Veterans Coffee Social - May 1

Veterans Coffee Social

Join us! Wednesday, May 1, 2019 = 10:00 AM

at the Franklin Senior Center

Veterans Coffee Social - May 1

SNETT Group Walk - Friday, April 19 - 10 AM

Please join us for our monthly group walk on the SNETT! 

This month we will be walking on Friday, April 19 at 10 AM. 

Meet at the Lake St. parking lot. It is a spring break for many, so bring your kids and of course your four-legged companions on a leash are always welcome.

yes, I was part of the group last month and look to join the walk again this Friday

Follow the event on Facebook  https://www.facebook.com/events/323621265020605/

FHS girls lacrosse drop match to Notre Dame Academy 15-10

Via HockomockSports and Twitter, we share the results of the FHS sports action on Wednesday, Apr 17, 2019


Girls Lacrosse = Franklin, 10 @ Notre Dame Academy, 15 – Final

[Girls Sprg Varsity Lacrosse] Notre Dame Acad (Hingham) defeats Franklin HS, 15 to 10.

— FranklinAthletics (@FHSSports) April 18, 2019

Final: Franklin 10 NDA 15 - Hard fought game against a top opponent. Only place to go is ⬆️

— FHS Girls Lacrosse (@Fhsglax) April 18, 2019

For other results around the Hockomock League
https://hockomocksports.com/wednesdays-schedule-scoreboard-04-17-19/

FHS Panthers

Hiring Event at Franklin Starbucks - Apr 22

Hiring Event
at the

Franklin Starbucks

648 Old West Central Street

Monday, April 22

4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

download the flyer as a reminder

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczWlhfcWptNFY2emxnaXBkTmxKRWR4WkVjU1I0/view?usp=sharing

Note: The last time they did this, 11 people showed up and 9 were hired.
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/12/starbucks-says-thanks.html

Starbucks has scheduled a hiring event for Apr 22

Notice of Aerial Larval Control Application - spraying for mosquitoes

In accordance with 333 CMR 13.04 (7) (a & b), please consider this as notification of the pending aerial application targeting mosquito larvae in the wetlands in the District.

The Norfolk County Mosquito Control District will be conducting helicopter applications of the biorational larvicide Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis) to control mosquito larvae. These applications will be conducted over specific large wetlands in the Towns of: Avon/ Bellingham/ Braintree/ Canton/ Dedham/ Dover/ Foxboro/ Franklin/ Holbrook Medfield/ Medway/ Millis/ Milton/ Needham/ Norfolk/ Norwood/ Plainville/ Quincy/ Randolph/ Sharon/ Stoughton/ Walpole/ Westwood/ Weymouth/ Wrentham

These applications will be conducted for 2 to 4 days, anytime between April 16, 2019, and April 26, 2019. As always, the weather in the spring is unpredictable. For this reason the District cannot pin down actual application dates with any more accuracy at this time.

The trade name of the granular formulations of Bti to be used is VectoBac GR (EPA Reg. #73049-486). For further information contact David A. Lawson, Director at (781) 762-3681 or the Boards of Health in the towns listed above. Information is also available on line at www.norfolkcountymosquito.org

Respectfully submitted


Read online at
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/news/notification_of_aerial_application_board_of_health_april_2019_0.pdf

or
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1luLgS5CBo8yVR9CRsTfCJilmtpwSkGx5/view?usp=sharing

Norfolk County Mosquito Control District - Arial application begins April 16

“The process was a thoughtful but very difficult one”

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

"Superintendent of Schools Sara Ahern is proposing that the School Committee trim its proposed fiscal 2020 budget by about $2.3 million, achieving that in part by eliminating 13 teachers. 

“This was a very difficult task, given the direct relationship of the School Department’s budget to a student’s classroom experience,” she wrote in a letter to the committee outlining the recommended cuts. 

