Starting July 30, census takers will be visiting Franklin

The U.S. Census Bureau announced that it will begin following up with households in select areas that have not yet responded to the 2020 Census.

Starting July 30, census takers will begin interviewing households in areas managed by the following 35 area census offices across 14 states and Puerto Rico:

• Aurora, Colorado North and Denver, Colorado
• Danbury, Connecticut
• Honolulu, Hawaii
• Chicago Central, Chicago Far Southwest, Chicago South, Cook County Northwest, Cook County South, Dekalb, Oswego, Peoria and Skokie, Illinois
• Indianapolis and Lake County, Indiana
• Quincy, Waltham and Worcester, Massachusetts

Per the 2020 Census map, Franklin is covered by the Quincy office

2020 Census map, Franklin is covered by the Quincy office

Franklin's response rate hasn't changed much since last reported here. We are at 77.2 percent (only .2 percent more in the last two weeks).

Franklin's response rate for 2020 Census

Households can still respond now by completing and mailing back the paper questionnaire they received, by responding online at 2020census.gov, or by phone at 844-330-2020. Households can also respond online or by phone in one of 13 languages and find assistance in many more. Those that respond will not need to be visited to obtain their census response.

What Households Can Expect

The Census Bureau will provide face masks to census takers and requires that census takers wear a mask while conducting their work. They will follow CDC and local public health guidelines when they visit. Census takers must complete a virtual COVID-19 training on social distancing protocols and other health and safety guidance before beginning their work in neighborhoods.

Census takers are hired from local communities. All census takers speak English, and many are bilingual. If a census taker does not speak the householder’s language, the household may request a return visit from a census taker who does. Census takers will also have materials on hand to help identify the household’s language.

If no one is home when the census taker visits, the census taker will leave a notice of their visit with information about how to respond online, by phone or by mail. People are encouraged to cooperate with census takers and ensure that everyone who was living in their household as of April 1, 2020, is counted.

How to Identify Census Takers

Census takers can be easily identified (https://2020census.gov/en/census-takers.html) by a valid government ID badge with their photograph, a U.S. Department of Commerce watermark, and an expiration date on the badge. To confirm a census taker’s identity, the public may contact their regional census center (https://2020census.gov/en/contact-us/rcc.html) to speak with a Census Bureau representative.

How are these Offices Selected for the Early Start to Deploying Census Takers?

Career Census Bureau operational leadership makes the decision on when and where area census offices will begin following up with households that have not yet responded to the 2020 Census. As part of the selection criteria, we ensured these offices offered a variety of situations to help roll out the systems. We also followed a thorough review of the operating status of a state, locality or tribal area; the key data that support that operating status as identified by federal, state and local guidance; and the ability of Census Bureau staff to safely resume operations, including the procurement of personal protective equipment.

About the 2020 Census

The U.S. Constitution mandates a census of the population every 10 years. The goal of the 2020 Census is to count everyone who lives in the United States on April 1, 2020 (Census Day). Census statistics are used to determine the number of seats each state holds in the U.S. House of Representatives and informs how billions of dollars in federal funds will be allocated by state, local and federal lawmakers annually for the next 10 years.

For more information, visit 2020census.gov.

In the News: "much of the evidence is inconclusive"

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

"What role children play in the coronavirus pandemic is the hot-button question of the summer as kids relish their free time while schools labor over how to resume classes. 

The Trump administration says the science “is very clear,” but many doctors who specialize in pediatrics and infectious diseases say much of the evidence is inconclusive. 

“There are still a lot of unanswered questions. That is the biggest challenge,” said Dr. Sonja Rasmussen, a pediatrics professor at the University of Florida and former scientist at the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. 

Several studies suggest, but don’t prove, that children are less likely to become infected than adults and more likely to have only mild symptoms."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)https://www.milforddailynews.com/zz/news/20200717/how-does-covid-19-affect-kids-science-has-answers-and-gaps/1?rssfeed=true


The NY Times article on a related report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine  https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/15/health/coronavirus-schools-reopening.html

Go directly to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine report

"Weighing the health risks of reopening K-12 schools in fall 2020 against the educational risks of providing no in-person instruction, school districts should prioritize reopening schools full time, especially for grades K-5 and students with special needs, according to a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Opening schools will benefit families beyond providing education, including by supplying child care, school services, meals, and other family supports. Without in-person instruction, schools risk children falling behind academically and exacerbating educational inequities."

