Recap: Town Council approves creation of 9th precinct, hears about ARPA funding, and closes out the current term with thanks

Quick Recap:

• Swearing in of Firefighter/Paramedic David Ogilvie
• American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding schedule and plans for initial funds outlined, presentation link with details included
• Some of the Census 2020 population data has been received which leads to a reprecincting process which was explained in detail, bottom line, we go from 8 to 9 precincts, little other impact to Town operations; House representation likely to remain with all of Franklin covered by 10th Legislative district; on the State Senate side where we were split between Senator Spilka and Senator Rausch, Senator Rausch would have all of Franklin. The MA House and Senate districting is still in decision/approval process at the State House. The Franklin precinct plan now goes to the State for review and acceptance
• Three separate measures were approved to increase the minimum wage for the senior workoff program and to increase benefits for veterans as well as disabled veterans
• As this was the last meeting of this Council term, there was a round of remarks and thanks for the past term during Council Comments. The Councilors were cautioned by Town Attorney Mark Cerel about the nature of their comments, attempting to limit them to simply encourage a general get out the vote.
• Also raised during this segment was the issue being made by some residents around the problem with the 2020 September primary. Best quote came from Attny Cerel to summarize the matter "The issues arose under the term of the prior town clerk who resigned"

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As with most meetings in this pandemic period, I took my notes via Twitter during the meeting reporting live from the Council Chambers

The Twitter hashtag can be found online  #tc1020

https://twitter.com/search?q=%23tc1020&src=recent_search_click

Agenda document -  

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/october_20_2021_town_council_agenda.pdf

Agenda folder -> https://www.franklinma.gov/town-council/agenda/october-20-town-council-agenda 

• Ready for Town Council meeting to begin, by sight of folks in room, might be a little late starting but won't be too long, lots of side discussions going #tc1020
• Agenda doc for tonight's session -> https://franklinma.gov/town-council/agenda/october-20-town-council-agenda…  #tc1020
• meeting opens, Chair Mercer with gavel #tc1020

Citizens Comment

• I stepped up to give brief on the Candidate Forum scheduled for Tu 10/21/21 at 6:30 - live streamed via Franklin TV, Comcast and Verizon -  https://franklinmatters.org/2021/10/candidate-forum-oct-21-2021-forum.html
• Nancy Danello - acting Town Clerk reminds of early voting option this weekend, Sat and Sunday 10/23 - 10/24 from 10 AM to 1:00 PM. #tc1020 (subsequent;y changed to begin at 9 AM both days)
• J Maciel quoting and playing lyrics from country song by Lee Greenwood lots of folks have heard #tc1020

Appointment

• Appointment - David Ogilvie: Fire Department, New Hire introduced by Chief McLaughlin #tc1020

ARPA Funding update

• next 2 presentations, not yet posted to ToF webpage -> https://franklinma.gov/town-council/agenda-items/8-presentationsdiscussions-59…  #tc1020
• was previewed by FinCom last week #tc1020 only town in MA with UV lighting to clean the virus in our air filtration systems FEMA est almost $600K expected but some time in the future.
• big thank you for congressional and state representatives for the State and Federal funds, without them, we'd have been hurting budget wise...  #tc1020
• Norfolk County will doll out the 'county funds' time line and details TBD, they will also take a % to 'process' the funding. #tc1020
• ARPA funds being treated as grants, to be applied for in order to verify the need and justification for the requests. #tc1020 Town well positioned to do clinics now with nurse on staff, and paramedics certified to give the doses.
• Overview slide of projects to utilize the ARPA funds #tc1020 succeeding slides go into more detail (as also shown in FinCom meeting last week)
• the wireless tower will save money (we'd have had to spend anyway) and enable better comms for the Police and Fire folks, they can use backchannel to communicate with each other but in so doing, the MECC is cut out #tc1020
• possible cost sharing with Medway on additional clinician, full amount in our accounting to ensure we get the funding and the service, we can figure out the other details later. #tc1020

