"Healing Power of Gratitude Challenge”

Dear Residents of Franklin,

This week many will be away from family and friends, unable to join together for the holidays. This week, let's spread gratitude & thanks and help each other remember the good!

Recently, Russell M. Nelson, global faith leader, prophet and president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, gave a message of hope and healing while calling upon the world to increase prayer and gratitude.

I am excited to share his brief message with you, and ask that as a member of the Franklin community, you consider taking part in his "Healing Power of Gratitude Challenge".

The challenge from Nelson began with, "I invite you—just for the next seven days—to turn social media into your own personal gratitude journal.  Post every day about what you are grateful for, who you are grateful for, and why you are grateful.  At the end of seven days, see if you feel happier and more at peace.  Use the #GiveThanks

The next part of the challenge encouraged those of faith to offer daily prayers of gratitude.

Youtube Link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tlcILxGmVrI

Facebook Link:  https://www.facebook.com/russell.m.nelson/videos/2150464655087765


The challenge has 2 parts.

For 7-days during November 21, 2020 through the 28:

Turn your social media page into a gratitude journal using #GiveThanks. Post every day about what you are grateful for, who you are grateful for, or why you are grateful.  Share experiences, remembrances, and people you are grateful for. At the end of seven days, see if you feel happier and more at peace. Use the #GiveThanks.

Say daily prayers of gratitude.

I will be participating in the #GiveThanks campaign and sincerely hope you will consider joining with me to share a message of hope and gratitude with others in our community.


With appreciation,

Alisa Hansen

Inside the "district comprehensive review"

Ok, so my last name is Sherlock, and with a title like "The dog that didn't bark in Brockton", I'll admit that the article caught my eye. 

 

That it was also about the DESE district review process got to me read it. 

 

That it steps through a serious argument that highlights the dysfunction among the various agencies of MA government  responsible for "education", makes this a worthy read.

"So it was that I was interested to read an article that the Brockton Public Schools District Review Report was out (three weeks ago: I am behind!) from the Department's pre-pandemic visit in early March. 

Brockton, of course, is the fourth largest school district in Massachusetts and home of the plaintiffs of both the McDuffy and the Hancock legal decisions. When it comes to gaps in school funding, thus, Brockton is a kind of ground zero. Brockton also was the nationally lauded district for closing the achievement gap without becoming a "drill and kill" sort of school system. What happens when those two things are true of the same system, decades or so on?"

Continue reading Tracy's article online

http://who-cester.blogspot.com/2020/11/the-dog-that-didnt-bark-in-brockton.html

 

Franklin is not listed as having a recent DESE review published (Franklin County is but we all know that is not us).   https://www.doe.mass.edu/accountability/district-review/

 

I do have in the archives a "Coordinated Program Review" being announced in Oct 2015. https://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/10/department-of-education-review-to-be.html

 

I also have in the archives note of a DESE visit in Dec 2009 for a 'fiscal review' https://www.franklinmatters.org/2010/05/fm-68-week-ending-51610.html  and here  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2010/01/fm-54-week-ending-11710.html

 

From the 2018 "Tale of Four Cities" presentation
You are reading correctly that it is a 414 teacher gap.

2020 Virtual Senior Health and Wellness Fair (Video)

"Senate President Karen E. Spilka is excited to announce a one-hour VIRTUAL Senior Health & Wellness Fair that will be broadcast on local public access channels, Facebook, and karenspilka.com on November 20, 2020. Designed to help seniors maintain their mental and physical health during the Pandemic, it will feature expertise and resources from local and state experts, including strategies to beat social isolation with AARP Massachusetts President Sandra Harris; short workshops on at-home fitness, fraud prevention, and getting the right care; and overviews of community organizations and services that can help with transportation, fighting scams, and lifelong learning, as well as helplines and other resources-by-phone."

If you missed the event on Friday, it was recorded and is available for replay anytime you want!  Video link = https://youtu.be/Zylka2zvgOE

Register O’Donnell Promotes Registry’s Social Media

Register of Deeds William P. O’Donnell today reiterated the importance he places on the Registry’s use of social media platforms to communicate directly with the citizens of Norfolk County.

