This Town Council Quarterbacking session condenses the Oct 18 Council meeting for you (audio)

FM #1088 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1088 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 October 18, 2023: 

• ok, what just happened? 
• What does it mean for Franklin residents and taxpayers?

We cover the following key topics

(1) Town Clerk provided updates on the upcoming Oct 24 election for the new Tri-County school building and the Biennial Town election on Nov 7. Both votes will take place at the High School. Folks can vote early in the Town Clerk's office during business hours

(2) the swearing in of the new round of hires (backfill replacements) for the Police Dept. along with the introduction of Kallie Montagano who returns to the Dept in a new role as the Co-Response Program continues to grow. And last but not least, the introduction of Frankie, the departments new therapy dog

(3) approval of the license changes to enable Bob Vozzella to expand into his new space and operate with his farmers licenses for wine and beer at La Cantina Winery

(4) impactful and moving update from Jennifer Knight-Levine, CEO and cofounder of the SAFE Coalition on their work. The audio segment of her presentation along with the Q&A with the Council is shared separately. Her update includes the expansion of their work in meeting the needs of our community into handling the migrant housing needs  -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/10/jen-knight-levine-updates-council-on.html 

(5) Town Administrator Jamie Hellen's update on the migrant status will also be shared separately as an audio segment

Our conversation runs about 27 minutes. Let’s listen to this session of Town Council Quarterbacking recorded Oct 23, 2023.  Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1088-town-council-quarterbacking-10-23-23

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The Franklin TV video is available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-7D1fTJLhY  

Town Council agenda doc -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/town_council_agenda_10.18.23.pdf  

Photo album of the police introductions and swearing in -> 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/qanQvXdNFAvbQQN76 

Jen Knight-Levine's update for the SAFE Coalition was shared separately as an audio  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/10/jen-knight-levine-updates-council-on.html 

Town Administrator Jamie Hellen's report including the migrant housing update was shared separately  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/10/town-council-segment-migrant-housing.html 

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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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This Town Council Quarterbacking session condenses the Oct 18 Council meeting for you (audio)

Frankie joins the Franklin Police Dept; she is in training as a therapy dog

"Introducing the newest member of the FPD…

The Franklin Police Department is excited to announce the arrival of Ben Franklin’s new partner, Frankie! Frankie is a 6 month old chocolate lab recruited from  professional Canine Services of Middleboro MA. Frankie will be partnered with Ben and Officer Gove of the Department’s Community Services Unit. Frankie will begin her training this summer by attending rigorous training to become a therapy dog. She will also be trained as a “friendly find” search dog to assist with searches for missing people.

Upon completion of her training, she will participate in an intensive field training program with Ben and the rest of the FPD Community Services Unit. Once all of  her training is completed, she will be ready to meet the public while serving the students and residents of Franklin.

For now, she has been getting to know her surroundings and meeting all of her new co-workers who are ecstatic to have a new member of the team. Frankie is thrilled for the opportunity to work with Ben and Officer Gove.

Ben Franklin Is excited to train and work with Frankie. He has already started to show her the ropes and they bonded immediately. He is excited to share some of the workload and to work with Frankie.

We are looking forward to having two highly trained therapy dogs here in the

Department/community to serve the public.

Stay tuned for more updates and please feel free to reach out to Officer David Gove at dgove@franklinma.gov if you have any questions."

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

Frankie joins the Franklin Police Dept; she is in training as a therapy dog

The Dog Project scheduled for Saturday, June 4, from noon to 3 PM will feature our own "Ben Franklin"

The Franklin Lion's Club is presenting an event about everything Dog with demonstrations from Hanscom AFB K-9 unit, and Franklin Police's K-9, Ben Franklin.

Comfort and Service dogs will show you how they assist people.

Representatives from organizations that provide training, doggie day care, doggie treats, dog walkers, and more will be participating.

The Dog Project is scheduled for the Town Common on Saturday, June 4 from noon to 3 PM. Rain date is Sunday, June 5, noon to 3 PM.

