In the News: stay-at--home advisory extended to May 4; State ed board grants emergency powers

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

stay-at-home advisory, closure of nonessential businesses extended through May 4

"Gov. Charlie Baker on Tuesday announced the extension of the state’s stay-at-home advisory and mandatory closure of nonessential businesses through May 4.

“This order also extends the 10 person limit on social gatherings until May 4 as well,” Baker said.

The original advisory took effect on March 24 and was scheduled to expire on April 7. It instructs all residents except for employees of essential businesses to stay home, with an exception for excursions to get needed items such as groceries or medicine."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200331/gov-baker-extends-stay-at-home-advisory-closure-of-nonessential-businesses-through-may-4

State ed board grants emergency powers to Commissioner Riley

"The day before school districts are due to submit new plans required under a 2019 funding reform law, Education Commissioner Jeff Riley said he expects a legislative fix soon.

The April 1 deadline for superintendents to submit plans detailing steps they’ll take to close persistent achievement gaps was set before Massachusetts schools, under orders of Gov. Charlie Baker, shuttered their classrooms for a period that will last several weeks in an effort to contain the spread of COVID-19.

It’s one of various dates and other provisions laid out in statute and regulations that education officials are now looking to adjust."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200331/state-ed-board-grants-emergency-powers-to-commissioner-riley

Economic impact payments: What you need to know

The Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service today (3/30/20) announced that distribution of economic impact payments will begin in the next three weeks and will be distributed automatically, with no action required for most people. However, some seniors and others who typically do not file returns will need to submit a simple tax return to receive the stimulus payment.

Who is eligible for the economic impact payment?
Tax filers with adjusted gross income up to $75,000 for individuals and up to $150,000 for married couples filing joint returns will receive the full payment. For filers with income above those amounts, the payment amount is reduced by $5 for each $100 above the $75,000/$150,000 thresholds. Single filers with income exceeding $99,000 and $198,000 for joint filers with no children are not eligible.

Eligible taxpayers who filed tax returns for either 2019 or 2018 will automatically receive an economic impact payment of up to $1,200 for individuals or $2,400 for married couples. Parents also receive $500 for each qualifying child.

How will the IRS know where to send my payment?
The vast majority of people do not need to take any action. The IRS will calculate and automatically send the economic impact payment to those eligible.

For people who have already filed their 2019 tax returns, the IRS will use this information to calculate the payment amount. For those who have not yet filed their return for 2019, the IRS will use information from their 2018 tax filing to calculate the payment. The economic impact payment will be deposited directly into the same banking account reflected on the return filed.

The IRS does not have my direct deposit information. What can I do?
In the coming weeks, Treasury plans to develop a web-based portal for individuals to provide their banking information to the IRS online, so that individuals can receive payments immediately as opposed to checks in the mail.

I am not typically required to file a tax return. Can I still receive my payment?
Yes. People who typically do not file a tax return will need to file a simple tax return to receive an economic impact payment. Low-income taxpayers, senior citizens, Social Security recipients, some veterans and individuals with disabilities who are otherwise not required to file a tax return will not owe tax.

How can I file the tax return needed to receive my economic impact payment?
IRS.gov/coronavirus will soon provide information instructing people in these groups on how to file a 2019 tax return with simple, but necessary, information including their filing status, number of dependents and direct deposit bank account information.

I have not filed my tax return for 2018 or 2019. Can I still receive an economic impact payment?
Yes. The IRS urges anyone with a tax filing obligation who has not yet filed a tax return for 2018 or 2019 to file as soon as they can to receive an economic impact payment. Taxpayers should include direct deposit banking information on the return.

I need to file a tax return. How long are the economic impact payments available?
For those concerned about visiting a tax professional or local community organization in person to get help with a tax return, these economic impact payments will be available throughout the rest of 2020.

Where can I get more information?
The IRS will post all key information on IRS.gov/coronavirus as soon as it becomes available.

