NEW DATE - October 2-4 for the PMC Franklin Kids Ride 2020 Re-imagined

In order to celebrate with the PMC Kids Ride Community, we have moved our ride to the weekend of October 2-4. Since the majority of the Massachusetts rides will be held this weekend, we can all ride VIRTUALLY together.  

Cancer isn’t taking the year off so neither is the the PMC Franklin Kids Ride. Kids can ride as much or as little as they want in their own neighborhood, on a bike path or anywhere they choose! It’s a great opportunity for them to be creative, have some fun, make it their own, and raise money to help find a cure for cancer. Get family, friends, and neighbors to register too. All local communities are encouraged to participate. 

There is no registration fee and no fundraising minimum and all money raised will go directly to support the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute through its Jimmy Fund. These donations benefit research, treatment, and care for children and families impacted by cancer. 

Since 2006, PMC Franklin Kids ride has raised over $540,000 for the Jimmy fund and we look forward to adding to the total this year. Sign up today to be a virtual rider and/or donate at: https://kids.pmc.org/franklin

For more information, please contact Lisa Marchioni at lisabxyz@verizon.net

Many kids. One mission. Cure cancer. 

PMC Franklin Kids Ride 2020

Welcome back Franklin Public Schools! (video)

Video link = https://youtu.be/VkoGFMYCAJY

Commonwealth Magazine: "Business groups urge shifting aid from wealthier to poorer school districts" ; "MassDOT, Boston stick with auto-centric approach"

From CommonWealth Magazine we share two articles of interest for Franklin:  

"LESS THAN A year after Massachusetts enacted sweeping legislation to revamp its school funding formula to steer millions of dollars in new aid to low-income districts, a new report suggests the state should go even further in ensuring that support goes to the neediest districts.

Although the more than $5 billion of state funding to schools is largely directed to lower-income school districts, nearly $800 million is allocated without regard to need. A report released Monday by the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education and Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce says the state should pull back on that funding and redeploy those dollars to low-income districts that continue to struggle to adequately fund schools.

“If ever there was a moment to promote equity in funding education, now is the time to do it,” said Ed Lambert, executive director of the business alliance. “For every dollar we send to communities that can afford to fund schools on their own we’re moving further, not closer, to equity.”

Lambert said uncertainties introduced by the pandemic about the state’s ability to meet its commitments to poorer districts under the funding measure passed last year make the case even more urgent for cutting the amount of aid distributed on a “need-blind” basis."

Continue reading the article online

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/education/business-groups-urge-shifting-aid-from-wealthier-to-poorer-school-districts/

"THIS IS A TALE of two transportation issues – a window on how we may be losing the opportunity moment provided by a generationally disruptive pattern break.

The pattern break, of course, is the COVID-19 pandemic. Every pattern break in history changes the ways we do things going forward. The example I give most often is the experience of 9/11. That pattern break changed forever the way we approach flying and aviation security, it changed the ways we enter public and private buildings, it changed the urban streetscape as barriers originally installed as ugly concrete blocks gave way to highly designed barriers that blend seamlessly into the architectural fabric of the urban landscape.

The COVID-19 pattern break will be as or more significant than the 9/11 break. The impacts of the pandemic reach into almost every aspect of our lives – how we work, how we use and enjoy public and private spaces, how we move from place to place, how we utilize essential services.  The list is nearly endless.

The pandemic won’t last forever – nothing does.  But its effects will stay with us for a long time, some perhaps permanently.  Each of us has been challenged to manage and deal with the realities of this harsh moment – the need to isolate from others, to wear masks outside the home, to significantly alter our desires and habits. But each of us also is being challenged to think about how to build a better future."

Continue reading the article online

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/transportation/doubling-down-on-the-past/ 

274 Prospect Street - Scenic Road Application - Planning Board

In accordance with the Town of Franklin Zoning By-Laws, the Franklin Planning Board
will hold a Remote public hearing on Monday, September 28, 2020 at 7:10 PM, for a
Scenic Road application prepared by Bukkon Design, and submitted to the Department of
Planning & Community Development by Ryan and Margaret Camire, Franklin, MA
02038. The site is located at 274 Prospect Street. The applicant is proposing to remove
part of the stonewall located on Prospect Street.

