Saturday, March 25, 2023

MMA: "Legislature passes supplemental budget with pandemic-era extensions, key investments"

The House and Senate both passed a compromise supplemental 2023 budget bill today that includes a majority of the governor’s proposed “immediate needs” bond bill as well as extensions of pandemic-related authorizations related to public meetings and outdoor dining.

The bill was originally filed by Gov. Maura Healey in January, and both chambers had passed slightly different versions earlier this month.

The final bill (H. 47) includes extensions to pandemic-related authorizations that were set to expire next week.

The bill would:
• Allow remote and hybrid meeting options for public bodies through March 31, 2025
• Allow remote and hybrid participation options for representative town meetings through March 31, 2025
• Permit reduced quorums for open town meetings through March 31, 2025
• Extend the expedited outdoor dining permit process through April 1, 2024

The legislation started as H.47 and ended up on the Governor's desk as  H.58 -https://malegislature.gov/Bills/193/H58

MMA: "Legislature passes supplemental budget with pandemic-era extensions, key investments"
MMA: "Legislature passes supplemental budget with pandemic-era extensions, key investments"

Notice from the Treasurer/ Collector: FY 23 Real Estate and Personal Property Tax Bills - Fourth Quarter

Notice from the Office of the Treasurer/ Collector:

Treasurer Collector Kerri A. Bertone has mailed the Fiscal Year 2023 fourth quarter real estate and personal property tax bills.  Payment is due by May 1, 2023.  Payments received after the due date are charged 14% interest.

Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/home/news/notice-treasurer-collector-fy-23-real-estate-and-personal-property-tax-bills-fourth

Notice from the Treasurer/ Collector: FY 23 Real Estate and Personal Property Tax Bills - Fourth Quarter
Notice from the Treasurer/ Collector: FY 23 Real Estate and Personal Property Tax Bills - Fourth Quarter

Converse and Conserve Workshop - Come Learn About Programs That Allow Your Property to Work for You and Create a Family Legacy

Converse and Conserve Workshop - Come Learn About Programs That Allow Your Property to Work for You and Create a Family Legacy

Tax Incentives | Resource Management | Land Endowment

Your land is a part of your legacy. Deciding what will happen to your land after you are gone is the next critical step of being a good land steward and furthering that legacy. Who will own your land and how will it be used? What will your legacy continue to be? These are questions that the "Converse and Conserve" workshop on Wednesday, March 29 from 4p-6p at Town Hall, Room 326A can answer for you.

Join the Franklin Conservation Department, Franklin Assessor's Office, Franklin Agricultural Commission, Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation, Metacomet Land Trust, and DDCRW Law in learning about your options. Come learn about applicable tax incentive programs for forestland, agricultural land, and open space; learn about resource management for your natural environment; and even learn how to endow your land to ensure its lifelong protection. Estate planning, whether for now or for the future, is not just for the wealthy or for those who own "estates" – if you own land, then estate planning is a necessary and valuable step to ensure that the legacy of your land is a positive one!

Food and beverages will be provided by Birchwood Bakery & Kitchen.

RSVP for a free gift. 

For more information or to RSVP contact bgoodlander@franklinma.gov/(508) 520-4847.

Shared from ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/conservation/news/converse-and-conserve-workshop-come-learn-about-programs-allow-your-property-work

Come Learn About Programs That Allow Your Property to Work for You and Create a Family Legacy
Come Learn About Programs That Allow Your Property to Work for You and Create a Family Legacy

MCOA Interactive Workshop: Branding & Conducting Your Job Campaign - March 28

Interactive Workshop: Branding & Conducting Your Job Campaign

Tuesday March 28th: 10 AM  – 11:30 AM

 

Tom Peters famously said, "We are CEOs of our own companies: Me, Inc."

 

But, what does that mean we should do?

It means you need to brand yourself just as companies do.

 

Join us to learn about and discuss personal branding and marketing yourself.


Why you need to know about this: Effective personal branding will differentiate you from the competition and allow you to build trust with prospective clients and employers. Mastering personal branding puts you in the top 2% of applicants and greatly enhances your chance of being selected for the job.

 

New to the program?  Registration is required.

https://50plusjobseekers.org/event/branding-and-conducting-your-job-campaign/

 

For more information, contact:

50plusjobseekersadmin@mcoaonline.com


--

Ed Lawrence
CPRW; NCOPE
Certified Interview Coach
Authorized DISC Administrator
Member, CPRW Certification Committee


MCOA Interactive Workshop: Branding & Conducting Your Job Campaign - March 28
MCOA Interactive Workshop: Branding & Conducting Your Job Campaign - March 28

Register Now! The Transmission Challenge: Unleashing New England's Renewable Energy Potential featuring Sen. Markey


