Voices of Franklin: One Franklin "Shared Values Lead to a Common Goal"

One Franklin (Ballot Question Committee) is proud to stand with educators and grateful for the support of the teachers who serve our community every day. 

We share the mission to advocate for quality public education in an environment in which lifelong learning can flourish. 

All campaign finance reporting requirements are being fully followed. Any materials paid for by outside organizations will be clearly disclosed, and we are in compliance with all state laws.

One Franklin and our town’s educators share a deep concern about what will happen to the Franklin Public Schools and our town services if the override does not pass.

We often hear the saying “It takes a village”. In Franklin’s case, the village that supports our students, and all of us, includes the town police officers who keep our town safe and who keep our students feeling secure, the town fire personnel who show up for us when we need emergency assistance, the town’s outstanding senior center and library that offer socialization and support for senior and young people alike, and the DPW that takes care of our buildings, roads, and open spaces. All of these departments and all of you, the people in our community, working together, make up Franklin's village.

This is a pivotal moment for Franklin, and by coming together to support our public safety, public services, and public schools, we can preserve this wonderful community that we all share.

Please consider voting Yes on June 3rd for our Town of Franklin!

With gratitude,

Jenna Cohen and One Franklin Team

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If you have something to say, you can find the guidelines here
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/03/introducing-voices-of-franklin.html

Voices of Franklin:  One Franklin "Shared Values Lead to a Common Goal"

Franklin Together: One Franklin 2025 Engagement Launch for Successful Override

Hello One Franklin,

The Franklin Town Council has voted to put an override on the ballot for a special election on June 3rd, following the recommendation by the Joint Budget Subcommittee (JBSC) last week.

It is time to activate One Franklin to ensure that this override passes, and it is going to take a full team effort! 

We are looking for volunteers for our field and community engagement team. The purpose of these teams is to educate and inform the broader community about the override, and the importance of voting YES to preserve Franklin's public safety, public services and public schools.

Community Engagement & Field Team 

Please complete this form to share with the One Franklin Community Engagement & Field team how you'd like to engage in the coming weeks (more information on the different opportunities below)!  Any level of engagement is welcome and needed, and please pass this along to others who might be interested.  

We will be scheduling 2 volunteer trainings in late March/early April to provide resources and answer questions so all volunteers feel comfortable engaging in conversations with community members and elected officials.   Please let us know within the form what time of day/day of week is best for you within the form so we can do our best to accommodate the majority of volunteers.

If you have any questions, please email onefranklinvolunteers@gmail.com.  

Thank you for helping us pass this override, together!

One Franklin Team

Ways to Engage - let us know how you want to engage here:

Precinct Captains: Identify hosts and organize conversations with friends and neighbors in homes and/or in neighborhood establishments (e.g. restaurants, coffee shops, etc.).  Elected officials and One Franklin members can also attend to answer questions.  

Community Liaisons: Connect with smaller communities within Franklin (e.g. faith-based communities, pre-schools, clubs, etc.) and organize a couple people to host conversations in their homes and/or in neighborhood establishments. 

The precinct captains and community liaisons will work in conjunction with the One Franklin Community Engagement & Field Teams to facilitate and coordinate these events. 

Sign placement: Purchase sign(s) to place on your yard and in other high-trafficked areas in town.  

Literature drops/canvassing: Walk specific streets and neighborhoods to share information via flyers in the couple of weeks leading up to the override vote on June 3rd. 

Donations: If you'd like a sign, we'd appreciate a $10 donation.  If you are interested in and able to donate more, please do - these dollars will be used to promote the override vote and educate the community.

WHY we (Ken Ojukwu) are voting YES for FRANKLIN! (video)

The next in the series of "WHY we are voting YES for FRANKLIN!" features Ken Ojukwu. He urges all to vote Yes 4 Franklin -> https://youtu.be/xP-0CtLEZ3g?si=bQdty17NdOVj8z2y

More information can be found on the One Franklin page ->    https://onefranklinma.com/

Find all the videos in one place -> https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLf2FLFpUmJcnbXDRElNtW0VhgP6CHXnCq

The "override collection" has been updated. You can review all the information shared to make an informed vote on June 11 -> https://buff.ly/3Vm2hJi

WHY we (Rob Vacca) are voting YES for FRANKLIN! (video)

The next in the series of "WHY we are voting YES for FRANKLIN!" features Rob Vacca. He urges all to vote Yes 4 Franklin -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0G9oUPVYaYg

More information can be found on the One Franklin page ->    https://onefranklinma.com/

Find all the videos in one place -> https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLf2FLFpUmJcnbXDRElNtW0VhgP6CHXnCq

