Fire Training to Include Rep Roy, Chief McLaughlin, Town Administrator Jamie Hellen

The Franklin Fire Department will hold a training event with Representative Jeffrey Roy (D-Franklin) at Station 2 (21 Birch Street) on Thursday afternoon, October 31. 

Representative Roy will take part in live fire training where he will be able to utilize Milford Fire Department's live bum building. This informative event will provide Representative Roy with a first-hand opportunity to learn more about the fire service and the austere and rigorous conditions Franklin firefighters encounter.

The purpose of this training is for Representative Roy to gain an understanding of the everyday life of professional, career firefighters, by utilizing a 'hands-on" approach. Franklin Fire Chief James McLaughlin and Franklin Town Administrator Jamie Hellen will accompany Representative Roy at this training.

"Live fire training will give me the ability to understand the difficulties and challenges that our firefighters face on a daily basis," said State Rep. Jeffrey Roy. "I look forward to this opportunity. We are lucky to have so many dedicated, professional, and brave firefighters that are ready, willing, and able to serve in our department."

October is National Fire Prevention Month, a time when we should all be aware of ways to help learn fire safety and prevention.

Fire Training to Include Rep Roy

Jack Lank Receives "Chamber Executive of the Year" Award

At their annual conference this week, the New England Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (NEACCE) named United Regional Chamber of Commerce (URCC) President/CEO Jack Lank "Chamber Executive of the Year" for 2019.

Jim Roche, President of Business and Industry Association of the New Hampshire Statewide Chamber of Commerce presented the award to Lank at the conference's annual dinner in Plymouth, Mass. Lank is a member of the Board of Directors and former President of NEACCE.

In his remarks, Roche noted that Lank has served at the helm of the URCC for 13 years, merging three chambers representing 16 communities in two different counties during his tenure. Roche said that merging two chambers is a daunting endeavor, but merging three chambers is more than formidable.

Roche continued, saying that after the merger Lank "implemented a comprehensive, coordinated effort to assist local business expansion. He created a Young Professional's Organization, a Women's Impact Network, an Ambassador Committee, and several over groups to enhance the value of membership in his chamber." He also works with other local chambers to facilitate multi-organization events and programs, realizing that when the entities work together there is a much better result and a bigger impact on the communities.

Roche quoted several chamber members in his speech. One member said, "Jack has been a big supporter of my non-profit organization. He was instrumental in helping us secure our largest single donation to date. It is a great comfort to know that if I need something, I have a reliable person who is well connected to a wide variety of professionals and who is always in my corner."

Roche concluded his presentation saying, "Jack is a rare breed in the chamber world. Sadly, there are not many like him. He is well connected to all of his communities, a very rare feat these days. He is educated about what is impacting business in his area and throughout the state and has his thumb on business legislation. But most of all, he is approachable, funny, and sincere, a rare hat trick of personalities you will not find everywhere. I wish there were more people like him in this world."

Before becoming president of the URCC, Lank was the Vice President of Alexander Mortgage Corporation for 10 years and Executive Director of Attleboro's Wednesday Night Market.

Lank is a member of the Board of Trustees for the US Chamber Foundation and Former Chairman of the Board of Regents for the Institute for Organization Management, a member of the Board of Directors and former President of NEACCE, member of the Board of Directors of the Tri-County Regional Vocational High School Education Foundation, an Incorporator for the Hockomock YMCA, treasurer of North Attleboro's Make a Splash Foundation, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Southeastern Massachusetts Visitor's Bureau.

The URCC is a private, not-for-profit business association that represents hundreds of businesses of all sizes and from virtually all industries in the communities of Attleboro, Bellingham, Blackstone, Foxborough, Franklin, Mansfield, Medfield, Medway, Millis, Norfolk, North Attleborough, Norton, Plainville, Rehoboth, Seekonk, and Wrentham.

Chartered in 1917, The URCC has evolved into the region's oldest and largest economic development and business advocacy organization. The chamber supports and promotes the local business community through leadership in public advocacy, education, networking, information, and community development.

