Franklin Candidate Forum - Biennial Election 2019

FM #176

This internet radio show or podcast is number 176 in the series for Franklin Matters.

This recording shares the Candidate Forum conducted in the Council Chambers on Thursday, October 17, 2019. Town Clerk Teresa Burr opens the forum. Moderator Larry Bennedetto outlines the process and introduces the panelists who will ask the questions for the Town Council candidates in the first segment, and then the School Committee candidates in the second segment. I edited to remove the break so the two segments run back to back with a brief musical interlude.

The Town Council segment runs approx 33 minutes. The School Committee segment runs just less than that. The whole forum is just about an hour long.

Town Council candidates

School Committee candidates

https://www.hipcast.com/podcast/HW4Mm3yX



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This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but I can't do it alone. I can always use your help.

How can you help?

Overall:

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors.
• If you don't like this, please let me know.

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements.
Thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit 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!

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

subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters on iTunes

FHS Cross Country Results - McIntrye Twilight XC Invitational

The FHS Cross Country teams competed in grade level competition on Friday night in the 9th MSTCA Bob McIntrye Twilight XC Invitational at the CapeCod Fairgrounds.

"Big day yesterday at the MSTCA Twilight Invite! Shoutout to Tyler Brogan who placed 2nd overall and broke his own school record with a 15:36‼️ Fast times/great effort all around🔥 #hocksin7" 
https://twitter.com/FHSPanthersTF/status/1185546276970082304

The PDF of the filtered FHS results can be found here
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JODAy9xuGG_axMG2P-1E5B9mm2WfdLZ9/view?usp=sharing

Complete results can be found on the MSTCA page
http://www.mstca.org/Fall_Season/Fall%20Past/Fall%202019.html

FHS Cross Country Results - McIntrye Twilight XC Invitational

Franklin Candidate Interview: Tom Mercer

This interview with Tom Mercer, candidate for Franklin Town Council in 2019, was collaborated on via email. We reviewed the following questions, some of them were ‘crowd sourced.’ Some of you may remember the call for input solicited in August 2019 for this election. Thank you for your contributions.

Hopefully, the information provided here, and in the other interviews, will enable the Franklin voters to make a good choice among the candidates for each position.

For the following FM presents the question. TM represents Tom’s response.

FM = There are and have been many opportunities to volunteer with community groups in Franklin. Have you taken advantage of any of these? Which ones, and why did you choose that/those?

TM = I am a lifelong resident of Franklin and I have successfully served you, the residents of Franklin, as a Town Councilor for the last 8 years, and the last year as Chairman. Previously, as a School Committee Member for 10 years - 8 of which I served as Chairman. I was Chairman of the Building Committees for 3 of our largest and newest town structures – the Horace Mann/Oak Street/ECDC School Complex, the Franklin Senior Center, and most recently the new state of the art Franklin High School. I served as a member of the Dean Community Council. I have served on the Franklin Country Club Board of Directors for over 20 Years. I have also served on the Franklin Performing Arts Company Board of Directors for over 30 years.

FM = Where do you get your news about Franklin?

TM = Franklin Matters and the Country Gazette along with the news feeds from the internet.

FM = For all those running for Town Council: We are in a constant water shortage. We are adding to our population and increasing out need for water. Given that all those who live in Franklin draw their water from the same aquifer, do you support a ban on using water for what I will call cosmetic use (lawn watering) during water shortages, even for those with a private well? If not, why not, considering that those with private wells are still dangerously affecting our water level for uses other than vanity? Or put simply: Do you support the private use of wells for lawn irrigation at times when the town's aquifer is dangerously low for use by the community for essential use in homes and fire prevention?

TM = This is not the exact way to phrase the problem or solution. the private well issue question usually comes black and white, and the debate can be divisive and counterproductive. Also, private well owners are not the single source of a town water problem or shortage.

The fact is we have very good water quality in Franklin and a safe quantity of it. The best way to address water protection is education and best practices at the individual property owner level and good infrastructure investments. 

The town is investing almost $11 million in the reconstruction of wells 3 and 6 off Grove Street to allow us more capacity and better quality. One of the wells right now is shut down due to high iron and manganese levels. But we’ll have a new facility which will help the system. We also just began a new 5-year water main pipe replacement schedule. Consistent infrastructure investments are actually a more effective way to conserve and maintain good water systems.

