Register O'Donnell Testifies for More Transparency When It Comes to Homeowner Mortgages

	Norfolk County Registry of Deeds
	Register O'Donnell Testifies on Beacon Hill for More Transparency When It Comes to Homeowner Mortgages Norfolk County Register of Deeds William P. O'Donnell recently testified before the legislature's Joint Committee on the Judiciary in support of two bills, Senate Bill #880 and House Bill #790, which would mandate that any residential mortgage assigned to a third party must be recorded with the appropriate Registry of Deeds within 30 days of its execution. The bills, which have been spearheaded by Register O'Donnell and his colleague, Plymouth County Register of Deeds John Buckley, are designed to allow consumers to always be aware of who is or has held their mortgage. Both Registers pointed out to committee members that a residential mortgage can be sold multiple times throughout its term. The pair further explained why it is important for the consumers to have such a protection. "For most homeowners purchasing a property, it is the biggest investment they will make during their lifetime," noted Register O'Donnell. "It may also be their biggest financial obligation as well." Register Buckley went on to further state that this is a consumer bill. "They way we look at it, people pay $175 to record a mortgage; they ought to know who holds it as it goes forward." One of the most frustrating experiences that the Registry's customer service department fields, according to Register O'Donnell, is when homeowners pay off the mortgage and are ready to sell their home, but they don't know the name of the last lending institution, or if they do know the name, don't know how to get a copy of the mortgage discharge because the company has gone out of business. The person than has to be referred to the State's Banks and Banking Division to track down the information. "We can alleviate this frustrating step if we can get this bill into law," noted O'Donnell. Other major benefits of the bill would be to capture lost revenue. "It also makes for a level playing field between the larger lending institutions, who in the past have not filed mortgage assignments, in contrast to the smaller community banks that for the most part do so. Additionally, if this legislation is enacted it would bring consistency to Registry policies; since we already record all mortgage assignments on the Land Court side and now we would have the ability to do it on the Recorded Land section side too," noted Register O'Donnell. The bills, Senate Bill #880 and House Bill #790, whose chief sponsors are Senator John Keenan (D-Quincy) and Representative Bill Galvin (D-Canton), have received strong support in both legislative branches with a total of 67 co-sponsors. "I would like to thank both legislators for their leadership and support. It has been invaluable to getting us where we are now in the legislative process," concluded O'Donnell. To learn more about these and other Registry of Deeds events and initiatives, like us at facebook.com/NorfolkDeeds or follow us on twitter.com/NorfolkDeeds and instagram.com/NorfolkDeeds. The Norfolk County Registry of Deeds is located at 649 High Street, Dedham. The Registry is a resource for homeowners, title examiners, mortgage lenders, municipalities and others with a need for secure, accurate, accessible land record information. All land record research information can be found on the Registry's website at www.norfolkdeeds.org. Residents in need of assistance can contact the Registry of Deeds Customer Service Center at (781) 461-6101, or email us at registerodonnell@norfolkdeeds.org. Register William P. O'Donnell Norfolk County Registry of Deeds email: registerodonnell@norfolkdeeds.org phone: 781-234-3336 web: http://www.norfolkdeeds.org

Norfolk County Registry of Deeds, 649 High Street, Dedham,, MA 02026-1831 Sent by registerodonnell@norfolkdeeds.org in collaboration with Try it free today Register O'Donnell Testifies for More Transparency When It Comes to Homeowner Mortgages

Announcement from Franklin Lions Club

It has come to our attention donations were solicited in the Franklin area in exchange for concert tickets on or around October 7. 

This person did NOT have authorization from the Franklin Lions Club to collect donations or give concert tickets as we cancelled our contract with this person on September 28 and never received the money from these collection activities. 

We suggest you file a complaint with the Franklin Police Department if you have been a victim of this fraud as we will be filing a grievance as well. 

Please email us at franklinmalions@gmail.com for this individual’s name if you plan on making the complaint.

Our sincerest apologies for this unfortunate event.

Announcement from Franklin Lions Club

"I want them to have an opportunity to really become better educated about this”

From the Metro West section of the Sunday Boston Globe, comes their recap of the Sext Ed Forum held at FHS on Monday, Oct 16, 2017.

"Amid rising concerns about the pervasiveness of teen sexting, a panel of speakers at a recent regional forum at Franklin High School agreed that the best way to address the problem is through education, not punishment. 