Please note: This will be your only written notice of this public hearing. All future
Public Hearings on this matter, will be posted on the Planning Board’s website
under Agendas.

This meeting will be done remotely via “ZOOM” platform. Residents can view the Town
Website and click on the Town Calendar for up to date information on access to the
meeting.

Please contact the Department of Planning & Community Development at (508) 520-
4907 if you require further information or if you need to make arrangements to provide
translation services for the hearing impaired, or for persons with language barriers.
For copies of the plan and supporting documentation, please contact Department of
Planning & Community Development via email alove@franklinma.gov.

Anthony Padula, Chairman 

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/agendas/public_hearing_notice_prospect_st_4.pdf

274 Prospect Street - Scenic Road Application - Planning Board

“just wasn’t what I signed up for when I became a teacher”

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

"With many teachers opting out of returning to the classroom because of the coronavirus, schools around the U.S. are scrambling to find replacements and in some places lowering certification requirements to help get substitutes in the door.

Several states have seen surges in educators filing for retirement or taking leaves of absence. The departures are straining staff in places that were dealing with shortages of teachers and substitutes even before the pandemic created an education crisis.

Among those leaving is Kay Orzechowicz, an English teacher at northwest Indiana’s Griffith High School, who at 57 had hoped to teach for a few more years. But she felt her school’s leadership was not fully committed to ensuring proper social distancing and worried that not enough safety equipment would be provided for students and teachers."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.milforddailynews.com/zz/news/20200913/teacher-departures-leave-schools-scrambling-for-substitutes?rssfeed=true 

Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - Sep 16, 2020

The public will NOT be permitted to enter the building or participate in person. Only pre-approved participants on the meeting agenda will be allowed to enter the Building and participate in person. Residents can attend and participate via the “ZOOM” Platform.

A NOTE TO RESIDENTS: 

Due to the continued concerns regarding the COVID-19 virus and Governor Baker’s declared State of Emergency, we will be conducting a remote/virtual Town Council Meeting for all public access and participation. In an effort to ensure citizen engagement and comply with open meeting law regulations, citizens will be able to dial into the meeting using the provided phone number (Cell phone or Landline Required) OR citizens can participate by clicking on the attached link (Phone, Computer, or Tablet required). The attached link and phone number will be active for the duration of the meeting for citizens to ask questions/voice concerns. If residents are just interested in watching the meeting it will also be live-streamed by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast Channel 11 and Verizon Channel 29.

Link to access meeting: September 16, 2020 Town Council Meeting Link  https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83381726558
Call-In Phone Number: Call 1-929-205-6099 and enter Meeting ID # 833 8172 6558 --Then press #
 
1. ANNOUNCEMENTS   
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.

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   
a. August 12, 2020
b. September 2, 2020

4. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS   
None Scheduled

5. APPOINTMENTS   
a. Library Board of Directors (Associate): Barbara Steele
b. Franklin Cultural Council: Jamele Adams
c. Franklin Cultural District: Amy Adams
d. Design Review: Gerald Wood
e. Design Review: Venkata KP Sompally

6. HEARINGS - 7:10pm   
None Scheduled

7. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS   
Change in Manager - Let’s Eat (Franklin), LLC, d/b/a Three Restaurant, 461 West Central Street, Franklin, MA 02038

8. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS 

Health Department: Cathleen Liberty

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/mai/files/8a._board_of_health_presentation_1.pdf

9. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS   
a. Capital Budget Subcommittee
b. Budget Subcommittee
c. Economic Development Subcommittee

10. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION   
None Scheduled

11. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT   

12. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS   

13. COUNCIL COMMENTS   

14. EXECUTIVE SESSION   
None Scheduled

ADJOURN 

  
Note:

• Two-Thirds Vote: requires 6 votes
• Majority Vote: requires majority of members present and voting

The agenda can be found online at the Town of Franklin page

https://www.franklinma.gov/town-council/agenda/september-16-town-council-agenda

 

Or in one PDF file  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/agendas/09-16-2020_town_council_meeting_agenda.pdf

 

Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - Sep 16, 2020

FM #346 Stormwater Ad hoc SubComm Mtg - 9/09/20 (Audio)

FM #346 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 346 in the series.

