Sunday, May 2, 2021

FM #527 - Finance Cmte Budget Hearing #2 - 04/28/21 (audio)

The meeting was conducted in a hybrid format: members of the Finance Committee, selected guests, and Town Administration personnel were in the Council Chambers, the remainder were remote along with the public via the Zoom conference bridge, all to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

The show notes contain links to the meeting agenda including documents released for this agenda. 

Let’s listen to this budget hearing on "Public Safety"

Audio file = https://player.captivate.fm/episode/bf3786c3-b901-4478-8bba-2808a097615f

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  • Town budget page for FY 2022

https://www.franklinma.gov/town-budget/pages/fy-22-budget-materials
  • My notes from the meeting
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/05/recap-fincomm-budget-hearing-2-042821.html

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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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FM #527 - Finance Cmte Budget Hearing #2 - 04/28/21 (audio)
FM #527 - Finance Cmte Budget Hearing #2 - 04/28/21 (audio)


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Franklin Senior Center: CONNECTION NEWSLETTER for May 2021

CONNECTION NEWSLETTER

Your Monthly Franklin Senior Center Newsletter

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Tri-County RVTHS Carpentry Students Renovating Wrentham Common Gazebo

Students have been able to gain some real-world experience as they renovate the gazebo in the center of Wrentham. The junior and senior students and their instructor, Jeremy Barstow, have been working on replacing all of the trim and roofing and repairing structural framing. They hope to have the roof finished by the end of this year.  Barstow comments, “The roof is a traditional cedar shingle system which is a labor-intensive process. It is an excellent opportunity for the students to work with one of the classic roofing materials.” 

Chad Lovett, Director of Facilities for the Town of Wrentham, reached out to Tri-County for the renovation.  The students have been working on the renovation for a few months now. “This is a great project for our students with a lot of unique detailed work. It will certainly push our students to grow as carpenters while having a lot of fun. The students are learning skills they can apply after graduation and are proud to be part of a build project that will be enjoyed by the community for many years to come,” says Jeremy Barstow, Carpentry Instructor.

For more about Tri-County visit them online -> https://www.tri-county.us/

Tri-County RVTHS Carpentry Students Renovating Wrentham Common Gazebo
Tri-County RVTHS Carpentry Students Renovating Wrentham Common Gazebo


 

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Recap - FinComm - Budget Hearing #3 - All DPW, and we find they they lose 2 positions in FY 2022

Quick Recap:

  • Interesting twist instead of the formal line by line budget discussion of prior nights, DPW taking 2 people out of budget to bring in a balanced line as the stormwater fee apparently is NOT being considered for next year
  • 3rd party peer review for Beaver St interceptor being funded to make sure costs and plans are good
  • State target for per capita water usage 65 gals per person per day, we're at 42 and doing well
  • Even with new pump station coming online, the DEP permit will still require water conservation measures. And that is not considering the drought status

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As with most meetings in this pandemic period, I took my notes via Twitter during the meeting reporting in real-time via the virtual session.

 

The Twitter hashtag can be found online  #fincom0429

https://twitter.com/search?q=%23fincom0429&src=typed_query 


Photos captured during the meeting and shared via Twitter can be found in one album https://photos.app.goo.gl/b2kW9RphygWgWoxZ6


The agenda for this meeting can be found

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/_2021-04-29_finance_committee_agenda_.pdf 


  • Finance Committee meeting coming up at 6:30 - Part 3 of 4 - Time for all things  Dept of Public Works; Highway, Grounds, Central Motors, Solid Waste and Stormwater!  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/_2021-04-29_finance_committee_agenda_.pdf   #fincom0429
  • To follow along, page 75 of Appendix A1 for DPW and all it does! #fincom0429 
  • Finding out that the DPW is cutting personnel in their budget - that wasn't clear in anything heard previously!
  • Interesting twist instead of the formal line by line budget discussion of prior nights, a few eye openers #fincom0429 DPW taking 2 people out of budget to bring in a balance line as the stormwater fee apparently is NOT being considered for next year
  • #fincom0429 instead of making it about big bad phosphorus, or the Charles (isn't that in Boston). Street sweeping, catch basin cleaning, lots of really glamorous work is required to handle the stormwater and better ground water as we are a ground water aquifer user
  • This is infrastructure, we need it, don't we really have bigger 'fish to fry?' #fincom0429 current nonprofit entities (Dean College) don't pay anything, government (Post office) don't pay, both would pay their "fair" share under the utility fee (sometime)
  • Long discussion, can't reasonably do justice via this format. #fincom0429  George calculated $14/q and Franklin Village would be roughly $4,000/q... Will go back to the Jan 2020 meeting recording to help remind folks of what they said then.
  • Stormwater conversation ends (finally) #fincom0429 now going to the DPW line by line street lights, p 86; solid waste p 87 (actually the recycling center) the remainder of solid waste is an enterprise fund
  • Recycling needs to be looked at, it may be cheaper to burn as opposed to years a go recycling would earn us money #fincom0429 3rd party peer review for Beaver St interceptor being funded to make sure costs and plans are good. Per capita 65 gals per person per day, we're at 42
  • Request for additional percentage amounts Motion to adjourn, second, passes 7-0   That's all for tonight, catch you next Tue, May 4 for the schools budget #fincom0429
  • Oops forgot to add #fincom0429

