Friday, February 24, 2023

March Veterans' Coffee Social - LOCATION CHANGE to VFW Post

March Veterans' Coffee Social - LOCATION CHANGE

All Vets are invited!

PLEASE NOTE THE LOCATION CHANGE FOR THE MARCH 2023 COFFEE SOCIAL!

Please join us for coffee and conversation with fellow Veterans on Wednesday, March 1 at 10:00 AM at the VFW Post 3402 at 1034 Pond Street, Franklin.

Thank you to the VFW for offering their space to us while the Senior Center is undergoing repairs due to the flood earlier this month. Many thanks to Diana and her Associates at the East Central Street Starbucks for their flexibility and generosity. We are so appreciative!

Hope to see you all there on March 1! 

Shared from ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/veterans-services/news/march-veterans-coffee-social-location-change

March Veterans' Coffee Social - LOCATION CHANGE to VFW Post
March Veterans' Coffee Social - LOCATION CHANGE to VFW Post 

Economic Development Subcommittee Meeting - March 1, 2023 - Accessory Dwelling Unit

Economic Development Subcommittee Meeting - March 1, 2023

The Economic Development Subcommittee will meet on Wednesday, March 1, 2023 at 5:30 pm.

Please find the agenda and links for the upcoming meeting here: https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/_2023-03-01_edc_agenda_.pdf

Economic Development Subcommittee Meeting - March 1st, 2023
Economic Development Subcommittee Meeting - March 1, 2023

Climate Change Roundup: connecting to the grid; CA farmers need help; climate migration has begun



Wind and Solar Energy Projects Risk Overwhelming America’s Antiquated Electrical Grids    - The New York Times  (subscription maybe required)  https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/23/climate/renewable-energy-us-electrical-grid.html


‘Help us fight’: California farmers ask for more aid after deadly storms | California | The Guardian   (subscription maybe required)


The American climate migration has already begun | Jake Bittle | The Guardian   (subscription maybe required) 

'The effects will be different in every place, but almost everywhere safe shelter will get scarcer and more expensive, loosening people’s grip on the stability that comes with a permanent home.’ Photograph: Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images
'The effects will be different in every place, but almost everywhere safe shelter will get scarcer and more expensive, loosening people’s grip on the stability that comes with a permanent home.’ Photograph: Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images

challenges to democracy round up


Former Proud Boy Says Group Prepared for ‘All-Out Revolution’ on Jan. 6 - The New York Times   (subscription maybe required)
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/22/us/politics/proud-boys-jan-6-trial.html


‘Incredibly damning:’ Fox News documents stun some legal experts
The disclosure of behind-the-scenes emails and texts greatly increased the chances that Dominion will win its $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit against Fox, experts say.  (subscription maybe required) 


Opinion  Kevin McCarthy’s Jan. 6 footage stunt demands a real response   (subscription maybe required)


A grave mistake’: Schumer slams McCarthy for giving Tucker Carlson Jan. 6 surveillance footage   (subscription maybe required)




   

Franklin TV and wfpr.fm schedule for Friday, Feb 24, 2023

  • wfpr.fm or 102.9 on the FM dial = Friday

9:00a/12:00p /6:00p Chapters – Jim Derick  Insightful, life-affirming stories and interviews

10:00a/1:00p/7:00p Music to Lift the Spirit - Jim Derick & Frank Falvey

11:00a/2:00p/8:00pm Senior Story Hour – Senior Center Scribblers Group

  • Franklin All Access TV - Our Public Access Channel (Comcast 8, Verizon 26) = FRIDAY
 
9:00 am    Frank Presents: Chris Woolf
11:00 am    Senior Connection: Joe Landry
12:00 pm    Brook'n'Cookin: French Toast
12:30 pm    Sandhya: Cupcakes
1:00 pm    Physician Focus: Oral Health
1:30 pm    Pizzapalooza: Game Day Pizza
2:00 pm    New England Candlepins: Fall 2019 show 4
3:00 pm    Winning Ways with the MIAA: Ep 1
3:30 pm    Pack 92 Pinewood Derby 2022
7:00 pm    Riffing with the President: Ep 1
8:30 pm    FHS Theater Company: Cinderella
 
