FM #468 - Town Council Meeting - 02/17/21 - P3 of 4 (audio)

FM #468 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 468 in the series. 

This session shares part of the Franklin, MA Town Council meeting held on Wednesday, Feb 17, 2021. 

The meeting was conducted in a hybrid format: most members of the Town Council, selected guests, and Town Administration personnel were in the Council Chambers, at least one member of the Council was remote along with the public via the Zoom conference bridge, all to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

I’ve split the full three hour fifty minute meeting into four logical segments:

• First - covers the opening through the Community Preservation Committee appointments and a two minute recess (51 minutes)
• Second - returns from the recess to cover the Complete Streets presentation/discussion as well as the Town Administrator review and discussion (58 minutes)
• *** Third segment *** opens with the Legislation for Action and covers the items through the authorization of the fire trucks (40 minutes) 
• Fourth - covers the technical adjustments to the three Storm Water Articles I, II, and III with the discussion running off course (again - with confusion around the proposed storm water utility fee - not in these three articles) through to the close of the meeting (approx. 1 hour and 13 mins)

The show notes contain links to the meeting agenda including documents released for this agenda. 

Let’s listen to this segment of the Town Council meeting of Feb 17, 2021. Audio file = https://player.captivate.fm/episode/5cb9bf23-4c60-4d66-9582-bcf04cb65cb8

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

Agenda document (and released supporting materials in one PDF) 
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/agendas/2-17-21_town_council_agenda_0_0.pdf

Community Preservation Committee appointments
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/mai/files/cpc_updated_memo.pdf 

Complete Streets presentation
https://franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/mai/files/8a._complete_streets_web.pdf 

Town Administrator review/discussion
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/mai/files/9a._ta_eval_docs.pdf

My notes from the meeting
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/02/town-council-recap-of-feb-17-2021.html

Town Council ‘quarterbacking session’ with Chair Tom Mercer
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/02/couldnt-spend-hours-with-town-council.html 

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

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm).

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"

one of the fire trucks to be replaced by the purchase authorized at the Town Council meeting

FM #469 - Town Council Meeting - 02/17/21 - P4 of 4 (audio)

FM #469 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 469 in the series. 

This session shares part of the Franklin, MA Town Council meeting held on Wednesday, Feb 17, 2021. 

The meeting was conducted in a hybrid format: most members of the Town Council, selected guests, and Town Administration personnel were in the Council Chambers, at least one member of the Council was remote along with the public via the Zoom conference bridge, all to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

I’ve split the full three hour fifty minute meeting into four logical segments:

• First - covers the opening through the Community Preservation Committee appointments and a two minute recess (51 minutes)
• Second - returns from the recess to cover the Complete Streets presentation/discussion as well as the Town Administrator review and discussion (58 minutes)
• Third - opens with the Legislation for Action and covers the items through the authorization of the fire trucks (40 minutes) 
• *** Fourth segment *** covers the technical adjustments to the three Storm Water Articles I, II, and III with the discussion running off course (again - with confusion around the proposed storm water utility fee - not in these three articles) through to the close of the meeting (approx. 1 hour and 13 mins)

The show notes contain links to the meeting agenda including documents released for this agenda. 

Let’s listen to this segment of the Town Council meeting of Feb 17, 2021. Audio file = https://player.captivate.fm/episode/229a86d5-2de2-4dbe-bbfd-5c41364ce181

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

Agenda document (and released supporting materials in one PDF) 
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/agendas/2-17-21_town_council_agenda_0_0.pdf

Community Preservation Committee appointments
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/mai/files/cpc_updated_memo.pdf 

Complete Streets presentation
https://franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/mai/files/8a._complete_streets_web.pdf 

Town Administrator review/discussion
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/mai/files/9a._ta_eval_docs.pdf

My notes from the meeting
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/02/town-council-recap-of-feb-17-2021.html

Town Council ‘quarterbacking session’ with Chair Tom Mercer
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/02/couldnt-spend-hours-with-town-council.html 

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

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm).

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/ or www.franklin.news

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"

visit the Stormwater Division to check on your impervious coverage https://www.franklinma.gov/stormwater-division

FPS Parents - Pool Testing/Physical Distance Survey reminder due 2/22/21

FHS PCC (@FHS_PCC) tweeted on Fri, Feb 19, 2021:

"FPS Parents reminder to complete the survey by Monday, February 22nd link for survey https://t.co/5fvhdHIpXB 

and link for reopening page https://t.co/sxXkmeBV6j"

Shared from Twitter: https://t.co/2OVv1HxiRJ

Pool testing presentation shared at the Feb 9, 2021 School Committee meeting

https://www.slideshare.net/shersteve/fps-pooled-testing-presentation-2092021

FPS Pooled Testing Presentation 2/09/2021 from Franklin Matters

FPS Parents - Pool Testing/Physical Distance Survey reminder due 2/22/21

Vaccine, Anyone? Oops!

