Town Council Quarterbacking session with Chair Tom Mercer condenses the 2.5 hour meeting to about 35 minutes (audio)

FM #921 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 921 in the series. 

This shares my conversation with Town Council Chair Tom Mercer. This is one of a series of conversations meant to provide a recap of the prior Council meeting. Akin to one of the many sports post-game analysis broadcasts we are familiar with in New England,  this would be a discussion focused on the Franklin Town Council meeting of Jan 18, 2023: 

• ok, what just happened? 

• What does it mean for Franklin residents and taxpayers?

We cover the following key topics

• Presentation on the first year at the Senior Center by Director Danielle Hopkins and Deputy Director Christina Larose; introduction of multi year plan, service enhancements, etc.

• Storm water presentation, how to find your property on the map, and calculate your fee; Then discussion on the credit booklet and process for applying; business would apply every five years, residents yearly

• Announcement of the Town Council members for the four committees authorized at the prior meeting, some of these will start right away, some later this year. The application process for residents to express interest is still forthcoming. These are the Councilors who will lead the efforts as Chair, Vice-chair and Clerk.

 

Committee	Chair	Vice-chair	Clerk
Ad-Hoc Arts & Culture	Frongillo	Cormier-Leger	Hamblen
Master Plan	Jones	Frongillo	Hamblen
Davis Thayer Reuse	Pellegri	Sheridan	Cormier-Leger
Police Station Building	Mercer	Chandler	Dellorco

 Links to the meeting agenda and associated documents released for this meeting are included in the show notes. 

Our conversation runs about 39 minutes. Let’s listen to this session of Town Council Quarterbacking recorded Jan 19, 2023. Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-921-town-council-quarterbacking-01-19-23

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Meeting agenda and documents released for this session ->

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/january_18_2023_town_council_agenda.pdf

Watch the Franklin.TV video replay on YouTube ->  https://youtu.be/OcZywdfQ5eA 

My recap, notes, and audio -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/01/town-council-hears-updates-on-senior.html 

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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

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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!

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Town Council Quarterbacking session with Chair Tom Mercer condenses the 2.5 hour meeting to about 35 minutes (audio)

Both FHS girls and boys basketball teams post wins over Attleboro on Friday

Via HockomockSports.com, we share the results of the fall sports competition for Franklin High School on Friday, January 20, 2023. We also provide the link to the full set of Hockomock League results below.

Boys Basketball = Attleboro, 47 @ Franklin, 67 – Final 

– Franklin built a 10-point lead after a quarter, doubled it by halftime, and led the entire second half in a big win over visiting Attleboro. Justin Allen hit two of his four threes in the opening quarter, Geino Scaringello added another triple, and Andrew O’Neill, Bradley Hernon, Caden Sullivan, and Sean O’Leary all had buckets as the Panthers’ offense got going early for a 19-9 lead. O’Neill, Allen, and O’Leary all had triples — Franklin finished with 10 total — in the second and the Panthers’ defense limited the visiting Bombardiers to just seven points for a 36-16 advantage at halftime. O’Leary finished with a team-high 18 points and both O’Neill and Allen had 14 points in the win. Jaiden Outland and Neo Franco each had 13 points for Attleboro.

Girls Basketball = Franklin, 66 @ Attleboro, 55 – Final 

– In a battle for first place in the Kelley-Rex division, Franklin outscored Attleboro 22-9 in the fourth quarter to overturn a two-point deficit and pull out the 11-point win. The Bombardiers bounced back nicely from a tough loss to Foxboro last time out, scoring 20 points in the first quarter to grab the lead. Avery James and Lily Routhier each scored six in the first to get Attleboro off to a great start. Franklin cut the lead to five heading to the locker room and chipped three more points off in the third, with Chloe Fales scoring seven and Katie Peterson adding five in the quarter. Franklin’s offense clicked into gear in the fourth. Peterson went 6-for-6 from the line in the quarter (9-of-10 for the game) and Fales and Caelyn Leonard each added five points, while Lizzie Newman scored four. Vanessa Ellis had six of Attleboro’s nine points in the final period. Peterson led all scorers with 17 on the night. Fales scored 16, Newman added 12, Leonard had 10, and Bridget Leo scored seven points for the Panthers. Attleboro had only four players on the score sheet on Friday. James led the way with 16, Routhier scored 15, Ellis had 14, and Kayla Goldrick chipped in with 10. The Panthers now lead the division by one game.

