3 meetings, approx 5 hours distilled to a 30 minute summary in this Quarterbacking session (audio)

FM #1397 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1397 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, March 6, 2025.  

Our conversation condenses the three recent meetings:

• Police Station Building Cmte Mtg - 02/25/25

• Town Council meeting - 2/26/25

• Town Council meeting - 3/05/25 

We focus on two questions:

• ok, what just happened? 

• What does it mean for Franklin residents and taxpayers?

Topics for this session

• Police Station Building Committee 2/25/25

Team together and starting work; No site chosen, no design or estimates other than rough ballparks; Site visits planned to see others recently done; Open houses planned to enable the community to see inside; Video also planned to share views/walkthrough, website with info being built; Likely at east 2 years before some firm details, estimates, sometime after a decision on building vote or not

• Town Council meeting 2/26/25

ALS/BLS ambulance fee increase approved

Did get confirmation from the Commonwealth, August 31, Best Western will be closed to the emergency shelter program

• Town Council last night - 3/05/25

Police swearing in, replacement for recent retiree, 

String quartet and proclamation

OPEB update

Good position, funding plan, AAA related impact

FY 2026 budget update

Listening session at Senior Center ¾

Council Chambers, 3/8 & FHS auditorium on 3/12

JBSC recommendation at end of 3/12 session

Town Council to take up 3/19

$3.862 M shortage, no money to be found otherwise raise or cut

Details on Town page, opportunities for discussion, questions as mentioned

Easement for DCR, and commitment on $1M to help with rail trail extension when the federal acquisition process allows

Let’s listen to my conversation with Tom as we recap the three recent meetings

Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1397-town-council-quarterbacking-03-06-25/

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Franklin TV video is ready for replay

• Police Stn 02/25/25 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWC6PbFTu0s 

• Town Council 02/26/25  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cbkmz3G_q6Y 

• Town Council 03/05/25 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAHS9BRE4cA&t=100 

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

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"

3 meetings, approx 5 hours distilled to a 30 minute summary in this Quarterbacking session (audio)

Franklin, MA: agenda for Town Council meeting March 5 at 7 PM

Franklin Town Council

Agenda & Meeting Packet

March 5, 2025 = 7:00 PM

Meeting will be held at the Municipal Building

2nd floor, Council Chambers 355 East Central Street 

1. 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.

c. Upcoming Town Sponsored Community Events.

2. CITIZEN COMMENTS

a. Citizens 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.

3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - None Scheduled

4. PROCLAMATIONS / RECOGNITIONS

a. Police Department - Swearing In of New Patrol Officers

i. Steven Dejoie

ii. Tyler Hosley

b. Proclamation & Performance: Franklin Fine & Performing Arts Students

5. APPOINTMENTS

a. Cultural District Committee - Peter Rochat   https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4571/5a---Cultural-District-Appointment---Peter-Rochat

6. PUBLIC HEARINGS - 7:00 PM - None Scheduled

7. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS  - None Scheduled

8. PRESENTATIONS / DISCUSSION

a. Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) Actuarial Update - Dan Sherman   https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4572/8a---OPEB-Presentation---Franklin-FYE2024-GASB7475-v1-1

b. FY26 Budget Preview - Jamie Hellen, Town Administrator   https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4575/8b-1---MEMO---FY26-Budget-Preview---Google-Docs

9. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION

a. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 25-927: A Zoning Bylaw to Amend Chapter 185, Section 3 of The Code Of The Town of Franklin, Definitions (Shared-Use Commercial Kitchen) - Referral to the Planning Board (Motion to Refer Zoning Bylaw Amendment 25-927 to the Planning Board - Majority Vote)   https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4573/9a-25-927-and-25-928---Shared-Used-Kitchens

b. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 25-928: A Zoning Bylaw to Amend Chapter 185, Attachment 3, Use Regulation Schedule, Part II Principal Uses (Shared-Use Commercial Kitchen) - Referral to the Planning Board (Motion to Refer Zoning Bylaw Amendment 25-928 to the Planning Board - Majority Vote)  https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4574/9b-1---ZONING-BYLAW-AMENDMENT-25-928---Use-Regulations---Shared-Use-Commercial-Kitchen-1

c. Resolution 25-12: Receipts Reserved for Appropriation from Parking Fund

(Motion to Approve Resolution 25-12 - Majority Vote)   https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4576/9c-25-12---Parking-Kiosk-Appropriation

d. Resolution 25-13: Authorization to Grant Easement to Commonwealth of Massachusetts Dept. of Conservation and Recreation to Enable Construction of Rail Trail Extension (Motion to Approve Resolution 25-13 - ⅔ Majority Vote)   https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4578/9d-25-13---Grant-of-Easement-and-MOA---SNETT---Google-Docs

e. Resolution 25-14: Acceptance of Gifts - Senior Center ($250) (Motion to Approve Resolution 25-14 - Majority Vote)  https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4577/9e-25-14---Gift-Acceptance---Sr-Ctr

10. TOWN ADMINISTRATORS REPORT

11. SUBCOMMITTEE & AD HOC COMMITTEE REPORTS

a. Town Administrator Evaluation Ad Hoc Subcommittee Report

b. Capital Budget Subcommittee

c. Economic Development Subcommittee

d. Joint Budget Subcommittee

e. Police Station Building Committee

f. GATRA Advisory Board

12. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

13. COUNCIL COMMENTS

14. EXECUTIVE SESSION - None Scheduled

15. ADJOURN

Note: Two-Thirds Vote: requires 6 votes

Majority Vote: requires majority of members present and voting

Agenda doc also contains remote participation info ->

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03052025-1608

Franklin, MA: agenda for Town Council meeting March 5 at 7 PM

Capital Budget Subcmte reviews the capital budget proposal & recommends to Town Council (audio)

FM #1367 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1367 in the series. 

