Friday, July 26, 2019

Healthy Weight and Your Child Program Enrolling for September 10 Start at Burke Memorial School

In response to a critical health care issue that can lead to serious health conditions including heart disease, diabetes and some cancers, the YMCA’s Healthy Weight and Your Child (HWYC) is an evidence-based, weight-management program that seeks to empower children and families through education, healthy eating, and physical activity. The program’s goal is to elicit positive change and help families learn skills and behaviors that enable them to live a healthier lifestyle so that children enter adulthood at a healthy weight.

foster the health and wellbeing of our students
foster the health and wellbeing of our students

"Medway Public Schools recognizes the importance of collaborating with community partners to best foster the health and wellbeing of our students,” says Dr. Ryan Sherman, Director of Wellness for Medway Public Schools. “We are extremely proud to partner with the Hockomock Area YMCA and Community Pediatrics of Medway, with the support of the Greater Milford Community Health Network, to assist our families in living a healthy lifestyle. Healthy Weight and Your Child has the potential to greatly impact our students' health and ability to learn."

Healthy Weight and Your Child is a 25-session program, which will begin Tuesday September 10, 2019 and run for 15 weeks. From September 10th through November 14th, participants and their parent or guardian will meet Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Burke Memorial School (16 Cassidy Ln, Medway, MA). The final five meetings will run one day a week through December 17th. 

Each session includes content and physical activity. Made up of groups of 10 to 15 families (child and adult), the program creates a safe, fun, and active environment where families have the opportunity to explore and adopt proven methods to living a healthier lifestyle. Included in this program is a no charge family membership to the YMCA for the duration of the sessions.
HWYC program emphasizes three elements
HWYC program emphasizes three elements

The HWYC program emphasizes three elements: healthy eating, regular physical activity and behavior change, and engages the whole family, so together they can understand how the home environment and other factors influence the choices that lead to a healthy weight.

To be eligible for the program, each child must be between the ages of 7 and 13, have a body mass index greater than or equal to the 95th percentile, be cleared for physical activity by a health care provider or school nurse, and be accompanied by a parent or caregiver at every session.

Thanks to a generous grant from CHNA 6 and the continued support of the Stop and Shop Our Family Foundation, there will be no cost for the first ten families enrolled in the upcoming Medway class. Please contact marykateb@hockymca.org or call 508-339- 4053 to join HWYC. For more information, visit hockymca.org/franklin/healthy-weight-and-your-child/ and attend an information night for families on September 10th (also at Burke Memorial School).

About the Hockomock Area YMCA:
Where Cause Meets Community. At the Hockomock Area YMCA, strengthening community is our cause. The Hockomock Area YMCA is an organization of men, women, and children sharing a commitment to nurture the potential of kids, promote healthy living, and foster a sense of social responsibility.

The Hockomock Area YMCA is committed to partnering and collaborating with others to create and deliver lasting personal and social change in the 15 communities they are privileged to serve. The Hockomock Area YMCA is a not-for-profit charitable cause-driven organization with facilities in North Attleboro, Foxboro, Franklin, and Mansfield. For more information visit hockymca.org.

"It’s really giving people another option to getting around"

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:
"Transportation officials outlined several initiates to increase cycling and walking in its final State Bicycle Transportation Plan and State Pedestrian Transportation Plan released last week.

Constructing safer bike networks, increasing bike share programs and improving maintenance of trails are some initiatives state transportation officials are eyeing to get more cyclists on the roads.

The state Department of Transportation last week released its final Bicycle Transportation Plan and Pedestrian Transportation Plan highlighting initiatives to make streets safer for bicyclists and pedestrians. The bike plan was last updated in 2008 and the pedestrian plan in the late 1990s. There have been several advances in technology, research and design during that period.

“The transportation sector is evolving so rapidly,” said Jackie DeWolfe, DOT director of sustainable mobility."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190725/state-transportation-leaders-release-plans-to-increase-bicycle-pedestrian-traffic

view the bicycle plan - https://www.mass.gov/service-details/bicycle-plan
view the pedestrian plan - https://www.mass.gov/service-details/pedestrian-plan


view the bicycle plan
view the bicycle plan

"estimated delays will be reduced by 91 percent"

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"The state’s preferred design for the reconstruction of the troublesome Interstate-495-Mass Pike interchange eliminates weaving that often causes bottlenecks and crashes at the existing junction.

