Thursday, January 24, 2019

FM #158 - Finance Committee sends Capital Budget recommendations to Town Council

FM #158

This internet radio show or podcast is number 158 in the series for Franklin Matters.

This recording shares the Finance Committee meeting held at the Municipal Building, Third Floor Training Room on Tuesday, January 15, 2019.

The meeting is the second of two to review the Capital Budget by the Finance Committee. Today’s meeting will review the following agenda:
  • Schools
  • Facilities
  • Technology
  • Recreation

After hearing all the presentations, the Finance Committee will vote to recommend some or all of these (with or without modifications) to be brought to the Town Council for their review and vote.

The complete agenda documents for Jan 15 meeting can be found on the Town of Franklin pages

Jan 15
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/agendas/2019-01-15_finance_committee_agenda.pdf

The documents for the Capital Budget discussions can be found
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xu_1JUPgKXNH8i9DhDZH7ZkfFk6tyFQp/view?usp=sharing

Note: the document is a single PDF file with 166 pages, so it will take some time to download/open.

The total meeting recording runs just about 48 minutes. Without further ado, here is the audio recording:





My notes recorded via Twitter during the meeting
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/01/finance-committee-jan-15-2019.html

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

How can you help?

In particular, if you have an interest in real estate, zoning or construction, I would like someone to help us by following the Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, and or the Conservation Commission meetings. I’ll provide the guidance on note taking and sharing. You need to bring an inquisitive, open mind and willingness to learn and share.

Overall:
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.

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

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/
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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FHS gymnastics posts two wins, wrestling and girls swimming post wins, girls hockey ties on a busy Wednesday

Via HockomockSports and Twitter, we share the results of the FHS sports action on Wednesday, Jan 23, 2019

Girls Hockey = Franklin, 5 @ Westwood, 5 – Final
– Cassi Ronan scored four goals to put Franklin into the lead, but the Wolverines clawed back in the third period to go in front. Amanda Lewandowski scored with 1:30 on the clock to earn the Panthers a point and keep them unbeaten on the season.

Wrestling = Franklin, 64 @ King Philip, 12 – Final

Boys Swimming = Franklin, 74 @ King Philip, 94 – Final

Girls Swimming = Franklin, 100 @ King Philip, 70 – Final

Gymnastics = Canton, 108.6 @ Franklin, 137.95 – Final
– Franklin sophomore Emma Owens and freshman Kate Rudolph placed first and second, respectively, in the all around to pace the Panthers. Owens scored a 35.55, including a 9.2 on the vault and 9.15 on the beam, while Rudolph had a 35, highlighted by a 9.0 on the vault and 9.0 on the floor.

Gymnastics = Franklin, 137.95 vs. Medway, 131.4 – Final

Boys Hockey = Canton, 3 @ Franklin, 2 – Final
Josh Perry, Managing Editor of HockomockSports.com, provides the game recap:
"After Canton stormed back from two goals down in the opening two minutes of the third period and with both teams create chance after chance in a fast-paced, end-to-end finish, both teams could have been forgiven for feeling content with going home from Wednesday night’s game at the Pirelli Veterans Arena with a hard-fought point apiece. 
But there was one more twist in this rivalry tale, as a Franklin defensive clearance ricocheted off the skate of the ref and fell right to Canton junior Johnny Hagan. The forward stepped in and ripped a one-timer over the blocker side of Franklin goalie Ryan Cameron to seal a dramatic 3-2 win for the unbeaten Bulldogs. 
“The kid’s got a 101-degree temperature but he wasn’t missing this one,” Canton coach Brian Shuman said of Hagan. “He just grinded it out, he didn’t want to come off the ice, and that’s just typical Johnny Hagan. He’s the fiercest competitor I’ve ever coached.” 
Franklin coach Chris Spillane was understandably frustrated to watch his team let a two-goal lead slip only two minutes after the second intermission."

