In the News: "a licensing process every three years"

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

"Massachusetts would start a wide-ranging effort to crack down on police violence and improve transparency by implementing a certification system and stripping licensure from officers who commit egregious violations under a new bill Gov. Charlie Baker detailed Wednesday, following a wave of demonstrations where protesters have demanded immediate reforms.

Baker described the legislation as a “first step” toward creating a more just system, acknowledging that legislative leaders will likely attempt to build on his proposal to address other priorities beyond accountability.

Lawmakers who joined the governor at a Wednesday press conference said the legislation had been in the works for months, and Baker said the protests against police violence and systemic racism that have swept across the country in recent weeks have given the issue a new sense of urgency."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200617/gov-charlie-baker-rolls-out-first-step-of-police-reform-that-would-create-licensing-system-for-police-and-creating-statewide-database-tracking-system

Video link = https://youtu.be/zeleIb1GHTo

FHS "Keeping Music Alive" #13

Good Morning,

Today, we have a very special posting of FHS Music Alive. In support of our Elementary and Middle School Chorus programs, we have three performances by students from that program. Included, is a beautiful, original composition and performance by Franklin High School Junior, Amanda Melmed. I have printed the lyrics written by Amanda below. She wrote about the power of music and chorus to a young student. Additionally, we have a recording by the Franklin Middle Schools Honors Chorus, recorded while home during the quarantine. Dyuthi Papineni made a video recording of herself singing "Count on Me" by Bruno Mars and dedicated it to Mrs. Hersee, her chorus teacher.

Don't forget to keep informed by following the School Committee and Town Council meetings. The next Town Council meetings are tonight and tomorrow at 7:00 PM and it will be held at Pisini Stadium at Franklin High School.

HAVE A HAPPY AND SAFE SUMMER!!!

• Horace Mann Middle School Honors Chorus - "Blackbird"

Black Bird https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PuPFY7TEB573VsNlRUOfCp03CkJHWz_C/view

• Dyuthi Papineni - 8th Grader at Horace Mann Middle School (Soon to be a freshman at FHS!!!)

Count on Me  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kkU_cYF3x63a5yknAaSQoDC2U-T12vyK/view?usp=sharing

• Amanda Melmed - FHS Junior

"The Start"  https://youtu.be/6sYyIQMnGh0



Verse 1:
When I was a little girl, I sang with my whole heart
Knew it was my calling, yeah I knew it from the start
Need something to build me up, couldn't do it on my own
Thank god you were there for me, cause I never would've grown

Pre chorus:
I need a time to free my mind from struggles everyday,
And without choir I wouldn't be just who I am today
Trapped inside the darkness feeling crushed and all alone
Music is the only place that's given me a home

Chorus:
The time I spent in choir filled my heart with a desire, 
you could say it lit a fire that took me higher and higher and higher and higher
To where I'm standing now
Thanks to you I've figured out...

Bridge:
Music is the therapy that's keepin me alive
And when I wake up feeling grey you always paint my sky
When anxiety gets the best of me, I know I can always count on you
To see me through

Verse 3:
The friendships i have made forever touched my life
The memories that I've saved lift me up when things ain't right
I didn't know how much it would end up affecting me
But I can say for certain there's no way I'd still be me

Chorus:
Without the
Time I spent in choir filling my heart with a desire, 
you could say it lit a fire that took me higher and higher and higher and higher
To where I'm standing now
I'm just one out of a thou, sand

Last verse:
Hundred thousand little girls who sing with their whole heart
Know that it's their calling, but they need a place to start


--

Diane M. Plouffe
Director of Music
Franklin Public Schools
Franklin High School

Franklin Cultural District Newsletter

Welcome from The Chair...Nancy Schoen

On behalf of the Franklin Cultural District Committee (FCDC) I would like to welcome you to the inaugural edition of our Franklin Cultural District (FCD) Newsletter. The COVID-19 outbreak has affected our lives in ways that we could not have imagined. During this time the FCDC has been amazed by the many creative events and performances the Cultural District Partners have offered for the community. 

While quarantining, the arts have provided comfort, inspiration, and opportunities for self-expression. As we are adjusting to the "new normal" the FCDC would like to help strengthen the cultural connections within the Franklin community. In order to keep all informed of what is happening in the Franklin Cultural District we will be publishing a newsletter each month with the exception of July and December.

