Franklin (MA) Matters

This session shares the Franklin (MA) Joint Budget Subcmte meeting held on Wednesday, Oct 23, 2024. The recording runs about 2 hours & 35 minutes, so let’s listen in.--------------The Franklin TV video of the meeting is available -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWmbJdKWrAYThe agenda for the meeting ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/jbsc_agenda_revised_oct_23_2024.pdf-------------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 neighborsIf you don't like something here, please let me knowAnd if you have interest in reporting on meetings or events, please reach. We’ll share and show you what and how we do what we doThrough this feedback loop we can continue to m

This session shares my conversation with Franklin resident Drew Bogner. We had our conversation in the Franklin TV Studio on Tuesday, September 17, 2024. In our wide ranging conversation we coverDrew’s short version of his road to FranklinThe idea for his book “Letters to Students” co-authored with Robert Allyn ScottJourney vs destinationNature and poetryThe recording runs about 1 hour 5 minutes, so let’s listen in.--------------Link to book “Letters to Students” -> https://rowman.com/ISBN/9781475873726/Letters-to-Students-What-It-Means-to-Be-a-College-Graduate -------------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 neighborsIf you don't like something here, please let me know And if you have inte

This session shares the Franklin (MA) School Committee meeting held on Tuesday, Oct 22, 2024. All 7 members participated in Council Chambers.Quick recap:Decision on the overall redistricting proposal was approved at their last meeting but one aspect of that 'tabled' to this meeting: the choice on how to include the former Davis Thayer students. The motion had been amended and then tabled for further clarification on the total number of students involved. The number grew in the time between meetings so if the parents of former DT students choose to stay with Keller rather than move to the new district, they (1) provide their own transportation for the duration of their students' elementary education (2) the district comes up with a net new teacher for one year (approx. $75K) to pay for the increase in enrollment in the new north elementary rather than the south. With the approval (by a 4-3 vote) tonight, the District will now be contacting those affected parents who will need to make a decision in the next cou

Thanks to State Representative Jeff Roy for making some time in his schedule to join me for a conversation about what’s happening in the state government and his campaign for re-election in November 2024.  Jeff represents the 10th Norfolk District and has served as the Chairperson of the Joint Committee on Telecommunications, Utilities & Energy in this current term. We had our conversation in the Franklin TV & Radio Studio on Tuesday, Oct 15,2024.The audio segment runs about 43 minutes, so listen in to my conversation with our State Representative Jeff Roy--------------Jeff Roy’s campaign page  https://jeffreyroy.com/ Jeff Roy’s Twitter =  https://twitter.com/jeffroy Representative Roy’s Facebook page =  https://www.facebook.com/RepJeffRoy/ Jeff’s Representative profile page at MA Legislature =  https://malegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/JNR1 Video summary of his work on behalf of the District -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpGb2iKxaHg Video

This session shares my conversation with Kathleen Mary Mulligan, Actor and Producer, and Norman Johnson, Director. We had our conversation virtually via Zoom on Monday, Oct 14, 2024. We talked about their roles in the forthcoming production of “The Belle of Amherst” by William Luce. The play will be performed on Saturday, Oct 26 at the First Universalist Society in Franklin.During the discussion we find out about a connection between Emily Dickinson and Beirut, Lebanon, where a series of performances of “The Belle of Amherst” were interrupted by the uprising in October, 2019. The recording runs about 55 minutes, so let’s listen in.--------------Wikipedia entry for the play -> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Belle_of_Amherst FUSF link for tickets -> https://fusf.org/2024/08/22/the-belle-of-amherst/ Kathleen’s profile page at Ithaca College -> https://www.ithaca.edu/faculty/kmulligan Norman’s profile page at Ithaca -> https://www.ithaca.edu/faculty/njohnson -------------We