“We want to protect our teens and our children from the harms of sexting, but I believe we also need to do all that we can to prevent and limit our young adults and our children’s contact in entering the….criminal justice system,” said state Senator Karen E. Spilka, an Ashland Democrat. 

Organized by the MetroWest Commission on the Status of Women, the forum Monday was intended to inform parents about the prevalence of sexting in the region, how they can address the issue with their own children, and possible changes in the law that could offer solutions."

Continue reading the article online (Subscription may be required)
http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/regionals/west/2017/10/20/should-teens-who-sext-punished-educated/MIdVKynvfjvmJUPL95CtqJ/story.html

"I want them to have an opportunity to really become better educated about this”

The Franklin Matters summary of the evening via Twitter can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/10/community-forum-on-sexting-twitter.html

"They’re so smart, these kids”

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

"A line of senior citizens filed into a spare room at the senior center on Friday afternoon, gripping their dysfunctional phones and tablets with one hand and greeting a Horace Mann middle school student with the other. 

As part of a bi-weekly club organized by the Horace Mann School, students come to the senior center to spread their tech knowledge to some of the less-savvy, older generation of iPhone and Android users. 

The advantages of the program, according to teacher and coordinator Colleen Donahue, comes from both ends. Though fixing their devices is the main purpose, it’s the relationships that are built that create the most impact. 

“The kids get to have conversations with adults that they wouldn’t normally see, and the adults get to come hang out with kids,” Donahue said. “One time last year we had a woman who had no grandchildren, and this was, like, the highlight of her week.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20171022/horace-mann-middle-schoolers-teach-tech

Horace Mann Middle School and Oak St Elementary share
the complex on Oak St with ECDC (behind these buildings)

Franklin Candidate for School Committee: Denise Schultz

This interview with Denise Schultz (DS), candidate for Franklin School Committee, was collaborated on via email.


Franklin Matters (FM): Tell me a bit about yourself, your family, and your life here in Franklin? What is your Franklin story?

DS: My husband, Jim, and I moved to Franklin in 1999 with our son Connor when he was just a few months old. We had relocated to Massachusetts from NJ a few years prior, and were living in Canton. Once we had Connor, it was time to find a town to raise our children in, and Franklin had so much appeal – the history of the library and the quality of the schools being deciding factors for us! 

With Connor now attending Mass Bay Community College (gulp, where did that time go?), it has been a fantastic place to raise our children and be part of an active and caring community. Prior to running for school committee, I was most active with the Franklin Democratic Town Committee, serving as vice-chair and chair.

FM: What experience or background will help you to serve in this role? What do you bring to the table that helps to set you apart from the others?

DS: Every candidate – past and present – has their own unique experiences and perspective that they bring to this role. I have a passion for public policy and governance – strongly believing in the strength of our democracy – perhaps now more than ever. With a lifelong commitment to social justice activism, several years chairing our democratic town committee, three year serving as an appointed Commissioner with the MetroWest Commission on the Status of Women, and the past six year of my career working in public higher education at UMass Boston, I have experience in public administration, running public meetings, and public budgeting and finance. 

However, I find one of the most impactful experiences I bring to school committee is my experience as a parent of two children in the Franklin schools. My son went through Oak Street and Horace Mann, finishing at Tri-County, graduating this past June. I appreciate that his high school experience was still a public school education that was better suited to his interests and abilities. He is now a freshman at MassBay studying mechanical engineering. I am a huge advocate and supporter of public education. 

My daughter started at ECDC – we have such fond memories of her time with Miss Chris – and is now in the Horace Mann complex. I had to advocate for my son with his particular learning abilities and that is a lens I bring to this position as well. It is hard to remove any of our life experiences from the way that we govern. I want to ensure that each and every student in the Franklin Public Schools – nearly 6,000 of them, as well as all of our teachers, administrators and support staff – have all the tools they need to succeed.

FM: What do you see as your role’s biggest challenge and do you have any suggestions on how we can resolve it?

After one term in office, even though this sounds cliché, it really does come down to the finances. We have had positive changes in the past two years – a wonderful new Superintendent that brings a fresh lens and perspective, thoughtful work on new policies that impact dress code and homework, and a strong commitment to improve communications and community relations. But all of that work is for naught if we start to lose teaching staff. With state revenue projections shrinking, rainy day funds being spent this fiscal year, and the unknown impact of multiple new housing complexes coming online, the reality is that we will have some tough choices to make on the budget in the next term for school committee. 

