Fact vs Fiction from @MassGov #knowthefacts
Shared from Twitter:https://t.co/7ysMYrX1TS
 |
| Fact vs Fiction from @MassGov |
Thursday, December 10, 2020
Fact vs Fiction from @MassGov
CommonWealth Magazine: "Confusion over tax status stymies solar projects"
From CommonWealth Magazine we share an article of interest for Franklin:
Franklin just recently made an agreement on a solar farm off Spring St, and also changed the bylaws to limit further large scale solar farms.
"AN OUTDATED LAW and a series of rulings by an obscure tax board are throwing the state’s landscape for solar projects into disarray.
The question revolves around whether commercial solar projects should be exempt from paying municipal property taxes. The lack of clarity is threatening to take revenue away from municipal budgets – and stymy the progress of the solar industry, by making some municipal officials hesitant to cut deals with solar developers.
“It’s a confusing landscape, and that’s created a lot of uncertainty for the companies, and there are a lot of questions about how we can get this resolved,” said David Gahl, senior director of northeast state affairs for the Solar Energy Industries Association, a national lobbying group for the solar industry.
Massachusetts legislators are considering passing a law – the subject of lengthy negotiations between municipal officials and solar developers – that would eliminate property tax exemptions to large solar developers. The proposal is in a legislative conference committee that is considering a broader climate change bill.
......
Rep. Jeffrey Roy, a Franklin Democrat, and Sen. Michael Rodrigues, a Westport Democrat, both introduced legislation that would clarify the tax status of solar arrays by limiting the property tax exemption to smaller solar arrays – generally those that produce enough power for the property they are located on. Roy’s language is included in the House version of a climate change bill that is in conference committee.Continue reading the article online
Roy’s amendment, which could be changed by the conference committee, would exempt from property taxes only residential solar projects that produce no more than 125 percent of the energy needed to power the property where they are located. (Rodrigues’s proposal would also include commercial solar projects, but it similarly caps eligibility to smaller projects that power their own or an adjacent property.) “It’s just taking it back to what the original legislation was intended to do, to help homeowners power their homes using solar energy,” Roy said.
Related posts
 |
| solar farm installation at Mount St Mary's Abbey in progress in July 2013 |
“The mission has been to gain full recognition for this group”
The Boston Globe has the following:
"The MIAA Board of Directors took a crucial first step Wednesday in providing urban schools across Massachusetts a larger voice in high school athletics and other business.
By a 20-0 vote, the board agreed to create an urban schools ad hoc committee to serve as an advisory resource to various MIAA committees. Avery Esdaile, athletic director for Boston Public Schools, addressed the board on behalf of a group of ADs from urban areas across the state, which has been meeting regularly to address challenges and other issues their programs face.
“We want to see the group get to, and ultimately be a resource and utilize the different people and experiences that we have, and help out others in the association,” Esdaile said. "
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/12/09/sports/miaa-board-directors-agrees-create-urban-schools-ad-hoc-committee/
 |
| Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) |
CNN and Sesame Street coming together for a Town Hall on the pandemic - Dec 19
CNN and Sesame Street are coming together for a town hall on Saturday, Dec. 19 at 10 a.m. ET to help children and parents understand the latest issues surrounding coronavirus, the vaccine, and celebrating holidays safely.Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/CNN/status/1336747511575433218?s=03
What questions do your kids have? https://t.co/iwYaLtD9gB
 |
| CNN and Sesame Street coming together for a Town Hall on the pandemic |
Wednesday, December 9, 2020
Re-opening rolled back statewide to Phase 3, Step 1
From CommonWealth Magazine we share an article of interest for Franklin:
"FOLLOWING SIX DAYS of surging COVID-19 case numbers, Gov. Charlie Baker said on Tuesday that Massachusetts is taking a step backward in its reopening plan.
