What's happening Wednesday, May 1, 2024?

Wednesday, May 1

10:00am Veterans Coffee Social
5:30pm SAFE Gala
6:30pm Franklin Art Association

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Meeting schedule

Board of Health Meeting

Event Date:  Wednesday, May 1, 2024 - 5:00 pm

Conference Room, 3rd Floor

• audio recording by Franklin Matters/Franklin Public Radio for podcast later

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/boh_agenda_5.1.24_-_google_docs.pdf

Franklin Public Schools Comprehensive Facilities Planning Sub Committee Meeting

Event Date:  Wednesday, May 1, 2024 - 5:00 pm

3rd floor training room

• audio recording by Franklin Matters/Franklin Public Radio for podcast later

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/events/franklin_public_schools_comprehensive_facilities_planning_sub_committee_meeting.pdf

Economic Development Subcommittee

Event Date:  Wednesday, May 1, 2024 - 5:45 pm

Council Chambers

• broadcast via cable to Comcast 9, Verizon 29
• broadcast to YouTube at  http://bit.ly/43lBwVE 
• Zoom info - 5:45 pm  EDC  LIVE Chambers  see agenda doc

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/2024-05-01_edc_agenda_packet.pdf

Town Council Meeting

Event Date:  Wednesday, May 1, 2024 - 7:00 pm

Council Chambers

• broadcast via cable to Comcast 9, Verizon 29
• broadcast to YouTube at  http://bit.ly/43lBwVE 
• Zoom info - 7:00 pm Town Council  LIVE Chambers  see agenda doc

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/tc_agenda_5.1.24.pdf

What's happening Wednesday, May 1, 2024?

Why are there multiple calendars?

There is a Cultural events calendar upon which other community events are layered to create the Community calendar.

Respectfully, the Library and Senior Center calendars are too full of events to include all their events so we tend to focus on the major events. Town and School meetings are also kept separate. Links for all the calendars are shared here:

The Cultural calendar displays only the cultural events      https://www.franklinculture.org/things-do/pages/calendar

Find the full Community event calendar  https://www.franklinmatters.org/p/blog-page.html

Watch Listen Read for all the news that matters in Franklin, MA

Watch!  What’s on? Just go to Franklin●TV for our weekly program guide

Watch

• All-Access TV makes sure you have great seats at major Franklin events. Watch the Concerts on the Common, Holiday Celebrations, Parades, Events, Festivals and more – all on local TV. All-Access: We’re all about Franklin.
• Franklin Pride TV spotlights school events. When your kids win, you win. When your kids shine brightly, you beam with pride. If it takes a village to raise a child, then why not let the whole town watch? Celebrate their special moments. – We do. What’s better than bragging rights? Bragging rights on TV – Franklin Pride TV.
• Town Hall TV takes you inside local government. Franklin’s government sets the standard for open meetings. Town Hall TV offers more live, open coverage of more meetings than most community channels. If you want to know what’s happening in Franklin – as it happens – then Town Hall TV is definitely your channel.

All three channels also have programs available on YouTube

• All-Access TV ->  https://bit.ly/3JURLCl
• Franklin Pride TV  -> https://bit.ly/3JTQhYY
• Town Hall TV  -> http://bit.ly/43lBwVE

Listen!  wfpr●fm. or 102.9 on the local Franklin area fm radio dial

• Each week we feature local community conversations by your Franklin friends and neighbors, along with music that spans decades of memorable standards – and all that jazz. You can listen on-line 24/7 – anytime, anywhere – at our website: wfpr●fm.

  

  Franklin Public Radio

• If you have an idea for your own radio program or podcast, we can show you how and get you started. Join our great and growing group of public radio volunteers – our Radio Gang.
• Questions? Want to check out our studio? Just call – or email us at info@wfpr.fm We’d love to hear from you.

Read! If it matters to Franklin, it’s in Franklin Matters  

• Franklin Matters covers as many Town Council, School Committee, and other government meetings as possible; reporting on all the proceedings and details as each meeting progresses. 

  

  Franklin Matters

• Subscribe to the Franklin Matters Newsletter, delivered daily via email. It provides the TV & radio schedule Monday through Friday along with the meeting and event reporting over the past 24 hours. Spend a few  minutes a day to keep up with what matters in Franklin.  
• Visit www.franklin.news/ to subscribe

Earth day, earth month, conversation with Breeki Li, Ryan, Amy & Jamie leads to songs about weather (audio)

FM #1184 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1184 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen, Deputy Town Administrator Amy Frigulietti, Conservation Agent Breeki Li Goodlander and Recreation Director Ryan Jette on Monday, April 29, 2024.    