“At the Registry of Deeds,” noted O’Donnell, “we put a priority on communicating with Registry users. Just because our doors close at the end of the business day doesn’t mean the Registry has to stop working for you. For example, our website www.norfolkdeeds.org allows people to look up and view scanned images of over 8 million land documents dating back to the Registry’s beginnings in 1793. Additionally, users can access our website to learn about our latest consumer protection programs. I also want people to know that Registry information is accessible not just from workstations and laptops, but also from their smartphones and tablets.”

Register O’Donnell further noted that you can print out an application of the popular Homestead Act. A Homestead provides a homeowner with limited protection against the forced sale of their primary residence to satisfy unsecured debt up to $500,000.

Norfolk County residents can also sign-up on-line for its free Consumer Notification Service. This program will alert a person anytime a land document has been recorded against their name in Norfolk County. Additionally, there is valuable county real estate information that can be researched and tracked. Someone interested in the number of residential and commercial properties sold or the average prices of property sold can find that information.  

Besides the Registry website, other forms of social media utilized by the Registry of Deeds include Facebook, facebook.com/NorfolkDeeds and Twitter, twitter.com/NorfolkDeeds. “The Norfolk County Registry of Deeds,” noted the Register, “has utilized Facebook and Twitter to provide information to the general public. By utilizing these platforms, Norfolk County residents can learn more about home ownership and other consumer initiatives like protecting themselves against Deed Scam rip-offs, along with other outreach services, including learning about Registry office hours in their local community.”

The Registry has also filmed multiple public service announcements (PSA’s) which are available on the Registry’s website and YouTube. These PSA’s have touched on a variety of issues such as assistance for residents who have received a Notice to Foreclose Mortgage from a lender.

Concluding, Register O’Donnell stated, “At the Registry of Deeds, we recognize the value of using social media platforms to forward important information to Norfolk County residents. If you have questions related to real property, I urge you to take a look at our social media offerings. As important as these social media offerings are, the Registry of Deeds has a Customer Service Center at 1-781-461-6101 where members of the public can seek assistance.”

The Norfolk County Registry of Deeds is located at 649 High Street in 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
 

 

Register O’Donnell Promotes Registry’s Social Media

St. Mary's Women’s Faith Formation Group - Dec 5

The St. Mary's Women’s Faith Formation Group invites all interested women to attend our monthly Zoom meeting, held the first Saturday of each month. The next meeting will take place on December 5th from 9:30-10:15 AM.  

Fr. Vin Dailey will speak on the topic of "Hope during a pandemic Christmas".  There will be time at the end of the program for attendees to share your thoughts and ideas.  

If you are interested in attending, please email Deacon Guy (deaconguy@stmarysfranklin.org) to receive the link to the zoom meeting. 

 

St. Mary's Women’s Faith Formation Group - Dec 5

 

What about a Marshall Plan for today?

From The Washington Post, an article of interest for Franklin:

The writers are the mayors of Pittsburgh; Youngstown, Ohio; Dayton, Ohio; Columbus, Ohio; Cincinnati; Huntington, W.Va.; Morgantown, W.Va.; and Louisville.

"Every four years, voters in Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky are told how important they are to American industry, but once the election is over, nothing happens. The United States now has a president-elect who comes from our region originally and is more likely to understand what we need to revive it. We, the mayors of eight cities, are banding together to demand real investment in our shared region, which has fueled the U.S. economy for generations yet never gets the attention it deserves.

It’s why we’re asking for an ambitious federal response to save our industries and communities from destruction: a Marshall Plan for Middle America.

In the post-World War II recovery period, the Marshall Plan was a $13 billion ($143 billion today) investment strategy to rebuild Europe and foster economic and democratic institutions. Like postwar Europe, Middle America faces similar issues of decline — a shared crisis of aging infrastructure, obsolescence of business and government institutions, and the need for upskilling and reskilling the workforce."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required) 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/11/22/marshall-plan-middle-america-eight-mayors/

The Marshall Plan  https://www.marshallfoundation.org/marshall/the-marshall-plan/history-marshall-plan/

 

Note: how can we get out of the pandemic and fix some of the major ills across the board? A modern version of the Marshall Plan might just be the thing to do so.

The Guardian: "Here's what interviewing voters taught me about the slogan 'defund the police'"

From The Guardian, an article of interest to Franklin:

"Joe Biden won the electoral college, leads the popular vote by millions, and will be sworn in as the 46th president of the United States. Taking down an incumbent president is no easy feat and Biden deserves credit for his disciplined and effective campaign.