  • Franklin Pride TV - Our Educational Channel (Comcast 96, Verizon 28) = FRIDAY
 
7:00 am    Public School Concert: Elementary Winter Music Pt. 3 01-15-19
8:30 am    It Takes A Village: D'Angela Alberty
11:00 am    FHS Girls Varsity Hockey: v Leominster 02-07-23
1:30 pm    Public School Concert: Sullivan Winter Music 2019
3:00 pm    FHS Boys Varsity Basketball v N. Attleboro 02-10-23
9:00 pm    FHS Boys Varsity Hockey: v Attleboro 02-01-23
 
  • Franklin Town Hall TV - Our Government Channel (Comcast 11, Verizon 29) =  FRIDAY

8:00 am    Zoning Board of Appeals: 02-16-23
11:30 am    Open Space and Recreation Planning: 02-09-23
2:00 pm    Zoning Board of Appeals: 02-16-23


Get this week's program guide for Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) online  http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf   

Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm)
Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm)
 

 


 

Thursday, February 23, 2023

Second Sunday Speaker Series: History Of Franklin Written In Stone - Sunday, Mar 12

Stories from the Union Street Cemetery
 
Just who were the prominent people and families who helped shape our town in the early days after incorporation? The Mann Family, Oliver Dean, the Rays, Thayers, Ponds, Metcalfs, Fishers, Fletchers, etc. Many of these families sent notable men into the world as well as many who lent high standards of service to our town. 
 
They’re all resting peacefully in the Union Street Cemetery and they all have a story to share. Come learn about their lives, their influence and see the beautiful monuments and gravestones that mark their life and passing. 

Sunday March 12, 2023. Doors open at 1:00, presentation starts at 1:15. Admission is always free. 

We’re collecting paper towels to donate to the Franklin Food Pantry. Please consider making a donation. 
 
When you visit the Museum and make a purchase in our gift shop, you help support the museum and its programs. The gift show is run by the Friends of the Franklin Historical Museum.

Ray family monument at Union St cemetary
Ray family monument at Union St cemetery

You're Invited to the Franklin Arts & Culture Listening Tour!

You're Invited to the Franklin Arts & Culture Listening Tour!

Help shape the future of Arts & Culture (A&C) during the town's Master Plan update process.

The Franklin Town Council has established an Ad Hoc Subcommittee for Arts and Cultural Initiatives. The Ad Hoc Subcommittee will host 3 sessions as part of their listening tour. The purpose of these tours is to gather community input to help inform the direction of arts and culture for the next 10 -15 years as part of the town's Master Plan Update process.

Your input will help define what Arts and Culture (A&C) is to Franklin and shape where we as a community want it to be. By embedding our communal vision for the arts into long range planning, we can ensure our vision for the arts is developed further and well maintained by the creative community as it continues to evolve.

You're invited to join one of the three sessions ... 

You're Invited to the Franklin Arts & Culture Listening Tour!
Arts & Culture Listening Tour

March 7, 2023 - 5 PM - 7 PM
Dean College, Dr. Paula M. Rooney Student Center 1st floor in the Campanella Boardroom. (Click here to add this event to your Google Calendar) 

April 28, 2023 - 9 AM - 11 AM
Franklin Public Library, Meeting Room (School St. entrance). (Click here to add this event to your Google Calendar)

May 19, 2023 - 10 AM - 12 PM
Escape Into Fiction, 12 Main St. Franklin, MA (Click here to add this event to your Google Calendar)

The Ad Hoc Subcommittee for Arts and Cultural Initiatives is composed of the following Town Council members:

  • Cobi Frongillo, Chair
  • Ted Cormier-Ledger, Vice Chair
  • Melanie Hamblen, Clerk

See the attached poster or click here to learn more!

Shared from ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/town-council/events/421731

Economic Development Subcmte took a deep dive into 40b, then got a preview of a friendly 40b proposal for 121 Grove St (audio)

FM #949 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 949 in the series. 


This session of the radio show shares the Economic Development SubCmte meeting held in hybrid format on Wednesday, February 23, 2023. Some of the audience participated via Zoom, some were in person in the Council Chambers.