NEACCE, headquartered in Concord New Hampshire, serves as the conduit for executives and staff throughout New England through a number of opportunities including conferences, social media, newsletter and meetings, all great opportunities to network. Chamber executives and staff often benefit from the exchange of ideas and information and NEACCE makes this happen, providing leadership in the world of professional chamber management. NEACCE's provides programs that enhance the personal growth and development of its members and their effectiveness as administrators. The organization maintains a close relationship with the United States Chamber of Commerce, the American Chamber of Commerce Executives, and other regional and state associations to provide maximum effectiveness in joint actions approved by the NEACCE Board of Directors. In addition, NEACCE facilitates opportunities to advance the concepts and practices of professional Chamber management through educational services and innovative programs.

Left to right: President Neponset River Regional Chamber of Commerce Tom O’Rourke, award winner URCC President/CEO Jack Lank; and President of the Ocean Community Chamber Lisa Konicki at the October NEACCE award dinner

Town Council - Recap - Sep 4, 2019

Catching up to this


Franklin TV video of the meeting available for replay on demand
https://view.earthchannel.com/PlayerController.aspx?&PGD=franknma&eID=682

The Actions Taken for this meeting
https://www.franklinma.gov/town-council/files/tc-actions-taken-9419


My notes reported live during the meeting

• Live reporting: Town Administrator's Report through Closing
• https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/09/live-reporting-town-administrators.html
• Live Reporting: Subcommittee reports through Legislation for Action
• https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/09/live-reporting-subcommittee-reports.html
• Live reporting: Appointments to Presentations
• https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/09/live-reporting-appointments-to.html
• Live Reporting: Town Council - Sep 4, 2019
• https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/09/live-reporting-town-council-sep-4-2019.html
• 
  

Franklin Candidate Interview: Denise Spencer

This interview with Denise Spencer, candidate for Franklin School Committee in 2019, was collaborated on via email. We reviewed the following questions, some of them were ‘crowd sourced.’ Some of you may remember the call for input solicited in August 2019 for this election. Thank you for your contributions.

Hopefully, the information provided here, and in the other interviews, will enable the Franklin voters to make a good choice among the candidates for each position.

For the following FM presents the question. DS represents Denise’s response.

FM = There are and have been many opportunities to volunteer with community groups in Franklin. Have you taken advantage of any of these? Which ones, and why did you choose that/those?

DS = Since moving to Franklin in 2017, I have been very active within the school system by serving on the PCC and volunteering my time for school events and fundraisers. I recently attended the Franklin Civics Forum “How Your Town Government Works” and learned about all the other wonderful opportunities the town has to offer and I look forward to giving back in as many ways possible.

FM = Where do you get your news about Franklin?

DS = Franklin Matters of course! I also follow many town-centric Facebook pages such as Town of Franklin MA and Franklin Public School District MA. Also, I recently signed up to receive newsletters from the Town – another useful tidbit I picked up at the Civics Forum – and I also follow you, Steve, on Twitter and scroll through your posts and retweets.

FM = The possibility of a change in school start times was a recent controversial topic taken up by the School Committee. Where do you stand on the issue of school start times in Franklin and what actions do you plan to take around this issue during the next term of the School Committee?

DS = At the last School Committee meeting, it was decided that this issue be put on hold as there are other major issues requiring immediate attention (such as the budget and the school closing study). The current School Committee has done an excellent job on researching the science behind delaying school start times in adolescents. Schools in surrounding towns that have a later high school start time still have the younger children getting out of school after the older children. 

It is difficult to squeeze academic schedules, sports events and extra-curricular activities into available daytime hours if schools started later. There are clearly some benefits to a later starting time. There are also many challenges that families, teens, and school districts would face when deciding to pursue this idea. Much more research is needed in terms of looking at the impact of delaying school start times and how this will affect childcare options for working families and after school activities.

FM = While the current School Committee has attempted to reach the community through various forms of communication including coffee chats, email newsletters, attending events such as the farmers market, etc., they have been generally unsuccessful at increasing the engagement with important issues related to the schools. What actions will you take to increase citizen engagement with the School Committee?

DS = The current School Committee members have done a great job improving communication with the community. (Side note: Did you know they have a newsletter? You can sign up to be on their distribution list.) A lot of people love the idea of being connected virtually – we should look at more of a social media presence. Some families may be able to attend the coffee chats; however, weekends are usually very busy, parents and children have very hectic schedules. We need to cater to everyone on both ends of the spectrum.

