What's happening Sunday, April 28, 2024?

Sunday, April 28

1:00pm Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

1:15pm Armenian Genocide: history from a primary source

3:00pm Chaminade Club - Community Concert

What's happening Saturday, April 27, 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

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:  https://forms.gle/oPdi8X3ZbHHyrHzo6

The Library calendar of events ->    calendar link

The Senior Center calendar of events ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/node/39/events/month/39/2023-12

The Town meeting calendar is found  https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar
The School district calendar is found  https://www.franklinps.net/calendar-by-event-type/26 

The Franklin Art Association Art Gallery remains open for viewing (and purchasing the art displayed) during business hours at Escape into Fiction (Main St, Franklin)

Franklin, MA: Town Council Meeting Agenda for May 1, 2024 session

Franklin Town Council

Agenda & Meeting Packet

May 1, 2024 at 7:00 PM

Meeting will be held at the Municipal Building

2nd floor, Council Chambers 355 East Central Street 

1. ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE CHAIR

a. This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast channel 9 and Verizon Channel 29. This meeting may be recorded by others.

b. Chair to identify members participating remotely.

c. Upcoming Town Sponsored Community Events

2. CITIZEN COMMENTS

a. Citizens are welcome to express their views for up to three minutes on a matter that is not on the agenda. The Council will not engage in a dialogue or comment on a matter raised during Citizen Comments. The Town Council will give remarks appropriate consideration and may ask the Town Administrator to review the matter.

3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - None Scheduled

4. PROCLAMATIONS / RECOGNITIONS

a. Proclamation: Chris Stearns, Franklin TV 

b. Police Department - Introduction

i. Mental Health Clinician Caroline Ferris

5. APPOINTMENTS

a. Conservation Commission - Nicole Chiaramonte   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/con_com_appointment_-_nicole_chiaramonte_v2.pdf

6. PUBLIC HEARINGS - 7:00 PM - None Scheduled

7. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS - None Scheduled

8. PRESENTATIONS / DISCUSSION

a. Presentation: FY23 Financial Audit - Scott McIntire, Partner, Marcum LLP   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/8a._-_audit_for_presentation_-_franklin_ma_fs23_-_draft_v2.pdf

9. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION

a. Resolution 24-19: Override Pledge to the Citizens of Franklin

(Motion to Approve Resolution 24-19 - Majority Vote)

b. Resolution 24-20: Setting Date of Proposition 2 ½ Override Ballot

(Motion to Approve Resolution 24-20 - Majority Vote)   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/9b._resolution_24-20_-_override_ballot_date.pdf

c. Resolution 24-21: Proposition 2 ½ Override Ballot Question

(Motion to Approve Resolution 24-21 - Majority Vote)   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/9c._resolution_24-21_-_override_ballot_question.pdf

d. Resolution 24-22: Adoption of Fiscal Policies

(Motion to Approve Resolution 24-22 - Majority Vote)   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/24-22_-_adoption_of_fiscal_policies_v4.pdf

e. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 24-906: Changes to §185-3. Definitions, Mixed Use Development Definition - Referral to the Planning Board  (Motion to Refer Zoning Bylaw Amendment 24-906 to the Planning Board - Majority Vote)   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/24-906_907_908_-_3_zoning_bylaws.pdf

f. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 24-907: Changes to §185-21 Parking, Loading and Driveway Requirements, Elimination of Minimum Parking Requirements in Downtown Commercial Zoning District - Referral to the Planning Board

(Motion to Refer Zoning Bylaw Amendment 24-907 to the Planning Board - Majority Vote)   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/9f._bylaw_amendment_24-907.pdf

g. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 24-908: §185 Attachment 7. Part VI, Addition of Mixed Use Development to Use Regulation Schedule - Referral to the Planning Board (Motion to Refer Zoning Bylaw Amendment 24-908 to the Planning Board - Majority Vote)   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/9g._bylaw_amendment_24-908.pdf

h. Resolution 24-23: Acceptance of Gift - Town of Franklin ($300,000)

(Motion to Approve Resolution 24-23 - Majority Vote)   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/24-23_-_gift_acceptance_-_king_st._playground_0.pdf

i. Resolution 24-24: Acceptance of Gift of Trees - Town of Franklin

(Motion to Approve Resolution 24-24 - Majority Vote)  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/24-24_-_gift_acceptance_-_trees_trugreen_donation.pdf

j. Resolution 24-25: Acceptance of Gift - Conservation Commission ($50)

