Town Council meeting audio split into 2 parts: Survey Says discussion & Everything but the survey (audio)

FM #1473-1474  This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1473-1474 in the series. 

This session (1473) shares “everything but” the Polco Community Survey results discussion of the Franklin (MA) Town Council on Wednesday, June 18, 2025. 8 of the members started the meeting in Council Chambers (1 arrived before the Executive Session started).  

• The meeting opens 

• Chief McLaughlin’s retirement announcement

• Citizen comments

• Electric Youth performance & proclamation

• Appointments, Farmers license for La Cantina Winery

• Legislation for action

• Council Comments

• Executive Session

• Approval of contracts

This session (1474) shares the Polco Community Survey results discussion during the Town Council Meeting of Wednesday, June 18, 2025.

#1473 = The “everything but” survey discussion recording runs about 1.5 hours  

Audio link => https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1473-town-council-mtg-everything-but-survey-06-18-25/

#1474 = The survey discussion recording runs about 1 hour and 10 minutes

Audio link =>  https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1474-town-council-mtg-survey-says-06-18-25/

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The Franklin TV video is available for replay ->  https://www.youtube.com/live/RpRNbG1tXVw?&t=188 

Agenda doc ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06182025-1788

Community Survey Report ->  https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/5956/8a-Polco-Survey-Final-Report

Presentation doc ->   https://franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5945/Polco---The-NCS-Presentation-Franklin-MA-2025 

Town presentation doc by Town Administrator Jamie Hellen ->   https://franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5946/Town-of-Franklin---The-NCSPresentation 

All the details in the survey are posted on one Town page ->   https://franklinma.gov/974/National-Community-Survey

My complete set of notes captured during the meeting

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bUOaCgv7a1pv5MHGIqweTwmKy2MkAEjW/view?usp=drive_link 

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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

• And if you have interest in reporting on meetings or events, please reach out. We’ll share and show you what and how we do what we do

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"

Town Council meeting audio split into 2 parts: Survey Says discussion & Everything but the survey (audio)

Franklin, MA: Capital Budget Subcommittee - Agenda for Meeting Jan 29, at 7 PM

Capital Budget Subcommittee 

Meeting Agenda & Meeting Packet 

Wednesday, January 29, 2025 7:00 PM

1. FY25 Capital Plan & Subcommittee recommendations 

a. Town Administrator Memo  

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/4098/2025-01-29-CBSC-Agenda---1a-FY25-Capital

b. FY25 Department Summary Requests & Capital Plans  

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/4117/1b---Capital---Dept-Requests-and-5-Year-Plans

c. Quotes  

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/4116/1c-Quotes

2. Adjourn

The agenda doc also contains remote participation info ->

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01292025-1526

The capital budget proposal on the agenda for the Capital Budget Subcommittee Wednesday

The Finance Committee reviewed this capital budget among the items on its agenda at their Jan 15 meeting. The recap, audio and video links are available here ->  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/01/finance-committee-approves-recommended_0799398139.html

Pantherbook publishes Interview with FHS School Librarian Mr Nathan Byrnes

Nathan Byrnes (Panterbook photo)

"Another great article. 

Here is a great interview from Jack Halter about FHS’s new librarian!! 

Check this article out, and maybe a book!!!"

Read the article online at Pantherbook ->   https://sites.google.com/franklinps.net/pantherbook/school-news/behind-the-books-fhss-librarian-mr-byrnes?authuser=0

Note: this position had been cut as a result of the override failure for the FY 2025 budget and restored with the additional funds the Town provided. The position is a requirement for high school accredidation which is up for renewal.

Shared from -> https://www.instagram.com/p/DFFv3qDOCfI/

Annual Tax Rate Hearing for FY 2025 - Charts Updated

The Annual Tax Rate Hearing for FY 2025 is on the Town Council agenda Wednesday, Nov 20. There will be a public hearing before the Council votes to set the rate. A couple of helpful charts have been updated in advance of the hearing.

The key decision at the tax rate hearing is to maintain the single tax rate or move to a split tax rate. The Board of Assessors memo to the Council lays out the argument distinctly:

"A single tax rate means that all property classes (residential, commercial, industrial and personal) are taxed at the same tax rate. A dual tax rate means the commercial-industrial-personal tax rate is increased while the residential rate is decreased. In other words, some of the residential tax burden is shifted towards commercial, industrial and personal properties.