“We cannot simply wait for the vaccine to get here,” Baker said at a State House press conference. “The rate Massachusetts residents are getting infected and the rate at which they are needing medical care, if all continues to move at this pace, is simply not sustainable over time, and our health care system will be put at risk.”
The governor’s decision means the state as a whole will move on Sunday from Step 2 to Step 1 in Phase 3, a retrenchment that previously had been reserved for communities deemed high risk for COVID-19 three weeks in a row or those that made the decision on their own. Boston and Somerville rank among the latter, while Lawrence, Holyoke, and many other communities fall in the former category."
Continue reading the article online
https://commonwealthmagazine.org/health/baker-takes-the-state-back-a-step/
https://commonwealthmagazine.org/health/baker-takes-the-state-back-a-step/
The Boston Globe has the following:
Governor Charlie Baker on Tuesday announced a series of incremental steps to curb the surge of COVID-19 infections, issuing new restrictions on a range of business activities as part of an effort to “build ourselves a bridge to the vaccine,” but stopping short of more forceful mandates.The frightening trends in the march of the virus — underscored by the 3,627 new cases and 40 additional deaths that were announced Tuesday — mean the state cannot “simply wait for the vaccine to get here,” Baker said. “We have to do more.”
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
What closes and what can remain open
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/12/08/nation/governor-baker-announced-statewide-rollback-phase-3-step-1-reopening-heres-what-that-means/
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/12/08/nation/governor-baker-announced-statewide-rollback-phase-3-step-1-reopening-heres-what-that-means/
Governor Baker's press conference where the changes were introduced and discussed with a Q&A: https://youtu.be/PJUGTR7wLrs
Franklin's COVID-19 information page can be found https://www.franklinma.gov/home/pages/coronavirus-information-portal
 |
| Franklin's COVID-19 information page |
"Adopt a hydrant" program returns with winter weather
Residents and civic groups (Scouts, local youth groups, Franklin High School teams, etc.) can "adopt" a hydrant or hydrants.
This is intended to be a commitment for the 2020/2021 snow season and can be applied towards student community service hours.
Visit our website https://www.franklinma.gov/water.../pages/adopt-hydrant to Adopt-A-Hydrant today!
Shared from Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/931498886934582/posts/3705771699507273/
GATRA Launches Innovative On-Demand Share Service - Dec 15
Passengers Can Book Same Day Trips Through Smartphone App
The Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Agency (GATRA) is excited to announce the launch of GATRA GO United a flexible and dynamic on-demand microtransit service to operate within the towns of Foxborough, Franklin, Norfolk and Wrentham.
Similar to ride-hailing services, GATRA GO United uses a smartphone app for riders to schedule customized curb-to-curb microtransit trips. A vehicle will pick up riders and drop them off wherever they wish to travel within the service boundaries. Along the way the shuttle may pick up other passengers who also request a ride (With COVID-19 social distancing protocols in place). This service is wheelchair accessible and all drivers are trained and certified using state and federal guidelines.
This pilot program will operate within the towns of Foxborough, Franklin, Norfolk and Wrentham as well as portions of the towns of Bellingham and Plainville connecting employment locations, medical facilities and recreational locales.
The service will start on December 15, 2020 and will be operated on a pilot basis. It will be free through the month of January. The service area map can be found on the GATRA GO United app or on our website, www.gatra.org/gatra-go
GATRA is partnering with National Express, one of the largest private transportation contractors in the United States and the current operator of GATRA's services in the Franklin and Norfolk Areas. The new service is powered by Next Connect, a new mobility platform developed by National Express in cooperation with Spare, a leading on-demand Transit software provider.
The new on-demand microtransit service will replace the fixed route bus service in these four towns with a solution that will enhance transportation options for all. To use the new ride share program passengers first need to download the free GATRA GO United app on their smart phone and then request a ride.
Following a GATRA GO request, the microtransit app will provide passengers with an estimated pick up time, track the bus in real time and alert the person when their ride is about to arrive. GATRA GO United customers do not have to download the app, same day rides can also be requested by calling 800-698-7676.
