Meeting Notice, 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node, Thursday, May 6

The Greater Franklin Node of 350 Massachusetts will meet this week, Thursday, May 6th, at 7:00 pm.  Here is the Zoom link: 

Join on Zoom.

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88924607755?pwd=bHl1empTRVFxYzdZUmVBSGl1Q0p3Zz09
Meeting ID: 889 2460 7755

Password: 350ma

Audio by phone: +1 646 876 9923 

 

Residents of Franklin and nearby cities and towns are welcome to attend.

Meeting Agenda: While we are seeing positive developments at both the State House and the White House, we need to keep up the pressure on our legislators to sponsor and support key bills; we'll discuss related 350 Mass efforts. We are also planning statewide and local activities to implement our 2021/2022 campaigns to achieve the Green New Deal in housing and construction, transportation, and green energy (particularly solar). We want to collaborate with groups and individuals from the region who share the same concerns, so all our cities and towns can benefit. Please join us to learn and contribute.   

 

350 Massachusetts for a Better Future (https://350mass.betterfutureproject.org/) is building a powerful statewide social movement to confront the climate crisis, hold our politicians accountable and undermine the destructive influence of the fossil fuel industry. Our name comes from 350 parts per million, the safe level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. 

350 Mass is made up of several local volunteer-led chapters we call "nodes" around the state that carry out both municipal-level and statewide campaigns, coordinated by a Statewide Steering Team (SST). The Greater Franklin Node includes Franklin and close to twenty nearby communities. We meet on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month, at 7:00 pm.

 

For questions and information, contact the node co-coordinators, carolyncbarthel@gmail.com and/or ralph.halpern@comcast.net.

 

Ralph Halpern

ralph.halpern@comcast.net

781-784-3839 (h)

339-203-5017 (c)

Meeting Notice, 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node, Thursday, May 6

MA News: walk up vaccines available, except at Gillette

 

"IN A SIGN of the vastly increased availability of COVID-19 vaccines, six mass vaccination sites in Massachusetts will begin offering walk-up vaccination appointments. 

Gov. Charlie Baker announced Wednesday that the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston, the Doubletree Hotel in Danvers, the former Circuit City in Dartmouth, the Eastfield Mall in Springfield, and the Natick Mall will all open their doors to walk-ups by Monday. The only mass vaccination site not to allow walk-ups will be Gillette Stadium. 

“The walk-up option will make it easier for people to access vaccines,” Baker said at a press conference after touring a vaccination site at the Encore Boston Harbor casino, run in conjunction with Cambridge Health Alliance. Baker noted that on one day, Cambridge Health Alliance had around 40 appointments booked, but 700 people walked in. "

Continue reading the article online

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/state-government/virus-notes-mass-vax-sites-to-offer-walk-up-appointments/ 

Boston Globe coverage:  (subscription may be required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/05/05/metro/six-states-mass-vaccination-sites-will-offer-walk-up-appointments-starting-monday-baker-says/

Press conference link => https://youtu.be/XwUrU8f8ioE?t=183

Opinion | Why reforming qualified immunity will never resolve police violence - The Washington Post

"As lawmakers in Congress negotiate their long-awaited police reform bill, Democrats are sticking firm to their conviction that the legislation must include some type of reform of qualified immunity — the legal protections that make suing individual police officers for misconduct nearly impossible. For many on the left, that raises an important question: To what extent should they be willing to compromise on reforming the law?

It’s the wrong question to ask. As a 40-year veteran of law enforcement, from sheriff’s deputy to chief and director of public safety, I firmly believe that nothing federal, state or local governments do about qualified immunity will significantly reduce or increase the incidence of unjustified deadly force by police. Real reform requires us to go much deeper than tweaking tort rules."

............. 