The "override collection" has been updated. You can review all the information shared to make an informed vote on June 11 -> https://buff.ly/3Vm2hJi

WHY we (Susan Rohrbach) are voting YES for FRANKLIN! (video)

The next in the series of "WHY we are voting YES for FRANKLIN!" features Susan Rohrbach. She urges all to vote Yes 4 Franklin -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_W3ZgJUc2Ec

More information can be found on the One Franklin page ->    https://onefranklinma.com/

Find all the videos in one place -> https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLf2FLFpUmJcnbXDRElNtW0VhgP6CHXnCq

WHY we (Sue Cass) are voting YES for FRANKLIN! (video)

The next in the series of "WHY we are voting YES for FRANKLIN!" features Sue Cass. She urges all to vote Yes 4 Franklin -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWlr58QQT38

More information can be found on the One Franklin page -> https://onefranklinma.com/

Jennifer Levine urges vote Yes 4 Franklin (video)

Jennifer Levine urges vote Yes 4 Franklin -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8QoEWbY8kc

Voices of Franklin: A letter to Franklin’s 65+ community from your fellow seniors

The children of Franklin are our town’s future citizens. They deserve the best educational opportunities. The children of Franklin are a joy to their parents and even the older population who no longer have school-age people in their own lives. We as senior citizens look back on the ways public schools have contributed in unique and important ways to our own personal development. As a group we urge a YES vote on the tax override, because our investment in education will pay dividends for decades.

Everyone knows from personal experience the profound impact that educational opportunities have had on their own lives. Everyone knows that the educational opportunities and social relationships offered by schools have a huge role in developing positive character traits and life competency skills. Everyone knows that providing for the needs of children is a financial commitment that extends beyond the individual household. Outside the family, children spend most of their waking hours in school.

For a multitude of reasons (many outside the control of our district) the Franklin Public Schools have been starved of funds for years. Again and again, our local school spending is discussed and shows to be dropping from 25th percentile, and now under 20th percentile when compared to all other towns in the Commonwealth.

Our heroic staff and teachers do excellent work with the funding they have, but could do so much more with adequate funding. Over the years, Franklin has reduced music, arts, and other activities, while class sizes have grown and fees to students have steadily increased. New technologies for teachers to master and cell phones in children’s hands present new challenges and opportunities that will require money to address.

Support for children with varying backgrounds, and the mental health needs of school age kids in a changing culture all require money. Modern day parents are facing challenges our generation never dealt with, and much of the responsibility to help these families falls to the public schools. We as seniors are committed to the value that it does indeed take a village to raise children.

We think back with gratitude on how schools have helped our children adapt to the challenges of life and learning-in ways that could not be accomplished by even the best parenting done in isolation.

The ability to collect public funds to adequately support public interests like the education of our children is critical to Franklin’s long-term health. The request for an ‘override’ of arbitrary tax limitations is consistent with information about the school funding that the town has made available for years. Furthermore, an override is consistent with current economic conditions such as inflation across industries. We should also acknowledge that Franklin’s real estate taxes are lower than most surrounding towns. While this may seem like a positive attribute, in reality it means we are allowing our town’s school system to decay. Franklin should not become a backward outlier in our region.

Many of us moved to Franklin for the high quality of our public educational system. Even though that specific time in our lives has passed, we understand and continue to support the belief that public education is the responsibility of citizens of all ages.

Signed by Seniors Supporting Vote YES for Franklin!

Signed by Seniors Supporting Vote YES for Franklin!

Shared from this PDF doc -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1N-tr4PcrzpK0Pu8lbv5WHWPqttm1hNDC/view?usp=drive_link

Voices of Franklin: A letter to Franklin’s 65+ community from your fellow seniors

Short videos being shared with reasons to Vote Yes for Franklin (video)

First video - Roberta Trahan

Video link -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kCT37wL_yNo

Second video - Melanie Hamblen

Video link -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKwuMr6wCoE

The One Franklin page -> https://onefranklinma.com/

One Franklin could use some "Lit volunteers" for their Literature Campaign

Via the One Franklin group:

"Are you a parent/grandparent/caregiver for a school aged child in Franklin? 

One Franklin could use some "Lit volunteers" 

Do they take the bus? 

Do they play a sport, play in the jazz band? Are they in a club? Are you?

Do you want to help spread awareness about this budget deficit, but have no time to give? 

Our team is looking for those with no time to give for 'Lit(e)' work by creating a team of "Lit Volunteers" to drop off literature (see what we did there?) Their purpose will be to drop off information to fellow parents/caregivers, friends and neighbors. 

