports/senate-session-2017-2018.pdf

For more information on the MA Senate
https://malegislature.gov/Legislators/Senate

For more information on the MA House of Representatives
https://malegislature.gov/Legislators/House

MA Senate Ends 2017-2018 Session

Happy New Year!

Welcome to 2019! 

If you want to stay informed on what matters in Franklin, MA, you have found the right place. Franklin has a whole lot going on. 

The budget cycle is just beginning. This sets the priorities for how our tax dollars are spent. 

This is also an election year for town offices. We operate with the "strong mayor" form of city government. Yes, technically we are a city. One of several in the Commonwealth that still choose to call ourselves a town. 

The Town Council is our major governing body. They hire the Town Administrator and approve all the management level municipal appointments. Jeff Nutting will be retiring sometime before July 2019. Jamie Hellen, the current Deputy Town Administrator was just hired by the Town Council to replace Jeff.

The School Committee is the governing body for the schools and school budget. They are responsible to hire the Superintendent and approve other school appointments. The school budget is developed within town guidelines and becomes a line item for approval by the Town Council.

Other elected Board and Commission positions will also be up for election in November. More information on the election process will be shared as it is released by Town Clerk, Teresa Burr.

Stay informed so you can be part of the meetings and conversations to provide your input on what Franklin will do/should do.

1 - The best way to stay informed is to subscribe to receive a daily dose of what matters via email (yes, only one email daily. It is scheduled to arrive in your Inbox between 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM each day.)

https://www.franklinmatters.org/p/welcome.html

Enter your email address:


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2 - The second best way is to follow us on Twitter. Everything posted to this web page and sent in the daily email is also shared via Twitter.

Tweets by @FranklinMatters


3 - The third way, and least successful in catching all the information, is via Facebook. It is the least successful in that Facebook filters the posts so even though you may be a follower, you may not get to see all that is posted.
https://www.facebook.com/franklinmatters

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors
• If you don't like this, please let me know

I thank you all for reading, sharing your feedback, and sending me information to share with our neighbors and friends. Let's stay informed together with what is happening in Franklin.

Welcome to 2019

Steve Sherlock

(voluntary) Community Information Director

Happy New Year! Welcome to 2019

Draft Statewide Bicycle Transportation Plan - available for public comment

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is announcing that the Draft Statewide Bicycle Transportation Plan is now available for public comment. You can review the plan and provide feedback by clicking the link below.

2018 Statewide Bicycle Transportation Plan

https://massdot.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapJournal/index.html?appid=c80930586c474a3486d391a850007694

To realize the potential for everyday biking in Massachusetts and underscore MassDOT’s commitment to safety, MassDOT is releasing a new Statewide Bicycle Transportation Plan to make biking in Massachusetts a safe, comfortable, and convenient option for everyday travel.

As part of the Bike Plan, MassDOT developed the Municipal Resource Guide for Bikeability in recognition of the important role the 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts will play. Created for municipal staff, elected officials, community members, and anyone interested in biking, the Resource Guide introduces core concepts to enhance community bikeability and directs readers to additional resources for more detailed information. 

The public comment period for the draft Bicycle Plan is open until January 31, 2019.

https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2018/10/31/18_08_31_MRGBiking.pdf

This was shared from the Mass.gov page
https://www.mass.gov/service-details/bicycle-plan

The bike lane markings painted as part of the Downtown Improvement
project that returned Main St to 2-way travel

"parents are also dealing with some of the same stresses"

"On Wednesday evening, November 14th, a group of 85 students and parents gathered to enjoy a meal together at Medway High School, after which The Well-Balanced Student, a Stanford University Challenge-Success film, was screened. The event, aimed at student mental health among the middle school crowd, was the first of a two-part collaboration of Medway Schools’ Director of Wellness, Ryan Sherman, and Franklin Schools’ Director of Health and Education, Kristin Letendre. The second film event, geared toward educating high school families, will take place at Franklin High School on January 8th. 