FM = The Town Administrator has suggested that the School Committee investigate the possibility of closing Davis Thayer Elementary as a possible cost-saving mechanism for the town in these tight economic times. Where do you stand on this issue and what actions will you take to support your stance?

DS = This is a good question - I support a comprehensive study of our current and future enrollment needs for facilities prior to any discussion about school closure. It is imperative to gather and review all information before making any kind of decision. This means future enrollment projections, cost savings, the impact it would have on classroom sizes at other schools, redistricting of the town, and the reallocation of assets, teachers and staff. If elected, I promise to evaluate all pertinent information and reach a consensus of what would be best for the entire community.

FM = Why should I vote for you?

DS = In addition to my professional background, which includes 12 years working in the financial industry, I am an active parent and member of the community. I want to be a part of decisions that are made for our school system’s future. Young families need a strong voice in the decision making that will affect our town for generations to come. I want to apply my passion to advocate for all of Franklin’s students, families and educators. I would like the opportunity to serve and be a part of the continuous success of our school system.

Find the election and candidate information gathered in one place on the Election Collection
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/07/franklin-election-collection-2019.html

Franklin Candidate Interview: Denise Spencer

Franklin Candidate Interview: Joanna Lussier

This interview with Joanna Lussier, candidate for Franklin School Committee in 2019, was collaborated on via email. We reviewed the following questions, some of them were ‘crowd sourced.’ Some of you may remember the call for input solicited in August 2019 for this election. Thank you for your contributions.

Hopefully, the information provided here, and in the other interviews, will enable the Franklin voters to make a good choice among the candidates for each position.

For the following FM presents the question. JL represents Joanna's response.

FM = There are and have been many opportunities to volunteer with community groups in Franklin. Have you taken advantage of any of these? Which ones, and why did you choose that/those?

JL = Volunteering is something I want my kids to want to do. Most of my volunteer work gear towards school activities – field trips, field days, classroom support. I enjoy volunteering as a family. Most of the volunteer opportunities we sign up for allow kids at a young age – Cradle to Crayons, Christmas in the City. 

Within the Town of Franklin, we have volunteered at the Recreation Department’s Earth Day clean up. It is one of the few volunteer opportunities available to my young kids. My oldest, James, has always had a passion for recycling and our environment. It was a great opportunity to align his passion with a volunteer opportunity. The volunteers assigned us to the Helen Keller School. We had three bags of trash just walking around the school property, even the playground had sport drink bottles. It was a great teaching moment for my kids to learn to be respectful of our planet and school property. 

In addition, I volunteered to be the Den Leader for James’ Tiger Den. My husband Mark grew up doing cub scouts and boy scouts. It was something James was interested in. As a pack, for Earth Day, we cleaned up Dacey’s Field. It was a great bonding experience for the boys.

FM = Where do you get your news about Franklin?

JL = Primarily, I get my news about Franklin on social media – Franklin Matters, Milford Daily News Online, Wicked Local, and various Facebook groups. Recently, I signed up to receive all the postings on the Town’s website. This has been helpful to see things posted in real time. Lastly, I also talk to local friends. We all focus on different topics of interest, so it is nice to be able to hear what other people know.

FM =  The possibility of a change in school start times was a recent controversial topic taken up by the School Committee. Where do you stand on the issue of school start times in Franklin and what actions do you plan to take around this issue during the next term of the School Committee?

JL = If you ask me if I supported the proposed time as presented, I say no. However, I understand the research the School Start Time Advisory Board presented. I do support further research into the topic. We need to more awareness and engage key stakeholders – parents, students, teachers, surrounding towns, local businesses. There were many questions and concerns that were brought up. Some were addressed, but not all. I think the next term of the School Committee needs to move the project to Phase 2 – community engagement and outreach. I believe the community knows it’s a potential change in the near future and will be willing to be part of the process

FM = While the current School Committee has attempted to reach the community through various forms of communication including coffee chats, email newsletters, attending events such as the farmers market, etc., they have been generally unsuccessful at increasing the engagement with important issues related to the schools. What actions will you take to increase citizen engagement with the School Committee?

