FM #370 Board of Health Mtg - 10/21/20 (audio)

FM #370 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 370 in the series.

This session shares the Board of Health meeting held on Wednesday, Oct 21, 2020. The meeting was conducted via conference bridge to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

The discussion centered around one net new business attempting to open for business without being properly prepared to file the documentation required to open and operate during this pandemic period.

The show notes contain links to the meeting agenda and the Board of Health page.

The meeting runs about 60 minutes, so let’s listen to the Board of Health meeting for Oct 21, 2020   Audio file = https://www.hipcast.com/podcast/HB2v0fYK

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Meeting agenda:
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/10/franklin-ma-board-of-health-agenda-oct.html

Board of Health page  https://www.franklinma.gov/health-department

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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" 

 

screen grab of Board of Health Mtg 10/21/20

In the News: Rausch vs. Kelly in Senate race; case count over 1,000 2nd day in row

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

"In 2018, Sen. Becca Rausch, D-Needham, defeated incumbent Republican Richard Ross by less than 1,700 votes. Franklin Town Councilor Matt Kelly, R-Franklin, is vying for her spot this year.

On Nov. 3, voters will choose to either re-elect Raush, 41, to her seat on the state Senate to serve thousands across Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex counties, or incomer Kelly, 42, who has served on the Franklin Town Council since 2010.

Kelly, 42, calls himself “the common sense candidate” because of his experience on the Town Council, as a small business owner, marriage to a public school teacher and being the father of two girls, he said."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20201025/get-to-know-candidates-state-senate-race?rssfeed=true

 

 

"The Massachusetts Department of Public Health reported an additional 1,097 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Sunday, bringing the statewide total to 147,210.

This marks the second straight day that state health officials reported 1,000-plus newly confirmed coronavirus cases. The last time that happened was May 20-21.

The daily positivity rate -- the rate of new cases diagnosed among those newly tested -- is 6.45%, which is the highest mark Massachusetts has seen since May 30 (7.32%)."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20201025/coronavirus-cases-positivity-rate-still-on-increase?rssfeed=true

 

Detail reports from the COVID-19 page for the State of MA

https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-response-reporting

 

 

"The project was not always easy"

From the Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA)

"Twelve towns in Franklin County and one in Hampshire County have come together to form a municipal electricity aggregation program with the goal of combating climate change and providing residents with more renewable energy options.

The 13 towns – Buckland, Charlemont, Colrain, Conway, Deerfield, Gill, Huntington, New Salem, Northfield, Shelburne, Sunderland, Warwick and Whately – recently entered into a 41-month contract with municipal energy consultant Colonial Power Group to develop and manage the Community Choice Power Supply Program, with Dynegy Energy Services to supply electricity.

The aggregation program allows the towns to purchase electricity as a group, giving them greater bargaining power when selecting their supplier. The towns were able to select a range of different renewable energy products to offer their residents, with each town deciding its own default option from the portfolio assembled through the bidding process.

“It’s something that would be very difficult for a tiny town to do, but because we could get multiple towns together, we could make it work,” said Conway Selectboard Member Bob Armstrong, who leads the project. “We were able to get a bid that was lower cost than Eversource, and which offered more green options – something that we had promised the towns.”

Continue reading the article online

https://www.mma.org/13-towns-in-franklin-and-hampshire-counties-create-electricity-aggregation-program/

 

From the Archives:

 

February 12, 2020 in this audio segment of the Town Council meeting, Town Administrator Jamie Hellen talked of the contract and bid price reached (finally)

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/02/fm-208-jamie-hellen-on-municipal.html

 

Aggregation Plan released for Town Council meeting review and discussion
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/02/municipal-aggregation-program.html

Link to Municipal Aggregation docs on Town of Franklin page
https://www.franklinma.gov/administrator/pages/municipal-aggregation-documents

 

From the Town Council meeting where this was approved
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/03/live-reporting-legislation-for-action.html

Aggregation Presentation doc - March 9, 2016
https://www.slideshare.net/shersteve/franklin-community-choice-aggregation-program  

 

 

municipal aggregation program

 

World Economic Forum: "The Future of Jobs Report 2020"

Given the economy currently in turmoil due to the pandemic and the Franklin School Dept soon to release their "Portrait of a Graduate", this report is timely and insightful.

"The Future of Jobs Report provides the timely insights needed to orient labour markets and workers towards opportunity today and in the future of work. Now in its third edition, the report maps the jobs and skills of the future, tracking the pace of change and direction of travel. This year we find that while technology-driven job creation is still expected to outpace job destruction over the next five years, the economic contraction is reducing the rate of growth in the jobs of tomorrow. There is a renewed urgency to take proactive measures to ease the transition of workers into more sustainable job opportunities. There is room for measured optimism in the data, but supporting workers will require global, regional and national public-private collaboration at an unprecedented scale and speed."

