NPR: "Amid Confusion About Reopening, An Expert Explains How To Assess COVID-19 Risk"

Via NPR, we find this article share worthy:

"Across the country, states are loosening the restrictions that had been put in place to curb the spread of COVID-19 — with varying results. New cases are decreasing in some states, including New York, Michigan and Colorado, while case numbers and hospitalizations have swelled recently in several states, including Texas, Arizona and Florida.

"Since the very first day of this pandemic, I don't think [we've been] in a more confused position about what's happening," epidemiologist Michael Osterholm says. "We just aren't quite sure what [the coronavirus is] going to do next."

Osterholm is the founder and director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota. His 2017 book, Deadliest Enemy: Our War Against Killer Germs, was recently republished with a new foreword about COVID-19. Mark Olshaker is the book's co-author.

From the earliest days of the pandemic, the coronavirus has often been treated as a political issue rather than a public health issue — and much has been made of President Trump's refusal to wear a mask in public. But Osterholm says that the risks from COVID-19 supersede partisanship."

Continue reading the article online
https://www.npr.org/2020/06/17/879255417/amid-confusion-about-reopening-an-expert-explains-how-to-assess-covid-risk

This hit the Franklin radar via Twitter:https://twitter.com/TracyNovick/status/1274871454111334400?s=09

A server wears a protective face mask while attending to customers amid the COVID-19 pandemic in Bethesda, Md., on June 12.  Sarah Silbiger/Getty Images

School Committee: Policy Sub Committee Meeting - June 24

Policy Sub Committee Meeting

Virtual Meeting 

June 24, 2020 - 6:00 PM

A G E N D A

“The listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may, in fact, be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law.”

I.Electronic Distribution of Approved Policies

• 1.EBAB - (New) Pest Management
• 2.EBC - Emergency Plans
• 3.Policy Distribution Folder

II.Discussion of Policies sent to School Committee

• 1.None

III.Policy Revisions & New Policies - New Discussion Item

• 1.ECAF - Security Cameras in Schools (NEW)
• 2.Continued Review of Policies

Conference bridge info contain in agenda doc
https://www.franklinps.net/sites/franklinmaps/files/agendas/6-24-20_policy_posting_agenda.pdf

In the News: "New design floated for Allston highway/transit megaproject"

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

"In the wake of widespread pushback against earlier proposals, state transportation officials floated a new design Monday for a landmark Allston infrastructure project that they will consider alongside two other options as a key deadline approaches.

The more than $1 billion Allston Multimodal Project may represent the most significant highway work in Massachusetts in a generation, but planning for up to a decade of construction, accomplishing goals for four different modes of travel, and minimizing impacts on the hundreds of thousands of daily commuters that pass through the narrow stretch of land connecting Boston to the west has been fraught with difficult choices.

Deliberations have been underway for years about how best to balance the project’s goals of replacing the structurally deficient viaduct carrying the Turnpike, straightening a curved section of the road, allowing for construction of a commuter rail West Station and freeing space for pedestrians and neighborhoods.

Because the 12 lanes of crowded roadway, commuter rail tracks and walking paths are crammed into only 204 feet of space between Boston University and the river, construction will impose major disruptions on some if not all of the modes of travel through the area."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200622/new-design-floated-for-allston-highwaytransit-megaproject

Mass DOT materials for the Allston Multimodal Project
https://www.mass.gov/lists/allston-multimodal-project-2020-meeting-materials

Fact sheet for June 22 meeting
https://www.mass.gov/doc/allston-multimodal-project-fact-sheet/download

In the News: "New design floated for Allston highway/transit megaproject"

Reader's Digest: "13 Things You Shouldn’t Do at Reopened Restaurants"

In the Reader's Digest listing of things you shouldn't do at a restaurant during this pandemic, our Franklin Board of Health Chair, Bridget Sweet is quoted:

Ignore individual restaurant guidelines

While most restaurants will follow the same guidelines, specific restaurants may have certain parameters in place that you, as a guest, should respect and follow. "Upon your arrival, if the restaurant wants to take your temperature or requires you to use hand sanitizer upon entry, allow this to happen," Bridget Sweet, Executive Director of Food Safety, College of Food Innovation & Technology, Johnson & Wales University, tells Reader's Digest. "Restaurants are trying to protect you as well as their staff. If the establishment requests that you wait in your vehicle until your table is ready, do so." Here are 9 etiquette rules you still have to follow during the novel coronavirus pandemic (https://www.rd.com/culture/etiquette-rules-follow-coronavirus/).