Wait time for service pick up will be subject to vehicle availability. GATRA realizes the importance of greater accessibility and mobility in this region and strives to work with their communities to fill public transportation gaps.
 |
| https://www.gatra.org/gatra-go-united/ starts Dec 15, 2020 |
FHS swim fundraiser today at Chipotle
Franklin Families! Take tomorrow (12/09/20) night off from cooking and order out from Chipotle in Franklin Village to support FHS Varsity Swim! From 5-9pm, show this flyer or tell them you’re supporting the team and 33% will go to FHS swim. Thank you!
Shared from Facebook: https://facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10151510853414995&id=173205529994
 |
| FHS swim fundraiser today at Chipotle |
DESE publishes "Local Contribution Study"
Shared by the MASC (@MASC-SchoolCommittee) and Tracey Novick (@TracyNovick), this Local Contribution Study was mandated by the Student Opportunity Act and after public review is now "published".
Download your copy directly from DESE https://t.co/oK8PNcZYYG?amp=1
 |
| DESE publishes "Local Contribution Study" |
Please Send A Christmas Card to a Nursing Home Resident
Hi I am the Nursing Home Administrator at Cedarwood Gardens the former Franklin Nursing and Rehab. As we all know the holiday season can be a tough time for many. If anyone in the community would like to send a holiday card to a resident please address the envelope to
Resident
Cedarwood Gardens
130 Chestnut Street
Franklin
Thank you and be well,
Lisa Rice
"Survey-based measurement of news consumption is not without its own problems"
From the Pew Research Center comes a study on measuring news consumption:
"Given the increasing complexity and interconnectedness of this news landscape and concerns around overreporting of news consumption, Pew Research Center wanted to explore how best to measure news consumption: Where do currently used survey practices still work and where might changes be in order?
This report is the culmination of this effort and is organized into three sections: Chapter 1 looks at the U.S. public’s familiarity with newer concepts related to news; Chapter 2 examines possible ways to improve survey-based measures of news consumption; and Chapter 3 compares survey results to the use of passive data that comes straight from tracking software news consumers downloaded to their digital devices.
Americans are largely familiar with new technologies but often don’t think of them as news sources."
Continue reading the article online
https://www.journalism.org/2020/12/08/measuring-news-consumption-in-a-digital-era/
https://www.journalism.org/2020/12/08/measuring-news-consumption-in-a-digital-era/
 |
| "Survey-based measurement of news consumption is not without its own problems" (Pew Research photo) |
Tuesday, December 8, 2020
FM #408 Talk Franklin - 12/04/20 (audio) - #thinkfirstfranklin gift cards, tax rate, spear phishing, etc.
FM #408 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 408 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:
- December closing the year out
- #ThinkFranklinFirst gift cards
- Tax rate hearing
- Comcast contract
- Spear phishing update
We’ll record a session of Talk Franklin each week leading to Christmas and take the holiday week off to begin again in 2021
Links to the key topics covered here are included in the show notes. The recording runs about 45 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Jamie and Anne Marie.
--------------
Town Council meeting agenda and docs
https://www.franklinma.gov/town-council/agenda/december-2-town-council-meeting-tax-rate-hearing
https://www.franklinma.gov/town-council/agenda/december-2-town-council-meeting-tax-rate-hearing
Town Council meeting summary
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/12/town-council-meeting-comcast-contract.html
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/12/town-council-meeting-comcast-contract.html
Spear phishing presentation
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/12/town-of-franklin-spear-phishing.html
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/12/town-of-franklin-spear-phishing.html
Business Listening Session - Dec 9
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/12/business-listening-session-3-dec-9-2020.html
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/12/business-listening-session-3-dec-9-2020.html
-------------
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
For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/
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 Administrator Jamie Hellen updates the Town Council during the 12/02/20 meeting |
1 Week Left to Apply for a Cultural Council grant !!!
|
Franklin Public Schools: Updated Inclement Weather Plans for 2020-2021 School Year
"As another New England winter approaches, please make note of the attached information related to Inclement Weather and School Closings. Thank you!"