Please note that a dual tax rate does not produce more tax revenue, it simply shifts the burden." (Bold added for emphasis)

Franklin has historically had an approximate 80-20 split between residential and commercial/industrial as shown in the following chart.

approximate 80-20 split between residential and commercial/industrial 

As the assessed valuation increases over time, the tax rate will drop. As the valuation decreases, the tax rate will increase. The tax rate is a good talking point but is simply the result of math driven by the assessed values and the amount to be raised to meet the budget.

assessed valuation and the tax rate have an inverse relationship

The rate means little to the average home owner. Whether the rate goes up or down, it is more important to know what the valuation of the residence is. The chart will show that over time, the tax rate can go up or down but the average tax bill will continue to increase due to the automatic 2.5% increase voted by the Council. 

the tax rate can go up or down but the average tax bill will continue to increase 

Download these updated charts in a PDF to share ->   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1FkysSnKyZRt799taHEmliz7XBzNrWxGq/view?usp=drive_link

Tax classification hearing info ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/6a._1_-_tax_classification_hearing_-_google_docs_0_0.pdf

Town Council conducts business in shortest meeting of this year, to allow for executive session (audio)

FM #1317  This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1317 in the series. 

This session shares the Franklin (MA) Town Council Meeting of Wednesday, Nov 13, 2024.  8 members were present in Council Chambers, Frongillo was remote. 

Quick recap:

• The Council approved a Farmer-Winery Farmers Market License - Blisspoint LLC d/b/a Blisspoint Meadery to enable them to participate in the Winter Farmers Market at Fairmont Fruit Farms

• In the first of 2 legislative items: Resolution 24-65: FY25 Budget Amendment (Motion to Approve Resolution 24-65 - Majority Vote). This was previewed at last week's Finance Committee meeting. Relatively minor adjustment to the FY 2025 budget (compared to prior years) before setting the tax rate at the next Council meeting

• The second item was more of a paperwork item. The Metacomet Health Alliance had been operating under and MOU and with increased State DPH involvement they needed to switch to the IMA format.   Resolution 24-66: Authorization for Intermunicipal Agreement with Towns of Wrentham and Norfolk for Shared Public Health Services (Motion to Approve Resolution 24-66 - Majority Vote) 

• Entered Executive Session for contract negotiation strategy not to return to public meeting

Let’s listen to the meeting recording which runs over an hour.  Audio link ->  https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1317-franklin-ma-town-council-mtg-11-13-24/

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Franklin TV video -> https://www.youtube.com/live/au24NNBzlCA?si=ogNVB5P13M-xFNiy&t=149

The Town Council full agenda doc ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/nov_13_2024_tc_agenda.pdf

My set of notes in one PDF ->   https://drive.google.com/file/d/11fx7jrHj8y4rJ__8K9XNxv0-_vym5fH7/view?usp=drive_link 

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

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

• And 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 do

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"

Town Council conducts business in shortest meeting of this year, to allow for executive session (audio)

This Town Council Quarterbacking session condenses the short Council meeting to 15 minutes (audio)

FM #1315 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1315 in the series. 

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, November 14, 2023.  

• ok, what just happened? 

• What does it mean for Franklin residents and taxpayers?

Topics for this session

• The Council approved a Farmer-Winery Farmers Market License - Blisspoint LLC d/b/a Blisspoint Meadery to enable them to participate in the Winter Farmers Market at Fairmont Fruit Farms

• In the first of 2 legislative items: Resolution 24-65: FY25 Budget Amendment (Motion to Approve Resolution 24-65 - Majority Vote). This was previewed at last week's Finance Committee meeting. Relatively minor adjustment to the FY 2025 budget (compared to prior years) before setting the tax rate at the next Council meeting

• The second item was more of a paperwork item. The Metacomet Health Alliance had been operating under an MOU and with increased State DPH involvement they needed to switch to the IMA format.   Resolution 24-66: Authorization for Intermunicipal Agreement with Towns of Wrentham and Norfolk for Shared Public Health Services (Motion to Approve Resolution 24-66 - Majority

The recording runs about 15 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Tom as we recap the Council meeting of Wednesday, November 13, 2024. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1315-town-council-quarterbacking-11-14-24/

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Town Council agenda Nov 13, 2024 -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/nov_13_2024_tc_agenda.pdf 

Franklin TV video is available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/live/au24NNBzlCA?si=ogNVB5P13M-xFNiy&t=149 

My notes captured during the meeting and now in one PDF file ->  

https://drive.google.com/file/d/11fx7jrHj8y4rJ__8K9XNxv0-_vym5fH7/view?usp=drive_link 

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

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

• And 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 do

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"

This Town Council Quarterbacking session condenses the short Council meeting to 15 minutes (audio)