This session shares the Stormwater Ad-hoc Subcommittee meeting held on Wednesday, Sep 9, 2020. The meeting was conducted via conference bridge to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

Chair Melanie Hamblen officially opened the meeting.

• One of the key questions for the proposed stormwater utility fee is “What is impervious area? “ The DPW has updated one of the GIS Franklin maps with the calculation per property.
• The new web page highlighted during this meeting is a great start. How to calculate the fee based upon your impervious area needs to be added. What credits are available also need to be added.
• The utility fee proposal now moves to the Town Council for further discussion. There will be more info coming on this as it continues to develop for an implementation in July 2021.

The show notes contain links to the agenda doc, the Stormwater Division page, the new impervious area map, and my notes from the meeting. 

The meeting itself runs about just under an hour, so let’s listen to the Stormwater Ad-hoc Subcommittee meeting.  Audio file =   https://www.hipcast.com/podcast/HXb02rPK

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

Stormwater Division page
https://www.franklinma.gov/stormwater-division

Impervious Area Map
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/e45452a3047e4c83b27170a8f4f79aa5 

My meeting notes
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/09/stormwater-ad-hoc-committee-recap-sep-9.html

The meeting agenda
https://franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/agendas/2020-09-09_stormwater_ad_hoc_committee_0.pdf

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

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/

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"

 

FM #346 Stormwater Ad hoc SubComm Mtg - 9/09/20 (Audio)

FM #345 School Committee Meeting - 9/08/20 (audio)

FM #345 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 345 in the series. 

This shares part of the Franklin, MA School Committee meeting that was held on Tuesday, September 8, 2020. The meeting was conducted via conference bridge to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

The audio recording of the meeting runs about 90 minutes or 1 hour and 30 minutes   https://www.hipcast.com/podcast/HDzqdZrK

--------

The agenda doc, including connection info
https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/sc-agenda-9-8-20 
 
The meeting packet with all docs released for this meeting
https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/september-8-2020-school-committee-meeting-packet 
 
My notes taken via Twitter during the meeting are summarized here
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/09/school-committee-recap-sep-8-2020.html
 
Photos used in the Twitter thread can be found in the Google photo album
https://photos.app.goo.gl/aaVGfjybqqMDm1pu7

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

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/

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"

 

FM #345 School Committee Meeting - 9/08/20 (audio)

New York Times: "The Pandemic in Six-Word Memoirs"

From the New York Times, an article of interest for Franklin: 

"Since 2006, I’ve been challenging people to describe their lives in six words, a form I call the six-word memoir — a personal twist on the legendary six-word story attributed to Ernest Hemingway: “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.”

I’ve found that some of the most memorable six-word stories arise in the extremes — during our toughest and most joyous moments. So over the past several months, I’ve asked adults and children around the country to use the form to make sense of this moment in history: one person, one story, and six words at a time."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/11/opinion/coronavirus-pandemic-poetry-memoirs.html

Years ago I composed my 6 word resume as "Project delivered, team happy, customer elated". 

My pandemic entry is: "In the Zoom where it happened"

What would you write in 6 words?

Watch "Confronting Colonial Myths in Boston's Public Space: Highlight Video" on YouTube

Boston Artist-in-Residence Erin Genia led a panel series called Confronting Colonial Myths in Boston's Public Space, featuring Indigenous artists, leaders, and allies.  

"As part of her residency, Erin led a virtual panel series called "Confronting Colonial Myths in Boston's Public Space". In this two-part series, Indigenous leaders and artists spoke about their work in the public realm. They addressed how symbols perpetuating colonial myths affect the lives of Indigenous people in the City, and how these symbols contribute to the public health emergency of racism."

To watch the full series or listen to the podcast, visit https://www.boston.gov/departments/arts-and-culture/erin-genia

Video link:  https://youtu.be/UMx-XXpJkT4

 

Washington Post: "a far more muscular federal approach"

From The Washington Post, an article of interest for Franklin:

"Joe Biden has created a war-cabinet-in-waiting on the coronavirus pandemic, with major figures from the Obama, Clinton and George H.W. Bush administrations drafting plans for distributing vaccines and personal protective gear, dramatically ramping up testing, reopening schools and addressing health-care disparities.