For other results around the Hockomock League

https://hockomocksports.com/fridays-schedule-scoreboard-01-20-23/

FHS Panthers

Ending Hunger in Massachusetts - Forum scheduled for Wednesday, January 25

As the costs for basic necessities rise, more Massachusetts residents living on the economic margins must choose between buying groceries and paying for housing, transportation, childcare and other basic utilities. It's a dilemma that plays out in hundreds of thousands of Massachusetts households every day. Hunger and access to proper nutrition remain pervasive, with nearly 1 in 3 adults experiencing food insecurity in Massachusetts in 2021, an increase from 2020. Hunger in Massachusetts is significantly higher among Black and Latinx populations, and visits to local food pantries have not returned to pre-pandemic levels. Food insecurity rates among Massachusetts college students, seniors, and immigrants also remain surprisingly high. The issue of food insecurity recently gathered national leaders at a historic White House Conference – 50 years in the making – on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health where a national strategy to end hunger and reduce diet-related disease in America by 2030. Now, leaders across the Commonwealth are convening and building a framework, drawing on the expertise spearheaded and piloted here, to advance our state's food security by 2030 as well. Join a State House News Service/MASSterList forum featuring leaders, advocates, and experts for a discussion of opportunities and obstacles for Massachusetts to advance this national strategy across the Commonwealth. For sponsorship opportunities, contact Dylan Rossiter: Dylan.Rossiter@StateHouseNews.com IN-PERSON EVENT Wednesday, January 25 | 8:15 a.m. - 10 a.m. | MCLE Boston (Downtown Crossing) | Doors open for light refreshments and networking at 7:30 a.m. Keynote Remarks (taped) U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern REGISTER Program: 7:30 - 8:30 a.m. — Networking and light refreshments 8:30 - 8:45 a.m. — Keynote remarks from U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern (taped) 8:45 - 9:45 a.m. — Panel discussion Catherine D'Amato, The Greater Boston Food Bank President and CEO Erin McAleer, Project Bread President and CEO Sen. Jo Comerford, Co-Chair, MA Food System Caucus Rep. Hannah Kane, Co-Chair, MA Food System Caucus supporting organizations About Fresh, Children's Health Watch, Community Servings, Daily Table, Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University, Food Bank of Western MA, MA Food System Collaborative, Mass General Brigham, Mass Law Reform Institute, Stone Soup Café, Worcester County Food Bank

Affiliated News Services, LLC | 568 Washington St, Wellesley, MA 02482 Sent by massterlist@massterlist.com

MHP: "Why MBTA multifamily zoning law makes sense for Massachusetts" (video)

Introductory video on how the state's new multifamily zoning requirement for communities served by Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA) will help cities and towns zone for more housing near transit, increase economic opportunity, reduce sprawl and lessen impacts on the environment.

Video link -> https://youtu.be/iewb77s33XM

Shared from Twitter -> https://twitter.com/BraxLisa/status/1616459173079748610

Visit Mass Housing Project for more info on this topic -> https://www.mhp.net/

MA News round up: wind developers stalling for time, housing position at cabinet level, Harvard Medical Sch incorporates climate into curriculum

"Mass. offshore wind developers stalling for time"

"THE STATE’S TWO leading offshore wind developers appear to be stalling for time as they explore whether the cast of new players on Beacon Hill may be more receptive to letting them back out of or tweak their existing power purchase agreements.

Avangrid, the company behind Commonwealth Wind, filed a lawsuit on Thursday challenging a December 30 decision of the Department of Public Utilities approving the wind farm developer’s power purchase agreements with three Massachusetts utilities even though Avangrid said the pricing is no longer sufficient to obtain financing for the project.

