Friday, March 24, 2023

School Committee explores details on the FPS Superintendent's recommended budget for FY 2024 (audio & video)

FM #963 - 964 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 963 - 964 in the series. 


This session shares the Franklin, MA School Committee meeting held on Tuesday, March 21, 2023. The meeting was conducted in the Council Chambers with all seven members present. 


School Committee Chair Denise Spencer opens the meeting at 7:02 PM. 


Key items on the agenda

  • Recognition of several FHS students

  • Parmenter Elementary update & presentation

  • Superintendent's recommended budget for FY 2024

The show notes contain a link to the full agenda and to my notes & photos captured via Twitter during the meeting. 


The Committee entered Executive Session on a negotiation discussion and did return to public meeting. I did not capture that portion of the meeting.


The recording runs about three hours, thirty four minutes, so let’s listen to the Franklin School Committee on March 21, 2023.


I split the audio into two sections


  • #963 - Part 1 - covers the opening of meeting, FHS student recognitions, Parmenter presentation (less the musical audio segment - approx 5 minutes), and then the closing of the meeting after the budget presentation (net of 1 hour and 25 minutes)


  • #964 - Part 2 - the entirety of the budget presentation  (2 hours) 

Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-964-fps-school-cmte-mtg-03-21-23-p2




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School Committee page -> https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-committee 


The agenda for this meeting can be found

 https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/scagenda_3-21-23-rescheduled.pdf 


The Packet folder contains the documents released for this meeting.

https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/march-21-2023-school-committee-meeting-packet-31423-was-canceled-due 


My notes captured via Twitter and compiled into one PDF doc ->

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1M6IGtXDw0VLVnIMOjr4XvMpAguwCEGWg/view?usp=share_link


YouTube video link for this meeting -> https://youtu.be/h2SITbmEoG8


Presentation documents now available:


Photos from the meeting (mostly screen shots of the presentations not yet posted to the packet folder)  



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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial


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

 

How can you help?

  • If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

  • If you don't like something here, please let me know


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

 

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news/


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!

------------------


You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"


School Committee explores details on the FPS Superintendent's recommended budget for FY 2024 (audio)
School Committee explores details on the FPS Superintendent's recommended budget for FY 2024 (audio)

Empower with Gardening 2023 - order your raised bed now

Hello community! It's that time of year again for VFJ Renovations: #empowerwithgardening 2023!

For the 4th year, we will be making cedar raised garden beds and the profits will be donated to a non-profit organization that supports mental health wellness and education. Order deadline is Friday, April 28, and we hope to have the garden beds delivered by Mother's Day. We plan to make only 30 beds, so get your orders in early!!

Pictures and pricing can be found on our website and order form.

Thanks for your interest and supporting our initiative! www.vfjrenovations.com

Order form ->





Empower with Gardening 2023 - order your raised bed now
Empower with Gardening 2023 - order your raised bed now

Space Needs & Facilities Assessment Subcommittee - March 27, 2023 at 5:45 (hybrid)

Space Needs & Facilities Assessment Subcommittee

March 27, 2023  --   5:45 P.M
Municipal Building - 3rd Floor Training Room
A G E N D A 
"The listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law."
 ● Discuss Redistricting data

Space Needs & Facilities Assessment Subcommittee - March 27, 2023 at 5:45 (hybrid)
Space Needs & Facilities Assessment Subcommittee - March 27, 2023 at 5:45 (hybrid)

Mark your calendar to help with Earth Day cleanup at Beaver Pond - April 22, 2023

For over 20 years the Town of Franklin has conducted this event in an effort to educate the public on recycling, beautification and general clean up. Help us clean our local parks, roads, schools and town greenery! 
Meet at Beaver Pond parking lot on Saturday, April 22, 9:00 AM where we will distribute trash bags, gloves and maps with clean up sites. 
Free tree saplings will be distributed.
Register today: https://tinyurl.com/28jjfztx