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with our State Senator Becca Rausch.  Due to the Senator’s full calendar we were fortunate to have booked this opportunity weeks ago. We had our conversation via the Zoom Conf bridge on Thursday, October 10, 2024.The recording runs about 32 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Senator Rausch--------------Senator Rausch MA Legislature page -> https://malegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/RLR0 Campaign page -> https://www.beccarauschma.com/ Sign up for her newsletter -> https://www.beccarauschma.com/newsletter Hey Sam support page -> https://samaritanshope.org/our-services/hey-sam/--------------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

This session of the radio show shares our “Town Council Quarterbacking” with Town Council Chair Tom Mercer. We had our conversation via the Zoom Conference Bridge on Thursday, October 17, 2023.  • ok, what just happened? • What does it mean for Franklin residents and taxpayers?Topics for this sessionCitizens are welcome to express their views for up to three minutes on a matter that is not on the agenda. In compliance with G.L. Chapter 30A, Section 20 et seq, the Open Meeting Law, the Council cannot engage in a dialogue or comment on a matter raised during Citizen Comments. The Town Council may ask the Town Administrator to review the matter. Nothing herein shall prevent the Town Administrator from correcting a misstatement of fact.APPOINTMENTSa. 2024 Election WorkersPRESENTATIONS / DISCUSSIONSa. Presentation: Franklin Branding Project - AJ Rebecchi LEGISLATION FOR ACTIONa. Resolution 24-61: Local Acceptance of G.L. Chapter 40, Section 8J (Disability Commission) (Motion to Approve Resoluti

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Town of Franklin (MA) Health Director Cathleen Liberty. We had our conversation in the Franklin TV & Radio Studio on Wednesday, October 9, 2024.The recording runs about 33 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Cathleen--------------Health Dept page  https://www.franklinma.gov/health-departmentMetacomet Health page -> https://www.metacometpha.org/Health Dept Homeless Resource page -> https://sites.google.com/view/homeless-resources-services/home Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) -> https://www.fda.gov/food/hazard-analysis-critical-control-point-haccp/haccp-principles-application-guidelines#execsumCDC page on raw dough  https://www.cdc.gov/food-safety/foods/no-raw-dough.htmlMass College of Pharmacy & health Science   https://www.mcphs.edu/Sign up for Health alerts via Regroup -> https://franklintown.regroup.com/signup The Topic podcast ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/he

This session shares the Franklin (MA) School Committee meeting held on Tuesday, Oct 8, 2024. 6 members participated, 1 absent (O’Sullivan).Brief summary:The Committee did vote 6-0 to approve the redistricting plan.The Committee did vote to amend the recommendation on inclusion of the former DT students/Families in an exception, then tabled the full motion (as amended) to the next meeting. They are looking to clarify that the expansion does cover the 9 students mentioned.The recording runs about 2 hours & 53 minutes, so let’s listen in.--------------Franklin TV -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t39_TWwVqe4 School Committee agenda -> https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4780/FPSD/4900497/SCAGENDA_10-8-24.pdf My notes captured during the meeting (I joined approx 8:15 PM via YouTube and then in person as I came in from the debate in Medway. The Committee was still discussing the proposed redistricting plan and boundary line.) ->  https://drive.goo

This session shares my conversation with School Committee Chairperson Dave Callaghan. This is a new episode of our continuing “Chalkboard Chat” series. We had our discussion in person at the Franklin TV & Radio Studio on Wednesday, October 9, 2024. We cover Redistricting draft alignment of schools as approved at the 10/08/24 meetingThe implementation work that now begins in earnestThe budget work continues with Joint Budget Subcommittee Oct 23The recording runs about 38 minutes, so let’s listen in.--------------Contact info for Dave Callaghan -> callaghand@franklinps.net   School Committee MeetingsAgenda for Sep 24 session ->  https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4780/FPSD/4856277/SCAGENDA_9-24-24.pdf  Franklin TV video of session -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PmQiP_yP2tM Agenda for Oct 8 session -> https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4780/FPSD/4900497/SCAGENDA_10-8-24