Continue to read the full Reader Digest article
https://www.rd.com/food/things-you-shouldnt-do-at-reopened-restaurants/

Shared from the Town of Franklin Twitter account:
https://twitter.com/TOFranklinMA/status/1275066058617966599?s=09

Town Council Last Week: A Momentary Return to a Public Presence

by Pete Fasciano, Executive Director 06/21/2020

"Last Week when I laid out the plan to meet in the gym? Didn’t happen. That’s okay. Many of you expressed deep concern about holding an indoor meeting in a large venue, even with carefully planned social distancing. That careful planning and responsiveness to the concerns of all – by all – is why Franklin has maintained the second lowest infection rate statewide.

So, on Monday – new plan. This is what very large-scale social distancing looks like. We moved out to the football field. The weather gods cooperated, and we were able to accommodate all who wished to attend on site. The stats indicate that well over a thousand residents were listening to the important proceedings on both nights through 102.9 wfpr.fm, Franklin Public Radio.

As we all navigate our temporary new normal, we will continue to refine our plans for citizen access, participation – and above all, safety"

And – as always –
Thank you for listening to wfpr●fm. And, thank you for watching.


The full schedule can be found in the TV guide for this week
http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf

Or for historical record
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KMG9O5MPDqDtTs5Mc6-i20g-MRm-PWpK/view?usp=sharing 
 

Town Council Last Week: A Momentary Return to a Public Presence (photo by Pete Fasciano)

School Committee scheduled to approve budget cuts for FY 2021

In the meeting packet for the June 23, 2020 Franklin (MA) School Committee meeting, they are scheduled to approve $3.4M worth of cuts covering 19.5 personnel (full time equivalent = FTE).

"The School Committee adopted a budget of ​$68,767,873​ on April 28, 2020, which represents a6.03% increase over FY 20. The Town Council approved an appropriation of ​$65,658,500.$300,000​ of this appropriation is from Community Host Agreement revenue and is to be earmarked towards substance abuse prevention. The increase to the operational budget is$500,000; ​this leaves a shortfall of ​$3,409,373​ that we have been working to reduce over the past several weeks.

Your packet contains an updated spreadsheet of reluctantly submitted recommendations of areas to reduce in order to meet the Town appropriation, which are based on the Governor’s Budget of January. We have used input from the School Committee and feedback from the community in developing this iteration.

I recommend that the School Committee vote to adopt a budget of ​$65,658,500

-----------------------------

Uncertainty continues in the budget development process and we expect to have to further reduce the budget when state aid figures are better known. An estimate many districts are using is a 10% cut to state aid.

We do anticipate further cuts to state aid and a need to examine additional items for reduction.We have listed areas for discussion and exploration at the bottom of the spreadsheet. Specific areas are highlighted due to anticipated DESE guidance about opening school in the fall and health risks/impacts. This guidance will be helpful in shaping our review of these areas.

These are not all inclusive and we will work to be as creative as possible should additional reductions be required."

Document links

• Additional docs for this meeting can be found

https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/june-23-2020-school-committee-meeting-packet

• Town of Franklin page:

https://www.franklinps.net/sites/franklinmaps/files/uploads/discussion_action_a_-_fy21_revised_budget_0.pdf

• Franklin Matter's copy:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_Wij4MJo1rdGVGZHa63yfh0QxORyufQ6/view?usp=sharing

screen capture of School Budget Subcommittee meeting 6/17/20

Norfolk County Real Estate Market Remains Viable During COVID-19 Pandemic

It is not an exaggeration to say we live in extraordinary times. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a personal and economic impact to all citizens in our country including Norfolk County. However, Register of Deeds William P. O’Donnell reports during the ongoing pandemic, one aspect of the Norfolk County economy has remained viable, the real estate market.