Continue reading the boys hockey recap
https://hockomocksports.com/hagan-caps-comeback-for-canton-boys-hockey-at-franklin/

Click here for a photo gallery from this game
https://hockomocksports.smugmug.com/2018-2019/Winter-2018-2019/Franklin-Canton-Boys-Hockey-1-23-19/

For other results around the Hockomock League
https://hockomocksports.com/wednesdays-schedule-scoreboard-01-23-19/


FHS Ryan Cameron in goal as there is action around the net (HockomockSports.com photo)
FHS Ryan Cameron in goal as there is action around the net (HockomockSports.com photo)




MassBudget: Video and Op-ed: Updating Education Funding and Helping Schools Better Serve All Children



  MASSBudget     Kids Count
January 23, 2018




Updating Education Funding and Helping Schools Better Serve All Children: Video Summary and Op-ed


Students have the best chance of succeeding when their schools have the resources to educate them effectively. As Massachusetts lawmakers gear up for the Fiscal Year 2020 budget debate, many are working to overhaul the state's school funding formula - known as Chapter 70 - which determines how much state funding our schools receive to support necessities like teachers, materials, and facilities.
When the formula falls short, communities with fewer resources are unable to make up the difference and their students' education suffers.
A comprehensive update of the school funding formula, after five years, could mean as much as $1.1 billion in additional aid per year for Massachusetts schools, according to a new video  from the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget). We further explore these ideas in an op-ed in Commonwealth Magazine.
"The outdated formula does not reflect what it currently costs to provide a high-quality education. This has left many lower-wealth school districts with chronic understaffing, a return of class sizes of over 30 students, and fewer opportunities for our students to learn," said Colin Jones, Senior Policy Analyst and author of the report on which the video is based.
In the video, Jones summarizes the findings of his report, Building an Education System that Works for Everyone, which explores some ways lawmakers could update the formula.
"Even though Massachusetts has the most educated workforce in the nation, these opportunities are not reaching all our children. If we want to continue leading the country, we need to help close these opportunity gaps so all children can reach their full potential," said Marie-Frances Rivera, Interim President of MassBudget.

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 mrivera@massbudget.org in collaboration with
Constant Contact




FHS Jazz Performance Schedule

From the Pantherbook we find info about the Jazz concert held Wednesday night at FHS:
"If you enjoy this concert, or aren’t able to attend, there are many upcoming events like the Jazz Cafe on February 8th here at the high school, which also involves the middle schools. There are also some festivals in March, and on April 1 there is an event with the United States Jazz Ambassadors. 
For a music event with the whole town later in the year, come see the Franklin High School band accompany Kenny Hadley’s Big Band at the Black Box on April 30th. "

Read the full article at Pantherbook:
https://franklinpanthers.us/top-stories/2019/01/23/swing-into-semester-2-with-a-jazz-concert/

And a teaser of their performance



Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Franklin DPW: Catch Basin Clearing

Catch Basin Clearing

Crews are out working hard to clear as many catch basins as possible before the rain arrives! 

If you're curious to see if you have a catch basin nearby, check out this web map to find it. Simply enter your address to zoom to your neighborhood.

Snow Operations Map
http://townoffranklin.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=338afb647d7d4c9fbba717b6c602d381


Shared from
https://www.franklinma.gov/home/news/catch-basin-clearing

Franklin DPW: Catch Basin Clearing
Franklin DPW: Catch Basin Clearing
a frosted and clear storm drain before the snow arrived
a frosted and clear storm drain before the snow arrived

Franklin Garden Club: “Gardening for Butterflies and Other Pollinators” - Feb 5

“Gardening for Butterflies and Other Pollinators” will be the focus of the Tuesday, February 5, meeting of the Franklin Garden Club, which is a joint meeting with the Medway Garden Club. 

The meeting will take place at the Franklin Senior Center, 10 Daniel McCahill Street, from 7:00 – 9:00 PM with a social time from 6:30 – 7:00 PM. The meeting is open to the public, including those interested in becoming a club member.

Stephanie Markham, who has established several butterfly gardens, will focus on the importance of butterflies for our environment and how to support them and other pollinators throughout their life cycle in private and community gardens. Butterflies assist in the process of cross pollination. A total of 75% of the world’s flowering plants and 35% of our food crops depend on pollinators to reproduce. 

