Police Dept recognitions highlight Town Council meeting

Catching up to share the summary of the Town Council meeting on Wednesday, August 9. The only meeting this month. In September, the Council resumes meeting twice a month.

The meeting opened with recognition of Gary Premo who has left the Police Dept to take the new role of Executive Director at the Metacomet Emergency Communications Center. The center is the long awaited regional emergency dispatch center that will service the towns of Franklin, Norfolk, Plainville and Wrentham.

The meeting opened with recognition of Gary Premo

Next up was the swearing in of Leanne Baker as the newest female police officer. 

Leanne Baker sworn in by Town Clerk Teresa Burr as Chief Lynch observes

Then Leanne's husband former Sargent Chris Baker who left the Police Dept and would have been recognized earlier this year except for a typo. The award had a typo, needed to be replaced and took some time to be re-done. As Leanne was being sworn in this evening, it was easy to combine the two events.

former Sargent Chris Baker and Chief Lynch

Last but not least, Officer Gilboy was recognized as his partner, the police dog Axe, passed away suddenly recently.

Officer Gilboy recognized by Chief Lynch

In other actions by the Town Council: 

• the appointment of Samuel Williams to the Design Review Commission was approved
• the request by La Cantina Winery for a new Farmer Winery Series Pouring License and also approved the Manager Robert Vozzella
• the plot zoning changes previously discussed at the Economic Development Committee were discussed, amended (by adding one more plot) was referred to the Planning Board. Assuming it is approved, it will come back to the Council for public hearing and two readings, as well as the final vote

The Town Council actions taken document can be found here:



The video replay of this meeting is available on demand from Franklin TV
http://view.earthchannel.com/PlayerController.aspx?PGD=franknma&eID=483

My notes from the meeting reported live can be found here:

• Live reporting: Legislation through to Closing
• Live reporting: License transactions, Dr Ahern int...
• Live Reporting: Town Council - Aug 9, 2017

The published agenda can be found here

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/08/franklin-ma-town-council-agenda-aug-9.html

New England Gold - Open House - Sep 6

Calling all wrestlers ...........

For more information visit the webpage https://newenglandgoldwrestling.org/

Calling all wrestlers

Circle of Friends Schedule now available for Sep 2017- May 2018

Tickets available now

The Circle of Friends Coffeehouse schedule for the upcoming season is now posted on our website http://www.circlefolk.org/sched.html and tickets are available for all shows. The Circle of Friends Coffeehouse is a non-profit organization affiliated with Franklin's First Universalist Society. Concerts are presented in a smoke free and alcohol free environment at the Society's handicapped accessible Meetinghouse, 262 Chestnut St. in Franklin, and begin at 8:00 PM; doors open at 7:30 PM. Beverages and gourmet desserts will be available. Admission is $20. Please call (508)528-2541 or visit http://www.circlefolk.org/ to purchase tickets or for more information.

Circle of Friends Coffeehouse · First Universalist Society · 262 Chestnut St · Franklin, MA 02038 · USA

Register O'Donnell Highlights Registry Customer Service Center

	Norfolk County Registry of Deeds
	Register O'Donnell Highlights Registry Customer Service Center Norfolk County Register of Deeds William P. O'Donnell reminds consumers if they have a Registry question, the answer is just a phone call away by dialing the Customer Service Center at (781) 461-6101. The department is open Monday through Friday from 8:30AM to 4:30PM. "The Customer Service Center is a one-stop shop for Norfolk County homeowners and institutional users who have land related document questions," said O'Donnell. "These questions can vary such as confirming the current ownership of a particular property, or verifying if a discharge of a property's mortgage has been filed after the loan has been paid off. We are glad to help with any inquiry, whether you come through our doors or call us by phone." Register O'Donnell further noted, "The department can also inform customers about the various cost for filing and receiving land documents. Upon a customer's request - whether by visiting us here at the Registry or by direct mail request - we can provide copies of documents for a fee of $1.00 per page, plus an additional $1.00 per document to cover the cost of postage." The Registry only accepts cash or check payments. In addition, Customer Service Center staff is happy to answer questions about the Homestead Act, a law which provides limited protection against the forced sale of a homeowner's primary residence to satisfy unsecured debt up to $500,000. O'Donnell went on to say, "For many, trying to ascertain information on land documents can be a very frustrating and intimidating experience. Please know our trained customer service staff is well versed in all areas of land document research. By utilizing our state-of-the-art land document research system, which is also available via www.norfolkdeeds.org, people can get answers to their property questions." Notary services are also offered by the Customer Service Center. "All staff members are notary publics. We are more than glad to notarize any land document provided the person requesting the service appears before us and presents satisfactory proof of identification by showing either their driver's license or passport," said O'Donnell. In conclusion, Register O'Donnell stated, "Providing first-class customer service is a core objective of the Registry's mission to serve the public. We strive to ensure our customers have a positive experience when interacting with us. The bottom line is: We are glad to be of service to you." To learn more about these and other Registry of Deeds events and initiatives, like us at facebook.com/NorfolkDeeds or follow us on twitter.com/NorfolkDeeds and instagram.com/NorfolkDeeds. The Norfolk County Registry of Deeds is located at 649 High Street in Dedham. The Registry is a resource for homeowners, title examiners, mortgage lenders, municipalities and others with a need for secure, accurate, accessible land record information. All land record research information can be found on the Registry's website www.norfolkdeeds.org. Residents in need of assistance can contact the Registry of Deeds Customer Service Center via telephone at (781) 461-6101, or email us at registerodonnell@norfolkdeeds.org. Register William P. O'Donnell Norfolk County Registry of Deeds email: registerodonnell@norfolkdeeds.org phone: 781-234-3336 web: http://www.norfolkdeeds.org