Amber DeGrandpre joined me in a conversation on Tuesday via Zoom to talk about her work and her volunteering after having served active duty. This is part of the VFW #StillServing series to highlight the volunteer work Amber and many other veterans do naturally.Her day job is with the Massachusetts National Guard serving in an IT role currently but with a variety of roles over her years of service. Amber stepped down from the leadership team with the Franklin LGBTQ Alliance and is in the middle of a transition moving from Franklin to Western MA. She is still involved as we hear during our conversation.The recording runs about 23 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Amber. --------------The link to Sway’s #stillserving post -> https://todaysvfw.org/stories/amber-2/ LinkedIn profile -> https://www.linkedin.com/in/amber-degrandpre-a8134855/ Franklin LGBTQ Alliance -> https://www.facebook.com/franklinLBGTQalliance -------------We are now producing this in collaboration wit

State Representative Jeff Roy met his challenger Charles Bailey in a debate on Tuesday October 8, 2024 at the Medway Middle School. The debate was arranged and hosted jointly by the Republican and Democratic Town Committees of both Medway and Franklin.The debate was live streamed by Medway to their cable subscribers as well as to Facebook. Franklin likewise broadcast to their cable subscribers and to YouTube.After a brief delay to allow for a technical issue to be resolved as well as the Medway Fire Chief to allow additional participants, as the room capacity (50) had been met, the debate began and lasted just about an hour.The recording runs about 60 minutes, so let’s listen in. --------------The video replay can be found here -> https://www.youtube.com/live/Mw0u4rgg1rI?si=_qvFcdvOovhPHRIH&t=1105 My notes taken during the debate and capture din one PDF thread via Twitter ->https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VtwlvEhZsEQzWDT0kARiMZ6EfbEg3ILl/view?usp=drive_link -------------We are now pr

This session shares the Franklin (MA) Master Plan Update Committee meeting held on Wednesday, October 2, 2024. 10 members participated, 8 in the Council Chambers (Jones, Hamblen, Carlucci, Halligan, Hagen, Williams, Powers), 2 remote (Lange, Hunchard), absent (Frongillo, Gallagher, Stelzer, ?).Quick recap:The Master Plan Update Committee met as scheduled on Wednesday evening, Oct 2, 2024. Much of the meeting worked through the details of how to process the comments etc. coming back from the Town departments on the proposed implementation plan. Ultimately reaching agreement to work on the next update in subcommittee sessions to be scheduled over the next 2 weeks so the comment reviews etc. and updates can be sent back to Amy Love by Oct 20 or Oct 21 so that can be consolidated for review by the committee at their next full meeting Oct 23.The community will get to see the 'final' master plan doc proposal early in November and have time for review and comment. Details on what forums or formats the feedback

This session shares my conversation with Mitzi Gousie, Programming and Outreach Librarian with the Franklin Public Library. We had our discussion virtually on Wednesday, October 2, 2024. We talk about Reviewed the regular open hours, and month ending holiday timesOpen on Sundays Closed Monday, Oct 14 for Indigenous People's Day (Columbus Day)Book sale weekend September 18 & 19Library events for October 2024Kiddos, or “littles”TeensAdultsFamily eventsThe show notes include links to the Library page and to the calendar of events where registration for some of the events is required/recommended..The recording runs about 30 minutes, so let’s listen in.--------------Mitzi Gousie’s email -> mgousie@minlib.net Franklin Public Library page ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/franklin-public-library Library Calendar of Events ->  http://www.eventkeeper.com/mars/xpages/F/FRANKLIN/ekp.cfm October newsletter -> https://www.franklinma.gov/franklin-public-library/news/octo

This session of the radio show shares the Town of Franklin Board of Health Meeting held on Wednesday, Oct 2, 2024. The meeting was conducted in hybrid format. 2 board members participated;  Sweet (chair - virtual) Mu-Chow (present), Harris (absent). Health Dept staff present are heard as they respond to the roll call opening the session. Quick Recap:Board of health meeting underway, 2 of the 3 members participating, over 240 responses to the recent survey sent out to check on emergency recovery preparation, more to come as the intern finishes the workAdvertorial in prep to advocate for homelessness in NovemberFall health fair was successful, haven't heard full numbers yet, looking forward to the spring health fairRetail food allergy awareness added sesame, working on a mailing to share the update info. Kerry McKay, new regional health inspector from MetacometAlisha reports, 86 positive cases (up from 79 in August) still delivering COVID test kits; COVID rate at 472/100,000 residentsNo EEE in Norfolk

