Tri-County schedules a special election for Oct 24 to vote to approve new building project

IMPORTANT NEWS - DISTRICT WIDE ELECTION 10/24/2023 

CONSTRUCTION OF NEW TRI COUNTY REGIONAL VOCATIONAL SCHOOL

DISTRICT WIDE ELECTION – 10/24/2023 - Franklin High School Gym, 218 Oak St. (12 noon - 8pm)

The following are the eleven (11) communities that will be voting for the proposed construction of a new Tri-County Vocational High School.

Norfolk, Medway, Millis, Seekonk, Walpole, Franklin, Medfield, Plainville, N. Attleboro, Sherborn, Wrentham

Last day to register to vote is Saturday, October 14th - 9 AM to 5 PM in the Town Clerk's Office.

There will be NO extended hours for in person voting. Absentee voting will be held in Town Clerk's Office during regular business hours. Last day to absentee vote in person is 10/23 from 8AM to 12:00 (noon)

If requesting an absentee ballot be mailed you must do so by October 19th.

All ballots must be received by 8PM on election day.

For all information on the project please click on this link: https://www.tri-countybuilding.com/

For frequently asked questions: https://www.tri-countybuilding.com/faq

Shared from the Town Clerk's page ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/town-clerk/news/important-news-district-wide-election-10242023

Tri-County schedules a special election for Oct 24 to vote to approve new building project

This Town Council Quarterbacking session recaps the Sep 6 meeting including the migrant status update (audio)

FM #1057 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1057 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 September 6, 2023: 

• ok, what just happened? 

• What does it mean for Franklin residents and taxpayers?

We cover the following key topics

APPOINTMENTS

a. Design Review Commission - i. Andrew Pratt

b. Municipal Affordable Housing Trust - i. Jayaprabha Vijayaraghavan

c. Fire Department - New Employee - i. Jack Lennon: Firefighter/Paramedic

d. Fire Department - Promotions

• Thomas Konieczny: Battalion Chief

• Paul Molla: Captain

• Laurie Kaye: EMS Captain

• Matthew Kelly: Lieutenant

• Michael Berthiaume: Lieutenant

• Jonathan Chalk: Lieutenant

Dean College Update - Ken Elmore, President of Dean College

Tri-County Regional Vocational School Building project and expected votes to (1) approve and (2) approve of the financing for it

LEGISLATION FOR ACTION

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 - Second Reading 

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 - Second Reading 

c. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 23-901: A Zoning Bylaw Amendment to the Code of the Town of Franklin at Chapter 185, Section 5, Zoning Map (Motion to Refer Zoning Bylaw Amendment 23-901 to the Planning Board - Majority Vote) 

d. Resolution 23-49: Authorization for Intermunicipal Agreement with County of Plymouth for County of Plymouth to Provide Parking Ticket Computerization and Processing Services to Franklin 

e. Resolution 23-50: Acceptance of Private Road Covenant with Owner-Developer of Prospect Hills Estates with Access Road Off Prospect Street 

f. Resolution 23-51: Gift Acceptance - Veterans’ Services Dept. ($1,525) 

TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT -  Migrant Housing Update

Our conversation runs about 49 minutes. Let’s listen to this session of Town Council Quarterbacking recorded Sep 7, 2023. Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1057-town-council-quarterbacking-09-07-23

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

The Franklin TV video is available for replay ->    https://www.youtube.com/live/lUOJJj5hec8?si=IUzMbo_9nNGYa59y&t=194 

My full set of notes captured via Twitter during the meeitng are collected in a single PDF for easier reading  -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_Go0RhESjzP4F3KWutGqZ-kxO3-Fdn0l/view?usp=drive_link 

Town Council agenda doc ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/town_council_agenda_-_9.6.23.pdf 

The Town Administrator Report audio segment of the meeting was shared separately. https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/09/town-administrators-report-on-migrant.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 your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

This Town Council Quarterbacking session recaps the Sep 6 meeting including the migrant status update (audio)

Franklin Food Pantry - podcast series "Nourishing Neighbors, Building Community"

A continuing series of podcasts on the Franklin Food Pantry, their new building and operations supporting our community. "Nourishing Neighbors, Building Community"