The effort began six months ago when the campaign consulted David Kessler, a former Food and Drug Administration commissioner under Presidents Bush and Bill Clinton, and Vivek H. Murthy, surgeon general under President Barack Obama, on how to run a presidential campaign during a pandemic.

The pair, along with a growing cadre of volunteer health experts, has been working behind the scenes to craft plans that could take effect Jan. 20, when the next president will take the oath of office, said Jake Sullivan, a senior policy adviser on the Biden campaign. 

Biden has laid out a far more muscular federal approach than has President Trump, whose “failures of judgment” and “repeated rejection of science” the Democrat first pilloried in a Jan. 27 op-ed about the crisis. Biden has said that he would urge state and local leaders to implement mask mandates if they are still needed, create a panel on the model of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s War Production Board to boost testing, and lay out detailed plans to distribute vaccines to 330 million people after they are greenlighted as safe and effective."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required) 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/joe-biden-coronavirus-plan/2020/09/11/002b972c-eecc-11ea-99a1-71343d03bc29_story.html?

“I do believe that that authority has been there to deal with disasters”

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

Six months into the COVID-19 pandemic, the state’s highest court is poised to decide whether Gov. Charlie Baker’s string of executive orders were a legally appropriate response to contain the highly infectious virus or if he overstepped the authority outlined in law.

An attorney representing business owners and religious leaders who sued the Baker administration argued in court Friday that Baker has “turned the government upside-down” by taking significant individual action, rather than executing laws passed by the Legislature, during the public health crisis.

“At this point, the Legislature is left to approve or disapprove of the governor’s policy choices,” Michael DeGrandis, a lawyer with the New Civil Liberties Alliance, told justices. “That’s not how it’s supposed to work. The governor is merely supposed to execute the policy choices of the Legislature. For the Legislature to make a change, the Legislature would also have to have a veto-proof majority to do so. That is standing the government on its head. That’s not a republican form of government.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required) 

https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200912/plaintiffs-argue-legislature-not-governor-should-set-pandemic-policies?rssfeed=true

"SEVERAL MEMBERS of the Supreme Judicial Court seemed wary on Friday of upending the fight against COVID-19 during a hearing on a case challenging the sweeping powers Gov. Charlie Baker has exercised over the last seven months in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.

The justices, meeting via a Zoom call, are being asked to declare the governor’s March 10 emergency declaration and his subsequent slew of executive orders illegal and void. The plaintiffs, a group of business owners and pastors, say the governor’s reliance on the 1950 Civil Defense Act for his authority was improper. They say the governor should have relied on the older Public Health Law that specifically deals with infectious diseases and grants additional powers to local boards of health. If the governor needs more authority to deal with the crisis, the plaintiffs say, he should go to the Legislature and ask for those powers.

There was a lot of legal discussion between the justices and the attorneys representing Baker and the plaintiffs, but the judges at various points seemed genuinely concerned about what would happen on the ground if they sided with the plaintiffs.

“Don’t you have to admit that Gov. Baker has done a pretty darn good job here, especially when you compare him to other states?” asked Justice Elspeth Cypher, who was appointed to the SJC by Baker."

Continue reading the article online
https://commonwealthmagazine.org/health/sjc-seems-wary-of-upending-covid-19-fight/

In the News: opportunity to re-purpose office buildings; Russia meddling in election

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

"Commercial tenants say they can negotiate for lower rent payments because there’s a glut of office space on the market due to an increasing number of remote workers.

The long-term impact on commercial office space caused by the coronavirus pandemic is unknown, but it could be a rocky road.

Many companies turned to a remote workforce since March, and some are considering making it a permanent move. If that happens, owners of commercial buildings could lose vast numbers of tenants, and take a huge financial hit.

“Those who own commercial properties, they’re going to be devastated by that (potential scenario),” said Jim Giammarinaro, president of the MetroWest Chamber of Commerce."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200912/will-office-buildings-become-ghost-towns-because-of-coronavirus-pandemic?rssfeed=true 

  

"The leaked recordings were hardly a political bombshell: The apparent phone conversations between Joe Biden and Ukraine’s then-president largely confirm Biden’s account of his dealings in Ukraine.

