Monday, September 14, 2020
Commonwealth Magazine: "Business groups urge shifting aid from wealthier to poorer school districts" ; "MassDOT, Boston stick with auto-centric approach"
From CommonWealth Magazine we share two articles of interest for Franklin:
"LESS THAN A year after Massachusetts enacted sweeping legislation to revamp its school funding formula to steer millions of dollars in new aid to low-income districts, a new report suggests the state should go even further in ensuring that support goes to the neediest districts.
Although the more than $5 billion of state funding to schools is largely directed to lower-income school districts, nearly $800 million is allocated without regard to need. A report released Monday by the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education and Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce says the state should pull back on that funding and redeploy those dollars to low-income districts that continue to struggle to adequately fund schools.
“If ever there was a moment to promote equity in funding education, now is the time to do it,” said Ed Lambert, executive director of the business alliance. “For every dollar we send to communities that can afford to fund schools on their own we’re moving further, not closer, to equity.”
Lambert said uncertainties introduced by the pandemic about the state’s ability to meet its commitments to poorer districts under the funding measure passed last year make the case even more urgent for cutting the amount of aid distributed on a “need-blind” basis."
"THIS IS A TALE of two transportation issues – a window on how we may be losing the opportunity moment provided by a generationally disruptive pattern break.The pattern break, of course, is the COVID-19 pandemic. Every pattern break in history changes the ways we do things going forward. The example I give most often is the experience of 9/11. That pattern break changed forever the way we approach flying and aviation security, it changed the ways we enter public and private buildings, it changed the urban streetscape as barriers originally installed as ugly concrete blocks gave way to highly designed barriers that blend seamlessly into the architectural fabric of the urban landscape.The COVID-19 pattern break will be as or more significant than the 9/11 break. The impacts of the pandemic reach into almost every aspect of our lives – how we work, how we use and enjoy public and private spaces, how we move from place to place, how we utilize essential services. The list is nearly endless.The pandemic won’t last forever – nothing does. But its effects will stay with us for a long time, some perhaps permanently. Each of us has been challenged to manage and deal with the realities of this harsh moment – the need to isolate from others, to wear masks outside the home, to significantly alter our desires and habits. But each of us also is being challenged to think about how to build a better future."
274 Prospect Street - Scenic Road Application - Planning Board
will hold a Remote public hearing on Monday, September 28, 2020 at 7:10 PM, for a
Scenic Road application prepared by Bukkon Design, and submitted to the Department of
Planning & Community Development by Ryan and Margaret Camire, Franklin, MA
02038. The site is located at 274 Prospect Street. The applicant is proposing to remove
part of the stonewall located on Prospect Street.
Please note: This will be your only written notice of this public hearing. All future
Public Hearings on this matter, will be posted on the Planning Board’s website
under Agendas.
This meeting will be done remotely via “ZOOM” platform. Residents can view the Town
Website and click on the Town Calendar for up to date information on access to the
meeting.
Please contact the Department of Planning & Community Development at (508) 520-
4907 if you require further information or if you need to make arrangements to provide
translation services for the hearing impaired, or for persons with language barriers.
For copies of the plan and supporting documentation, please contact Department of
Planning & Community Development via email alove@franklinma.gov.
Anthony Padula, Chairman
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| 274 Prospect Street - Scenic Road Application - Planning Board |
“just wasn’t what I signed up for when I became a teacher”
From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:
"With many teachers opting out of returning to the classroom because of the coronavirus, schools around the U.S. are scrambling to find replacements and in some places lowering certification requirements to help get substitutes in the door.
Several states have seen surges in educators filing for retirement or taking leaves of absence. The departures are straining staff in places that were dealing with shortages of teachers and substitutes even before the pandemic created an education crisis.
Among those leaving is Kay Orzechowicz, an English teacher at northwest Indiana’s Griffith High School, who at 57 had hoped to teach for a few more years. But she felt her school’s leadership was not fully committed to ensuring proper social distancing and worried that not enough safety equipment would be provided for students and teachers."
Sunday, September 13, 2020
Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - Sep 16, 2020
The public will NOT be permitted to enter the building or participate in person. Only pre-approved participants on the meeting agenda will be allowed to enter the Building and participate in person. Residents can attend and participate via the “ZOOM” Platform.