The IRS has a reduced staff in many of its offices but remains committed to helping eligible individuals receive their payments expeditiously. Check for updated information on IRS.gov/coronavirus rather than calling IRS assistors who are helping process 2019 returns.

 

Economic impact payments: What you need to know

Franklin Residents: Dog License deadline is POSTPONED until June 1st

Dog License deadline is POSTPONED until June 1st

Dog licenses are now due on June 1, 2020. They can be paid online here https://franklinma.viewpointcloud.com/categories/1075 or payments can be made by check/money order in the white mailbox on the side of the municipal building. 

Shared from the Town of Franklin page
https://www.franklinma.gov/home/news/dog-license-deadline-postponed-until-june-1st
 

Top dog photos as of March 2, 2020

 

Franklin Residents: Dog License deadline is POSTPONED until June 1st

 

“We didn't have weeks to act. We barely had days and we might be too late”

When the pandemic is by us (and no one know how long that will take), this story will be one of the contemporary pieces to go back to for the analysis of what happened and what could have happened. We will need to develop the 'lessons learned' from this pandemic for next time. The pandemic is a reminder that while it was predicted, it is likely to repeat until we change.

WBUR shares this reporing: 'We Knew The Inevitable': Why Mass. School Leaders Had To Close Schools On Their Own

“I said, ‘I think we have a kid,’ ” he said. “You could just see that everyone's face was like, ‘OK, this just got real.’ ”

And it got critical. Classes were starting at the school in less than 30 minutes. Immediately, Tremblay divided everyone into smaller groups and assigned tasks. Track down all students and staff who might have had contact with the symptomatic student. Inform those families and advise them to self-quarantine for 14 days. Tell bus drivers to stand by in order to bring kids home.

Some of the Framingham families who needed to quarantine didn’t speak English. Tremblay brought translators into the room. They wrote all official messages into Spanish and Portuguese simultaneously, working in Google docs.

“This escalated, as you can imagine, pretty quickly,” Tremblay said.

Continue reading the article online
https://www.wbur.org/edify/2020/03/30/behind-school-closure-decisions

“We didn't have weeks to act. We barely had days and we might be too late”

Town of Franklin - Fire Dept: Message to Franklin community - 3/30/20

Dear members of the Franklin community,

We are fortunate to be a town comprised of residents, families, business owners, students and visitors. The Franklin Fire Department continues to stand ready to serve each of you and today I am writing to update you regarding what steps we have taken to date to insure the safety of our town, specifically in terms of the COVID-19 virus.

As you are aware, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts declared a State of Emergency on March 10, 2020.

As a result, the Franklin Fire Department issued several General Orders over the past several weeks to all members of the department to ensure the safety of community members, themselves and their families. Some of the significant orders include medical screening of personnel before reporting to duty, strict daily cleaning guidelines for the vehicles, equipment and stations as well as setting protocols for emergency personnel interaction with all members of the public.

The Department has an adequate reserve of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and has submitted more orders through the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) and private vendors for the continued safety of everyone in our town. While it is necessary that both fire stations be closed to the public for safety reasons, online burn permitting is still available
at www.franklinma.gov/fire-department. By order of the Governor, smoke and carbon monoxide inspections have been postponed until further notice.

I want to assure you that the level of service from the Franklin Fire Department has not and will not change during this time. We have made the necessary modifications to our standard practices based on the guidance of the health professionals. The men and women of the department are well trained and have the proper equipment and support they need from the Town to perform our vital services to the community.

I urge everyone to please abide by the recommendations made by the CDC, the Governor and the Department of Health. In addition to those organizations’ websites, also stay up to date on local information at www.franklinma.gov.

We will continue to be in touch with you as this situation evolves. Please feel free to reach out to me personally at 508-570-8248 with any questions or concerns you have in the meantime.

Thank you and please stay safe and healthy. 