We get a very brief recap of current events (it’s all about the budget) and jump right into Earth Day and the other activities of the Conservation and Recreation departments

Conservation

• Projects more this year than last
• Friends of Conservation group forming

Recreation 

• Growth in participation 
• Field upgrades at Fletcher & King St
• Beaver Pond has a new kayak launch

We close out with discussion and laughter around the Top 35 songs about weather

 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Eu2npqGS0fH9N0Uc0iB5WCitoawIMFdJ/view?usp=drive_link 

Our conversation runs about 41 minutes.    Audio link -> https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/letstalkfranklin/episodes/Talk-Franklin--A-Podcast-from-the-Town-Administrators-Office---April-29--2024-e2j2h3e/a-ab7j5t3

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Contact info: for Jamie & Amy -> https://www.franklinma.gov/administrator 

Conservation page ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/conservation 

Recreation page ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/recreation-department 

Fact checking update:

• In 1969 at a UNESCO Conference in San Francisco, peace activist John McConnell proposed a day to honor the Earth and the concept of peace, to first be observed on March 21, 1970, the first day of spring in the northern hemisphere. This day of nature's equipoise was later sanctioned in a proclamation written by McConnell and signed by Secretary General U Thant at the United Nations. A month later, United States Senator Gaylord Nelson proposed the idea to hold a nationwide environmental teach-in on April 22, 1970. He hired a young activist, Denis Hayes, to be the National Coordinator. Nelson and Hayes renamed the event "Earth Day"  https://www.earthday.org/history/   

• The group garnered worldwide attention with 1987 album Diesel and Dust. Its singles "The Dead Heart" and "Beds Are Burning" illuminated the plight of indigenous Australians  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midnight_Oil 

YouTube playlist of the "weather songs" ->

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLL2XKlvMgLAnp1WMUR3vAtWNuAJ6ziK1d&si=tNTGfeWOCn7JAKPw

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

Earth day, earth month, conversation with Breeki Li, Ryan, Amy & Jamie leads to songs about weather (audio)

School Budget Subcmte get preview of potential fee increases for buses, activities & sports (audio)

The School Committee Budget Subcommittee met as scheduled on Tuesday, April 30, 2024 at 6:00 PM. The started late, left just before 7 PM and hence the full Committee meeting started a little late.

The agenda doc ->

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/events/franklin_public_schools_budget_sub_committee_meeting.pdf

Download the PDF  handout of fee increases ->

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-9L1xop0J7YXYmy9K0rcb0cuMehLj9gy/view?usp=drive_link

My notes captured during the meeting

• Chair David McNeill opens meeting at 6:09 PM, business meeting public invited with watch listen, to participate at discretion of the chair
• Recap of the 4/24 Joint Meeting by Supt Giguere. Coordinated with OCPF to get opinion on videos prepared, can host, can't send directly
• Once the TA FY 2025 budget was released, they could work toward how to cover the shortfall ($6.3m) if the override is not approved by the Town Council, or if approved but does not pass the community vote. Some fee increases, anticipating approx 30 FTE...
• Reduction of supplies within buildings across the board, stipends, mentor, etc. $4.7m reductions after the fee increases. 30 FTE is a significant reduction, negative impact to quality of education, class size, offerings, extra curricular activities, etc.
• The model was put forward, if any variation, that would require an adjustment somewhere else in the budget
• No decisions have been made on positions or roles specifically, they will continue to look at the numbers as the scenario develops/evolves (i.e. override yes and what the # might be)
• Potential use of retirement to help balance but that position is removed ... A loss to the district if the position is not filled
• Fee increases proposed were designed to self fund the program, not to generate additional revenue to be used overall (can't be done anyway). The natural area to look at is class size, then to the required programs looking at electives and AP classes, can't charge for an ...AP course, can only charge for the AP exam.
• Even with fee increases to meet the purpose, as astronomical as they appear, they don't help alleviate the other cuts. Largest expense for the district is staff, period. So reducing expenses means reducing staff
• Athletics first, total cost for each sport, then worked to get to a cost per student, divided into tier, largest cost tier 1
• All programs for athletics is about $1m; approx $400k from fees currently, $600k balance previously covered by budget ...
• Tier 1 fees approx $1k, tier 2 at about $600, tier 3 at about $350 Does include post season costs assuming teams were successful enough to gain that.
• Attrition could be seen at the JV and subJV levels affecting the varsity level at some point with talent feed/development
• Transportation currently at $600 could go to $1100/per to self funding this program. Even with an override, transportation fees may rise anyway to keep pace with cost
• 20% increase for ECDC anticipated, IEP students do not pay, building use rental increase of 5% projected tier level of support required
• Possible parking fee, $125/vehicle to manage overall parking process
• Model can be posted, didn't want to get ahead of the guidance of the subcmte
• Motion to adjourn, passes 3-0
  

Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1185-fps-budget-subcmte-mtg-04-30-24

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

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 Budget Subcmte get preview of potential fee increases for buses, activities & sports (audio)

School Committee listens to a lot of "we need more time" comments (video)

The Franklin, MA School Committee met as scheduled on Tuesday, April 30, 2024. The Council Chambers were overflowing, more than 200 were reported on Zoom, with another 200 via YouTube.

