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| "Where's the Toast?" features music by Mike Terara |
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| Most Patriotic - Franklin Sport - Versprille Family |
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| Most Whimsical - Dog - Ganesh V |
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| Most Detailed - Construction Worker - Gavin & Kathy R. |
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| Judges Choice - Strawberry - Nolan and Maggie |
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| Most Creative - Ice Cream Cone - Courtney F |
"THE LEADERS of the House and Senate met for the first time in three months with Gov. Charlie Baker on Monday to discuss a handful of issues left over from the legislative session, but it appears little progress was made in finding a way forward.
The three leaders emerged from their meeting in the governor’s office and reported little progress on economic development legislation that passed both branches but stalled at the end of the formal legislative session on August 1 amid concerns about whether the state could afford the bill’s $4 billion price tag and also return $3 billion to taxpayers under a tax cap law triggered for the first time since 1987.
The economic development bill contained $500 million in one-time cash rebates for residents, $500 million in permanent tax credits, as well as funding for climate change efforts, water and sewer infrastructure, and a host of other initiatives.
House Speaker Ron Mariano indicated in August that he might lead an effort to reshape the tax cap law, but subsequently backed off that stance and now says he is supportive of “what’s written in the law.”
![House Speaker Ronald Mariano and Senate President Karen Spilka answer questions from the press after a Monday afternoon meeting with the governor and other officials. [Sam Doran/SHNS]](https://commonwealthmagazine.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/10-17_Mariano_Spilka-620x410.jpg "House Speaker Ronald Mariano and Senate President Karen Spilka answer questions from the press after a Monday afternoon meeting with the governor and other officials. [Sam Doran/SHNS]") |
| House Speaker Ronald Mariano and Senate President Karen Spilka answer questions from the press after a Monday afternoon meeting with the governor and other officials. [Sam Doran/SHNS] |
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| Election Collection 2022: State election November 8 |
Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm)
a. Appropriating Funds by Borrowing to Pay Costs of Land Acquisition: Land of Schmidt’s Farm, Inc. off Prospect Street in the amount of $3,800,000.00
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| Franklin, MA: Finance Committee - Agenda for Oct 18, 2022 meeting at noon |
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--------------
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
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/ 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 your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"
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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 |
.png "Rausch vs. Dooley: A conversation with the candidates") |
| Rausch vs. Dooley: A conversation with the candidates |
FHS Newsletter! Looking forward to Spirit Week!
https://t.co/dE6fj3hnVB
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| Franklin High School newsletter for week of Oct 17 |
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
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| Franklin Fire Dept schedules open house for Saturday, Oct 29 - 10 AM to 2 PM |
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 13th 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
To watch whole show on Real Estate Issues and statistics QATV website link: https://www.qatv.org/?modal=
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| Good Deeds: Update On No More Direct Report Registry Info Technology (It) Staff |
"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 youFor 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."
"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."
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| The Guardian: "how ultra-processed meals are unhealthier than you think" |
"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."
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| Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) |
a. 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.b. Chair to identify members participating remotely.c. Municipal Aggregation
a. Citizens are welcome to express their views for up to three 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.
a. Victor DaCosta - New Hire, Firefighter/Paramedic - Fire Departmentb. Nicholas Brosseau - New Hire, Firefighter/Paramedic - Fire Department
a. Capital Budget Subcommitteeb. Budget Subcommitteec. Economic Development Subcommittee
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| exterior renovation of the Red Brick School is in process |