Mayflower Wind, being developed by Shell New Energies and Ocean Winds, filed a request with the DPU seeking a greater say in deliberations over the power contracts and more time to respond."

Continue reading the article online ->

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/the-download/mass-offshore-wind-developers-stalling-for-time-2/ 

 

"Governor Healey kicks off effort to establish state housing chief with new executive order"

"Governor Maura Healey, who made housing a central theme of her campaign, announced Friday that she filed an executive order to create a working group to establish the role of a new Cabinet-level housing secretary.

She announced the news in front of local leaders at the Massachusetts Municipal Association’s annual meeting in Boston — the first public step the governor has taken toward her campaign promise of creating the role. Healey committed early in her campaign to elevate the post as a way to increase focus and resources on housing production during a time when housing has become increasingly less affordable.

Traditionally, the job of housing and economic development secretary has been one role in state government. So far Secretary Yvonne Hao has been serving in both capacities in the new Healey administration, though she will ultimately focus on economic development when the new housing post is filled.:

Continue reading the article online (subscription maybe required) ->   https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/01/20/metro/governor-healey-kicks-off-effort-establish-state-housing-chief-with-new-executive-order/ 

Text of the Executive Order can be found on the Governor's page ->   https://www.mass.gov/executive-orders/no-605-establishing-a-working-group-to-envision-the-creation-of-a-housing-secretariat

"Harvard Medical School votes to embed climate change in its curriculum"

"Raised by two psychologists, Madeleine Kline had wanted to become a doctor since she was little. And when she learned in high school how human activity was fueling climate change, she concluded “it felt fundamentally like a health problem.

So it seemed the most natural thing for her to go into medicine. And once at Harvard Medical School, she combined her two interests to help produce a novel undertaking at the 350-year-old institution: embed teaching about the effects of climate change into all four years of the medical degree curriculum.

“I realized that the world then,” she said of her youth, “was not the world that I was going to inhabit as an adult or raise my children in. And, if I wanted to help take care of people, I needed to understand the challenges my patients were going to face.”

Now in her third year, Kline was among a small group of students and faculty who helped convince school leaders to adopt the new curriculum, which was approved earlier in January. It will include instruction on the effects of climate change on human health, the role health care systems play in contributing to climate change, and how physicians can work to be part of the solution."

Continue reading the article online (subscription maybe required) -> 

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/01/20/metro/harvard-medical-school-votes-embed-climate-change-its-curriculum/

Student Julia Malits (left), Dr. Gaurab Basu (center), and student Madeleine Kline championed the integration of climate change into Harvard Medical School's curriculum. JONATHAN WIGGS/GLOBE STAFF

Franklin Police Patrol Association & Franklin Sergeant Union hosted the annual Senior Dinner - Jan 20. 2023

"Today the Franklin Police Patrol Association and the Franklin Sergeant Union hosted the annual Senior Dinner. It’s been a few years since we’ve been able to hold the event in person but we’re glad it’s back. 

This event is one of our favorites because it’s an opportunity to serve a great meal and spend some time with our most senior residents. Thanks to the Franklin Elks Lodge #2136 and the Head Chef, Retired Franklin Police Officer Paul “Hoofy” Fiorio for the food!  

Side note...we apologize for running out of turnips, that’s on us, we’ll do better next year!"

Shared from Facebook - > (where you can also find additional photos)

https://www.facebook.com/franklinmapolice/posts/pfbid02MbjcUTNZc579taQ3G1ivsLj3mmhV5YAz9vDgaDPFtGqUZA28xWShrymS6ZP45wWDl

Franklin Police Patrol Association/Franklin Sergeant Union hosted the annual Senior Dinner - Jan 20. 2023

Additional COVID-19 Test Kits Available to Franklin Residents

Additional COVID-19 Test Kits Available to Franklin Residents

The Franklin Health Department received more home COVID-19 self test kits from the state. Franklin residents can call the Public Health Nurse at (508) 613-1341 to check for availability and coordinate curbside pick up outside of the Senior Center. 

Pick up hours are as follows...