Census 2020 data and reprecincting

• next up, Town Clerk and GIS Coordinator update on 2020 census data - re-precinct status #tc1020 also to be posted to this page https://franklinma.gov/town-council/agenda-items/8-presentationsdiscussions-59
• difference between the decennial census and the data collected by the American Community Survey (ACS) - the ACS provides on-going data rather than waiting 10 years. #tc1020
• This slide has the numbers likely to drive the 40b percents #tc1020 the number of housing units increased in the last 10 years
• Difference between redistricting and reprecincting shown in these slides #tc1020
• House representation seems not to change, State district may solidify into one representative vs. split between 2. We go from 8 to 9 precincts but other than that, a minor change overall. #tc1020
• doesn't change anything for this Nov election, would only be effective for Jan 2022 and beyond. The process of voting, precinct finding details can be easily done at the polling place #tc1020
• a mailing to those in precinct 9 will be planned for future; as we are 'at large' there is no effect on the precinct alignment. For those raising Q on potential change to precinct election for Council that would need to be done by charter change and (for me) we aren't ready …
• are ready to operate that way. It is hard enough to gain 'community' with the at large approach, going by precinct would only further divide us. to what end? I see that we are not ready for that yet (my 2 cents) #tc1020 maybe later down the road
• moving on to subcommittee reports; EDC met tonight, info on wayfinding signs and branding #tc1020

Legislation for Action

• legislation for action -> Resolution 21-59: Update of Town’s Voting Precincts (Motion to Approve Resolution 21-59 - Majority Vote) https://franklinma.gov/town-council/agenda-items/10a-legislation-action-54… #tc1020 motion to approve, second, passes 8-0
• Resolution 21-60: Further Amending the Senior Citizen Property Tax Work-off Abatement Program (Motion to Approve Resolution 21-60 - Majority Vote)  https://franklinma.gov/town-council/agenda-items/10b-legislation-action-54… #tc1020 motion to approve, seconded, passes 8-0   Q on minimum wage, by law per rebate process can't be
• Resolution 21-61: Further Amending the Veterans’ Property Tax Work-off Abatement Program (Motion to Approve Resolution 21-61 - Majority Vote) https://franklinma.gov/town-council/agenda-items/10c-legislation-action-46…  #tc1020 motion to approve, seconded, passes 8-0
• Resolution 21-62: Acceptance of G.L. Chapter 59, Section 5C ½ and Increase in Certain Property Tax Exemptions Pursuant Thereto (Motion to Approve Resolution 21-62 - Majority Vote) https://franklinma.gov/town-council/agenda-items/10d-legislation-action-44…  #tc1020 motion to approve, seconded, passes 8-0
• Resolution 21-63: Cable Funds in Support of PEG Service and Programming per MGL Ch. 44, §53F3/4 - $28,000 (Motion to Approve Resolution 21-63 - Majority Vote) #tc1020 standard quarterly transaction motion, seconded, passes 8-0
• Resolution 21-64: Cable Funds in Support of PEG Service and Programming per MGL Ch. 44, §53F3/4 - $28,000 (Motion to Approve Resolution 21-64 - Majority Vote) #tc1020 https://franklinma.gov/town-council/agenda-items/10f-legislation-action-30… motion, seconded, passes 8-0

Town Administrators Report

• Town Administrators report: Garelick all penalties and interest all fully collected for water service, now from Dairy Farmers America - Maple open space has finally closed on docs - #tc1020
• Council comments - Frongillo speaking on Danello situation - Jamie reprises what happened then, coordination with Sec of Commonwealth for the acting appointment - "The issues arose under the term of the prior town clerk who resigned"
• councilor comments encouraging voting on Nov 2; cautioned by Attny Cerel to be cautious on comments regarding the election #tc1020
• Chair, thanks fellow councilors, it has been trying but we have accomplished a lot. #tc1020 thanks to the Town administration etc.  motion to adjourn, passes 8-0  that's all folks!