In each issue we would like to share with all what events are happening in the district as well as anything new that will be happening during the next month. In each edition we will also highlight one of the Cultural District Partners.

We hope that by sharing the Cultural District news and information about the District Partners, the community will become more aware of all the wonderful cultural opportunities we have right here in Franklin. 

Check out the newsletter online = https://conta.cc/2zzaiD3

Visit the Cultural District web page  = https://www.franklinculture.org/
 

Franklin Cultural District Newsletter

 

Empty Bowls raises more then $9,000 for Franklin Food Pantry

"A HUGE thank you to everyone who made this years Empty Bowls fundraiser possible💜Together, we raised $9,000 total between the fundraiser and sponsorships. On behalf of the Empty Bowls club, we would like to say thank you to the Franklin community and to everyone who has helped."

A HUGE thank you to everyone who made this years Empty Bowls fundraiser possible💜Together, we raised $9,000 total between the fundraiser and sponsorships. On behalf of the Empty Bowls club, we would like to say thank you to the Franklin community and to everyone who has helped. pic.twitter.com/UCn8wR9nW1

— FHS Empty Bowls (@FHS_EmptyBowls) June 15, 2020

Found via Twitter: https://twitter.com/FHS_EmptyBowls/status/1272589091381678081?s=09

https://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/

In the News: What is Juneteenth?

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

"What is Juneteenth?

On June 19, 1865, Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger informed a reluctant community in Galveston, Texas, that President Abraham Lincoln had freed enslaved people in rebel states two and a half years earlier. He pressed locals to comply with the directive.

Although Lincoln proclaimed the emancipation of enslaved people, effective Jan. 1, 1863, enslavers were responsible for telling them that they were free, and some ignored the order until Union troops arrived to enforce it, according to Cliff Robinson, founder of Juneteenth.com. Texas was the last Confederate state to have the proclamation announced.

Though the story of Texas’ emancipation is the most widely known, Williams said, other significant events in the history of emancipation took place on and around that date. He said the first known Juneteenth celebrations began in 1866 and spread across the country as African Americans migrated to new cities."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200617/what-is-juneteenth-holiday-marking-emancipation-proclamation-takes-on-extra-importance-in-2020

Franklin, MA: Town Council - Budget Hearing #2 - June 18

FRANKLIN TOWN COUNCIL

Agenda & Meeting Packet  = June 18, 2020

Franklin High School 

Football Field - Pisini Stadium 

Oak Street, Franklin MA, 02038

7:00 PM

The Franklin Town Council will be holding its annual budget hearing on the Franklin High School Football Field. The purpose of this location is to have a place that allows for proper implementation of the guidelines produced by the state Department of Public Health (DPH) regarding Town Meetings for Municipal Legislative Bodies. Executive Order 38 (below) promulgated by Governor Baker. If attending in person, see DPH guidelines (below). All budget materials are online https://www.franklinma.gov/town-budget or the links below.

1. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. HEARINGS - FY 2021 Budget Hearing 7:10pm

• a. Final Recommendation Voting Document
• i. F Y21 Budget Message
• ii. F Y21 Town Administrator Proposed Budget

5. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION

• a. Resolution 20-31: Adoption of FY21 Budget (Motion to Approve Resolution 20-31 - Majority Vote)  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/mai/files/5a._resolution_20-31_adoption_of_fy21_budget.pdf
• b. Resolution 20-36: Community Preservation Act, G.L. Chapter 44B, Sections 3-7 Authorization for Ballot Vote (Motion to Approve Resolution 20-36, CPA Ballot- Majority Roll Call Vote)  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/mai/files/5b._resolution_20-36_cpa_ballot_vote.pdf
• c. Resolution 20-37: Authorize the Borrowing of Money to Pay Costs of Various Capital Improvements (Motion to Approve Resolution 20-37 - Majority Vote)  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/mai/files/5c._resolution_20-37_borrowing_authorization.pdf

6. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

7. COUNCIL COMMENTS

8. ADJOURN

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


Executive Order 38
https://www.mass.gov/doc/june-6-2020-regulating-gatherings-throughout-the-commonwealth/download?_ga=2.247015046.320592393.1592235776-1919234641.1588012608

DPH Guidelines
https://www.mass.gov/doc/guidance-for-town-meetings-to-address-covid-19/download

Shared from Twitter:  https://twitter.com/TOFranklinMA/status/1272966385845571584?s=09

The PDF version of the agenda can be found
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/agendas/06-18-2020_town_council_budget_agenda.pdf

Franklin Police Statement in Response to President's Order on Police Reform

On Tuesday June 16. President Trump signed an Executive Order dealing with Law Enforcement reforms. There were many parts of this order, but we wanted to highlight an area where the Franklin Police Department is already involved.

