a. Appropriating Funds by Borrowing to Pay Costs of Land Acquisition: Land of Schmidt’s Farm, Inc. off Prospect Street in the amount of $3,800,000.00
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| Franklin, MA: Finance Committee - Agenda for Oct 18, 2022 meeting at noon |
FM #863 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 863 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 Oct 5, 2022:
ok, what just happened?
What does it mean for Franklin residents and taxpayers?
We cover the following key topics
Right of first refusal – Schmidt’s Farm
Norfolk County Commission Update
Special liquor license for Dacey’s Market
4 bylaws for parking changes downtown
How to address habitual offenders for Dean parking/Neighborhood Alliance
Gift acceptance to Police/Fire
Our conversation runs about 30 minutes:
Links to the meeting agenda and associated documents released for this meeting are included in the show notes.
Let’s listen to this session of Town Council Quarterbacking recorded Oct 13, 2022
Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-864-town-council-quarterbacking-10-13-22--------------
Agenda and documents released for this meeting
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/10.05.22_town_council_agenda.pdf
My notes -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LS8OhA3BKWQuqto4tv82cb4YmvRRz5Dk/view?usp=sharing
The meeting video is also available for viewing on YouTube https://youtu.be/N6qHB7PJMq8
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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
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!
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You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"
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| The Town Council held a public hearing on the right of first refusal to purchase the Schmidt Farm property with CPA funding |
a. This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast channel 11 and Verizon Channel 29. This meeting may be recorded by others.b. Chair to identify members participating remotely.c. Municipal Aggregation
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.
a. Victor DaCosta - New Hire, Firefighter/Paramedic - Fire Departmentb. Nicholas Brosseau - New Hire, Firefighter/Paramedic - Fire Department
a. Capital Budget Subcommitteeb. Budget Subcommitteec. Economic Development Subcommittee
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| exterior renovation of the Red Brick School is in process |
FM #860 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 860 in the series.
This session of the radio show shares the Community Preservation Committee meeting held in Council Chambers on Tuesday, October 4, 2022.
Chair: C Feeley, D McNeill, M Doyle, J Livingstone, P Malcolm, M Giardino, R Power, L Oxford [W Simarian, absent]
Town Administration: J Hellen, A Alleyne, K Bertone
The meeting approved the minutes of the prior meeting via voice vote (8-0-1; 8 for, 0 against, 1 absent).
Town Administrator Jamie Hellen walked through the right of first refusal option on the Schmidt Farm property. After discussion and clarification questions, the Committee voted to recommend use of CPA funds for the purchase with an 8-0-1 vote (8 for, 0 against, 1 absent).
Jamie also provided some project updates on work underway (Red Brick School exterior renovation) and work being held (Nason St tot lot, Historical Msueum cupola).
The recording runs about 27 minutes, so let’s listen to the Community Preservation Committee discussion on Oct 4, 2022.
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Meeting agenda =>
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/10.04.22_cpc_agenda.pdf
Schmidt Farm presentation doc ->
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/schmidt_farm_61a_presentation.pdf
My notes ->
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aTK3-U4PeOUqI2qn-KDNUn49s72eh5jg/view?usp=sharing
--------------
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"
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| Community Preservation Committee recommends CPA funds for purchase of Schmidt's Farm (audio) |
The Town Council meeting went over 3 hours long on Wednesday, Oct 5, 2022 in the process of reviewing multiple topics.
Norfolk County Commissioners provided some updates on what they do and how they do it. Some councilors appear stuck on the Federal decision to award the ARPA funds to the county and not directly to the Town but that is neither in control of the Town nor the County. The 3% management fee the County collects they are working for in managing the funds and they clearly stated the case during the evening.
The best Council move was to approve The Town Council held a pubic hearing on the right of first refusal to purchase the Schmidt Farm property with CPA funding. There was no vote on the purchase. Several Councilors acknowledged they approved but the vote will come at a future meeting. A number of residents in person and via Zoom spoke in favor of this move as it is perfectly was the CPA funds were meant to be used for. The presentation doc (shared at the CPC meeting on Tuesday is now on the Town page) (updated 10/13/22) https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/schmidt_farm_61a_presentation.pdf
A passionate discussion raised issues that are mostly still to be resolved on parking. The set of 4 bylaws did all move forward to a second reading; one only by a 5-4 vote, the others by 9-0. Open question on should the Council allow the Town Administrator to set the rate. On what the rate should be? (It should be at least equal to the MBTA parking rate, otherwise the MBTA commuters albeit less of them, will park in these spaces and save money - which won't provide the spaces for what they were provided for - to enable shoppers downtown).
A 6-3 vote approved a request to obtain the 'authority' to issue an all liquor license to replace a beer/wine license already held which would put two all liquor license establishments within .3 mile of each other and near the Keller Sullivan schools. The legislation if approved by the State would still require a formal hearing and vote by the Council to actually approve the license. Tonight is only a step in the process.
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| The best Council move was to approve the right of first refusal to purchase the Schmidt Farm property with CPA funding |
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| Community Preservation Committee recommends purchase of Schmidt Farm with CPA funds (video) |
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| cupola at the Franklin Historical Museum |
a. June 7, 2022
a. Request for Appropriation: $50,000 for the Red Brick Schoolhouseb. Other project updates:
i. Nason Street Tot Lotii. Historical Museum Cupolaiii. King Street Memorial Parkiv. Townwide Open Space & Recreational Planv. State Matching Fund update
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| cupola at the Franklin Historical Museum |
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| Franklin TV: Finance Committee meeting available for replay - 09/28/22 (video) |
a. CPA Master Planhttps://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/2022_cpa_plan_v.2_4.pdf
i. Discussion on Red Brick Schoolhouse additional funds request of $50,000
ii. Project Updates
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| Franklin, MA: Finance Committee agenda for meeting scheduled Sep 28, 2022 at 6:00 PM |
Part of the funding plan is outlined as follows:
The link to last Community Preservation Committee meeting recording -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/06/community-preservation-committee_02031190524.html
The Town Council action items for the initial CPA funding proposal:
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| Franklin, MA: Town Council - agenda - June 22, 2022 |
9. LEGISLATION FOR ACTIONa. Resolution 22-36: FY23 CPA Budget & Reservations (Motion to Approve Resolution 22-36 - Majority Vote) https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/9a.pdfb. Resolution 22-37: FY23 CPC Appropriation of Capital Funds (Motion to Approve Resolution 22-37 - Majority Vote) https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/9b.pdfc. Resolution 22-38: CPC Appropriation of Funds - Debt Service Maple Hill Land (Motion to Approve Resolution 22-38 - Majority Vote) https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/9c.pdf
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| CPC site visits to Red Brick School & Historical Museum were conducted in Sep/Oct 2021 |
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.
i. Exemption #3: Collective Bargaining (all Town unions) - To discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the public body and the chair so declares.
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| Franklin, MA: Town Council - agenda - June 22, 2022 |
