Town Council approves additional $1M for schools, starts process for override, turns down King St parcel zoning change (audio)

FM #1249 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1249 in the series. 

This session shares the Franklin (MA) Town Council Meeting of Wednesday, June 17, 2024.  7 members were present in Council Chambers, one participated remotely (Cormier-Leger), one was absent (Hamblen). For the time when Cormier-Leger participated all votes were recorded via roll call.

Quick summary

• A number of citizens comments accounted for approx. 30 minutes of the meeting before the Council began its business.

• The zoning change for the parcel on King St while forwarded to second reading by a 5-4 vote was roundly defeated by an 8-0-1 (1 absent) vote.

• The override and budget discussion resulted in two actions. 

• One - consensus to begin with a Joint Budget series of meetings to work on determining the future (assuming yes, when?), and getting consensus among the 3 committees (Town Council, School Committee and Finance Committee) on an amount for an earlier spring vote.

• Two - the Council did vote to take $1M from the debt stabilization account to provide for additional funding for the School budget. The School Committee will vote to accept the funding at their next scheduled August meeting (Aug 13). (After this vote Cormier-Leger left the session)

• A set of 3 bylaws to change downtown commercial zoning to bring the Town into compliance with the MBTA regulations were approved and moved to second reading. The second reading will be a Council meeting in August.

• The zoning change for the mill store property on Union St was approved and moved to second reading (also at a meeting in August)

• The Council also voted to approve the land swap deal with the state. This work started approx. 11 years ago and finally getting to the changing of the deeds stage to complete. This will set up for future renovation & enhancements to the Beaver St recycling Center.

The recording runs about 3 hours, so let’s listen to Town Council meeting of June 17, 2024. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1249-franklin-ma-town-council-mtg-07-17-24/

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The Franklin TV video of the 3 hour session can be found ->  https://www.youtube.com/live/dvI5kTzZqP0?si=Od24AGR5njNiF99I&t=67 

Agenda document for this session: 

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/tc_agenda_july_17_2024.pdf

My notes as captured during the session can be found in one PDF

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rUWE6iK-G1T7xnVsjgXiGj2-l2P9S9Kg/view?usp=drive_link

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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!

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

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

Franklin, MA: Town Council -Agenda for Meeting July 17, 2024 at 7 PM

FHS field hockey youth clinic scheduled for Aug 20, 2024

"Back by popular demand! 

The Girls Field Hockey Teams will be hosting a youth clinic on Tuesday August 20 at Beaver Field. 

All towns are welcome! We appreciate your support!"

PLEASE FILL OUT THE GOOGLE FORM -> 

https://forms.gle/c5AZv5kE1QnSsZs79

FHS field hockey youth clinic scheduled for Aug 20, 2024

Shared from ->  https://www.instagram.com/p/C9vI1czuLWuhx-YyVmpOODVERi0w3Li0vTE7hk0/

Healey-Driscoll Administration: Changes to Emergency Assistance Prioritization, Safety-Net Sites Announced 7/23/24

The Healey-Driscoll administration is announcing changes to its Emergency Assistance (EA) prioritization and safety-net sites for families experiencing homelessness. These changes are intended to address the system’s continuing capacity constraints, lower costs, and protect the financial sustainability of the EA system. 

Beginning August 1, 2024, families will be prioritized for placement in EA shelters if they are homeless because of a no-fault eviction or because of sudden or unusual circumstances in Massachusetts beyond their control, such as a flood or fire, or if they have at least one member who is a veteran. Families will continue to be prioritized if they have significant medical needs, newborn children, are at risk of domestic violence, or are homeless because of fire, flood, or other disasters.

Healey-Driscoll Administration

Families who are not prioritized for placement in EA shelters will be eligible to stay at a “temporary respite center” for up to five days. On August 1, the state’s safety-net sites in Chelsea, Lexington, Cambridge and Norfolk will be transitioned to temporary respite centers. Norfolk is the newest of these sites and is nearing capacity. The administration will not be opening additional respite center sites due to operational and financial constraints.

