Franklin Matters

Friday, May 14, 2021

FISH of Franklin Is Resuming Services

GOOD NEWS FRANKLIN!

FISH OF FRANKLIN IS RESUMING SERVICES! The Steering Committee and volunteers of FISH of Franklin are pleased to announce that, after more than a year of suspended services due to COVID-19, our volunteer service of providing rides to medical appointments for Franklin residents will begin again in May. There will be some new requirements in order to keep our volunteers and clients safe:

all clients must be fully vaccinated and finished with the two-week waiting period following vaccination in order to receive a ride
all drivers will also need to be fully vaccinated and finished with the two-week waiting period
drivers and clients will be required to wear masks
clients must be able to walk and to enter and exit vehicles and doctors’ offices without assistance.

Any Franklin resident who wishes to access this service should call the FISH line to request a ride, and leave a message with name, phone number, date and time of the appointment, and location of the appointment. The client will receive a call back from a volunteer. FISH is not an emergency service, and anyone with a medical emergency should dial 911. FISH phone number: (508) 528-2121 FISH of Franklin is a service provided by volunteers age 21 or over, and more are always welcome! Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer should contact Chris at 508-553-3023.

We have missed you and look forward to resuming our services!

Senator Becca Rausch: FY 2022 "Low Budget Beacon Hill" Explainer

Senator Becca Rausch (@BeccaRauschMA) tweeted on Wed, May 12, 2021:

"Yesterday the @MA_Senate Committee on Ways and Means unveiled its $47.6 billion plan for the FY22 budget.

So, what exactly is the budget and how is it crafted every year?

Check out my explainer episode of #LowBudgetBeaconHill with @mariarobinsonMA! #mapoli"

https://t.co/hWny7g5gq5

or https://www.beccarauschma.com/low-budget-beacon-hill

Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/BeccaRauschMA/status/1392529620759625731

https://www.beccarauschma.com/low-budget-beacon-hill

HMEA is hiring! Is there a position for you?

HMEA boasts a supportive and cooperative environment. Our employees demonstrate caring and compassion and share a common core of values. We celebrate diversity and encourage learning and professional growth. We offer comprehensive training and are committed to promoting from within.

For more info about HMEA and to apply https://www.hmea.org/careers/

HMEA is hiring! Is that a position for you?

"Mass., Boston to maintain mask requirements for now in wake of new CDC guidance"

"MASKS WILL STILL be required for now in all indoor public places, at all events, and outdoors when social distancing is not possible in Massachusetts, despite new guidance from the Centers from Disease Control advising fully vaccinated individuals that it’s safe in most cases to stop wearing a face covering.

Gov. Charlie Baker’s office issued a statement on Thursday night saying the governor welcomed the new health guidelines from the CDC and would be “updating Massachusetts’ COVID restrictions in the near future.”

“In the meantime, the current mask order remains in place. The Commonwealth is leading the nation in the vaccination effort and the Administration will continue to make vaccines available to everyone who lives, works or studies in Massachusetts,” press secretary Sarah Finlaw said in a statement."

Continue reading the article online https://commonwealthmagazine.org/health/baker-doesnt-budge-yet-on-masks/

Boston Globe coverage (subscription may be required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/05/13/metro/experts-divided-cdcs-loosened-mask-reccomendations/

Gov Baker's press conference link -> https://youtu.be/9MmucnVdD2Y

What do housing choice and brownfields have in common?

There not a real direct link but now that I have your attention, there are two things to be aware of:

1 - MHP (@mhphousing) tweeted on Wed, May 12, 2021:

In this episode of The Rewatchables, listen from 11 to 29 min. when @MAPCMetroBoston Eric Hove goes over key features of #HousingChoice & multifamily near transit requirement. Detailed look at new laws & what needs ironing out. https://t.co/EK2FwgmAJ4 @massmunicipal @MassEOHED

Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/mhphousing/status/1392555249907421186?s=03)

2 - MAPC (@MAPCMetroBoston) tweeted on Thu, May 13, 2021:

Join MAPC & @GroundworkUSA for a workshop on repurposing brownfields sites with solar energy installations!

You'll hear about models for B2B projects that advance equity & community benefits, & learn about a new tool to ID potential sites.

Register: https://t.co/ySZTyOS5ax or here: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcvcu6vqzIrHtUEDaOjJ16fekHd77_S4Wru

Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/MAPCMetroBoston/status/1392877668631187462

workshop on repurposing brownfields sites

Thursday, May 13, 2021

Town Council Mtg 05/05/21 - in 3 parts FM #537, 538, 539 (audio)

FM #537-538-539 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 537-538-539 in the series.

This session shares the Franklin, MA Town Council meeting held on Wednesday, May 5, 2021.

The meeting was conducted in a hybrid format: most members of the Town Council, selected guests, and Town Administration personnel were in the Council Chambers, at least one member of the Council was remote along with the public via the Zoom conference bridge, all to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

I’ve split the almost 3 hour minute meeting into three logical segments:

First - covers the opening recognition of DPW Director Cantoreggi, public hearing on stormwater bylaw wording, license transaction for LaCantina (~43 mins)
Second - covers the Melanson & HEath audit report and the presentation by Franklin TV (~40 minutes)
Third - covers the Town Communications update by Anne Marie Tracey through to the end of the meeting (~70 minutes)

The show notes contain links to the meeting agenda including documents released for this meeting.

Let’s listen to this segment of the Town Council meeting of May 5, 2021

Part 1 Audio file = https://player.captivate.fm/episode/2de841ff-4455-4875-a8c9-9a743362aa8c

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Part 2 Audio file = https://player.captivate.fm/episode/5356f1c6-0368-4267-8160-489e08f9762e

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Part 3 Audio file = https://player.captivate.fm/episode/66a992af-0500-4325-aaaa-0378d61a8988

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Agenda document folder
https://www.franklinma.gov/town-council/agenda/may-5-town-council-agenda

My notes from the meeting
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/05/recap-town-council-meeting-050521.html

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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/ 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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Town Council Mtg 05/05/21 - in 3 parts FM #537, 538, 539 (audio)

Town of Franklin, MA: Pop Shop Franklin

Town of Franklin, MA (@TOFranklinMA) tweeted on Wed, May 12, 2021:

We are VERY excited to share our latest Economic Development project: Pop Shop Franklin! With RPP grant support from the @MassEOHED, we are securing two Downtown Franklin locations for small businesses to open POP UP SHOPS!