But there is no question Biden underperformed vis-à-vis the consensus of pollsters and pundits. In Congress the underperformance was even more stark. Democrats expected to make gains in the House of Representatives. Instead, they are poised to return to Washington with an unexpectedly pared-down majority. In the Senate, Democrats were considered favorites to retake the chamber and deliver their party unified control of the federal government. Instead, they made only modest gains. This isn’t where the party wanted to be.

I run a Democratic political consulting firm and wanted to immediately get to work to understand why this underperformance happened. While there are certainly multiple answers to that question and various dynamics at play, we decided to start our inquiry with voters who leaned towards voting for Joe Biden in the last weeks of the election, but ultimately voted to re-elect Donald Trump. We put together a focus group to discuss the election with these voters and explore what changed their minds.

It will be easy for some to dismiss these participants as Trump voters (and they are!) but 70% of them told us they have a negative view of Donald Trump and at some point they supported Joe Biden before ultimately casting their vote for Trump. These aren’t Maga hat-wearing folks. "

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/nov/20/heres-what-interviewing-voters-taught-me-about-the-slogan-defund-the-police

Note: words matter, what they mean, and how they are used matters. If we are going to come together to resolve the serious divide, recognizing how much we do have in common will be important. We can gather round the 'motherhood and apple pie' when we take time to understand what we mean when we say something. Mind reading not permitted, proper use of words is required. Not easy, but necessary.

New York TImes: "Designed to Deceive: Do These People Look Real to You?"

 From the New York Times, an article of interest for Franklin:

"There are now businesses that sell fake people. On the website Generated.Photos, you can buy a “unique, worry-free” fake person for $2.99, or 1,000 people for $1,000. If you just need a couple of fake people — for characters in a video game, or to make your company website appear more diverse — you can get their photos for free on ThisPersonDoesNotExist.com. Adjust their likeness as needed; make them old or young or the ethnicity of your choosing. If you want your fake person animated, a company called Rosebud.AI can do that and can even make them talk.

These simulated people are starting to show up around the internet, used as masks by real people with nefarious intent: spies who don an attractive face in an effort to infiltrate the intelligence community; right-wing propagandists who hide behind fake profiles, photo and all; online harassers who troll their targets with a friendly visage." 

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/11/21/science/artificial-intelligence-fake-people-faces.html

This is scary and realistic. As careful as I am, this is alarming how realistic these photos appear. Note: you do need to view this article on a large screen device to get all the interactive features of it. Simply amazing!

1 of a series of NY Times photos depicting a gender change

Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda - Nov 24, 2020

Call to Order

Pledge of Allegiance 

Moment of Silence

I.    Routine Business
A.    Review of Agenda
B.    Citizen’s Comments

In the spirit of open communication, “the Committee will hold a public participation segment (also called Citizen’s Comments) about matters not related to an agenda item at the beginning of each regular School Committee meeting. The Committee will listen to, but not respond to any comment made…. A Committee member may add an agenda item to a future meeting as a result of a citizen comment…. The Committee will hear public comments related to an agenda item when the Chair deems appropriate during the Committee meeting. Topics for discussion during the meeting must be limited to those items listed on the Committee meeting agenda for that evening…. ” - from Policy BEDH

C.    FHS Student Representative Comments
D.    Superintendent’s Report  

II.    Guests/Presentations
A.    None

III.    Discussion/Action Items
A.    Policy - First Readings
I recommend moving the following policies to a second reading as discussed  https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/disc-action-policy-1

1.    JJEA-Crowdfunding Policy
2.    GE-Telework Policy

B.    Portrait of a Graduate Skills and Descriptors
I recommend adoption of the Franklin Public Schools Portrait of a Graduate Skills and Descriptors.  https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/disc-action-b-pog-1
C.    Portrait of a Graduate Graphic
I recommend adoption of the Franklin Public schools Portrait of a Graduate
Graphic #3 as discussed.  https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/disc-action-c-pog-2
D.    Superintendent’s Evaluation 2019-2020
The Chair recommends approval of the Superintendent’s Evaluation for 2019-2020 as detailed.