I testified at the State House this summer in favor of a bill that would address the very out of date Foundation Budget formula that drives our public education funding across the state, and have taken on an advocacy role within the committee to ensure that we are doing all that we can to make sure local, state and federal officials are aware of the impact the budget constraints have on our schools in Franklin. Logically the next steps are working closely with the finance committee and the town council, and engaging the entire community in the conversation about our public school dollars and what shortfalls we might have in the near term and long term. 

We do not want to be in a position that we are pitting our schools against our police and firefighters. The town as a whole needs more resources, and I feel that together we can work towards a solution that ensures we continue to build upon what we have, and make it better.



If you would like to follow up with Denise, her email is DeniseLynnSchultz@gmail.com

and her campaign Facebook can be found here -> https://www.facebook.com/DeniseSchultzforFranklin/

From the archives, the interview with Denise 2 years ago
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/11/franklin-candidate-for-school-committee_1.html


Offer to Candidates 2017
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/08/offer-to-candidates-for-franklin.html 

Noteworthy: This information is intended to help the Franklin voters when we all head to the ballot box on November 7. The interview candidates have had an opportunity to review the text before publishing to ensure the accuracy of our discussion. 

Election Collection - 2017

Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda -Oct 24, 2017

Vision Statement

The Franklin Public Schools will foster within its students the knowledge and skills to find and achieve satisfaction in life as productive global citizens.

AGENDA

"The listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which

may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed

and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent

permitted by law."

the key to learning

1. Routine Business
a. Review of Agenda
b. Citizen’s Comments

In the spirit of open communication, “the School Committee will hear public comment not related to an agenda item at the beginning of each regular School Committee Meeting. The Committee will listen to, but not respond to any comment made. A Committee member may add an agenda item to a future meeting as a result of a citizen comment” – from Policy BEDH

c. FHS Student Representative Comments
d. Superintendent’s Report

2. Guests / Presentations
a. Special Recognitions – Dr. Ahern
b. Franklin High School NEASC Accreditation Report – Paul Peri

3. Discussion / Action Items
a. Policy – First Reading
- BEDH – Public Participation at School Committee Meetings
http://franklinschool.vt-s.net/pages/FranklinCom_Packets/10-24-2017%20SC%20Packet/Action1-BEDH.pdf
I recommend moving policy BEDH to a second reading at the next meeting.
 - JJF-R – Student Activity Accounts
http://franklinschool.vt-s.net/pages/FranklinCom_Packets/10-24-2017%20SC%20Packet/Action2-JJF-R.pdf
I recommend moving policy JJF-R to a second reading at the next meeting.
- BDD – School Committee – Superintendent Relationship
http://franklinschool.vt-s.net/pages/FranklinCom_Packets/10-24-2017%20SC%20Packet/Action3-BDD.pdf
I recommend moving policy BDD to a second reading at the next meeting.
b. Policy – Second Reading/Adoption
- BBA – School Committee Powers and Duties
http://franklinschool.vt-s.net/pages/FranklinCom_Packets/10-24-2017%20SC%20Packet/Action4-BBA.pdf
I recommend adoption of Policy BBA – School Committee Powers and Duties as discussed.
- BBBA – School Committee Member Qualifications Oath of Office
http://franklinschool.vt-s.net/pages/FranklinCom_Packets/10-24-2017%20SC%20Packet/Action5-BBBA.pdf
I recommend adoption of Policy BBBA - School Committee Member Qualifications Oath
of Office as discussed.
c. Superintendent’s Evaluation – Proposed Goals
http://franklinschool.vt-s.net/pages/FranklinCom_Packets/10-24-2017%20SC%20Packet/Action6-SuptEval.pdf
I recommend approval of Superintendent’s evaluation professional practice goal, student learning goal, and focus areas as discussed.
d. BICO Quarterly Report and BICO Agreement Amendment
http://franklinschool.vt-s.net/pages/FranklinCom_Packets/10-24-2017%20SC%20Packet/BICO%20Agreement%204Pkt.pdf
I recommend approval of the amendment to the BICO Agreement as discussed.

