Showing posts with label open meeting. Show all posts
Showing posts with label open meeting. Show all posts

Sunday, November 12, 2023

Franklin, MA: Town Council agenda for Nov 15, 2023 meeting

Franklin Town Council
Agenda & Meeting Packet
November 15, 2023 - 7:00 PM

Meeting will be held at the Municipal Building
2nd floor, Council Chambers 355 East Central Street 

1. SWEARING IN OF TOWN COUNCIL

2. ELECTION OF OFFICERS – Town Council Chair, Vice-Chair & Clerk

3. ADOPTION OF TOWN COUNCIL PROCEDURES MANUAL
a. Resolution 23-60: Adoption of the Procedures Manual of the Franklin Town Council (Motion to Approve Resolution 23-60 - Majority Vote)

4. ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE CHAIR
a. This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast channel 9 and Verizon Channel 29. This meeting may be recorded by others.
b. Chair to identify members participating remotely.

5. CITIZEN COMMENTS
a. Citizens are welcome to express their views for up to three minutes on a matter that is not on the agenda. The Council will not engage in a dialogue or comment on a matter raised during Citizen Comments. The Town Council will give remarks appropriate consideration and may ask the Town Administrator to review the matter.

6. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
a. October 18, 2023

7. APPOINTMENTS
a. Agricultural Commission
i. Cynthia Garboski

8. PUBLIC HEARINGS - 7:00 PM
 
a. Transfer of Section 15 All Alcoholic Beverages Package Store License, Approval of Pledge of Liquor License, and Approval of Bhaveshkumar Patel as the Manager - Heeru Corporation d/b/a DeVita’s Market, Located at 198 East Central St., Franklin, MA 02038
i. License Transaction #9a

9. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
a. Transfer of Section 15 All Alcoholic Beverages Package Store License, Approval of Pledge of Liquor License, and Approval of Bhaveshkumar Patel as the Manager - Heeru Corporation d/b/a DeVita’s Market, Located at 198 East Central St., Franklin, MA 02038

10. PRESENTATIONS / DISCUSSION
a. Presentation: Franklin Elks Riders Donation to Veterans’ Services Department
i. Legislation for Action #9f
b. Discussion: Open Meeting Law, Public Records, Ethics and Conducting a Public Meeting - Mark Cerel, Town Attorney

11. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION -
a. Resolution 23-58: General Funds Appropriation, Transfers and Adjustments FY24 (Motion to Approve Resolution 23-58 - Majority Vote)
b. Resolution 23-59: Stormwater Enterprise Fund Appropriation Reduction FY24
(Motion to Approve Resolution 23-59 - Majority Vote)
c. Bylaw Amendment 23-903: A Bylaw to Amend the code of the Town of Franklin at Chapter 82, Fees, Municipal Service - First Reading
(Motion to Move Bylaw Amendment 23-903 to a Second Reading)
d. Bylaw Amendment 23-902: A Bylaw to Amend the Code of the Town of Franklin by Inserting Chapter 147, Snow and Ice, Removal Of - First Reading
(Motion to Move Bylaw Amendment 23-902 to a Second Reading - ⅔ Majority Vote)
e. Resolution 23-61: 2024 Town Council Meeting Schedule
(Motion to Approve Resolution 23-61 - Majority Vote)
f. Resolution 23-62: Gift Acceptance - Veterans’ Services Department ($1,000)
(Motion to Approve Resolution 23-62 - Majority Vote)
g. Resolution 23-63: Gift Acceptance - Veterans’ Services Department ($1,975)
(Motion to Approve Resolution 23-63 - Majority Vote)
h. Resolution 23-64: Establishment by Town Council of Subcommittee for Town Administrator Evaluation (Motion to Approve Resolution 23-64 - Majority Vote)
i. Resolution 23-65: Establishment by Town Council of Subcommittee for Review of Rules of Procedure of the Town Council (Motion to Approve Resolution 23-65 - Majority Vote)

12. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

13. SUBCOMMITTEE & AD HOC COMMITTEE REPORTS
a. Capital Budget Subcommittee
b. Economic Development Subcommittee
c. Budget Subcommittee
d. Master Plan Committee
e. Davis-Thayer Reuse Advisory Committee
f. Police Station Building Committee
g. GATRA Advisory Board
14. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