Continue reading the report online:
https://www.nationalacademies.org/news/2020/07/schools-should-prioritize-reopening-in-fall-2020-especially-for-grades-k-5-while-weighing-risks-and-benefits

In the News: "Policing reform push amplified at Statehouse rally"

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

"Faith and labor leaders on Friday urged lawmakers to continue the policing reform work begun this week in the Senate, as the wait continues for a House bill that, if approved, would need to be reconciled quickly with a sweeping Senate proposal. 

As reverends and union representatives gathered outside the Statehouse, the House on Friday at 11 a.m. closed its window for public testimony on the Senate plan (S 2820), after announcing Wednesday night that it was inviting anyone to submit feedback by email. 

“To our representatives who have received undue pressure to succumb to mediocrity, to lay down and allow the status quo to exist, who are wavering, struggling about what to do, our message is courage,” Harvard University’s Muslim Chaplain Shaykh Khalil Abdur-Rashid said. “If you do not have courage now, when will you have courage? Our message is character. If you do not have character now, when will you have character?” 

Formal legislative sessions are scheduled to end for the year in two weeks so a House plan is expected any day now, although top Democrats have not announced any definitive plans."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required) https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200717/policing-reform-push-amplified-at-statehouse-rally?rssfeed=true

Frank's Music with Frank Falvey: "Women Of The Grand Ol Opry #1" (audio)

Frank Falvey has a radio show called "Frank's Music". Self described as 'eclectic' you hear some good music and info about the songs and the performers. Frank records with Jim Derick as they "search for the meaning in music." 

These shows are part of the Franklin Public Radio playlist and also available on SoundCloud.  Franklin Public Radio is 102.9 on the local FM radio dial or anywhere in your browser at wfpr.fm

Thursday = 10:00a/1:00p/7:00p Frank’s Music – Frank Falvey
Frank explores a range of music genres and artists

The show repeats on Saturday at 10:00 AM

This session covers "Women Of The Grand Ol Opry". This is part one of two. You'll need to have patience and wait for the second episode to be shared on the radio and then via SoundCloud.

Audio link = https://soundcloud.com/user-653308056/woman-of-the-grand-ol-opry-1

Frank's Music with Frank Falvey · Woman Of The Grand Ol Opry #1

Franklin Residents: Job Opportunities with DPW, Fire Dept, and Police Dept

Job Opportunities

To apply for a vacant position, please submit a resume and cover letter to apply@franklinma.gov.  Please put the job title in the subject line of your email.  

• Police Patrol Officer 

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/uploads/academy-trained-patrol-officer-posting-july2020.pdf

• Firefighter/Paramedic - 2 vacancies 

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/uploads/ff-paramedic-job-posting-july132020_0.pdf

• Stormwater and Environmental Affairs Superintendent - Department of Public Works 

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/uploads/storm-water-and-environmental-affairs-superintendent-jobposting-july2020_0.pdf
 
If you do not have a resume, you may send a completed Application for Employment instead.  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/uploads/application_for_employment_-_town_of_franklin.pdf

To receive notifications of all job opportunities in the Town of Franklin, subscribe here  http://www.franklinma.gov/subscribe

Franklin Residents: Job Opportunities with DPW, Fire Dept, and Police Dept

Families Continue to Pay Tribute to Veterans

The fourth installation of engraved bricks on the Veterans Memorial Walkway took place recently on the Franklin Town Common. The next installation is planned for November 2020 to coincide with Veterans Day. Bricks must be purchased by September 14 for this installation.

Veterans being honored do not have to be Franklin residents. For more information or to purchase an engraved brick, contact the Franklin Veterans Services Office at: (508) 613-1315 or go to: www.franklinveteransbricks.com for online orders. Engraved bricks are $100 each.

Pictured left to right: Dale Kurtz, Franklin VSO, and members of the Franklin Veterans Council, Sue Theriot, Ernest Carruthers and Bob Gardner with Bill Fredrick of C & A Masonry, Inc. of Franklin.

Senate Passes Bill to Invest in Massachusetts Transportation

Senate Passes Bill to Invest in Massachusetts Transportation 

Legislation authorizes millions of dollars to help accelerate transportation projects in MetroWest

The Massachusetts State Senate on Thursday (July 16) passed legislation to jumpstart investment in transportation infrastructure and make the Commonwealth's transportation system more reliable and accessible to residents. The bill includes critical transportation investments for the communities of Framingham, Ashland, Hopkinton, Natick, Franklin, Holliston and Medway.

