Town Administrator's Report: Migrant Status from the Town Council Mtg Oct 11, 2023 (audio)

FM #1076 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1076 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the Town Administrator’s Report segment from the Town Council Meeting of Oct 11, 2023. Town Administrator Jamie Hellen provides an update on the Migrant Housing status.  

The report segment runs about 8 minutes. Let’s listen to this segment of the Town Council meeting on Wednesday, October 11, 2023. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1076-town-administrators-report-migrant-status-10-11-23

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Town Administrator page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/administrator

Town Council agenda doc ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/town_council_agenda_-_oct_11_2023.pdf 

Update from Sep 20 meeting -> 

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/09/town-administrators-report-on-migrant_20.html 

Update from Sep 6 meeting ->

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/09/town-administrators-report-on-migrant.html 

Notification on migrant temporary housing

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/08/ma-notifies-franklin-of-plans-to-house.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 iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

Franklin, MA: Town Council Agenda for Wednesday, Oct 11, 2023 at 7 PM

#LOVEfranklin: quick update RE: the emergency shelter in Franklin

To those who #LOVEfranklin:

Here’s your quick update RE: the emergency shelter in Franklin. A few more families have arrived. The Franklin Interfaith Council (FIC) is beginning to think long-term hospitality and distribution of donations. 

All persons placed at the shelter are being signed up for SNAP benefits, Mass Health, and school quickly. The Town staff has worked hard to hone this process and it is working smoothly. 

As people are signed up for essential services, our focus is shifting to welcome, hospitality, and community—social well-being. We are continuing to organize volunteers for an after-school program. Contact Rev. Kathy McAdams for details.

Also in the works from the FIC are Intake/Hospitality bags (to meet the   immediate needs of people when they arrive), a discretionary fund for   transportation via GATRA, and a weekly communal meal. We’ll release more
information about these opportunities once details are firmed up and we
get the final go-ahead from the town.

Attached to this email you will find the updated donation/volunteer flyer (.pdf and .jpeg versions). 

NOTE: we’ve provided more details about where to drop off donations as there has been some confusion. Clothing can be dropped off on the back porch of the parsonage of Franklin Federated Church (183 Main Street); and, for those who don’t know, St. Rocco Square is the side entrance (off of Church Street) to St. Mary’s Catholic Church.

Thank you for being part of this long-term effort to support the evolving needs of those being placed in the Emergency Shelter in Franklin! 

Feel free to share this information; and, if others would like to be added to this distribution list, have them email  info@franklininterfaith.org.

Peace
Jacob



> <O><O><O><O><O><O><O><

Rev. Dr. Jacob W. Juncker
Pastor, Franklin United Methodist Church
President, Franklin Interfaith Council

#LOVEfranklin: quick update

PDF -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VWMSNFBjGb5_-UCz8dIQIlQWBkHTfyn6/view?usp=drive_link

#LOVEfranklin: quick update RE: the emergency shelter in Franklin

#LOVEfranklin // Emergency Shelter Humanitarian Aid Update & Call to Action

To those who #LOVEfranklin:

Nearly two years ago you signed onto a "A Call to Our Community," written by the Franklin Interfaith Council (FIC) in response to several incidences including targeted hate speech and vandalism against members of the LGBTQIA+ community, racial slurs at public events, and anti-Semitic graffiti. The FIC issued a call to #LOVEfranklin. Part of that call was an expressed commitment of each signer to "create a beloved community where all persons regardless of their gender, identity, sexual orientation, race, ethnic background, stature, ability, creed or faith can find a home."

As most of you are aware, the State of Massachusetts has opened some 80 emergency shelters across the state, including in Franklin, to help support "homeless families in crisis."  You can find a copy of the town press release here. Currently the emergency shelter in Franklin is housing some 120 people. The shelter is expected to fill over the next few weeks to a capacity of 400-500 people. Over half the people currently placed in Franklin are native English speakers. While the state is providing most of the basic needs for these individuals and getting them setup with social services, many needs remain unmet as people try to make a new home for their family.