State transportation leaders unveiled the preferred project design at the first of four public information meetings at Hopkinton Town Hall on Thursday. The design includes designated ramps and lanes for each traffic maneuver to make getting off the highway and merging much safer.

The interchange is known for significant traffic during peak hours, weekends and summertime. It also has a high crash rate. More than 75,000 vehicles pass through the junction each day. More than 450 crashes – including two fatalities – occurred there between 2011 and 2015. Joseph Cahill, a consultant on the project, estimated a crash occurs there once every three or four days.

“We’re significantly improving the safety of the interchange,” said Cahill."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190725/state-officials-unveil-preferred-design-for-overhaul-of-i-495-mass-pike-interchange

For more info on the project visit their webpage
https://www.mass.gov/i-495i-90-interchange-improvements

There is an interactive map for comments
  https://wikimapping.com/wikimap/I495I90.html


an interactive map
an interactive map

Thursday, July 25, 2019

Veterans: August Coffee Social - Aug 7

Veterans Coffee Social
Wednesday ▪ August 7 ▪ 10:00 AM
Franklin Senior Center Café

Come And Chat With Other Vets
Coffee And Pastry Will Be Provided
All Vets Are Invited!

For More Information, Contact The Veteran Services Office At: (508) 613-1315

Veterans: August Coffee Social - Aug 7
Veterans: August Coffee Social - Aug 7

“We need to be creative and offer a panoply of options"

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"Lawmakers who spent months studying ways to reduce the death toll from opioid overdoses did not parse words when presenting their findings Wednesday: failing to pilot a supervised injection site, as a commission recommended, would be “essentially sentencing people to death,” Rep. Jeff Roy, D-Franklin, said.

At a hearing packed with testimony from parents who lost children to overdoses and doctors who have watched patient after patient die despite available addiction treatments, officials who worked on the Harm Reduction Commission made their most forceful arguments yet that the state should pursue a program where drug users can receive medical supervision without fear of arrest, regardless of prosecution threats from federal authorities.

“I know that the idea of safe consumption sites is uncomfortable to many, but if they are proven to save lives, then we have an obligation to at least give them a try,” Sen. Cindy Friedman, one of two lawmakers on the commission alongside Roy, told a committee Wednesday. “Lives are at stake and we cannot wait any longer.”

Although the statewide death rate slightly declined last year, 2,033 people died from opioid overdoses, according to state figures. A key factor in recent years has been the increasing presence of the synthetic substance fentanyl, which was detected in 89 percent of 2018 deaths where a toxicology screen occurred."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190724/roy-no-supervised-injection-site-like-sentencing-people-to-death

What the FTC Facebook settlement means for consumers




What the FTC Facebook settlement means for consumers

by Lesley Fair, Attorney, Division of Consumer & Business Education, FTC
The next time users visit Facebook, things might not look different, but big changes are brewing behind the scenes. The FTC's record-breaking $5 billion settlement requires Facebook to conduct a massive overhaul of its consumer privacy practices. The settlement also makes major changes to Facebook's operations and CEO Mark Zuckerberg no longer has sole control over privacy.

Read More

https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2019/07/what-ftc-facebook-settlement-means-consumers?utm_source=govdelivery

This is a free service provided by the Federal Trade Commission.


Wednesday, July 24, 2019

LIve reporting: from Town Administrator report to closing

11. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
Sandy Fanning to retire next week
water ban still in effect; small fire at DPW
have found the source that it was attributed to lightning causing a hardware failure; tank is lined, water needs to be replenished before turning the ban off

the people have responded very well, water main breaks also contributed to the fill rate; response to alarms was key testement to avoiding larger damages; est couple of hundred thousand dollars
once taken off, it will be broadcast

State budget sent to Governor this week, some small amounts in there for Franklin, assuming it makes it though the Governor's signature; education and local aid funding was a major item; Governor has ten days to adjust or veto

memo sent to Gov and Lt Gov today, thanks to legislative delegation for their help on this matter

without their efforts, we could have been looking at deeper cuts
 

12. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
smoke stack fell in the 1950's killing 2 workers, is the one near Franklin Paint safe


