Franklin Matters: review

Showing posts with label review. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 23, 2025

FTC warns businesses about fake reviews

Consumer Alerts from the Federal Trade Commission

By BCP Staff

Whether you're hiring a contractor, looking for an apartment, or shopping online, chances are you check out online reviews first.

Many people use reviews to see the honest opinions of other buyers — and companies rely on reviews to stand out from the crowd.

But some companies write, post, or pay for fake reviews — and that hurts people and honest companies.

Be sure to tell the FTC about the fake reviews you spot at ReportFraud.ftc.gov

Wednesday, November 19, 2025

Tiered Focused Monitoring Review Scheduled at BFCCPS with DESE's Office of Language for Jan 2026

During the week of January 16th the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE’s) Office of Language Acquisition (OLA) will conduct a Tiered Focused Monitoring Review of Benjamin Franklin Charter School.

The Office of Language Acquisition reviews each district’s and charter school’s ELE program every six years to monitor compliance with federal and state English learner education laws and regulations. Areas of review will include English learners’ student assessments, identification of English learners; what programs English learners are placed in, parent and community involvement, curriculum and instruction, student support services, licensure requirements for faculty, staff and administration, program plans, and evaluation and recordkeeping.

In addition to the virtual visit, parent outreach is an important part of the review process. The district will send a survey to the parents of students whose records the review team examines. The survey focuses on key areas of their child’s English learner education program. Survey results will be reviewed by OLA and they will contribute to the monitoring report.

Parents and other individuals may call David Parker, Office of Language Acquisition Review Chairperson, at 781-338-3466 to request a telephone interview. If an individual requires an accommodation, such as translation, to participate in an interview, DESE will make the necessary arrangements.

Tiered Focused Monitoring Review Scheduled at
BFCCPS with DESE's Office of Language for Jan 2026

Within approximately 60 business days of the onsite visit, the review chairperson will provide the charter school with a report with information about areas in which the

charter school meets or exceeds regulatory requirements and areas in which the charter school requires assistance to correct or improve practices. The report will be available to the public at https://www.doe.mass.edu/ele/cpr/.

About the Benjamin Franklin Charter School

The Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School's mission is to assist parents in their role as primary educators of their children by providing students with a classical academic education coupled with sound character development and community service. Our mission is supported by four distinct, yet interconnected pillars that provide for a collaborative, rigorous education for all students. These pillars guide, direct and define the school in all it does.

Monday, March 3, 2025

Town Administrator Ad-hoc Review Meeting 2/27/25 (audio)

FM #1392 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1392 in the series.

This session of the radio show shares the audio recording of the Ad Hoc committee for the Town Administrators Review. The meeting was held on Thursday, February 27, 2025 in the Council Chambers.

Subcommittee Chair Ted Cormier-Leger opens the meeting. Councilors Melanie Hamblen and Glenn Jones participate. Town Administrator Jamie Hellen and many Town department heads are also present and contribute to this session.

Quick recap:

Exemplary performance review; Area for improvement to be mindful of verbiage, tone, in public meetings, emails, etc. Be better able to step back and help us all be better
In lieu of reading the draft review doc, they walked through some of the sections to pick out key points and allowed Jamie to elaborate on the development of the individual items touting what he (and the town staff) did to complete the item
Many of the department managers were present and added comments for their review of Jamie

The meeting runs about 1 hour & 55 minutes, so let’s listen to the Ad Hoc committee for the Town Administrators review meeting. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1392-franklin-ma-town-administrator-review-02-27-25/

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Franklin TV video available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjaqeHc6eII

The agenda doc includes the draft review ->

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02272025-1604

My notes captured during the meeting ->

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AssnKA3WLeBxDqbwfKc6owJY6MQ9d6pM/view?usp=drive_link

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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
And if you have interest in reporting on meetings or events, please reach out. We’ll share and show you what and how we do what we do

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!

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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"

Town Administrator Ad-hoc Review Meeting 2/27/26 (audio)

Sunday, March 2, 2025

Town Administrator Ad-hoc Review Meeting 2/27/25 (video)

The Ad-Hoc Sumbcommittee of the Town Council assigned to conduct the annual review for Town Administrator Jamie Hellen met on Thursday evening Feb 27, 2025 as scheduled. Subcommittee Chair Ted Cormier-Leger open the meeting with Councilors Hamblen and Jones present.

Franklin TV video available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjaqeHc6eII

The agenda doc includes the draft review ->

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02272025-1604

Quick recap:

Exemplary review, Area for improvement to be mindful of verbiage, tone, in public meetings, emails, etc. Be better able to step back and help us all be better
In lieu of reading the draft review doc, they walked through some of the sections to pick out key points and allowed Jamie to elaborate on the development of the individual items touting what he (and the town staff) did to complete the item
Many of the department managers were present and added comments for their review of Jamie

My notes captured during the meeting ->

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AssnKA3WLeBxDqbwfKc6owJY6MQ9d6pM/view?usp=drive_link

Town Administrator Ad-hoc Review Meeting 2/27/26 (video)

Thursday, February 27, 2025

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Thursday, February 27, 2025 ???

Thursday, February 27

5pm Board Game Night (Pete's Nerd Emporium)

for additional details on Library events -> https://franklinma.gov/calendar.aspx?CID=24&showPastEvents=false

** Town Meetings today **

Town Administrator Evaluation Ad Hoc Committee

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02272025-1604

Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) - No meeting, next scheduled meeting March 13

https://franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02272025-1539

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Why are there multiple calendars?

What's happening today in Franklin?

