Share your feedback on the MA Climate Change Assessment by Nov 16

Live in Massachusetts? 

We need your feedback on #ClimateChange impacts in the state. 

Review the draft #MAClimateAssessment Report and share your feedback by November 16!

Link to report page -> https://t.co/pLQnkcx7Ip Report sections available in multiple languages

Executive summary -> https://www.mass.gov/doc/english-7/download

State Report -> https://www.mass.gov/doc/draft-available-in-english/download

Regional Summary -> https://www.mass.gov/doc/english-8/download

Shared from Twitter -> https://t.co/XndXVamRaa

What does it say for the Central Region (where Franklin is categorized)?

What does it say for the Central Region (where Franklin is categorized)?

Share your feedback on the MA Climate Change Assessment by Nov 16

Washington Post: "Study sessions, parties and dorm life: How college students can minimize COVID risk on campus"

"College students across the nation are back on campus, bracing for another tumultuous semester amid the spread of the highly contagious delta variant of the coronavirus.

And as their universities grapple with mask recommendations, vaccine mandates and distancing rules, students are charged with making serious health-related decisions. Health experts have some risk-reduction advice to make those tough calls a little easier.

One health expert said that while no public health precaution is 100 percent effective, layering them offers a solid defense against covid-19, the disease caused by the virus.

“I tell folks: ‘Think of the vaccine like a really good raincoat, but if it’s storming outside, you still need an umbrella if you want to stay dry,’ ” said Henry Wu, assistant professor and senior physician at the Emory University School of Medicine. “And I think right now, we’re storming in most of the country.”

Continue reading the article online. (Subscription maybe required) 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2021/09/08/covid-college-students-faq/

Dean College students are back on campus in Franklin

NPR: "Amid Confusion About Reopening, An Expert Explains How To Assess COVID-19 Risk"

Via NPR, we find this article share worthy:

"Across the country, states are loosening the restrictions that had been put in place to curb the spread of COVID-19 — with varying results. New cases are decreasing in some states, including New York, Michigan and Colorado, while case numbers and hospitalizations have swelled recently in several states, including Texas, Arizona and Florida.

"Since the very first day of this pandemic, I don't think [we've been] in a more confused position about what's happening," epidemiologist Michael Osterholm says. "We just aren't quite sure what [the coronavirus is] going to do next."

Osterholm is the founder and director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota. His 2017 book, Deadliest Enemy: Our War Against Killer Germs, was recently republished with a new foreword about COVID-19. Mark Olshaker is the book's co-author.

From the earliest days of the pandemic, the coronavirus has often been treated as a political issue rather than a public health issue — and much has been made of President Trump's refusal to wear a mask in public. But Osterholm says that the risks from COVID-19 supersede partisanship."

Continue reading the article online
https://www.npr.org/2020/06/17/879255417/amid-confusion-about-reopening-an-expert-explains-how-to-assess-covid-risk

This hit the Franklin radar via Twitter:https://twitter.com/TracyNovick/status/1274871454111334400?s=09

A server wears a protective face mask while attending to customers amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Bethesda, Md., on June 12.  Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images

"There isn’t a department in here that doesn’t need technology"

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

"Timothy Rapoza says that all those suspicious emails that town employees have been receiving are safe -- at least for now. 

Rapoza, director of technology services, told town councilors on Wednesday that he is behind numerous fake emails -- replicas of popular phishing emails that appear as if they contain viruses -- sent to town employees, and for good reason: He and his team want to see who is clicking on them. 

The goal, Rapoza added, is to train employees to recognize potential threats when they see them in their inboxes. It’s one of the many tasks of the town Technology Department, which has been in place for about 20 years. 

And Rapoza, who has been with Franklin for 13 years, said he has seen technology change dramatically in that time."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20181222/franklin-councilors-get-tech-lesson-on-phishing-virus-threats

From more about the Town of Franklin Technology Department
https://www.franklinps.net/district/educational-technology

one page from the slideshow presented at the Town Council meeting on Weds, Dec 19

Town Council Recap: Charter School provides update; contract reached with Hellen for Town Administrator role

The Town Council meeting held Wednesday, Dec 12, 2018 can be summarized as follows:

Appointments

Appointments to the Board of Health (BOH) and Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) were made. Phillip Brunelli had recently resigned from the Board of Health to take a spot on the ZBA. Fulfilling the open BOH spot required a joint session of the Council and BOH to appoint Ciera Maffei. She will fill the role until the next election (Nov 2019). Philip was successfully appointed to the ZBA and Christopher Stickney was appointed to an associate position.

Section 3 Vacancies

3-3-1 Unless recalled in accordance with Article Five, Section 4 of this Charter, vacancies in boards established under this Article shall be filled by the Town Council jointly with the remaining members of the respective board until the next regular Town election.

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/uploads/revised_2013_1.pdf

Charter School Update

Charter School Presentation to Town Council from Franklin Matters

Risk Assessment

The Town administration has had an open action item for several years to perform a financial risk assessment. This was accomplished this summer and the summary document was presented and review at the meeting.

This was good to see performed. It had been required in the annual audit reports. The actions required to complete the assessment are relatively minor in nature and currently scheduled for completion  by the end of March 2019. A copy of the risk assessment report is linked to below

Executive Session

The Town Council entered into executive session to discuss and come to an agreement on the contract for the new Town Administrator, Jamie Hellen. They were to  return to open session and either vote (assuming they reached an agreement) or return and then close the meeting (if they hadn't)/

After approx 45 minutes they did return to open session and vote to agree on the contract which they signed and then Jamie signed.

new TA Jamie Hellen waits for Councilor Earls to be
the last to sign the contract before signing it himself

The Town Council Actions Taken doc can be found
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/news/town_council_actions_taken_for_december_12_2018.pdf

My notes reported live during the meeting

• Live reporting: return to open meeting
• https://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/12/live-reporting-return-to-open-meeting.html
• Live reporting: to Closing
• https://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/12/live-reporting-to-closing.html
• Live Reporting: Subcommittee reports through to Le...
• https://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/12/live-reporting-subcommittee-reports.html
• Live Reporting: Risk Assessment
• https://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/12/live-reporting-risk-assessment.html
• Live reporting: Presentation / Discussion
• https://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/12/live-reporting-presentation-discussion.html
• Live reporting: Town Council - Meeting - Dec 12, 2...
• https://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/12/live-reporting-town-council-meeting-dec.html
• 
  

after signing the contract, Jamie shook hands with the Councilors