Missed our last Critical Conversations: The Impact of Social Media event?
It's now available on our YouTube channel along with the presentation slides and resources pamphlet which are linked in the bio.
buff.ly/3jjHZf6
Resource list for parents can be found here: https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/cc_sm_trifold_v2.pdf
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| Thursday, Apr 14 - the 5th annual Legislative Forum |
A Cold War law could be used to boost heat pump production
"Democrats and climate advocates are demanding the White House invoke a Cold War-era law to boost domestic manufacturing of heat pumps and other clean energy technologies, arguing it could simultaneously counter Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and fend off climate change.
The Defense Production Act enables the president to force manufacturers to expand the production of crucial goods in times of crisis. President Harry S. Truman wielded the law in 1950 to bolster steel production for the Korean War. Former president Donald Trump and President Biden used it to boost the manufacturing of ventilators and medical masks respectively."
"On April 23, the day after Earth Day, a big tent coalition—climate activists, union workers, civil rights leaders, and increasingly desperate young people—will be gathering outside the White House. If you live on the eastern seaboard and are free that Saturday, you should sign up and join them. Here’s why:
Tucked beneath the headlines on COVID and Ukraine, the most important climate legislation in US history – and thus, arguably, in world history – is still stuck in Congressional purgatory. You’d be forgiven if you weren’t fully aware. It is not trending on Twitter. President Biden has mostly stopped talking about it. The enormous moral stakes have been brutally ablated by a broken, farcical, and, above all, extremely boring legislative kludge known as budget reconciliation. The months-long saga has turned Biden’s original “Build Back Better” plan into the juridical equivalent of a Warhol soup can – a ubiquitous token evacuated of any original meaning."
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| An Act Driving Climate Policy Forward |
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| FHS softball in action vs. Oliver Ames on Friday |
FM #769 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 769 in the series.
This session shares the Franklin, MA Town Council meeting held on Wednesday, April 6, 2022.
The meeting was conducted in a hybrid format: members of the Town Council and Town Administration personnel were in the Council Chambers, some members of the public participated in person, some via the Zoom conference bridge, all to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.
Quick recap:
Fire department achieves ISO Class 1 rating, only one of 9 in MA and one of 15 in New England to do so. Contact your insurance company. Whether a business or residence, there could be a savings with this higher rating on insurance policies. Doc on Fire Department web page to send to company to support the potential savings.
2 new hires for Fire Dept sworn in. These are experienced firefighters coming from other areas to backfill open positions with the Fire Dept.
Three alcohol license approvals were voted on. One to approve the move of Pour Richards, one to approve the permanent set up of outdoor dining at 3 Restaurant, and one to approve a license for the Birchwood Bakery & Café downtown. As a sign of how well Franklin has survived the pandemic, we now have more restaurant liquor licenses post pandemic than we did pre-pandemic.
Town Administrator Jamie Hellen provided an update on ARPA funds and how they would be allocated. Council approved the allocation which will now be submitted to the County for disbursement of the funds. Some of the $10M allocated to Franklin (approx. $2M) comes directly to the Town, some (approx. $6M) comes through the County.
The second approval for the storm water utility fee was approved. The fee will first appear in July 2023 (FY 2024). There is time to confirm your impervious coverage area (see the town storm water page) and order a rain barrel to help with mitigation of storm water and save on the potential fee.
Passport photo fee was approved so the Town when processing your passport application can now provide a ‘one-stop’ shop service. The photo fee is $10 per photo. The fee for the passport is set at the Federal level.
The recording runs under two hours (1:58). The show notes contain links to the meeting agenda. Let’s listen to the Town Council meeting of April 6, 2022. Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-769-town-council-meeting-04-06-22
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Agenda document -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/april_6_2022_town_council_agenda.pdf
My notes from the meeting -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/14KnmcHPUOPMAUQ7TgXS8YMvDbUHTxTGa/view?usp=sharing
Photos from the meeting can be found in one album -> https://photos.app.goo.gl/Zr6wAJwNbr61Yhob6
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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.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!
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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"
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| Firefighter Michael Eaton getting pinned by his daughter |
2 - The Town of Franklin Health department updates the COVID-19 dashboard weekly and can be found here -> https://www.franklinma.gov/health-department/webforms/covid-19-dashboard-portal
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| https://www.franklinma.gov/health-department/webforms/covid-19-dashboard-portal |
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Senate Passes Sweeping Social Equity Cannabis Bill
The Massachusetts Senate on Thursday passed S.2801, An Act Relative to Equity in the Cannabis Industry. Through the creation of a new fund that aims to support equity in the cannabis industry and improvements to the local licensing process, the bill levels the industry playing field to help members of communities disproportionately harmed by marijuana prohibition and enforcement take part in the Commonwealth's growing cannabis market.