Franklin Electronics Recycling Event - April 1, 2023 from 9 AM to 2 PM

Join us for our annual Electronics Recycling Event Saturday, April 1, 2023 from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. We are accepting ALL electronics, appliances, and bikes!
St. Mary's Church - former Benjamin Franklin School Parking Lot 201 Main Street Franklin, MA
The event will be held in the former Benjamin Franklin School parking lot, across the street from the church. All electronics, appliances, items with a plug and/or batteries, as well as bicycles in any condition will be accepted and recycled for a small cost as follows:
Cost to You:
• $5 each for Computers, Laptops, Video Game Consoles, DVD Players, VCR’s, Small Printers, Radios, Speakers, Table Lamps, Fans, Hair Dryers, Curling Irons, Projectors, Drills, Digital Cameras, Clocks, Trophies, Frying Pans and Cookware, Holiday Lights, Other Small Electronics.
• $10 each for Vacuum Cleaners/Roomba, Toaster Ovens, Ceiling Fans, Floor Lamps, Air Fryers, Electric Grills, Hot Plates, Small Radiators, Keyboard Pianos, Coffee Makers, Ice Makers, Small Household Appliances
• $15 each for Flat Screen Computer Monitors, Small Microwaves
• $20 each for CRT Computer Monitors, TVs up to 24,” Dorm Sized Refrigerators, Dehumidifiers, Air Conditioners, Water Coolers, Large Printers/Copiers, Heat Lamps, Heaters, Propane Tanks (Empty), Range-Top/Large Microwaves
• $25 each for TVs between 25” and 31,” Washing Machines, Dryers, Stoves, Dishwashers, Large Appliances, Outdoor Grills, Treadmills, Exercise Equipment, Snow Blowers, Lawn Mowers, Rototillers, Power Washers, Large Yard Equipment, Water Tanks
• $30 each for TVs between 32” and 35,” Large Refrigerators, Ride-On Lawn Mowers
• $35 each for TVs over 36”
• $40 each for Projection TVs
• NO CHARGE (Cash Donation Recommended): Cell Phones, Bicycles in any condition, Wires, Cables, Chargers, Car Batteries, Household Batteries Keyboards, Tablets.

Residents from all towns are welcome to recycle. The event will be rain or shine. Computer hard drives will be destroyed during the recycling process, but can be removed on-site at the event for an additional charge. Cash payment is preferred, but checks will be an acceptable form of payments over $30.
For more information, Email GreenDayRecyclingMA@Gmail.com

Franklin Electronics Recycling Event - April 1, 2023 from 9 AM to 2 PM
Franklin Electronics Recycling Event - April 1, 2023 from 9 AM to 2 PM


DATE AND LOCATION CLARIFICATION - SPRUCE POND NOTICE OF INTENT - APRIL 6 CONSERVATION COMMISSION MEETING

Public Hearing for Notice of Intent filed for Spruce Pond will be on April 6, not March 22

The Conservation Commission Public Hearing for a Notice of Intent filed by SOLitude Lake Management will first begin at the April 6, 2023 Conservation Commission meeting at 7:00pm.  It is NOT on the agenda for the March 22 Conservation Commission meeting, which the March 23 meeting has been rescheduled to. 

Copies of the Notice of Intent can be emailed to anyone who makes a request, and can also be viewed at the Conservation Department in the Municipal Building on 355 East Central Street.

Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/conservation/news/date-and-location-clarification-spruce-pond-notice-intent-april-6-conservation

SPRUCE POND NOTICE OF INTENT - APRIL 6 CONSERVATION COMMISSION MEETING
SPRUCE POND NOTICE OF INTENT - APRIL 6 CONSERVATION COMMISSION MEETING

Reminder: Franklin Bellingham Rail Trail Ribbon Cutting - March 25 - 11 AM

On March 25 at 11 AM, residents of Franklin and Bellingham will gather for an exciting event – the ribbon cutting ceremony for the newly resurfaced section of the Southern New England Rail Trail (SNETT). This project has been a long time in the making, and the community is eager to celebrate the completion of this important infrastructure upgrade.


Reminder: Franklin Bellingham Rail Trail Ribbon Cutting - March 25 - 11 AM
Reminder: Franklin Bellingham Rail Trail Ribbon Cutting - March 25 - 11 AM

Children’s Services at St John’s in Franklin and Grace Church in North Attleboro scheduled for April 2023

Your family is invited to join us for Children’s Services at St John’s in Franklin and Grace Church in North Attleboro.

Join us for a simple, informal service geared for children on Saturday evenings, including stories, crafts or other activities, easy fun songs, and a simple Eucharist (Communion) totaling about 30 minutes.

St John’s Episcopal Church, 237 Pleasant Street, Franklin on April 15 & 29
Grace Episcopal Church, 104 N Washington St, North Attleboro on April 1 & 22

For more information:
Call 508-528-2387 Email Rector@StJohnsFranklinMA.org
Like us on Facebook  and Twitter
See our website at www.stjohnsfranklinma.org  

What is your Franklin residence's "Walk score"?

Walkability is a concept and frequently mentioned in current discussion. There is a web site that calculates the "walkability" of an address. I have tried it and there are a couple of addresses I have share here. It is free to use so try addresses on your own. 
The overall walk score for the Town of Franklin is shown below as 22 (out of 100). And as the samples show, the average is purely that, an average. Some locations (Library) are higher than others (121 Grove) and High School (218 Oak St).
The web site calculates and provide the methodology for their results on the 'walk score', 'transit score' and 'bike score'. San Francisco, New York and Boston are the Top 3 walkable cities. Interesting to note that Franklin has no 'transit score'. Other than GATRA and Commuter Rail we really don't have a public transit option.
"City of Franklin Town

This location is in the city of Franklin Town, MA. Franklin Town has an average Walk Score of 22 and has 31,635 residents."