August 2023 - Tina - campaign kick off

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/08/franklin-food-pantry-launches-building.html 

August 2023 - campaign #2 - Anne & Yianna

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/08/this-franklin-food-pantry-conversation.html 

August 2023 - campaign #3 - Suzanne & Donna

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/08/this-franklin-food-pantry-conversation_01022713506.html 

August 2023 - campaign #4 - Laura & Amber

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/09/this-franklin-food-pantry-conversation.html 

Franklin Food Pantry Launches Building Campaign (audio)

State Representative Jeffrey Roy Secures $50,000 for Franklin Food Pantry’s Capital Campaign

Massachusetts Legislature Allocates Funds to Address Food Insecurity in the Commonwealth

The Franklin Food Pantry, a private, nonprofit organization offering supplemental food assistance in Franklin, Massachusetts, and the surrounding community, was allocated $50,000 in the Massachusetts Fiscal Year 2024 State Budget. State Representative Jeffery Roy assisted in securing the much-needed funding for The Pantry’s capital campaign, which will support enhanced client programs and services, and subsidize the purchase, renovation, and maintenance of a new building located at 341 W Central Street in Franklin.

Since moving to its new location, The Pantry has seen a sharp increase in client visits. This past July, average weekly visits to The Pantry increased by 35 percent compared to the same month last year. Pantry staff attributes the increased client need to the continued high cost of food, housing, utilities, clothing, and other expenses.

Executive Director Tina Powderly with State Rep Jeff Roy at the Ribbon Cutting in June 2023

“The Franklin Food Pantry is essential to Franklin and surrounding towns, providing supplemental food assistance to more than 1,300 individuals each year,” said State Representative Jeffery Roy (D-Franklin). “The Pantry’s new building offers access to nutritious food in a dignified, modernized, larger space and I am pleased to advocate for such a worthy community partner.”

The state budget also designated funding for no-cost school meals for Massachusetts public school children in grades K-12, including the nearly 5,000 children enrolled in the Franklin Public Schools.

 

“The Franklin Food Pantry is committed to addressing child-level food insecurity, and we are extremely proud of our advocacy work with Project Bread and the Greater Boston Food Bank to ensure students are well nourished,” said Tina Powderly, Executive Director, Franklin Food Pantry. “We are grateful to Rep. Jeff Roy, Sen. Becca Rausch, Governor Maura Healey, and the entire Massachusetts Legislature for making universal school meals free for all and investing in our children and their future.”

The Franklin Food Pantry also partners with the Franklin Public Schools to provide meals and snacks to children over the weekend. As with all services at The Pantry, the Weekend Backpack Program is free to clients and depends on support and donations from individuals, corporations, foundations, and other strategic partners. To support the Franklin Food Pantry’s programs and daily operations, or to provide support for the new building campaign please visit www.franklinfoodpantry.org.

About the Franklin Food Pantry, Inc.

The Franklin Food Pantry, Inc. offers supplemental food assistance and household necessities to more than 1,300 individuals per year. The Franklin Food Pantry is not funded by the Town of Franklin. We are grateful for our many partnerships, including that with the Greater Boston Food Bank, that allow us to achieve greater buying power and lower our costs. 

Donations and grants fund our food purchases, keep our lights on, and put gas in our food truck. Programs include home delivery, a weekend backpack program for Franklin school children in need, mobile pantries, emergency food bags, and holiday meal packages. The Pantry is located at 341 W. Central St. in Franklin, Massachusetts on Route 140. Visit www.franklinfoodpantry.org for more information.

Franklin Food Pantry serves record number of our neighbors in a single day

Via the Franklin Food Pantry 

"Yesterday (Tuesday, 8/22/23) we served a RECORD NUMBER of 112 neighbors between client appointments, emergency bags, and curbside distribution. None of this would have been possible without our new, larger space where we can accommodate more clients and have the capacity to store more food. 

We are asking you to join us in our efforts! 

We have reached 56% of our $3.5 million campaign goal to raise funds for the purchase and renovation of our building, enhance our client programs and services, and create a rainy-day fund for future building expenses. 