"I'm proud that when the Senate and the Legislature legalized the commercial marijuana industry in 2017, we prioritized the creation of a first-in-the-nation equity program," said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). "Unfortunately, many barriers continue to prevent those historically harmed by marijuana prohibition from entering the industry. Today's bill takes important steps to address these by providing resources to support social equity businesses and putting guardrails in place on the Host Community Agreement process. I thank Chair Rodrigues and Senator Chang-Diaz for their work to bring this legislation forward."
"The legislation we passed today builds upon the goals that we have always had for the cannabis industry here in the Commonwealth - protecting consumers, supporting small business, and promoting social equity," said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues, Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. "I want to thank Senate President Spilka for her leadership, along with Senator Chang-Diaz, Senator Cyr, Senator Jehlen and others for advocating to make sure Massachusetts remains a cannabis industry leader. Ultimately, this bill passed by the Senate promotes the continued growth of a competitive and equitable industry here in our state and I hope to see it advance to the Governor's desk very soon."
"Addressing racial justice in our state means getting real about closing our cavernous racial wealth divide," said Senator Sonia Chang-DÃaz (D-Boston). "With this bill, Massachusetts will reclaim our leadership role, carving a path to make equity a reality in the cannabis industry. Lowering entry costs and opening up new avenues to capital will put this multi-billion dollar industry within reach for many talented equity entrepreneurs."
"When we passed recreational cannabis legislation five years ago, we sought to ensure the Commonwealth's budding cannabis industry would be equitable, diverse, and have ample avenues of entry for small-scale and Black and Brown-led entrepreneurship," said Assistant Majority Whip Julian Cyr (D-Truro). "Regrettably, the Legislature's intention to build an industry rooted in social justice has not yet been fully realized. Today we are living up to that promise by establishing guardrails on host-community agreements, allowing communities interested in pursuing social consumption sites to do so, and empowering a strong, vibrant, local cannabis industry with a robust cannabis equity fund."
"Limiting the cost of operation is part of promoting social equity and repairing harm to communities harmed by War On Drugs, by lowering one of many barriers to entry with the host community agreement reform in this bill," said Senator Patricia Jehlen (D-Somerville). "I hope this new bill is even clearer in stating the intent of the law and the ability of the CCC to achieve the goals of promoting social equity. High costs of cannabis have helped preserve the illicit market for cannabis and this bill will take significant steps to expand business opportunities and lower costs across the commonwealth."
Social Equity Fund
The bill builds upon existing Massachusetts law, which legalized adult-use cannabis and made a first-in-the-nation commitment to equity in the cannabis industry. A combination of high entry costs and lack of access to capital have kept many would-be entrepreneurs from taking part, resulting in fewer than seven percent of cannabis licenses in Massachusetts going to social equity businesses.
Opening an average cannabis retail shop can require $1 to $1.5 million in liquidity, and the numbers are even higher for manufacturing facilities --at around $3-$5 million. Since federal cannabis laws prevent these businesses from accessing traditional bank loans, lack of capital can pose an insurmountable barrier, leaving many entrepreneurs vulnerable to predatory financial deals and damaging equity partnerships. The social equity fund, created by the legislation, would facilitate new access to capital by making grants and loans, including forgivable and no-interest loans, to equity applicants. The fund has the support of the Cannabis Control Commission (CCC), whose commissioners voted unanimously to endorse the idea earlier this legislative session. The fund will receive ten percent of annual revenue collected from the marijuana excise tax (an estimated $18 million for FY2023). Massachusetts is poised to join a handful of other states in pioneering this program.
Host Community Agreements
The bill also responds to concerns about the process of negotiating Host Community Agreements (HCAs), which have been identified as a key factor in keeping industry entry costs high. The bill re-affirms that fees in HCAs cannot exceed three percent of a cannabis business' annual gross sales and must be reasonably related to the costs associated with hosting a cannabis business in a city or town.
Other components of the bill include:
The bill now moves to the Massachusetts House of Representatives for further consideration.
April is Minority Health Month. The goal is to eliminate disproportionate preventable illnesses in minority populations.
Learn more: www.minorityhealth.hhs.gov
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| www.minorityhealth.hhs.gov |
The Massachusetts State Senate on Thursday unanimously passed S.2802, An Act relative to the creation of a women’s rights history trail. The legislation celebrates the rich history of the women’s rights movement and contributions women have made across the Commonwealth.