IV.    Discussion Only Items 

A.    Reopening of Schools -- Status Update 11/20/2020

https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/reopen-update-11-19-20

V.    Information Matters
A.    School Committee Sub-Committee Reports (e.g. Ad Hoc Supt. Evaluation, Ad Hoc Facilities Analysis, Budget, Community Relations/Public Schools Advocacy, Policy, Transportation)
B.    School Committee Liaison Reports (e.g. Joint PCC, Substance Abuse Task Force, School Wellness Advisory Council) 

VI.    New Business
A.    To discuss any future agenda items

VII.    Consent Agenda
A.    Approval of Minutes
I recommend approval of the Minutes from the November 10, 2020 School Committee meeting as detailed.
B.    Transfers
I recommend approval of the budget transfers as detailed.  https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/consent-b-transfers-3
C.    FEF Donation
I recommend acceptance of a check for $10,000.00 from the Franklin Education Foundation for in-house enrichment, Supplemental Supplies and Supplemental Curriculum Materials as detailed.  https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/consent-c-fef-donation
D.    Parmenter Gift
I recommend acceptance of a check for $150.00 from the Parmenter PCC for Supplemental Supplies as detailed.  https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/consent-d-parm
E.    Music Gift
I recommend acceptance of a check for $320.00 from Franklin Music Parents for in-house enrichment as detailed.  https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/consent-e-music
F.    FEF Grant
I recommend acceptance of a check for $3,500.00 from the Franklin Education Foundation for Supplemental supplies as detailed.  https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/files/consent-f-fef-grant

VIII.    Payment of Bills    Dr. Bergen

IX.    Payroll    Ms. D’Angelo

X.    Adjournment

The agenda and other documents released for this meeting can be found in the meeting packet folder

https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/november-24-2020-school-committee-packet

 

Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda - Nov 24, 2020

Town Council Meeting Recap - Nov 18, 2020

Quick Recap:

• Corporate change at Shaw's requires approval of the change on the liquor license. There is no operational impact.
• NationalGRID representative explained process for tree trimming, efforts underway to improve service to the northern part of Franklin. Several residents complained of the impact and expressed desires for more action sooner than revealed.
• Adjustments to the FY 2021 budget (previously reviewed and approved by the Finance Committee) and by the Budget Subcommittee (held prior to the Council meeting) were discussed and approved. Budget stabilization fund restarted with addition of $850K
• The bylaw to create the Community Preservation Council per the passage of the CPA at the Nov 3 election (roughly 11K voted yes to 7K voting no) was misunderstood by some in the community as well as on the Council. 9 members will be appointed, 5 from existing board (as defined by the CPA state statue) and 4 at large (a slight change from the proposal of 3 with the fourth a representative of the Agriculture Commission). The second reading of the bylaw will come back at a December meeting.
• Two other items somewhat 'lost' in the meeting were 
• Franklin's COVID-19 case count had risen to 104 (and to 116 as of Thursday's community data released by MA DPH)
  
• Only 5% of the NationalGRID electric accounts opted out of municipal aggregation. (Given some of the threads on Facebook, one would have expected more to have opted out).

Agenda document (and released supporting materials in one PDF)  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/agendas/11-18-2020_town_council_meeting_agenda.pdf

 

Agenda details with individual documents

https://www.franklinma.gov/town-council/agenda/november-18-town-council-agenda

 

Photos captured during the meeting and shared in the Twitter thread can be found online https://photos.app.goo.gl/LmewJjpttTLP2jb98

----
As with most meetings in this pandemic period, I took my notes via Twitter during the meeting reporting in real-time via the virtual session.
 
The Twitter hashtag can be found online  #tc1118
https://twitter.com/search?q=%23tc1118&src=typed_query

