Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - Oct 20, 2021

Wednesday, October 20, 2021 - 7:00 PM

1. ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE CHAIR 
This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast channel 11 and Verizon Channel 29.  This meeting may be recorded by others. 
Chair to Identify Members Participating Remotely.

2. CITIZEN COMMENTS
Citizens are welcome to express their views for up to five minutes on a matter that is not on the agenda. The Council will not engage in a dialogue or comment on a matter raised during Citizen Comments. The Town Council will give remarks appropriate consideration and may ask the Town Administrator to review the matter. 

3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
None Scheduled 

4. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
None Scheduled

5. APPOINTMENTS
David Ogilvie: Fire Department, New Hire

6. HEARINGS - 7:10pm
None Scheduled

7. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
Residence Inn Boston Franklin, License Modification, Change of LLC Officers & Managing Directors, 4 Forge Parkway, Franklin, MA 02038

8. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
American Rescue Plan Act: Jamie Hellen, Town Administrator
2020 Federal Census & Reprecincting Update: Nancy Danello, Acting Town Clerk and Kate Sjoberg, GIS Coordinator

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/mai/files/10a._resolution_21-59_reprecincting.pdf   and  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/mai/files/10a._reprecincting_maps.pdf

9. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
Capital Budget Subcommittee
Budget Subcommittee
Economic Development Subcommittee

10. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
10a. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
Resolution 21-59: Update of Town’s Voting Precincts (Motion to Approve Resolution 21-59 - Majority Vote)
 
10b. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
Resolution 21-60: Further Amending the Senior Citizen Property Tax Work-off Abatement Program (Motion to Approve Resolution 21-60 - Majority Vote)
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/mai/files/10b._resolution_21-60_senior_tax.pdf

10c. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
Resolution 21-61: Further Amending the Veterans’ Property Tax Work-off Abatement Program (Motion to Approve Resolution 21-61 - Majority Vote)
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/mai/files/10c._resolution_21-61_vets.pdf

10d. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
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://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/mai/files/10d._resolution_21-62_property_tax_exemption_vets_0.pdf

10e. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
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)
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/mai/files/10e._resolution_21-63_peg_28k_-_verizon_1_1.pdf

10f. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
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)

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/mai/files/10f._resolution_21-64_peg_28k_-_verizon_2.pdf

11. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

12. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

13. COUNCIL COMMENTS

14. EXECUTIVE SESSION

None Scheduled

ADJOURN

One PDF 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 

proposed Update of Town’s Voting Precincts

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"

Boston Globe: “The electoral system was the cause of the inequity”

"In Everett today, white, non-Hispanic residents make up less than 44 percent of the population, but they dominate city government. Seventy-five percent of the elected councilors and school committee members are white.

That’s no accident, critics say; it’s a natural outgrowth of the city’s electoral system.

Everett is one of several cities in Massachusetts where all local officials are elected at-large, and none by individual wards or districts. For years, civil rights specialists have called that a recipe for exclusion. White residents, even as a minority, often vote as a bloc and drown out the voices of Black and brown voters. Lawyers for Civil Rights, a nonprofit legal organization, recently put Everett councilors on notice that they’re vulnerable to a challenge under the Voting Rights Act.

“There’s no shot against anybody because they’re a white man or a white woman. We are violating the federal Voting Rights Act,” Everett City Councilor Gerly Adrien, the first Black woman to serve on the council, warned her colleagues at a December council meeting."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/01/26/metro/how-underrepresented-candidates-mass-communities-can-be-squelched-by-electoral-systems/

Editorial note: Voting for our Town Council or School Committee by precinct rather than "at-large" (as we do today) may be more of a consideration as our population grows. In the meantime, there are other practical ways to increase the diversity of candidates for our local government and ensure a fair and equitable voice "in the room where it happens." We do need to work at being a government "of the people, by the people, for the people." 

 

Franklin votes at the high school

Voting for all of Franklin is at Franklin High School, 218 Oak St, Franklin, MA 02038.


View Larger Map

The polls will open at 6:00 AM and close at 8:00 PM.

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To help summarize the information available to us on the candidates and their positions, I have the following to offer:

In the News - SchCom, precincts, dancers

Franklin School Committee picks new leaders after election

by Alison McCall/Daily News staff

Ross to get two of Spilka's Franklin precincts after redistricting

by Alison McCall/Daily News staff

Franklin dancers perform in Boston

by GateHouse Media, Inc.