Agenda for Communications Subcommittee - Weds, July 15 at 6 PM

Communications Subcommittee 

Agenda & Meeting Packet

July 15, 2026 = 6:00 PM

Meeting will be held at the Franklin Municipal Building 355 East Central Street - 2nd Floor, Council Chambers

Agenda:

1. Discussion: Debrief on Town Councilor attendance/presence at early summer 2026 community events

2. Town Council Office Hours follow up discussion

3. Constituent email response policy/protocol

a. Draft Town Council Email Guidelines   https://franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/10152/DRAFT-Town-Council-Email-Guidelines

4. Review and formal recommendation

a. Draft Social Media Engagement Guidelines for Elected & Appointed Officials  https://franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/10110/DRAFT-Social-Media-Engagement-Guidelines-for-Elected-and-Appointed-Officials-PDF

b. Reference: Page 3 of Rules of Procedure defines Role of the Franklin Town Council  https://franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/8362/2026-02-04-Draft-Rules-of-Procedure-v2-FINAL-APPROVED

5. General discussion: next steps, priorities, and questions

a. 2026-2027 Communications Subcommittee work plan  https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/9592/2026-2027-Communications-subcommittee-work-plan---DRAFT

b. Draft Town Council Community Engagement Ideas   https://franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/10120/Draft-Town-Council-Community-Engagement-Ideas

6. Adjourn

The agenda doc also contains remote participation info

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07152026-2412

Note: This is a meeting of the Franklin Town Council Subcommittee; under the Open Meeting Law, this subcommittee is a separate "public body" from the Town Council. Therefore, unless the Town Council has separately notified and posted its own meeting, Councilors who are not members of this subcommittee will not be permitted to speak or otherwise actively participate @ this meeting, although they may attend and observe. This prohibition is necessary to avoid the potential for an Open Meeting Law Violation.

Town of Franklin issues email scam alert

Town of Franklin issues email scam alert

Town of Franklin is aware of an Email Scam with fraudulent emails impersonating Town Departments & Committees

The Town of Franklin has become aware of an email scam wherein hackers impersonating the Planning Department, Conservation Commission, and potentially others, contact individuals and organizations demanding invoice payment via wire transfer.

PLEASE BE AWARE that the Town of Franklin does not solicit payments via wire transfer.

IF YOU RECEIVE ONE OF THESE EMAILS PLEASE CALL

Detective Laura Canavan at (508) 440-2719

• DO NOT SEND ANY MONEY
• DO NOT CLICK ANY LINKS
• DO NOT OPEN ANY ATTACHMENTS

Shared from -> https://www.instagram.com/p/DRAwDIVkvjY/

Don't trust Facebook, subscribe for one email a day

Sharing what I posted to Facebook this weekend when they notified me that one of the posts on the override was taken down. Really? Yup.

The post take down notification

"So Facebook, stop and think about some of your automations. As a representative of the Local News organization (Franklin TV & Franklin Public Radio) we abide by our FCC charter in broadcasting TV and radio, and by extension, we observe those guidelines when we use digital news outlets (like yours) to share what we are doing on the TV and Radio channels.

We are also responsive to our audience. If they ask a simple question, we are in a position to provide an accurate and timely response. Such as the current news item which has been brewing in Franklin, MA for some time to increase the size of our revenue pie or bucket, or yes, bottom line, raise our taxes to pay for the services we provide.

As a news organization, we don't take a side (yea, or nay). We see our role to share the accurate and timely info, meeting videos, meeting audio, meeting notes, etc. so that the electorate can make an informed vote when they go to the polls.

Taking down our post to answer the voter & resident questions about the override is NOT helping the situation. Our post shared the collected info for the voters & residents to find the info and make their own decision.

Sorry but as good as AI maybe for specific circumstances, we do need your AI to help with a Franklin, MA question.