15. COUNCIL COMMENTS

16. EXECUTIVE SESSION - None Scheduled.

17. ADJOURN

Agenda doc and additional docs released for this meeting ->


Franklin, MA: Town Council agenda for Nov 15, 2023 meeting
Franklin, MA: Town Council agenda for Nov 15, 2023 meeting

Sunday, July 23, 2023

The Franklin TV Open Board Meeting - It’s Happening. August 19 at Our Studio

by Pete Fasciano, Executive Director 07/23/2023

This year our Annual Open Board Meeting will take place as part of a neighborhood block party at our 23 Hutchinson St. studios.
Join us, Saturday, August 19th at 3:00 PM. 
If you plan to attend, please RSVP by August 12 to: info@franklin.tv
Franklin TV Open Board Meeting
Franklin TV Open Board Meeting

It’s open to all Franklin businesses and residents. We’ll meet-and-greet and enjoy the day starting at 3:00 PM. Come hungry and enjoy some great food and music with Jamie Barrett. You can also tour our studios and learn about Franklin●TV and wfpr●fm. We’ll also review the past year’s progress and plans for the future. At our meeting you may cast a vote for new and/or renewing board positions.

Excerpt from FCCA bylaws: (Available on our website.)
Section 15. Election of Director by the Membership (a) Members shall be notified by the Clerk of the election of a director by the Membership at the Annual Meeting. Said notice shall be in accordance with the notice provisions of Section 4 of this Article IV. (b) Any eligible voting Member may be nominated for election to the position of Director by: (i) Written notification to the Clerk no later than seven (7) days prior to Annual Meeting; or (ii) By nomination from the floor of the Annual Meeting made and seconded by no less than three (3) eligible voting members.

Thanks to our board members who contribute their time and energy to help make Franklin●TV all that a public access TV studio can be. If you would like to become involved either as a volunteer or to create your own TV or radio programs at Franklin●TV and wfpr●fm, just send an email to: info@franklin.tv with your contact information. You can also call us to discuss and explore your ideas. 508-541-4118.

Please join us at our Franklin●TV event. Again, it’s Saturday, August 19th starting at 3:00pm. Our brief open board meeting begins at 4:00pm. Come meet, greet, and learn all about local TV and radio in Franklin.
See you then. 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   

Saturday, July 15, 2023

School officials likely violated campaign finance laws, Town Counsel says - Brookline.News

One key reason for being aware of the campaign finance rules and regs ... 

I would expect to see similar training in advance of the possible override being talked of for next year especially given the news from Brookline ->  
"Several Brookline school officials likely violated campaign finance law by sending out emails to parents with information about ballot questions ahead of the May election, according to Brookline town counsel Joseph Callanan.

By sending “unsolicited” emails to various school email lists about the operating override and Pierce school rebuild ballot questions, Superintendent Linus Guillory and four principals improperly used public resources, Callanan wrote in a report published July 7.

Callanan was investigating because a Brookline resident, Joslin Murphy, filed a complaint to the state Office of Campaign and Political Finance after the election. Callanan sent his report to the state agency, which does not publicly comment on investigations."

public employees can take a position on a campaign but not advocate for it on official time
public employees can take a position on a campaign but not advocate for it on official time

The Office of Campaign and Political Finance webpage ->   https://www.ocpf.us/home

Thursday, June 29, 2023

Master Plan Update Committee gets update on Open Mtg law compliance (video)

The master Plan Update Committee met in the 3rd floor training room on Wednesday, June 28, 2023. The room was newly outfitted to broadcast via Zoom, live stream to YouTube and to both cable channels (Comcast & Verizon).

