Voices of Franklin: Karen Landers - Time for a change on the Planning Board

Boy, time sure does fly by!  Would you believe that Anthony Padula and Joseph Halligan, Jr. have been serving on the Planning Board for a total of 30 years between them.

Perhaps, it is time for a change!   We should thank each of them for giving their time and expertise to ensure that all residential and commercial projects that have come before the Planning Board have correctly followed the zoning, building, and town bylaws before being approved.  That has been no small task, considering all the growth that has occurred in all of those years.  

But now, the town has high hopes for the two new candidates who are currently seeking election to the Planning Board.

Jennifer Williams, who is currently an Associate Member of the Board, is a registered architect with  planning experience.  Jennifer has the correct skill set and expertise that will be needed when reviewing site plans, subdivision plans, by-law changes, and anything else that needs Planning Board approval or input.  

Beth Wierling, another great new candidate is very qualified to serve on the Franklin Planning Board, having worked for eight years as the Franklin Town Planner, beginning in 2007.  She has 20 years of experience in the field of economic development, construction management, planning, and land use.   She is a graduate  of UMass-Amherst and holds a graduate degree in Public Administration from Clark University.  

In addition, both Jennifer and Beth have no potential conflicts of interest that could detract from serving on the Planning Board and making decisions on all projects that need approval.  

Please consider voting for both Jennifer and Beth on November 2nd.  For more information about these new candidates, please review their bio in the 2021 Voters Guide or on Franklin Matters.

Thank you, 

Karen Landers 

Franklin Resident

To add your voice to the discussion, please follow the guidelines

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/03/introducing-voices-of-franklin.html

Voices of Franklin: Karen Landers - Time for a change on the Planning Board

FHS Message from Principal Hanna to Students, Faculty, and Parents: Oct 29, 2021 (video)

Video message from Principal Hanna to Students, Faculty and Parents: October 29, 2021.  Direct link to video - https://youtu.be/rcJDyTdevag

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Knights of Columbus: 4th Annual Thanksgiving Day Pie Sale - orders accepted through Nov 14, 2021

Why bake when the Knights can do it for you?

The Knights of Columbus, Sacred Heart Council 1847 St. Mary Parish Franklin MA is running their 4th Annual Thanksgiving Pie Sale. Our famous bakery (same as last year) is the family owned Mann’s Orchards and Bakery. The flavors will remain the same as last year - Apple, Pecan, Pumpkin and Blueberry. 

These Pies are fantastic.... outstanding flavor, aroma, and taste. We held the price so we will still have the magnificent $15.00 price per Pie. As was last year you will be able to DONATE a pie. All donations will be donated to the Franklin Senior Center for distribution at Thanksgiving time.

We will be taking Pie orders in person on just one weekend this year November 13-14, after all the Masses at St Mary Franklin. We will be set up in the back of the Church to take your Pie orders. Cash, Check or Credit Card will be accepted. 

The order form is provided below. You can download, fill out and either mail or bring to the Church on the weekend of Nov 13-14.

You will be able to Pick Up your order of Thanksgiving Pies on Tuesday, November 23, from 3 PM – 8 PM at the CCD Offices at the old St. Mary's Franklin Parish Hall Center (previously the Charter School) on the 1st floor. You will see our Signs.

We are excited again this year to bring this quality product to St Mary Parish community and all our Franklin neighbors.

Please support this most worthy cause, help a senior and make your Thanksgiving Day special with a Pie (or2) from Mann’s Orchard on your dinner table this year.

Any questions, please call Jim Campbell at 508-848-8681 or Jim Lane at 774-571-9804 or Mike Swan 508-404-4792.

Thank You for your generosity and “giving back”...

Knights of Columbus, Sacred Heart Council 1847 Franklin, MA 02038 

Order form -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZdkjDtunKkAqpNpfoP7RrQ8F1CZ-MH9q/view?usp=sharing

4th Annual Thanksgiving Day Pie Sale - orders accepted through Nov 14, 2021

Good Deeds: IT Technology Report

GOOD DEEDS: IT TECHNOLOGY REPORT  A FLAWED PROCESS

By William P. O'Donnell – Norfolk Register of Deeds

The much-heralded by some individuals Abrahams Study was delivered to the Norfolk County Commissioners recently.  This paid consultant who has been working on this study since September 2020 never studied ANY Registry of Deeds in Massachusetts or anywhere else.  Mark Abrahams never visited the Norfolk Registry of Deeds yet he delivered a disastrous recommendation as it relates to the Registry operations and to all who rely and use Registry services.  Mark Abrahams recommended that the on-site permanent Registry Chief Information Officer (CIO) be eliminated. Furthermore, Mr. Abrahams is also recommending that the on-site Registry IT Technology Department that for decades has worked with and for Registry staff, Registry users, Norfolk county municipalities and the general public also be eliminated from the Norfolk Registry of Deeds.

As Register of Deeds, I strongly believe I have a fiduciary and statutory duty to protect each and every document recorded by and on behalf of the residents of Norfolk County, especially those land records evidencing the fundamental and constitutional right of property ownership.  In this digital age, access and protection of your land records are inextricably tied to a strong, secure and vigilantly maintained Registry IT Technology Infrastructure.