The Transmission Challenge:Unleashing New England's Renewable Energy PotentialA new era of renewable energy beckons in New England. Yet the promise of deploying abundant clean energy — both on land and at sea — faces a fundamental obstacle: the need for new and upgraded transmission infrastructure.  Without significant transmission planning and investment, New England states risk squandering clean and inexpensive energy sources while falling short of vitally important carbon reduction goals. Effective transmission planning will help ensure states meet greenhouse gas reduction goals and reward New England ratepayers with billions in energy savings.Join RENEW Northeast, an organization that unites environmental advocates and the clean energy industry, along with energy regulators, elected officials, and thought leaders, for a conference on the urgent and necessary steps to build the transmission foundation for the next era of clean energy.Monday, April 3, 20238:30 a.m. - NoonFederal Reserve Bank of BostonProgram Details:Keynote Address - Senator Edward J. MarkeyPresentation - Maria Robinson, Director, Grid Deployment Office, U.S. Department of EnergyPanel Discussion - Making the Connection: Transmission Challenges Confronting Renewable EnergyNew England faces a variety of challenges in connecting needed renewable energy resources to a legacy grid built around fossil fuel power plants. Our panel of leading clean energy executives, public interest organizations and leading academic researchers will explore the opportunities and obstacles in harnessing the full potential of New England renewable energy.Featured Panelists: Clarke Bruno, CEO, AnbaricMichelle Gardner, Executive Director, Regulatory Affairs - Northeast, NextEra Energy ResourcesCarrie Hitt, Lead Transmission Strategy & Innovation Hub, EquinorSarah Jackson, Northeast Climate Mitigation Strategy Lead, The Nature ConservancyLopa Parikh, Head of Electricity Policy, OrstedPanel Discussion - The Transmission Infrastructure Opportunity: The Regional PlanIn recognizing the need to expand transmission and work collaboratively, New England states are joining together to pursue Department of Energy funding to support the expanding grid capacity and building critical new infrastructure. What are the potential benefits from this innovative multi-state collaboration and what hurdles remain? Join leading New England energy officials working on the proposal (panel in formation).Featured Panelists:Moderator: Jon Chesto, Reporter, The Boston GlobePhilip L. Bartlett II, Chairman, Maine Public Utilities CommissionChristopher Kearns, Interim Energy Commissioner, Rhode Island Office of Energy ResourcesJason Marshall, Deputy Secretary & Special Counsel for Federal & Regional Energy Affairs, Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy & Environmental AffairsRegister Now for what promises to be an engaging morning. We look forward to seeing you there!
 ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ 

The Transmission Challenge:

Unleashing New England's Renewable Energy Potential

A new era of renewable energy beckons in New England. Yet the promise of deploying abundant clean energy — both on land and at sea — faces a fundamental obstacle: the need for new and upgraded transmission infrastructure.  

Without significant transmission planning and investment, New England states risk squandering clean and inexpensive energy sources while falling short of vitally important carbon reduction goals. Effective transmission planning will help ensure states meet greenhouse gas reduction goals and reward New England ratepayers with billions in energy savings.

Join RENEW Northeast, an organization that unites environmental advocates and the clean energy industry, along with energy regulators, elected officials, and thought leaders, for a conference on the urgent and necessary steps to build the transmission foundation for the next era of clean energy.

Monday, April 3, 2023
8:30 a.m. - Noon
Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Program Details:
Keynote Address - Senator Edward J. Markey
Presentation - Maria Robinson, Director, Grid Deployment Office, U.S. Department of Energy
Panel Discussion - Making the Connection: Transmission Challenges Confronting Renewable Energy

New England faces a variety of challenges in connecting needed renewable energy resources to a legacy grid built around fossil fuel power plants. Our panel of leading clean energy executives, public interest organizations and leading academic researchers will explore the opportunities and obstacles in harnessing the full potential of New England renewable energy.

Featured Panelists:
Clarke Bruno, CEO, Anbaric
Michelle Gardner, Executive Director, Regulatory Affairs - Northeast, NextEra Energy Resources
Carrie Hitt, Lead Transmission Strategy & Innovation Hub, Equinor
Sarah Jackson, Northeast Climate Mitigation Strategy Lead, The Nature Conservancy
Lopa Parikh, Head of Electricity Policy, Orsted

Panel Discussion - The Transmission Infrastructure Opportunity: The Regional Plan

In recognizing the need to expand transmission and work collaboratively, New England states are joining together to pursue Department of Energy funding to support the expanding grid capacity and building critical new infrastructure. What are the potential benefits from this innovative multi-state collaboration and what hurdles remain? Join leading New England energy officials working on the proposal (panel in formation).

Featured Panelists:
Moderator: Jon Chesto, Reporter, The Boston Globe
Philip L. Bartlett II, Chairman, Maine Public Utilities Commission
Christopher Kearns, Interim Energy Commissioner, Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources
Jason Marshall, Deputy Secretary & Special Counsel for Federal & Regional Energy Affairs, Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy & Environmental Affairs

Register Now

for what promises to be an engaging morning.
We look forward to seeing you there!