 

FinCom member Susan Dewsnap
FinCom member Susan Dewsnap

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Franklin Veterans - May 2021 - Coffee Social (in person at Senior Center)

May 2021 Coffee Social

In-Person Social at the Senior Center - All Vets Are Welcome!

Hello Veterans!
May has sneaked up on us! This means it's time for us to meet next week for another in-person Coffee Social. Our Zoom socials were fine over the last year, but seeing everyone in-person last month was so much better!

PLEASE JOIN US!
  • When: Wednesday, May 5, 10:00 hours
  • Where: Franklin Senior Center Multi-Purpose Room
  • Details: Face masks that cover the nose and mouth will be required and we will observe social distancing at the gathering.
Once again, we ask that you pre-register for the Social by emailing me to say you plan to attend. This will help us calculate how much space we'll need and how many tables to set up.

As always, we'll mention upcoming veterans' events and refreshments will be provided by our wonderful friends at Starbucks!

Feel free to pass the word along or bring other veterans with you whose contact info we don't have.

Hope to see you next week!

Shared from Town of Franklin page ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/veterans-services/news/may-2021-coffee-social

Franklin Veterans - May 2021 - Coffee Social (in person at Senior Center)
Franklin Veterans - May 2021 - Coffee Social (in person at Senior Center)


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10th Annual FBRTC Virtual Race – 5K run or walk 2021 May 22 - May 31

Hello all!

The month of May is here which means our virtual 5k is just around the corner! Attached in this email is all the information you need to register for the event. Follow the link to sign up and get your free neck gaiter. 

Also please forward this to all your friends and family to sign up as well! You can walk or run from anywhere! We will mail the neck gaiter to anyone outside the area so forward it to Aunt Sally in Florida or Uncle George in California! We have a limited number of gaiters so don't be left out! 

Help us to make this a successful fundraiser for the SNETT!

Thanks so much for your support!

Sue Rheaume 
FBRTC Race committee 

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10th Annual FBRTC Virtual Race – 5K run or walk 2021 May 22 - May 31
10th Annual FBRTC Virtual Race – 5K run or walk 2021 May 22 - May 31



Greetings!!

Registration is now open for the 10th Annual FBRTC 5K Run or Walk.  

Participants can run (or walk) ANY 5k course they choose (trail or road). But there will be some directions on the SNETT trail from the Grove St trailhead as to start/turn-around/finish locations for those that want to run this on the SNETT trail  (which is the beneficiary of the race) during the time period when the race is "open" (May 22-31).

Here are the details: 
  • Entry Fee:  Runners $20, Walkers $15
  • There will be a WALKER division (no timed results or awards)
  • Race divisions will be Male Open (49 and under), Female Open (49 and under),
  • Male Senior (50+) and Female Senior (50+)
  • Each Male and Female division winner will receive a gift certificate from 67 Degrees Brewing (158 Grove St, Franklin)
  • Race give-aways (guaranteed for participants who register by April 30, and to all others as availability allows) will be neck gaiter/buff which will be distributed from 67 Degrees during the race "open" period (May 22-31) during their regular hours. See the web site: www.67degreesbrewing.com
  • Additional Info Available at www.tri-valleyfrontrunners.com

More Info: 

This will be a VIRTUAL 5k Race. The "date" of the race will be Memorial Day, Monday, May 31, 2021, but participants can submit results of runs from anytime between Saturday, May 22 until the end of the day on May 31 (when registration will also close)

We look forward to you joining us at 67 Degrees Brewing and on the Roads or Trails!  


Thank you,

Mark Capparella 

FBRTC 5K Race Director
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Gov Baker revised mask order

Charlie Baker (@MassGovernor) tweeted Fri, Apr 30, 2021:

Our revised mask order is effective today: Masks are no longer required outdoors when social distancing is possible.

Masks remain required at indoor public places and at events except when eating or drinking.

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