No cost for the event. Raffle items will be on site to raise money to donate to a Dog organization.

• Donations of dog food for the Franklin Food Pantry would be appreciated.
• Donations of old eye glasses will be collected by the Lion's Club.

Franklin Police: Ben Franklin gained his "Canine Good Citizen" certification in Jan 2021

 

Franklin Police: Ben Franklin gains his "Canine Good Citizen" certification

"Congratulations to Ben Franklin! Today he earned his “Canine Good Citizen” certification.   

Thank you to MasterPeace Dog Training of Franklin for their continued generous donation of working with our canine companion! 

Officer Mucciarone and Ben will continue to serve the community by brining joy and smiles to all!"

Shared from Facebook:    https://www.facebook.com/162770995915/posts/10157348910045916/

Franklin Police: Ben Franklin gains his "Canine Good Citizen" certification

In the News: "Patches featuring Franklin police dogs being sold to benefit animal charities"

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

"Patches featuring the Police Department’s K-9 officer and therapy dog are being sold to benefit two Massachusetts charities that serve animals.

The patches, sold by the Franklin Police Patrol Association, feature K-9 Robbi, a 3-year-old German shepherd who has been with the department since 2018; and the department’s therapy dog Ben Franklin, a nearly 2-year-old golden retriever, who joined the department in early 2019.

All proceeds from patch sales will go toward the Cape Cod Police K-9 Relief Fund and Nature’s Nurse Wildlife Rehabilitation, operated by Franklin wildlife rehabilitator Stacey Cobb."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required) 
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200825/patches-featuring-franklin-police-dogs-being-sold-to-benefit-animal-charities?rssfeed=true

Find about more about the Franklin Police Patrol Association via their Facebook page  https://www.facebook.com/Franklin-Police-Patrol-Association-299943613453249

 

In the News: "Patches featuring Franklin police dogs being sold to benefit animal charities"

FPD: May the 4th be with you!

Even if you are not celebrating, Franklin Police Dept. would like to wish you a very happy Star Wars Day. 

We’re lucky enough to have our very own Han Solo and Chewbacca ...

Officer Mucciarone and FPD therapy dog Ben Franklin!

FPD: May the 4th be with you! (Photo from FPD)

Ben Franklin caught in action (video)

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

"You’ve heard of the Grinch who stole Christmas, but what about the golden retriever?

On Wednesday, the Franklin Police Department’s 1-year-old therapy dog, Ben Franklin, was caught committing larceny on camera, “stealing” away toys reserved by the department for the Santa Foundation, a charity based in Franklin.

As the canine was feeling a little Grinchy, Officer Eric Cusson recorded Ben Franklin carrying a doll in a baby carrier in his mouth, his fluffy tail swaying back and forth as he zipped through the hallways of the Police Department to his hiding place."

https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20191219/in-house-grinch-almost-foils-franklin-police-charity-effort

The Facebook post includes the video of Ben in action:

"Ben is still only in puppy kindergarten"

From the Boston Globe, an article of interest for Franklin:

"In a Franklin elementary school, a young boy with special needs was screaming and crying. Nobody could comfort him, not even his teachers or a police officer who was called to help. 

Just as the situation verged on uncontrollable, the newest member of the police department arrived on the scene. The presence of Ben Franklin, a 5-month-old golden retriever puppy, immediately calmed the child. 

“As soon as we brought Ben, the boy looked at the officer and snapped out of it. He said ‘Can I pet him?’ and the officer said ‘Yes, if you’re good,’” said Mark Manocchio, a lieutenant in the Franklin Police Department. “The teachers and police couldn’t calm him down, but he saw the dog and it was like magic.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/globelocal/2019/04/12/ruff-day-take-comfort-franklin-police-new-therapy-puppy/RkFrfwIVHBGpMznGukoNjI/story.html

Ben was introduced to the Town Council

and Ben was introduced to the School Committee