Audio recording of meeting to be available in couple of days

 

2020 census data - re-precinct status

"Food insecurity is a silent problem"

"The number of Massachusetts households lacking enough food to get by doubled during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a recent study from Project Bread.

More than half a million residents, more than a quarter of them children, who are eligible for SNAP, or food stamps, don’t receive benefits for the nation’s No. 1 anti-hunger program, according to the research by Project Bread, a Boston nonprofit that works to end hunger in the state.

“The cycle of hunger, it definitely is real,” said Erin McAleer, president and CEO of Project Bread, which surveyed more than 800 Boston residents in partnership with the city’s Office of Food Access and UMass Boston’s Center for Survey Research."

Continue reading the article online (subscription maybe required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/08/22/metro/hungry-mass-households-doubled-during-pandemic/

Direct link to the Project Bread study updated in Aug 2021

https://www.projectbread.org/research/barriers-to-snap

"Food insecurity is a silent problem"

A related article from The Washington Post based upon census data

"Hunger around America is improving, compared with a month ago, according to the most recent U.S. census data. But food insecurity has a long way to go before returning to pre-pandemic levels.

Self-reported food insecurity for the week ending Aug. 2 was at its lowest levels since the start of the coronavirus pandemic for households with children, according to the census data. That dovetails with strong jobs numbers, stronger economic growth and other bright spots in the economic recovery.

But food stamps enrollment is still way up, 2 million more than last year and 6 million more than in 2019. And food banks are still seeing dramatically more need than during pre-pandemic times." 

Continue reading the article online (subscription maybe required)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2021/08/23/hunger-pandemic-food-stamps/

Population changes for Franklin, MA from 2020 Census Data

"Like the rest of the nation, Massachusetts is getting more diverse, according to data released by the US Census Bureau on Thursday.

The map below shows how each town in Massachusetts has changed from the 2010 Census to the 2020 one. You can see the percent change in population since 2010, or explore each town’s demographic changes individually. The towns that shrunk the most are redder; those that grew are greener."

Continue reading the article online (subscription maybe required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/08/12/metro/new-census-data-see-how-each-mass-town-has-changed/

Related Boston Globe article ->  https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/08/12/metro/new-census-data-is-being-released-thursday-beginning-2021-redistricting-process-earnest/

Overall population growth has slowed and the community has gotten more diverse.

Population change for Franklin, MA from 2020 Census Data

Redistricting Data: What to Expect and When? Written by Dr. Ron Jarmin, U.S. Census Bureau Acting Director Since releasing the apportionment results in April, we've had several teams working hard on the next set of 2020 Census data — the redistricting data. These data play an important role in our democracy and will begin to illuminate the changes to the local and demographic makeup of our nation over the last decade. These data include the first sub-state population counts and demographic characteristics from the census, information that states typically use for redistricting — the process of redrawing electoral district boundaries based on where their populations have increased or decreased.  Although redistricting is a state function, the U.S. Census Bureau performs an important role in the process — providing quality data to the states from the census that states may choose to use in redistricting.  Continue reading the article ->  https://www.census.gov/newsroom/blogs/director/2021/07/redistricting-data.html Video: What is Redistricting? Video link -> https://youtu.be/O0MhAue2Tuk Hear from the Census Bureau's James Whitehorne, chief of the redistricting and voting rights data office, and Nicholas Jones, director and senior advisor of race and ethnicity research and outreach, as they answer common questions about the upcoming 2020 Census data release.  We serve as the nation's leading provider of quality data about its people and economy. The Census Bureau is the federal government's largest statistical agency. We are a scientific organization focused on data. Policy-makers, businesses, and the public use our information to make far-reaching decisions.