(Motion to Approve Resolution 24-25 - Majority Vote)   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/24-25_-_gift_acceptance_-_conservation_commission_0.pdf

10. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

11. SUBCOMMITTEE & AD HOC COMMITTEE REPORTS

a. Capital Budget Subcommittee

b. Economic Development Subcommittee

c. Budget Subcommittee

d. Master Plan Committee

e. Davis-Thayer Reuse Advisory Committee

f. Police Station Building Committee

g. GATRA Advisory Board

12. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

13. COUNCILOR COMMENTS

14. EXECUTIVE SESSION - None Scheduled

15. ADJOURN

Note: Two-Thirds Vote: requires 6 votes

Majority Vote: requires majority of members present and voting

The Agenda doc also contains remote participation info ->

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/town_council_may_1_2024_agenda.pdf

Franklin, MA: Town Council Meeting Agenda for May 1, 2024 session

Franklin, MA: Board of Health meeting scheduled for May 1, 2024 at 5:00 PM

BOARD OF HEALTH 

AGENDA

May 1, 2024 - 5 PM

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

● April 2024

NEW BUSINESS

● EA Shelter update

● Housing task force update

● Avian Flu update

● Metacomet shared service grant regional inspector report - April

● Metacomet shared service grant public health nurse report - April

● Metacomet shared service grant epidemiologist report - April

CITIZENS COMMENTARY

ADJOURNMENT

Agenda doc also contains remote participation info ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/boh_agenda_5.1.24_-_google_docs.pdf

Franklin, MA: Board of Health meeting scheduled for May 1, 2024 at 5:00 PM

Boston Globe recognizes O'Leary, Neeley, Paterson, DeForge & Dumas for WINTER 2023-24 ALL-SCHOLASTICS

The Boston Globe has published their All-Scholastics selection for the Winter Sports season 2023-2024. The FHS selections are captured here.

Boys basketball

Sean O'Leary, FRANKLIN | SENIOR

O’Leary fueled Franklin’s march to the Division 1 final, tallying 16 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists per game during a 25-2 season. The two-time All-Scholastic forward repeated as Hockomock League MVP and will play at Bates.

Coaches of the Year

CJ Neely, DIVISION 1: FRANKLIN

In his 10th year at the helm, the Bates College and Oliver Ames alum led the Panthers to a 25-2 record and a third D1 state finals appearance since 2017. Neely holds a 249-136 career record, including a 187-47 mark at Franklin.

Boys hockey

Ben Paterson, FRANKLIN | SENIOR

The two-time Hockomock MVP and two-time Globe All-Scholastic dazzled once again, posting 28 goals and 28 assists to lead the Panthers in scoring. The high honor roll student recorded 119 career points and will do a post-grad year at Deerfield.

Girls Indoor Track

Lily Deforge, FRANKLIN | SENIOR

The Holy Cross-bound senior followed up an undefeated regular season by placing second in the shot put (40-06.5) at All-States and 15th at New Balance Nationals. This season, she set school records in both the shot put and weight throw.

Sarah Dumas, FRANKLIN | SENIOR

The Penn-bound senior won the 55-meter hurdles (8.44) at the Division 1 championships and placed third in the pentathlon at the New Balance Nationals. She earned Hockomock League MVP honors and was an All-American selection for the third time.

For the full listing by the Boston Globe -> (subscription may be required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/high-schools/all-scholastics/

Boston Globe recognizes O'Leary, Neeley, Paterson, DeForge & Dumas for WINTER 2023-24 ALL-SCHOLASTICS

Franklin TV: Override? Part 2

A Big Turnout

by Pete Fasciano, Executive Director 04/28/2024

1. CALL TO ORDER – Chair Tom Mercer opened the meeting shortly after 7 PM.

4. ADJOURN – 10:40 PM.

Jamie Hellen and Lucas Giguere framed the issues and presented the numbers, followed by 2 hours of public comments. Some were reasoned. Others, less so. There is a strong causal link between money and passion.

Parents want better for their kids. Retirees want to rein in their taxes. Town and School services struggle to bridge that divide. I tallied over 400 in the auditorium. Another 300-ish watched online. Many more watched our Town Hall TV channel.

the second part of the meeting had the Town Council and School Committee members aligned to hear from the audience.  Photo S Sherlock Franklin.news

We all struggle to make a buck. We also struggle to spend less of it. The Town – the people who watched – and – even us at Franklin.TV. We know well how everyone works to make ends meet. We’re in the same position. As a nonprofit organization, we benefit from Town services, like everyone else. We volunteer to pay taxes to the Town – like everyone else. We cost the Town – nothing.