Families who choose to stay at a temporary respite center will be required to wait six months or more for placement in the state’s emergency family shelter system. They will remain eligible for other diversion services, such as reticketing and the HomeBASE program. Families who have been in temporary respite centers prior to the policy change on August 1 will retain their prioritization for placement into EA shelter, and the state will begin helping them leave these sites according to the date in which they entered. This policy does not apply to United Way shelter sites.

“We have been saying for months now that the rapid growth of our Emergency Assistance shelter system is not sustainable. Massachusetts is out of shelter space, and we simply cannot afford the current size of this system. Our administration has taken significant action over the past year to make the system more sustainable and help families leave shelter for stable housing. But with Congress continuing to fail to act on immigration reform, we need to make more changes,” said Governor Maura Healey. “That’s why we are making changes to EA prioritization and transitioning our safety-net sites to five-day temporary respite centers. This is in line with the policies of other cities facing similar challenges as Massachusetts and will help give families some relief for a few days while they access the diversion services we can provide, such as reticketing.”

Last year, Governor Healey declared that a state of emergency exists in Massachusetts due to rapidly rising numbers of immigrant families arriving in Massachusetts in need of shelter and services and a severe lack of shelter availability in the state. In the fall, she announced that the EA system was at capacity at 7,500 families.

The administration has focused on getting immigrants work authorizations, English classes, and placed into jobs to give them the tools they need to move into stable housing and to meet the workforce needs of our employers. Governor Healey successfully advocated for U.S. Department of Homeland Security to hold a work authorization clinic in Massachusetts and processing times have significantly increased. Since November 2023, the administration has helped nearly 3,800 immigrants apply for work authorizations, the vast majority of which have been approved, and nearly 1,250 have been enrolled in ESOL classes. Across the system, nearly 1,300 EA residents have gotten jobs.

The administration also expanded the HomeBASE program, which helps cover rent and other costs for families with children under 21 years old or pregnant people and offered mobile vouchers to the approximately 1,200 EA families who were in EA longer than 18 months. 

As a result of these efforts, the number of families leaving the EA system has steadily increased each month, with more than 330 families leaving each month recently – the highest numbers in years.

The Legislature recently passed a nine-month length of stay requirement in EA shelters, which Governor Healey signed into law and recently implemented. Governor Healey also previously implemented a 30-day recertification requirement at safety-net sites.

Last month, Governor Healey sent members of her administration to the U.S. Southern Border to meet with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Joint Task Force-North, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and families to educate them about the lack of shelter availability in Massachusetts. The Governor also recently ended the practice of families overnighting at Logan Airport and increased outreach around the state’s reticketing program, which provides families with transportation to another location where they have friends or family or another option for a safe place to stay.

Shared from -> https://www.mass.gov/news/healey-driscoll-administration-announces-changes-to-emergency-assistance-prioritization-safety-net-sites

Pasta, wine, and music at Birchwood Bakery - July 25

Pasta, wine and music! Join us on Thursday, July 25th, for another evening with live music! Patrick Durkin will perform between 6 and 9pm and, to make everything more tasty, in addition to our selection of wines, you can get a plate of delicious p...

Pasta, wine and music! 25 July Join us on Thursday, July 25th, for another evening with live music! Patrick Durkin will perform between 6 and 9pm and, to make everything more tasty, in addition to our selection of wines, you can get a plate of delicious pasta (served at 7pm) Online orders Birchwood Bakery 17 E Central St, Franklin, MA, 02038 Square Buyer Features Privacy Policy Pasta, wine and music at Birchwood was sent to you on 2024-07-22 14:03:37 UTC by Birchwood Bakery

                                                           

You can help the Children's Museum build their interactive spaces

"Water play in a children’s museum enhances cognitive and physical development, promotes sensory exploration, and fosters creativity and social skills.

Water play is a classic feature of any children’s museum experience! Help us bring this area to life for our community with a 4x8 foot water table with so many educational features.

