What should Franklin look like in 2028?

Why 2028? 

That would be the 250 year anniversary of the creation of Franklin separating from Wrentham. You likely recall the story that it was originally to be called Exeter but on the way to Boston, they changed the name to Franklin to honor the work of Benjamin Franklin. When the founding fathers asked Ben for a bell to toll in his name, he responded with a bunch of books and hence our library, the first public library in the nation was formed.

We have this legacy to live with and keep up. 

2028 is only 9 years away. It will be here before we know it. Hence, there is no time like the present to start thinking about what the town should look like. How it should operate?

School Superintendent Sara Ahern is working on "A Portrait of a Graduate". What should a graduate of FHS be prepared with to enter the working world? What skills and qualifications will they need that we need to develop during their educational years here. Input has been sought for this across many stakeholders and community members. I know because I was able to participate in a workshop earlier this year. 

The school start times planning has moved from the Advisory Committee to the Schools Central Office to continue to work out the details of a proposal. This will have a domino affect through out the community if the proposal is approved.

We also have significant budget challenges. The schools cut positions while raising and introducing fees to balance their side of the budget for this year (FY 2020). The town side cut road money (among other items) to bring the budget into balance for this year. 

Next year's budget (FY 2021) will be more challenging. There will need to be significant cuts on both sides unless the voters/residents step up to provide additional funding.

• How are we going to repair our roads? 
• How are we going to maintain or advance our fire, police, and DPW services?
• How are we going to provide services to our growing community? 
• And of course, how are we going to fund the schools to give our children the best they can get to prepare them for the world of 2028 and beyond?

We can do something now. The biennial Town Election is coming up November 5, we should make sure to select those with the vision and the willingness to work on where we need to be in 2028.

We need good people to help lead us forward. Who are they? Who will we select to lead us through the budget maze? Will they foster honest, and civil discussions on hard topics?

Talk to the candidates. 
They are your neighbors. Find out what they want to do. Find out how they are going to get us to 2028.

And then vote on November 5. 




Find more information on the Franklin Election Nov 5, 2019 in the "election collection"  
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/07/franklin-election-collection-2019.html 

This is an updated version of what was originally published in 2017
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/11/what-will-franklin-be-like-in-2028.html

What should Franklin look like in 2028?

Candidates taking papers, room for more on the Franklin Biennial ballot

The listing of the 17 candidates who have taken out papers to run for the open positions on the Franklin Biennial Election is provided via Town Clerk, Teresa Burr. There are 28 seats open so there is plenty of room for additional candidates. The listing will be updated weekly to provide the 'scorecard' of who's taken papers, who's turned them in, etc.

It is good to see new candidates appearing. I met one at the Farmers Market on Friday where he was gathering signatures. He had acquired over 50 by the time I met him so if other candidates are looking for signatures, the Market on the Town Common on Friday afternoons is a good place!

Download your copy from here
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1815QtLDoEKjeaACekubo667H8I4Yg3dv/view?usp=sharing

Find more information on the Franklin Election Nov 5, 2019 in the "election collection"  
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/07/franklin-election-collection-2019.html 

Farmers Market at the Town Common on a nice summer Friday afternoon

MBTA Commuter Rail: Franklin Line Weekend Shuttle Service Sep 7 through Nov 24, 2019

Weekends, Sept 7- Nov 24, Franklin Train service is replaced by free buses between Forge Park/495 and Readville for a Fairmount Line connection while PTC is installed. There will be no service at Back Bay, Ruggles, Endicott, Islington and Norwood Depot.

Please visit https://www.mbta.com/FRKwork for more details about bus shuttle schedules. Visit MBTA.com/PTC for more information on how this project will improve commuter rail safety and travel.

There will be no Franklin line service at Back Bay and Ruggles stations on weekends. Please travel to South Station to reach a Franklin Line station. If you are travelling inbound, please board a Worcester/Framingham line Train for direct connection to Back Bay or a Providence/Stoughton line Train for a direct connection to Back Bay or Ruggles.

We also recommend the subway: board the Red Line at South Station and transfer to the Orange Line at Downtown Crossing to reach Back Bay or Ruggles.

Due to proximity of adjacent stations, bus shuttles will not serve Endicott, Islington and Norwood Depot stations:

• Endicott station customers, please use Readville or Dedham Corp stations.
• Islington station customers, please use Dedham Corp station.
• Norwood Depot customers, please use Norwood Central or Dedham Corp station.

8:40 PM and 10:40 PM departures from Forge Park as well as 11:20 PM departure from South Station will be accommodated by a bus for the entire trip between South Station and Forge Park (including the portion between South Station and Readville).

Additional weekends may be added to the train service suspension between Forge Park/495 and Readville as work progresses on the Franklin line.

Thank you for your patience while we improve the signal system on your Commuter Rail line.

For more information: https://www.mbta.com/FRKwork


Last Updated: Aug 09 2019 01:57 PM
https://mbta.com/schedules/CR-Franklin/alerts

MBTA Commuter Rail: Franklin Line Weekend Shuttle Service Sep 7 through November 24, 2019

"would ban virtually all hand-held electronic device use by drivers"

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

"Conference committee leaders remained tight-lipped about their private negotiations on distracted-driving legislation a week after an apparent deal fell apart.

In separate interviews with the News Service, both state Rep. William Straus, D-Mattapoisett, and state Sen. Joseph Boncore, D-Winthrop, who together chair the six-member conference committee, said they are still discussing the long-sought bill but declined to put a timeline on when their work may be complete.