People who you probably already see at the bus stop, playground, soccer field, etc... or perhaps you could help by dropping some literature off to your child's classmates or neighborhood (no door knocking, just door hangers). We drop the printed materials right to your home when they're ready to go out. 

Many hands make light work, come be a part of the solution! Please fill out the form below if you want to help. "

Form to sign up -> https://forms.gle/RSEuKexxsoHtJLcG6

Find out more about One Franklin at -> https://onefranklinma.com/

Will you sign the One Franklin petition to put an override request on the ballot?

via One Franklin: signatures looked for on the 

"one tool we have for getting this on the ballot this budget season, June 2024. 

We (One Franklin) will campaign hard in April and May. 

Otherwise, if we wait until November, the schools will suffer, and the problem will increase requiring an even larger number. "

Sign here to support the override election be held THIS budget season!

More info about the One Franklin group can be found on their web page ->    https://onefranklinma.com/

Will you sign the One Franklin petition to put an override request on the ballot?

One Franklin: Community Coffee Conversations at Birchwood Bakery from 7 to 9 PM today

"Beginning Feb 22, then continuing every other Thursday 7-9 PM. One or more members of One Franklin will be at Franklin’s Birchwood Bakery to connect, discuss the latest developments around an override proposal and to just have good conversations at a great spot in town.

All are welcome to come by and say hi ultimately we are all working together for the same outcome… One Franklin, where everyone benefits from our united effort to nurture and value our community."

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/p/5MciuUTumq8sx5dU/?mibextid=Nif5oz

One Franklin: Community Coffee Conversations at Birchwood Bakery from 7 to 9 PM today

Community Coffee Conversations: One Franklin

"Beginning Feb 22, then continuing every other Thursday 7 to 9 PM. One or more members of One Franklin will be at Franklin’s Birchwood Bakery to connect, discuss the latest developments around an override proposal and to just have good conversations at a great spot in town.

All are welcome to come by and say hi ultimately we are all working together for the same outcome… One Franklin, where everyone benefits from our united effort to nurture and value our community. "

Next conversation, Thursday Feb 22 

For more information about One Franklin -> https://onefranklinma.com/ 

Community Coffee Conversations: One Franklin

One Franklin "New Year's Resolution Event" scheduled for Jan 11, 2024 at 67 Degrees

Happy New Year One Franklin!!!

We have shared our New Year's Resolution Event on our Facebook Page, through Franklin Matters, and other channels, so hopefully most of you have saved the date!

One Franklin New Year's Resolution Public Event!

Thursday, January 11, 2024

67 Degrees Brewing, Franklin 

Help us fill that room One Franklin!! We invited the media, so please make it count.

All of our active volunteers will be there to launch our website & we will have lawn signs to take home too. Good drinks, good people and a New Year's Resolution worth fighting for... Franklin! This is a great chance to invite friends and neighbors to join!

We have invited elected leaders to answer questions. Many who have been supporting our efforts, working to educate residents that "the pot isn't big enough" and that it's up to the community to take action. 

We are pushing forward trying to get the override on the ballot just after budget hearings are finalized this May/June 2024. The public school number is a huge ask, and they must make sure they are responsibly addressing the call to close schools. Doing so will not solve the budget shortage, we saw little impact from closing Davis Thayer. Nevertheless, it's going to be a hot topic creating some pushback during override debates. 

The Superintendent has been asked to create a 5-10 year "vision" which is a massive undertaking and this is why they did not redistrict last year. The School Committee voted to thoroughly research all moving parts of the district, with updated enrollment numbers, understand specific facilities conditions, and produce a road map for the next 5-10 years.

However, we will have a good number to work with before that vision is complete because even at 'level services' we are well above the 2.5% expected in the standard budget increase. Once the school committee is able to bring forward their defined needs, the other departments should be ready to go. One Franklin has met with the Fire Chief and Union, Superintendent and Union, Police Chief, and DPW Director and Union thus far. Our Town Admin will add on Fire, DPW, Police, etc. and that's ultimately the number we will be working with to get the Town Council to approve for a vote. 

Please reply if you can make it, and if you want to help with food or decor, please don't hesitate to let us know at onefranklinvolunteers@gmail.com. Many hands make light work.

Thank you!!!

One Franklin "New Year's Resolution Event" scheduled for Jan 11, 2024 at 67 Degrees

One Franklin’s New Years Resolution - Jan 11, 2024 from 6 to 9 PM

Join One Franklin for a New Years Resolution Public Event on January 11 from 6-9 PM at 67 Degrees Brewing. 