Drawing Democracy: "communities of interest"

Drawing Democracy (@DrawingDemMA) tweeted on Tue, Jul 20, 2021:

Throughout the redistricting process, we hear a lot about identifying "communities of interest," but what does that actually mean? We break it down for you here ⤵️ #Redistricting101 #FairMapsMA https://t.co/cuC3qwEqWs

(https://twitter.com/DrawingDemMA/status/1417562703640637440?s=03)

Drawing Democracy: "communities of interest"

Bracing for the 2021 Hurricane Season

Above-normal activity predicted for this hurricane season. Learn more in this America Counts story.

America Counts: Stories Behind the Numbers Bracing for the 2021 Hurricane Season The 2021 hurricane season began on June 1 and the nation is bracing for a 60% chance of above-normal activity: The outlook from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) includes a range of 13 to 20 named storms. Six to 10 of the storms could become hurricanes, including 3 to 5 major hurricanes (category 3, 4, or 5).    https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2021/07/bracing-for-2021-hurricane-season.html Read More Tropical storm Ana graced the Atlantic on May 22, weeks before the official start of the 2021 hurricane season. Tropical Storm Bill formed on June 14, Tropical Storm Claudette on June 19, Tropical Storm Danny on June 28 and Hurricane Elsa on July 1. After last year's record-breaking hurricane season, the U.S. Census Bureau released an infographic of the three major Atlantic hurricanes that made landfall in the United States in 2020, using the Longitudinal Employer-Household Dynamics OnTheMap for Emergency Management data tool. Continue reading to learn more about: Above-normal activity Planning for disasters Help us spread the word about America Counts. Share this story on social media or forward it to a friend. Share This About America Counts America Counts tells the stories behind the numbers in a new inviting way. It features stories on various topics such as families, housing, employment, business, education, economy, emergency preparedness, health, population, income and poverty. Contact our Public Information Office for media inquiries or interviews. Don't miss an America Counts story! Subscribe here.

Special Joint Committee on Redistricting - Congressional District 4 Hearing - July 19

Senator Becca Rausch (@BeccaRauschMA) tweeted on Tue, Jul 13, 2021:

Attention #CD4 residents! The district lines for Congress, State Senate, State Rep, and Governor's Council are about to be redrawn. 

The #redistricting committee wants to hear from you on Monday 7/19, 12-5 PM. 

More info and testimony sign-up: https://t.co/mvqVtmsRAn
#MApoli #democracy https://t.co/swTRiuhfGf

#CD4 is Congressional District 4 which includes Franklin

Shared from Twitter:  https://twitter.com/BeccaRauschMA/status/1415063945992445954

Sign up to provide feedback  https://malegislature.gov/Events/Hearings/Detail/3747

Special Joint Committee on Redistricting - Congressional District 4 Hearing - July 19

"The annual fertility rate may be dropping — births have fallen for six straight years"

"Luz Portillo, the oldest daughter of Mexican immigrants, has many plans. She is studying to be a skin care expert. She has also applied to nursing school. She works full time, too — as a nurse’s aide and doing eyelash extensions, a business she would like to grow.

But one thing she has no plans for anytime soon is a baby.

Ms. Portillo’s mother had her when she was 16. Her father has worked as a landscaper for as long as she can remember. She wants a career and more control over her life.

“I can’t get pregnant, I can’t get pregnant,” she said she tells herself. “I have to have a career and a job. If I don’t, it’s like everything my parents did goes in vain.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription maybe required)

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/16/us/declining-birthrate-motherhood.html

"The annual fertility rate may be dropping — births have fallen for six straight years"

"Some have found ways to juggle work, child care and virtual schooling"

"Around 10 million U.S. mothers living with their own school-age children were not actively working in January — 1.4 million more than during the same month last year, according to new U.S. Census Bureau data.

The pandemic has had a devastating effect on employment overall but especially on mothers’ paid labor. The 10 million not working accounted for over one-third of all mothers living with school-age children in the United States, according to the Current Population Survey."

Continue reading from the Census Bureau:

https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2021/03/moms-work-and-the-pandemic.html

 

Some have found ways to juggle work, child care and virtual schooling

FM #462 - Franklin's Acting Town Clerk - 02/10/21 (audio)

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Franklin’s Acting Town Clerk Nancy Danello along with her assistant Susan Merullo.