Brief recap:
  • Attorney Mark Cerel provides some background and insights in how to operate safely within the Open Meeting law. Nuances around quorum of the committee as a whole (7) and of the subcommittees (2 or 4), and what could happen if members of the main committee attend a subcommittee meeting they are not part of (watch & listen = ok; vs. actively participate = problematic).
  • Subcommittees announced (not yet posted to Committee page nor part of agenda doc)
  • discussion around the mission statement, potential for revision, send comments to Chair by July 19 for compilation and review at next meeting July 26
  • discussion around draft timeline to be reviewed next time along with a draft outline for public engagement


My notes captured via Twitter during the meeting can be found in one PDF -> 



Master Plan Update Committee met June 28, 2023 beginning at 6:42 PM
Master Plan Update Committee met June 28, 2023 beginning at 6:42 PM

Friday, March 31, 2023

Governor Healey signs "temporary provisions pertaining to the Open Meeting Law to March 31, 2025"

Open Meeting Law: Guidance Update – March 30, 2023
On March 29, 2023, Governor Healey signed into law a supplemental budget bill which, among other things, extends the temporary provisions pertaining to the Open Meeting Law to March 31, 2025. Specifically, this further extension allows public bodies to continue holding meetings remotely without a quorum of the public body physically present at a meeting location, and to provide "adequate, alternative" access to remote meetings. The language does not make any substantive changes to the Open Meeting Law other than extending the expiration date of the temporary provisions regarding remote meetings from March 31, 2023 to March 31, 2025.
Shared from the Attorney General's page https://www.mass.gov/the-open-meeting-law

Governor Healey signs "temporary provisions pertaining to the Open Meeting Law to March 31, 2025"
Governor Healey signs "temporary provisions pertaining to the Open Meeting Law to March 31, 2025"

Sunday, September 4, 2022

Franklin TV: Our Open Board Meeting

It was Business as Usual – Almost.

Pete Fasciano, Executive Director 9/4/2022


If you say, “Who wants to attend a board meeting – ?”  (Crickets chirping – ) 

If you say, “ Who wants to come to our Block Party?”  (That’s more like it. ) 

Great food, music and weather. I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves.

a view of the participants
a view of the participants

Ben Gardner's Boat provided musical entertainment
Ben Gardner's Boat provided musical entertainment


Plan on joining us next year. See you then. 

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  


Open meeting highlights:

Annual Support for Local Charities:  $6,000.00
  • Franklin Food Pantry, Hockomock YMCA, Safe Coalition, Franklin EDU Foundation, Random Smiles Project, Monument Restoration, July 4th Coalition, Special Edu Parents Council
3 Student Scholarships:  $1,500.00 each
  • Franklin High: Nipun Goel, Samuel Reis
  • Tri-County: Joshua Mariotti
Wes Rea - retiring as our Treasurer
- We thank him for 10 years of steady leadership

Public vote to reaffirm a 3 year term for: (unanimously voted)
John Milot, Stephen Sherlock, Jim Derick as Franklin.TV board members

Our progress on facilities and programs
  • Our government meetings, school sports, and civic events are now on YouTube, Live and On Demand
  • Our studios have reopened following COVID
  • We continue to advance our partnering and information programming with Franklin Matters 
  • wfpr•fm's FCC license renewed to 2030 
  • Radio programming remains strong, thanks to Zoom and our dedicated On-Air volunteers
The handout for the 'official' public meeting of Franklin TV. 

Friday, February 18, 2022

School Committee Special Mtg - 02/16/22 (audio) responding to an OPML complaint and amending the mask policy

FM #732 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 732 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the Special School Committee meeting held Wednesday, Feb 16, 2022. 


There are two items on the agenda, one a response to an Open Meeting Law violation claim, and the second, the school district mask policy now that DESE has ended their state rule effect Feb 28, 2022.


Scheduled for 5 PM, the meeting actually begins at 5:26 PM and runs 55 minutes.


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


Meeting agenda->  https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/scagenda_2-16-22_special_mtg.pdf


My notes -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/02/recap-school-committee-meeting-responds.html 


Statement in response to OPML complaint

Copy of "Mask Considerations" doc 

Superintendent memo summarizes the new policy

Photo album from the meeting (mostly screen grabs of the presentation doc)

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


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 Special Mtg - 02/16/22 (audio)
School Committee Special Mtg - 02/16/22 (audio)


Thursday, February 17, 2022

Recap: School Committee meeting - responds to open meeting law complaint; amends mask policy

Quick recap:
  • (1) Statement in response to the Open Meeting complaint argues that there is no violation. References to the current Open Meeting Law, consultation with FPS attorney and Attorney General's office confirms position
  • (2) Superintendent Ahern went through a presentation to summarize "Mask Considerations" copy provided below
  • Questions and comments from the committee following the presentation, lead to a motion to amend the recommendation changing the date to March 14, it was not seconded so it died. Another motion was proposed to amend the date to March 7, it was seconded but failed by a 4-3 vote
  • The recommendation ultimately passes by 7-0
Statement in response to OPML complaint