So Facebook, stop and think about some of your automations. Consider adding a step in the automation response to challenge a post removal with a text box to allow the individual (me, this case) to provide something more than a check box answer to your automations"

So, the best way to stay informed is to use the original social media tool - Email. Subscribe for one email a day with all the info that is worthy of sharing ->   https://www.franklinmatters.org/p/welcome.html

Summary of what is shared in the one email ->   https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/05/watch-listen-read-for-all-news-that.html

Don't trust Facebook, subscribe for one email a day

The Guardian: "Gone in two transfers: the email scam that cost Australian homebuyers their life savings"

"Simon Elvins and his wife were excited – they had spent 10 years saving for their first home and they had finally got there. The New South Wales man had just been sent an invoice from his conveyancer, asking him to pay the first lot of his home deposit for a property in the Blue Mountains.

In two transactions on 5 and 8 May, he sent the money and waited. After a few days, he had not heard back, so he emailed the conveyancers.

After a back and forth with the conveyancers and the real estate agent over five days, they worked out what had happened – but it was too late. Scammers had intercepted the email, changed the account details on the invoice and stolen his deposit.

With two quick transfers, Elvins lost $274,311.57."

Continue reading the article (subscription may be required)

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/aug/20/australian-email-payment-redirection-scam

Simon Elvins and his wife had spent 10 years saving for a deposit for their new home in the Blue Mountains only to lose nearly $250,000 to a payment redirection scam. Photograph: Dean Sewell/Oculi

Are you subscribed to Town of Franklin alerts and notifications? It is easy to set up

Residents are encouraged to subscribe to the Town's Regroup public safety notification system! 

Visit the link to subscribe and become aware ->   https://franklintown.regroup.com/login

Public Safety alerts are used when there is some emergency situation to bring awareness to the community of part of it. The alerts are geographically targeted so a street, or your neighborhood, or the whole Town can get an alert for something happening nearby. Accidents that close roads, or a response to a fire, or street flooding are the most common uses for these type of alerts.

You create an account for your address and sign up for notification via one or more methods; phone call, text, or email. You can choose to receive the alert in more than one way. Once the account is created, you can change the method, or add an alert to the notifications.

For example, the Health Dept now uses this service for a weekly alert on a health topic. I choose to receive these via email. The public safety alerts I choose to receive via text.

Note: signing up for these alerts is separate from signing up for the newsletter or meeting notifications. Email notifications for meeting agendas can be set up here -> https://www.franklinma.gov/subscribe

Shared from Instagram -> https://www.instagram.com/p/CnFMltdutfX/

Are you subscribed to Town of Franklin alerts and notifications? It is easy to set up

You can join the Franklin LGBTQ Alliance mailing list

From the Franklin LGBTQ Alliance

Please add your name to our mailing list. You can sign up for general updates, volunteering opportunities, and/or leadership.

Use this form to join the mailing list:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfnRB-LK3z7DKSe1Rl0ClaY7LQpAteHAhf3YpLLjejFi_A6gQ/viewform 

You can join the Franklin LGBTQ Alliance mailing list

if you haven't subscribed for the daily email, please do so, and tell your friends & neighbors too!

If you want to stay informed on what matters in Franklin, MA, you have found the right place.

You can subscribe (or follow) for free to receive a daily dose of what matters via email (yes, only one email daily.)

As a volunteer “Community Information Director”, I attend as many Town Council, School Committee, and other Franklin meetings as I can. I will report on the full and complete meeting, publishing my notes as the meeting progresses.

You can subscribe to the daily newsletter delivered via email. You get one email a day with everything published in the past 24 hours. Spend about 10 minutes a day to keep up with what matters in Franklin.

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

Subscribe here -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/p/welcome.html

if you haven't subscribed for the daily email, please do so, and tell your friends & neighbors too!

Sign up for the Franklin Matters Q&A Session - Jan 12, 2022 - 11 AM (hybrid)

Please join me for an informative and informal Q&A session. A hybrid meeting. I plan to be in the Senior Center and will have the Zoom conference bridge available for remote participation.