Today, Monarch butterflies and many other pollinators are decreasing because of the loss of their native habitats and a shrinking supply of the plants they rely on for food and nurseries. During her presentation, Markham will show how creating a garden environment that attracts butterflies provides a habitat for a variety of beneficial insects, birds, bees and other wildlife, helping both ourselves and our environment.

Markham, an officer in the Norfolk Garden Club, co-chairs the club’s butterfly garden committee, which establishes and maintains several butterfly gardens around Norfolk, including the one at the Stony Brook Wildlife Sanctuary, which was restored after many years of neglect with the help of a grant from the Massachusetts Master Gardeners Association. 

Markham has been gardening and breeding perennials and award-winning irises for more than 35 years. She is also a beekeeper, a garden and exhibition judge, an officer in several local and national iris societies, and a writer and presenter on various gardening topics.

The Franklin Garden Club, founded in 1987, is a member of the Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts.
Franklin Garden Club: “Gardening for Butterflies and Other Pollinators” - Feb 5
Franklin Garden Club: “Gardening for Butterflies and Other Pollinators” - Feb 5

Tri-County Regional Awarded $123,115 in Massachusetts Skills Capital Grant

Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School is pleased to announce it has been awarded $123,115 from the 2019 Massachusetts Skills Capital Grant to expand its Metal Fabrication program. The grant will allow integration opportunities between the Engineering and Metal Fabrication career programs.

The Skills Capital Grant Program awards grants to support vocational/technical training, upgrades and expansion of career technical education, and training of high-quality career pathway programs that are aligned with regional economic and workforce development priorities for in-demand industries.

Tri-County was among 31 educational institutions in Massachusetts that were recently awarded workforce skills capital grants enabling the schools to acquire the newest technologies to educate students and expand programs. Skills Capital Grants, which are administered through Gov. Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito's office, are designed to help high schools, colleges and other educational institutions invest in the most up-to-date training equipment to give their students an advantage when they continue in their chosen field or particular area of study. The awards cover a broad range of fields, from construction and engineering to healthcare and hospitality.

Tri-County will boost enrollment capacity in its Metal Fabrication program and enhance hands-on technical instruction to provide students with the knowledge needed for manufacturing jobs in the region. Funding will upgrade the training facilities with industry-standard equipment and give students access to a power roll, an ironworker, an industrial sanding belt, and two virtual welders. The program will support adult students enrolled in evening training courses, offered in collaboration with the region's MassHire board.

"Skills Capital Grants impact the education of thousands of young people across the Commonwealth and give them new opportunities and skills for a successful future," Baker said. "We are proud of the 10,000 new seats that have been added to these programs across Massachusetts and we look forward to continuing our work with schools and teachers to give more students the experience and knowledge that employers demand."

"The funding we have received from this Skills Capital Grant will be vital to expanding our Metal Fabrication program and will give more students the experience and skill set that employers demand," said Superintendent Stephen Dockray. "We are grateful and honored to have been awarded this grant by the Baker-Polito administration and are looking forward to seeing our students graduate with the competitive edge needed to compete for exciting career opportunities."

Tri-County RVTHS, located at 147 Pond Street in Franklin, is a recipient of the High Schools That Work Gold Achievement Award and serves the communities of Franklin, Medfield, Medway, Millis, Norfolk, North Attleboro, Plainville, Seekonk, Sherborn, Walpole, and Wrentham.

 left-right are:  Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Mike Kenneal, Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School Metal Fabrication Instructor Robert Pierangeli, Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School Vocational Director Cathy Rebelo, Governor Charlie Baker
 left-right are:  Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Mike Kenneal, Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School Metal Fabrication Instructor Robert Pierangeli, Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School Vocational Director Cathy Rebelo, Governor Charlie Baker

2nd Annual Legislative Forum on Education - Feb 5


"The Franklin School Committee will hold its 2nd Annual Legislative Forum on Education on Tuesday, Feb. 5, 7-8:30 PM, in the lecture hall at Franklin High School, 218 Oak St., Franklin. 
The event, hosted by the Public Schools Advocacy Sub-Committee of the Franklin School Committee, will feature Senate President Karen Spilka, and state Rep. Jeffrey Roy. 
Join these elected officials for a discussion as they provide updates and insights on legislative initiatives directly impacting public schools in general and Franklin in particular. 
For this year’s forum, the organizers have expanded the focus to include issues beyond funding, including:

