Attention Franklin: Town Inspections to Resume July 20

Please find information on our town inspections procedures attached here
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/uploads/town_inspections_7-17-2020.pdf

Attention Franklin: Town Inspections to Resume July 20

Senator Rausch: COVID-19 Update #25 (and policing reform)

CORONAVIRUS / COVID-19 UPDATE #25

Friday, July 17, 2020

Dear friends,

Just after 4:00 a.m. on Tuesday morning, after roughly 17 hours of debate, the Senate passed the Reform, Shift + Build Act. This omnibus bill, produced by a bipartisan Racial Justice Working Group appointed by the Senate President, will increase police accountability, shift law enforcement away from surveillance and punishment and instead toward de-escalation and community strengthening, and build a more just and equitable Commonwealth. The bill reflects what many have shared that they want in this moment of change and presents a strong first step toward dismantling systemic racism in Massachusetts.

The Reform, Shift + Build Act makes a number of important reforms, including explicitly banning racial profiling in policing, reducing the militarization of local law enforcement agencies, and requiring law enforcement officers to intervene if another is using unnecessary force. One of the most central components of the bill is the creation of the Police Officer Standards and Accreditation Commission (POSAC), which will certify and de-certify officers and maintain a publicly searchable database of complaints against officers to ensure that officers fired for misconduct cannot be hired by another agency in our state. Additionally, the bill would restore to its original purpose the doctrine of qualified immunity, allowing civil lawsuits against law enforcement officers who commit egregious misconduct and civil rights violations. I delivered a detailed speech on qualified immunity during the debate on the Senate floor.

I proposed five amendments to the already strong base bill, and three were adopted. (The other two were outside the scope of the bill.) My adopted amendments help to avoid the use of tear gas and improve transparency by ensuring that police officer misconduct becomes part of the public record. While there is plenty more work to do, together, the Reform, Shift + Build Act is a significant first step toward responding to the needs of Black and brown communities and other communities that are overpoliced and overrepresented in our criminal justice system.

I know racial equity and police accountability are important issues to so many of my constituents. I received hundreds of emails in support of these ideals, and I saw many people in person at physically distanced Black Lives Matter demonstrations throughout our district, as we joined people around the globe to call for justice for Ahmaud Arbery, Tony McDade, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and all victims of anti-Black violence. I received several contacts in opposition as well, but the contacts calling for racial justice and policing reform outnumbered the opposition messages by more than double.

If you or any of your loved ones in my district have fallen on hard times during this public health crisis and need assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office. My team and I are hard at work connecting constituents with resources they need, whether it is collecting unemployment benefits, accessing food stamps, reaching state agencies, and more. My office line is 617-722-1555 and my email is becca.rausch@masenate.gov. We are here to help.

Wishing you and your families strength, health, and resilience.

Yours in service,


Senator Becca Rausch


The newsletter was shortened for publication here. To view the full set of contents, follow this link:  https://mailchi.mp/fc07fb8832e2/covid19-update-12609752?e=0c2c9810fe

Senator Rausch: COVID-19 Update #25 (and policing reform)

Town of Franklin: Have you used our municipal building's drive-up window?

Town of Franklin, MA (@TOFranklinMA) tweeted at 1:01 PM on Fri, Jul 17, 2020:

"Our municipal building's drive-up window is quite unique!  It serves as a safe & easily accessible point of contact!  Window service is available Monday - Friday for our residents and businesses. Spread the word!  https://t.co/a7BxPDQK5E #driveup #customerservice #openforbusiness" https://t.co/Vl9qqG4A1F

Our municipal building's drive-up window is quite unique! It serves as a safe & easily accessible point of contact! Window service is available Monday - Friday for our residents and businesses. Spread the word! https://t.co/a7BxPDQK5E #driveup #customerservice #openforbusiness pic.twitter.com/Vl9qqG4A1F

— Town of Franklin, MA (@TOFranklinMA) July 17, 2020

Town of Franklin: Have you used our municipal building's drive-up window?

In the News: "Katie Cashin makes immediate splash at Drew University"

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

"On Feb. 16 in Germantown, Md., Katie Cashin stood on a podium. It had become a familiar feeling for Cashin, just as it was for the man who inspired her to start swimming: Olympic legend Michael Phelps. 

The former Franklin High standout holds five school records with the Panthers. Now, she is a rising sophomore at Drew University, and she made quite a splash while setting new records in her first year at the Madison, N.J., school. 

In her freshman year, Cashin was named the Landmark Conference Women’s Rookie of the Year after a season in which she won four gold medals in addition to a silver and a bronze. She followed in the footsteps of two-time conference Swimmer of the Year Mal Vishwanath, who had claimed the league’s Rookie of the Year three years prior. 

“Seeing Katie stand where I stood three years ago just brought a feeling of such pride,” said Vishwanath, who is from Bangalore, India."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/sports/20200717/franklin-raised-swimmer-katie-cashin-makes-immediate-splash-at-drew-university

Colleen Gordon (@ms_gordo) tweeted at 0:15 PM on Fri, Jul 17, 2020:
"Go Katie!! Well deserved praise for this most talented, hardest working and humblest of student-athletes. The definition of a #neverquit attitude.  👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 #pantherpride @FHSPantherbook @FHSSports @FranklinMatters"

https://t.co/GWo7ST1UwH
(https://twitter.com/ms_gordo/status/1284159878391648257?s=03)

The Dean Difference to be delivered remotely for Fall 2020

Read the below message from Dean College President Dr. Paula M. Rooney regarding the Fall 2020 semester at Dean College:

"Thank you to the Dean Community for your patience during these past few months as we have navigated our way through this unprecedented time and meticulously prepared plans for the Fall 2020 semester. Throughout this process, the health and well-being of our entire Community has been and will continue to be our primary concern. 