• Mon, Tues, Thurs: 8 AM - 4 PM
• Wednesday: 8 AM - 6 PM
• Friday 8 AM - 1 PM

There is a limited supply! One test per household member, first come first serve.

Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/home/news/additional-covid-19-test-kits-available-franklin-residents

Additional COVID-19 Test Kits Available to Franklin Residents

Wireless Customers Who Were Subject to Data Throttling by AT&T Can Apply for a Payment from the FTC

Wireless Customers Who Were Subject to Data Throttling by AT&T Can Apply for a Payment from the FTC Those who had unlimited data plans with AT&T between 2011-2015 may be eligible The Federal Trade Commission opened a claims process for former AT&T customers who have yet to claim a refund stemming from the FTC's lawsuit against the company for misleading consumers about its unlimited data plans. View Press Release More news from the FTC

Hope PUNK virtual event Tuesday, Jan 24, 2023

"Hope PUNK with Writers Renan Bernardo, Brianna Castagnozzi, Susan Kaye Quinn, and T. K. Rex

Tuesday, January 24, 7 PM

Virtual Event in collaboration with Watertown Free Public Library

Do you wish you felt more hopeful about the state of our world? Then you'll want to hear from Renan Bernardo, Brianna Castagnozzi, Susan Kaye Quinn, and T. K. Rex—they're writing hopepunk stories that challenge us to look up from our doomscrolling and envision a future filled with defiant optimism!" 

Register ->   https://watertown-ma.zoom.us/webinar/register/9216709615810/WN_TV9EwW_ST...

Shared from -> https://www.instagram.com/p/CnmYwp5OwYJ/

Hope punk virtual event Tuesday, Jan 24, 2023

Franklin's Event Outlook: Jan 20, 2023 to Jan 26, 2023

Rain again this Friday, oh well, we'll go with the flow (no pun intended). This would be a good time to stop by the Library book on Friday, and book & bag sale on Saturday, or the Historical museum either Saturday or Sunday to check out the HO scale model of Franklin's Depot station around 1932.

Friday, January 20

1:00pm - Library Book Sale (Franklin Public Library)

5:30pm - Heather Deary (live music) (67 Degrees Brewery)

Saturday, January 21

9:00am - Library Book Sale (Franklin Public Library)

10:00am - Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

1:00pm - Joey D's Wingz & Thingz (food truck) (67 Degrees Brewery)

1:00pm - Library Bag Sale (Franklin Public Library)

4:00pm - Electric Youth 2023 Debut (ticketed event) (THE BLACK BOX)

5:30pm - Mike & Missy Unplugged (live music) (67 Degrees Brewery)

8:00pm - Electric Youth 2023 Debut (ticketed event) (THE BLACK BOX)

Sunday, January 22

1:00pm - Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

Monday, January 23

11:00am - Author Sue Bavey - book signing (Franklin Senior Center)

Tuesday, January 24

7:00pm - Hopepunk with Writers Renan Bernardo, Brianna Castagnozzi, Susan Kaye Quinn, and T. K. Rex (virtual event) (Franklin Public Library)

7:00pm - Franklin Public Library Book Club - Hamnet (Franklin Public Library)

Wednesday, January 25

1:00pm - Senior Scribblers (writing group - hybrid meeting & recording session) (Franklin TV studio)

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The Franklin Art Association Art Gallery remains open during business hours at Escape into Fiction (Main St, Franklin)

Find the full Community event calendar  https://www.franklinmatters.org/p/blog-page.html

The Cultural calendar displays only the cultural events      https://www.franklinculture.org/things-do/pages/calendar

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:  https://forms.gle/oPdi8X3ZbHHyrHzo6

The Town meeting calendar is found  https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar
The School district calendar is found  https://www.franklinps.net/calendar-by-event-type/26 

Community Calendar

Have you considered working for the Town of Franklin? There are Job Opportunities to be filled by DPW, Police, Health Dept, Senior Center, & Facilities

Job Opportunities

To apply for a vacant position, please submit a resume and cover letter to apply@franklinma.gov.  Please put the job title in the subject line of your email. 