• Agenda doc for Town Council meeting available https://franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/agendas/11-18-2020_town_council_meeting_agenda.pdf #tc1118
• To watch or listen Town Council 11/18/20 : Via Comcast (Channel 11) or Verizon (Channel 29) Call-In Phone Number:Call 1-929-205-6099 & enter Meeting ID # ​829 5161 9518 -Then press # Via live stream https://www.franklinma.gov/home/pages/live-meetings-stream
• For active participation Town Council 11/18/20: Via Zoom: ​ #tc1118
• Real time reporting underway for the Town Council meeting #tc1118 Chair Tom Mercer reads the protocol and connection announcements.
• Town clerk Nancy Danello printing error found on initial mail ballots, replacements being sent, either way the error will not affect the election for candidates or anyone involved. Candidates night scheduled for 11/23 #tc1118
• Open for citizen comments, citizen speaking on power outages, it is on the agenda. She can speak at that time. She also wants to speak on the CPA question also on the agenda. #tc1118 suggestion to have the access info on the bottom of the cable screen
• Motion to approve minutes for Oct 7, Oct 21, Nov 4, each separately moved, seconded, passed assuming 8-0 (will verify with head count later) #tc1118
• Motion to approve appointment of Janet Jewett for Council on Aging made, second, passed 8-0 #tc1118
• Administrative changes to license of record for Shaw's #tc1118 also change to management ownership, no operational changes to store, hours etc. Primary reason for administrative changes to keep current instead of private ownership now public ownership
• Motion to approve license transaction for Shaw's https://franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/mai/files/7a._shaws_license_0.pdf second, passed 8-0 #tc1118
• Next license transaction https://franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/mai/files/7b._la_cantina_winter_farmers_market.pdf for sales only at farmers markets #tc1118 for Winters Farmers Market on the 3rd Sat of the month at Fairmont fruit farm (no samples due to covid-19) passed 8-0
• Representative from National Grid starts to explain circuit routing, one at Beaver Pond, one at Peck st and one at Union st; problems mostly with one of the circuits serves from Beaver Pond. #tc1118 main thing during storm are tree falls interrupting the lines, also squirrels
• Work on trees trimming done every 5 years, spent over $500k doing trimming this year alone, maintain a 6' and 10' clearance per contract did also make notes on trees or large limbs to take down, need to take with tree warden (Brutus) or residents as needed #tc1118
• Look at equipment itself and replacement where necessary, spacer cables or tree wires, looking to do quick fixes. Also do a grid modernization program with DPU. If tree touches wire and does it three times, the line shuts. Looking to working isolation #tc1118
• Project on isolation to start in April 2021. #tc1118 nationalGrid doesn't serve Medway so the north section is at the end of the line. Can out a lot of load as it is all residential, other lines have less as company or industrial accounts take more
• 16 hour shift during storm duty, can't go to truck when wind is over 40 mph, roads and trees need to be cleared before lines are restored. #tc1118 how long will the April project take once started? Hopefully by end of year if weather cooperates
• #tc1118 process is to address the larger issues first, work way through the process, things have improved, but it still takes time. Frequency of storms and complexity of the system contribute to issue. Storms without warning are a big issue
• #tc1118 where are we on the priority list? They look at the poor performing feeders to manage those, there are none currently in Franklin. We are looking at the northern section per your request. So the line will be looked at more closely? Yes.
• It is possible that a resident could be keeping a tree that is creating a problem for others. Would need to address through the Town tree warden. #tc1118 Brutus sends hundreds of letters to residents to address the tree issues.
• Clarification on modernization, two pieces of equipment to be changed to help isolation, starting with this. #tc1118 "saying you are going to start in April, what are we going to do during the winter? This isn't acceptable. Needs to be rectified sooner than later"
• Replacement of some wires closer to Beaver St and other short term fixes should help. Improvements should be helping improve the service. #tc1118 if you know the issue and aren't going to be taking action on a reasonable, then that may be negligent
• Concern with the amount of time to restore the outage, 2 days here, another 2 here, maybe make a commitment to do more sooner #tc1118 there will be other work being done before April, she will let DPW and Fire know of work being done
• #tc1118 important to provide updates on improvements being made, as they go. Without power, no water, no data so the web pages Jamie mentioned don't work. It is a safety issue when you can't flush. Thanks for the text message program, 40 hours total outages this year