But the choppy audio, disclosed by a Ukrainian lawmaker whom U.S. officials described Thursday as an “active Russian agent” who has sought to spread online misinformation about Biden, was nonetheless seized on by President Donald Trump as well as his supporters to promote conspiracy theories about the Democratic nominee. Social media posts and videos about the recordings have been viewed millions of times, according to an Associated Press analysis, even though Trump’s own administration says they rely on “false and unsubstantiated narratives.”

The audio’s proliferation on social media shows how foreign operations aimed at influencing the U.S. election are still easily reaching Americans, despite efforts by Facebook, YouTube and Twitter to rein in such meddling."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.milforddailynews.com/zz/news/20200912/biden-audio-first-shared-by-russian-agent-thrives-online?rssfeed=true 

9th Annual Renegade Run Obstacle Course Race Virtual Run to be held September 12-27, 2020 - Register today!

9th Annual Renegade Run Obstacle Course Race Virtual Run To Be Held September 12 – 27, 2020 Safety for our community, family and friends is the top priority of Type One. The 9th Annual Renegade Run Obstacle Course Race, sponsored by Type One, will now take place as a virtual event. During this challenging time, staying connected (and active) is more important than ever. While our event is typically held in October, the uncertainty of the virus has led us to make the decision to not have our 9th Renegade Run at the park. While the decision saddens us, we are determined to stay connected to you, and will move forward with a Virtual Run, which we promise will be unique to our Type One brand, and to you, our Renegades. The purpose of our Virtual Run is to have fun, stay motivated and to connect with each other as we continue to raise awareness and funds toward a cure for type 1 diabetes (T1D). Your registration fee supports our Type One Cares campaign, an amazing charity making huge strides to provide assistance to those living with T1D, while continuing to fund Dr. Faustman's efforts to advance research toward a cure for disease. Type One was founded in 2012 by a group of South Shore residents to support their friend Tyson Sunnerberg, who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune disease in which a person's pancreas stops producing insulin, when he was 21 years old. On November 25, 2012, the first ever Renegade Run Obstacle Course Race was held raising awareness and funds toward a cure. Register today!!   https://typeonerenegaderun.com/register/

Spitler Race Systems
30 Orms St, Pawtucket, RI, 02861 United States

In the News: "Dakotas lead US in virus growth as both reject mask rules"; Franklin Town Clerk resigns

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

"Coronavirus infections in the Dakotas are growing faster than anywhere else in the nation, fueling impassioned debates over masks and personal freedom after months in which the two states avoided the worst of the pandemic.

The argument over masks raged this week in Brookings, South Dakota, as the city council considered requiring face coverings in businesses. The city was forced to move its meeting to a local arena to accommodate intense interest, with many citizens speaking against it, before the mask requirement ultimately passed.

Amid the brute force of the pandemic, health experts warn that the infections must be contained before care systems are overwhelmed. North Dakota and South Dakota lead the country in new cases per capita over the last two weeks, ranking first and second respectively, according to Johns Hopkins University researchers.

South Dakota has also posted some of the country’s highest positivity rates for COVID-19 tests in the last week — over 17 percent — an indication that there are more infections than tests are catching."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/zz/news/20200912/dakotas-lead-us-in-virus-growth-as-both-reject-mask-rules?rssfeed=true 

Teresa Burr resigns

"A week after it was learned that 3,000 ballots sat uncounted in a vault on primary election night, Town Clerk Teresa Burr announced her intent to resign.

In a letter released Friday night to Town Council Chair Tom Mercer, Burr said she was resigning to “re-establish confidence with the voters of this community in their elections.”

“After the events of the past three months, this election season has been the most challenging election cycle of my career,” Burr wrote. “I fully support our Town Clerk office staff and election workers to take my place and lead this community through future elections.”

Franklin was one of three communities, along with Newton and Wellesley, to have uncounted ballots as of the morning of Sept. 2, the day after the primary. About 750 ballots that were dropped into Newton’s secure ballot drop boxes in the last three hours of the election went uncounted, while Wellesley was unable to get to about 100 ballots, between late drop box submissions and absentee ballots."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200912/franklin-town-clerk-burr-resigns-after-election-snafu?rssfeed=true