Norfolk County Registry of Deeds, 649 High Street, Dedham,, MA 02026-1831 Sent by registerodonnell@norfolkdeeds.org in collaboration with Try it free today

Register O'Donnell Highlights Registry Customer Service Center

End of School Year status update provided on School Improvement Plans

Catching up to share the summary for the School Committee (SC) held on Tuesday, August 8.

The School Committee heard updates from all the schools and the Central Office on the progress made on the Improvement Plans during the 2016-2017 school year. The updates were provided by the school principals. The presentation docs are shown below. You can follow the links to my notes recorded during the meeting for other details of the conversation. The full video of the meeting is available for replay by Franklin TV and that link is also found below.

After the schools provided their update, the Central Office, Superintendent Sara Ahern and Assistant Superintendents Peter Light and Joyce Edwards provided a preview of the District Improvement Plan for the coming school year. An offsite planning session was planned for Aug 16-18 during which the plan would be discussed, reviewed and refined to bring back to the SC for the Aug 22 meeting.

Note: the presentation docs include the status updates also provided at midyear. If you have seen those, you can skip to the end of year details listed for each school.

Middle Schools and High School

Middle and High School - End of Year - School Improvement Plan Updates from Franklin Matters

Elementary Schools

Elementary- End of Year - 2016-17 School Improvement Plan Updates from Franklin Matters

District Improvement Plan preview

the ball fields at FHS were getting water earlier this week

Meeting video available for replay on demand by Franklin TV
http://view.earthchannel.com/PlayerController.aspx?PGD=franknma&eID=482

• Live reporting: Action items to closing
• Live reporting: District Improvement Plan - previe...
• Live reporting: Elementary Improvement Plans - End...
• Live reporting: School Committee - August 8, 2017
• Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda - Aug 8, 2...

Franklin Police receive grant to get impaired drivers off the road

The Franklin Police will increase the number of impaired driving patrols on local roads after being awarded a special grant from the Highway Safety Division (HSD) of the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS). The Franklin Police department will join more than 200 local police departments across the state and the state police in the national Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement mobilization.

This year’s campaign will include the impairment marijuana causes in drivers – and the exponentially increased impairment caused when alcohol and marijuana are combined.

Drivers who have had too much to drink or ingested marijuana are a menace to everyone on the road with them. “This grant funding will allow us to add patrols to specifically target impaired driving, with the goal of increasing the safety for entire community of Franklin” said Chief Thomas J. Lynch

“There is clear evidence that drivers who have used marijuana, especially in combination with alcohol, are significantly impaired,” said Jeff Larason, Director of the Highway Safety Division. “We are urging motorists to plan ahead for a sober ride home by using public transportation, a ride-sharing service or a designated driver. Do not put yourself and each person in the car and on the road with you at risk.”

Massachusetts Data

• Marijuana or marijuana-type drugs were the most prevalent types of drugs found in people killed in crashes from 2010 to 2014.
• From 2013 to 2014, alcohol impaired driving fatalities increased 14 percent (125 to 143).
• From 2010-2014, 77 percent of impaired drivers in fatal crashes were men.
• From 2010-2014, 46 percent of all alcohol-related driver fatalities were ages 21 to 34.

National Data

• NHTSA’s Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) reported that drugs were present in 40 percent of the fatally-injured drivers with a known test result, almost the same level as alcohol.
• NHTSA’s 2013–2014 roadside survey found drugs in 22 percent of all drivers both on weekend nights and on weekdays.
• Drivers using marijuana demonstrated decreased car handling performance, increased reaction times, impaired time and distance estimation, sleepiness and decreased motor skill coordination (NHTSA).
• Mixing alcohol and marijuana may dramatically produce effects greater than either drug on its own (NHTSA).

Franklin Police receive grant to get impaired drivers off the road

This was shared from the Town of Franklin Police Dept webpage

http://www.franklinma.gov/police-department/news/franklin-police-receive-grant-get-impaired-drivers-road

Franklin Almanac Episode 10 (YouTube)

Franklin Almanac Episode 10 with Host Polikseni Manxhari was originally broadcast on Aug 14, 2017.

• Introduction- 00:00-00:36
• Sara Ahern, Superintendent of Franklin Public Schools- 00:37-09:52
• Franklin Cultural Festival-09:53-15:17
• Operation Chill-15:18-21:00
• DARE Program-21:01-27:05
• Final Thoughts-27:06-28:30

Note: you might recognize someone as he talks about letting "magic happen" at the end of the Franklin Cultural Festival segment

Electric Youth and Future Shock pleased the crowd at the Town Common
on the opening night of the 3rd Annual Cultural Festival