Talk Franklin: Phase III Reopening, Budget, Virtual Meeting Schedule and Upcoming Events!

FM #311 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 311 in the series.

This session of the radio show shares my "Talk Franklin" conversation with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen and Communications Specialist Anne Marie Tracey. We had our conversation via conference bridge to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

We talk about: Re-opening continues

• Diligence continues to be required (face coverings, hand washing, etc.)
• Town staff and operations; DPW projects
• Election info

Budget

• Town hiring freeze, budget management internally

Virtual meetings

• School comm 7/14
• Senior coffee 7/16
• Town council 7/22

Cultural events

• THE BLACK BOX concerts parking lot
• Party for the Pantry – 7/16
• Don White/Circle of Friends fund raiser for the Pantry – 7/23
• Concerts on the Common includes a movie night 7/24

The recording runs about 40 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Jamie and Anne Marie.

https://anchor.fm/letstalkfranklin/episodes/Phase-III-Reopening--Budget--Virtual-Meeting-Schedule-and-Upcoming-Events-egild4



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The COVID-19 case count for Franklin
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/uploads/covid-19_case_counts_9.pdf

DPW projects updated on Facebook page
https://www.facebook.com/OfficialTownofFranklin/posts/300744181292691

The water rate discussion including why we currently have a ban and usually have ‘water conservation measures’
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/06/fm-308-water-rate-and-conservation.html


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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.

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How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors
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Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I 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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Talk Franklin: Phase III Reopening, Budget, Virtual Meeting Schedule and Upcoming Events!

State forest parking lot on Grove St is ready for use

"Thanks to @MassDCR for an incredible job building a new parking lot for expanded State Forest access! Thanks to @jeffroy for your advocacy on this important state project! It’s summer, Franklin, let’s go explore Franklin State Forest!!!"

State forest parking lot on Grove St is ready for use

Franklin radar picked up via Twitter
https://twitter.com/TOFranklinMA/status/1281616863269715970?s=09

Boston Globe: "Mail-in voting isn’t ‘fraudulent,’ despite Trump’s claims. Here’s what experts say"

From the Boston Globe, articles of interest to Franklin:

"President Trump on Friday continued to ramp up his rhetoric attacking states for passing vote-by-mail laws amid the coronavirus pandemic, this time claiming that while absentee voting is acceptable, voting by mail is not. But the two are largely the same thing, according voting rights advocates and state officials. 

The tweets came as Trump’s polling numbers continue to sag, and just days after Massachusetts lawmakers approved a bill allowing all Massachusetts voters to cast ballots by mail this fall. 

In his tweets Friday, Trump said that absentee voting was fine, but vote-by-mail programs are rife with fraud. But absentee voting and mail-in voting are largely the same thing, according to a spokeswoman for Secretary of State Bill Galvin. 

“There is no substantive difference in the process between voting absentee and voting by mail,” Debra O’Malley told the Globe Friday. “Both systems require the voter to submit a signed application to their local election official, wait to receive their ballot in the mail, and return their marked ballot to their local election official by Election Day. Both types of ballots require a signature on the ballot envelope which is matched to the voter’s signature on file.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/07/10/nation/fact-check-president-trump-keeps-calling-mail-in-voting-fraudulent-election-officials-advocates-say-otherwise/

Get your vote by mail application at the Town Clerk's page
https://www.franklinma.gov/town-clerk/news/2020-election-information

Additional election info can be found on the Secretary of the Commonwealth's page
https://www.sec.state.ma.us/ele/eleidx.htm

New water treatment plant for Wells 3 & 6 under construction

"The new Water Treatment Plant and reconstruction of two wells to provide cleaner and better water to residents and businesses is coming along great! The steel shell is up. Project is currently on time and on budget! Thanks Franklin DPW and the entire staff for gettin’ it done!"

New water treatment plant for Wells 3 & 6 under construction

Franklin radar picked up via Twitter
https://twitter.com/TOFranklinMA/status/1281617511465791489?s=09

Other DPW projects underway at this time are shared in this Facebook post:



For additional info on the overall water supply status, if you haven't listened to the Town Council discussion on water rates, this segment of the meeting is available and provides a bunch of info
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/06/fm-308-water-rate-and-conservation.html

St John's Episcopal Church - Outdoor Worship - now scheduled for July 19

St John's Episcopal Church to re-gather for Outdoor Worship Sunday, July 19

St John's Outdoor worship postponed till July 19

We need a little more time to pull together the details. Bring your chair and mask NEXT Sunday (7/19/20) at 10 AM

Bring your own chair and mask for worship on our front lawn.
See you Sunday (7/19/20) at 10 AM. We'll still be live streaming on Facebook, as well.

