Thursday, February 6, 2020

FM #200 - Pellegri and Bissanti on PO Box issue

FM #200

This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 200 in the series, that we are now producing in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm).

Town Councilors Debbie Pellegri and Andy Bissanti joined me in the Franklin studio to talk about the drive through postal mailboxes at the Post Office in downtown Franklin.

After we sat to record this, the Boston Globe published an article on the Post Office and law enforcement agency efforts to address fishing for mail. As you hear in the interview, this is one of the two reason for the Post Office moving the mailboxes in the drive up.
"A task force of investigators from multiple police departments are working with the US Postal Service to crack down on thieves who are stealing mail from blue mailboxes in the Greater Boston area and communities in Eastern Massachusetts, authorities said.

“It’s out of control,” said Wellesley Detective Mark D’Innocenzo. “It’s very widespread.”

There are currently 15 to 20 open investigations in Wellesley alone, he said.

The thieves go “mailbox fishing,” typically using string attached to a glue mouse trap or a plastic bottle covered with sticky glue to pull envelopes out of mailboxes. They then “wash” (i.e. erase the writing) on personal checks, rewrite them and cash them, and use the victim’s bank account information to forge even more checks, he said."
Continue reading the Boston Globe article online (subscription maybe required)
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/02/04/metro/police-departments-mass-targeting-thieves-stealing-mail-out-mailboxes/

Without further ado, here is the recording for the meeting approx 17 minutes

https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-200-pellegri-bissanti-on-po-box-issue



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FM #200 - Pellegri and Bissanti on PO Box issue
FM #200 - Pellegri and Bissanti on PO Box issue


FHS boys hockey skates to tie and wrestling posts win at St John's Shrewbury

Via HockomockSports.com and Twitter, we share the results of FHS winter sports action on Wednesday

Boys Hockey = Franklin, 3 @ St. John’s Shrewsbury, 3 – Final
Goals by O'Neil, Marchand, and unidentified per Twitter stream

Girls Hockey = Franklin, 0 vs. Algonquin, 2 – Final

Wrestling = Franklin, 39 @ St. John’s Shrewsbury, 30 – Final
"Pins by DiFilippo, Sauer, and Sackley" per Twitter


For other results around the Hockomock League

https://hockomocksports.com/wednesdays-schedule-scoreboard-02-05-20/

And via Twitter:
https://twitter.com/FranklinMatters/lists/fhs-sports



Congrats to Kenny Sauer on his 100th win! (@FHSWrestling photo)
Congrats to Kenny Sauer on his 100th win! (@FHSWrestling photo)










An Evening With Kristi Kirshe = Feb 12, 7 PM

"Excited to announce an Evening With Kristi Kirshe @FranklinHS alum & member of @USARugby"

When: Feb 12, 2020 7 PM at FHS Auditorium

An Evening With Kristi Kirshe = Feb 12, 7 PM
An Evening With Kristi Kirshe = Feb 12, 7 PM




Franklin Public Schools: Important Dates

Important Dates for February-March 2020

Contact Information Changes-If you need to change an email address or phone number in your student's Aspen contact information, click here to send us those changes
_______________________________

Thursday, February 6 - "Frankly Hysterical" presented by Drama III  7:30 PM in the FHS Auditorium

Friday, February 7 - 1/2 day of school; Dismissal at 10:55 AM, no lunch served

Friday, February 7 - Jazz Cafe @7PM in the FHS Cafeteria-tickets $10 adults/$5 students, seniors

Saturday, February 8th - 8th grade Orientation - for all Franklin 8th graders 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM in the FHS Auditorium

Monday, February 17 - Friday February 21 - Winter Break - no school

Wednesday, February 26 - Prom Tickets go on sale for Class of 2021; click HERE to purchase Prom Tickets

Friday, February 28 - "Six Rounds of Vengeance" presented by FHS Theater Company  @7 PM in the FHS Auditorium;  Click  to purchase tickets in advance beginning week of 1/27/2020:  Adults $10 / Students $5 (plus cc processing fee) 
At the door, tickets will cost:  Adults$12 / Students $7

Friday, March 6 - Senior Banquet at Lake Pearl; Tickets cost $80  Click HERE to purchase tickets

Friday, March 20 - Best Buddies Prom at the Elks Club on Pond Street

Friday, March 27 - Sophomore Banquet 7-10 PM in the FHS Cafeteria
No School and Half days of school 2020
DateEvent
02/07/20½ Day of School; Dismissal at 10:55 AM  -PDD
02/17/20 through 2/21/20Winter Break, No School
03/03/20No School PDD Day
04/03/20½ Day of School; Dismissal at 10:55 AM  -PDD
04/10/20No School- Good Friday
04/20/20 through
04/24/20
Spring Break-No School
05/08/20½ Day of School; Dismissal at 10:55 AM  -PDD
05/25/20No School- Memorial Day
06/18/20Last day of School-Reflects one snow day
Snow Days:

  • Snow Day #1 Tuesday, December 3, 2019

MCAS (draft) Testing Calendar

  • ELA - 10th graders: March 24th and 25th
  • Math - 10th graders: May 19th & 20th
  • Biology - 9th graders: June 2nd and 3rd
Franklin Public Schools: Important Dates
Franklin Public Schools: Important Dates

“no different shape than any other community”

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:
"In an effort to reduce the number of staff cuts while adding new positions to areas of increased need, the School Committee voted Tuesday in favor of a $1.5 million override to its proposed fiscal 2021 budget.