We are deeply grateful for your support, and cannot help our neighbors in need without you!"

Find the Instagram reel here -> https://www.instagram.com/reel/CwS20MFrGfy/

Follow the link to donate and sign up for a tour of the new building ->  https://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/new-building/

Recent podcasts about the Franklin Food Pantry. Their work servicing our neighbors is enhanced by the new facility. 

• Executive Director Tina Powderly   https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/08/franklin-food-pantry-launches-building.html 
• Anne McGillis & Yianna Zicherman    https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/08/this-franklin-food-pantry-conversation.html 
• Suzanne Gendreau & Donna O'Neill    https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/08/this-franklin-food-pantry-conversation_01022713506.html

Franklin Food Pantry serves record number of our neighbors in a single day

Franklin, MA: Job Opportunities with Building & Inspections, Facilities, Finance, Library, Public Works,

To apply for a vacant position, please submit a resume and cover letter to apply@franklinma.gov.  Please put the job title in the subject line of your email. 

Junior Building Custodian - Facilities Department

Heavy Motor Equipment Operators - Department of Public Works

Library Assistant - Franklin Public Library

Part Time and Substitute Custodians - Facilities Department 

Payroll Administrator - Finance Department

Administrative Assistant - Building and Inspections Department

Motor Equipment Repair Person - Department of Public Works

Local Building Inspector - Building and Inspections Department

Updated 08/17/2023

If you do not have a resume, you may send a completed Application for Employment instead.

To receive notifications of all job opportunities in the Town of Franklin, subscribe here .

Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/human-resources/pages/job-opportunities

This Franklin Food Pantry conversation covers how community involvement makes this a success (audio)

FM #1039 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1039 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Suzanne Gendreau, Franklin Food Pantry board member and Building Campaign Committee Chair along with Donna O’Neill, Food Pantry volunteer and ambassador extraordinaire. We had our conversation in the new location of the Franklin Food Pantry at Edwin’s. 

We talk about the happy news that the Food Pantry has their own home, finally. While they are appreciative of the space Rockland Trust has let them use for many years, their needs had outgrown the space. 

We spend much of the time sharing stories about the community involvement that is what makes the Food Pantry a successful operation assisting our neighbors.

Disclosure: during the conversation you will hear about my background with the Food Pantry and that I have committed to this capital campaign.

The recording runs about 32 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Suzanne and Donna. Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1039-franklin-food-pantry-building-campaign-3-07-24-23

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

The Franklin Food Pantry is here for you. If you need us, we are here with not only food, but useful programs and resources for individuals, seniors and families struggling with food insecurity. If you can support us, we thank you - visit franklinfoodpantry.org to explore volunteering, donating funds, donating food, or supporting our Capital Campaign to keep the lights on and the programs, from food elves to weekend backpack stuffing. It truly takes a village to keep our food pantry running and supporting the increasing demand, supporting our Franklin neighbors.

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

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm). 

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!

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

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

Franklin Food Pantry Launches Building Campaign (audio)

The Guardian: "Back to the stone age: the sustainable building material we’ve all been waiting for…"

"It’s strong, plentiful and fireproof, as well as beautiful, yet stone has long been supplanted in the building industry by energy-consuming steel, concrete and brick. A trio of advocates for this age-old material say it’s time for a rethink

Imagine a building material that is beautiful, strong, plentiful, durable and fireproof, whose use requires low levels of energy and low emissions of greenhouse gases. It is one of the most ancient known to humanity, the stuff of dolmens and temples and cathedrals and Cotswolds cottages, but also one whose sustainability makes it well-suited to the future. Such a material, according to a growing body of opinion in the world of construction, is among us. It’s called stone.

Last week I sat in the roof garden of a hefty pile of masonry in central London, talking to three advocates of this magnificent substance: engineer Steve Webb, Pierre Bidaud of the Rutland-based Stonemasonry Company and architect Amin Taha. My initial request, driven by a journalistic preference for highlighting individuals, had been to meet Taha alone, but he pointed out that their work is a collaboration of different disciplines. The building on top of which we met is their joint creation: the six-storey, five-year-old Clerkenwell block where Taha has his office and his home."