We had our conversation via conference bridge to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

We talk about: 

• What is your Franklin story?
• Almost 6 months already, including two elections (Nov, Dec 2020)
• What else are you doing?
• What does the 2021 year hold (beside November elections)?

Links to the Town Clerk web page is included in the show notes. The recording runs about 22 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Nancy and Susan.

Audio file = https://player.captivate.fm/episode/7541a85e-30d4-4916-bb7f-1a078094ad77

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Town Clerk page = https://www.franklinma.gov/town-clerk 

Updated official directory (as mentioned) https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/uploads/2021_directory_of_town_state_and_county_officials_0.pdf 

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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 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"

Acting Town Clerk Nancy Danello provides an update to a Town Council meeting in 2020

Statistics in Schools (SIS) resources help bring census statistics to life

From the Census Bureau:

With some schools temporarily shuttered or on a staggered schedule because of the ongoing pandemic, many kids are learning from teachers conducting lessons remotely or through a mix of in-class and remote schooling.

With that in mind, the U.S. Census Bureau’s Statistics in Schools (SIS) program created several new online resources for teachers, parents and caregivers to keep children engaged while distance learning.

Among them: the Home and Distance Learning Activities page, which provides easy-to-use materials — videos, fun facts, warmup activities and more — for different grade levels. 

For more info continue reading the article at the Census Bureau

https://www.census.gov/library/stories/2020/12/new-census-bureau-resources-for-distance-learning.html

 

Statistics in Schools  https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/sis.html

Home and Distance Learning  https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/sis/activities/distance-learning.html 

 

 

Statistics in Schools

In the News: 2020 Census is complete

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"The counting for the 2020 U.S. Census official ended last week, and now the U.S. Census Bureau will use the data it has collected to determine how many people live in each city and town in the United States.

The U.S. Census Bureau says 69.3% of households in Massachusetts self-reported their data by the deadline (11:59 Hawaiian Standard Time on Oct. 15/5:59 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Oct. 16) and another 30.6% of households were enumerated when a census taker was sent to the home or by another nonresponse followup method. People could self-report either through the internet site, by calling the Census Bureau or completing a paper census form.

“The Census Bureau creates a master address file that is used to reach out to every household in the country. This file is compiled and verified by multiple sources including state and local governments,” according to a statement from the bureau."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20201018/how-many-households-in-your-community-responded-to-2020-census-before-deadline-here-are-numbers-for-milford-region?rssfeed=true

How did Franklin do? The chart shows the response rate, what that will translate to in terms of population remains to be seen. For more info on the overall response rates  https://2020census.gov/en/response-rates/self-response.html

2020 Census is complete

 

In the News: "Census Bureau must temporarily halt winding down operations"

 From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:  

The U.S. Census Bureau for now must stop following a plan that would have it winding down operations in order to finish the 2020 census at the end of September, according to a federal judge’s order.

U.S. District Judge Lucy Koh in San Jose, California, issued a temporary restraining order late Saturday against the Census Bureau and the Commerce Department, which oversees the agency. The order stops the Census Bureau from winding down operations until a court hearing is held on Sept. 17.

The once-a-decade head count of every U.S. resident helps determine how $1.5 trillion in federal funding is distributed and how many congressional seats each state gets in a process known as apportionment.

The temporary restraining order was requested by a coalition of cities, counties and civil rights groups that had sued the Census Bureau, demanding it restore its previous plan for finishing the census at the end of October, instead of using a revised plan to end operations at the end of September. The coalition had argued the earlier deadline would cause the Census Bureau to overlook minority communities in the census, leading to an inaccurate count.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/zz/news/20200906/census-bureau-must-temporarily-halt-winding-down-operations/1?rssfeed=true 

For the interactive response rates for Census 2020

https://2020census.gov/en/response-rates/self-response.html

how many households in your community have responded online, by phone, or by mail