A major factor, according to Superintendent Peter Marano, is a “staggering” decrease in the amount of money reimbursed by the state for what the district pays toward charter school education at the Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter School in Franklin.

“The reason why this year is different (than the last five years) is because we’ve basically taken a $2 million hit from the increase in the charter school, and that steep decrease in funding ... is basically just the straw that broke the camel’s back,” said committee member Mark Flannery.

As part of a $29.8 million proposed budget, the School Committee unanimously approved the $1.5 million override, which would cost the average homeowner about $160 a year, said Marano. That equals to $40 per quarter, said committee Chairman Michael J. Reed Jr., based on the average home value of about $325,000."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200205/bellingham-school-committee-oks-15m-override-for-budget

 

Wednesday, February 5, 2020

Live reporting: Town Administrator's Report to Closing

introduction of FHS students

11. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT
they came to a relevant meeting

if they notice on the wall, there is a plaque recognizes the Town as a Green Community
solar farm is a unique project provides the electricity for 90% of our town buildings
it is performing at over 11 megawatts

plastic bag ban, Feb 12 will be approved (hopefully)
what is next? 
community gardens are around, coming to these meetings the future is all of you
if you can't vote today, you will and you can still advocate for things

FHS solar panels were built to hold it, but didn't make it
we have had proposals for Horace Mann and FHS
maybe get a future solar car port for the parking lot
you can see a difference being made

don't be shy about letting us know

flyer coming out Mar, 6, 11 and 21st
info forums on storm water

March 4 preliminary fiscal forecast for Council meeting
watch, listen and read memo for FY 2021
then to FinComm in April before coming back to Town Council

FHS is a green high school, because we went green, we got an additional $2M
they weren't giving the solar panels in those days, it would have required for purchase, we did make sure that the facility was capable to get it

12. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
committee for CPA
equipment surplus process
concerns about personnel issues with certain town departments
refrain from comments on Town personnel, could expose us on legal issues
follow the process, direction to proper channels, i.e. through management and Jamie
we need to use good judgment

13 - Old Business
Bissanti - issue with stray dogs, lost dogs
there is a fine after a certain amount of time, along as fine is paid, the dog can stay
until we get animal control to present, don't post to social media

13a. COUNCIL COMMENTS

Kelly - condolences to the passing of Pellegri's brother in law

Chandler - condolences

Hamblen - thanks for coming out, condolences as well

Pellegri - Bob Simler, worked on many committees
Boston Post cane delivered the day before the resident passed
was the oldest citizen at 103

Jones - condolences, echo to Hamblen's point great to see every one here


14. EXECUTIVE SESSION
None Scheduled

ADJOURN

  • motion to adjourn, seconded, passed 8-0


Note:  Two-Thirds Vote: requires 6 votes
Majority Vote: requires majority of members present and voting

Shared from the Town of Franklin page
https://www.franklinma.gov/town-council/agenda/february-5-town-council-agenda

The full agenda packet can be found
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/agendas/2020-02-05_town_council_agenda_packet.pdf

Live reporting: Legislation for Action


10. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
10a. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
Resolution 20-03: Capital FY20 (Motion to approve Resolution 20-03 - Majority Vote)

Capital budget subcommittee vote 4-0 to recommend (Finance Committee has also approved)

the next three votes reflect the capital plan for FY 2020
the Finance Committee voted 7-0

the next two needed to be separate as legally they are stabilization funding


  • motion to approve, seconded, passed 8-0


10b. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
Resolution 20-04: OPEB Trust Funds Transfer (Motion to approve Resolution 20-04 - Majority Vote)

as noted above, separate for legal requirements, also approved by Capital Subcommittee and Finance Committee
  • motion to approve, seconded, passed 8-0
10c. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
Resolution 20-05: Free Cash to Stabilization Accounts Transfers (Motion to approve Resolution 20-05 - Majority Vote)

as noted above, separate for legal requirements, also approved by Capital Subcommittee and Finance Committee
  • motion to approve, seconded, passed 8-0
10d. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
Resolution 20-09: Gift Acceptance - Veterans Services, $350 (Motion to approve Resolution 20-09 - Majority Vote)
  • motion to approve, seconded, passed 8-0
10e. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
Resolution 20-10: Gift Acceptance - Senior Center, $1000 (Motion to approve Resolution 20-10 - Majority Vote)
  • motion to approve, seconded, passed 8-0

10f. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
Resolution 20-11: Gift Acceptance - Police Department, $300 (Motion to approve Resolution 20-11 - Majority Vote)


  • motion to approve, seconded, passed 8-0