This session shares the Capital Budget Subcmte Meeting held Wednesday, January 29, 2025 in the Council Chambers. All four members participated. 

 

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 

The votes to approve all recommendations were 4-0

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

The recording runs about 3 hours , so let’s listen in. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1367-capital-budget-subcmte-mtg-01-29-25/

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My full set of notes in one PDF ->   

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GNNvCsoWOmoEZ8ReL0iqH6B9MO9Moj96/view?usp=drive_link 

Franklin TV video links -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/01/capital-budget-subcmte-reviews-capital.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

• 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"

The "free cash" allocation overview for the capital budget proposal 

Capital Budget Subcommittee

Capital Budget Subcmte reviews the capital budget proposal & recommends to Town Council (video)

The Capital Budget Subcommittee met as scheduled on Wednesday, Jan 29 at 7 PM. All four members were present in Chambers.

Franklin TV video is available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oU2Z065FX-g

The agenda doc ->

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

Quick recap

• Comments by the committee members opening the meeting, acknowledging the work of the Finance Committee, seemed like this could be a short session. 3 hours later, the meeting adjourned. All the budget items as presented were approved by 4-0 votes
• The Town Council will now take these up at one of their February meetings

My full set of notes taken during the meeting can be found in one PDF

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GNNvCsoWOmoEZ8ReL0iqH6B9MO9Moj96/view?usp=drive_link

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

Capital Budget Subcommittee

Capital Budget Subcommmittee to review the FY 2026 capital budget - Jan 29 - 7 PM

The Capital Budget Subcommittee of the Town Council gets to review and vote on the capital budget at their session Wednesday night.

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

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

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

The Capital Budget Subcommittee agenda ->   https://franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01292025-1526

The meeting will be broadcast to Comcast & Verizon subscriber as well as to Zoom and to YouTube  https://bit.ly/FTV-TownHall

Finance Committee gets preview of FY 2025 budget adjustments, Norfolk Retirement issue, Finance & HR reorg for Town/Schools (audio)

FM #1311 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1311 the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the Town of Franklin Finance Committee Meeting held on Wednesday, Nov 6, 2024. 7 of the 9 members were present in the Council Chambers and 2 members absent (Batchelor, Hamilton). 

Quick Recap:

• Committee voted to keep the same org structure as prior given status and new members, etc. Conley, Chair, Riley, Vice-Chair, Corbesierio, Clerk (passed 7-0-2; 2 absent)

• Committee approved the minutes for the 3 budget hearings in May (passed 7-0-2; 2 absent)

• Town Administrator Jamie Hellen walked through the recommendation on FY25 Budget Adjustments and the committee voted to recommend them as discussed to the Town Council  (passed 7-0-2; 2 absent)

• Jamie took time to outline the new Town and School Finance and Human Resources organization restructure, a work in progress for a number of years and finally operational, answered a number of clarification questions 

• Jamie also presented the FY24 Preliminary Expense Recap & Local Receipts year-end report  and the Stabilization Account Report and answered a number of clarification questions

• Brief update on the FY26 Budget Model and Fiscal Forecast Update, discussion around dodging a massive increase in the Norfolk County Retirement Fund, procedurally the Retirement Board should have bene more forthcoming about the increase, they weren't, still an item to watch

• Related to the retirement funding, it had been anticipated that once it was fully funded (approx. 2032, now 2035), those funds could be reallocated to the OPEB account and start paying that down more sooner. Confirmed delayed to 2035 currently

• As a result of the OPEB funding process, why doesn't the Town consider helping the Schools with the "hold harmless" funding. Can't be done all at once, it is about 12-15 Million, but the town is chipping away at OPEB, we should consider chipping away at the "hold harmless" too

• member comments lead to discussion (and future discussion) around how the committee can help raise the awareness of the community on the fiscal issues. More to come on that front

The meeting runs about 1 hour & 50 minutes. Let’s listen to the Finance Cmte meeting Nov 6, 2024. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1311-franklin-ma-finance-cmte-mtg-11-06-24/

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The Finance Cmte agenda can be found -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/2024-11-06_finance_committee_agenda_packet.pdf 

Franklin TV video -> https://www.youtube.com/live/ejPhlcZs29g?si=otfRPnwkBa6Yta-B&t=158 

My notes collected in a Twitter thread PDF ->

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nZYVtQx2ljoXcuxpA78ltwoeWgRxKIlB/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"

Finance Committee gets preview of FY 2025 budget adjustments, Norfolk Retirement issue, Finance & HR reorg for Town/Schools (audio)