Download your copy of the PDF report https://www.weforum.org/reports/the-future-of-jobs-report-2020 

or read my shared copy here:

 

World Economic Forum: The Future of Jobs Report 2020"

 

FM #369 Town Council Candidate - Alan Earls - 10/20/20 (audio)

FM #369 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 369 in the series.

This shares my interview and discussion with Town Council candidate Alan Earls. Our discussion was conducted via conference bridge to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

Franklin, MA voters should be aware that there will be a special election (per Town Charter) to fill the seat recently vacated by Eamon McCarthy Earls. He left at the beginning of Sept to enter law school in Virginia. The special election is scheduled for Saturday, December 5, 2020 to meet the 90 day requirement of the Charter. 

Yes, we discuss that Alan is running to replace his son Eamon. Alan answered the following questions. All candidates for this position will be asked the same set of questions to provide a fair set of information for the Franklin voters.

• By way of introducing yourself to the Franklin voters, what is your Franklin story?
• What degree of development do you feel is appropriate for Franklin and how would you balance the need for affordable housing with the need to avoid congestion, some of which we already have?
• The Community Preservation Act is on the November ballot, what do you think of it?
• The Town Administrator suggested in 2019 that Franklin needed to consider an override measure.  The pandemic hit, that didn’t happen. The water rate and trash/recycling rate increased. Stormwater utility fee is up for consideration for implementation on/about July 2021. And yet, the operational budget both school and town side of the budget is challenged. How do you approach this financial situation?
• What do you say to the voter who asks: Why should I vote for you?
• Anything else to add that we did not cover?

The recording runs just about 35 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Alan  Audio file = https://www.hipcast.com/podcast/HWTTxwpK

 

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Visit Alan’s webpage www.alanearls.com and https://tinyurl.com/alanearls4TC

Or Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/Alan-Earls-for-Town-Council-100156761900851/ 

Contact info: alanforFranklin@gmail.com
--------------
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" 

 

Town Council Candidate - Alan Earls

 

FM #368 Talk Franklin - 10/23/20 (audio)

FM #368 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 368 in the series.

This session of the radio show shares my "Talk Franklin" conversation with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen and Marketing 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/Pandemic status; Case counts at high since June
• Election progress going well, turnout high
• Listening sessions 2 down, more to come- Nov 16; #ThinkFranklinFirst
• New grants available (up to 50 employees);  Micro grant program still available
• Town Council Mtg
• Fire Dept = 3 firefighter/paramedics sworn in
• Police = 2 sworn in, recognized one retiree
• Beaver St interceptor

Links to the key topics covered here are included in the show notes. The recording runs about 43 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Jamie and Anne Marie.  Audio file = https://player.captivate.fm/episode/10f0010f-7ad3-45a1-b122-71ab605177b6

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COVID-19 status  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/uploads/covid-19_case_counts_13.pdf

Town Clerk page  https://www.franklinma.gov/town-clerk

Business listening sessions  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/uploads/business_listening_flyer_-_final_2_1_1.pdf

Business grants (newest one, up to 50 employees) https://www.empoweringsmallbusiness.org/covid-19-response/covid-19-grants-massachusetts-small-businesses

Microgrants (small business, 5 employees or less) https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/uploads/micro_enterprise_grants_3.pdf

Beaver Street interceptor  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/mai/files/8b._presentation_-_beaver_street_interceptor_.pdf


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

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 #368 Talk Franklin - 10/23/20 (audio)

Franklin, MA: Cultural District Committee - Oct 26 - Agenda

Welcome
Review and Approval of Meeting Minutes

• September 14, 2020, 6:30 P.M. CDC Meeting
• September 14, 2020, 7:00 P.M. cd Partners Meeting

Chair’s Update    (Nancy)

• FCD Newsletter Details
• Current Sends 152 up from 117 in June Open rate 63.2% Click Rate 10.4% Total Open 96 up from 70 in June Pandora resend GREAT idea

Cultural District 2020 – 2021 Data Collection    (Roberta & Bryan)

• New forms developed for Franklin Cultural District Partners

Franklin Cultural Council Grant Opportunity    (Pandora)
CommUNITY Event at 67 Degrees Brewing    (Amy)
Franklin Cultural District Social Media Update    (Evan)
Franklin Cultural District Website Update    (Anne Marie) 

Franklin Cultural District Calendar
Next Cultural District Meeting Dates

• Thursday, November 19, 2020 7:00 p.m.
• Monday, December 14, 2020    7:00 p.m.

Next Cultural District Partners Meeting Date

• Monday, January 11, 2021 7:00 p.m.

Adjourn
 

Connection info contained in Agenda doc

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/events/cultural_district_committee_meeting_agenda_october_26_2020_1.pdf

 

Franklin, MA: Cultural District Committee - Oct 26 - Agenda