The superintendent cited a budget forecast from the town as the reason for the need to cut from the School Committee’s budget proposal."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190417/franklin-schools-face-23m-school-budget-cut

The details of the school budget can be found on the Town page
https://www.franklinps.net/district/budget-information/pages/current-budget

Franklin Public Schools FY 2020 budget book cover

Zoning Board of Appeals: Public Hearings - May 2, 2019

Zoning Board of Appeals, Town of Franklin

Public Hearings - Posting

For Hearing on: May 2, 2019

At: 7:30 PM
Applicant: ROBERT AND JENNIFER PELUSO
Address of Subject Property: 745 Pond Street (Map & Parcel 225-094-000-000)
Petition Type: Special Permit
From Section (or Schedule): Article 185, Attachment 7 (use regulations schedule part V16.3.b.)
To Allow: Applicant is seeking to convert an existing addition into an accessory dwelling unit. The building permit is denied without a special permit from the ZBA

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/agendas/05-02-19_legal_-_745_pond_street.pdf


At: 7:35 PM
Applicant: J.R. KING
Address of Subject Property: 5 GREAT POND ROAD (318-014-000-000)
Petition Type: Variance
From Section (or Schedule): Article 185, Attachment 9 (Schedule of Lot, Area, Frontage, Yard and Height Requirements)
To Allow: Applicant is seeking to construct an addition that is 34.1’ from the side yard setback where 40’ is required. The building permit is denied without a variance from the ZBA.

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/agendas/5_great_pond_road_-_legal_0.pdf


At: 7:40 PM
Applicant: EDWARD FOTI AND KIM FOTI
Address of Subject Property: 19 BRUSHWOOD HILL (253-032-000-000)
Petition Type: Variance
From Section (or Schedule): Article 185, Attachment 9 (Schedule of Lot, Area, Frontage, Yard and Height Requirements)
To Allow: Applicant is seeking to construct an addition that is 17.8’ from the side yard setback where 25’ is required. The building permit is denied without a variance from the ZBA.

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/agendas/19_brushwood_hill_-_legal.pdf


At: 7:45 PM
Applicant: JAMES E. ADAMS, TRUSTEE OF ADAMS FAMILY NOMINEE TRUST
Address of Subject Property: OFF BENT STREET (Map & Lot: 215-023-000-000)
Petition Type: Variance
From Section (or Schedule): Article 185, Attachment 9 (Schedule of Lot, Area, Frontage, Yard and Height Requirements)
To Allow: Applicant is seeking to create a single buildable lot with 41.22’ of frontage where 200’ is required and 41.22’ of lot width where 180’ is required. Compliance with zoning is denied without a variance from the ZBA.

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/agendas/off_bent_street_-_legal.pdf


At: 7:50 PM
Applicant: JAMES P. DACEY AND CAROL A. DACEY
Address of Subject Property: 345 Lincoln Street (250-059-000-000)
Petition Type: Variance
From Section (or Schedule): Article 185, Attachment 9 (Schedule of Lot, Area, Frontage, Yard and Height Requirements)
To Allow: Applicant is seeking relief from the following on Lot 1: 19,461 sq. ft. of lot area where 40,000 sq. ft. is required, 9.7’ of right side yard setback where 30’ is required, 25.2’ of left side yard setback where 30’ is required, 39.5’ of front yard setback where 40’ is required, 94.56’ of frontage where 175’ is required and 94.56’ of lot width where 157.5’ is required. Applicant is seeking relief for the following on Lot 2: 32,017 sq. ft. of lot area where 40,000 sq. ft. is required, 9.6’ side yard setback where 30’ is required, 151.56’ of frontage where 175’ is required and 151.56’ of lot width where 157.5’ is required. Compliance with Franklin Zoning Code is denied without a variance
from the ZBA.

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/agendas/345_lincoln_street_-_legal_0.pdf


At: 7:55 PM
Applicant: VERTEX TOWER ASSETS, LLC
Address of Subject Property: 13-15 Edward Street (Map & Parcel 269-047-000-000)
Petition Type: Variance
From Section (or Schedule): To construct a wireless communication facility not allowed in the SFR IV zone, which is otherwise not located in the wireless communication overlay district as outlined in section 185-44 & 185-45.
To Allow: Applicant is seeking a building permit to install a 116’ tall cell tower within a proposed wireless communication facility. The building permit is denied without a variance from the ZBA

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/agendas/05-02-19_-_legal_ad_-_13_-_15_edward_street_0.pdf

Zoning Board of Appeals: Public Hearings - May 2, 2019

Bill & Kate Isles at OCC Coffeehouse, Saturday, April 27

BILL & KATE ISLES

at OCC Coffeehouse

Saturday, April 27, 7:30 PM

Bill and Kate are an acoustic singer/songwriter duo based in Duluth, Minnesota. Using a wide variety of musical styles, their performances carry audiences through a broad landscape of experiences from metaphorical worlds to small town family stories and to zany comedy. Consummate performers, they are known for their catchy melodies and memorable songs. They have a deep-seated love for the audience, and each other, and it shines before, during, and after the performance. 