“Communities in general, especially here in the Metrowest region, are seeing great increases in student mental health concerns and overall stress,” says Sherman. Schools, he says, address the issue in many different ways, including educating about it in health class and incorporating social emotional learning, which teaches students techniques to cope with mental health concerns and self-management from Kindergarten through 12th grade. "

"Medway, says Sherman, has invested a lot in streamlining the process for students who need mental health counseling. Now, he says, in addition to responding to students who present with mental health concerns, “We’re looking for a next layer, of prevention, working with families and looking at what they can do to support what we do in school – how they can create a balanced life for students. How do we focus on prevention, lifestyle that hopefully will prevent students from exhaustion, high levels of stress or mental health concerns?
That was the impetus what got Franklin and Medway thinking about this.”

Continue reading the article about the first part of this program
https://www.localtownpages.com/content/medway-partners-franklin-parentchild-wellness-event-0

The January 8th event at Franklin High School, 218 Oak Street in Franklin, will include a dinner, from 5:30-6 p.m., followed by the film for families of students in grades 9-12 at 6-7:30 p.m. 

Daycare for younger siblings will be provided by members of Franklin High’s SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions). 

In the case of inclement weather, the event will be held the following evening.

Register for the second part of the program here
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdArpFhHmHJEpNUVLmaNpkSuVSQ6735AfLy46HHQkh6_v2Ajg/viewform

Register for January 8 event at Franklin High School

For more information on the Challenge Success program, visit http://www.challengesuccess.org.


Shared via reminder of event 

Please join us for this important event @FranklinPSNews https://t.co/5dxc47BNNU

— jedwards40 (@jedwards40) December 31, 2018

"so often wrongly told their service is worthless and they can’t get any benefits"

From the Boston Globe, an article of interest for Franklin:

"Three Massachusetts combat veterans have won a court challenge against the state government, which denied them their Welcome Home Bonus money after deployments in Afghanistan because they received “other than honorable” discharges from the military. 

Lawyers in the case estimate the Suffolk Superior Court judge’s decision could affect about 4,000 veterans in Massachusetts, while two of the plaintiffs said they hope it will also draw more attention to the plight of former service members, including those with post-traumatic stress disorder, who struggle with resuming their lives after returning home. 

“When we enlist, we put our lives on the line to protect our country. But when we get out, we’re thrown in the back of the line,” said Washington Santos, an Army veteran in Revere who served in Afghanistan and is one of the plaintiffs in the case. “There isn’t that love or that care for a veteran as there should be.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2018/12/30/state-ordered-reconsider-denial-veterans-welcome-home-bonus-money/SJfptJtSNUPHx3OXbIGePI/story.html

Information on the Welcome Home Veterans Bonus Program
https://www.mass.gov/how-to/apply-for-a-welcome-home-veterans-bonus

Or contact Franklin's Veterans Service Agent, Dale Kurtz
https://www.franklinma.gov/veterans-services

contact Franklin's Veterans Service Agent, Dale Kurtz

Town of Franklin: Job Opportunities for Custodian, Electrician, Firefighter/Paramedics

To apply for a vacant position, please submit a resume and cover letter to apply@franklinma.gov.  Please put the job title in the subject line of your email.  

• Junior Building Custodian - Davis Thayer Elementary School 

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/uploads/jr.custodian-posting-dt-dec2018.pdf

• Town Electrician 

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/uploads/electrician-jobposting-oct2018.pdf

• Part-Time Custodian 

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/uploads/part-time.custodian-posting-october2018_0.pdf

• Firefighter/Paramedics - The Town of Franklin's Fire Department is in the Massachusetts Civil Service system. 
  • If you are currently a Firefighter/Paramedic in a Civil Service community and are interested in working for Franklin, send a resume and cover letter to apply@franklinma.gov. 
  • Please note: new hires must have and maintain a paramedic certification and complete an Associate's Degree within 5 years of the date they are hired.   