A NOTE TO RESIDENTS:
Due to the continued concerns regarding the COVID-19 virus and Governor Baker’s declared State of Emergency, we will be conducting a remote/virtual Town Council Meeting for all public access and participation. In an effort to ensure citizen engagement and comply with open meeting law regulations, citizens will be able to dial into the meeting using the provided phone number (Cell phone or Landline Required) OR citizens can participate by clicking on the attached link (Phone, Computer, or Tablet required). The attached link and phone number will be active for the duration of the meeting for citizens to ask questions/voice concerns. If residents are just interested in watching the meeting it will also be live-streamed by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast Channel 11 and Verizon Channel 29.
Link to access meeting: September 16, 2020 Town Council Meeting Link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83381726558
Call-In Phone Number: Call 1-929-205-6099 and enter Meeting ID # 833 8172 6558 --Then press #
1. ANNOUNCEMENTS
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.
2. CITIZEN COMMENTS
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.
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
a. August 12, 2020
b. September 2, 2020
4. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
None Scheduled
5. APPOINTMENTS
a. Library Board of Directors (Associate): Barbara Steele
b. Franklin Cultural Council: Jamele Adams
c. Franklin Cultural District: Amy Adams
d. Design Review: Gerald Wood
e. Design Review: Venkata KP Sompally
6. HEARINGS - 7:10pm
None Scheduled
7. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
Change in Manager - Let’s Eat (Franklin), LLC, d/b/a Three Restaurant, 461 West Central Street, Franklin, MA 02038
9. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
a. Capital Budget Subcommittee
b. Budget Subcommittee
c. Economic Development Subcommittee
10. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
None Scheduled
11. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT
12. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
13. COUNCIL COMMENTS
14. EXECUTIVE SESSION
None Scheduled
ADJOURN
Note:
- Two-Thirds Vote: requires 6 votes
- Majority Vote: requires majority of members present and voting
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| Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - Sep 16, 2020 |
FM #346 Stormwater Ad hoc SubComm Mtg - 9/09/20 (Audio)
FM #346 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 346 in the series.
This session shares the Stormwater Ad-hoc Subcommittee meeting held on Wednesday, Sep 9, 2020. The meeting was conducted via conference bridge to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.
Chair Melanie Hamblen officially opened the meeting.
- One of the key questions for the proposed stormwater utility fee is “What is impervious area? “ The DPW has updated one of the GIS Franklin maps with the calculation per property.
- The new web page highlighted during this meeting is a great start. How to calculate the fee based upon your impervious area needs to be added. What credits are available also need to be added.
- The utility fee proposal now moves to the Town Council for further discussion. There will be more info coming on this as it continues to develop for an implementation in July 2021.
The show notes contain links to the agenda doc, the Stormwater Division page, the new impervious area map, and my notes from the meeting.
The meeting itself runs about just under an hour, so let’s listen to the Stormwater Ad-hoc Subcommittee meeting. Audio file = https://www.hipcast.com/podcast/HXb02rPK
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https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/09/stormwater-ad-hoc-committee-recap-sep-9.html
https://franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/agendas/2020-09-09_stormwater_ad_hoc_committee_0.pdf
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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.
This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.
How can you help?
- If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors
- If you don't like something here, please let me know
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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You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"
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| FM #346 Stormwater Ad hoc SubComm Mtg - 9/09/20 (Audio) |
FM #345 School Committee Meeting - 9/08/20 (audio)
FM #345 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 345 in the series.
This shares part of the Franklin, MA School Committee meeting that was held on Tuesday, September 8, 2020. The meeting was conducted via conference bridge to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.
The audio recording of the meeting runs about 90 minutes or 1 hour and 30 minutes https://www.hipcast.com/podcast/HDzqdZrK
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https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/sc-agenda-9-8-20
The meeting packet with all docs released for this meeting
https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/september-8-2020-school-committee-meeting-packet
My notes taken via Twitter during the meeting are summarized here
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/09/school-committee-recap-sep-8-2020.html
Photos used in the Twitter thread can be found in the Google photo album
https://photos.app.goo.gl/aaVGfjybqqMDm1pu7
--------------
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.
This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.
How can you help?
- If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors
- If you don't like something here, please let me know
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!
------------------
You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"
 |
| FM #345 School Committee Meeting - 9/08/20 (audio) |