BILL & KATE ISLES

They tour nationally, presenting their profound songs for audiences large and small, from house concerts to festival stages and everything in between. Words like 'Mesmerizing, 'Transcendent', and even, 'Hysterical' are common descriptions from audience reviews and audiences members feel that they are listening to stories of their own lives, told by two of their best friends.

Bill Isles (Born and raised in Duluth, MN) performed his first show of original songs, after a twenty-five year hiatus, in February of 2000. Since that time, he has become one of the most well known singer/songwriters in the Minnesota acoustic scene and has been getting national and international attention. 

Bill's love of life has strong roots in his childhood, but his urgency to tell these stories comes from an experience in 1993 when, with just enough warning to drive himself to the hospital, he experienced a Sudden Cardiac Arrest. He arrived with just ten minutes to spare. After being defibrillated, and before the doctors had time to detect and open a blocked artery in his heart, he made a commitment to himself that, if he survived, he would begin to write again. Those paddles restarted more than just his heart.

Kate Isles (Born in Tecumseh, NE, raised in Rochester, MN) came to the CD release concert for Bill's first CD, "Weightless" after hearing a public radio interview. She bought the CD and signed up on his e-mail list. ('Grounds for marriage!' quips Bill). Their song, 'Public Radio (A True Story)' is a delightful duet that chronicles these beginnings.

Tickets for the concert are $15 in advance and $20 at the door, available at the church office, 508-384-3110, or at www.musicatocc.org. The event will be in Fellowship Hall at the back of the church with entry from the parking lot behind the church. Parking is available behind the church and in the lot across the street. For more information and to be added to the mailing list, visit the website or contact Ken Graves, 508-384-8084, occmusic99@gmail.com.

OCC Coffeehouse is a non-profit organization affiliated with the Original Congregational Church in Wrentham. Doors open 30 minutes before the concert. Please call 508-384-8084, email occmusic99@gmail.com, or visit http://www.musicatocc.org for more information.

Party for the Pantry - May 4 - Tickets on Sale

"Thank you to all of our sponsors for the 4th Annual Party For The Pantry - Franklin Food Pantry Benefit! It's coming up fast. Get your tickets now! 

We are looking for raffle items to help get us to our goal of $10,001. Both small and large items are needed. We have a regular raffle and then a super raffle for higher end items. 

In the past people have donated sports tickets, vacations, autographs and memorabilia. 

Can you help?"

Get your tickets online at
https://partyforthepantry4.brownpapertickets.com/

Follow the Party for the Pantry on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/events/650075272118938/

Party for the Pantry - May 4 - Tickets on Sale

FHS baseball tops Catholic Memorial 12-1

Via HockomockSports, we share the results of the FHS sports action on Tuesday, Apr 16, 2019


Baseball = Franklin, 12 @ Catholic Memorial, 1 – Final
– Franklin’s offense plated six runs in the top of the fifth inning, turning a 6-1 lead into a 12-1 win on the road at Catholic Memorial. Senior Scott Elliott blasted a three-run home run to pace the offense while senior Alex Haba went 3-for-4 with a pair of runs scored. Joe Lizotte (three RBI, run), Shane O’Neil (run, RBI), JB Floris (double, two runs, two RBI), and Jack Nally (run, RBI) each had a pair of hits for the Panthers. Junior Brennan Rivera tossed a complete game, allowing just one unearned run on two hits and two walks while striking out six to get the win.


For other results around the Hockomock League
https://hockomocksports.com/tuesdays-schedule-scoreboard-04-16-19/

FHS Panthers

Library of Congress: Celebrating 200 Years of Walt Whitman

Celebrating 200 Years of Walt Whitman The Library of Congress will celebrate the 200th anniversary of American poet and changemaker Walt Whitman's birthday in spring 2019 with a series of exhibits, public programs and a digital crowdsourcing campaign to showcase the Library's unparalleled collections of Whitman's writings and artifacts. Click here for more information https://www.loc.gov/item/prn-19-041/celebrating-200-years-of-walt-whitman-with-series-of-exhibits-events-and-digital-crowdsourcing-to-showcase-collections/2019-04-16/. Walt Whitman in his younger years, as shown in this 1854 engraving by Samuel Hollyer used in the 1855 first edition of "Leaves of Grass." Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division.

In the News: 2019 DPW Road Construction Projects

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

"The town has released an interactive online map of construction projects scheduled for 2019. 