Learn more about our planned exhibits at: childrensmuseumfranklin.org/planned-exhibits"

Shared from -> https://www.childrensmuseumfranklin.org/planned-exhibits

Contribute to the Children's Museum -> https://www.childrensmuseumfranklin.org/donate

You can help the Children's Museum build their interactive spaces

The new facility is in planning stages and you can help with a section (or 2)

‘You can’t have barriers’: is pay-to-play having a corrosive effect on US soccer? | USA | The Guardian

"The term ‘pay-to-play’ essentially refers to the often exorbitant fees required of the parents and carers of young people participating in organized youth sports. In soccer, youth clubs can typically cost families thousands of dollars a year with coaching costs, administration fees and travel expenses. Clubs in California have a sticker price ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 a year.

It has long been suggested by those who oppose pay-to-play that the system is too restrictive; that to breed a healthy soccer culture within the US and, ultimately, capture the best talent for the national teams, more children need to have access to the sport.

“Unfortunately the model, I believe, is getting worse in soccer than when I played competitive soccer [growing up],” Alex Morgan said in 2019. “It’s a very inexpensive sport and the fact that we’ve made youth soccer a business is, I think, detrimental to the sport.”

A study by the Sports and Fitness Industry Association in 2018 found that more than 70% of children within the pay-to-play system came from households who earned more than $50,000 a year; 33% came from households making more than $100,000 a year."

Continue reading the article online -> (subscription maybe required)

https://www.theguardian.com/football/article/2024/jul/23/you-cant-have-barriers-is-pay-to-play-having-a-corrosive-affect-on-us-soccer

Young players have been priced out of expensive private clubs. Photograph: Washington Post/Getty Images

Government Programs for Children With Special Needs

"For parents of a child with special needs, providing the support and resources their child requires can feel overwhelming. Thankfully, there is help. Let’s explore the most popular government programs available.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

SSI provides payments to adults and children who have disabilities or blindness.

You can learn more on Social Security’s SSI for Children page. For more information about services and supports for SSI transition-aged youths (ages 14 to 17), visit the Youth Resources page."

Continue reading the article on the SSA page -> https://blog.ssa.gov/government-programs-for-children-with-special-needs/

Government Programs for Children With Special Needs

Franklin TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) schedule for Wednesday, July 24, 2024

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

9:00 AM 12:00 Noon and 6:00 PM Franklin Matters Radio – Steve Sherlock
Franklin and its local government, services and events  (repeats Saturday at 9 AM)

• This slot features  my conversation with author J.M. Celi as we talk of Boston, vampires and writing ->   https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/07/talking-boston-vampires-and-writing.html

10:00 AM 1:00 PM and 7:00 PM  The Wonderful World of Wine – Mark Lenzi, Kim Simone    All about wine, its culture, lore and finer point.

• In this episode hosts Kim Simone and Mark Lenzi talk about good and bad updates on wine    ->   https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/07/the-wonderful-world-of-wine-www-episode_0603531989.html

11:00 AM 2:00 PM and 8:00 PM Franklin Matters Radio – Steve Sherlock

Franklin and its local government, services and events (repeats Saturday at 3 PM)

• This slot features the latest Town Council Quarterbacking session as we condense the July 17 session to less than 30 minutes -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/07/this-town-council-quarterbacking.html

• Franklin All Access TV - Our Public Access Channel (Comcast 6, Verizon 26) = WEDNESDAY

7:30 am Mental Health: Abigail Drake

8:30 am Arts Advocacy Day: Marketing

10:00 am Second Sunday Speaker Series: Nathan Wales

11:30 am Cooking Thyme: Lasagna

12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin: Banana Bread

12:30 pm Cooking with Linda: Garlic Bread

1:30 pm Pizzapalooza: Black Bean, Roasted Pepper & Garlic Pizzetta

2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Summer 2018 Show 5

3:00 pm Candlepin New Generation: Show 10

3:30 pm Vera Meyer: Glass Harmonica

5:00 pm Veterans' Call: Matt Ching Pt. 2

6:30 pm Concerts on the Common: Heartland Radio

9:30 pm Franklin 4th 2024: Backyard Swagger

• Franklin Pride TV - Our Educational Channel           (Comcast 8, Verizon 28) = WEDNESDAY