Unleashing New England's Renewable Energy Potential
Monday, April 3, 2023 8:30 AM
Federal Reserve Bank of Boston

RENEW Northeast
PO Box 383, Madison, CT 06443 US

Friday, March 24, 2023

Franklin's Event Outlook: Mar 24, 2023 to Mar 31, 2023



Friday, March 24

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

5:30pm - NAHS - Night of the Arts (Franklin High School) 

7:30pm - Pippin (ticketed event) (Dean College)

8:00pm - Rock ‘n Roll Night (ticketed event) (THE BLACK BOX)


Saturday, March 25

10:00am - Winter Farmers Market (Fairmount Fruit Farms)

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

11:00am - Yoga in the Taproom (ticketed event) (67 Degrees Brewery)

11:00am - SNETT Trail Ribbon Cutting (Grove St entrance)

2:00pm - Pippin (ticketed event) (Dean College)

4:00pm - Raina’s Plate (food truck) (67 Degrees Brewery)

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

7:30pm - Pippin (ticketed event) (Dean College)


Sunday, March 26

12:30pm - One Path, Many Experiences: A Labyrinth Workshop (First Universalist Society of Franklin)

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

2:00pm - Pippin (ticketed event) (Dean College)

4:00pm - Resonant Reflections (ticketed event) (THE BLACK BOX)


Wednesday, March 29

1:00pm - Senior Scribblers (writing group) (Franklin Senior Center)

7:00pm - Think:Kids Collaborative Problem Solving Workshop (virtual)


Thursday, March 30

10:00am - Writer's Quiet Space (Escape Into Fiction)

6:30pm - Metrowest Arts and Culture Symposium (free registration) (Dean College)


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


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 


Franklin's Event Outlook: Mar 17, 2023 to Mar 23, 2023
Franklin's Event Outlook: Mar 24, 2023 to Mar 31, 2023

School Committee explores details on the FPS Superintendent's recommended budget for FY 2024 (audio & video)

FM #963 - 964 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 963 - 964 in the series. 


This session shares the Franklin, MA School Committee meeting held on Tuesday, March 21, 2023. The meeting was conducted in the Council Chambers with all seven members present. 


School Committee Chair Denise Spencer opens the meeting at 7:02 PM. 


Key items on the agenda

  • Recognition of several FHS students

  • Parmenter Elementary update & presentation

  • Superintendent's recommended budget for FY 2024

The show notes contain a link to the full agenda and to my notes & photos captured via Twitter during the meeting. 


The Committee entered Executive Session on a negotiation discussion and did return to public meeting. I did not capture that portion of the meeting.


The recording runs about three hours, thirty four minutes, so let’s listen to the Franklin School Committee on March 21, 2023.


I split the audio into two sections


  • #963 - Part 1 - covers the opening of meeting, FHS student recognitions, Parmenter presentation (less the musical audio segment - approx 5 minutes), and then the closing of the meeting after the budget presentation (net of 1 hour and 25 minutes)


  • #964 - Part 2 - the entirety of the budget presentation  (2 hours) 

Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-964-fps-school-cmte-mtg-03-21-23-p2




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


School Committee page -> https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-committee 


The agenda for this meeting can be found

 https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/scagenda_3-21-23-rescheduled.pdf 


The Packet folder contains the documents released for this meeting.

https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/march-21-2023-school-committee-meeting-packet-31423-was-canceled-due 


My notes captured via Twitter and compiled into one PDF doc ->

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1M6IGtXDw0VLVnIMOjr4XvMpAguwCEGWg/view?usp=share_link


YouTube video link for this meeting -> https://youtu.be/h2SITbmEoG8


Presentation documents now available:


Photos from the meeting (mostly screen shots of the presentations not yet posted to the packet folder)  



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

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"


School Committee explores details on the FPS Superintendent's recommended budget for FY 2024 (audio)
School Committee explores details on the FPS Superintendent's recommended budget for FY 2024 (audio)

Empower with Gardening 2023 - order your raised bed now

Hello community! It's that time of year again for VFJ Renovations: #empowerwithgardening 2023!

For the 4th year, we will be making cedar raised garden beds and the profits will be donated to a non-profit organization that supports mental health wellness and education. Order deadline is Friday, April 28, and we hope to have the garden beds delivered by Mother's Day. We plan to make only 30 beds, so get your orders in early!!

Pictures and pricing can be found on our website and order form.

Thanks for your interest and supporting our initiative! www.vfjrenovations.com

Order form ->





Empower with Gardening 2023 - order your raised bed now
Empower with Gardening 2023 - order your raised bed now

Space Needs & Facilities Assessment Subcommittee - March 27, 2023 at 5:45 (hybrid)

Space Needs & Facilities Assessment Subcommittee

March 27, 2023  --   5:45 P.M
Municipal Building - 3rd Floor Training Room
A G E N D A 
"The listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law."
 ● Discuss Redistricting data

Space Needs & Facilities Assessment Subcommittee - March 27, 2023 at 5:45 (hybrid)
Space Needs & Facilities Assessment Subcommittee - March 27, 2023 at 5:45 (hybrid)