The projects include waterline replacements, road resurfacing, drainage improvements, and many other improvements."

You can read the street listing as published by MDN
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190416/franklin-maps-out-2019-road-construction-plans


Or view the interactive map of the DPW's updated project list for the current (2019) road construction season.

"Please keep in mind that although the work identified is anticipated to occur in the time frame of the 2019 construction season, it is always subject to change as certain projects may be delayed and other may be added to the list."





Or go directly to the Town page
https://townoffranklin.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapJournal/index.html?appid=dd40cc6768364be392f6d0ff42156fa2

Franklin Residents: 2019 DPW Road Construction Projects

25 Franklin Residents officially completed the 2019 Boston Marathon

On Monday, I posted that there were 27 Franklin residents scheduled to start the Boston Marathon. 16 men and 11 women with the following distribution by age group.

Age Group	M	W	T
20's	4	3	7
30's	3	3	6
40's	7	1	8
50's	2	3	5
60's	0	1	1
	16	11	27

After the race I can share that 25 Franklin residents completed the full course per the official results.

Age Group	M	W	T
20's	4	2	6
30's	3	3	6
40's	7	1	8
50's	2	3	5
60's	0	0	0
	16	9	25

25 Franklin Residents officially completed the 2019 Boston Marathon

For more info about the runners and the race visit BAA.org/ or go directly to

https://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon

27 Franklin residents scheduled to start the Boston Marathon

Disclosure: I am proud to be working for John Hancock, one of the major sponsors of the Boston Marathon.   https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephensherlock/

Note: due to the data available from the results, I don't know if the 2 'missing' runners did not start the race, or started and did not complete the race.

FY 2020 Budget Preparations: Town Administration Memo

From Town Administrator Jeff Nutting and Jamie Hellen to Town Council, School Committee, and Finance Committee

"As you know, the Town Council meeting on March 13th will be to discuss the fiscal challenges the Town faces for FY20 and beyond. The School Committee is scheduled to vote on a proposed school budget on March 12th. The Finance Committee will be beginning their FY20 budget review on March 18th.

Summary In a Nutshell

At this point in time, with final revenues still unknown, a " level service" municipal and school budget would require about an additional $2,000,000 in revenue . "Level Service" budget is to provide the same level of services that are currently being provided this year.

The FY19 School budget funded by the town is $63,235,000 . The Superintendents FY 20 "level service" budget is $65,921,000 or an increase of $2,686,000 and the Superintendents revised recommended budget FY20 is $66,826,115 or an increase of $3,591,000. (See the attached memo's from the Superintendent .)

We are currently recommending an increase in the School budget of $1,200,000 for the coming Fiscal Year 2020, staring on July 1st. Unfortunately, this means the school "level service" budget will be short by about approximately $1,500,000 and the Superintendent's recommended budget by $2,640,000.

It is important to note these numbers are still in flux due to final state budget numbers, charter school enrollment and health insurance figures.

Charter School Impacts

We do not have a clear revenue number yet due to the expansion of the charter school. They are projecting an increase of 258 students overall, from the current capacity of 450 to a maximum of 708 in FY20 and eventually phasing into a maximum capacity of 900 in future years. The Charter School will also be expanding eventually to K-12 from its current K-8 grades.

As of this letter, 212 Franklin students have applied from a pool of over 600 applications. A lottery will be held and the actual r;iumber will be known later in March . This will lead to an amended proposed state aid number that will be include in the House of Representatives budget, which generally is made public in mid-April.

Our current guess is that Charter School will divert about $1,000,000 from our state aid. Since the final number is determined by a lottery, this estimate could go up or down based on the lottery and how many students who were accepted through the lottery and accept a seat.. The funds for the Charter school are deducted from our Chapter 70 School aid amount . In total, the Town stands to lose local aid for education from the state budget this year, relative to this year.

The charter school funding issue has been a problem for years and the legislature has not yet properly addressed the issue. The bottom line is that the School budget will be less than what is needed to provide a level service budget, let alone the overall vision for the school district as outlined by the Superintendent and the School Committee. We have written to our legislative delegation for years regarding changing the state formula to be less punitive to public school districts, but the law has not changed in 26 years.

We will adjust our recommended school budget based on the House budget in April. The final state aid is not usually known until July and further adjustments can be made by the Council once the information is known.

The current revenue projections for future years do not provide the funds necessary to support municipal and school operations at its current level.