  • Developmentally appropriate practices (such as recess and start times);
  • addressing the physical, emotional and social needs of students;
  • college, career and civic readiness;
  • impacts of the current funding formula on the FY 2020 budget and beyond, and 
  • special education and associated costs."
Continue reading the article online 
http://franklin.wickedlocal.com/news/20190122/franklin-school-board-to-host-legislative-forum


  • Live reporting from the Forum in 2018
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/02/live-reporting-legislative-forum-feb-13.html

  • The audio of the Forum was published previously
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/02/fm-139-legislative-forum-on-school.html

  • Announcement of the Forum
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/02/franklin-school-committee-legislative.html


The video of the 2018 Legislative Forum



Jennifer Knight of SAFE Coalition tying some comments and points together at the end
Jennifer Knight of SAFE Coalition tying some comments and points
together at the end of the 2018 Legislative Forum

Both FHS girls and boys basketball teams top Foxboro

Via HockomockSports, we share the results of the FHS sports action on Tuesday, Jan 22, 2019

Boys Basketball = Foxboro, 37 @ Franklin, 61 – Final
– Franklin raced out to a 13-0 start but Foxboro battled back to make it a six-point game (29-23) at half. But the Panthers dominated the third quarter, outscoring the visitors 23-5 in the frame and allowed a total of 14 points in the second half to earn the win. Franklin senior Will Harvey had a career-high 15 points while Jalen Samuels and Thomas Gasbarro each added eight points. Foxboro sophomore Kevin Gallagher scored a team-high eight points.

Girls Basketball = Franklin, 52 @ Foxboro, 40 – Final
Josh Perry,Managing Editor of HockomockSports.com, provides the game recap:


"Coming into Tuesday night’s showdown, Foxboro and Franklin were both unbeaten (8-0) in Hockomock play and were the league’s top two scoring teams, its top two defensive teams, its two division leaders, and boasted the league’s top two scorers. 
It was clearly a battle of the top two teams in the Hock and it was a battle that was dominated by the Hock’s top scorer, Ali Brigham. The 6-foot-3 junior center scored 27 points, pulled down 15 rebounds, and blocked six shots, controlling the paint on both ends of the court to help Franklin remain unbeaten with a 52-40 victory. 
“She’s frustrated because she thought that she could’ve played better,” Franklin coach John Leighton joked when asked about Brigham’s performance night-in, night-out. “It’s great coaching a kid that wants to become better. She’s not complacent. She’s not close to the player that she wants to be, yet. She keeps expanding her game.” 
Franklin’s win ended Foxboro’s 26-game win streak and 33-game league win streak."

Continue reading the game recap
https://hockomocksports.com/brigham-dominates-as-franklin-girls-basketball-ends-foxboro-win-streak/

Click here for a photo gallery from this game.
https://hockomocksports.smugmug.com/2018-2019/Winter-2018-2019/Foxboro-Franklin-Girls-Basketball-1-22-19/

For other results around the Hockomock League
https://hockomocksports.com/tuesdays-schedule-scoreboard-01-22-19/

Franklin junior center Ali Brigham put up monster numbers (27 points, 15 rebounds, and six blocks) to end Foxboro’s 26-game unbeaten run and keep the Panthers unbeaten in league play this season. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)
Franklin junior center Ali Brigham put up monster numbers (27 points, 15 rebounds, and six blocks) to end Foxboro’s 26-game unbeaten run and keep the Panthers unbeaten in league play this season. (Josh Perry/HockomockSports.com)

Tri-County: The TC Insider


The newsletter was shortened for publication here, to review the full contents visit
https://mailchi.mp/b934dfe34953/the-tc-insider?e=a64020e338





Tri-County: The TC Insider
January 21, 2019
Tri-County: The TC Insider


To the Tri-County Community,

Sure signs of the midway point of the school year at TC are Senior Projects in full swing, a lack of gym space for winter teams, and our robotics team starting to get organized for their annual competitions. All of those things began in earnest last week.