If you do not have a resume, you may send a completed Application for Employment form instead

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/uploads/application_for_employment_-_town_of_franklin.pdf

To receive notifications of all job opportunities in the Town of Franklin, subscribe here

https://www.franklinma.gov/subscribe

Town of Franklin: Job Opportunities for Custodian, Electrician, Firefighter/Paramedics

Trash Recycling Schedule offset by one day this week for New Year's Day

Along with the Town office closures for New Year's Day, only Monday's (New Year's eve) trash/recycling will be picked up as normal. 

Tuesday (Jan 1), there is no pickup so you can imagine DPW Director Brutus Cantoreggi calling with the message. "Tuesday will be picked up Wednesday. Wednesday on Thursday, and so forth."

The most recent solid waste flyer with the schedule for trash/recycling pickup
http://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/news/franklin_2018_2019.pdf

Franklin trash and recycle bins or totters

*** Closure Schedule ***

Town Offices

• Tuesday, January 1

Senior Center

• Monday, December 31
• Tuesday, January 1

Library

• Closing at 5 PM, Monday, December 31
• Tuesday, January 1

Recreation

• Tuesday, January 1

In the News: register your dog to enter contest; recap of 2018 for Franklin

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

Annual dog registration and entry to Top Dog Contest

"It’s time for the dogs of Franklin to shine bright with this year’s “Top Dog” contest, which reminds residents to register their dogs for next year and for the dogs to strut their stuff. 

The contest was started several years ago as an incentive for residents to renew their annual dog licenses. Currently, there are about 4,000 registered dogs in Franklin, according to Town Clerk Theresa Burr. 

Photos can be sent to tburr@franklin.gov. They can also be sent or dropped off at the Franklin Municipal Building at 355 East Central St. 

“Every owner thinks their dog is the cutest dog,” Burr said. “And we just thought this would be fun.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20181227/franklins-top-dog-contest-is-incentive-to-license-pets

Additional info on the Top Dog Contest can be found
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/12/register-your-dog-enter-top-dog-contest.html

Register your dog, enter the Top Dog Contest!

Franklin recap of 2018

Town officials have approved several new housing projects in the past year, even as the community’s population edges up to about 35,000. 

And with 2019 drawing near, the Town Council and administration are looking to make other improvements as well. 

Among the prominent achievements are the following:

• LED street lighting. Deputy Town Administrator Jaime Hellen took a tour of Franklin to investigate the feasibility of replacing town streetlights with more energy-efficient LED lights. So far, about half of the town’s lighting has been replaced. Town Administrator Jeff Nutting said the project is estimated to be near completion by the end of the winter, weather permitting.
• Veterans’ Memorial Pathway. Thanks to some tireless work from Veterans Agent Dale Kurtz, the Veterans’ Memorial Pathway at the Town Common is complete. With the help of hundreds of donors who bought engraved bricks, the Department of Public Works, Veterans Services and other town entities were able to complete the pathway and hold a ribbon cutting on Veterans Day last month.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20181228/budget-snett-trail-loom-large-in-franklin

Veterans’ Memorial Walkway on the Town Common

FHS girls and boys indoor track results from Boston Holiday Challenge - Dec 28

Boston Holiday Challenge - 12/28/2018

Sponsored by Marathon Sports - MSTCA

Reggie Lewis TAC-Boston

Girls 55 Meter Dash Varsity
51 DeSimone, Kaylee 12 Franklin 8.10

Girls 300 Meter Dash Varsity
21 Fenerty, Jillian 9 Franklin 44.91
55 Jackson, Lauren 11 Franklin 47.36

Girls 600 Meter Run Varsity
2 Fenerty, Julia 12 Franklin 1:40.28
8 Powderly, Samantha 11 Franklin 1:44.99
15 DiGiacomo, Julia 12 Franklin 1:49.16
17 Clifford, Emma 12 Franklin 1:49.80