I’m not clear where this “acquifer is low” claim comes from. Not saying it’s not true, but it really doesn’t matter because the Town is in very good standing with the state DEP with our Water Management Act permit, which regulates town wide water use. It’s actually our Permit with the state that mandates we have mandatory water conservation days, but this is not uncommon. The state of Massachusetts and cities and towns are relatively good at water protection.

The Town DPW and Water Department have won state awards for water conservation. Our system is in good shape right now. Future challenges will be continued innovations and maintenance of the system, as well as stormwater.

FM = What degree of development do you feel is appropriate for Franklin, and how would you balance the need for affordable housing, with the need to avoid congestion?

TM = Two years ago the town reached its 10% goal of 10% affordable housing stock by state laws. It allows us to have full control over our own zoning without a 40B housing project being approved by the state and overriding our local zoning. There are few higher priorities than to maintain that 10% status. And that will always be the housing goal, as Chapter 40B has been in state law for fifty years.

the Town Council will have many future debates on zoning, and how the town may want to address this recent growth spurt. It’s a difficult balance, and we will need citizens to participate in these coming years on the issue of development and growth. What do people in this community want to see in the future?

The Town is just over halfway through its ten-year Master Plan process. The Town Council will have an update on that sometime in 2020, as the Town prepares to start that process again in the not too distant future.

The Town Council should approve large cash reserves this year for open space protection, $900,000 in October 2019 which will bring the fund to $2.1 million.

FM = The Town Administrator has suggested that Franklin needs to pass an override measure. What actions will you take to support the passage of this measure?

TM = First, we’ll need to monitor the towns’ budget situation closely throughout the year as the Town Administrator and Superintendent build their budgets. I’d expect that we would have a reasonable number in late January. My guess is the next Town Council and School Committee will have to discuss an override, how much and for what and what the community strategy may be.

Franklin Candidate Interview: Tom Mercer

At this point, I support and hope a discussion will occur next year on discussing with taxpayers a revenue increase. As the Town Administrator has stated numerous times, the cost of doing business is far exceeding our ability to raise revenue. Construction costs, personnel costs and Heath care costs are increasing at a rate that has put stress on the system relative to service demand. It’s a partial symptom of a good economy for sure. And it’s something we need to really engage a wider audience in the community on. Everyone will need to be involved. As ultimately any override is a decision made by the Community as a whole not the Town Council. It is the Town Council’s job to provide the community with all the facts so they can make an informed decision.

FM = Why should I vote for you?

TM = I believe that I have the knowledge to ensure fair and honest representation for the residents and businesses of Franklin. I will work to keep and improve services and spend our tax dollars wisely. Having been previously elected and having served in local government, I am aware of the personal demands and political pressures - but I continue to look forward to those challenges.

I will continue to work hard to improve the communication between town boards both elected and appointed. Franklin deserves leadership dedicated to open government, safe schools, and a healthy local economy. I have built a solid reputation as a leader, facilitating cooperative, and constructive discussions that have led to success. I am proud of my track record, and I ask for your vote on November 5th.


If you have questions to follow up with Tom, you can find his contact information on the Town of Franklin page  https://www.franklinma.gov/town-council

Save the Date: Panther Pride Night = Nov 7

Save the Date! 

Panther Pride Night is November 7, 2019 and features Clubs, Activities, and  Athletic Teams! 

Join us from 5:30 PM-7:30 PM in the gym to see all that Franklin High School has to offer!

Save the Date: Panther Pride Night = Nov 7

This was shared from Twitter  https://twitter.com/MsTaranto/status/1184989478496149507

Insights on "What do we do to get out the vote for November 5th?" (audio)

FM #174

This internet radio show or podcast is number 174 in the series for Franklin Matters.

This recording shares insights gathered with candidates for the Town of Franklin to be held November 5. Conducted over the two evenings when the candidate meet and greet events were hosted by LaCantina Winery (Oct 3) and Pour Richard’s Wine and Spirits (Oct 10).

This recording is the first product of the collaboration with Franklin TV and Radio and not the last.

Given the social nature of the meet and greet, we did not want to get into great details on positions for one topic or another so we decided that we could address one topic in common with all the candidates: What do we do to get out the vote for November 5th?

For reference, and for the period from 2003 to 2018 specifically, I developed a general rule that in round numbers for

• a local elections, we get about 20% turnout
• an override or school debt exclusion we get about 40% turnout
• a State office election we get about 60% turnout
• a national or Presidential election, we get 80% turnout

The details that led to this generalization can be found
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/11/franklin-ma-official-results-for-110618.html

Let’s listen in to the insights shared by the candidates on “how to get out the vote for November 5th?” The recording runs approx 31 minutes.