Each year, thousands of tourists visit Boston to walk the Freedom Trail, to learn about the founding of our nation and walk in the history of our founding fathers. This legislation would allow residents and visitors alike to follow a similar trail to learn about the women who have made our Commonwealth, and nation, what it is today. By attracting tourists to women’s rights history trail sites, this bill will also help to stimulate economic activity throughout Massachusetts.
"Women in Massachusetts have played a pivotal role at every step in the Commonwealth’s history, yet their contributions are too often overlooked," said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). "The Women's Rights History Trail will serve as a visible monument to the history of women—and the women's rights movement. Understanding this history gives us all a chance to reflect on where we have come from and what it means to leave a legacy that can uplift and inspire future generations. I am glad to see that this trail will give particular attention to the diverse backgrounds and perspectives of the women who have transformed Massachusetts. I would like to thank Senator Lovely and her staff for their work to make this a reality."
“Massachusetts has a rich history of involvement in the women's rights movement,” said Senator Joan B. Lovely (D-Salem), the bill’s lead sponsor. “Women have had a pivotal role in shaping the policies of our Commonwealth, and this bill will ensure that those contributions are known and celebrated. I would like to thank Senate President Spilka for her strong leadership and the work she has done to highlight women’s history, and the Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators for their advocacy. The history of these women is our history, and we must continue to advance that history forward.”
This legislation creates a 16-member task force responsible for soliciting public input and conducting research to recommend sites, properties, and attractions for that are historically and thematically associated with the struggle for women's rights and women's suffrage, and that reflect Massachusetts’ geographic and demographic diversity. The Senate bill also requires the inclusion of accomplishments of women veterans in the trail, as well as recommendations for increasing the representation of women in the artwork of the State House. Members of the task force would include representatives from the Massachusetts Historical Society, the Commission on the Status of Women, and the Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators, among others.
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation Secretary and the Director of the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism will be required to develop a program based on the task force’s recommendations, including educational handbooks, maps, signs, and vacation itineraries connected to the trail. The task force will have until January 1, 2023, to file its report.
With versions of this bill having been engrossed by the House and Senate, An Act relative to the creation of a women’s rights history trail now moves to the House of Representatives for enactment.
Link to the legislation itself -> https://malegislature.gov/Bills/192/H4555
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| An Act relative to the creation of a women’s rights history trail |
The Culinary Cabaret returns to THE BLACK BOX in person this year, a key fund raising event while highlighting culinary arts of local businesses along with the talented performers of FPAC. The Library Book sale, Winter Farmers Market are among a full set of events on Saturday. LiveARTS fund raising concert tops Sunday.
If you miss the St Mary's Faith Formation group on Saturday, you can get the replay on Tuesday. Thursday provides a home buying/selling seminar along with the 5th Annual Legislative Forum hosted by the School Committee.
Find the full 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
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| Community Calendar |
Franklin sophomore Henry Digiorgio has been named the HockomockSports.com Boys Basketball Underclassman of the Year for the 2021-2022 season, the 10th year the award has been given out.Digiorgio got his feet wet during last year’s COVID-shortened season, getting minutes as a freshman, and showed little flashes of what was to come. This year, Digiorgio was a part of the starting lineup and took over as the go-to scorer for the Panthers. He showed off his range with his three-point shooting and he attacked defenses with great confidence, finishing strong at the rim.“Hank made huge strides from his freshman to sophomore year going from a role player off the bench to a go-to scorer and one of our best rebounders,” said Franklin head coach CJ Neely. “He also showed a huge amount of toughness coming back from a difficult injury and competing hard in the state tournament. I am really excited to see the next step in his development.
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| HockomockSports.com Boys Basketball Underclassman of the Year for the 2021-2022 season |
All Underclassmen Team
Franklin head coach CJ Neely has been selected as the HockomockSports.com Boys Basketball Coach of the Year for the 2021-2022 season. It’s the first time Neely has been honored with this award.
Neely guided a young and inexperienced group to a terrific season, posting a 21-4 record with the second-best offense in the league (64.3 points per game) and second-best defense (48.8 points allowed per game) in the Hockomock. Coming into the season, Neely had to replace his entire starting lineup last season and a total of 123 career points among all returners. He started three sophomores, a junior, and one senior and battled through a difficult schedule. Franklin’s only losses came to Kelley-Rex division champs Taunton (the Panthers were the only Hock team to beat the Tigers this season), twice to rival Mansfield (who reached the D2 Elite 8), and Catholic Memorial (D1 Elite Eight) in overtime.
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| Franklin head coach CJ Neely |