Copy of "Mask Considerations" doc 

Superintendent memo summarizes the new policy

Photo album from the meeting (mostly screen grabs of the presentation doc)

ThreadReader provides a PDF of my Twitter thread including the photos inline with the tweets (my notes - taken as the meeting progresses) copy here with link or embedded below:   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_itSCMzPvtXrUcqaaKuCetpbHH8YhFxM/view?usp=sharing


Recap: School Committee meeting - 2/16/22
Recap: School Committee meeting - 2/16/22

Wednesday, February 16, 2022

Franklin School Committee statement in regards to OPML complaint

 

https://www.mass.gov/advisory/state-ethics-commission-advisory-11-1-public-employee-political-activity


Based on the foregoing, there has been no violation of any law as alleged by your Complaint and the Committee does not intend to take further action in response to your requests. In accordance with the Open Meeting Law, a copy of your complaint and this response are being sent to the Attorney General's Office. Thank you.



Sincerely,


Denise Spencer, Chair 

Franklin School Committee

 


cc:     Franklin School Committee

Office of the Attorney General, Division of Open Government



Franklin School Committee statement in regards to OPML complaint
Franklin School Committee statement in regards to OPML complaint


Saturday, February 12, 2022

Franklin, MA: School Committee - Special Meeting - Feb 16, 2022 - 5 PM

Franklin School Committee
February 16, 2022 - 5:00 PM
Municipal Building – Council Chambers

Special School Committee Meeting

Agenda


Call to Order Mrs. Spencer

I. Discussion Only
A. Response to Open Meeting Law complaint against public officers, namely the
members of the School Committee, filed with the Committee by Kyle Thompson
and dated February 3, 2022.

II. Discussion/Action/Possible Vote
A. Policy EBCFA – Face Coverings  

Adjournment 


Policy EBCFA – Face Coverings  -> (Revised Aug 2021)

Ben's guide to mask wearing - #DoYourPartFranklin
Ben's guide to mask wearing - #DoYourPartFranklin

Tuesday, December 7, 2021

Finance Committee Meeting - Agenda - Dec 8, 2021

Finance Committee Meeting on December 8, 2021

Agenda
1. Call to Order
2. Public Comments
3. Approval of Minutes:
a. October 13, 2021
b. November 10, 2021
4. 2022 Finance Committee Calendar
5. Community Preservation Act
a. Sample CPA Plans
b. Sample CPA Applications
6. Open Meeting Law discussion
7. Future Agenda Items
8. Adjourn


Please find the agenda and links for the upcoming Finance Committee meeting posted here: https://www.franklinma.gov/node/51/agenda/2021

Agenda doc (PDF) (including remote connection info) ->    https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/fin_com_agenda_12.8.21.pdf

Finance Committee Meeting - Agenda - Dec 8, 2021
Finance Committee Meeting - Agenda - Dec 8, 2021


Thursday, December 2, 2021

Open Meeting Law Guidance Spotlight: Subcommittees and Sub-quorum Communications

From the MA Attorney General's Office on Open Meeting Law Guidance:

Guidance Spotlight: Subcommittees and Sub-quorum Communications

This month we offer guidance on the creation of subcommittees under the Open Meeting Law, and permissible communications among members that constitute less than a quorum of a public body.  We recognize that public body members want to conduct business efficiently and effectively.  However, public body members must exercise caution when communicating and carrying out the public body’s responsibilities outside of a properly posted meeting.  The Open Meeting Law prohibits deliberation outside of a posted meeting. “Deliberation” is communication among a quorum on a matter within the public body’s jurisdiction.  Because the Open Meeting Law focuses on communications among a quorum, there is no prohibition on communications outside of a meeting that do not involve or reach a quorum of members—as long as the members are not also a quorum of a subcommittee.  Therefore, it is important to understand whether members of a public body may constitute a designated subcommittee.

