In this Talk Franklin episode, some updates, and then its all budget talk, until we lighten up with the Top 20 songs about schools (audio)

FM #1168 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1168 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen, Deputy Town Administrator Amy Frigulietti, School Superintendent Lucas Giguere, and Asst Superintendent Dr Tina Rogers on Wednesday, April 3, 2024.    

We get a brief recap of current events and the dive into the major discussion of the budget and the timeline around its final development. Information on the key questions that remain to be answered are discussed. 

Budget timeline:

• April 9 - School Committee votes on school’s budget

• April 12 - Town FY 2025 budget released

• April 17 - Finance Committee meeting

• April 24 - Joint meeting of School Committee & Town Council at FHS Auditorium

• May 6, 8, and 15 - Finance Committee budget hearings

• May 22, 23  - Town Council budget hearings

We close on a lighter note with discussion and laughter around the Top 20 songs about schools .https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AEq1QElhBShhGAMjH-S_uEceAfNPftlC/view?usp=drive_link 

Our conversation runs about 55 minutes.    Audio link -> https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/letstalkfranklin/episodes/Talk-Franklin--A-Podcast-from-the-Town-Administrators-Office---April-3--2024-e2i7jh3/a-ab5fial

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Contact info: for Jamie & Amy -> https://www.franklinma.gov/administrator 

Contact info for Lucas ->  https://www.franklinps.net/district/superintendent 

and Tina ->  https://www.franklinps.net/district/office-teaching-and-learning 

Town Budget page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/town-budget/webforms/fy-25-budget-materials 

School Budget page -> https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-district-budget/pages/1-fy2025-budget 

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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 www.franklin.news/ or  www.Franklinmatters.org/ 

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 iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

In this Talk Franklin episode, some updates, and then its all budget talk

In this Talk Franklin episode, we talk public works with the folks in the DPW (audio) - 02/22/24

"In this episode, we talk public works with the folks in the DPW who manage the infrastructure we don't usually see, and the roads/grounds we do see, and everything else in between! Plus a little fun with music and top hit songs about roads."

FM #1147 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1147 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares a new format for "Talk Franklin'' with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen, Deputy Administrator Amy Frigulietti. 

This episode features a conversation with many of the key folks from the Department of Public Works. We recorded our discussion in person in the 3rd floor Training Room on Thursday, February 22, 2024.

Topics for this session

Water & Sewer

Beaver Stream Interceptor

PFAS mitigations

Stormwater

New fee abatement cycle opens April 1

Trash & recycling

Composting coming

GIS (graphical information service)

The storymaps and the “data”

Fleet management

Over 200 registered vehicles

Another 80 unregistered devices (large & small)

Always looking for efficiencies

Engineering

Baron Road out to bid for work this year (ARPA funded)

Highway/ & Grounds

The most visible working section of the DPW

The recording runs about 96 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Jamie, Amy & the DPW group on Thursday, February 22, 2024

Audio link -> https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/letstalkfranklin/episodes/Talk-Franklin--a-podcast-from-the-Town-Administrators-Office---February-22--2024-e2ga87e/a-ab0n2nm

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Town Administrator page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/administrator

Talk Franklin podcast page -> https://anchor.fm/letstalkfranklin 

DPW top page  https://www.franklinma.gov/public-works 

Water & Sewer  https://www.franklinma.gov/water-sewer-division 

Stormwater https://www.franklinma.gov/stormwater-division 

GIS https://www.franklinma.gov/gis-department 

Engineering   https://www.franklinma.gov/engineering 

Highway & Grounds  https://www.franklinma.gov/highwaygrounds-division 

A new “Talk Franklin” version of “Family Feud” 

Sparked some discussion, laughter, and “why was that left out?”

https://drive.google.com/file/d/111umQfHbvRTcxCAQaLmjZhXMHIm6kYMR/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

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"

In this Talk Franklin episode, we talk public works with the folks in the DPW (audio) - 02/22/24

Listen to the Talk Franklin podcast

Talk Franklin

This podcast provides a trusted information source from the Town Administrators office, featuring news, alerts, department info and more. Created in coordination with Franklin TV and Radio and Franklin Matters.

Find all the episodes online (or on your favorite podcast app)  https://open.spotify.com/show/6q76wsRAKGPuEZ8mzEGvP2

Listen to the Talk Franklin podcast

"Talk Franklin" Special Year End Episode combines with Town Council Quarterbacking - 12/21/23 (audio)

FM #1117 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1117 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares a special year end episode combining "Talk Franklin'' with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen, Deputy Administrator Amy Frigulietti and “Town Council Quarterbacking” with Town Council Chair Tom Mercer. We had our conversation via the Zoom Conference Bridge on Thursday, December 21, 2023.  

Topics for this session

• Proclamation: William “Ken” Norman - Ken was recognized with a Town proclamation and State House of Representative resolution for many years of service on the Board of Assessors (16 years) and many other committees.

• 2024 Annual Alcohol License Renewals - all approved, 8 being held for payment and final inspection completion

• Resolution 23-71: Town Council Approval of County ARPA Funds - Council approved application to Norfolk County for ARPA awards in the total amount of $1,359,000

• Police Dept - $559,000

• Sewer projects - $500,000

• Franklin Food Pantry - $100,000

• SAFE Coalition - $100,000

• YMCA Bernon Family Branch - $100,000

• ARPA Direct funds announced for

• $1M to reconstruct Baron Road

• $420,000 for replacement & construction of visitor bleachers at the high school field

• Bylaw Amendment 23-902: A Bylaw to Amend the Code of the Town of Franklin by Inserting Chapter 147, Snow and Ice, Removal Of - Second Reading - approved by 7-2 vote (Jones, Dellorco voted no)

• Bylaw Amendment 23-903: A Bylaw to Amend the code of the Town of Franklin at Chapter 82, Fees, Municipal Service - Second Reading - mattress fee raised to $65, unanimously approved (9-0)

• 2023 year in review, January 3, hit the ground working on 2024

The recording runs about 38 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Jamie, Amy & Tom on Thursday, December 21, 2023. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1117-talk-franklin-special-year-end-episode-12-21-23

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Town Administrator page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/administrator

Talk Franklin podcast page -> https://anchor.fm/letstalkfranklin 

Town Council agenda for Dec 20, 2023 meeting ->

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/town_council_agenda_12.20.23_0.pdf 

Recap & video for Town Council session 12/20/23 -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/12/town-council-closes-out-calendar-year.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 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"

"Talk Franklin" Special Year End Episode combines with Town Council Quarterbacking - 12/21/23 (audio)

This Talk Franklin covers the FY 2025 budget cycle starting with the tax rate for FY 2024 getting set (audio)

FM #1107 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1107 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my "Talk Franklin" session with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen. We had our conversation in the Municipal Building on Tuesday, November 28, 2023.  

Topics for this session

• Budget cycle starting new with tax rate hearing pinning FY 2024

• Tough decisions face in FY2025 and beyond

• Migrant housing situation stabilized

The recording runs about 39 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Jamie on Tuesday, November 28, 2023. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1107-talk-franklin-11-28-23

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Town Administrator page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/administrator

Talk Franklin podcast page -> https://anchor.fm/letstalkfranklin 

Agenda for Tax rate hearing Nov 21, 2023  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/november_21_2023_town_council_tax_hearing_agenda.pdf 

Budget cycle and financial terms audio with Chris Sandini & Kerry Bertone

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/04/the-town-of-franklin-budget-cycle.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 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 Talk Franklin covers the FY 2025 budget cycle starting with the tax rate for FY 2024 getting set (audio)