Chair: M Hamblen, C Frongillo, G Jones, P Sheridan

Town Administration: J Hellen, M Cerel, B Taberner, A Love, G Brown


1 - Discussion on the ins and outs of 40b. 

2 - Informational overview of “friendly 40b” development proposed for 121 Grove St


The recording runs two hours and thirty-six minutes, so let’s listen to the Economic Development SubCmte meeting on February 23, 2023.

Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-949-economic-development-subcmte-mtg-02-22-23




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

Quick recap:

40b overview

  • The 40b legislation was enacted in 1969 to help expand the number of communities and neighborhoods where households with low and moderate incomes could secure a safe, affordable home

  • The 40b legislation is an "Affordable" housing production tool. 40B Projects must have at least 20 to 25% of housing units deeded as affordable

  • The permitting process of a 40B Project is through the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA), not the Planning Board

  • The ZBA is formally a "Comprehensive Permit Process" which allows for a streamlined permit process. The ZBA may apply more flexible standards than the local zoning requirements

  • Note it is capital A “Affordable”, there are legal requirements built into either the home ownership deed or to the rental agreements to create “Affordable” units. This is not to say that the units are market rate ‘affordable.’ Affordability is a relative term but per 40b it does have legal requirements set at the Federal & State level, enforced locally

  • The Subsidized Housing Inventory (SHI) is the List of Affordable Housing Units that Massachusetts Department of Housing & Community Development (DHCD) uses to calculate a Community’s percentage of low-or moderate-income housing. Owned units are counted differently (i.e. condos) than apartments. A 100 unit proposal with 25% “Affordable” (note the capital A) if owned would add 25 units to the SHI. If these units were apartments, then all 100 (assuming the 25% “Affordable”) would add 100 units to the SHI

  • Franklin is believed to be above the 10% requirement. The census data from 2020 has not yet been processed by DHCD to determine the specific percent we are today. We were 11.96% with 2010 data, it is projected that we are above 10% but exactly where is not known today

  • Information on some of the presentation pages provide details on current 40b developments as well as proposed developments (as of today anyway)

121 Grove St (begins approx 80 minutes into the recording)

  • The second part of the meeting was an overview of the proposal for 300 or so units at 121 Grove St

  • The slides shown are noted as “draft”. This is shared as part of the informational work of the “friendly 40b” process created by the Town of Franklin. Based upon the feedback received there are changes likely to the specifics to address the concerns or items raised. For example, there is an open Conservation permitting process underway where the back and forth negotiation could lead to changes in the number of or at least layout of the buildings on the land.

  • One point raised in the discussion that should be considered is the “loss” of land zoned as commercial industrial when we need that. This particular property overtime has proved the point that it is not fit for C/I development due to its terrain and wetlands. The residential proposal can work around the land in particular to create revenue that for years has not been able to be addressed in any other way

  • All the slide of the presentation as shown overhead in the Council Chambers were captured in one photo album and the link is provided below

  • The 121 Grove St proposal will be scheduled to come before the Town Council in the near future and assuming fairly received could begin the formal process by applying through the Zoning Board of Appeals as outlined in the 40b discussion



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


The agenda doc for the meeting can be found here ->    https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/_2023-02-22_edc_agenda_.pdf 


40b overview presentation -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YcwAKFPdjcjYNAbPlF4PtuSVr8K8Ns8Z/view?usp=share_link 


The Franklin TV replay for this session is available ->  https://www.youtube.com/live/K9BYvCAcE1s?feature=share 


My notes via Twitter can be found in one PDF here -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AIKI1EdTZML5WLCqhhbwLXO6RTi2l2HL/view?usp=share_link     


121 Grove St slides (photo album) -> https://photos.app.goo.gl/ySstvYGTnhGYh3rp9 


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


We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.  


This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

 

How can you help?

  • If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

  • If you don't like something here, please let me know


Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.