8:30 am Public School Concert: FHS Spring Jazz '22

10:00 am SAFE Coalition: Woody Geissman

11:00 am Public School Event: Horace Mann Spring Music '22

1:30 pm Tri County Graduation 2024

3:00 pm FHS Varsity Softball v Attleboro 04-26-24

5:30 pm FHS Graduation 2024

8:00 pm Winning Ways with the MIAA: Shaun Hart Pt 2

• Franklin Town Hall TV - Our Government Channel  (Comcast 9, Verizon 29) = WEDNESDAY

8:00 am Town Council 07-17-24

12:00 pm Davis Thayer Re-Use Advisory 07-17-24

2:00 pm Town Council 07-17-24

6:30 pm Master Plan Committee  3RD FLOOR  859 5509 9397

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

Watch Listen Read all things that matter in Franklin MA

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Tuesday, July 23, 2024

Tuesday, July 23

4:00pm Afternoon Doodles

7:00pm Musical Bingo

7:00pm Franklin Public Library Book Club

**  NO Town Meetings today

What's happening today in Franklin? 

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Why are there multiple calendars?

There is a Cultural events calendar upon which other community events are layered to create the Community calendar.

Respectfully, the Library and Senior Center calendars are too full of events to include all their events so we tend to focus on the major events. Town and School meetings are also kept separate. Links for all the calendars are shared here:

The Cultural calendar displays only the cultural events    

https://www.franklinculture.org/things-do/pages/calendar

Find the full Community event calendar  https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:  https://bit.ly/Submit2Calendar

The Library calendar of events ->    calendar link

The Senior Center calendar of events ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/node/39/events/month/39/2023-12

The Town meeting calendar is found  https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar
The School district calendar is found  https://www.franklinps.net/calendar-by-event-type/26

Franklin, MA: Job Opportunities for Finance, DPW, & Facilities

Job Opportunities

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. 

Treasurer/Collector - Office of the Treasurer/Collector

Mechanic - Department of Public Works 

Heavy Motor Equipment Operator - Department of Public Works

Junior Building Custodian - Facilities Department

Part Time and Substitute Custodians - Facilities Department 

Administrative Assistant - Department of Public Works

Updated 07/22/2024

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

Franklin, MA: Job Opportunities for Finance, DPW, & Facilities

Economic Development Subcommittee gets an update on the Marketing and Branding efforts (audio)

FM #1248 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1248 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the Franklin (MA) Economic Development Subcmte Meeting conducted on Wednesday, July 17, 2024.  The meeting was held  in the Council Chambers with. Vice-chair Cobi Frongillo led this session with Councilors Chandler & Sheridan present. Chari Hamblen was absent.

Deputy Town Administrator Amy Frigulietti provided an update on the marketing and branding project to date as well as the draft RFP for the next step, hiring a consultant to do the work of creating a new town logo.

The Town of Franklin seal would remain in use for official documents but the new logo would consolidate and streamline all the other departmental communications efforts.

The meeting runs about 27 minutes.    Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1248-economic-development-subcmte-mtg-07-17-24/

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Economic Development Subcmte page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/economic-development-subcommittee 

The Franklin TV video of the 27 minute meeting is available for replay ->   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNcdXFcX4Lg 

The posted agenda document ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/edc_marketing_and_branding_materials.pdf 

Photos capturing the slide presentation can be found in one album

https://photos.app.goo.gl/7JnERkfUUVHYx3q87 

My notes captured during the meeting can be found in one PDF

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1sfhkWb_ipEsV4MJUKuUK6-fG7L2i1T2L/view?usp=drive_link 

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

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 www.franklin.news/ or  www.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"

Marketing and Branding efforts