St John's Episcopal Church - Outdoor Service - July 19

Senate Passes Bill to Expand Take-Out and Delivery Options in Restaurants

On Friday, July 10, 2020, the Massachusetts State Senate passed bipartisan legislation that gives restaurants more flexibility, and customers more choice, while the Commonwealth continues to confront the COVID-19 pandemic.

The bill, An Act to Expand Take-out/Delivery Options in Response to COVID-19, would allow restaurants to include mixed drinks with take-out and delivery orders. Restaurants were previously authorized by the legislature to sell beer and wine with take-out orders. The bill would authorize restaurants to serve mixed-drinks to-go until the Massachusetts' state of emergency in response to COVID-19, declared by the Governor on March 10, 2020 is lifted.

"The Senate has stood by our small business owners throughout this pandemic, and today's bill provides yet another tool to help the restaurant industry get back on their feet," stated Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). "While the work to support our small businesses impacted by COVID-19 continues, I am proud to see this measure advance today. I want to thank Senators Diana DiZoglio, Michael Rodrigues and Joe Boncore for their advocacy and collaboration on this issue."

"The Senate's passage of this bill provides critical relief to struggling restaurants as they work to recover and remain viable in the face of economic hardship," said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D - Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. "Restaurants have been among the hardest-hit industries during the COVID-10 pandemic, and I am glad - thanks to the leadership of the Senate President, and the advocacy of Senator DiZoglio and others - we are able to provide restaurants with this economic lifeline during this challenging time."

"Since the start of the COVID-19 emergency, I have heard from our local restaurant owners about the revenue that to-go mixed drinks could generate to help them stay afloat and survive the impacts of the shutdown," said State Senator Diana DiZoglio (D-Methuen). "While many mom and pop establishments have been able to slowly reopen in recent weeks, they still face significant challenges in their efforts to retain employees and pay their bills. While the legislature does not have a say in the reopening plan during this continued state of emergency, we still have an obligation to use every legislative tool we have to help those that are struggling due to the pandemic. The passage of this bill will greatly help our job creators in the restaurant community, as well as their employees, many of whom have faced challenges with unemployment and uncertainty over whether their jobs will be there for them in the future. I am grateful to my colleagues in the legislature for their support and continued advocacy on the issue. I hope this bill will be signed into law by the Governor as soon as possible."  

"Restaurants and bars are woven into the cultural and economic fabric of our communities," said State Senator Joe Boncore (D-Winthrop). "Allowing for cocktail sales to go will certainly aid in the economic recovery of the unique local and small businesses that make up the restaurant industry in my district, and across the Commonwealth."

Under the bill, restaurants would still be required to verify that customers are 21 or older and mixed drinks must be sold in sealed containers. The legislation requires that mixed drinks be sold exclusively with food, limited to two mixed drinks per entrée, and not more than 64 ounces in total.

The bill is the latest in a series of far-reaching actions by the Senate meant to support small businesses during the COVID-19 public health crisis. The bill now moves to the Massachusetts House of Representatives for consideration.

In the News: "the Senate passed a redrafted version of to-go cocktail legislation"

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

"Both branches of the state Legislature have now signed off on allowing Massachusetts restaurants to sell to-go cocktails. 

The Senate on Friday passed a bill that would allow restaurants to sell mixed drinks in sealed containers alongside takeout and delivery food orders, a measure some bar and restaurant owners have been advocating for as a way to attract customers during the COVID-19 crisis that has hurt the restaurant sector. 

Unlike the broader restaurant relief bill the House passed unanimously five weeks ago -- which also included a cap on third-party delivery fees and waived penalties and interest for late meals tax payments -- the Senate’s bill (S 2812) speaks only to the issue of takeout cocktails. 

The two branches would need to agree on an approach before they could send a bill to Baker, who said last month that he supported the House’s restaurant bill. The House was not in session on Friday and meets next on Monday."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200710/senate-restaurant-aid-bill-limited-to-to-go-cocktails/1