If you want the Zoom link, please use this form:   https://forms.gle/cjgfpsG3yi4dkLiq9

When: Wednesday, Jan 12 at 11:00 AM  

• What should be on the "Watch List" for 2022? 
• budget, COVID, affordable housing, downtown zoning, etc...

 

Franklin Matters Q&A session scheduled for Jan 12, 2022 - 11 AM

On the seventh day before leaving Facebook , My true love sent to me

On the seventh day before leaving Facebook 

My true love sent to me

Seven tweets a twitter'

Happy anniversary Franklin Matters! Goodbye Facebook! (audio)

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/11/happy-anniversary-franklin-matters.html 

Yes, the count down is underway....  

follow Franklin Matters on Twitter ->  https://twitter.com/FranklinMatters

On the seventh day before leaving Facebook , My true love sent to me

Franklin Matters is leaving Facebook; your alternatives to consider to remain "in the know" (part 2)

Effective Nov 30, 2021 the Franklin Matters Facebook page will go away. You are given notice to find one of the other options to obtain the valuable information shared but not longer directly by me on Facebook.

• You can subscribe via email to the daily update (an easy way)  https://www.franklinmatters.org/p/welcome.html
• You can subscribe via RSS and get everything as it posts (actually the best way)  The 7 best RSS Readers for 2021 (I personally use Feedly)   https://bloggingwizard.com/free-rss-feed-readers/
• You can follow Franklin Matters on Twitter    https://twitter.com/FranklinMatters

Someone can also set up a way to take what I share and share it themselves to Facebook. I have no way to stop that. Folks occasionally do so on their own today.

My personal account will remain on Facebook to maintain my family and network connections. I have limited what is posted and shared in that way and am willing to take the risk to maintain those family connections.

I can no longer take the risk exposing your information in this way. Facebook needs to change and only actions like this will get their attention to do so.

Why Nov 30?

The Franklin election is important and as divisive as Facebook is, for those who depend upon it for info, I will provide some time for them to begin to make their move to one of the alternatives.

If you need or want help setting up email subscription or RSS, I've scheduled a few Zoom sessions to walk through the options to subscribe.  There are two sessions scheduled for day time periods and two for evening time evening periods. Hopefully one of them will meet your schedule. 

Zoom options to learn about alternatives to remain "in the know"

• Monday, Nov 8 - 7:30 PM
• Wednesday, Nov 10 - 9 AM
• Monday, Nov 15 - 1:00 PM
• Tuesday, Nov 16 - 7:30 PM

If you need or want help, sign up here ->   https://forms.gle/x4gWma8PgrmDD1i66

Franklin Matters is leaving Facebook; your alternatives to consider to remain "in the know"  (part 2)

60 Minutes "a betrayal of democracy" leads to decision that Franklin Matters Facebook page to go away Dec 1, 2021

60 Minutes (@60Minutes) tweeted at 7:42 PM on Sun, Oct 03, 2021:

"The version of Facebook that exists today is tearing our societies apart and causing ethnic violence around the world," says former Facebook employee France Haugen. She points to Myanmar, where the military used Facebook to launch a genocide.

Find the full 60 Minutes segment here -> https://t.co/WU4IumjHkO 

Shared from Twitter: https://t.co/cy9Ed9MgbH

“The version of Facebook that exists today is tearing our societies apart and causing ethnic violence around the world,” says former Facebook employee France Haugen. She points to Myanmar, where the military used Facebook to launch a genocide. https://t.co/WU4IumjHkO pic.twitter.com/cy9Ed9MgbH

— 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) October 3, 2021

Note: this is a continuation of the revelations about Facebook since the  Cambridge Analytica scandal. in 2018  I attempted to remove Franklin Matters updates from Facebook at that time and the readers, followers on Facebook created an uproar so I stayed reluctantly.