Motor Equipment Repair Person - Department of Public Works

Junior Building Custodian - Facilities Department 

Part Time and Substitute Custodians - Facilities Department 

Heavy Motor Equipment Operator - Department of Public Works 

Patrol Officer - Police Department

Administrative Assistant - Health Department

Administrative Assistant (Part Time) - Department of Public Works

Community Social Worker - Franklin Senior Center 

Program and Volunteer Coordinator - Franklin Senior Center 

If you do not have a resume, you may send a completed Application for Employment instead.

Have you considered working for the Town of Franklin? There are Job Opportunities to be filled by DPW, Police, Health Dept, Senior Center, & Facilities

FHS indoor track teams split vs. Attleboro; girls team win gains Hockomock division title

Via HockomockSports.com, we share the results of the fall sports competition for Franklin High School on Thursday, January 19, 2023. We also provide the link to the full set of Hockomock League results below.

Boys Indoor Track = Attleboro, 52 @ Franklin, 48 – Final 

– Attleboro won both relays, setting a new school record in the 4×200 in the process, to rally for a win over Franklin and clinch the Kelley-Rex division title. Trailing by one going into the final relay, the Bombardiers 2×400 relay team of Peter DelPozzo, Michael Huntington, Jordan Rivera-Silva, and Adrian Rivera registered the best time in school history at 1:33.08 to win the relay and the dual meet. Attleboro’s 4×400 relay team of Austin Bowie, Nicolas Graber, Sean Kaswale, and Camden Martin won in 3:33.62, less than a second ahead of Franklin. Sean O’Hara-Ouellette won the high jump (6-00.00), Adrian Rivera and Jordan Rivera-Silva went 1-2 in the long jump, DelPozzo clocked in first in the 55M hurdles (8.47), and Rivera-Silva took first in the 300M. Luke Hagopian (1000M), Kamron marsh (shot put), and Graber (600M) each had key second place finishes to secure key points. Franklin picked up wins from Jacob Bowser (shot put), Tyler Apicella (2 Mile), Luke Sidwell (55M dash), Jack Halter (1000M), Jake Vaccarezza (600M), and swept the 1 Mile (Jonathan Pink, Will Boozang, Bradford Morin).

Girls Indoor Track = Attleboro, 9 @ Franklin, 90 – Final 

– Franklin swept eight events in a dominant showing, finishing off a 5-0 season to clinch the Kelley-Rex division crown for the first time since 2018. The Panthers swept the high jump (Abigail Griffith, Sarah Dumas, Vera Hansen), the long jump (Dumas, Barra Pfluke, Cailyn Bruno), the shot put (Lily DeForge, Elizabeth Hopkins, Darby Nicholson), the 55M hurdles (Ella Chandaria, Hansen, Bruno), the 55M dash (Dumas, Chandaria, Sophia Cuneo), the 1000M (Gwenyth Holland, Allison Powderly, Katie Barrow), the 600M (Bruno, Anna Cliff, Ella McLaughlin), and the 300M (Cuneo, Olivia Costa, Cassidy Carmignani). Mackenzie Mann added a win in the 2 Mile, clocking in at 13:43.88. Attleboro’s Emilia Smith won the 1 Mile in 5:39.10.

For other results around the Hockomock League

https://hockomocksports.com/thursdays-schedule-scoreboard-01-19-23/

FHS Throwers shared these photos from the meet Thursday:

Great job guys

Great job tonight ladies!

Watch "Open Space and Recreation Update Launch Video" on YouTube

"The Town of Franklin is launching the process for updating the Open Space and Recreation Plan (OSRP). There will be a variety of opportunities for residents to provide their input and feedback on the plan. Resident engagement will help ensure that resident priorities are reflected in the OSRP. 

Questions? Contact Breeka-Li Goodlander via email at bgoodlander@franklinma.gov or via phone by calling (508) 520-4929.

To learn more about the Open Space and Recreation Plan process, you may visit the project webpage here: https://www.franklinma.gov/OSRPUpdate'

Video link -> https://youtu.be/D4Xxuw3k4Z8

Town of Franklin begins planning to update the Open Space and Recreation Plan