Girls 1000 Meter Run Varsity
11 Hawkins, Sydney 10 Franklin 3:15.94
17 Walbert, Katrina 12 Franklin 3:19.04
40 Osborne, Brandi 12 Franklin 3:34.95

Girls 55 Meter Hurdles Varsity (trial)
2 Pierre, Daniella 12 Franklin 8.99q
34 DeSimone, Kaylee 12 Franklin 10.07

Girls 55 Meter Hurdles Varsity - Final
1 Pierre, Daniella 12 Franklin 8.78

Girls 4x200 Meter Relay Varsity
8 Franklin 'A' 1:53.04

Girls 4x400 Meter Relay Varsity
4 Franklin 'A' 4:18.37

Girls 4x800 Meter Relay Varsity
12 Franklin 'A' 11:01.06

Girls High Jump Varsity
8 Martin, Dreya 12 Franklin J4-11.00 1.49m
10 Pierre, Daniella 12 Franklin 4-09.00 1.44m
11 Addi, Sabrina 11 Franklin J4-09.00 1.44m

Girls 1 Mile Run Freshman
22 Casey, Caitlin 9 Franklin 6:04.02
26 Cogavin, Maura 9 Franklin 6:07.66
28 Duffy, Liliana 9 Franklin 6:07.87

Boys 300 Meter Dash Varsity
41 Pek, Liam 12 Franklin 38.38
132 Cain, Jared 12 Franklin 40.75

Boys 1000 Meter Run Varsity
18 Harrington, Camden 11 Franklin 2:45.00

Boys 1 Mile Run Varsity
2 Brogan, Tyler 11 Franklin 4:25.53
10 Hagen, Michael 12 Franklin 4:30.26
31 Calitri, Nicholas 10 Franklin 4:47.31

Boys 2 Mile Run Varsity
2 Brogan, Tyler 11 Franklin 9:42.58
6 Hagen, Michael 12 Franklin 9:59.00
22 Regan, Mitchell 12 Franklin 10:54.97

Boys 55 Meter Hurdles Varsity
35 Faught, Andrew 12 Franklin 8.95

Boys 4x200 Meter Relay Varsity
21 Franklin 'A' 1:38.15

Boys 4x800 Meter Relay Varsity
5 Franklin 'A' 8:29.90

Boys High Jump Varsity
16 Cain, Jared 12 Franklin 5-07.00

Boys Long Jump Varsity
6 Faught, Andrew 12 Franklin 20-07.00 6.27m


The full listing of all individual results
http://www.mstca.org/Winter_Season/Winter%202019/ResultsBHC.htm

Via the Twitterverse
https://twitter.com/FranklinMatters/lists/fhs-sports

Daniella (Bella) Pierre of Franklin is the girls 55 Hurdles champion

Daniella Pierre of Franklin is the girls 55 Hurdles champion at the #mstcabostonholidaychallenge today! pic.twitter.com/Srf6WedMTs

— MSTCA (@MSTCA1) December 29, 2018

Daniella Pierre (8.78 seconds) just edges out Plymouth South sophomore Ella Grey to win the Girls 55 Meter Hurdle event for Franklin (@FHSSports). @BostonHeraldHS pic.twitter.com/tWCAjBY09R

— Brendan Connelly (@BConn63) December 28, 2018

Mike Hagen takes 6th and Tyler Brogan brings home another 2nd place finish in the 2mile. Mike (9:59) and Tyler (9:42) both ran PRs in the race pic.twitter.com/lbqefHRYk0

— Coach Bailey (@FranklinHSXC) December 28, 2018

Tyler Brogan and Julia Fenerty take 2nd in the mile and 600m race respectively. Tyler ran 4:25 and Julia was 1:40 pic.twitter.com/cHvzCYamA7

— Coach Bailey (@FranklinHSXC) December 28, 2018

Bella Pierre takes first place in the 55m hurdles with a time of 8.78 pic.twitter.com/iJsxV8eodN

— Coach Bailey (@FranklinHSXC) December 28, 2018

3rd Annual Opioid Misuse Prevention Conference - Jan 16, 2019

Looking for FHS athletic results over the weekend, I found this video from State Rep Jeff Roy touting the 3rd Annual Opioid Misuse Prevention Conference to be held Jan 16, 2019 in Westboro on the MIAA webpage.

