Franklin Matters

Sunday, December 24, 2023

"Talk Franklin" Special Year End Episode combines with Town Council Quarterbacking - 12/21/23 (audio)

FM #1117 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1117 in the series.

This session of the radio show shares a special year end episode combining "Talk Franklin'' with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen, Deputy Administrator Amy Frigulietti and “Town Council Quarterbacking” with Town Council Chair Tom Mercer. We had our conversation via the Zoom Conference Bridge on Thursday, December 21, 2023.

Topics for this session

Proclamation: William “Ken” Norman - Ken was recognized with a Town proclamation and State House of Representative resolution for many years of service on the Board of Assessors (16 years) and many other committees.
2024 Annual Alcohol License Renewals - all approved, 8 being held for payment and final inspection completion
Resolution 23-71: Town Council Approval of County ARPA Funds - Council approved application to Norfolk County for ARPA awards in the total amount of $1,359,000

Police Dept - $559,000
Sewer projects - $500,000
Franklin Food Pantry - $100,000
SAFE Coalition - $100,000
YMCA Bernon Family Branch - $100,000

ARPA Direct funds announced for

$1M to reconstruct Baron Road
$420,000 for replacement & construction of visitor bleachers at the high school field

Bylaw Amendment 23-902: A Bylaw to Amend the Code of the Town of Franklin by Inserting Chapter 147, Snow and Ice, Removal Of - Second Reading - approved by 7-2 vote (Jones, Dellorco voted no)
Bylaw Amendment 23-903: A Bylaw to Amend the code of the Town of Franklin at Chapter 82, Fees, Municipal Service - Second Reading - mattress fee raised to $65, unanimously approved (9-0)
2023 year in review, January 3, hit the ground working on 2024

The recording runs about 38 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Jamie, Amy & Tom on Thursday, December 21, 2023. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1117-talk-franklin-special-year-end-episode-12-21-23

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Town Administrator page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/administrator

Talk Franklin podcast page -> https://anchor.fm/letstalkfranklin

Town Council agenda for Dec 20, 2023 meeting ->

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/town_council_agenda_12.20.23_0.pdf

Recap & video for Town Council session 12/20/23 -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/12/town-council-closes-out-calendar-year.html

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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 iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

"Talk Franklin" Special Year End Episode combines with Town Council Quarterbacking - 12/21/23 (audio)

Next meeting for the Toastmasters Club "Voice of Franklin" - January 2, 2024 at 7:30 PM

Voice of Franklin, a local club, part of Toastmasters International has meetings where members give speeches, members give feed back, and also give impromptu speeches.

There is no cost for a visit. To join for 6 months is less than 50 dollars. Gain a skill that will help you in your job, in your private life, and in anything else you want to do.

Where: Franklin Community TV Studio, 23 Hutchinson St

When: Tuesday, January 2 at 7:30 PM (until 9:00 PM)

Regular meetings on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays each month

Club information -> https://www.toastmasters.org/Find-a-Club/00005464-voice-of-franklin-club

Next meeting for the Toastmasters Club "Voice of Franklin" - January 2, 2024 at 7:30 PM

Franklin Food Pantry closed Christmas week, reopening Jan 2, 2024

"The Franklin Food Pantry will be CLOSED beginning December 22, 2023, at 1 PM.

We will reopen on January 2, 2024, at 11 AM.

Please do not leave any food donations (non-perishable or perishable) at The Pantry or in the donation bin.

Thank you!!!"

Franklin Food Pantry closed Christmas week, reopening Jan 2, 2024

Metrowest Networkers Group: Meeting In Person - Providing AIR (Advice - Information - Referrals) - Jan 5, 2024

The Metrowest Networkers Group helps people obtain advice, information, and referrals (AIR). We welcome employed and unemployed people, people looking for a career change or second act, and people who need practical career assistance. Join us to connect with others; learn and share.

When: 1st & 3rd Fridays of the month. 10 AM - Noon.

Our first meeting is scheduled for Friday, January 5th.

WHERE: 7 Bishop Street, Framingham, MA 01702

This is the headquarters for the South Middlesex Opportunity Council (SMOC)

Parking: In back, in the BIG parking lot. Go in the back entrance. Turn left to go to our meeting area.

-----Additional Information-----

Website: http://mwnetworkers.wix.com/home

New URL!

It has menus for articles, videos, and a forum (in case you prefer to post instead of email). It even has a list of area coaches.

Google Group: metrowest-networkers-group@googlegroups.com

Same functionality as the (ANG) Google group.

LinkedIn Group: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/12943261/

I hope you will bookmark these and join them. We are hoping to build a collaborative online community to supplement the in person meetings.

Repeating meeting information:

Meetings shall be held the 1st and 3rd Fridays of a month from 10 AM - Noon. 7 Bishop Street, Framingham, MA 01702

We hope to see you job seekers at our first meeting on January 5th!

Ed Lawrence

www.getstart-ed.com

CPRW; NCOPE

Certified Interview Coach

Authorized DISC Administrator

Member, CPRW Certification Committee

Ed Lawrence talks with Melody Beach

Saturday, December 23, 2023

Have you tried the "Year in Review" Quiz on the News in the Town of Franklin for 2023?

Let's try something a little different as we approach the close out of 2023.

How closely did you pay attention to the news during the year?

A Town of Franklin "Year in Review" news quiz.

10 questions, and a bonus question. All worth 10 points each.

Submit a valid email at the beginning of the quiz, and at the end of the quiz, you can select to receive how you did on the quiz sent to that email.

We'll keep the quiz open until January 7 and share the overall results.