This is where you come in. The Franklin Interfaith Council will be regularly communicating the needs of the families placed in the emergency shelter in Franklin, providing local drop-off points for you to make donations, and distributing the donations at the shelter. In addition to tangible donations like food, clothing, and hygiene products, we will also help communicate volunteer opportunities. There are many ways you can help.  See the attached flyer for a listing of current needs and volunteer opportunities. We will update and distribute this flyer regularly.

If you know of people who would like to be added to this distribution list, please have them email info@franklininterfaith.org. If you would like to be removed from this distribution list, please respond to this email and let me know.

Thank you for your on-going commitment to #LOVEfranklin and your efforts to help others make a home and fall in love with Franklin too!

Peace.
Jacob

 

><O><O><O><O><O><O><O><

Rev. Dr. Jacob W. Juncker

Pastor, Franklin United Methodist Church

President, Franklin Interfaith Council

><O><O><O><O><O><O><O><

Flyer -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DI6Xtcy2Q-tcaG6LYsfeCpcJypqbDuze/view?usp=drive_link

#LOVEfranklin // Emergency Shelter Humanitarian Aid Update & Call to Action

Additional Links:

• "A Call to Our Community: #LOVEfranklin" (https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/10/a-call-to-our-community-lovefranklin.html)
• Town of Franklin Press Release from 8/24/23 (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZrtRuZM0DyW9gbQ1K5GPRaKD2-1iMokO/view).
• Town Administrator's Report on the Migrant Housing Status – 9/06/23 (https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/09/town-administrators-report-on-migrant.html)
• Town Administrator's Report on the Migrant Housing Status - 09/20/23 (https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/09/town-administrators-report-on-migrant_20.html)
• "1,000 families now arriving in Massachusetts shelter every month, officials estimate," WCVB.com, September 8, 2023 (https://www.wcvb.com/article/migrant-crisis-massachusetts-emergency-shelter-rapidly-growing/45049626)

Town Council Quarterbacking session catches up to the Sep 20 meeting and provides a recap (audio)

FM #1068 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1068 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 20, 2023: 

• ok, what just happened? 

• What does it mean for Franklin residents and taxpayers?

We cover the following key topics

• Three appointments to individual committees were unanimously approved.  a. Council on Aging - Collette Ferguson  b. Finance Committee - Heather Sanscoucy   c. Municipal Affordable Housing Trust - Kimberly Mu-Chow 

• Franklin Elks Riders presented a donation of $1k, the Franklin Elks Bingo donated $10k to the Town of Franklin veterans services

• Council goals review, a long list of accomplishments, a list to be proud of

• The funds previously allocated for purchase of a new ambulance were authorized to be paid to the vendor to hold the contract and avoid a price increase - Resolution 23-54: Ambulance Transfer & Appropriation

• The Council discussed and approved placement of the debt exclusion to fund the Franklin portion of the Tri-County RVTHS new building. The question language approved was as follows: 

• "Shall the Town of Franklin be allowed to exempt from the provisions of proposition two and one-half, so-called, the amounts required to pay the Town’s allocable share of the bonds issued by the Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical School District to pay costs of designing constructing and equipping a new high school to be located at 147 Pond Street, in Franklin, including the payment of all costs incidental or related thereto?"

• The Open Space & Recreation Plan developed over the course of 15 months, muti[;e meetings and 3 public hearings was approved by the Council. IT will be submitted to the State and assuming their acceptance will also be part of the Master Plan Update now underway

• Town Administrators report provided updates on the migrant housing situation, the demolition delay report and a report on decommissioning a section of Spring Street.