"A far better strategy would be to eliminate the risk of ending up in court. Just imagine what local and state governments could accomplish if they were to invest the money they spend on misconduct lawsuits on making policing more humane and more effective. They could better train officers in de-escalation tactics to reduce the likelihood of lethal violence. And they could train officers to use effective alternatives to lethal force and to deal with mentally disturbed people safely. Doing so would improve the public perception that the police have earned their authority from the community and that they use it to serve and protect, not to punish. Officers and agencies need to learn and embrace procedural justice — the idea that the processes by which police officers resolve disputes and police agencies allocate resources are fundamentally fair."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/05/05/why-reforming-qualified-immunity-will-never-resolve-police-violence/

Recap: Finance Committee approves FY 2022 budget as proposed

Quick Recap:

• Last of the 4 budget hearings scheduled for Finance Committee to preview the FY 2022 budget before the Town Council gets it later this month. Generally good questions asked, answers received, not always telling complete story that should be told
  
• What should you know? Schools get almost 50% of their budget from State Chap 70 funding which is about $11M more than we should under the revised Student Opportunity Act. The Town participation in school funding is expected to increase over the next several years (at least until the excess 11M is reduced). "This dynamic is the future decade for Franklin."
• So forget about OPEB (there is a plan to resolve it) The largest issues on the town front on the school budget and stormwater funding. If we don't fix the stormwater funding (first), the school issue will become more severe (and nevermind how they determine to redistrict, the issue is here - redistricting is not going to save that much money)
• Funny how all the parents upset about possible school budget cuts have disappeared from meeting participation. They should be paying attention now. 
• Only one vote by FinCom to approve the whole general fund and enterprise accounts to pass along to the Town Council who are scheduled to do their cursory review on May 26-27.
  

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As with most meetings in this pandemic period, I took my notes via Twitter during the meeting reporting in real-time via the virtual session.

 

The Twitter hashtag can be found online  #fincom0504

https://twitter.com/search?q=%23fincom0504&src=typeahead_click

Photos captured during the meeting and shared via Twitter can be found in one album   https://photos.app.goo.gl/7aWLKfP4xhrHqSbG9

The agenda for this meeting can be found
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/_2021-05-04_finance_committee_agenda_.pdf

• Last of the 4 #FinCom0504 budget hearings coming up at 6:30 PM - this one features, the three school budgets; Franklin K-12, Tri-County, and Norfolk Aggie. Then the FinCom gets down to voting to approve/adjust as they see fit. What will it be? Follow and find out
• The agenda for the #fincom0504 meeting, includes connection info (via Zoom) - meeting also available via Verizon/Comcast cable and live stream from http://Franklin.TV   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/_2021-05-04_finance_committee_agenda_.pdf
• Meeting opens #fincom0504
• Starting with coverage of the tri-county and Norfolk Aggie budgets with line item coverage, an assessment beaded up Franklin student enrollment in those institutions. #fincom0504. Follow along with https://franklinma.gov/town-budget/files/a1-town-administrator-recommended-budget-voting-document-budget-book and next link ->
• Schools budget doc to follow along https://franklinma.gov/town-budget/files/b1-school-department-executive-summary-fy22 #fincom0504 Schools did adjust budget by $700k+ to meet town allocation by prepaying some accounts
• Trend of lower enrollment due to COVID not like other communities, less here, more there. Still on downward trend in elementary overall. Watching carefully for fall #fincom0504 graduation 400+ incoming class size more 300 odd
• Q the out of district tuition? How flat if an increase expected? Some students aging out which reduces but the rate is increase so there is an offset. Prepay will eventually create a "cliff" but not there yet, MA laws allow for prepay in private placements #fincom0504
• Students supported by law through age up to 22. If we can provide enough service in district, then we need to go out. About 80-85 students in out of district. #fincom0504 internet upgrade to support remote learning, most of increase is for 10G line as well as split ->
• Of cyber security share with town side, as previously discussed. Anticipating that the state will not allow full remote learning come fall so no increase anticipated there #fincom0504
• Q on additional staff at central office, one person spot adding in replacement of Dr Edwards, her slot will support both as well, offset of some of the stipends previously used #fincom0504 curriculum development focus, reporting to Lucas Giguere
• Redistricting study is a continuation of the facilities plan, how should we use space in the district. The prior studies were done pre-pandemic. To develop a road map of what to do and when. #fincom0504 do you have any reserves aside from revolving funds?
• Do not have stabilization fund! Do use the revolving funds as necessary but the policy is usually for a year on hand. This avoids the check in, check out process. Lifelong learning is one key area visible and impacted by revolving funds. #fincom0504
• They do adjust yearly. These are all meant to be self supporting programs. Buses, sports, lifelong learning, etc. Q how has declined ridership affect busing expense? #fincom0504 adjusted contract with vendor to run fewer buses riders down about 1/3, usually about 3000 students
• Saw savings in contract but lost revenue more than the savings #fincom0504 did end up with revolving funds worth more than the one year policy requirements. FTE is calculated at working the 35 hours. Teachers don't get paid hourly, they're paid over the 180 days
• Q refresh on circuit breaker? State sets a threshold, and if we pay more than the state can reimburse the excess portion at about 75% #fincom0504 student opportunity act is not beneficial to use compared to others, we are a minimum aid Community
• We receive $11m excess (2nd only to Boston) and until that 11 decreases we won't get much more. We do anticipate get help with circuit breaker and transportation but not from per pupil (only $30/year). Town contribution will increase from 71% over next several years
• No major increase in chap 70, generally flat. State funding for schools is approx 50% of what they have. #fincom0504 "this dynamic is the future decade for Franklin".
• One vote on all general and enterprise fund budgets motion made, seconded passes 9-0 #fincom0504 Adjournment, seconded approved 9-0 And in case you missed it, there was no allowance for any Community comments during the discussions
• That's all for tonight, catch you next time - Three meetings back to back on Weds 5/5/21, Board of Health, capital budget Subcommittee, and Town Council. Agendas posted on Town and http://www.franklin.news pages #fincom0504