As a data security and privacy professional I can no longer condone the Facebook business model. Effective Dec 1, 2021 the Franklin Matters Facebook page will go away. You are given notice to find one of the other options to obtain the valuable information shared but not longer directly by me on Facebook.

• You can subscribe via email to the daily update (an easy way)  https://www.franklinmatters.org/p/welcome.html
• You can subscribe via RSS and get everything as it posts (actually the best way)  The 7 best RSS Readers for 2021 (I personally use Feedly)   https://bloggingwizard.com/free-rss-feed-readers/
• You can follow Franklin Matters on Twitter  https://twitter.com/FranklinMatters

Someone can also set up a way to take what I share and share it themselves to Facebook. I have no way to stop that. Folks occasionally do so on their own today.

My personal account will remain on Facebook to maintain my family and network connections. I have limited what is posted and shared in that way and am willing to take the risk to maintain those family connections.

I can no longer take the risk exposing your information in this way. Facebook needs to change and only actions like this will get their attention to do so.

Why Dec 1?

The Franklin election is important and as divisive as Facebook is, for those who depend upon it for info, I will provide some time for them to begin to make their move to one of the alternatives.

If you need or want help setting up email or RSS, I'll offer to schedule a Zoom session (or two) to walk through the process. Let me know if you are interested via email or comment on this post.

Reference points on Facebook data leaks

• Franklin Matters attempt to shut down in 2018 was announced with this post ->  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/04/fixing-companys-problems-will-take-years.html
• Data leak reported in April 2021 (actually occurred during 2019) ->  https://blog.mozilla.org/en/privacy-security/facebook-data-leak-explained/
• Data leak in 2017 ->  https://techcrunch.com/2018/09/28/everything-you-need-to-know-about-facebooks-data-breach-affecting-50m-users/
• Cambridge Analytica aftermath -> https://techcrunch.com/2020/09/25/cambridge-analyticas-former-boss-gets-7-year-ban-on-being-a-business-director/

Mark Hurst's Good Report also has a listing on RSS Readers to add to what I shared here.  https://goodreports.com/post/rss-reader.html

Franklin Senior Center: The last of the blasts July 30, 2021

The Last of my Blasts!

Hello Everyone!

This has been an incredible journey!  I have sent 79 email blasts over the past 17 months and it is time for me to transition back into my role as the Supportive Day Coordinator / Respite Coordinator at the Franklin Senior Center.  I have enjoyed finding interesting, strange, intriguing, funny and helpful information to share with you all and I hope each one of you has enjoyed my 'informational tidbits' as well. 

We have hit highs and lows; had moments of isolation and fear but also kindness and connections.  Technology helped us combat social isolation and bridge the gap to access the world.  Doors were opened to new friendships with sites like zoom and what's app.  People shared their talents, Colleges and Universities opened up to free learning; Museums, Aquariums, Churches and more opened their doors virtually and allowed us to explore. Musicians held free concerts and groups of strangers, from around the world,  came together to create beautiful, harmonious music together. Basically anything you have on your bucket list became available (usually for free) right at your fingertips. 

We were not limited by distance and had the chance to explore Natural Parks, Underwater marvels, travel to foreign countries and fly over, through and around some of the most beautiful places in the world. What truly matters, the human connection, blossomed and we saw multi generational cross over with children writing cards to seniors and seniors sharing knowledge with the younger generations.  There was less division as people reached out to help and make sure nobody was alone.  During this time of unprecedented chaos and uncertainty we rediscovered kindness and compassion.  

My hope moving forward is that those lessons and kindness remain and we continue to foster, encourage and share them.  We have an opportunity to take the positive things we learned, the connections we made and the kindness we showed strangers and step forward, bringing it all with us. COVID isn't over yet and hopefully neither are all the positives that came from the past year and a half of LIVING through a pandemic. 

Stay safe, stay kind, we are all in this together.  And remember to tell people what they mean to you, that you love them and that you are grateful to have them in your life. 