Our conversation runs about 35 minutes. Let’s listen to this session of Town Council Quarterbacking recorded Sep 20, 2023. Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1068-town-council-quarterbacking-09-28-23

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The Franklin TV video is available for replay ->  https://www.youtube.com/live/bF13Dgn_6qs   

Town Council agenda doc -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/town_council_agenda_-_sept_20_2023.pdf 

My full set of notes captured via Twitter during the meeting are collected in a single PDF for easier reading  -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1khvMQCoANrW3vZxzRHMYP1pPlrpfAfP4/view?usp=drive_link 

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

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"

Town Council Quarterbacking session catches up to the Sep 20 meeting and provides a recap (audio)

Town Council receives Elks donations, approves debt exclusion question for Tri-County school (audio)

FM #1066 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1066 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the Town Council meeting held in Council Chambers on Wednesday, September 20, 2023. All 9 members of the Council were present in the Council Chambers. 

Quick recap:

• Three appointments to individual committees were unanimously approved.  a. Council on Aging - Collette Ferguson  b. Finance Committee - Heather Sanscoucy   c. Municipal Affordable Housing Trust - Kimberly Mu-Chow 

• Franklin Elks Riders presented a donation of $1k, the Franklin Elks Bingo donated $10k to the Town of Franklin veterans services

• Council goals review, a long list of accomplishments, a list to be proud of

• The funds previously allocated for purchase of a new ambulance were authorized to be paid to the vendor to hold the contract and avoid a price increase - Resolution 23-54: Ambulance Transfer & Appropriation

• The Council discussed and approved placement of the debt exclusion to fund the Franklin portion of the Tri-County RVTHS new building. The question language approved was as follows: 

"Shall the Town of Franklin be allowed to exempt from the provisions of proposition two and one-half, so-called, the amounts required to pay the Town’s allocable share of the bonds issued by the Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical School District to pay costs of designing constructing and equipping a new high school to be located at 147 Pond Street, in Franklin, including the payment of all costs incidental or related thereto?"

• The Open Space & Recreation Plan developed over the course of 15 months, multiple meetings and 3 public hearings was approved by the Council. IT will be submitted to the State and assuming their acceptance will also be part of the Master Plan Update now underway

• Town Administrators report provided updates on the migrant housing situation, the demolition delay report and a report on decommissioning a section of Spring Street.

The recording runs 2 hours and 16 minutes. Let’s listen to the Town Council meeting on Sep 20, 2023.  Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1066-franklin-ma-town-council-mtg-09-20-23

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Town Council agenda doc ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/town_council_agenda_-_sept_20_2023.pdf 

Town Administrator Jamie Hellen provided an update. This audio segment of the meeting was shared separately. https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/09/town-administrators-report-on-migrant_20.html  

The Franklin TV video is available for replay ->   https://www.youtube.com/live/bF13Dgn_6qs   

My full set of notes captured via Twitter during the meeting are collected in a single PDF for easier reading  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1khvMQCoANrW3vZxzRHMYP1pPlrpfAfP4/view?usp=drive_link  

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

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

Mark Ellis presenting the $10,000 check from bingo

Elks riders presenting the check for $1000

Town Administrator's Report on the Migrant Housing Status - 09/20/23 (audio)

FM #1065 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1065 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the Town Administrator’s Report segment from the Town Council Meeting of Sep 20, 2023. Town Administrator Jamie Hellen provides an update on the Migrant Housing status.  

The report segment runs about 27 minutes. Let’s listen to this segment of the Town Council meeting on Wednesday, September 20, 2023

Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1065-tc-segment-town-admin-report-09-20-23

Video link timed to start of Town Administrator's Report ->   https://www.youtube.com/live/bF13Dgn_6qs?si=P49HB-MYPrGfpeym&t=5122

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Town Administrator page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/administrator

Town Council agenda doc ->  

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/town_council_agenda_-_sept_20_2023.pdf 

Update from Sep 6 meeting ->

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/09/town-administrators-report-on-migrant.html 

Notification on migrant temporary housing

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/08/ma-notifies-franklin-of-plans-to-house.html

Franklin TV video of 09/20/23 meeting -> https://www.youtube.com/live/bF13Dgn_6qs?si=UQh6elNMORZvbLln

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

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

Town Administrator's Report on the Migrant Housing Status - 09/20/23 (audio)