James G. McLaughlin
Fire Chief/EMA Director

This was shared from the Town of Franklin page
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/uploads/town_letter_-_ffd.pdf
 

Town of Franklin - Fire Dept:  Message to Franklin community - 3/30/20

 

FM #232 Franklin (MA) Health Director Cathleen Liberty 3/27/20 (audio)

FM #232 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 232 in the series.

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Franklin’s Health Director Cathleen Liberty. We did a conference all to adhere to the ‘social distance’ requirements of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cathleen shares some insights into the current pandemic and what we can learn from previous ones (HIV-Aids, H1N1).

The conversation runs about 15 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Cathleen.  https://www.hipcast.com/podcast/H1qqpx1X




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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 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/
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 app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

FM #232 Franklin (MA) Health Director Cathleen Liberty 3/27/20 (audio)

State Rep Jeff Roy: Update #6 on COVID-19

COVID-19 update #6

The Coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to test us, but our Commonwealth and communities have stepped up to the challenge. Our goals are to keep infections down and to watch out for one another. Communication is key at this time and that's why I send along these updates regularly in addition to updating my website. New information is coming out regularly and in great volume. To keep the information timely and manageable, I will continue to post only new information in these update emails. Please visit https://jeffreyroy.com/covid-19-updates/ for a compilation of all of the updates. That site will be updated frequently to keep you up to speed on the latest developments. Here are the updates since my last email:

Current cases. In Massachusetts, there are a total of 4,955 cases of COVID-19, out of the 39,066 individuals that have been tested. Forty-eight deaths in Massachusetts have been related to the virus. The state's capacity to test has been expanded so we expect that number to continue to rise as more people get tested. For complete details, click here.

Producers and volunteers. To donate goods for use in Massachusetts' response to the COVID-19 public health emergency: click here.  To provide information about goods you are looking to sell to support Massachusetts' COVID-19 response efforts: click here.  To adapt your business to produce Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): click here.  To volunteer to assist in public health, health care, and emergency response: click here.

Screenings available. MA residents who suspect they might have COVID-19 can now use this Buoy Health COVID-19 Web App, which will help to screen them based on a series of questions and connect them to a health care provider via telehealth. Click here to get to the site.

COVID-19 Text Alerts. Today, Massachusetts launched a text alert system called AlertsMA. The new messaging tool will allow residents to subscribe to real-time notifications by texting the keyword COVIDMA to 888-777.  After signing up, state and public health officials can send short messages and links to information directly to a resident's cell phone or other mobile device.

State Tax Deadline Extended. Massachusetts has moved the state personal income tax filing and payment deadline to July 15, consistent with the federal government, in order to provide additional flexibility to filers during this crisis.

Remote learning. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is requesting that educators continue to develop high-quality educational materials to provide students with effective remote learning resources through the month of April. The Department is also creating a model for districts to use and modify in collaboration with local stakeholders to fit their school district's needs, and will continue to work with schools to identify best practices for implementing effective remote learning. Additionally, through a new partnership between DESE and WGBH, educational resources will be posted on the department's website, and middle and high school students can access WGBH and WGBY educational programming on WGBH and WGBY on the WORLD channel from noon to 5 p.m.

Franklin information portal. You can view other information on Franklin's portal by clicking here.

Medway information pages. You can view the Medway School Department's update page by clicking here. The town's health page can be accessed by clicking here.

Further guidance and recommendations. Health-related guidance from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for various audiences can be accessed by clicking here. I wish you the best as you navigate this public health crisis.

Please look out for your friends and neighbors and stay informed with the links above.

If you have additional questions or need additional information, please let me know. I am not a medical doctor, so please contact your health care provider if you have specific health concerns. But I am happy to try and chase down any policy or state government related questions you might have. You can reach my State House office at 617-722-2030 or email me at Jeffrey.Roy@MAhouse.gov. 

State Rep Jeff Roy

State Rep Jeff Roy: Update #6 on COVID-19

The newsletter was shortened for publication here. To view the full set of content
https://mailchi.mp/81e682cc9ab3/ux2l17im8a-2482545