"We had the results, we just couldn’t get it on paper”

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

"A technical issue caused by spreadsheet formulating problems caused election results to be delayed in town by nearly four hours on Tuesday night.

When spreadsheets provided to the town by its election consulting service weren’t formulated properly, Town Clerk Teresa Burr said clerks didn’t have access to reformulate the spreadsheet to correctly total their data, resulting in the delayed results.

“The formulas just weren’t set up right,” she said, adding that nothing was wrong with the voting machines and that the problem was “nothing major.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200304/incorrect-spreadsheet-forumulating-to-blame-for-delayed-franklin-election-results

The unofficial results were shared here Wednesday morning
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/03/franklin-presidential-primary-results.html

after the polls closed the voting operation at Franklin HIgh School in process of shutting down

FHS Mock Trail team ends run in Final 16; Cheerleaders are Hockomock Champions

Catching up to provide two other FHS updates:

• The Mock Trial team made it to the final 16 this year before ending their season
• The FHS Cheerleaders won the Hockomock League Championships

https://twitter.com/MockWalsh/status/1234191235268694017?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
https://twitter.com/MockWalsh/status/1234237835034669057?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

https://twitter.com/FHScheer_/status/1234197191532728320?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

135 schools started out the year in Mock Trial. We’re still dancing in SWEET 16! Pocket constitution to captain Michaela Olah. Here’s our score sheet. pic.twitter.com/lNO2NbJ79B

— Michael Walsh (@MockWalsh) March 1, 2020

And the 2020 FHS Mock Trial season ends with a loss in the Sweet 16 this afternoon. Heads held high, your coaches are so proud of you. In the loss, it was probably your best collective performance of the year. All 9s and 10s once again. Pocket constitution to Ava Farnan! pic.twitter.com/SBmvgor8zq

— Michael Walsh (@MockWalsh) March 1, 2020

2020 Hockomock Champs!! pic.twitter.com/8DUAFl51kF

— FHS CHEER (@FHScheer_) March 1, 2020

2020 Hockomock Champs!! pic.twitter.com/8DUAFl51kF

FM #215 Doug McPherson HMEA IncredABLE Day - May 17 (audio)

FM #215 This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 215 in the series.

Doug McPherson, Vice-President of Development and Public Relations for Horace Mann Education Association (HMEA), headquartered here in Franklin, sat with me at the studio recently to talk about the IncredABLE Day coming up May 17.

Did you know HMEA provides services to over 5,000 individuals in more than 110 communities in MA? The IncredABLE Day is their major fundraising event and a great family day. A 5K run, a walk, and plenty of food and activities are scheduled for Sunday, May 17.

In a future session, Doug will spend some time reviewing some programs that HMEA provides.

In the meantime, a link to the HMEA page to learn more about the services they offer is included in the show notes https://www.hmea.org/

A link to the registration page for the IncredABLE day is also included. You can volunteer, sign up to run the race, or take part in the walk all in one place.
https://www.hmea.org/incredable-5k/

Without further ado, let’s listen in to my conversation with Doug. The conversation runs about 20 minutes. https://www.hipcast.com/podcast/HBRCJxBX





We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm).

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, 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/
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!

 

FM #215 Doug McPherson HMEA IncredABLE Day - May 17

MassBudget: How the state budget and state revenues can improve health equity

MassBudget: How the state budget and state revenues can improve health equity

How the state budget, state revenues 
can improve health equity

The state budget and the revenues that support it are key tools in helping to improve the health of people in Massachusetts. It also can help improve health equity, in which every person - regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender, zip code, age, or other factor - has an equal chance to thrive. To this effect, the state budget funds public schools, housing, transportation, and other supports that are essential to our well-being. 

In our latest report, Going Upstream: How our State Budget, Revenue, and Policies can Improve Health, we use the analogy that "upstream" conditions affect health outcomes "downstream." Lawmakers can create laws that address some of these social needs and social conditions. Recent examples of this include passage of the Student Opportunity Act - the state's landmark law to overhaul its school funding formula - and recent increases to the state's minimum wage. 

Education, socioeconomic status, and well-being are cyclically linked. Education tends to pave the way to better jobs, higher wages, and higher socioeconomic status. Those tend to give people better access to healthy foods, green space, and other resources that foster health. Healthier children, in turn, are better able to focus at school.

But meaningful investment in public programs requires a healthy stream of revenue. Lawmakers can do this by raising revenues that ask people with higher incomes to contribute taxes at levels that are closer to what other households pay. 

Read the full Going Upstream report 

http://www.massbudget.org/report_window.php?loc=Going-Upstream.html

The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) produces policy research, analysis, and data-driven recommendations focused on improving the lives of low- and middle-income children and adults, strengthening our state's economy, and enhancing the quality of life in Massachusetts.

Looking Forward to 2020 Strawberry Stroll

"Enjoy strawberry shortcake, great vendors, activities and lots of family fun at the Strawberry Stroll on June 12 (rain date June 13) from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. 

Vendor registration will open in April. Thank you to this year's events coordinator - Chris Peterson!"

Shared from the Franklin Downtown Partnership page
https://www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/



Consider joining as a business or resident (only $25/yr)
https://www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/p/membership-info.html

Looking Forward to 2020 Strawberry Stroll

Purim Carnival - March 8

Purim Carnival is scheduled for March 8 from 10 - 11:30 AM.  Please RSVP to directorofeducation@temple-etzchaim.org for location information for the Purim Carnival

Purim Carnival - March 8

For more information about Temple Etz Chaim visit their page
https://temple-etzchaim.org/

FYI - Purim commemorates the day Esther, Queen of Persia, saved the Jewish people from execution by Haman, the advisor to the Persian king

Live reporting: Town Administrators Report to Closing

11. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT 

helpful portal on coronavirus

storm water live in the Chamber 8-10 on Friday

add PSA for coronavirus and stormwater to cable


12. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS 
question on what is a violation that constitutes an appropriate response for the Police


Kelly - frustrates me that we are not working on some issues, housing subcommittee needed


13. COUNCIL COMMENTS 
Earls - thanks for everyone who came out

Kelly - great conversation tonight, we are all adults, you have the right to walk away

Chandler - since we received our bills, we want to remember the seniors and those on fixed incomes

Hamblen - thanks for the condolences for my mother's passing; thanks to all who came
think about the storm water meeting on Friday

Jones - 97 year old step father passed away, shares birthday with, will be missed

Dellorco - shout out to the FHS boys and girls basketball playing in DI finals on Friday night
Bruins donated $75K for the street hockey court on Fletcher Field, new logo

Mercer - birthday was March 2, 224 years young



14. EXECUTIVE SESSION
Collective Bargaining

I request a motion that the Board vote to convene in Executive Session for the purpose of discussing strategy with respect to collective bargaining, because an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the Board.

motion to executive session, seconded, passed 9-0 via roll call to return




15. RETURN TO OPEN SESSION FOLLOWING EXECUTIVE SESSION: LEGISLATION FOR ACTION, CONTINUED

a. Resolution 20-16: Ratification of the Memorandum of Agreement Between the AFSCME Local 1298, Council 93, Public Facilities Maintenance Employees and the Town of Franklin (Motion to Approve Resolution 20-16 - Majority Vote)

commensurate with all other COLA for FY 2020

motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0 
 

ADJOURN 

motion to adjourn, seconded, passed 9-0 
 



The agenda and associated documents can be found at the Town of Franklin page
https://www.franklinma.gov/town-council/agenda/march-4-town-council-meeting

The agenda can also be found in a single PDF file
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/agendas/2020-03-04_town_council_meeting_packet_final_0.pdf