The Abrahams study concluded "We feel from a management perspective, the IT operations are being well run considering the limited staff."  That sentence alone should end any consideration of the paid consultant Mark Abrahams' recommendation to eliminate the permanent on-site Registry CIO and Registry IT Technology Department.  This essay will focus on some of the flaws in the process committed by Mark Abrahams as it relates to the Norfolk Registry of Deeds and its IT Technology Department.

One flagrant flaw is that Mark Abrahams nor anyone from his team came to visit the Norfolk Registry of Deeds as part of this study.  There was a report in a local newspaper, that this paid consultant engaged and hired by the Norfolk County Commissioners since September of 2020 was paid $175,000.00.  For that type of money I would expect some "due diligence" that would have included observing operations of the Norfolk Registry of Deeds.  There was no such observation nor visit.  What kind of consultant who recommends the total elimination of the on-site Registry IT Technology Department does not come by the Norfolk Registry of Deeds and the Registry IT Technology Department as part of that consultant's paid study?

Mark Abrahams was hired back in September 2020 so there was plenty of time to gather facts, visit the Norfolk Registry of Deeds and make certain assessments.  Mark Abrahams never spoke with me prior to his recommendation not to fill the Registry CIO which was conveyed to and influenced county decision makers.  I wrote a letter to Mark Abrahams on July 14, 2021 seeking to discuss at the time his recommendation not to fill the Registry CIO budgeted position even though he had not spoken to me about any Registry of Deeds operations. Also, in this letter is the following sentence.  "This lack of communication, poor process and lack of insight into Registry operations make the decision not to fill the Registry CIO position more perplexing, troubling and frustrating."  Nothing that has taken place since July of 2021 as to the process used by Mark Abrahams has changed since that sentence was written. I wrote still another letter dated July 29, 2021 to Mark Abrahams that again expressed my frustration with the flawed process and lack of transparency of the study by Mr. Abrahams that was taking place as it related to the Norfolk Registry of Deeds.  Do you know when I got my next telephone call from Mark Abrahams?  It was on Tuesday, October 5, 2021 at 3:00 p.m. less than 24 hours before Mr. Abrahams delivered his report on the Norfolk Registry of Deeds to the Norfolk County Commissioners on Wednesday, October 6, 2021.

The lack of transparency, flaws in process and mistaken methodology did not get better between the summer of 2021 and when the Abrahams study reports were recently delivered.  I specifically wrote to Mr. Abrahams on September 20, 2021 pointing out once again the many operational reasons as well as concerns about cybersecurity risks of not having an on-site Registry CIO.  I specifically asked for any reports, preliminary or otherwise, involving or affecting the Registry IT Department and/or the Registry CIO position.  I am still waiting for Mark Abrahams to send me that report.  Certainly, it would have been courteous and should be part of any process to have a copy of this report sent because it means so much to the Registry of Deeds and its users.  This paid consultant and his team had never studied a Registry of Deeds in Massachusetts or anywhere else.  To not visit the Norfolk Registry of Deeds since being hired in September of 2020 is inexcusable.  The above flaws in this study are matched by Mr. Abrahams not specifically listing within his scope of analysis Massachusetts State Law M.G.L. Chapter 36.  This is a failure of Mark Abrahams that should call into question his recommendations as it relates to the Norfolk Registry of Deeds and the Registry IT Technology Department.  This state law deals with Registries of Deeds and the laws that govern their operations.  This lack of familiarity and knowledge with recording law and Registry of Deeds operations by the paid consultant is due to a terrible process, lack of transparency, little or no communication and poor methodology on the part of the recommending consultant.

Most individuals who have dealt with the Norfolk Registry of Deeds would find it incredibly shortsighted for Mark Abrahams nor his team not to speak to former First Assistant Register of Deeds Richard Kennedy.  This long time 36 year employee who graduated from Boston University Law School started working at the Norfolk Registry of Deeds in 1985 and retired during this study but still works part time at the Registry of Deeds today.  His tenure as First Assistant Register of Deeds begin in 1991 long before I became Norfolk Register of Deeds.  It is incredibly arrogant for the well paid consultant not to seek information, advice and perspectives on Registry operations especially when that consultant does not know anything about Registry operations.

The Norfolk Registry of Deeds has had 2 persons working on its IT infrastructure for 20 years.  There has been a Registry IT Technical Assistance Administrator at the Norfolk Registry of Deeds for 11 years.  Dan Caparrotta who is the Registry IT Technical Assistance Administrator and he was not spoken to by Mark Abrahams.  Neither Mr. Abrahams nor his assistant spoke to Dan Caparrotta of the Registry IT Technology Department prior to making this reckless decision to "consolidate" which is code to eliminate the on-site Registry CIO position and the on-site Registry IT Technology Department that plays such a key role in delivering innovative and modern services to Registry users.