For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ 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"

 
Economic Development Subcmte took a deep dive into 40b, then heard a friendly 40b proposal for 121 Grove St (audio)
Economic Development Subcmte took a deep dive into 40b, then heard a friendly 40b proposal for 121 Grove St (audio)


Franklin, MA: School Committee Meeting Agenda for Tuesday, Feb 28, 2023

Franklin, MA School Committee 
Meeting Agenda - Feb 28, 2023 - 7 PM


Call to Order                                                             Ms. Spencer
Pledge of Allegiance
Moment of Silence

I. Routine Business
A. Review of Agenda
B. Payment of Bills Mr. McNeill
C. Payroll Ms. Spencer
D. FHS Student Representative Comments
E. Superintendent’s Report
II. Guests/Presentations
A. Horace Mann Highlights - Ms. Motte, Mr. Healy
B. Teaching & Learning UdL MTSS Focus - Dr. Rogers
III. Discussion/Action Items
A. Policy – 2nd Reading/Adoption
I recommend adoption of the following policies as discussed:
● EEB - Student Transportation Policy - Routing and Scheduling
● IE - Organization of Instruction
● IGA - Curriculum Development
● IGB - Student Services Program
● IGD - Curriculum Adoption

B. Adding Seekonk, MA to BICO Collaborative
I recommend approval of the request of BICO to add Seekonk, MA to the BICO Collaborative.
C. BICO Amended Agreement Vote 
I recommend approval of the amended agreement with the Bi-County Collaborative as discussed.
D. Representatives for the Health & Safety Committee
I recommend the appointment of Dr. Tina Rogers, Mr. Josh Hanna, and Mr. Michael Procacini as representatives on the Health & Safety Committee as discussed.
E. School Committee Goals 2023-2025
I recommend adoption of the School Committee Goals as discussed.
F. School Committee Norms and Protocols
I recommend adoption of the School Committee Norms & Protocols as discussed.
IV. Discussion Only Items
A. none
V. Information Matters
A. School Committee Sub-Committee Reports
B. School Committee Liaison Reports
VI. Consent Agenda
A. Approval of Minutes
I recommend approval of the minutes from the February 14, 2023 School Committee meeting as detailed.
B. Transfers
I recommend approval of the budget transfers as detailed.
C. Oak St. Recurring Field Trip
I recommend approval of the request of Brad Hendrixson, Oak Street Elementary school to take 1st graders to the Providence Children’s Museum on May 11, 2023 as detailed.
VII. Citizen’s Comments
VIII. New Business
To discuss any future agenda items
IX. Adjournment


Shared from -> https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/scagenda_2-28-23.pdf

Meeting packet folder -> https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/february-28-2023-school-committee-meeting-packet  (documents released for this meeting, note - not all are released BEFORE the meeting, some will be AFTER)

Franklin, MA: School Committee Meeting Agenda for Tuesday, Feb 28, 2023
Franklin, MA: School Committee Meeting Agenda for Tuesday, Feb 28, 2023


FHS girls basketball team topped by Wachusett; boys hockey team fall to St John's Prep

Via HockomockSports.com and Twitter, we share the results of the winter sports competition for Franklin High School on Wednesday, February 22, 2023. We also provide the link to the full set of Hockomock League results below.


Girls Basketball = Franklin, 40 @ Wachusett, 50 – Final

Boys Hockey = Franklin, 1 @ St. John’s Prep, 5 – Final
SJP 5 Franklin 1. Sicchio 🚨 Jarosz 🍎.  Wagner with 33 saves
For other results around the Hockomock League

FHS Panthers
FHS Panthers

Mark your calendar for the Franklin Downtown Partnership Events coming along in 2023




Franklin Downtown Partnership Events


SAVE THE DATES

Networking Breakfast

MARCH 17

FDP Networking Party

MARCH 22, 5 - 7 PM

April General Meeting

APRIL 6

Ladybug Trail Spring Walk

APRIL 15

Beautification Day

MAY 20

June General Meeting

JUNE 1

Strawberry Stroll

JUNE 9

September General Meeting

SEPT. 7

Harvest Festival

SEPT. 30

November General Meeting

NOV. 2

Winter Decorating Day

NOV. 18

More Information to Come...Stay Tuned


Franklin Downtown Partnership | 9 E. Central St., Franklin, MA 02038

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