Note: there is one person (Representative Jeff Roy) who willingly shared his insights who is not a candidate running in this election.

Follow this link, or click on the button in the image
https://www.hipcast.com/podcast/HZXBB6mX



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


This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but I can't do it alone. I can always use your help.

How can you help?

Overall:
If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors.
If you don't like this, please let me know.

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements.
Thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit 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 = search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters on iTunes

Town Administrator's Statement on the old turf and water quality issue (audio)

FM #175

This internet radio show or podcast is number 175 in the series for Franklin Matters.

This recording shares Town Administrator Jamie Hellen’s statement on the ‘hot topic’ around the old turf carpet stored at the Beaver St field since the new turf was replaced in 2017.

This is one of the shorter podcasts I have shared recently but as Jamie mentions in his statement 

“as we've been advised by the town attorney, will not be making too many more public statements other than what I'm am able to say tonight” 

I thought it important to share his audio as extracted from the Town Council meeting Wednesday, Oct 16, 2019.  The statement runs approx 6 minutes.

The show notes summarize what we know and what we do not know as well as provide the link to the text document with the transcription of Jamie’s statement.

https://www.hipcast.com/podcast/HNppT7dX



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bags of the acrylic coated infill ready for install at FHS in August 2017

new turf carpet being installed at Beaver St field in August 2017

What we know:

• The prior conversations around the field replacements (completed in 2017) were centered around the crumb rubber infill. The Town spent more for an acrylic coated infill (which apparently was installed), the issue now is not with the infill but the with chemicals used to treat the carpet itself.
• A third party filed a complaint with DEP about the old turf stored at the Beaver St fields
• Article in TheIntercept about PFAS found in the turf itself  https://theintercept.com/2019/10/08/pfas-chemicals-artificial-turf-soccer/
• Article in the Boston Globe alleging potential issues with the water supply and shared via Franklin Matters  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/10/we-will-work-with-dep-to-resolve-matter.html
• The Franklin community on Facebook reacts in the conversation around the article and issue
• Town Administrator Jamie Hellen makes statement at Town Council meeting 10/16/19 https://drive.google.com/open?id=14VSvuZvTifTbeHO4bWFtIy2YxVdjRF4O

What we don’t know:

• What happened to the Conservation Commission mitigation measures from when the field was first installed (in 2004?)?
• Where was the old carpet and bags of unused infill taken?
• While PFAS in the water supply was tested by Town of Franklin in 2018 and is not mandated by Fed/State for testing now, is PFAS still being tested by ToF now?
• What will the State and/or Federal agencies do with PFAS and the recent revelations (if anything)?

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

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but I can't do it alone. I can always use your help.

How can you help?

Overall:

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors.
• If you don't like this, please let me know.

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements.
Thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit 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 = search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters on iTunes

“I want people to be able to see it’s possible"

Josh Perry, Managing Editor of HockomockSports.com, writes about the female golfers in the Hockomock League. FHS sophomore Caroline Woelfel was mentioned in the Golf Season Preview article but has not appeared in the individual match results as posted.

"On Thursday morning at Blue Hill Country Club in Canton, the best golfers in the Hockomock teed it up for the league’s annual championship tournament. Among the league’s elite were three female golfers, seniors Tate Hadges of Oliver Ames, Jillian Berand of North Attleboro, and Kayla Schuberth of King Philip, which several of the coaches believed was the most girls to take part in the tournament in a single season. 

Not only did the trio qualify for the tournament, Hadges and Berand were the top golfers on their respective teams and Schuberth’s average score was among the 20 best in the league coming into the week. For each of the three, and for Mansfield’s Ava Haggis who was not at the Hocks but was also one of the league’s top performers this season, being the lone girl on the boy’s team didn’t stop them from reaching their potential. 

“I’m so happy when any of the girls play really well,” said Schuberth. “It’s just fun to see some of us dominating the guys’ league. It’s pretty cool.” 

“It was weird coming in thinking I’m going to be in one of the top spots on the team and that’s something I hadn’t really done before,” Hadges said. “Coming off a strong summer gave me more confidence to say, yeah I’m a female on an all-boys team but I have the ability to do it and to compete against all of them.”

Continue reading about the Hockomock League female golfers
https://hockomocksports.com/female-golfers-conquering-hockomock-league-courses/

Tate Hadges of Oliver Ames (left), Kayla Schuberth of King Philip (center), and Jillian Berand of North Attleboro competed in the Hockomock championship tournament this week. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)