A faulty or flawed process leads to poor conclusions and outcomes.  Mark Abrahams and his team as it relates to the Norfolk Registry of Deeds and the Registry IT Technology Department in the Abrahams study oversaw a flawed process.  Out of this flawed process and poor methodology comes at best a sloppy report and at worst an unprofessional report as it relates to the Norfolk Registry of Deeds and the Registry IT Technology Department.  The recommendations to eliminate the on-site CIO and eliminate the on-site Registry IT Technology Department will be an absolute disaster.

If you are as concerned about this matter as I am or have received good service from the Norfolk Registry of Deeds, please feel free to sign the on-line petition linked here https://chng.it/YY9MvxNqcq .  This IT recommendation should not be and cannot be implemented.

Thank you.

Framers Market closes out season with a BIG Thank You!

"Our 2021 Franklin Farmers Market Season officially came to a close this past Friday & we want to give a BIG thank you to all of the amazing vendors we were lucky enough to have!

You all are incredibly amazing & hard-working individuals and we hope to welcome all of you back next year for an even bigger and better Farmers Market season!

Thank you also to the customers and community who came out every week to support the awesome vendors. The vendors wouldn't keep coming back if it wasn't for you.

Finally, thank you to community organizations as well for all the collaborations this season @masscultural @franklinculturalcouncil02038 @franklinpubliclibrary  @hockomockymca  @FrAgComMa @franklinmapolice @deanbankma and @franklin_recreation 

See you in 2022 all!"

 

Shared from Facebook ->   https://www.facebook.com/FranklinFarmersMarketMA/posts/4730711370322143

Framers Market closes out season with a BIG Thank You!

Franklin High School - latest student newsletter

FranklinHighSchool (@FranklinHS) tweeted Sun, Oct 31, 2021:

Latest FHS Student Newsletter:   https://t.co/l8kEDNuULE
   @FranklinPSNews @FHSPantherbook @FhsGov

 

Shared from Twitter: https://t.co/r9YIl7Cyqt

Latest FHS Student Newsletter

Franklin MA: Town Council - Agenda - Nov 3, 2021

Franklin Town Council

Agenda & Meeting Packet

November 3, 2021 - 7:00 PM

Meeting will be held at the Municipal Building

2nd floor, Council Chambers 355 East Central Street 

1. SWEARING IN OF TOWN CLERK AND TOWN COUNCIL

2. ELECTION OF OFFICERS – Town Council Chair, Vice-Chair & Clerk

3. ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE CHAIR

a. This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast channel 11 and Verizon Channel 29. This meeting may be recorded by others.
b. Chair to identify members participating remotely.

4. CITIZEN COMMENTS

a. Citizens are welcome to express their views for up to five minutes on a matter that is not on the agenda. The Council will not engage in a dialogue or comment on a matter raised during Citizen Comments. The Town Council will give remarks appropriate consideration and may ask the Town Administrator to review the matter.

5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

a. October 6, 2021

6. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS - None Scheduled

7. APPOINTMENTS

a. Franklin Cultural Council: Venus Senjam

b. Franklin Cultural Council: Patrick Kinner

c. Franklin Cultural Council: Shelley Green

d. Franklin Cultural Council: Jacob Juncker

8. HEARINGS - 7:10pm - None Scheduled

9. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS

a. Residence Inn Boston Franklin, License Modification, Change of Manager, Officers/Directors/ LLC Managers & Change of ownership Interest, 4 Forge Parkway, Franklin, MA 02038

b. Shaw's Supermarkets, Inc. d/b/a Shaw's, License Modification, Change of Officers/Directors/LLC Managers, 255 East Central Street, Franklin, MA 02038

c. 99 Restaurants of Boston, LLC d/b/a The Ninety-Nine, License Modification, Change of Officers/Directors/LLC Managers, 847 West Central Street, Franklin, MA 02038

10. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
a. Presentation: Open Meeting Law, Public Records, Ethics and Conducting a Public Meeting - Mark Cerel, Town Attorney

• Memo - > https://drive.google.com/file/d/15Ft8UZqacUKK2AT_rieHgQl4NFNR0-Xu/view?usp=sharing
• Presentation Doc - >   https://drive.google.com/file/d/15KP9W1fQTC5rOiiO_OBi6HFZv_PHtG0t/view?usp=sharing

11. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

a. Capital Budget Subcommittee

b. Budget Subcommittee

c. Economic Development Subcommittee

12. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION

a. Resolution 21-65: Cable Funds in Support of PEG Service and Programming per MGL Ch. 44,

§53F3/4 - $18,500.22 (Motion to Approve Resolution 21-65 - Majority Vote)

b. Resolution 21-66: Gift Acceptance: Veterans Service Department ($3,295.00) and Fire Department ($965.00) (Motion to Approve Resolution 21-66- Majority Vote)

13. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

14. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

15. COUNCIL COMMENTS

16. EXECUTIVE SESSION

a. Considering the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property, because an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the negotiating position of the Board.
i. Schmidt’s Farm, Prospect Street

17. ADJOURN

Note:

Two-Thirds Vote: requires 6 votes

Majority Vote: requires majority of members present and voting 

98 page PDF agenda and docs released for this meeting ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/town_council_agenda_11.03.21.pdf

Franklin MA: Town Council - Agenda - Nov 3, 2021