Franklin TV Video link -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mWz6ewelhGo

Agenda doc ->   https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/sc_special_mtg._agenda_-_4_25_24.pdf

Meeting packet folder - location of all docs released for this meeting (note some posted after the session) ->

https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/april-30-2024-school-committee-meeting-packet

My notes captured via Twitter in one PDF file ->   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1buTL7pQsslK3bG2emGvAR3tHvoVsQ4vV/view?usp=drive_link

Photos of  the slide presentation ->  https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZogkwQrk91uVQxNm9

Supt Giguere, Dr Fran Locker, Ms Kate Jessup

Frank Presents: Jay Elias, Part 1 & Part 2 on end of life planning (video)

Jay Elias, General Counsel with the Dyer-Lake Funeral Home in North Attleboro spends time with Frank Falvey over two episodes talking about end of life planning, health care proxies, etc.

Part 1 ->  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kMdb5yuvA8

Part 2 ->  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6aET8hG-YU

Frank Presents: Jay Elias, Part 1 & Part 2 on end of life planning (video)

SAFE Gala - May 1 - Event Details!

Hey there!   We are thrilled to host our 2nd annual SAFE Coalition Gala tomorrow evening at the Lakeview Pavilion in Foxborough starting at 5:30pm!   A few details in preparation for the celebration:   Address: 45 Lakeview Rd. Foxborough, MA 02035 Time: 5:30pm - 9:00pm Parking: Lakeview Pavilion has free parking at the venue Check In: Our amazing volunteers will check you in as you enter!   What to expect: FABULOUS Raffle Items! Tickets are 10 for $25, 20 for $40. Signed Patriot items, SOLO stove, salon packages and over 15 more items! Cocktail Hour: Enjoy meeting friends and making connections from 5:30pm - 6:30pm Meet with former New England Patriots Player Rob Ninkovitch! LIVE AUCTION: 4 incredible items...read more below! One example of the Multiple LIVE auction Items: Viva Las Vegas!   Tucked away between the MGM Grand and Planet Hollywood, the Carriage House is the ideal Las Vegas hotel off the "strip". Enjoy comfortable accommodations, convenient in-room features and amenities including complimentary wifi and parking, an outdoor heated pool, and a fitness room!   *Accommodations for 4-6 adults, 2 bedroom suite, subject to availability for exchange in 2024, airfare not included. We are excited to celebrate another year with all of you!   Interested in joining us tomorrow? Tickets are still available! https://pp.events/safegala2024 Warmly, The SAFE Team  Our Contact Information SAFE Coalition 31 Hayward St., Suite 2C Franklin, MA 02038-0434 508-488-8105 http://www.safecoalitionma.org DONATE

350 Mass Greater Franklin Node: Meeting, Thursday, May 2, 2024

The 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node will hold our next meeting this week, Thursday, May 2, 2024, 7:00-9:00 pm. 

 

This will be a HYBRID meeting: you can attend in person, or join on Zoom.  

 

Location of the in-person meeting: First Universalist Society in Franklin, 262 Chestnut Street, Franklin. 

 

OPTION:     

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81930304274?pwd=Tm9VdGxYcDFaVTVDUkwyT3YvUnlFdz09             

Meeting ID: 819 3030 4274

Passcode: 350ma

Dial-in +1 646 876 9923

As usual, we will share information about 350 Mass, and discuss and plan for local and state activities. 

350 Mass Greater Franklin Node: Meeting, Thursday, May 2, 2024

Attendees at our Node meeting will share developments in their cities and towns.

IMPORTANT Legislative Update: Call/email your legislators to push our bills, using our BRAND NEW TOOLKIT! It's very informative, giving you everything you need to know. Please take these actions this week and next week.

For more news about ongoing and upcoming events, please sign up for the Climate Weekly email. Also, check out upcoming events on our website. 

 

We look forward to another informative and action-oriented Node meeting. We hope you can join us, in person or on Zoom. We will send a reminder on Thursday.

 

Our next meeting after this week will be the 3rd Thursday of the month, May 16. 

 

Thank you. 

 

Node Co-coordinators,

Carolyn Barthel
Ralph Halpern

Ralph Halpern
ralph.halpern@comcast.net
781-784-3839 (h)

339-203-5017