4. Discussion Only Items
a. Enrollment Report

5. Information Matters
a. School Committee Sub-Committee Reports (e.g. Budget; Community Relations; Policy;
Transportation; Public Policy Advocacy; Ad Hoc Superintendent’s Evaluation)

• Budget Sub Committee - Dr. O’Malley
• Community Relations Sub Committee – Ms. Schultz
• Policy Sub Committee – Ms. Scofield
• Ad Hoc – Superintendent’s Evaluation – Dr. Bergen

b. School Committee Liaison Reports (e.g. Joint PCC; School Wellness Advisory Council [SWAC]; MASC)

• Joint PCC – Dr. Bergen
• SWAC – Ms. Douglas
• MASC – Ms. Schultz

6. New Business
a. To discuss any future agenda items

7. Consent Agenda
a. Approval of Minutes

• A1. I recommend approval of the minutes from the September 26, 2017 School Committee Meeting.
• A2. I recommend approval of the following Executive Session minutes for release as public documents: September 12, 2017; April 11, 2017; March 23, 2017 and March 8, 2016.
• A3. I recommend approval of the following Executive Session minutes not for release as public documents: August 22, 2017; January 26, 2016 and December 8, 2015.

b. I recommend acceptance of a check for $612.00 from the Davis Thayer PCC for field trips.
c. I recommend acceptance of two checks totaling $5,399.99 from the Jefferson PCC as follows:

• $4,500.00 Field Trips
• $899.99 Supplemental Supplies

d. I recommend acceptance of three checks totaling $1,614.20 from Keller as follows:

• $895.00 from PCC for field trips
• $395.20 from fundraiser for Hurricane Harvey relief.
• $324.00 from PCC for field trips

e. I recommend acceptance of two checks totaling $1,650.00 from the JF Kennedy PCC for field trips.
f. I recommend acceptance of a check for $975.00 from the Franklin Music Parents for in-house enrichment at FHS.
g. I recommend declaring the listed items as surplus.
http://franklinschool.vt-s.net/pages/FranklinCom_Packets/10-24-2017%20SC%20Packet/Surplus.pdf
h. I recommend acceptance of a check for $1,288.00 from the Oak St. PCC for in-house enrichment.
i. I recommend acceptance of a check for $887.11 from Booster LLC for the Keiichi Kitanosono scholarship at FHS.

8. Payment of Bills Dr. O’Malley

9. Payroll Ms. Douglas

10. Correspondence
a. Letter from FHS Student Leaders
b. Budget to Actual – Miriam Goodman

11. Adjournment

Documents released for this agenda can be found on the Schools webpage
http://franklinschool.vt-s.net/pages/FranklinCom_Packets/10-24-2017%20SC%20Packet/

Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - Oct 25, 2017

The published agenda and documents for the Franklin Town Council meeting scheduled for Wednesday, October 25, 2017

(Note: where there are active links in the agenda item, it will take you to the associated document)

You can also download and review the 34 pages of documents released for this agenda (PDF) october_25_2017_agenda_pdf.pdf

Agenda Item	Summary
A. Approval of Minutes	A. Approval of Minutes
B. Announcements	B. Announcements 1. This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast channel 11 and Verizon Channel 29. This meeting may also be recorded by others.
C. Proclamations/Recognitions	C. Proclamations/Recognitions
D. Citizen Comments	D. Citizen Comments - Citizens are welcome to express their views for up to five miutes on a matter this 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.
E. Appointments	E. Appointments 1. Franklin Cultural Council - Olivier Edouard 2. Franklin Cultural Council - Jose Trevino
F. Hearings	F. Hearings
G. License Transactions	G. License Transactions
H. Presentations/Discussions	H. Presentations/Discussions - Veterans Service Officer, Dale Kurtz
I. Subcommittee Reports	I. Subcommittee Reports
J. Legislation for Action	J. Legislation for Action 1. Resolution 17-58: Transfer From Water Enterprise and Rescind Borrowing Authority (Resolutions No. 14-16, 15-27, and 17-14 Appropriation Funding Sources (Motion to Move Resolution 17-58 - Majority vote (5))
J. Legislation for Action	J. Legislation for Action 2. Resolution 17-65: Acceptance of Deed to Two Unimproved Parcels of Land on Grove Street, Pursuant to G.L. Chapter 60, Section 77C (Motion to Move Resolution 17-65 - Majority vote (5))
J. Legislation for Action	J. Legislation for Action 3. Resolution 17-66: Assent to Grant of Utility Easement on Former Town-Owned Land on Pond Street (Motion to Move Resolution 17-66 - 2/3 Majority vote (6))
K. Town Administrator's Report	K. Town Administrator's Report
L. Future Agenda Items	L. Future Agenda Items
M. Council Comments	M. Council Comments
N. Executive Session - None Scheduled	N. Executive Session - None Scheduled
O. Adjourn	O. Adjourn

the Library on Main St in the early morning sunrise