In reviewing our COVID-19 Fall opening plans, current health data, the worsening conditions across the country, and the guidance of medical and public health officials, we have grown increasingly concerned in recent weeks by the resurgence of the virus. Given this reality and the likelihood of a second wave in late summer and into the Fall, we have doubts about our ability to deliver an on campus/residential experience without disruption. 

Our careful and thorough planning process has led us to the difficult decision that all classes and activities will be online for the Fall 2020 semester. This decision was made with our firm belief that the safety of our entire community cannot and will not be compromised. Though we are confident this decision is the right one, we profoundly share in everyone’s disappointment as we were all looking forward to the return of our students to campus this Fall.

Let me share how together we will achieve our goal of an authentic Dean experience during our Fall 2020 semester. As always, our objective is for every Dean student to share in the extraordinary personal experience we have come to know as The Dean Difference.

Continue reading the message online at Dean
https://www.dean.edu/about-dean/fall-2020-semester/

given the weather, let's get a winter photo of Dean

Starting July 30, census takers will be visiting Franklin

The U.S. Census Bureau announced that it will begin following up with households in select areas that have not yet responded to the 2020 Census.

Starting July 30, census takers will begin interviewing households in areas managed by the following 35 area census offices across 14 states and Puerto Rico:

• Aurora, Colorado North and Denver, Colorado
• Danbury, Connecticut
• Honolulu, Hawaii
• Chicago Central, Chicago Far Southwest, Chicago South, Cook County Northwest, Cook County South, Dekalb, Oswego, Peoria and Skokie, Illinois
• Indianapolis and Lake County, Indiana
• Quincy, Waltham and Worcester, Massachusetts

Per the 2020 Census map, Franklin is covered by the Quincy office

2020 Census map, Franklin is covered by the Quincy office

Franklin's response rate hasn't changed much since last reported here. We are at 77.2 percent (only .2 percent more in the last two weeks).

Franklin's response rate for 2020 Census

Households can still respond now by completing and mailing back the paper questionnaire they received, by responding online at 2020census.gov, or by phone at 844-330-2020. Households can also respond online or by phone in one of 13 languages and find assistance in many more. Those that respond will not need to be visited to obtain their census response.

What Households Can Expect

The Census Bureau will provide face masks to census takers and requires that census takers wear a mask while conducting their work. They will follow CDC and local public health guidelines when they visit. Census takers must complete a virtual COVID-19 training on social distancing protocols and other health and safety guidance before beginning their work in neighborhoods.

Census takers are hired from local communities. All census takers speak English, and many are bilingual. If a census taker does not speak the householder’s language, the household may request a return visit from a census taker who does. Census takers will also have materials on hand to help identify the household’s language.

If no one is home when the census taker visits, the census taker will leave a notice of their visit with information about how to respond online, by phone or by mail. People are encouraged to cooperate with census takers and ensure that everyone who was living in their household as of April 1, 2020, is counted.

How to Identify Census Takers

Census takers can be easily identified (https://2020census.gov/en/census-takers.html) by a valid government ID badge with their photograph, a U.S. Department of Commerce watermark, and an expiration date on the badge. To confirm a census taker’s identity, the public may contact their regional census center (https://2020census.gov/en/contact-us/rcc.html) to speak with a Census Bureau representative.

How are these Offices Selected for the Early Start to Deploying Census Takers?

Career Census Bureau operational leadership makes the decision on when and where area census offices will begin following up with households that have not yet responded to the 2020 Census. As part of the selection criteria, we ensured these offices offered a variety of situations to help roll out the systems. We also followed a thorough review of the operating status of a state, locality or tribal area; the key data that support that operating status as identified by federal, state and local guidance; and the ability of Census Bureau staff to safely resume operations, including the procurement of personal protective equipment.

About the 2020 Census

The U.S. Constitution mandates a census of the population every 10 years. The goal of the 2020 Census is to count everyone who lives in the United States on April 1, 2020 (Census Day). Census statistics are used to determine the number of seats each state holds in the U.S. House of Representatives and informs how billions of dollars in federal funds will be allocated by state, local and federal lawmakers annually for the next 10 years.

For more information, visit 2020census.gov.

In the News: "much of the evidence is inconclusive"

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

"What role children play in the coronavirus pandemic is the hot-button question of the summer as kids relish their free time while schools labor over how to resume classes. 

The Trump administration says the science “is very clear,” but many doctors who specialize in pediatrics and infectious diseases say much of the evidence is inconclusive. 

“There are still a lot of unanswered questions. That is the biggest challenge,” said Dr. Sonja Rasmussen, a pediatrics professor at the University of Florida and former scientist at the U.S. Centers of Disease Control and Prevention. 

Several studies suggest, but don’t prove, that children are less likely to become infected than adults and more likely to have only mild symptoms."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)https://www.milforddailynews.com/zz/news/20200717/how-does-covid-19-affect-kids-science-has-answers-and-gaps/1?rssfeed=true


The NY Times article on a related report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine  https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/15/health/coronavirus-schools-reopening.html

Go directly to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine report

"Weighing the health risks of reopening K-12 schools in fall 2020 against the educational risks of providing no in-person instruction, school districts should prioritize reopening schools full time, especially for grades K-5 and students with special needs, according to a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Opening schools will benefit families beyond providing education, including by supplying child care, school services, meals, and other family supports. Without in-person instruction, schools risk children falling behind academically and exacerbating educational inequities."

Continue reading the report online:
https://www.nationalacademies.org/news/2020/07/schools-should-prioritize-reopening-in-fall-2020-especially-for-grades-k-5-while-weighing-risks-and-benefits