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2023/aug/06/back-to-the-stone-age-the-sustainable-building-material-weve-all-been-waiting-for-amin-taha-groupwork-webb-yates-the-stonemasonry-company

Everyday luxury: affordable housing near Palma, Mallorca, built by Balearic social housing institute Ibavi, constructed from load‑bearing stone quarried locally. Photograph: José Hevia

Franklin Food Pantry Announces Launch of Final Phase of Campaign

The Franklin Food Pantry announced today that it has reached more than 56% of its campaign goal of $3.5 million and is inviting the public to participate in the final phase of the campaign.

Ten years ago, the Pantry’s Board of Directors, anticipating that demand for its programs and services would continue to grow in the future, decided to purchase a building that would offer larger and more efficient space. The Pantry spent the next decade evaluating space options and preparing for the purchase of its first permanent home, including beginning the silent phase of its campaign in earnest in 2022. In December of 2023, The Pantry purchased the iconic former Edwin’s building at 341 W. Central St. Renovations were completed in May and The Pantry commenced offering services at its new location in June.

Having raised more than 56% of its campaign goal, The Pantry is now inviting the public to participate in the campaign.

Tina Powderly, Executive Director said, “Our new building is truly a dream come true for our community! So many people have supported us and helped us to design a truly warm, welcoming, and dignified space for our neighbors who need a little bit of support and love. We have said from the beginning, ‘It’s not about the building, it’s about what we will DO in the building that matters!’ 

“In recent months we have seen a dramatic increase in demand for our programs and services. In June of 2022, we served 298 households; this June, we served 367. Since moving into the new building, we have enrolled more than 45 new clients. While our new space increased refrigerator and freezer capacity by almost 200% (from 418 CF to 1192 CF), we need to fill those shelves with food to meet the staggering demand. We need the community’s help now more than ever.”

Suzanne Gendreau, Campaign Chair, said: “This campaign has always been about three things: the purchase and renovation of a building that would support serving more people in our community with the healthy food and other household goods they need; enhancing our programs and services; and securing funds to pay for future building expenses. We are grateful for the support we’ve received so far, and now we are asking everyone to pitch in to the best of their abilities to help our neighbors in need. This isn’t about doing good for someone else; it is about doing good for all of us!”

The Pantry is inviting the public in for scheduled guided tours beginning this month. To sign up, visit: https://tinyurl.com/4b7myjnj 

To make a campaign contribution, please visit: https://tinyurl.com/6cx926ef 

About the Franklin Food Pantry  

The Franklin Food Pantry offers supplemental food assistance and household necessities to more than 1,300 individuals per year. The Franklin Food Pantry is not funded by the Town of Franklin. As a private, nonprofit organization, we depend on donations from individuals, corporations, foundations and other strategic partners. 

We are grateful for our many partnerships, including that with the Greater Boston Food Bank, that allow us to achieve greater buying power and lower our costs. Donations and grants fund our food purchases, keep our lights on, and put gas in our food truck. Programs include home delivery, a weekend backpack program for Franklin school children in need, mobile pantries, emergency food bags and holiday meal packages. 

The Pantry is located at 341 W. Central St. in Franklin on Route 140. Visit www.franklinfoodpantry.org for more information. 

 

Franklin Food Pantry Announces Launch of Final Phase of Campaign

Town of Franklin: Job Opportunities with Finance, Building, DPW, & Facilities - maybe one of these is for you?

Job Opportunities

To apply for a vacant position, please submit a resume and cover letter to apply@franklinma.gov.  Please put the job title in the subject line of your email. 

Payroll Administrator - Finance Department

Administrative Assistant - Building and Inspections Department

Motor Equipment Repair Person - Department of Public Works

Local Building Inspector - Building and Inspections Department

Heavy Motor Equipment Operators - Department of Public Works

Part Time and Substitute Custodians - Facilities Department

Updated 07/19/2023

If you do not have a resume, you may send a completed Application for Employment instead.

To receive notifications of all job opportunities in the Town of Franklin, subscribe here .

Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/human-resources/pages/job-opportunities

Job Opportunities with Finance, Building, DPW, & Facilities