Take the quiz in the embedded form below or follow this link ->
https://forms.gle/RABScYHFy2mKLgiX7

Town of Franklin: Job Opportunities with Finance, Facilities & Public Works - get your application submitted

To apply for a vacant position, please submit a resume and cover letter to apply@franklinma.gov. Please put the job title in the subject line of your email.

Munis Administrator - Finance Department

Heavy Motor Equipment Operators - Department of Public Works

Junior Building Custodian - Facilities Department

Part Time and Substitute Custodians - Facilities Department

Updated 12/22/2023

If you do not have a resume, you may send a completed Application for Employment instead.

To receive notifications of all job opportunities in the Town of Franklin, subscribe here .

Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/human-resources/pages/job-opportunities

Town of Franklin: Job Opportunities with Finance, Facilities & Public Works - get your application submitted

Panther TV: "School Alone" (video)

Panther TV (@fhspanthertv) posted Fri, Dec 22, 2023:

Happy Winter Break everyone!!!

TV class produced this special to kick things off. We hope you like it :-)

Thanks for watching and we'll see you next year!! @FranklinHS @FHSPantherbook @FranklinPSNews @FranklinMatters

https://t.co/1P0ql3mLCE via @YouTube

Shared from -> https://twitter.com/fhspanthertv/status/1738194694700450214

Panther TV: "School Alone" (video)

Rausch Report: Looking back and Forging Ahead - (December 2023)

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As we near the end of the year, I'm taking this moment to look back at everything we've accomplished together. From one-on-one conversations with constituents to district events and advancing legislation, it has been a busy and fulfilling year.

This year has also been challenging. We've witnessed a rise in hate crimes and antisemitism, continued attacks on reproductive health care across the country, and an increase in climate-related disasters. These challenges, however, fuel my commitment to this work, our communities, and the Commonwealth. It's an honor to serve you in the State Senate, and I will continue working hard for you and your families on Beacon Hill.

This month's Rausch Report includes a look back on a successful 2023 and a look forward to the work still ahead, a roundup of district events, a snapshot of upcoming community happenings, and more.

For real-time updates, please follow me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. If you are a constituent and need assistance, please don't hesitate to call me and my team at (617) 722-1555, email me at becca.rausch@masenate.gov, or attend upcoming office hours. We are here to help.

Wishing you and your family a happy, healthy holiday season and good things to come in the new year.

Yours in service,

Senator Becca Rausch

On the legislative front, my team and I have accomplished a lot this year for our constituents, our communities, and the Commonwealth:

Local and statewide funding wins: I'm proud to have secured millions of dollars in the FY 2024 budget for local and statewide initiatives, including funding for the continued implementation of a universal mental health screening program for students in grades 7 and 9 in Franklin, Town Common playground upgrades in Bellingham, fire department improvements in Norfolk and Plainville, a sustainability coordinator in Medfield, and much more. I am particularly proud of securing full funding for the Hey Sam mental youth text line, highest-ever funding of $350,000 for the Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee, and similarly highest-ever funding of $2.5 million for civics education for Massachusetts students.

Legislative wins: The legislative process is moving along and bills are beginning to progress through their respective committees. I filed more than 60 bills this term and all but 3 of them have had their hearings already. My legislative portfolio covers reproductive care, personal and public health, climate action and environmental justice, election reform, education, good governance, and more.

Committees must take some type of action on all bills timely filed this session by February 7, 2024, so we anticipate an increase in floor votes and activity in both the Senate and House chambers in the months ahead. You can track the status of a bill moving through the legislative process here. (Find some handy instructions here, under "how to track bills").

The Senate has already advanced some critical bills this term, such as tax relief, pay equity, and increasing health care access to pharmaceuticals, PrEP, and disposable menstrual products. This is in addition to our $56 billion annual budget and the recently finalized 2023 close-out budget, which funded collective bargaining agreements, special education tuition rate increases, disaster relief for municipalities impacted by storms and natural disasters that occurred in 2023, and more.

Committee Progress: I was also reappointed by the Senate President to serve as the Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources. Working collaboratively with my House co-chair, we've done initial assessments on more than 350 bills and held 10 hearings on topics such as plastics and waste management, environmental justice, air and water quality, animals, parks and open spaces, climate change, and waterways, oceans, and wetlands. In addition to this significant body of work, the Committee has been out in the field, touring Boston Harbor to advance discussions about preserving and protecting our harbors, coastlines, and waterways, and visiting Revere, Lynn, and Marblehead to bring focus to coastal resiliency, remediation, and carbon sequestration.

Caucus Leadership: I am honored to serve as an at-large board member of the Massachusetts Caucus of Women Legislators. Governor Healey and Lieutenant Governor Driscoll met with members of the Women's Caucus this week to discuss the Caucus's strategic priorities to uplift and support women and girls in the Commonwealth.

Hate Crimes Task Force: I was recently appointed to the Hate Crimes Task Force and attended my first meeting this week. The Task Force's collective work to combat identity-based hatred and bigotry is profoundly important, and I am proud to be part of it.

Looking ahead: We have more work to do in 2024. My team and I continue to shepherd our bills through the legislative process with the goal of enacting good law and strong policy across a multitude of issues. Also, as the Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources, I am eager to continue my strong partnership with my House co-chair as we move through next level reviews and assessments of the hundreds of bills under our jurisdiction, utilizing the lenses of climate action and environmental justice.

Our mailing address is:
The Office of Senator Becca Rausch
Massachusetts State House, Room 215
24 Beacon Street, Boston, MA 02133

This newsletter was shortened for publication here. To view the full set of content, please visit this link -> https://mailchi.mp/masenate/monthlynewsletter-17626353?e=0c2c9810fe