• Without power can't use the stove to cook for her child. #tc1118 Moving on to subcommittee reports. Budget met earlier this evening, items coming upon agenda. Listening session postponed, to be combined with Dec 9th
• Legislation for action first up https://franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/mai/files/10a._20-65_sup_app.pdf #tc1118 the additional 150k for rec and town clerk accounts per subcommittee meeting earlier. FinCom approved 7-0; thanks for working with a tight budget and avoiding an override.
• State money is less than last year, can not continue to fulfill unfunded mandates, our #1 problem. #tc1118 some of the Cares act funds couldn't be used for the personnel costs for the election, could and did get used for the plexiglass and other items
• The State lost $3b, and our delegation kept us pretty well whole. Motion, seconded passes 8-0 #tc1118
• Motion to add to the budget stabilization fund, $853k; currently nothing in it, had been drained over last years. #tc1118 new growth had been forecast at $600k, now coming in at $1.6m hence the savings opportunity; second, passes 8-0
• https://franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/mai/files/10c._gift_fd_dcu_5000.pdf recognition of gift to fire dept #tc1118 motion seconded, passes 8-0
• https://franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/mai/files/10d._20-861_oak_street.pdf first of a couple of lot line changes for first reading, motion to second reading. Prior approval by council, approved by planning board, seconded, passes 8-0
• https://franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/mai/files/10e._20-862_zba_longhill_and_pleasant.pdf Moved quickly by waiving reading of the motion by the clerk; motion to second reading, passes 8-0
• https://franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/mai/files/10f._20-864_cpc.pdf motion to create chapter 16 for a Community Preservation Committee, an outcome of the passage of the CPA in the Nov election, requires two readings, then open process for application and appointment sometime next year #tc1118 reading of the bylaw
• Update by Jamie, a good tool for the community, bylaw sets terms for the committee. How to do this is already in MA gen'l law, there is also training by Community coalition, this is a long process. Then appointment of committee, tax collection doesn't start until 7/21 #tc1118
• In transparency, any changes to what was voted on. The ballot question was authorization to raise the taxes, this is the process to do the due diligence for the process, no bait and switch. #tc1118 5 of the seats are all mandatory, the statue requires a bylaw to admin the CPA
• The CPC is the gate keeper of the projects and funding. Boards get letter vote for a member, the nominations come to Town Administrator for review and town Council approval/ratification. Anyone who would like to serve has an opportunity to do so #tc1118
• #tc1118 concerned about adding AgComm to this similar to Conservation Committee, would rather have more citizens at large, need an attorney, a CPA to under stand the funding, a builder, an inspector. Would prefer to have town Council to do the interview and appointment
• The statue specific is already set in legislation. The town Council already accepted the statue with the town Council vote to put before the voters. The statue is well defined (20 years in work) Town clerk can enter in the tables. The bylaw is before them now #tc1118
• Pellegri not agreeing with the statue and bylaw as described. Bissanti joins in AgComm and ConComm duplicates. Jones agreeing with an additional at large person. AgComm is optional, ConComm is required. Max per statue is 9. AgComm is different on role from ConComm #tc1118
• Would need to reorder the appointment terms of going with 4. AgComm is open space advocate for Franklin as we are structured #tc1118 they will all be Franklin residents, period. To change wording now is not bait and switch, the act approved the funding...
• This bylaw creates the Committee, folks got 'confused' between the ballot question and operational discussion on the bylaw, 5 are defined by State, 9 is also max per State, only decision is which the four are. #tc1118
• Remove AgComm, and change terms due to four at large, #tc1118 those changes to be made when it comes back vote to move to second reading as amended to second reading 8-0
• 104 cases some clusters out there, we need to be careful, we are not in the next category and need to stay away from that. COVID-19 Report on municipal aggregation, only 5% opted out. 1.5 cents less on bill effective Nov 1. Shout-out for Franklin fire dept #tc1118
• Fire dept grant Committee a great success #tc1118 explore potential of a citizens Committee, could help keep public informed... Comments: executive session will cover the spear phishing issue. Farmers market Nov 21 first one, help decorate downtown also Nov 21.
• Hopefully after the executive session we'll be able to say something. What about the former councilor and an issue with bill of sales on some plows. Statement on the issue will be made at the next session. Happy Thanksgiving to all, stay safe. #tc1118
• Move to executive session, on the spear phishing issue, motion seconded passes 8-0 #tc1118 via roll call 