Respectfully, the Library and Senior Center calendars are too full of events to include all their events so we tend to focus on the major events. Town and School meetings are also kept separate. Links for all the calendars are shared here:

Find the full Community event calendar https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication: https://bit.ly/Submit2Calendar

The Library calendar of events -> calendar link

The Senior Center calendar of events -> https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar.aspx?CID=37&showPastEvents=false

The Town meeting calendar is found https://www.franklinma.gov/Calendar.aspx
The School district calendar is found https://franklinpublicschooldistrictma.sites.thrillshare.com/o/fpsd/page/school-calendars

Wednesday, February 26, 2025

Town Administrator Evaluation Ad Hoc Committee meeting scheduled for February 27, 2025

TOWN ADMINISTRATOR EVALUATION AD HOC COMMITTEE

Agenda & Meeting Packet

February 27, 2025 - 7:00 PM

Meeting will be held at the Municipal Building

2nd floor, Council Chambers

355 East Central Street

1. CALL TO ORDER

2. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR EVALUATION DISCUSSION & RECOMMENDATION

a. Chair Memo & Evaluation
b. Town Council/Town Administrator Goals list September 2024-25
c. Town Administrator Contract Language
d. Staff Input:
i. James McLaughlin, Fire Chief
ii. Ryan Jette, Recreation Director
iii. Felicia Oti, Library Director
iv. Amy Frigulietti, Deputy Town Administrator
v. Kerri Bertone, Chief Financial Officer
vi. Other Department Heads

3. ADJOURN

Agenda doc also contains remote participation info ->

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02272025-1604

Town Administrator Evaluation Ad Hoc Committee meeting scheduled for February 27, 2025

Tuesday, January 28, 2025

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Tuesday, January 28, 2025 ???

Tuesday, January 28

Fiber Art Installation (Franklin Public Library)
Last days to buy Music Booster calendar raffle for February

2:30pm Rainbow Cafe (Franklin Senior Center)

6:30pm Franklin Public Library Book Club (Franklin Public Library)

7:00pm Musical Bingo (Raillery Public House)

** Town Meetings today **

Design Review Meeting

January 28, 2025, 7:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01282025-1524

Franklin School Committee Meeting

January 28, 2025, 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01282025-1531

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Why are there multiple calendars?

What's happening today in Franklin?

Find the full Community event calendar https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication: https://bit.ly/Submit2Calendar

The Library calendar of events -> calendar link

The Senior Center calendar of events -> https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar.aspx?CID=37&showPastEvents=false

Tuesday, January 14, 2025

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Tuesday, January 14, 2025 ???

Tuesday, January 14

Fiber Art Installation (Franklin Public Library)

6:00pm Family Game Night (Franklin Public Library)

7:00pm FBRTC Rail Trail Cmte Mtg (Franklin TV and Radio Studio)

** Town Meetings today **

Franklin School Committee Policy Subcommittee Meeting

Event Date: Tuesday, January 14, 2025 - 6:00pm

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/events/franklin_school_committee_meeting_10.pdf

Design Review Meeting

Event Date: Tuesday, January 14, 2025 - 7:00pm

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/events/design_review_meeting_-_1-14-2024.pdf

Franklin School Committee Meeting

Event Date: Tuesday, January 14, 2025 - 7:00pm

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/events/fsc.pdf

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Why are there multiple calendars?

What's happening today in Franklin?

Find the full Community event calendar https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication: https://bit.ly/Submit2Calendar

The Library calendar of events -> calendar link

The Senior Center calendar of events -> https://www.franklinma.gov/node/39/events/upcoming

The Town meeting calendar is found https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar
The School district calendar is found https://franklinpublicschooldistrictma.sites.thrillshare.com/o/fpsd/page/school-calendars

Thursday, December 5, 2024

Master Plan Update Committee sets additional subcmte sessions and final review before bringing to Planning Board (video)

The Master Plan Update Committee met for under an hour on Wednesday, Dec 4, 2024. 10 members participated, 7 in Council Chambers, 3 remotely.

Franklin TV video available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/live/3yl_-0_Uvgc?si=ycbQ7gKYW1H2J3b2&t=84

The agenda doc -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/master_plan_agenda_-december_4_2024-_with_minutes_to_approve.pdf

Quick recap:

The 'final' draft is to be updated with comments and potential feedback, subcommittees need to review and coordinate where there are some potential conflicts
Planning Board is the ultimate approval at Town level (they should actually be preparing the report) although Town Council does have approval before submittal to State
Discussion on the nature of changes, some are potential, not all need to be considered, respectfully; i.e. if a Planning Board chair makes a suggestion how is it handled? It depends...
Discussion on adding a subcommittee meeting to the schedule to review/process the changes, use of spreadsheet rather than updating the live
doc directly. The full committee will decide on the individual changes before they are made. For example, the pedestrian, walk ability changes even if the doc doesn't have the exact wording, when the work required gets is actually getting done, the final regulations will need to be ADA compliant to whatever is the current standard
Discussion on scheduling joint subcommittee meetings to resolve some around overlap items (Housing, Land Use)
Likely another full Committee session in January before bringing to Planning Board/ Town Council; discussion on processing inputs and turning around before getting to the Planning Board, discussion reiterates the Master Plan Committee is charged with development of the 10 year plan
Suggestion to give the Planning Board a 'redline' view of the final changes, could be easier for Planning Board for their review.
Consensus on the full Committee to meet Jan 15 to vote on changes, Planning Board would get the final copy redlined on the 27th; meeting starts at the same time, 6:30 PM
Chair thanks everyone for the work done this far, wishes all great holidays, Motion to adjourn, second, passes 10-0 via roll call

My full set of notes -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NLCQrQ5sHv274HqRzT1G01isgi61QG4o/view?usp=drive_link