"we cannot afford to promise fixes that don’t work"

Background on Question 2 for the Nov 6 ballot:

"With Election Day in just a few days, Massachusetts voters must make up their minds on three important ballot questions. Unfortunately too little attention has been paid to Question 2. We have several concerns about it. 

Question 2 seeks to create a commission that would propose an amendment to the U.S. Constitution to overturn the 2010 Citizens United Supreme Court decision freeing corporate spending in elections. It would also define constitutional rights as belonging to individual living human beings and not collections of human beings (like corporations and labor unions). 

This ballot proposal is likely to pass with overwhelming support from Massachusetts voters. It reflects an understandable exasperation with political campaigns that seem awash in money and negative advertising. While we endorse the sentiment, this measure is unwise. 

Question 2 misdiagnoses the problem and offers a solution that is likely to backfire and thwart better representation in our politics."

Continue reading the article online
http://www.masspoliticsprofs.org/2018/11/03/question-2-and-the-myths-about-citizens-united/

The Franklin Town Clerk page with additional information
http://www.franklinma.gov/town-clerk

Additional info can be found in the 2018 Election Collection
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/10/election-collection-2018.html

Election Information for Nov 2018

School Committee summary - Oct 23, 2018

Catching up to provide the School Committee meeting summary for the October 23, 2018 meeting. 

Yes, it appears I have been slipping, and you did not either notice, or take action to let me know! So we'll both let it go this time :-)  

And we'll also let the Superintendent go this time too. She did not post her Superintendents update (or if she did, it is not where I would normally find it).

She did publish the October newsletter
https://www.franklinps.net/sites/franklinmaps/files/uploads/franklinpsnews-oct_2018.pdf


My notes reported live from the meeting:

• Live reporting: Discussion only items through to C...
• https://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/10/live-reporting-discussion-only-items.html
• Live reporting: Discussion - Action Items
• https://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/10/live-reporting-discussion-action-items.html
• Live reporting: School Committee - Oct 23, 2018
• https://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/10/live-reporting-school-committee-oct-23.html

colorful wind spinners in the Parmenter flower/garden beds

Town Council recap - Oct 17, 2018

Catching up to providing the summary for the Town Council meeting of Oct 17, 2018

The official Actions Taken were posted here
http://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/uploads/town_council_actions_taken_october_17_2018.pdf

Lt Sean Lovely,  Lt Kevin Marshall being sworn in by Town Clerk Teresa Burr

The video replay by Franklin TV is available here
http://view.earthchannel.com/PlayerController.aspx?PGD=franknma&eID=592

• Live reporting: Legislation for Action
• https://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/10/live-reporting-legislation-for-action.html
• Live reporting: Committee updates
• https://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/10/live-reporting-committee-updates.html
• Live reporting: Town Council - Oct 17, 2018
• https://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/10/live-reporting-town-council-oct-17-2018.html

Town Council recap - Oct 10, 2018

Catching up to providing the summary for the Town Council meeting of Oct 19, 2018

The formal Actions Taken published by the Town of Franklin
http://www.franklinma.gov/town-council/files/town-council-actions-taken-october-10-2018

The video replay of the meeting is available thanks to Franklin TV
http://view.earthchannel.com/PlayerController.aspx?PGD=franknma&eID=589


My notes captured live during the meeting:

• Live reporting: to Closing
• https://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/10/live-reporting-to-closing.html
• Live Reporting: Subcommittee Reports - Legislation...
• https://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/10/live-reporting-subcommittee-reports.html
• Live reporting: Town Council - Oct 10, 2018
• https://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/10/live-reporting-town-council-oct-10-2018.html

Franklin Pavement Management Presentation from Franklin Matters

Fall back - Did you turn your clock back an hour?

Did you turn the clocks back during the night? Fall back is the word at this time of year!

Fall back - Did you turn your clock back an hour?

For more about Daylight Savings Time in the USA, visit this wikipedia page
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daylight_saving_time_in_the_United_States

THE BLACK BOX Cabaret - Nov 9

THE BLACK BOX Cabaret - Nov 9

THE BLACK BOX Cabaret will present a special cabaret revue spotlighting the talents of promising young singers on Friday, November 9 at 7:30 pm. 

This fourth annual Rising Stars Cabaret is presented in an intimate, nightclub atmosphere with professional accompaniment. Former rising stars have gone on to top musical theatre college programs and sung at New York City cabaret venues such as Broadway Sessions at the Laurie Beechman Theater.

Tickets are available at www.theblackboxonline.com or by calling the box office at 508-528-3370.

Public Hearings for (1) new hotel and (2) a 53 unit residential development

The Planning Board meeting scheduled for Nov 19, 2018 has two public hearings of note. One for a new hotel on Union St and one for a 53 unit residential development off of Prospect St. 

New hotel - 725 Union St:

In accordance with the Town of Franklin Zoning By-Laws, the Franklin Planning Board will hold a public hearing on Monday, November 19, 2018 at 7:20 PM in the Town Council Chambers of the Franklin Municipal Building, 355 East Central Street, for a Special Permit and Site Plan application titled "Proposed Hotel, 725 Union Street" Franklin, MA prepared by JK Holmgren Engineering, Inc., Brockton, MA., and submitted to the Department of Planning and Community Development on October 5, 2018, by 4 SQ Development LLC, 83 Hartwell Ave, Lexington, MA. 

The property is located in the Commercial Il Zoning District (Assessors Map 314 Lot 016) at 725 Union Street. The applicant is proposing to construct a 58,248 sq/ft building consisting of four (4) stories, 100 room hotel building. 

The applicant is requesting two (2) Special Permits, 

• one for Building height of up to fifty (50) feet under the Chapter 185 Attachment 9, Maximum Height of Building 
• and the second for Chapter 185 Attachment 3, Hotel Use.

http://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/agendas/public_hearing_notice_26.pdf

 Residential Development - 215 Prospect St:

In accordance with the Town of Franklin Zoning By-Laws, the Franklin Planning Board will hold a public hearing on Monday, November 19, 2018 at 7:25 PM in the Town Council Chambers of the Franklin Municipal Building, 355 East Central Street, for a Preliminary Subdivision Plan application titled "Prospect Farms" prepared by Andrews Survey and Engineering, Uxbridge, MA., dated Octobei• 29, 2018 and submitted to the Department of Planning and Community Development on October 29, 2018, by Maddi North Street Development LLC, Franklin, MA. 

The site is located at 215 Prospect Street and 4 Nicholas Drive in the Rural Residential I Zoning District (Assessor's Map 325, Lot 003 and Map 326, Lot 36). 

The applicant is proposing to construct fifty-three (53) single family residential building lots along with approximately 6,650 linear feet of new roadway.

http://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/agendas/public_hearing_notice_27.pdf

Public Hearings for (1) new hotel and (2) a 53 unit residential development