HUGE virtual hugs to you all,

Ariel

Nantucket Harbor at Sunrise July 2021

Supportive Day Program "Sunshine Club" update

We are excited to announce that our Supportive Day Program will be reopening in September!  "Sunshine Club" is a social day program for seniors with mild to moderate cognitive loss, dementia or Alzheimer's.  We are finishing up work on the enrollment packets and will be calling those on our waitlist to schedule our assessment interviews.  If you have a loved one or know someone who might be interested in learning more about Sunshine Club or attending please email adoggett@franklinma.gov or dhaynes@franklinma.gov  

Companion Care Update

The Companion Care Program provides regularly scheduled, in-home respite for caregivers.  If you are a caregiver and would like to know more about this program please email adoggett@franklinma.gov.  We hope to have this program up and running in mid-September.

Staying Connected

Link to the Senior Center - https://www.franklinma.gov/fsc

Link to the Senior Center Calendar https://www.franklinma.gov/node/39/events/day 

Link to Franklin Matters - https://www.franklinmatters.org/ and www.franklin.news 

Link to the Town's webpage - https://www.franklinma.gov/

Link to the Franklin Observer - https://franklinobserver.town.news/ 

Link to Mass.Gov COVID - https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-updates-and-information 

Tips

Senior Gardening Tips - keeping it easy and safe

https://seniorsafetyadvice.com/safe-gardening-tips-for-seniors/#:~:text=Safety%20Tips%20For%20Senior%20Gardening%201%20Install%20a,large%20pots%20%28for%20container%20gardening%29%20More%20items...%20 

Robocalls - We all get them and hate them.  Here are tips to stop them!

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/robocalls-still-haven-t-gone-away-so-here-s-every-method-we-know-for-stopping-them/ar-BB14MnkQ?li=BBnbcA1&ocid=U452DHP&pc=U452 

Music

50 countries unite and sing Amazing Grace

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BA7pdABvpnc 

500 greatest love songs of all times (according to someone)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3JWTaaS7LdU&list=PLwNv9Hhd8gZjNoQdpd2kBa3fwXNeJjzDX 

10 oldest musical discoveries

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sO-0JjTjpBs 

Just for Fun

16 satisfying art techniques from around the world

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akoNcDKCr-o 

 

The truth behind Italy's $1 homes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nP2vtDLTAgM 

An experiment in gratitude / The science of Happiness

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHv6vTKD6lg 

Vintage Boston

https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/massachusetts/boston/vintage-photos-boston-streets/ 

How COVID changed our world

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihSlDvQwHdg 

Humor

Weird things caught on security camera

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMpiZrgxHSU 

25 Knock Knock jokes

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Zmza7mupAQ 

Dad jokes - HAHAHA These are HYSTERICAL.  I challenge you not to laugh

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWMv2POqYQI 

Kindness Matters

Coming together by staying apart - The kindness of COVID (a commercial with a good message)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVz5Do0QWHM 

Foster Kid gets his fairytale ending

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MHhU63Q_2A 

Son of a fallen Deputy bids on his Fathers car at auction

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BF6BUry_C0 

Children and Seniors come together

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSG_FCQ10fA 

Don't put people in boxes - no matter what you believe this is a wonderful message

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRwt25M5nGw 

Upcoming Events 

Please see the attached calendar for August.  You can always check out website (link above) or request a copy of the newsletter digitally or hard copy.

Attached you will find:

FRIDAY FOODFEST flyer

August Calendar of Events for the Senior Center

Donna's fun filled activity pages

I am going to miss doing these blasts but hope to see you in person at the Franklin Senior Center!  Here is a photo of me so you know what I look like! :-)

Ariel Doggett

--

Ariel Doggett

Virtual Program Coordinator

Respite Coordinator

Supportive Day Coordinator

"We rise by lifting others" - Robert Ingersoll

There is no act of kindness too small