The Open Meeting Law defines “public body” as any “multiple-member board, commission, committee or subcommittee within the executive or legislative branch or within any county, district, city, region or town, however created, elected, appointed or otherwise constituted, established to serve a public purpose.”  G.L. c. 30A, § 18.  The Law further defines a “subcommittee” as “any multiple-member body created to advise or make recommendations to a public body.”  Id.  A public body forms a subcommittee when the body formally authorizes multiple members of the public body to advise or make recommendations to the public body.  Whether a subcommittee was created hinges on the public body’s action and whether it intended to create a multiple-member body, or whether it intended to assign the task to one person, even if another member of the public body subsequently volunteers to assist. Therefore, if a single member undertakes a task, or multiple members decide on their own to communicate about a matter or prepare a recommendation without having been designated to do so, no subcommittee is created. Furthermore, the name of a group—whether called a subcommittee, a “working group,” a “task force” or something else—will still be subject to the Open Meeting Law if it is a multiple-member body created to advise or make recommendations.  Even subcommittees that have members who are not part of the public body will be subject to the Open Meeting Law if they meet the Open Meeting Law’s definition of “public body.”

Subcommittees are public bodies in their own right, which means they must follow all of the Open Meeting Law’s requirements applicable to public bodies.  Subcommittee members should be particularly careful about any communications they have with their fellow subcommittee members in order to avoid deliberating outside of a posted meeting, as the subcommittee has its own (smaller) quorum.  The quorum of a public body, including a subcommittee, is a simple majority of its members, unless otherwise provide by law.  Therefore, although it is generally permissible for public body members to communicate amongst themselves outside of a posted meeting as long as the communications do not involve or reach a quorum (whether concurrently or serially), public body members must always be cognizant of the makeup and quorum of the public body, including any subcommittees on which they serve.

Determinations Regarding Subcommittees and Sub-quorum Communications:

OML 2021-176: Finding no violation of the Open Meeting Law because text message conversations did not contain or reach a quorum of the Board.  In all cases, the Board members engaged in one-on-one text exchanges during the meeting.  In addition, we find no evidence of serial deliberation among a quorum of the Board.

OML 2021-115: Subcommittee deliberated outside of a posted meeting, in violation of the Open Meeting Law, when a quorum of the Subcommittee discussed the status of a matter that was clearly within the Subcommittee's jurisdiction outside of a posted meeting.

OML 2018-128: Board did not create a subcommittee where the Board took no vote after one member offered to research a topic and another member of the public body subsequently volunteered to assist.

OML 2017-111: Board did not create a subcommittee where the Board clearly intended to assign a task to one person and another member of the public body subsequently volunteered to assist.

OML 2016-96: Working Group did not create a subcommittee where two members of the Working Group, on their own initiative, worked on projects for the benefit of the Working Group, without the Working Group taking any official action to delegate that responsibility to the two members. 

For more info on Open Meeting Law visit ->  https://www.mass.gov/the-open-meeting-law

Open Meeting Law Guidance Spotlight: Subcommittees and Sub-quorum Communications
Open Meeting Law Guidance Spotlight: Subcommittees and Sub-quorum Communications



Monday, November 15, 2021

Town Council - 11/10/21 - re-organization, open meeting law, council comments (audio)

FM #657-658-659 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 657-658-659 in the series. 


This session shares part of the Franklin, MA Town Council meeting held on Wednesday, November 10, 2021. 


The meeting was conducted in a hybrid format: members of the Town Council and Town Administration personnel were in the Council Chambers, some members of the public participated in person, some via the Zoom conference bridge, all to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.


I’ve split the just about one hour and fifty minutes (1:50 total elapsed time) into three (3) logical segments:

The show notes contain links to the meeting agenda. Let’s listen to this segment of the Town Council meeting of Nov 10, 2021


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


Agenda document -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/11/franklin-ma-town-council-meeting-agenda.html


My notes from the meeting  ->  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/11/recap-town-council-reorganizes-sort-of.html


Town Council Quarterbacking session (a short recap with Council Chair Tom Mercer) ->  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/11/town-council-quarterbacking-111221-audio.html


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


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 www.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"


Chair Tom Mercer, flanked by Vice Chair Bob Dellorco (left), Clerk Glenn Jones (right)
Chair Tom Mercer, flanked by Vice Chair Bob Dellorco (left), Clerk Glenn Jones (right)