The video:


Jeff Roy and the MIAA Opioid Misuse Prevention Conference from MIAA on Vimeo.

Or find the video here  https://vimeo.com/306811402

To register for the Conference
http://www.miaa.net/contentm/blueprints/blueprint_form.php?sid=38&bp_form_id=172&event_id=1443

3rd Annual Opioid Misuse Prevention Conf

Best Buddies: There’s still time to make twice the difference

Franklin is fortunate to have an active Best Buddies group in the schools, The first community to have a Best Buddies program that covers elementary, middle and high school. As the year comes to a close, if you are looking to make a charitable contribution for tax purposes, this is one organization to consider.

On my personal blog, I have a listing of other worthy non-profit organizations that I support  http://steves2cents.blogspot.com/2018/12/yes-it-is-birthday-time.html

Every time you support Best Buddies, you are helping make the world a more inclusive place for people with IDD and there is no better time to support Best Buddies than today. Until December 31st, every dollar will be matched, up to $200,000! It is because of people like YOU that our participants are able to become leaders and advocates for themselves in their communities.

‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ 

Stronger leaders and advocates, thanks to YOU. Dear Best Buddies Family, People with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are often marginalized from society, and it is through our programs that they often times find their voice.  Every time you support Best Buddies, you are helping make the world a more inclusive place for people with IDD and there is no better time to support Best Buddies than today. Until December 31st, every dollar will be matched, up to $200,000! GIVE NOW It is because of people like YOU that our participants are able to become leaders and advocates for themselves in their communities. People like YOU have changed the lives of our participants, like Christina Hundley, one of our Global Ambassadors from Florida, who is now living her dream and advocating for herself and others within the IDD community. Christina Hundley was born at Tampa General Hospital in 1983 and was raised by her aunt BJ in Florida after her parents dropped her off at her grandmother's house and never came back. Christina Hundley, Best Buddies Global Ambassador For Christina, life before finding Best Buddies was challenging.  "I was teased until I found Best Buddies in middle school. My bond with my middle school buddy helped me because I felt protected from everyone's teasing and her friendship gave me something to look forward to every day." – Christina Hundley, Best Buddies Global Ambassador Not only did Best Buddies give her a friendship, but it also placed Christina in a job she loves.  Through Best Buddies and her role as a Global Ambassador, Christina also gets the opportunity to share her love and passion for music. She is invited again and again to perform at national Best Buddies events, something she says has given her the chance to "share her talent with the world." Her story is one about success and what it means to pursue your dreams, and I hope it inspires you as much as it inspires us. We couldn't make stories like Christina's a reality each and every day without your support.  From the bottom of our hearts, Thank YOU.

Best Buddies International is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) rganization ddicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). bestbuddies.org/holidaygiving https://www.bestbuddies.org/holidaygiving/?engageddonorid=58586aa6-7fd1-4b6a-b562-06be622dc808

Best Buddies International 100 SE 2nd Street, Suite 2200 Miami, FL 33131 Phone: (305) 374-2233

Meeting notes archive for 2018

2018

The Election Collection for November 2018 can be found here

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/10/election-collection-2018.html

The Budget Collection for FY 2019 can be found here

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/04/town-of-franklin-ma-budget-collection.html

Economic Development Subcommittee (of the Town Council)

• 
  
• EDC - 12/12/18 (audio)
• EDC - 11/28/18 (audio)
• EDC - 09/05/18 (audio)
• EDC - 06/06/18 (audio)
• EDC - 04/11/18 (audio)
• EDC - 02/21/18 (audio included)