 

Recap: Finance Committee approves FY 2022 budget as proposed

Amy Adams selected as Artist In Residence for Natick Center Cultural District

Amy Adams was part of a recent Franklin Matters Radio episode. She shares some good news:

"I was selected as the first Artist In Residence for Natick Center Cultural District in Massachusetts. It will be focused on social justice and four interrelated principals: equity, access, participation, and rights. I am overwhelmed with excitement and joy for the opportunity to include the community in using art as a tool to enhance how we share messages in our work. I am grateful and I cannot wait to share in this journey"

Shared from  https://paintingvenus1.wixsite.com/mysite/post/when-words-aren-t-enough

Recent Franklin Matters Radio episode:

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/04/fm-525-amy-jamele-adams-041521-audio.html

 

https://paintingvenus1.wixsite.com/mysite/post/when-words-aren-t-enough

 

Project Envoy – Thank you! – Franklin Food Pantry

"We’d like to thank you everyone who worked hard to make Project Envoy a success! Project Envoy, a community driven project, designed to support local restaurants who in-turn donated some of their proceeds to The Franklin Food Pantry, ran from February 1 through April 30.

Thank you to the  following restaurants who participated: 360 Pizzeria,  Acapulcos, Central Pizza, The Curry House, Dacey’s Market & Deli, Franklin Pizza, George’s Pizza, Intermission Café, King Street Café,  Rhapsody’s Victorian Coffee House, The Rome Restaurant, Santa Fe, Sierra’s Brick Oven Pizza,  and Spruce Pond Creamery. 

We’d especially like to thank the Franklin Interfaith Council Team members representing St. Mary’s Parish, St. John’s Episcopal, Temple Etz Chaim, the First Universalist Society in Franklin, the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints, and the Franklin Federated Church for their time and dedication in running this program."

Shared from https://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/project-envoy-thank-you/

Project Envoy – Thank you! – Franklin Food Pantry

FM #530 - Health Director Cathleen Liberty - 04/22/21 (audio)

FM #530 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 530 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Health Director Cathleen Liberty on Apr 22, 2021. We had our conversation via virtual conference bridge to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

We talk about the major topics of 

• Earth Day
• COVID-19
• Mosquitoes, ticks
• Salmonella 

The recording runs about 35 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Cathleen. Audio file = https://player.captivate.fm/episode/ec483124-d95c-44c1-b64c-80c4914a2fab

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• Health Dept page  https://www.franklinma.gov/health-department
• Board of Health page  https://www.franklinma.gov/health-department
• Article on Healthy Families and Flocks  https://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/resources/salmonella-baby-poultry.pdf
• Norfolk County Mosquito District https://norfolkcountymosquito.org/
• CDC article on salmonella outbreak  https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/typhimurium-04-21/index.html

 

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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial. 

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 www.Franklinmatters.org/   or www.franklin.news/

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"

Health Director Cathleen Liberty participating in a virtual School Committee meeting