UNIQUE EMERGENCY PLANS FOR 2020-2021
"For the 2020-2021 school year, Franklin Public Schools plans to implement remote learning instead of snow days during the winter of 2020-2021. Having opened school remotely positions us well to pivot to a remote learning day in the event of inclement weather. Instruction on these days will be structured. The Department of Elementary and Secondary education is allowing districts to do so this school year only, without having to make up the days at the end of the year. In the event of inclement weather, educators and students/families should be planning for remote learning days to be held using the remote learning schedules previously communicated at the beginning of the school year. Schools will send additional information about daily schedules. Should inclement weather bring widespread power outages, the district may need to close one, multiple, or all schools for the day, and the day will need to be made up at the end of the year. Asynchronous learning will be provided in the event that sporadic power outages are experienced for individual students to be able to be “virtually present” for the day. The district will continue to use delayed starts to the school day if morning weather conditions make travel difficult but the forecast calls for improvement of conditions throughout the day."
For the full two page outline
 |
| Updated Inclement Weather Plans for 2020-2021 School Year |
67 Degrees Brewing HOME DELIVERY (weekly) IS ON!!
Email from 67 Degrees announces:
Orders can be placed daily on our Webstore (https://commerce.arryved.com/location/BEPyvnP6).
Delivery orders placed after 2 pm on the same delivery day will be delivered on the next zone schedule.
 |
| 67 Degrees Brewing HOME DELIVERY (weekly) IS ON!! |
Enjoy Beer, Family, and Friends
Cheers!!
visit 67 Degrees online via their web page -> https://www.67degreesbrewing.com/
or via Facebook -> https://www.facebook.com/67degrees.brew
Franklin Police: Recent home breaks in area communities
Recent home breaks in area communities
The Franklin Police Department has become aware of Residential B&E's that have occurred in several other cities and towns over the last month. These breaks all appear to have targeted the Asian and Indian communities.
In 2019 the town of Franklin experienced several Residential B&E's where the Indian community was also targeted.
With the holidays upon us The Franklin Police Department would like to remind all of our residents to remain vigilant. Please don't hesitate to contact this department in regards to any suspicious persons, vehicles or activity. Please be ready to describe in as much detail as possible any suspicious persons or vehicles you see when you call. This will help us identify them if they are still in the area when officers respond.
The Franklin Police Department wants all of our residents to have a happy and safe holiday.
Shared from https://www.franklinma.gov/police-department/news/recent-home-breaks-area-communities
Download a copy of the press release https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/news/psabes.pdf
 |
| Franklin Police: Recent home breaks in area communities |
CommonWealth Magazine: "Baker did not commit to rolling back reopening phases"
From CommonWealth Magazine we share two articles of interest for Franklin:
"AS THE SURGE of COVID-19 cases continues statewide, Gov. Charlie Baker announced new measures to expand testing and keep hospital beds open.
Baker was visibly angry as he discussed the need to increase testing and stem the virus’s spread, saying that the state’s positive test rate “took off like a rocket,” because some people ignored public health recommendations and gathered with others outside of their households indoors and without masks over Thanksgiving.
“We’ve been saying for months this is one of the primary ways the virus spreads, and we talked a lot about why Thanksgiving was particularly worrisome,” Baker said at a Monday briefing. He said he had a weekend call with mayors, some of whom shared frustration at seeing neighbors hold indoor gatherings without mask wearing.
“Thanksgiving, the ultimate informal gathering among people who are informal with each other, but who don’t necessarily live with each other here and in many other places, has been exactly the kind of event that people said it would be,” Baker said. He added that he hasn’t shared a meal with his own father since February. "
Continue reading the article online
Gov Baker's press conference that lead to the article can be viewed here https://youtu.be/s04QGn97BG8
Can companies require employees to take the vaccine?