Register O’Donnell stated, “Since Governor Baker declared a state of emergency on March 10th, the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds has remained open for the recording of land documents. While the Registry building itself has been closed to the general public, Registry staff have been able to record land documents. This has been done by Registry staff utilizing social distancing, split work shifts, remote access, and using our disaster recovery office as an additional location to record land documents. We have also utilized electronic recording for our institutional users. In addition to electronic recording, users have also had the option to submit land documents via regular mail and Federal Express. Another option available has been users dropping off land documents at our drop-off box located outside the main entrance to the Registry of Deeds building located at 649 High Street, Dedham, MA.”

For the period of March 10th when the state of emergency was declared through June 12th, the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds recorded 40,007 land documents, a 13% increase from the same time period in 2019. 3,854 of these land documents were real estate sales transactions compared to 4,527 sales transactions recorded during the same time period in 2019. Interestingly, the average real estate sales transaction, both residential and commercial sales, actually increased 12% to $819,725. While the number of real estate sales dropped 15%, the number of mortgages recorded increased a significant 69%. A total of 11,145 mortgages were recorded between March 10th and June 12th compared to 6,605 during the same time frame in 2019.

“The decrease in the number of real estate sales,” noted the Register, “is not surprising considering the ongoing pandemic and its economic impact. Also, real estate brokers and agents have been unable to hold open houses. The spike in mortgage activity is explained by consumers taking advantage of low interest rates to refinance existing mortgages. Based on the words of Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, interest rates will not be rising anytime soon.”

A total of 29 foreclosure deeds were recorded from March 10th through June 12th. Notice to Foreclose Mortgages, the first step in the foreclosure process, have been curtailed due to a moratorium placed on foreclosures and evictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Register O’Donnell stated, “The Norfolk County Registry of Deeds continues to partner with two non-profit organizations that counsel and assist those struggling with foreclosure. The groups are Quincy Community Action Programs, 617-479-8181 x376, and NeighborWorks Housing Solutions, 508-587-0950. These organizations are available to help anyone who has received a Notice to Foreclose Mortgage from a lender or is struggling to make mortgage payments. Another option is to contact the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Consumer Advocacy and Response Division (CARD) at 617-727-8400. Each of these programs are staffed by knowledgeable professionals. Anyone who is facing a foreclosure issue is urged to avail themselves of these excellent programs.”

Homestead activity fell 16% during the March 10th through June 12th timeframe. 2,579 Homesteads were recorded versus 3,067 in 2019. “A Homestead provides limited protection against the forced sale of a homeowner’s primary residence to satisfy unsecured debt up to $500,000. I urge Norfolk County homeowners to consider this important consumer protection tool,” noted O’Donnell.

In conclusion, Register O’Donnell stated, “During the COVID-19 pandemic, I am proud of our efforts to remain open for the recording of land documents. We could not have done this without the cooperation and patience of the general public and our users in the real estate and lending communities. Our state of the art computer system has allowed us to remain operationally viable. The utilization of electronic recording has been critical to our ability to serve institutional users.

“Looking forward, we are hopeful the phased reopening of our local economy in Massachusetts will result in an uptick in real estate sales activity. We anticipate consumers will continue to take advantage of low interest rates to not only buy property but refinance existing mortgages. One important point to make is the Norfolk County real estate market remaining viable during the pandemic has benefited not only those individuals, families and businesses directly impacted, but all citizens of the county and Massachusetts as a whole. Recording fees and deeds excise tax monies collected during the COVID-19 pandemic have been utilized by state, county, and local governments to pay for critical services including education, social services needed by many of our neighbors and those less fortunate, and police & fire. We are truly appreciative of all Norfolk County residents for their patience and understanding during this pandemic. Be healthy. Be safe.”

To learn more about these and other Registry of Deeds events and initiatives, like us at facebook.com/NorfolkDeeds or follow us on twitter.com/NorfolkDeeds and/or Instagram.com/NorfolkDeeds.

The Norfolk County Registry of Deeds is located at 649 High Street, Dedham. The Registry is a resource for homeowners, title examiners, mortgage lenders, municipalities and others with a need for secure, accurate, accessible land record information. All land record research information can be found on the Registry’s website www.norfolkdeeds.org. Residents in need of assistance can contact the Registry of Deeds Customer Service Center via telephone at (781) 461-6101, or email us at registerodonnell@norfolkdeeds.org.

Norfolk County Real Estate Market Remains Viable During COVID-19 Pandemic