Franklin High School
Franklin High School


121 Grove St (site of a proposed 40B)
121 Grove St (site of a proposed 40B)



Franklin Library, 118 Main St
Franklin Library, 118 Main St


Franklin Health Department: Wellness Update - Drug & Alcohol Facts Week

It's Drug & Alcohol Facts Week 

One in 7 Americans report experiencing a substance use disorder. 

Learn about prevention & recovery: www.cdc.gov/stopoverdose


Franklin Health Department: Wellness Update - Drug & Alcohol Facts Week
Franklin Health Department: Wellness Update - Drug & Alcohol Facts Week

Franklin TV and wfpr.fm schedule for Friday, Mar 24, 2023

  • wfpr.fm or 102.9 on the FM dial = Friday

9:00a/12:00p /6:00p Chapters – Jim Derick  Insightful, life-affirming stories and interviews

10:00a/1:00p/7:00p Music to Lift the Spirit - Jim Derick & Frank Falvey

11:00a/2:00p/8:00pm Senior Story Hour – Senior Center Scribblers Group

  • Franklin All Access TV - Our Public Access Channel (Comcast 8, Verizon 26) = FRIDAY

9:00 am     Frank Presents: Caron Grupposo
11:00 am Senior Connection: Public Health
12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin: Brownies
12:30 pm Sandya: Crepes
1:00 pm     Drink Responsibly: La Cantina
1:30 pm     Pizzapalooza: Emergency Pizza
2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Fall 2019 Show 6
3:00 pm Winning Ways with the MIAA: Student Athletes
3:30 pm     Sons and Daughters of Italy: Carlo Geromini
7:00 pm     Matt York: Highway Men
8:30 pm Circle of Friends: Seth Glier

  • Franklin Pride TV - Our Educational Channel (Comcast 96, Verizon 28) = FRIDAY

7:00 am     Public School Concert: Strings School 05-16-16
8:30 am     It Takes A Village: Laurie Harrington
11:00 am FHS Girls Varsity Hockey: v Pembroke 03-02-23
1:30 pm     Public School Event: Annie Sullivan Winter Music 2022
3:00 pm FHS Boys Varsity Basketball: v Brockton 03-07-23
9:00 pm FHS Boys Varsity Hockey: v Marshfield 03-04-23

  • Franklin Town Hall TV - Our Government Channel (Comcast 11, Verizon 29) =  FRIDAY

8:00 am Zoning Board of Appeals: 03-02-23
2:00 pm Zoning Board of Appeals: 03-02-23


Get this week's program guide for Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) online  http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf   

Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm)
Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm)

Thursday, March 23, 2023

Conversation on Franklin's walkability & insights from Worcester (audio)

FM #962 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 962 in the series. 


This session of the radio show shares the audio recording of the housing and zoning discussion with Brad Chafee, Melanie Hamblen, Cobi Frongillo and Dean College Chancellor Ed Augustus


Brad, Melanie, Ed and I were in the Franklin TV Studio on Wednesday, March 15, 2023. Cobi joined us for the discussion via Zoom.


Consider this a continuation of the downtown zoning discussion from the “Franklin For All” project which is underway with review and discussion at the Economic Development Subcommittee Plus meetings that Melanie Chairs and for which Cobi is Vice-Chair.  


We were joined by Chancellor Ed Augustus for this session to include his insights as former Town Manager of Worcester, MA and the lessons from the Worcester experience that might be considered for Franklin. 


The recording of our conversation on zoning runs about 57 minutes. Let’s listen in.


Audio file ->  https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-962-walkability-worcester-insights-03-15-23


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Principles of walkability: useful, safe, comfortable, and interesting. Watch the TED Talk with Jeff Speck - https://www.ted.com/talks/jeff_speck_the_walkable_city


Jane Jacobs writer and activist on urban design wrote her book in 1961  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Death_and_Life_of_Great_American_Cities  


Center for Living City is an organization that continues in the spirit of her work ->    https://centerforthelivingcity.org/janejacobs/#jane-and-the-center


Other podcast episodes in this series:

4th discussion with Melanie and Cobi included Brad (FM #942) ->

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/02/listen-to-this-discussion-on-housing.html 


3rd discussion with Melanie and Cobi included Joel D’errico  (FM #922) ->

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/01/downtown-zoning-discussion-with-derrico.html 


2nd discussion with Melanie and Cobi in December (FM #904) -> 

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/12/downtown-zoning-discussion-with.html 


1st discussion on Franklin For All project -> (FM # 755) https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/03/this-franklin-for-all-discussion.html


--------------


We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.  


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


How can you help?

  • If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

  • If you don't like something here, please let me know


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


For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news/


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!

------------------


You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"


Conversation on Franklin's walkability & insights from Worcester (audio)
Conversation on Franklin's walkability & insights from Worcester (audio)