"As news of promising progress on coronavirus vaccines have filled the headlines in recent weeks, labor lawyers say employers have been pressing one question in particular: Once approved, can they require employees to take it?“Until maybe about a month ago, we hadn’t had many clients asking about it,” said Brett Coburn, a labor and employment partner with Alston & Bird. “We’re starting to see a lot more momentum.”The news that a coronavirus vaccine could start being distributed within the next few weeks has sent stocks soaring and government officials scrambling to develop plans for the herculean task of distributing it across the country.For employers, many of which have kept workers home for months, it has opened a complex set of legal and practical issues: Can they require employees to take a vaccine? Should they offer incentives instead to encourage compliance? And what should they do if employees resist?"
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
CommonWealth Magazine: 14 municipal leaders advocate rollback of -re-opening; MBTA sees rise in employees with COVID-19
Rollback of reopening is imperative amid new surge
"MASSACHUSETTS FINDS ITSELF in the eye of a storm. As municipal leaders, we have grown increasingly concerned as we see COVID-19 cases spiking across the state. In some communities we are already seeing the rising prevalence of this virus cause week-long turnaround times for COVID tests as contact tracers are unable to keep up with the sheer volume of new cases.
We have been warned by medical and epidemiological experts for months that a winter surge is coming. Now our public health infrastructure is starting to show signs of strain and will be overwhelmed if we continue on the same trajectory. There is no mystery what follows these record case numbers: a severe rise in hospitalizations for people who require intensive care and a frightening number of lives lost.
There is expert consensus that we are entering the most dangerous phase of the pandemic. But why accept the worst–case scenario as inevitable? In March, faced with an existential test as a society, we banded together and rose to the occasion. We found that with collective sacrifice and government action led by Gov. Baker, we were able to avoid the worst of what the catastrophe might have been.
We face another defining moment today, and we know that we can once again rise to the occasion and do what is necessary to meet this extraordinary challenge. If we act now to reverse the trend of community transmission, we can minimize the toll of human suffering ahead of us. This will require targeted, temporary rollbacks of the state’s reopening plan, with a focus on reducing activities that are sources of transmission, especially those that allow for gatherings of people from outside our households. "
Continue reading the article online
https://commonwealthmagazine.org/health-care/rollback-of-reopening-is-imperative-amid-new-surge/
https://commonwealthmagazine.org/health-care/rollback-of-reopening-is-imperative-amid-new-surge/
63 MBTA employees infected with COVID-19
"MBTA GENERAL MANAGER Steve Poftak said on Monday that 63 of the agency’s employees currently have COVID-19, up from 50 last Wednesday.
Poftak said for every worker with COVID-19 there are usually two others affected, mostly because they came in contact with the infected individual and have to quarantine while they await the results of a test. “This begins to have workforce impact,” he said.
Jeffrey Gonneville, the deputy general manager of the T, said the last time the T had 63 infections was during the first COVID-19 surge in April. The peak number then was about 108.
To deal with the vacancies caused by the disease, Gonneville said the agency is slightly adjusting travel times on the T’s subway lines to free up employees who can be used to substitute for workers out because of COVID-19."
Continue reading the article online
Monday, December 7, 2020
Business Listening Session #3 - Dec 9, 2020 - 6:30 PM
Economic Development Subcommittee Meeting
Agenda & Meeting Packet
December 9, 2020 - 6:30 PM
Agenda:
1. Business Listening & Networking Session #3: Retail, Personal Services, Fitness, Industrial Parks, & Manufacturing.
The members of the EDC will host the third in a series of five Business Listening & Networking Sessions on sectors of the Town’s economy. Anyone is invited to attend and offer public comments.
The agenda doc has connection info for this meeting and listening session
 |
| listening session schedule adjusted to include the original #3 session with that of the Dec 9 agenda |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)