Meet our leadership team and talk directly with elected leaders about how we are working together to avoid cuts to Franklin's town services, most significantly to our public schools!

(One Franklin is a ballot question committee formed to pass an operational override in Franklin.)

One Franklin’s New Years Resolution - Jan 11, 2024 from 6 to 9 PM

Franklin Town Clerk Nancy Danello walks us through voting process for the Oct 24 Tri-County Election, then for the Nov 7 Biennial Election (audio)

FM #1074 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1074 in the series. 

This session shares my conversation with Town Clerk Nancy Danello conducted in her office at the Municipal Building on Tuesday, October 3, 2023. 

We talk about 

• The Tri-County election October 24

• The biennial Town of Franklin election Nov 7, includes the debt exclusion to fund the Tri-County building 

The show notes include links to the Town Clerk page and to the Tri-County information.

The recording runs about 27 minutes, so let’s listen in. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1074-franklin-ma-town-clerk-nancy-danello-10-03-23

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Town Clerk’s page ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/town-clerk 

Tri-County new building page -> https://www.tri-countybuilding.com/ 

Tri County School Building Project - Karen Maguire, Tri County Superintendent (presentation to Town Council) https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/8a._tri_county_presentation.pdf

Building update meeting in June, 2023 -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/06/tri-county-building-project-update.html 

Tri-County Election Announcement  -> https://www.franklinma.gov/town-clerk/news/important-news-tri-county-district-wide-election-10242023

Memo from Town Administrator - Tri-County Election if approved: Estimated Cost Per Household   ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/imce/u353/8b._1_-_memo_-_tri_county_school_financing.jpg

Tri-County Election Warrant  ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/town-clerk/news/tri-county-warrant

Tri-County Sample Ballot  -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/news/tri-county_10-24_sample_ballot.pdf

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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!

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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"

Franklin Town Clerk Nancy Danello

One Franklin will be at the Farmers Market on Friday, Oct 6 from 2 to 6 PM

One Franklin will be featured at the Community booth during the Farmers Market this Friday 10/6 from 2-6. 

We will have some elected leaders also stop by from School Committee and Town Council to connect with voters and encourage engagement from the community in the override discussion.

One Franklin will be at the Farmers Market on Friday, Oct 6 from 2 to 6 PM

This Town Council Quarterbacking session with Tom Mercer covers the Aug 16, 2023 Council meeting (audio)

FM #1042 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1042 in the series. 

This shares my conversation with Town Council Chair Tom Mercer. This is one of a series of conversations meant to provide a recap of the prior Council meeting. Akin to one of the many sports post-game analysis broadcasts we are familiar with in New England,  this would be a discussion focused on the Franklin Town Council meeting of August 16, 2023: 

• ok, what just happened? 

• What does it mean for Franklin residents and taxpayers?

We cover the following key topics

APPOINTMENTS a. Agricultural Commission   i. Daniel Morse  

PUBLIC HEARINGS 

a. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 23-898: A Zoning Bylaw to Amend the Franklin Town Code at Chapter 185, Attachment 9, Schedule of Lot, Area, Frontage, Yard and Height Requirements  

b. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 23-899: Marijuana Use Overlay District, A Zoning Bylaw Amendment to the Code of the Town of Franklin at Chapter 185, Section 5, Zoning Map  

Presentation: DPW Project Updates - Brutus Cantoreggi, DPW Director

i. Current Project Updates

ii. Pavement Management Program & Sidewalk Plan   

iii. Water Tank Master Plan

Discussion: Proposition 2 ½ Operating Override

i. Process - Jamie Hellen, Town Administrator  

ii. Campaign & Political Finance and Ethics Laws - Mark Cerel, Town Attorney  

Near Future outlook

• Police Station Building Committee meeting – 8/23 – 6 PM  (Council Chamber)

• Master Plan Committee – 8/23 6:30 PM (3rd floor)

• Dean College President Ken Elmore will provide an update at next session

Our conversation runs about 38 minutes. Let’s listen to this session of Town Council Quarterbacking recorded Aug 17, 2023. Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1042-town-council-quarterbacking-08-17-23

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The complete agenda doc  ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/town_council_agenda_-_aug_16_2023.pdf

The Franklin TV video is available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/live/vlYIlCbc4hs 

The PDF with my Twitter thread of notes is available here https://drive.google.com/file/d/17mCqfZ5ZEaL6jBcpFEFFOrqh8NrW6noP/view?usp=drive_link 

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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 your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

This Town Council Quarterbacking session with Tom Mercer covers the Aug 16, 2023 Council meeting (audio)