Joint Budget Subcommittee

• Joint Budget - 09/26/18 (audio)

Town Administrator Search Subcommittee

• Search Subcommittee meeting - 11/14/18 (audio)

Finance Committee (FinCom)

• FinCom meeting (usually 1st Tues of month, special schedule for Budget Hearings in May/June)
• 
  
• the 'free cash' amount has not yet been certified by the MA DOR so no meetings to be held until it is and the capital plan can be discussed (per 12/12/18 Town Council meeting update)
• FinComm - 10/16/18
• FinComm - 04/24/18 (audio)
• FinComm - 04/18/18
• FinComm - 04/17/18
• FinComm - Jan 30, 2018 (missed)

School Committee  (SchCom)

• School Committee meetings (usually 2nd/4th Tuesday of month; exceptions noted)
• 
  
• School Committee - 12/11/18 (partial coverage)
• School Committee - 11/27/18  
• School Committee - 11/13/18
• School Committee - 10/23/18
• School Committee - 10/09/18 (workshop/training session, did not participate or record)
• School Committee - 09/25/18
• School Committee - 09/11/18
• School Committee - 08/28/18
• School Committee - 08/14/18 (missed)
• School Committee - 07/24/18
• School Committee - 06/26/18 (missed)
• School Committee - 06/12/18
• School Committee - 05/22/18
• School Committee - 05/08/18 (missed - out of town on business)
• School Committee - 04/24/18
• School Committee - 04/10/18
• School Committee - 03/27/18
• School Committee - 03/22/18 (audio)
• School Committee - 03/13/18 (rescheduled to 3/22/18 due to blizzard)
• School Committee - 02/27/18
• School Committee - Legislative Forum - 02/13/18 (audio)
• School Committee - 01/23/18
• School Committee - 01/09/18 

Town Council (TC)

• TC meeting (usually 1st/3rd Wednesday of month, exceptions noted)
• 
  
• Town Council - 12/19/18
• Town Council - 12/12/18
• Town Council - 11/28/18 tax rate set (audio exclusive)
• Town Council - 11/14/18
• Town Council - 10/17/18
• Town Council - 10/10/18
• Town Council - 09/26/18
• Town Council - 09/05/18
• Town Council - 08/08/18 (missed - out of town)
• Town Council - 07/11/18 (missed - out of town)
• Town Council - 06/20/18 (missed - out of town on business)
• Town Council - 06/06/18
• Town Council - 06/16-17/18 (budget hearings #1 and #2)
• Town Council - 06/09/18 (missed - out of town on business)
• Town Council - 05/17/18 Budget hearing #2 for FY 2019
• Town Council - 05/16/18 Budget hearing #1 for FY 2019
• Town Council - 05/09/18 (missed - out of town on business)
• Town Council - 04/11/18
• Town Council - 03/28/18
• Town Council - 03/14/18 (missed - out of town on business)
• Town Council - 02/28/18 (canceled)
• Town Council - 02/14/18
• Town Council - 01/24/18
• Town Council Goals Workshop - 01/10/18 (audio) 

---------------------- 

FHS boys basketball top Bridgewater-Raynham, FHS wrestling 4th in Agawam Tournament

Via HockomockSports we share the results of the FHS sports action on Saturday, Dec 29, 2018


Boys Basketball = Franklin, 55 vs. Bridgewater-Raynham, 47 – Final
– Franklin started and finished strong in the championship game of the Larry Fisher Holiday Tournament to beat the hosts. Franklin junior Steve Karayan connected on six three-pointers, including two in the first and two in the fourth quarters, for a career-high 18 points. The Panthers led 36-34 heading into the final quarter but outscored the Trojans 19-13 in the frame to pull away with the win. Senior Jalen Samuels added 14 points and was named tournament MVP while senior Jake Macchi added a career-high 12 points.