Fiscal Year 2021 (FY21)

An override will need to be considered for FY 21 to properly fund school and municipal services. There are currently a lot of moving parts, including but not limited to, the final FY20 state aid amount, future changes to the education funding formula (if any), continued growth in Franklin's population, aging population, school enrollment, increased demand on public services, just to name a few.

The bottom line is that virtually every department in town is seeing increased costs to do business and a substantial increase in demand for services. Every department has seen an uptick in requests for services from record breaking public safety calls to more demands on the DPW to maintain our property, fields and roads, higher facilities costs, more customers at the Senior Center and Library, let alone recruiting and retaining the best staff.

The amount of an override is ot known at this time, but something in the $4 -$5 million dollar range may be needed to maintain appropriate school/municipal services next year. Again these figures will change once more information is available and the Council and School Committee can discuss the matter this fall.

We are happy to answer any questions and hope this meeting in March will begin a community wide discussion.

The Town has a website with all finance & budget related materials to stay in touch with the latest information: https://www.franklinma.gov/town-budget"

Continue reading the memo
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/uploads/fy20_budget_forecast_and_beyond.pdf

The working draft of the budget for the Finance Committee discussions
https://www.franklinma.gov/town-budget/files/proposed-fy20-operating-budget

The audio recording of the March 18 Finance Committee is available
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/03/fm-160-fincom-budget-hearing-1-fy-2020.html

My notes from the March 18 meeting recorded live at the meeting
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/03/live-reporting-finance-committee-march.html

The Franklin budget cycle is shown here

Franklin budget cycle

For more info on the Franklin budget cycle 
https://www.franklinma.gov/town-budget

FHS girls lacrosse tops Bromfield 18-10

Via HockomockSports, we share the results of the FHS sports action on Monday, Apr 15, 2019


Girls Lacrosse = Franklin, 18 vs. Bromfield, 10 – Final 
– Junior Erin Walsh accounted for nine points to lead the Panthers to a win over Bromfield, last year’s D2 State Finalists. Walsh scored five goals and had four assists, junior Kelsey MacCallum added four goals and two assists, and senior Annie Walsh found the back of the net four times and had one helper.

For other results around the Hockomock League
https://hockomocksports.com/mondays-schedule-scoreboard-04-15-19/

MassBudget: For Tax Day: A Round-Up of Recent Tax-Related Reports

MassBudget    Information.    Participation.  Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center    Democracy. April 15, 2019 For Tax Day: A Round-Up of Recent Tax-Related Reports Our Commonwealth's current prosperity depends, in no small part, on the investments that earlier generations made before us. Think of where we'd be if earlier generations hadn't invested in our subway system or the Massachusetts Turnpike - or if the Commonwealth hadn't committed to establishing the nation's first public school. Our state and our lives would look quite different today without those forward-thinking investments. Some of the most important things we do together through state and local government is educate our children, increase the mobility of our people through public transit and safe roads and bridges, and improve people's well-being through access to healthy foods, medical care, and other necessities. And, improving the quality of the education our children receive and the transportation infrastructure our communities rely on requires up-front investments for long-term pay-offs. Tax revenue helps fund these important priorities. For this year's income tax filing deadline, the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) is revisiting some of its recent papers related to the state's tax system. Here are some of the highlights:  Who pays state and local taxes in Massachusetts?  Massachusetts' tax system is upside-down, meaning it asks low- and middle- income taxpayers to contribute a larger percentage of their incomes in taxes than high-income taxpayers. http://massbudget.org/report_window.php?loc=Who-Pays-Low-and-Middle-Earners-in-Massachusetts-Pay-Larger-Share-of-their-Incomes-in-Taxes.html How do decades-old tax cuts affect our state today? The upside-down nature of our taxes were exacerbated by tax cuts from the late 1990s and early 2000s. These tax cuts, which today mean more than $4 billion in lost revenue per year, mostly helped the highest-income taxpayers. http://massbudget.org/report_window.php?loc=Income-Tax-Cuts-Cost-Massachusetts-Over-$4-Billion-Annually.html What are ways to help turn our tax system right-side up? But there are ways to turn our upside-down tax system right-side up. MassBudget explored 14 options that would not require changes to the State Constitution. http://massbudget.org/report_window.php?loc=14-Options-for-Raising-Progressive-Revenue.html For more information on the state's tax system and other policies that affect the lives of low- and middle-income people in Massachusetts, visit massbudget.org. Or follow us on Twitter or Facebook. 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 Sent by mrivera@massbudget.org in collaboration with Try it free today