 

From the archives: Wed, Dec 20, 2017

Representative Jeff Roy announced that the Agricultural Commission had been formally signed by Governor Baker. He presented a copy of the official parchment along with the pen used to sign the legislation to Councilor Melanie Hamblen who was instrumental in getting the Agricultural Commission started.

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/12/town-council-recap-agricultural.html

Representative Jeff Roy and Councilor Melanie Hamblen

MIAA Statement on Winter Sports and Sport-Specific Modifications

November 20, 2020

The Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) COVID-19 Task Force representatives today presented winter sport modifications and recommendations for the 2020-2021 season to the MIAA Board of Directors.

This presentation culminated a two-week MIAA governance process which included sport-specific sub-committee meetings where updated Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) and current Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary (DESE) guidelines were reviewed. These subcommittees created sport- specific modifications and presented them to the full committees for approval. The MIAA Sports Medicine Committee (SMC) and ultimately the MIAA Covid-19 Task force subsequently approved the modifications.

MIAA Executive Director Bill Gaine stated, “The MIAA’s mission can be defined by a dual prescription: promoting maximum participation opportunities for the maximum number of student-athletes so that life lessons can be learned. At the same time, promoting
the health and safety of all participants is the Association’s imperative.”

The MIAA Board of Directors voted to approve sport-specific modifications for the Winter Season. These modifications will continue to be reviewed as they relate to current regulations surrounding COVID-19 and may be modified if necessary.

Additional modifications or the decision to participate in MIAA-recognized winter sports will be determined by local school districts and/or their local Board of Health. You may view the Task Force presentation HERE.

Highlights include:

• The Winter Season will have a new start date of December 14, 2020.
• Modifications for the sports of Wrestling, Indoor Track, winter Cheerleading and Dance were not created or presented due to committee recommendation for those sports to be moved to a different sport season. Indoor Track is moved to the Fall II Season and Wresting, winter Cheerleading and Dance are moved to the Spring Season.

MIAA President and Marshfield Superintendent Jeff Granatino said, “It is great to see that so many of our student-athletes will be able to take part in the sports they love this winter. Many coaches, athletic directors, principals and superintendents worked hard
over the past few weeks to ensure that we would be able to offer interscholastic athletes for our students, and I want to thank them for their efforts.”
 
Granatino added, “The pandemic has reshaped the way education is delivered across the country and the same can be said about its impact on athletics. Nonetheless, I am confident our student-athletes and coaches will adjust to the new expectations this winter and have an experience as fulfilling and as exciting as what we saw during the fall season. Gaine reinforced, “Our membership should be proud that our Board’s actions today reflect allegiance to the MIAA mission.”

The approved Winter Season sport modifications are located on the MIAA COVID-19 Task Force Page. The Frequently Asked Question (FAQ) document located on the Task Force page is currently being updated to better reflect and provide clarity with recent decisions. This will be posted as soon as possible.

Respectfully, 

Jeffrey Granatino       Bill Gaine
MIAA President          Executive Director 

 

• Basketball  http://miaa.net/gen/miaa_generated_bin/documents/basic_module/Basketball_Modifications_Winter_2020.pdf
• Gymnastics  http://miaa.net/gen/miaa_generated_bin/documents/basic_module/Gymnastics_Modifications_Winter_2020.pdf
• Ice Hockey  http://miaa.net/gen/miaa_generated_bin/documents/basic_module/Ice_Hockey_Modifications_Winter_2020.pdf
• Ski - Alpine  http://miaa.net/gen/miaa_generated_bin/documents/basic_module/Alpine_Ski_Modifications_Winter_2020.pdf
• Ski - Nordic  http://miaa.net/gen/miaa_generated_bin/documents/basic_module/Nordic_Ski_Modifications_Winter_2020.pdf
• Swimming & Diving  http://miaa.net/gen/miaa_generated_bin/documents/basic_module/Swimming__Diving_Modifications_Winter_2020.pdf
  

 

Shared from the MIAA page  http://miaa.net/contentm/easy_pages/view.php?sid=38&page_id=317

 

MIAA Statement on Winter Sports

Candidates Night - Monday, Nov 23 - 7:00 PM

The four candidates for the open Town Council seat will meet in a live broadcast for a candidates night moderated by former police chief Larry Benedetto.

 

The candidates (ballot order)

• Alan R. Earls
  
• Cobi Frongillo
  
• Gregory R. Chiklis 
• KP Sompally 

How to watch

• Three options for watching the candidates night - Monday, Nov 23 - 7:00 PM This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast Channel 11 and Verizon Channel 29  #SECN1123  1/3
• Three options for watching the candidates night  - Monday, Nov 23 - 7:00 PM  = use your web browser to watch the Live Stream https://franklinma.gov/home/pages/live-meetings-stream   #SECN1123 2/3 
• Three options for watching/participating in the candidates night  - Monday, Nov 23 - 7:00 PM  = Connect via Zoom (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83643671854 )  #SECN1123   3/3 

Why a special election?

Franklin, MA voters should be aware that there will be a special election to fill the seat recently vacated by Eamon McCarthy Earls. He left at the beginning of September 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. 

