In the News: Cobi Frongillo wins Franklin Town Council seat

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

Cobi Frongillo, 23, has been elected to fill the open Franklin Town Council seat by a landslide after Saturday’s Special Election.

The youngest of the four candidates running received 2,500 votes on Saturday – over half of the overall votes, according to unofficial election results. 

Despite a snowstorm that blanketed the region from morning to night, 4,267 residents cast their votes at Franklin High School to choose who should fill the vacant Town Council seat left by Eamon McCarthy Earls in September. 

Greg Chiklis received the second-highest amount of votes with 802 votes, followed by Alan Earls, father of Eamon McCarthy Earls, with 723 votes and KP Sompally with 229 votes.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.milforddailynews.com/story/news/local/2020/12/06/cobi-frongillo-sweeps-franklin-town-council-seat-left-eamon-mccarthy-earls/3821864001/

The official results are now available

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/12/special-election-dec-5-2020-official.html

voter turnout for Franklin elections 2003-2020

Boston Globe: "State says it has recovered $242 million in fraudulent jobless claims"

From the Boston Globe, an article of interest for Franklin:

"The Baker administration said Friday that it has recovered more than $242 million in fraudulently issued unemployment benefits, in part the result of crime schemes first revealed last May.

The figures released in a statement are the latest tally of how many phony claims were filed and how much money the state has recovered.

Of the more than 2.3 million claims received since March, the administration said it has identified almost 172,000 fraudulent claims — or about 7.5 percent. The state has recovered about $1,400 per fraudulent claim.

The administration blamed an international criminal fraud ring targeting the state Department of Unemployment Assistance at a time when it was besieged with an unprecedented number of claims made by people laid off during the COVID-19 pandemic."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/12/05/business/state-says-it-has-recovered-242-million-fraudulent-jobless-claims/

"reliable transit is a lifeblood of the local economies"

From the New York Times, an article of interest for Franklin:

"In Boston, transit officials warned of ending weekend service on the commuter rail and shutting down the city’s ferries. In Washington, weekend and late-night metro service would be eliminated and 19 of the system’s 91 stations would close. In Atlanta, 70 of the city’s 110 bus routes have already been suspended, a move that could become permanent.

And in New York City, home to the largest mass transportation system in North America, transit officials have unveiled a plan that could slash subway service by 40 percent and cut commuter rail service in half.

Across the United States, public transportation systems are confronting an extraordinary financial crisis set off by the pandemic, which has starved transit agencies of huge amounts of revenue and threatens to cripple service for years."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/06/nyregion/mass-transit-service-cuts-covid.html

The MBTA is scheduled to announce service cuts soon. The period for public input closed on Friday, Dec 4.  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/12/elimination-of-commuter-rail-service-on.html

Tweet from MindShift: Ways to check for understanding

via MindShift (@MindShiftKQED) 

"7 awesome ways to check for understanding. Which one's your favorite?
Ideas from @ImpactWales https://t.co/UH4OEtYRrp"

7 awesome ways to check for understanding.

As a reporter, I am listening, processing, and summarizing what I see and hear in the meetings I report on. In my recent remote reporting (while on a Zoom or conference bridge) I type the notes into Twitter as the meeting happens. With a hashtag, I can find the twitter thread easily (and so can someone else). 

I go back the next day, or as soon after as time permits, and capture those tweets in my meeting 'recap'. As I listen to the meeting recording to prepare it for publication on the Franklin Matters podcast, I am also able to check what I heard and what I noted of it. Most of the time I do well. The most opportunity is with spelling of proper nouns used.  

Yes, this takes work but it is part of the process to ensure accurate information is shared. It is also a learning process. Many meetings are introducing new concepts or pieces of legislation and the major questions (Who, What, When, Where, Why...) need to be understood. Once the basics are, there is usually another level of detail raised by additional questions around impact to related areas or to the residents, never mind what does it cost or what the financial impact is.

 

Runner's World: new world record for half marathon

For the runners among us: Did you see the results of the half marathon in Valencia, Spain? A new world record, and three other runners beat the previous mark in the same race. Fast! 

Oh, and the US woman winner missed setting a record by 1 second. Fast!  

"The results in the men's half marathon were remarkable, with four men breaking the world record. "

Shared from Twitter = https://t.co/xHsoNPe98M

half marathon record broken by multiple runners

Special Election - Dec 5, 2020 = Official Results

The Official results from the Special Election on Dec 5, 2020 were released on Sunday by acting Town Clerk Nancy Danello and shared here.

For the one page PDF   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1et5IyipUgn41Gq1BRRyivFJjogvs9zWR/view?usp=sharing

Special Election - Dec 5, 2020
Official election results
Chiklis	809	18.7%
Earls	731	16.9%
Frongillo	2537	58.7%
Sompally	232	5.4%
Blanks	4	0.1%
Write ins	9	0.2%
Total	4322	100%
In person	848	19.6%
Mail / absentee	3474	80.4%
Total	4322	100%
Total registered voters	24.796
percent election turnout	17.4%

Special Election - Dec 5, 2020 = Official Results

election turnout 2003-2020

Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda - Dec 8, 2020

Call to Order
Pledge of Allegiance 
Moment of Silence

I. Routine Business
A. Review of Agenda
B. Citizen’s Comments

In the spirit of open communication, “the Committee will hold a public participation segment (also called Citizen’s Comments) about matters not related to an agenda item at the beginning of each regular School Committee meeting. The Committee will listen to, but not respond to any comment made…. A Committee member may add an agenda item to a future meeting as a result of a citizen comment…. The Committee will hear public comments related to an agenda item when the Chair deems appropriate during the Committee meeting. Topics for discussion during the meeting must be limited to those items listed on the Committee meeting agenda for that evening…. ” - from Policy BEDH

C. FHS Student Representative Comments
D. Superintendent’s Report

II. Guests/Presentations
A. Winter Athletics Update - Tom Angelo  https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/winter-athletics

III. Discussion/Action Items
A. Policy – 2nd Reading / Adoption
I recommend adoption of the following policies as discussed:
1. JJEA-Crowdfunding Policy
2. GE-Telework Policy

https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/disc-policy

IV. Discussion Only Items
A. FY 21 Budget Updates  https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/budget-update-0
B. Kindergarten and Grade 1 Full and In-person update
C. Reopening of Schools Status Report 12/4/2020  https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/reopening-status-update
D. Updated School Committee Presentation Schedule  https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/presentation-schdl-0

V. Information Matters
A. School Committee Sub-Committee Reports (e.g. Ad Hoc Supt. Evaluation, Ad Hoc Facilities Analysis, Budget, Community Relations/Public Schools Advocacy, Policy, Transportation)
B. School Committee Liaison Reports (e.g. Joint PCC, Substance Abuse Task Force, School Wellness Advisory Council, Franklin Racial & Social Justice Task Force)

VI. New Business
A. To discuss any future agenda items

VII. Consent Agenda
A. Approval of Minutes
I recommend approval of the minutes from your November 24, 2020 School Committee meeting as detailed.
B. FHS Gift
I recommend acceptance of a check for $29.69 from Ohiopyle Prints, Inc. for in-house enrichment at FHS as detailed.

VIII. Payment of Bills Dr. Bergen
IX. Payroll Ms. D’Angelo
X. Executive Session

Pursuant to M.G.L. c. 30A, §21(a)(3) to discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining with the FEA as an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the School Committee and the chair so declares.

XI. Adjournment

Document released for this meeting can be found in the meeting packet folder

https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/december-8-2020-school-committee-packet

Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda - Dec 8, 2020