Town Council Quarterbacking with Council Chair Tom Mercer - Recap of the Oct 5, 2022 meeting (audio)

FM #863 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 863 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 Oct 5, 2022: 

• ok, what just happened? 

• What does it mean for Franklin residents and taxpayers?

We cover the following key topics

Right of first refusal – Schmidt’s Farm

Norfolk County Commission Update

Special liquor license for Dacey’s Market

4 bylaws for parking changes downtown

How to address habitual offenders for Dean parking/Neighborhood Alliance

Gift acceptance to Police/Fire

Our conversation runs about 30 minutes:

Links to the meeting agenda and associated documents released for this meeting are included in the show notes. 

Let’s listen to this session of Town Council Quarterbacking recorded Oct 13, 2022

Audio file ->  https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-864-town-council-quarterbacking-10-13-22

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Agenda and documents released for this meeting

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/10.05.22_town_council_agenda.pdf

My notes -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LS8OhA3BKWQuqto4tv82cb4YmvRRz5Dk/view?usp=sharing

 

The meeting video is also available for viewing on YouTube   https://youtu.be/N6qHB7PJMq8

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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

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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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The Town Council held a public hearing on the right of first refusal to purchase the Schmidt Farm property with CPA funding

Rausch vs. Dooley: A conversation with the candidates

Join the Charles River Regional Chamber of Commerce for a conversation with incumbent Sen. Rebecca L. Rausch (D) and challenger Rep. Shawn Dooley (R), the two candidates running for State Senate seat representing Needham and ten other communities that are part of the Norfolk, Worcester, and Middlesex district.

The discussion will focus on business and economic development but other issues will be discussed as well. Charles River Regional Chamber President Greg Reibman will moderate. 

Conducted via Zoom - registration required ->

https://nnchamber.chambermaster.com/eventregistration/register/11855

Additional details -> https://members.charlesriverchamber.com/events/details/rausch-vs-dooley-a-conversation-with-the-candidates-11855

Rausch vs. Dooley: A conversation with the candidates

Franklin High School newsletter for Spirit week beginning Oct 17

Franklin High School tweeted on Sun, Oct 16, 2022:

FHS Newsletter!  Looking forward to Spirit Week!

https://t.co/dE6fj3hnVB

Shared from Twitter -> https://twitter.com/FranklinHS/status/1581714813771653123

Franklin High School newsletter for week of Oct 17

Franklin Fire Dept schedules open house for Saturday, Oct 29 - 10 AM to 2 PM

Franklin Fire (@FranklinMAfire) tweeted on Sun, Oct 16, 2022:

Come join us at our open house on October 29th from 10 AM - 2 PM 

https://t.co/wSGMTnth0f

Shared from Twitter -> https://twitter.com/FranklinMAfire/status/1581755157930397696

Franklin Fire Dept schedules open house for Saturday, Oct 29 - 10 AM to 2 PM

Good Deeds: Update On No More Direct Report Registry Info Technology (It) Staff

By William P. O’Donnell Norfolk Register of Deeds 

I want to give the residents and taxpayers an update as to where the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds is relative to meeting its technology needs. Unfortunately, the assessment is a sobering one. The unsound decisions that continue today began back on June 30, 2021. On that date Norfolk County Commissioner Peter Collins and Joe Shea voted not to appoint a lawfully funded and approved Registry Chief Information Officer. “The understaffing issue in Information Technology (IT) by County Commissioners Collins and Shea is the definition of mismanagement. Today, the Registry of Deeds not only operates without its own Chief Information Officer (CIO) but does not presently have one single full time Registry direct report IT staff person or now “consolidated IT” staff employee to handle Registry operational needs.

 

The Registry of Deeds’ operation has been degraded by these poor decisions driven by the Norfolk County Commissioners. Promises that there will be a permanent County IT CIO hired by mid-July have not been kept. Here we are in October there is still no hired “consolidated County CIO”. The lack of a considered approach, no transparent collaboration and the absence of a sound business plan by County Director John Cronin in taking over Information Technology (IT) is a regression not a progression.

 

Contrary to what Commissioner Peter Collins has stated as he asks the voters to re-elect him as County Commissioner the Registry of Deeds and the Registry IT Department was highly successful and efficient with positive user experiences. Commissioner Collins needs to take ownership of his failure to recognize the ever-increasing cyber security risks and threats that are out there in today’s world. The elimination of an on-site direct report Registry IT staff is reckless and has made land records and money collections less secure.

 

Everyone is more vulnerable to hacks, breaches and ransomware attacks. A Boston NBC investigative report indicates 1 out of 6 communities have been hit by a ransomware attack.  Today, Massachusetts ranks 13^th of any state in the Country in terms of monies lost to cyber-security attacks according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Internet Crime Complaint Center.

 

Good Government process and sound decision making has been missing from Norfolk County Government. There is an old saying “you cannot fight City Hall.” At the Registry of Deeds all the staff can do is try its best to work through these challenges and of course keep you, the residents and taxpayers, informed.

 

Click link – video of answers to questions about Registry IT

https://www.norfolkdeeds.org/news-event/news-announcements/it-segment-from-october-5-2022-good-deeds-1737

 

To watch whole show on Real Estate Issues and statistics  QATV website  link:   https://www.qatv.org/?modal=345,episode,219150

Good Deeds:  Update On No More Direct Report Registry Info Technology (It) Staff

Washington Post: "See if you qualify for discounted internet service"

"If you or someone you know has been struggling financially or if someone in your household receive certain kinds of government benefits, you might be owed a discount on your internet bill.