This session shares my conversation with School Committee Chairperson Dave Callaghan and Vice-Chair David McNeill. This is a new episode of our continuing “Chalkboard Chat” series. We had our discussion via the Zoom conference bridge on Tuesday, September 17, 2024. We cover Recap of the School Committee meeting of Sep 10 The long executive session and process improvementsRedistricting draft alignment of schools expected soonJoint Budget Subcommittee process started Sep 11The recording runs about 33 minutes, so let’s listen in.--------------Contact info for Dave Callaghan -> callaghand@franklinps.net  Contact info for David McNeill -> mcneilld@franklinps.net School Committee MeetingAgenda for Sep 10 session ->  https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4780/FPSD/4809581/SCAGENDA_9-10-24.pdf   Meeting packet folder -> (docs released for this meeting, some of them available after the meeting)  https://www.franklin

This session shares the Franklin (MA) Joint Budget Subcmte meeting held on Wednesday, Sep 11, 2024. 11 members participated, 9 in chambers, 2 were remote (Frongillo, Griffith).Quick recap:Chair Tom Mercer opened the session with a review of the committee charge (linked to below), and a round of introductions, as well as explanation of why only 3 members of the School Committee vs. 4 each of Finance Cmte and Town Council. Finance and Council have 9 on the full body, hence 4 is the most to avoid a quorum; Schools have only 7, hence the 3 keeps within the quorum rulesTown Administrator Jamie Hellen in his opening remarks said this budget situation is not unique to Franklin, Jamie using his time at Mass Municipal Assoc (MMA) to advocate for state funding at local levels esp. for schools, Lt Gov hearing this message not just from Franklin; this is the norm not the exceptionSupt Lucas Giguere in his intro remarks wants us all to learn from last year, getting together and starting early is good, how do we work toget

This session shares my conversation with Franklin resident and volunteer Bo Kinney conducted in the Franklin Public Radio Station on Tuesday, August 27, 2024. Bo tells the story of his kidney stone which led to a discovery of prostate cancer and the journey he has been on and how he has dealt with it. This is his “public service announcement” on his lessons learnedThe recording runs about 59 minutes, so let’s listen in.---------------------------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 neighborsIf you don't like something here, please let me knowThrough this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/  o

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Health Director Cathleen Liberty  September 4, 2024. We had our conversation via the Zoom conference bridge.The recording runs about 36 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Cathleen--------------Health Dept page  https://www.franklinma.gov/health-departmentMetacomet Health page -> https://www.metacometpha.org/Health Dept Homeless Resource page -> https://sites.google.com/view/homeless-resources-services/home Sign up for Health alerts via Regroup -> https://franklintown.regroup.com/signup The Topic podcast ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/health-department/pages/topic-podcast-links --------------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 yo

This session shares the Franklin (MA) School Committee meeting held on Tuesday, Sep 10, 2024. 7 members participated, 6 in chambers, 1 was remote (Gallagher).Quick recap:The meeting had an Executive Session to review a grievance and discuss negotiation strategy. While it was anticipated to be short, the session did extend 85 minutes before the meeting resumed in public session. (Note: the executive session 85 minutes of nothing was removed from the audio and replaced with a brief musical piece to indicate the transition)The District Improvement Plan was presented and approved (by a 7-0 via roll call vote)Redistricting update - proposed district alignment scheduled to be shared via a "Storymap" before the next meeting and then explained fully during the Sep 28 meeting with a vote to approve the alignment of the new schools scheduled for the first October meeting. Email and multiple methods of communication to share the storymapThe appointment of Rose Turco to represent the Schools to the Franklin TV Board of D