If only –    Our Instant Gratification is Offline. 

by Pete Fasciano, Executive Director 02/21/2021

Soooooo, the C19 vaccine distribution in Massachusetts was expanded to include folks aged 65 and up, and another 50K doses would be available as of Thursday. The good news – and the bad news – it made another million folks eligible.

The Wednesday 11PM newscasts noted that appointments for the doses would go online Thursday at 8AM. Come 7:30AM – the state’s website collapsed. Oops!

There has been much blaming, shaming, finger pointing and general frustration expressed in the media. The pundits were quick to hang blame on the Governor. Yes, he’s the guy at the top. Yes, things could have gone better with planning phone banks and website design. However, launching an instant phone crew to answer 100,000 frantic callers or handle a million appointment requests (for those 50,000 doses). Not easy. Not at all.

Everyone is needling Charlie about shots that can’t come fast enough. However – even the seemingly infinite resources of our vast Internet are not actually – infinite. It has very physical limits. Anyone with techno-geek skills can use a home computer as a small internet server to host a website online. But, your typical ‘high speed’ Comcast connection would be swamped by only a few hundred people trying to access that awesome site. Oops!

Even with a farm of hosting servers and very wide Internet backbone bandwidth, the Massachusetts vaccination website was statistically doomed by the million new eligible applicants, all trying to squeeze through that digital doorway at once. How does Google do it? They own fifteen percent of the Internet. They are everywhere. Same with Amazon. These organizations grew over time – no instantaneous demand.

Many years ago I produced a TeeVee Bingo program. We aired only one episode. Turns out we took down the city-wide phone exchange by folks constantly redialing our call-in number so they would be ready to yell, “ Bingo!”    Oops!

This is a time for patience and persistence. Charlie is doing all he can. And if you were a lucky vaccine winner this week? Bingo!

And – as always –

Thank you for listening to wfpr●fm. 

And, thank you for watching.

Get this week's program guide for Franklin TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) online

http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf  

or for archive purposes  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NKs1_-GOoBiWKNB12gprQVfqtII166tc/view?usp=sharing

http://franklin.tv/

Franklin Senior Center: Memory Cafe - Feb 22 - 2 PM

Please join us at our "Where's The Toast?" Memory Cafe' on Monday Feb. 22 at 2 PM.  Shelley Otis will be entertaining us with her beautiful harp music. 

Listen to Shelley play "Heaven" by Bryan Adams  https://youtu.be/q508lMfNEZg

We look forward to seeing you Monday at 2 PM!

Click below to join "Where's The Toast?" Memory Cafe' with Shelley Otis
https://zoom.us/j/98625081878?pwd=d05HMzFKd09kaldIcjhGWXNBRE1sUT09

Meeting ID: 986 2508 1878
Passcode: 059521

--

Ariel Doggett

Virtual Program Coordinator

Respite Coordinator

"We rise by lifting others" - Robert Ingersoll

There is no act of kindness too small

#ThinkFranklinFirst adds businesses to the listing!

"We are excited to share that 2 new businesses are accepting the #ThinkFranklinFirst gift card! You can now use your card at Mirchi Indian Cuisine and at Night Owl Farm!  

Do you have a Franklin Gift card?  Check out the 40 different businesses where you can redeem them!  These cards are helping our local economy by boosting local spending AND covering processing costs thanks to our generous sponsor, Dean Bank!  

Businesses are redeemed 100% of the funds spent at their locations! Random Smile Project has helped make this initiative possible by donating their time and energy to assist with administrative tasks.  We are so lucky to live in such a supportive community! 

Gift cards are always available both online and at Dean Bank.  www.franklingiftcard.com #supportlocal #shoplocal #giftlocal"

Shared from the Town of Franklin page on Facebook: 

https://facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=461047405262367&id=109645590402552

A full listing of the participating businesses can be found

https://franklingiftcard.com/participating-businesses

#ThinkFranklinFirst adds businesses to the listing!

CDC: "Essential Elements of Safe K-12 School In-person Instruction"

From the Executive Summary of the CDC guidance on reopening schools released recently: (RED text for my emphasis)

"As communities plan safe delivery of in-person instruction in K-12 schools, it is essential to decide when and under what conditions to help protect students, teachers, and staff and slow the spread of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. It is critical for schools to open as safely and as soon as possible, and remain open, to achieve the benefits of in-person learning and key support services. To enable schools to open safely and remain open, it is important to adopt and consistently implement actions to slow the spread of SARS-CoV-2 both in schools and in the community. This means that all community members, students, families, teachers, and school staff should take actions to protect themselves and others where they live, work, learn, and play. In short, success in preventing the introduction and subsequent transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in schools is connected to and facilitated by preventing transmission in the broader community."

There is no easy short list, the essential elements to reopen safely are complex. Take time to read through them to understand them.

Find and read the full CDC guidance doc

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/schools-childcare/operation-strategy.html