13. COUNCIL COMMENTS
Hamblen - rain barrells orderable from DPW - rebate available
happy birthday to mom, turing 90 tomorrow

Casey - congrats to 4th of July Coaltion; great ambassadors for the Town

Dellorco - Jones should ahve put glasses on long ago, he read it much better


thanks for the response on the tree work after the storm

thanks to the 4th

thanks to the 4th

Jones - son and 150 recruits passed boot camp, it was a wonderful graduation
with regards to the cheeters, maybe I wouldn't struggle so much
working on a three year project on EV chargers
some of the costs to implement need to be considered

Kelly - the road report was done in 2013
actually updated last year - Hellen
thanks for the 4th

Mercer -thanks for the 4th, it was a great celebration
a great job on everyone's part

speaking to the DPW fire, had been there, to watch the Fire Dept control the situation with multiple towns cooperating and coordinating equipment; control board with who is where, doing what, it was really impressive to see them operate



14. EXECUTIVE SESSION

a. Pending Litigation: 290 Beaver St LLC v. Town of Franklin, Norfolk Superior Court Docket NO. 1932CV00593 - Challenging Validity of West Central Street Zoning District.
motion to enter executive session, not to return to open meeting
motion seconded, passed 9-0 (via roll call)


15. ADJOURN

Notes:
Two-Thirds Vote: requires 6 votes
Majority Vote: requires majority of members present and voting

The agenda doc can be found on the Town of Franklin page
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/agendas/2019-07-24_town_council_agenda_2.pdf

The meeting packet (all documents released for this meeting)
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/agendas/july_24_town_council_meeting_packet_7.19.pdf

Live reporting: Public Hearings - Legislation for Action


6. HEARINGS
a. West Central Street Zoning
motion to move hearing to Sep 18 at 7:10 PM
motion approved, seconded, passed 9-0
 
b. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 19-842: Changes to Chapter 185 section 40.D(3)(a)
hearing opened
 
Gus Brown, Building Commissioner
zoning adjustment for impervious coverage
unfortunately created a conflict with another section in same area, hence removing the conflict

no comments from audience
hearing closed

motion to close hearing, seconded, passed 9-0
 
c. Acceptance of Clearview Drive as Public Way
hearing opened

ongoing work to get title clearances to allow for the road acceptences


no comments from audience

motion to close hearing, seconded, passed 9-0

7. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
- None

8. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS 
- None

9. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
a. Capital Budget Subcommittee
no meeting
b. Budget Subcommittee
joint on June 19, and again today
nothing scheduled for next meeting yet
 
c. Economic Development Subcommittee
Aug 14 meeting 5:30
Keegan site and plastic bag continued item
 

10. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
a. Resolution 19-49: Authority For Town Administrator to Negotiate and Execute Tax Agreement with Owner Of Ground-Mounted Solar Facility Located Off Upper Union Street (Motion to Approve Resolution 19-49 - Majority Vote (5))

motion approved, seconded, passed 9-0

b. Resolution 19-50: Order of Layout, Acceptance, and Taking of Clearview Drive and Drainage Lot Parcel A (Motion to Approve Resolution 19-50 - Two -Thirds Majority Vote (6))

motion approved, seconded, passed 9-0

c. Resolution 19-51: Acceptance of Gift-Franklin Public Library (Motion to Approve Resolution 19-51 - Majority Vote (5))

motion approved, seconded, passed 9-0

d. Resolution 19-52: Appropriation of Funds Received from the Franklin Community Cable Access Inc. to the Town for the Public Safety Communications Infrastructure. (Motion to Approve Resolution 19-52 - Majority Vote (5))

motion approved, seconded, passed 9-0

e. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 19-842: Changes to Chapter 185 section 40.D(3)(a) -1st Reading (Motion to Move Zoning Bylaw Amendment 19-842 to a 2nd Reading- Majority Vote (5))

motion to move to second reading, seconded, passed 9-0
part of the public hearing noted in meeting earlier
  

Live Reporting: Town Council - July 24, 2019

Present: Hamblen, Casey, Dellorco, Kelly, Mercer, Jones, Padula, Pellegri, Earls
Absent: none


1. ANNOUNCEMENTS

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.