Boys Hockey = Franklin, 2 vs. La Salle College High, 5 – Final
– Click here for a Photo Gallery from this game
https://hockomocksports.smugmug.com/2018-2019/Winter-2018-2019/Franklin-LaSalle-College-High-Pa-12-29-18/

Wrestling = Agawam Tournament
– Franklin had eight wrestlers finish fifth or better and took fourth overall as a team with 145 points. Drew DiFilippo was the 106 champion, winning 13-8 in the finals over Moses Oquendo of Holyoke. Alex Facassa (126) and Liam Cogavin (182) each took second, Matt Leofanti (220) earned a third place finish, Luke Cashin (152), Nolan Sheridan (195), and Quinn Fila-Montgomery (113) each placed fourth, and Michael Hasenfus (132) took fifth overall.

For other results around the Hockomock League
https://hockomocksports.com/saturdays-schedule-scoreboard-12-29-18/

FHS bench watching the action on the ice (HockomockSports.com photo)

"exempts people who rent their homes 14 or fewer nights a year"

From the Boston Globe, an article of interest for Franklin:

"Governor Charlie Baker on Friday signed first-of-its-kind legislation to tax and regulate the short-term housing rental market in Massachusetts, capping years of debate over how to navigate an industry that has exploded through companies like Airbnb. 

The new rules will take effect July 1 and could transform a market that spans the state, from Cape Cod summer homes to Boston apartment buildings to Western Massachusetts vacation retreats. 

The bill requires every rental host to register with the state, mandates they carry insurance, and opens the potential for local taxes on top of a new state levy. A chief negotiator for the House said the goal is to register every short-term rental in the state by September, and local officials, including in Boston, say the new law will help buttress their own efforts to regulate the booming market."

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https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2018/12/28/baker-signs-long-awaited-airbnb-bill-opening-new-era-for-industry/gyCoryp9D15nLPYxYk5cTN/story.html

exempts people who rent their homes 14 or fewer nights a year {WALDO SWIEGERS/BLOOMBERG NEWS}

Additional info on MA.gov
https://malegislature.gov/Laws/SessionLaws/Acts/2018/Chapter337

In the News: minimum age for tobacco products becomes 21; MA cabinet level get pay raise

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

Minimum age for tobacco now 21

"Nearly 14 years after Needham became the first town in the country to ban tobacco sales to people under 21, the higher purchase age for cigarettes and other tobacco products will kick in across the state on Monday. 

Gov. Charlie Baker in July signed a bill imposing new restrictions on tobacco products in Massachusetts, with an effective date of Dec. 31, 2018. 

Along with raising the minimum age for buying tobacco products from its current 18, the law prohibits the sale of tobacco products by pharmacies and bans the use of e-cigarettes in places where state law already prohibits smoking. 

The use of tobacco products including e-cigarettes will also be prohibited on the grounds of any public or private primary, secondary, or vocational school."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20181229/minimum-age-for-buy-tobacco-jumps-to-21-on-monday

For additional information on the minimum age for tobacco products
https://www.mass.gov/massachusetts-tobacco-cessation-and-prevention-program-mtcp

https://twitter.com/MakeSmkngHistry

Governor's cabinet get pay raise

"Chief Human Resources Officer Ronald Arigo outlined the raises, which are effective Jan. 1, in a memo to the secretaries and their chiefs of staff and human resources directors Friday, a day after salary increases for lawmakers and constitutional officers were announced. 

The 5.5 percent raise will bring the salary for cabinet secretaries up to $170,405.71 from the current $161,522. 

Agency heads and commissioners will not be eligible for the pay hike if they entered their role on or after Jan. 2, 2018. Acting or interim appointees and 120-day appointees are ineligible, Arigo wrote. 

Most members of Baker’s office will also receive the same 5.5 percent increase effective next Tuesday, with recent hires ineligible. According to the governor’s office, staff there have not received the merit pay increases other executive branch managers received over the past four years."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20181229/bakers-cabinet-secretaries-others-to-see-55-percent-raises