“We’re going to continue to discuss it between the chairs,” Boncore said. He described himself as “confident” that a deal would be reached soon, but noted talks would last “as long as it takes.”

Straus said the conferees “have never stopped being in communication with each other,” despite the collapse of an apparent consensus last week."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190809/no-timeline-for-distracted-driving-deal

Upcoming Events in Franklin, MA: FRI - Aug 9 to THU - Aug 15

Fri Aug 9, 2019

7:30pm	"Footloose"
10am	Knitting Group
10:30am	SUMMER HAPPY FEET!
10:30am	SUMMER PROGRAM: Happy Feet!
12pm	Farmers Market
1pm	SUMMER PROGRAM: Farmer's Market Fun!
7:30pm	"Footloose"

Sat Aug 10, 2019

10am	Franklin Historical Museum (Always free)
10:30am	SUMMER PERFORMER: Greg and Axel
8pm	The Delta Generators

Sun Aug 11, 2019

1pm	Franklin Historical Museum (always free)
1:10pm	The Fashions of Downton Abbey

Mon Aug 12, 2019

10:30am	SUMMER MOVE ALONG (outside if permitting, otherwise in Community Room)
1pm	SUMMER PROGRAM: Picnic Storytime (CALEIGH) Lorelai and Grace!

Tue Aug 13, 2019

9:30am	Cool Cruisers
4pm	TEEN SUMMER Code It!
6:30pm	Documentary Film Series
7pm	Debi Graham-Leard Author Talk & Book Signing
7pm	School Committee meeting
7:30pm	Franklin Bellingham Rail Trail Committee Public Meeting

Wed Aug 14, 2019

10:30am	SUMMER PERFORMER: Journey to the Moon Puppet Show (Community Room)
4pm	SUMMER Crafternoon!
6pm	Concerts on the Common: Mike Rutkowski
6pm	Zentangle 101
6:30pm	Concerts on the Common: Southbound Train
6:30pm	Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
6:30pm	Teen Advisory Board
7pm	Town Council Meeting

Thu Aug 15, 2019

9:30am	Baby Tummy Time
3:30pm	TEEN SUMMER Board Game Cafe!
5pm	Franklin Historical Museum (always free)
5pm	SUMMER Thursday Movie Night
6:30pm	Canning, Freezing, and Dehydrating with Blackstone Valley Veggies Gardens

For the interactive version, please visit

https://www.franklinmatters.org/p/blog-page.html

For the Town of Franklin Public Meeting Calendar

https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar

Submit an event for the Community Calendar, please use this link

https://www.franklinculture.org/things-do/links/submit-event

Upcoming Events in Franklin, MA: FRI - Aug 9 to THU - Aug 15

Franklin Election 2019: What does the Board of Health do?

From the Annual Report of 2018 is this brief section on the Board of Health:

"The three-member elected Board of Health is the policy making arm for the Health Department. The board members assist in the drafting of public health bylaws and regulations, and review all site plans for compliance with local and state public health regulations. The board presides over administrative hearings in all matters concerning Health Department licensed and permitted activities. Board members are available for consultation on issues relative to the public health as well."

Two positions are up for election on November 5 for a 4 year term. The other position will be up for election in 2 years. This staggers the membership to maintain institutional knowledge.

What does the Health Department do?

"The Franklin Health Department is charged with protecting the public health and well-being of the community, in accordance with federal, state and local public health laws and regulations. 

The Franklin Health Department's responsibilities include inspecting and permitting new and repaired/upgraded individual septic systems, witnessing percolation testing, biannual inspections of all food service and retail food establishments, investigating complaints of public health nuisances, enforcement of the state sanitary code relative to housing, licensing of children's recreational camps, inspection of semi-public swimming pools and spas, tanning salon and manicure/pedicure establishment inspections. The Health Department also issues permits for individual private drinking water and irrigation wells."

State Required Duties of the Board of Health can be found here 
http://www.franklinma.gov/health-department/pages/state-required-duties-board-health

The Board of Health can be found on the Town of Franklin page
https://www.franklinma.gov/health-department


Find more information on the Franklin Election Nov 5, 2019 in the "election collection"  
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/07/franklin-election-collection-2019.html 

Franklin Election 2019: What does the Board of Health do?

“This vote represents a serious misinterpretation of FCC authority"

From the Mass Municipal Association we find the news about the recent FCC order. Exactly how this plays out and what it means for Franklin TV and to the Town of Franklin budget process remains to be seen.

"On Aug. 1, the Federal Communications Commission ruled, by a 3-2 vote, that cable-related, in-kind contributions required by local franchising authorities from cable operators are in fact franchise fees subject to the statutory 5% cap.

The FCC ruled that the definition of “in-kind, cable-related contributions” includes “any non-monetary contributions … including but not limited to free or discounted cable service to public buildings, costs in support of PEG [Public, Educational and Governmental] access other than capital costs, and costs attributable to the construction of I-Nets. It does not include the costs of complying with build-out and customer service requirements.”

The FCC’s Third Report and Order on Cable Franchising Fees largely adopts the tentative conclusions of the Second Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, issued last September. The decision runs counter to the flood of concerns the FCC received during the public comment period about its tentative conclusions.

The National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors said the Aug. 1 ruling “provides a windfall to largely monopoly cable companies on the backs of local communities,” adding that the commission “decided to drastically rewrite federal law and wipe out 35 years of cable franchise agreements that had been negotiated based on mutual understanding of what the law meant.”

Continue reading the article online
https://www.mma.org/fcc-order-preempts-terms-in-existing-cable-franchise-agreements/

“This vote represents a serious misinterpretation of FCC authority"