2. 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.

3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
a. June 5, 2019
b. June 12, 2019
c. June 26, 2019

motion to approve June 5, seconded, passed 9-0 
motion to approve June 12, seconded, passed 9-0 
motion to approve June 26, seconded, passed 9-0   
 

4. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS 
- None

5. APPOINTMENTS
a. Swearing in of 3 Firefighters

(2 minute recess)
 
b. Board of Registrars, Richard Kerr
motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0


“This consensus Fiscal Year 2020 budget strikes a balance"

Representative Jeffrey Roy (D-Franklin) along with his colleagues in the Massachusetts Legislature passed its Fiscal Year 2020 (FY20) budget, which invests in programs and services across the Commonwealth. Funded at $43.1 billion, the budget makes major investments in education, housing, substance use disorder services, health care, and other areas while projecting a more than $476 million deposit into the Stabilization Fund – bringing the fund’s balance to more than $3 billion to safeguard the future of vital programs and services.

“I am proud of this fiscally responsible budget that supports the needs of individuals, families, and communities across the Commonwealth through thoughtful investments that increase local aid, strengthen our health care system and protect the environment,” said House Speaker Robert A. DeLeo (D-Winthrop). “This budget bolsters our ongoing efforts to combat the opioid crisis, invest in high-quality early education and care and makes another significant deposit into the state’s Stabilization Fund. These investments will have a long and lasting positive effect on the residents of Massachusetts. I want to thank Chair Michlewitz for his leadership and my colleagues in the House, especially those on the conference committee, who worked to put this package together.”

“This budget reaffirms our commitment to local aid and our communities and includes funds for important projects in Franklin and Medway,” said Representative Roy. “The House and Senate were successful at including significant local and regional money throughout the Commonwealth in this coming fiscal year’s budget. Additionally, Massachusetts is dealing with several important societal issues, like the opioid epidemic, public safety, aging infrastructure, and an aging population. The Legislature has struck a balance that takes on these challenges and maintains our commitment to our communities, our children, our seasoned citizens, and the disabled as well as advancing economic development and the arts.”

“Education is a top Senate priority, and I am therefore proud of the significant investments we make in K-12 education in the final FY2020 budget,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “Not only have we voted to advance the largest year-over-year increase in Chapter 70 education funding in the last two decades, we have also made a substantial down payment towards funding the recommendations of the Foundation Budget Review Commission (FBRC). In addition, we fund health and wellness in schools, and provide considerable increases in reimbursement for special education, charter schools, and regional school transportation. Finally, I am very pleased that the conference budget includes $10 million in new funding for mental and behavioral health. These funds will allow the Commonwealth to address the root causes of many of the challenges facing our residents, including substance abuse, homelessness, unemployment and school bullying, among other things. I commend all of the members of the conference committee for their very fine work on this budget.”

Continue reading Representative Jeff Roy's press release in the full text:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YwGHEVtd4C_iqVdeSvMRoa4GJHinXWAw/view?usp=sharing
 
The web page has been updated with the Conference Report.
https://malegislature.gov/Budget/ConferenceCommittee
 

https://malegislature.gov/Budget/ConferenceCommittee
https://malegislature.gov/Budget/ConferenceCommittee

FDA announce first youth e-cigarette prevention (YouTube)


announced their first youth e-cigarette prevention TV ads & new posters w/ e-cigarette prevention messaging for high schoolers. Learn more about the ways
is working to stop the youth e-cigarette epidemic. #NoEcigs4Kids"
Found via Twitter

https://youtu.be/xw1vffiNyVM



SOAR LIVE at Mickey Cassidy's - Jul 26

"Come see us at our last public show of the season! You'll get to hear some awesome classic rock and party with us as we rock the house. This will be our final show of Summer 2019. Friday, June 26th at 8 PM. Don't miss it!"

Additional details can be found at the Facebook event
https://www.facebook.com/events/2448350135224406/

https://www.facebook.com/events/2448350135224406/
https://www.facebook.com/events/2448350135224406/

“They go where the money is”

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:
"Places such as Baltimore and Atlanta have been hit with massive cyber-attacks in recent years, but it’s not just major cities that are at risk of losing data or having their systems hacked. Smaller municipalities are also targets.

According to a 2019 report from the International City Management Association, approximately one in three local governments do not know how frequently their information system is subject to attacks, incidents and breaches. Of those that do, 60 percent report they are subject to daily cyber-attacks, often hourly or more.

Tiffany Schoenike, chief operating officer for the National Cyber Security Alliance, warns smaller municipalities are just as likely as larger cities to be the target of an attack. This could include anything from sensitive data being lost or stolen to systems being locked with the only recourse paying the hacker to regain access.

“Sometimes funding levels make things worse,” Schoenike said. “This could be from not being able to afford the right kinds of technology, or not being able to hire the best people for the job.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190723/as-new-threats-arise-is-your-local-government-safe-from-cyber-attacks

One of the keys to successful online processing is to ensure the site you are dealing with uses https. The Town of Franklin site does use this feature:  https://franklinma.viewpointcloud.com/

One of the keys to successful online processing is to ensure the site you are dealing with uses https
One of the keys to successful online processing is to ensure the site you are dealing with uses https

Tuesday, July 23, 2019

Live reporting: Consent agenda to Closing

6. New Business
a. To discuss any future agenda items
school handbooks coming Aug 13 for review
available online, changes to be noted in advance of meeting
discussion on trying to get the handbooks earlier for review if possible, it seems like to be able to do so

summer projects update
 

7. Consent Agenda
a. Minutes
I recommend approval of the minutes from the June 25, 2019 School Committee meeting as detailed.
b. Executive Session Minutes
I recommend approval of the minutes from the June 25, 2019 Executive Session of the School Committee meeting as detailed to be released.
c. ECDC Gift
I recommend acceptance of a check for $920.00 from Bridgewater State University for in-house enrichment at ECDC as detailed.
d. Jefferson Gift
I recommend acceptance of a check for $348.00 from the Jefferson PCC for supplemental supplies at Jefferson Elementary School as detailed.
e. FHS Gifts
I recommend acceptance of three checks totaling $727.65 as follows:
• Alliance Energy, LLC $500.00 supplemental curriculum materials
• Scholastic, Inc. $199.65 in-house enrichment
• Coca Cola Give $ 28.00 in-house enrichment
f. JFK Gift
I recommend acceptance of a check for $1,401.20 from the JF Kennedy PCC for supplemental supplies as detailed.
g. Oak Street Gift
I recommend acceptance of two checks totaling $4,229.54 from the Oak Street PCC as follows:
$1835.00 Library books
$2394.54 Supplemental Curriculum Materials

motion to accept the consent agenda, seconded, passed 5-0
 


8. Payment of Bills Dr. Bergen

9. Payroll Mrs. Douglas

10. Correspondence
a. Budget to Actual – Miriam Goodman
b. Student Activity Accounts Report – Miriam Goodman

11. Executive Session
a. Pursuant to M.G.L. c. 30A, §21(a)(2) to conduct strategy sessions in preparation for negotiations with nonunion personnel or to conduct collective bargaining sessions or contract negotiations with nonunion personnel.
motion to enter executive session, seconded, passed 5-0  via roll call

12. Adjournment


The documents released for this meeting can be found on the Town of Franklin page
https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/july-23-2019-school-committee-packet

Live reporting: Policy First Readings

b. Policy First Readings
I recommend moving the following policies to a second reading as discussed: BEC – Executive Sessions
BEDG – Minutes
JKAA – Physical Restraint of Students

motion to approve, seconded, pass 5-0



4. Discussion Only Items
a. none

5. Information Matters
a. School Committee Sub-Committee Reports (e.g. Budget; Community Relations; Policy; Transportation; Public Schools Advocacy; Ad Hoc Superintendent’s Evaluation)

Budget - joint subcommittee meeting Weds at 6:00 PM, what is current status and start to plan next steps

Committee Relations - at Farmers Market; 12-3 on Friday 
great time to come and meet, talk, provide feedback


Policy - Aug 20 at 7 PM
did meet and policies tonight came from last meeting

b. School Committee Liaison Reports (e.g. Joint PCC; Substance Abuse Task Force; School Wellness Advisory Council [SWAC]; MASC

Public School Advocacy - meet after the budget is settled