JL =  I will admit I never went to the coffee chats. I did enjoy the email newsletters. I understand the newsletter was probably designed to be brief updates with links back to the Town’s website. Perhaps it can be revised to include an executive summary/update on key topics. When reviewing some of the past newsletters, I did not get a sense of urgency on budget issues and school start times. Maybe in the newsletter we can set timelines for key items. 

For instance, if the School Committee is to vet out the school start times and Davis Thayer closing, they can estimate the school year it’ll take into effect (2023-2024). This way it is on the parents’ radar, and they are further motivated to understand what the School Committee is doing.

• Social media – The School Committee can have a greater presence on social media. Links to the newsletter and regular updates can keep the community engaged.
• Technology – I understand the busy life of parents and adulthood. Perhaps we can steam the meetings via WebEx (or something similar). Having virtual meet and greets.
• Sporting Events – If the community is open to it, I am always available to engage parents at sporting events. I understand it’s a fine balance between paying attention to your kid playing and having an adult conversation about various topics.
• Meet and Greets – This is always a great option. The timing never worked for me to meet the SC. I think sending a Survey Monkey out to the community to learn how they want us to engage them is a great starting point. 

FM = The Town Administrator has suggested that the School Committee investigate the possibility of closing Davis Thayer Elementary as a possible cost-saving mechanism for the town in these tight economic times. Where do you stand on this issue and what actions will you take to support your stance?

JL = If we have to make a decision today, I do not support it. I fully support vetting the idea and understand the implications – emotional and financial. There are many factors, decisions, and questions that need to be answered. We need to thoroughly research the different possibilities – renovating, building new, relocating, or closing. Recently, the Town Council approved money to go towards consulting fees. We should leverage the previous study and community engagement with the new study that will be happening. 

As a citizen, I have questions I want answered before a decision is made: Currently, enrollment is low. What about the current, potential, and future development. If we closed DT, how would the increase in population impact the other schools who will absorb the students? How will redistricting impact the students emotionally? How much money are we really saving by closing the school? I want a real number. If elected, I will ensure we engage the community throughout the process with regular updates.

FM = Why should I vote for you?

JL =  I am working mom looking to preserve and improve our schools for our students and community. With two young children in the school system, I have a vested interest in the quality of the school system for our current and future students. I want to work collaboratively with the key stakeholders to come up with solutions with the difficult decisions that are coming up. I believe my professional background will bring a different type of skillset to help the school committee come up with some long term plans.

Find the election and candidate information gathered in one place on the Election Collection
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/07/franklin-election-collection-2019.html 

FHS volleyball as #6 seed plays Sat at 2:00 PM

HockomockSports.com has posted the Hockomock volleyball playoff seeds and matchups for teams in the MIAA playoffs.

Franklin's first game is shown here, the full D1 South bracket is shown below

• D1 Central/West

#6 Franklin (14-3) will host #11 Doherty (12-8) on Saturday, 11/2 at 2:00.


For the Hockomock listing
https://hockomocksports.com/hockomock-volleyball-playoff-seeds-matchups-2019/

For the MIAA D1 Central-West bracket
http://miaa.statebrackets.com/tmenu.cfm?tid=5381

FHS volleyball as #6 seed plays Sat at 2:00 PM

Don’s Shirts Day - Nov 3

On Sunday, November 3, Franklin Federated Church will celebrate the many talents of long-time Franklin resident and FFC member, Don Goddard. Don has sewn over 150, one-of-a-kind themed shirts depicting holidays, hobbies and superheros, to name a few. Also exhibited will be a sampling of his fine carpentry skills. 

The public is welcome to attend morning worship and communion from 10 AM - 11 AM during which time the shirts will be displayed and some worn by members. Fellowship and refreshments follow the service. FFC will continue to welcome the public until 1 PM. 

Franklin Federated Church, located at 171 Main Street, is a Welcoming and Affirming Church, members of both the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists and the United Church of Christ Coalition for LGBT Concerns. “No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.”

Don’s Shirts Day - Nov 3

For more about Franklin Federated Church, visit them on the web http://franklinfederated.org/