Senior projects got underway with Graphic Communications and Engineering kicking it off this year. I had the pleasure of judging Engineering projects this morning and as always I was impressed with the quality and ingenuity of our students. Our winter sports are in mid-season with five basketball teams, the wrestling team, and an indoor track team all competing for practice space. The robotics team is busy organizing a new space and preparing for this year's challenge.

Mr. Pierangeli and the Metal Fabrication seniors received a visit from the Massachusetts State Police. The Metal Fabrication shop designed and fabricated 16 one-man door rams for state and local police. These devices are designed to replace the heavier ones that require a team to operate and can be carried in a police vehicle. Fox 25 news was on hand to report on the devices.

Lastly, the other sure sign of mid-year is the freshmen participating in their last shop exploratory this week and the selection of their shop program. The entire school year to date has led to this one final week where scores will be compiled and choices will be made. It is an annual rite of passage here at TC where our freshmen take their place in one of our vocational programs.

Thanks for your support,
  
Work Hard, Today Counts,

Mr. Procaccini 






Upcoming Events


End of 2nd Quarter
January 25

The Children's Center Registration & Open House
February 7 from 12:15-1:45 PM

The Children's Center Registration & Open House
February 8 from 9-10:30 AM

Early Release Day
February 8

Winter Vacation
February 18-22


Early Release Day
March 4




About The TC Insider

The TC Insider is a biweekly newsletter for the families of Tri-County students.















Tri-County RVTHS
147 Pond Street
Franklin, MA 02038
www.tri-county.us
508-528-5400





Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical School District · 147 Pond Street · Franklin, Ma 02038 · USA

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The newsletter was shortened for publication here, to review the full contents visit
https://mailchi.mp/b934dfe34953/the-tc-insider?e=a64020e338

Tri-County: The TC Insider
Tri-County: The TC Insider


MassBudget: Five Things to Look for in the FY2020 Budget



MassBudget  Information.
  Participation.
 Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center  Democracy.
January 22, 2019






Five Things to Look for in the FY 2020 Budget
When the Governor releases his budget this week, he will kick off the Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 budget debate. The FY 2020 budget will not only determine funding for schools, roads, parks, and other essential services, but can also move the discussion on how to raise the revenues our state needs to pay for these services.
For those following the debate, the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) offers a new report, Five Things to Look for in the FY 2020 Budget.
http://massbudget.org/report_window.php?loc=Five_Things_to_Look_for_in_the_FY_2020_Budget.html
"State lawmakers have a tough task this year. We have many needs - such as education funding reform and transportation improvements - but we have no significant, new revenue sources to help pay for these essentials and fix substantial holes that may develop in state revenue sources over the next couple of years," said Marie-Frances Rivera, Interim President of MassBudget. "One overarching question to consider during this year's budget cycle is whether state lawmakers propose new, progressive sources of revenue through the state budget or through independent legislation."
MassBudget: Five Things to Look for in the FY2020 Budget
An update of the outdated formula that funds our K-12 schools has been a key issue in recent months. Reform of this can come through the state budget or through separate legislation.
Another question to consider is whether the state budget will account for this year's minimum wage increase (from $11 to $12 per hour) which will benefit many low-income workers who provide care for children, the elderly, and people with disabilities. Without funding from the state, providers may struggle to maintain the same level and quality of services while paying their workers the higher wage.
Undergirding the questions on spending is a question on how the state can generate adequate revenues to overcome impending shortfalls and plan for the future. The revenue forecast over FY 2019 and FY 2020 is mixed and will depend greatly on whether the state economy's decade-long upturn will slow or falter. 

Further, over the next two years, the state expects to see substantial holes develop in both tax and non-tax revenue sources - stemming from scheduled drops in the personal income tax rate and from the expiration of a roughly $260 million temporary assessment to help pay for subsidized health care. Neither the Governor nor the Legislature has yet offered specific plans that would fill those holes with new revenues.
It will be worth considering whether any proposed taxes or fees make the state's tax system more equitable - by requiring top income-earners to contribute a greater share of their incomes, closer to the share that everyone else pays.
The report also includes information to help budget watchers follow the debates. Readers can track funding recommendations in each budget proposal using MassBudget's Budget Browser.
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 mrivera@massbudget.org in collaboration with
Constant Contact