All of our financial support comes from cable TV – Comcast and Verizon. As more viewers ‘cut the cord’, canceling their cable service, we receive less support.

When folks want to watch big events (like the budget meeting) they call for details. 

“How can I watch the meeting?” 

“We’ll show it on Comcast channel 9 and Verizon 29.” “ – I don’t have cable.” 

“You can also watch us live on our YouTube channel.“

I provide details, explaining how to find our live streams on the internet – for free. As Franklin’s local TV studio, do we at Franklin.TV provide value? Consider that the ‘fair market’ rate to televise this meeting alone was well over $20,000 dollars. That funding has to come from…

Thanks for listening to 102.9 wfpr●fm. 

And – as always – thanks for watching.

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

Watch Listen Read all things that matter in Franklin MA

Franklin Public Library News & Events for May 2024 - general hours & services

Library Hours

The Library's hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:00 AM to 8:00 AM, Friday and Saturday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and Sundays 1:30 PM to 5:00 PM. The Library will be closed Sunday, May 26^th and Monday May 27^th for Memorial Day.

Franklin Public Library's 2024 Reading Challenge!
May: A book by an author whose first or last name begins with the letter "M"!
Welcome to the Franklin Public Library's first Annual Reading Challenge! For each monthly prompt that you complete and submit on time you will receive a Free Book Coupon that's good at the library's Book Sale. Submissions MUST be submitted by the last day of each month in order to qualify for that month's Free Book Coupon. For complete details and to sign-up, visit our website! Grand prizes made possible by the Friends of the Franklin Library!

MyHeritage Library Edition - a must for genealogy research!
What's in the MyHeritage Library Edition?

• More than 20 billion historical ​records from all over the world
• The USA federal census (1790-1940) and the UK census (1841-1901) with images​
• More than 2.4 billion exclusive family tree profiles from MyHeritage and Geni
• 816 million US public records
• Hundreds of millions of Nordic records
• More than a hundred million tombstone photos
• More than 1146 million historical photographs
• Military records, immigration records and passenger lists
• Citizenship & naturalization records
• Directories, guides, references, biographies and yearbooks
• Government, land and court records
• Wills and probate records
• Exclusive databases such as the Jewish Chronicle historical newspaper
• Additional content under license including Tributes obituaries, WikiTree, Billion Graves, Canadian Headstones and many others
  
  Home Access is available!  Find it here: alphabetical list of free library databases.
   

Museum Passes
Now is a great time to reserve passes to the area's most popular museums, aquariums, and more! Passes are available to be reserved up to thirty days in advance.

Franklin Library Book Sale
Friday, May 17^th, 1:00-5:00 PM.  Saturday, May 18^th, 9:00 AM to 12:00 Noon
All books are just one dollar!

Bag Sale - $5 A Bag—Saturday, May 18^th, from 1:00-4:00 PM
Come fill a brown bag with all the books you can!

Franklin Library ESL & Adult Literacy Program
Volunteer tutors needed! To volunteer please be at least 18 years old, have a High School diploma, & speak English clearly.  No prior teaching experience needed!  Volunteer tutors and students do not need to be Franklin residents. If interested, please fill out the registration form on the library's website.

Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/franklin-public-library/news/may-2024-franklin-library-news-events

Franklin Public Library News & Events for May 2024 - general hours & services

NEPM: "Massachusetts schools need more funds, some point to flaw in education finance law"

Why are so many school districts faced with funding issues this year? 

There is a common thread and it points to a flaw within the Student Opportunity Act (SOA) funding model. Yes, the model that was redesigned in 2019 to add more funding to the schools in need but some have identified a technical issue in the formula as summarized in this article:

"Fix the funding flaw

A not common alliance is calling on education officials to fix a calculation in Chapter 70. That group, Novick’s MASCA, the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, the Massachusetts Teachers Association and the American Federation of Teachers Massachusetts created a FAQ to explain how inflation of the last two years, between 7% and 8 % is a factor.

"... the [Chapter 70] law caps the annual inflation adjustment of the foundation budget at 4.5 percent," the FAQ said. "As a result, districts did not receive funds to cover a significant portion of inflation that they had to pay for in expenses.”

The way the Chapter 70 formula originally worked, the FAQ said, “that would not be a long-term problem because the lost inflation would automatically be added back into the foundation budget in the following year. But a technical change made almost a decade after the law was passed inadvertently changed that. Now when the cap reduces aid below the level needed to keep pace with inflation, that reduction is locked in forever and reduces future aid.”