Audio interviews available

• Town Council candidate - Gregory R Chiklis (audio interview) = https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/11/fm-393-town-council-candidate-greg.html
• Town Council candidate - KP Sompally (audio interview) = https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/11/fm-382-town-council-candidate-kp.html
• Town Council candidate - Alan R Earls (audio interview) = https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/10/fm-369-town-council-candidate-alan.html
• Town Council candidate Cobi Frongillo (audio interview) =  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/10/fm-359-town-council-candidate-cobi.html

 

Candidates Night - Monday, Nov 23 - 7:00 PM

Still and Ever, Thankful Why? Because I Can Choose to Be So.

by Pete Fasciano, Executive Director  - 11/22/2020

An understatement: This year, 2020, has been a year like no other.

At some point right around last Thanksgiving is when it began: That first infection. We celebrated 2020’s sparkly arrival as a New Year in customarily festive fashion, gathering with family and friends. Gathering – one of our joyous pastimes, now gone.

We have lost much in this past year. Friends. Loved ones. Livelihoods. Businesses. Trust. There are over 250,000 empty seats at the family table this year. However, statistics ring hollow to those who must endure these devastating losses personally. How do they give thanks?

In such a year as this one where hardship surrounds us all, we have to look within. What lies within us that we can be thankful for? What shred of resilience can we muster in order to still be thankful? Hard times offer no easy answers.

First, it’s difficult to be thankful; to engage in thanks–giving without some practice. Rising with the first glimmer of each day I am thankful and grateful for its promise. I take in that early moment with gratitude. The day will bring forth other moments. My task? Convert those moments flowing from my future into memories – good ones. A day well spent.

This daily practice of thankfulness for time’s open-ended future, for opportunity, for that which is yet to be, gradually becomes a habit, then a mindset. Time is the greatest gift I could ever imagine. And so, apart from present circumstance, I remain thankful for the possible, for those future better days of my own making.
Admittedly, the gift of future time has been stolen from so many who have passed. 

May you find some time for thanks.
May you find some thanks for time.

I wish you health, wealth, wisdom and love. And time, precious time for all of the above.

And – as always –

Thank you for listening to wfpr●fm. 

And, thank you for watching. 

 

 

The Franklin TV and Franklin Public Radio program guide can be found online

http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf   For historical purposes, the program guide:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TDtgiPg68K53xC5OgAfKs1A_srsWJthn/view?usp=sharing

 

 

http://franklin.tv/  and   http://wfpr.fm/

In the News: "misdirected to a third party"

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

"More than a month after a “spear phishing” attack swiped $522,000 from a town account, questions about what happened and what was done about it will be examined at the next Town Council meeting, according to council Chairman Tom Mercer.

During Wednesday's meeting, town councilors discussed the cyber security problem, which was reported in early October by town officials during a closed-door executive session.

More details about what happened will be revealed during the council’s next meeting on Dec. 2, said Mercer. Due to the nature of the topic, he said it could only be discussed in executive session, and that just one more meeting was needed before completing that confidential discussion.

Franklin police spokesperson Sgt. Brian Johnson said police had no update on the case as of Thursday, other than that it remains under investigation. "

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.milforddailynews.com/story/news/2020/11/20/franklin-spear-phishing-cyber-attack/3775889001/

 

As a retired professional with experience in information security with financial industry firms, I find it disturbing that some among the Council are first to assume individual corruption. The circumstances of a spear phishing attack could happen to almost anyone. Check out the FBI information to be aware of such attacks and how to protect yourself.  https://www.fbi.gov/investigate/cyber

 

Other sources of information security on cyber attacks

• https://krebsonsecurity.com/2020/11/godaddy-employees-used-in-attacks-on-multiple-cryptocurrency-services/
• https://www.sailpoint.com/blog/why-working-from-home-opened-a-cybersecurity-pandoras-box/
• https://www.mcafee.com/blogs/consumer/consumer-threat-notices/cyber-monday-is-coming-10-tips-to-protect-you-from-online-shopping-scams/

 

 

https://www.fbi.gov/investigate/cyber

Franklin Library - Thanksgiving Week Hours

Thanksgiving Week Hours

The Franklin Public Library will be closing at 2:00 PM on Wednesday, November 25, and closed Thursday, November 26 for Thanksgiving. Curbside Pickup will be available Friday, November 27 and Saturday, November 28 10:00 AM to 4:30 PM.

 

Shared from the Library page

https://www.franklinma.gov/franklin-public-library/news/thanksgiving-week-hours

 

 

Franklin Library - Thanksgiving Week Hours