His order reads in part:

Sec. 4. Mental Health, Homelessness, and Addiction. (a) Since the mid-twentieth century, America has witnessed a reduction in targeted mental health treatment. Ineffective policies have left more individuals with mental health needs on our Nation's streets, which has expanded the responsibilities of law enforcement officers. As a society, we must take steps to safely and humanely care for those who suffer from mental illness and substance abuse in a manner that addresses such individuals' needs and the needs of their communities. It is the policy of the United States to promote the use of appropriate social services as the primary response to individuals who suffer from impaired mental health, homelessness, and addiction, recognizing that, because law enforcement officers often encounter such individuals suffering from these conditions in the course of their duties, all officers should be properly trained for such encounters.

(b) The Attorney General shall, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services as appropriate, identify and develop opportunities to train law enforcement officers with respect to encounters with individuals suffering from impaired mental health, homelessness, and addiction; to increase the capacity of social workers working directly with law enforcement agencies; and to provide guidance regarding the development and implementation of co-responder programs, which involve social workers or other mental health professionals working alongside law enforcement officers so that they arrive and address situations together. The Attorney General and the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall prioritize resources, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, to support such opportunities.

(c) The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall survey community-support models addressing mental health, homelessness, and addiction. Within 90 days of the date of this order, the Secretary of Health and Human Services shall summarize the results of this survey in a report to the President, through the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, which shall include specific recommendations regarding how appropriated funds can be reallocated to support widespread adoption of successful models and recommendations for additional funding, if needed.

(d) The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall, in coordination with the Attorney General and the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, prioritize resources, as appropriate and consistent with applicable law, to implement community-support models as recommended in the report described in subsection (c) of this section.
---------------------------

The Franklin Police Department is already actively engaged in this process on many levels. For mental health calls for service and follow up we already have in place our Jail Diversion Program (https://www.franklinma.gov/police-department/pages/jail-diversion-program). Our clinician responds with officers to calls where citizens may be involved in a mental health crisis. The work done there helps determine if the person in crisis is best served by remaining in the community, or needs immediate treatment and transport to the hospital. 

There are advantages to every diversion that happens. First, there is the cost. Not transporting and finding community based support is much less expensive than an emergency room visit. Secondly, and most importantly, having our clinician available results in better outcomes for patients. Our clinician is also skilled in deescalation, and connecting with people in crisis to come to a mutually agreeable plan forward. Each time this happens, it lessens the need for officers to become involved, or end up having to use some degree of force to compel the person for treatment.

Our clinical also works with Franklin Police Detectives' to follow up on drug overdose cases through the Norfolk County Outreach program. This program tracks individuals who have overdosed in Franklin, or another community, but live here. With the clinician and Detective, Franklin has been able to achieve over an 80% contact rate, the highest in the county, to offer these individuals treatment services.

The Jail Diversion Program is extensive, and one of the greatest programs we have added in recent years. It is also very notable that this program is free to the Town of Franklin, and the Town of Medway, who we share our clinician with. This is the result of a grant written by both agencies which is funded by the Department of Mental Health. A full report is available online on our Jail Diversion Page (https://www.franklinma.gov/police-department/pages/jail-diversion-program).

The Franklin Police take seriously the needs of our citizens. In addition to the JDP program we are also part of the IACP One Mind Campaign (https://www.theiacp.org/projects/one-mind-campaign). Participation in this program required the Franklin Police to train every officer in Mental Health First Aid (https://www.thenationalcouncil.org/training-courses/mental-health-first-aid/), and 20% of our officers in Crisis Intervention Training (https://www.nami.org/Advocacy/Crisis-Intervention/Crisis-Intervention-Team-(CIT)-Programs). We have successfully completed this program. 

 

Franklin Police Statement in Response to President's Order on Police Reform