Continue reading the New England Public Media article online -> https://www.nepm.org/regional-news/2024-04-25/massachusetts-schools-need-more-funds-some-point-to-flaw-in-education-finance-law

Thanks to Mass Municipal Association for the pointer to the article ->

https://twitter.com/massmunicipal/status/1783926637169442860

NEPM: "Massachusetts schools need more funds, some point to flaw in education finance law"

Sustainability Subcommittee schedules discussion with Conservation & Storm Water - April 30 - 5:30 PM

Master Plan Update Committee

Sustainability Subcommittee

Date:  Tuesday, April 30, 2024 - 5:30pm

Agenda doc contains remote participation info ->

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/sustainability_-agenda_2024-4-30.pdf

Sustainability Subcommittee schedules discussion with Conservation & Storm Water - April 30 - 5:30 PM

What's happening at the Senior Center during the week of April 29 thru May 3?

Here’s what’s happening this week at the #franklinseniorcenter come down and join us.

What's happening at the Senior Center during the week of April 29 thru May 3?

Shared from -> https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6Q6f5yrkNv/

Check out the full calendar of events ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/node/39/events/upcoming

Sign up to join the Ladies Light Hiking group

Starting May 2nd or May 4th

If you haven't tried this ladies hiking group, now is a great time! For information and to register, visit: Exercise & Wellness Classes

Lifelong Learning Institute - Franklin Public Schools | 218 Oak Street, Room 137, Franklin, MA 02038 Sent by lcl@franklinps.net powered by Try email marketing for free today!

What's happening Saturday, April 27, 2024?

Saturday, April 27

9:00am - DEA Medication "take back" day (SAFE Coalition)

9:00am - Earth Day - Clean Up (Beaver Pond)

9:00am - Stephen Green First Lego League Explore Showcase (Franklin Public Library)

10:00am - Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

10:00am - Celebrate Earth Day (DelCarte Open Space)

10:00am - Roll, Stroll, Seed (Sculpture Park)

10:30am - Rough Sleepers Community Discussion (Franklin Public Library)

10:30am - Dr. Rosie Helps the Animals: A Stuffed Animal Storytime (Franklin Public Library)

6:00pm - Silent Saturdays: "Ravished Armenia" (Franklin Historical Museum)

7:00pm - South Street Six (La Cantina Winery)

7:30pm - Electric Youth & Future Shock (THE BLACK BOX)

8:00pm - Garnet Rogers (Circle of Friends Coffeehouse)

What's happening Saturday, April 27, 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

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:  https://forms.gle/oPdi8X3ZbHHyrHzo6

The Library calendar of events ->    calendar link

The Senior Center calendar of events ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/node/39/events/month/39/2023-12

The Town meeting calendar is found  https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar
The School district calendar is found  https://www.franklinps.net/calendar-by-event-type/26 

The Franklin Art Association Art Gallery remains open for viewing (and purchasing the art displayed) during business hours at Escape into Fiction (Main St, Franklin)

Fallen Hero Recognitions scheduled for May & June 2024

Fallen Hero Recognition is conducted each day at 9 AM on the Town Common Veterans Walkway.

The brief program (approx. 5 minutes) includes the placing of a Memorial Wreath for the day, a reading of whatever history may be available for that veteran, a salute from those present, and the playing of Taps. 

This is a way of keeping the memory of that veteran alive. The public and any family members are welcome to attend.

May

11 - Charles Christakes - WWII

June

1 - William G. Hosford - WWII

5 - Frank Gryzboski - WWII

12 - LLoyd M. Ellis - WWII

14 - Timothy J. Hayes - WWII

15 - Elijah H. Coldwell - WWI

20 - Edward A. Kelly - WWII

24 - Baldo S. Lazzerini - WWII

The program is a collaboration of the Edward L. Grant American Legion Post 75, and the Veteran’s of Foreign Wars Post 3402, under the auspices of the Town’s Veterans Council. The program outline and schedule can be found https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/03/honoring-our-franklin-veterans-who-died.html

The schedule has also been added to the Community Calendar for the next 5 years.

For the full published series of Fallen Heroes you can visit this link
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/08/franklin-fallen-heroes-series.html

Photos of each of the bronze plaques along the Veterans Walkway can be found in this album -> https://photos.app.goo.gl/6eTxVPqJ8PPrGw7R8

Photos from 2018 -> https://photos.app.goo.gl/oRGdmq9krLNEBnjJ7

 Honoring Our Franklin Veterans Who Died In Service to Our Country