Help Desk: Technology coverage that makes tech work for you

For many families, that means savings of $30/month. And for those living on tribal lands, that discount is as high as $75/month.

These price breaks come courtesy of the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program, which launched earlier this year to try to narrow the country’s digital divide. And even if you don’t benefit from the program directly, you could be doing someone in your life a real favor by letting them know the ACP exists, so take minute with us to learn how it works."

Continue reading the Washington Post article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/10/14/how-to-sign-up-acp-internet-discount/

Washington Post: "See if you qualify for discounted internet service"

The Guardian: "how ultra-processed meals are unhealthier than you think"

"As the UK is estimated to draw more than 50% of its calorie intake from UPF, this is no passing health scare but an issue that goes to the very heart of our culinary lifestyle. But before looking deeper into the issue there is an obvious question: what is a UPF?

NOVA (not an acronym) is a widely used food classification system that separates foods into four categories based upon their level of processing. Almost all foods, aside from fresh fruit and raw vegetables, undergo some degree of process. Cooking is a process, and it usually involves added ingredients such as oil and salt.

In NOVA’s first category, Group 1 is unprocessed or minimally processed foods (fruit, vegetables, meat, eggs, milk). Group 2 is made up of processed culinary ingredients such as sugars, oils and butter. Group 3 is processed foods (canned vegetables and fish, bread, jam). Group 4 is ultra-high processed foods, which are mostly low in protein and fibre, and high in salt, sugar and fat, and have undergone industrial interventions such as extrusion, moulding and milling."

Continue reading The Guardian article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/oct/16/ultra-processed-food-unhealthier-harder-to-avoid-than-you-thought

The Guardian: "how ultra-processed meals are unhealthier than you think"

Scam alert: parents be aware of kidnapping scam

"Boston Police issued a community alert Saturday warning parents of a kidnapping scam after at least three parents of students enrolled in Boston public schools received phone calls from someone who tried to trick them into paying ransom by falsely claiming their children were in danger or had been kidnapped.

“The scammers had information about the parent’s child, including their name, and demanded the parent send money through Western Union,” Boston police said in a statement. Police did not identify the parents or say whether any of them had paid money to the scammers.

Police said the scammers generally target parents and grandparents. Parents are being advised to be careful about posting information publicly on social media and to talk with their children about protecting their privacy online, police said.

“Scammers often look through social media for any information that would give them the ability to persuade you” police said."

Continue reading the Boston Globe article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/10/15/metro/boston-police-warn-parents-kidnapping-scam/

The key takeaway, be careful what you do share on social media.

Resources for Ballot Question #1 - Nov 8, 2022 Election

Ballot Question 1 - video of a wbur radio show on the pros/cons of Question 1 or the Fair Share Amendment

Video link -> https://youtu.be/d1zxjV-08vg

Secretary of the Commonwealth info on Ballot Question 1 ->   https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/ele22/information-for-voters-22/quest_1.htm

Yes, on Question 1 ->  https://www.raiseupma.org/   or https://www.fairsharema.com/

No, on Question 1 -> https://noquestion1.com/  

Election Collection 2022: State election November 8

Franklin TV and wfpr.fm schedule for Monday, Oct 17, 2022

• wfpr.fm or 102.9 on the FM dial = Monday

9 AM 12 PM and 6 PM Talkin’ the Blues – Jim Derick & Todd Monjur
2 hours of awesome blues music, info, interviews

11 AM 2 PM and 8 PM A More Perfect Union – Discussing American Politics and Current Events - Peter Fasciano, Dr. Michael Walker Jones, Dr. Natalia Linos, State Rep Jeff Roy, Chris Woolf, and Nick Remissong host a round table discussion on current events and American politics, bringing about thoughtful conversation, compelling discourse, and a look at what the future might hold for the United States

• Franklin All Access TV - Our Public Access Channel (Comcast 8, Verizon 26) = MONDAY

8:00 am SAFE Coalition: Michelle Palladini

9:00 am 4th of July 2022: Granite Brass

12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin: French Toast

12:30 pm Sandya: Crepes

1:00 pm Cooking Thyme: Apple Crisp

1:30 pm Pizzapalooza: Meat-Lovers Pt. 1

2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Fall 2019 show 4

3:00 pm Candlepin New Generation: Show 6

6:00 pm Veterans' Call: PACT Act

6:30 pm Physician Focus: Prescription Drug Abuse

7:30 pm Frank Presents: Rachel Plukas & Allan Earls

8:00 pm Frank Presents: Anthony Amore

8:30 pm Franklin Cultural Council: Pamela Means

• Franklin Pride TV - Our Educational Channel (Comcast 96, Verizon 28) = MONDAY

7:00 am Public School Event: Annie Sullivan Winter Music 2021

8:30 am Critical Conversations: Social Media

12:30 pm Public School Event: FHS Winter Jazz Night '22

2:00 pm SAFE Coalition: Michelle Palladini

3:00 pm FHS Varsity Volleyball: v Mansfield 10-03-22

4:30 pm Public School Event: FHS Winter Music 2019

7:00 pm FHS Girls Varsity Soccer: v Mansfield 10-03-22

9:00 pm FHS Varsity Field Hockey v Concord-Carlisle 10-06-22

• Franklin Town Hall TV - Our Government Channel (Comcast 11, Verizon 29) = MONDAY

8:00 am Planning Board: 10-03-22

12:00 pm Community Preservation: 10-04-22

2:00 pm Planning Board: 10-03-22

7:00 pm Planning Board: LIVE, Chambers, 850 0921 5474

Get this week's program guide for Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) online  http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf  

Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm)