Franklin in Focus: Candidate Query - Oct 22

Franklin in Focus, a nonpartisan organization focused on bringing information about town issues and town government to the public, is sponsoring an evening with the candidates running for office in the upcoming November 5 town election. 

The Franklin in Focus Candidate Query will be held October 22, 2019, from 6 PM to 8:30 PM at the Franklin Senior Center. The public is invited but seating is limited, so please reserve. 

Due to time constraints, only candidates in competitive races will attend: Constable, School Committee, and Town Council. 

The program will be recorded and broadcast by FranklinTV.


RESERVE YOUR TICKET (to be added)
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/franklin-in-focus-candidate-query-tickets-74766800513


WHEN: Tuesday, Oct 22, 2019 - 6 to 8:30 PM

WHERE: Franklin Senior Center

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Franklin in Focus: Candidate Query - Oct 22

Town Council Recap -Sep 18, 2019

Due to a work commitment for a 9 PM meeting, I did 'real time' reporting for the Town Council meeting of Wednesday, Sep 18, 2019. From the comfort of my home office, I reported on the meeting capturing notes and photos from the broadcast on my laptop. Fortunately, the meeting ended just before 9 and I was able to swivel my seat to my 'work from home desk' and dial into the conference call on schedule.

• Franklin Police Department had two new hires sworn in: John Godino and David Ricci. Nick Palmieri was recognized with a promotion to Detective. Daniel McGlynn was recognized for his 27 years of service on the force. 
• Franklin Fire Department EMS Lieutenant William Blanchard was sworn in.

John Godino and David Ricci being sworn in

Nick Palmieri congratulated by Capt Lynch on promotion

 

Daniel McGlynn presented with a plaque in recognition of his 27 years of service

William Blanchard being sworn in as a new Lieutenant

The often rescheduled public hearing for the Zoning Bylaw Amendment 19-837: Zoning Map Changes From General Residential V to Single Family Residential IV an Area on or Near West Central Street was closed at this meeting.It appeared that the Council simply wanted to close the public hearing without doing anything. A couple of people did speak on the record. Including the individual with the proposal currently involved in a law suit over his proposal for this location with the Planning Board. 

One of the draw backs of being remote for the meeting was that I could not talk with anyone to really find out what was going on. So there will likely be more to come on this item.

A set of presentations on the Historical Museum (document shared) and on the DPW 'tree warden' as well as the new textile recycling program beginning in November were shared. The presentation documents are included in the links below. 

I'll create an audio file of the tree warden presentation to share soon. In the meantime, the Franklin TV recording is available for replay.
https://view.earthchannel.com/PlayerController.aspx?&PGD=franknma&eID=683


The Town of Franklin "Actions Taken" document
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/news/town_council_actions_taken_for_september_18_2019.pdf

Additional details can be found in my notes captured during the 'real time reporting' session for this meeting

• Real-time Reporting: Legislation for action through Closing

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/09/live-reporting-legislation-for-action.html

• Real-time Reporting: DPW Presentation

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/09/live-reporting-dpw-presentation.html

• Real-time reporting: Historical Museum presentation .

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/09/live-reporting-historical-museum.html

• Real-time Reporting: Public Hearing - Zoning Bylaw...

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/09/live-reporting-public-hearing-zoning.html

• Real-time Reporting: Town Council - Sep 18, 2019

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/09/live-reporting-town-council-sep-18-2019.html

"The Gift of Music": Don't Forget to Save the Date - Nov 10

Give the gift of music at our gala event coming up...

Mark your calendars and join us once more for an unforgettable evening! The Encore Music Education Foundation presents "The Gift of Music", a fundraising gala this Fall on Sunday, November 10th at the Milford DoubleTree Hotel from 5:00-10:00 PM. Tickets will be on sale soon so watch your email for the purchase link! Copyright © *2019* *Encore Music Academy and Recording Studios*, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Encore Music Academy and Recording Studios 3 Bent St Franklin, MA 02038

In the News: Paychecks get smaller; wind power growth threatened

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

"Paychecks are about to get a little smaller in Massachusetts.

Employer and employee contributions to the state Department of Family and Medical Leave Employment Security Trust Fund begin coming out of paychecks on Tuesday. That’s the funding source for the new paid family and medical leave benefit signed into law last year."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190930/payroll-deduction-for-mass-paid-leave-starts-oct-1

"The winds are blowing fair for America’s wind power industry, making it one of the fastest-growing U.S. energy sources.

Land-based turbines are rising by the thousands across America, from the remote Texas plains to farm towns of Iowa. And the U.S. wind boom now is expanding offshore, with big corporations planning $70 billion in investment for the country’s first utility-scale offshore wind farms.

“We have been blessed to have it,” says Polly McMahon, a 13th-generation resident of Block Island, where a pioneering offshore wind farm replaced the island’s dirty and erratic diesel-fired power plant in 2016. “I hope other people are blessed too.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190930/presidents-windmill-hatred-is-worry-for-booming-industry

FM #172 - How Your Town Government Works (audio)

FM #172

This internet radio show or podcast is number 172 in the series for Franklin Matters.

This recording shares the “How Your Town Government Works” event. This was a non-partisan event sponsored by the Franklin Democratic Town Committee at THE BLACK BOX. It was held on Wednesday, September 25, 2019.

Current members of Franklin’s town government spoke about their areas of expertise:

• Tom Mercer, chair of the Town Council, provided an overview of the town government — its parts, their interrelationships, their purposes and personalities. He also moderated the forum.
• Jamie Hellen, Franklin Town Administrator, explained how his office oversees the day-to-day implementation of town government and works together with the School Dept on matters of mutual interest
• Anne Bergen, chair of Franklin’s School Committee, and Sara Ahern, Superintendent of Schools, will discuss education, the largest single part of the town budget.
• Joe Halligan and Tony Padula, sit on the Planning Board. They spoke on the Board's role in the town's development and administering the zoning bylaws.
• Melanie Hamblen, a member of the Town Council, spoke from her point of view completing her first two year term. She shared stories highlighting citizen initiatives that brought changes to Franklin.

Without further ado, here is the audio recording including the Q&A session following the presentations (approx 1hour and 45 minutes).

Note: there was no presentation document used. Several members of the panel did highlight sections of the Town of Franklin web pages which was shown on the large screen and viewed by the audience. Questions were repeated to ensure all could hear. The event was recorded via microphones but the microphones did not serve as PA’s for the session. You shouldn’t have trouble hearing the recording.





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This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but I can't do it alone. I can always use your help.

How can you help?

Overall:

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors.
• If you don't like this, please let me know.

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements.
Thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/
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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You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes = search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

The full " How Your Town Government Works" panel being introduced

subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters on iTunes

 

Post announcing the event 
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/09/reminder-how-your-town-government-works.html

Meet the Franklin Candidates - Election 2019 - Oct 3

Via Facebook, hosted by Glenn Jones:

"Wondering who the candidates are running for all of the elected positions in the Town of Franklin?

You are invited to a meet and greet at La Cantina Winery this Thursday, October 3 from 7 PM till 8:30 PM,  357 Union St

This event is open to the public!

All Candidates are welcome to attend and meet the constituency of the Great Town of Franklin.

As part of the Meet and Greet, La Cantina Winery is donating a portion of all sales to the Franklin Food Pantry.

Come on down!
Thank you to the Vozzella Family for hosting this event!"

Meet the Franklin Candidates - Election 2019 - Oct 3

Follow the Facebook event for updates
https://www.facebook.com/events/2144615552507974/

Understanding the Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) programs (4 part series)

Via the Mass Consumers Affairs blog:

"If you are a home improvement contractor or homeowner in Massachusetts, we’ve got you covered with our introductory guide to understanding the Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) programs – from both perspectives, the homeowner’s and contractor’s.

This introduction to HIC programs is the first of our four part “HIC—Easy as 1-2-3!” blog series dedicated to providing resources and information concerning HIC law, contractors, homeowners, complaints and enforcement hearings, arbitration, and the Guaranty Fund. Keep reading to educate yourself or brush up on your knowledge about HIC programs in Massachusetts."

Continue reading Part 1
http://blog.mass.gov/consumer/massconsumer/hic-easy-as-1-2-3-introduction/

Part 2
http://blog.mass.gov/consumer/massconsumer/hic-easy-as-1-2-3-hic-easy-as-1-2-3-part-2-arbitration/

Part 3
http://blog.mass.gov/consumer/massconsumer/hic-easy-as-1-2-3-part-3-guaranty-fund/
 
Part 4
http://blog.mass.gov/consumer/massconsumer/hic-easy-as-1-2-3-part-4-homeowners/

Understanding the Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) programs (4 part series)