 "As a long-time advocate for investment in transportation and regional equity, I am thrilled to see this bill invest in projects and ideas that put us on the road to creating a more accessible and reliable system for travelers across MetroWest," stated Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). "The approach advanced today helps us begin the critical work of improving our infrastructure and provides us with new tools to tackle our transportation challenges. Additionally, the investments outlined today will assist our communities at a time of economic uncertainty. I would like to thank Senators Joe Boncore, Michael Rodrigues, and Michael Moore for all their hard work on this legislation and look forward to it swiftly becoming law."

In response to concerns from community members over potential congestion caused by the Allston Multimodal Project, Senate President Spilka set aside $50M of the $250M authorization for the project to be used for traffic mitigation efforts. That funding will help support a requirement of the funding that two tracks on the Framingham/Worcester commuter rail line be preserved with no reduction in service. Additionally, it would require the Massachusetts Department of Transportation to make public a congestion mitigation plan to ensure the Department develops the most robust mitigation plan feasible. The mitigation plan will be developed in conjunction with key MetroWest stakeholders and provide opportunity for public input from residents of the region.  

Senate President Spilka is particularly thrilled to announce the bill includes the following investment authorizations for MetroWest:

• $50M of $250M for the Allston multi-modal project dedicated to mitigation efforts 
• $8M for a parking structure at downtown Framingham's commuter rail station  
• $2M for Framingham to alleviate flooding at the intersection of Route 9 and 126 
• $2.5M for parking improvements at the Ashland commuter rail station 
• $4M for improvement to Route 135 and Frankland Road in Ashland
• $1.5M for Franklin commuter rail downtown parking 
• $1.5M for Holliston downtown traffic improvements
• $1.5M for sidewalk and pedestrian safety in Hopkinton
• $1.5M for sidewalk and pedestrian safety in Medway
• $1M for sidewalk and pedestrian safety improvements to Route 27 in Natick

These localized authorizations were included as part of An Act Authorizing and Accelerating Transportation Investment, which authorizes more than $16 billion in bonds for a wide variety of statewide infrastructure projects, including both upkeep and maintenance, as well as modernization. In addition to addressing issues such as construction, regional initiatives, traffic congestion, and transportation network companies, this legislation will provide significant support for residents of the Commonwealth by implementing a low-income fare program which will provide discounted transit fares to qualifying riders on MBTA transportation, including the commuter rail, starting on Jan. 1^st, 2022.

The bill provides hundreds of millions of dollars in additional authorizations for, among other items,  Regional Transit Authorities, a pavement improvement program, to address regional bottlenecks, bus transit infrastructure partnership, municipal small bridge program, South Station improvements, new cape cod canal bridges, for a public realm improvement program in response to COVID-19, electric vehicle grants for municipalities and RTAs, regional transportation project and federally aided highways. More than a billion dollars in funding is also authorized for the next generation bridge program. 

The bill represents an important step in reducing traffic congestion, and tasks the Department of Transportation with collecting new information and creating expert-driven plans to respond to the issue. These include seeking federal approval to join the Value Pricing Pilot Program, which provides state agencies with options to manage congestion and establishing a special commission on roadway and congestion pricing, which would also investigate and recommend options for regionally equitable roadway pricing mechanisms. Additionally, the bill allows public authorities to more clearly include time as a factor in evaluating private bids for construction projects. 

At the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, two new offices are created by the bill: An Office of Bus Transformation and an Office of Rail Enhancement. Each office would be dedicated to improving the productivity, equity and environmental sustainability of its respective system.  

The bill addresses the growth of transportation network companies by increasing reporting requirements so that local and state government can better respond to congestion resulting from increased rides. 

In a move that will give regions better control over their transportation infrastructure, the bill allows cities and towns, upon local acceptance by local government and local voters at the ballot, to utilize certain revenue sources for transportation-related projects within the municipality or region. 

The bill also defines and regulates the amounts of fines for a several transportation-related activities. Penalties are defined for improper use of a designated bus lane, for railroads who fail to provide timely and sufficient flaggers, speeding in an active construction zone, and failure to move a vehicle involved in a crash from a travel lane on a public way. 

The bill must now be reconciled with legislation previously passed the Massachusetts House of Representatives. 

Senate Passes Bill to Invest in Massachusetts Transportation