"Affordable housing projects often draw resistance from neighbors"

"Housing costs are soaring across southern Maine, driving families from the towns where they were raised and bringing tensions to a boil as young residents and retirees struggle to compete against an influx of out-of-staters and well-off buyers.

That dynamic, which has intensified across the country during the pandemic, has unsettled quiet Cape Elizabeth, an affluent coastal community just south of Portland, where a proposal to build the town’s first affordable housing project in 50 years has pitted neighbor against neighbor and raised hard questions of who can afford to live here.

“This is a community of tremendous privilege and wealth, but there are other people in this town who are not well-off,” said Jamie Garvin, the Town Council chairman who supports the 49-unit project. “People are being priced out of the community they’ve lived in for a number of years.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription maybe required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/07/23/metro/affordable-housing-plan-divides-affluent-portland-suburb/ 

Portland, Maine is not alone in having this affordable housing discussion. With the Housing Production Plan being worked on currently, this is a timely topic. Public comment on the Plan closed at the end of June. The revised draft is expected to come back out for review and comment as it needs approval from both the Planning Board and the Town Council. The plan is a component of the overall "Master Plan" for Franklin for which the update process is scheduled to begin next year.

Current draft of the Housing Production Plan

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/franklin_housing_production_plan_-_may_2021_public_draft.pdf

Current Master Plan  https://www.franklinma.gov/planning-community-development/pages/master-plan

The most recent virtual meeting on Housing took place July 14, 2021 and the audio recording is available here  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/07/fm-580-community-conversation-on.html

FM #580 - Community Conversation on Housing & Race - 07/14/21 (audio)

Invisible Stories - #10 - "Homelessness is NOT a Choice (featuring LAHSA)"

"In CA, there are only 22 affordable housing units for every hundred extremely low income households" - in Franklin, the wait list for state provided affordable housing is multiple years long.

Mark Horvath (@hardlynormal) tweeted on Sun, Jul 11, 2021:

Invisible Stories is a mini-doc series that goes beyond the rhetoric, statistics, political debates, and limitations of social services to examine poverty in America via a medium that audiences of all ages understand and can't ignore. 

Link to the 10th and last episode of the series:  https://youtu.be/nEpaCA9tlEQ

More about the Shower of Hope = https://theshowerofhope.org/

Link to the series: https://t.co/Y0NRNIujar 

Shared from Twitter:    https://twitter.com/hardlynormal/status/1414284287034155020

Note: I met Mark at a social media conference many years ago and have been following his work. This series is very well done. Yes, the series is set in LA but homelessness is an issue all around us whether visible or not.

"Architecture can be a powerful tool for justice"

Franklin's current zoning doesn't allow for triple-deckers. Might this be one option for consideration? 

"At the turn of the 20th century, working-class Boston residents faced a lack of affordable housing and, as a result, the diverse working class struggled to live close to where they worked and faced low rates of homeownership. One of Boston’s most iconic architectural styles, the triple-decker, was a solution to these challenges, not unlike many of the challenges Boston faces today. 

Between 1880 and 1930, Boston responded to the needs of the working class by constructing an estimated 15,000 triple-deckers. This type of housing was popular with immigrants and Black Bostonians as Boston experienced different migration patterns. It also offered an affordable path to homeownership, since a family could live in one unit and rent out the other two, often to relatives. Triple-deckers became a popular and economically viable example of multigenerational housing throughout the region. 

But triple-deckers, with their diverse working-class residents, soon became a lightning rod for racist and anti-immigrant sentiment that fueled policy and building code changes."

Continue reading the article online (subscription maybe required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/06/28/opinion/triple-deckers-were-once-an-affordable-solution-bostons-housing-crunch-can-be-again/

I'll admit to some bias for triple-deckers having grown up in one in Pawtucket, RI

A triple-decker renovation-in-progress in Dorchester. The finished project was featured on “This Old House” in May. KEVIN O'CONNOR

The Housing Production Plan comment period is closing Friday June 25, 2021

Have you sent in your comments yet?

Sections of the plan were shared here in advance of the first public hearing at the Municipal Affordable Housing Trust meeting (June 2, 2021).

Housing Production Plan sections

• The Introduction to the **2021 Town of Franklin - Housing Production Plan - Public Review Draft**

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/05/the-introduction-to-2021-town-of.html

• Executive Summary: ** 2021 Town of Franklin Housing Production Plan (HPP) ***

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/05/executive-summary-2021town-of-franklin.html

• Plan Development and Public Participation ** 2021 Town of Franklin - Housing Production Plan - Public Review Draft **

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/05/plan-development-and-public.html

• Comprehensive Housing Needs Assessment ** 2021 Town of Franklin - Housing Production Plan - Public Review Draft **

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/05/comprehensive-housing-needs-assessment.html

• Strategies for Affordable Housing Production ** 2021 Town of Franklin - Housing Production Plan - Public Review Draft **

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/05/strategies-for-affordable-housing.html

• Find the full copy of the Housing Production Plan

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/franklin_housing_production_plan_-_may_2021_public_draft.pdf

• Info on the public comment period

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/05/2021-draft-housing-production-plan-open.html

• Find the full copy of the Housing Production Plan

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/franklin_housing_production_plan_-_may_2021_public_draft.pdf

Meeting notes and audio links

Municipal Affordable Housing Trust meeting (audio with link to recap)

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/01/fm-191-municipal-affordable-housing.html

Economic Development Subcommittee meeting (recap)

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/06/recap-economic-development-subcommittee.html

The Housing Production Plan comment period is closing Friday June 25, 2021

Recap: Economic Development Subcommittee - discussion on housing plan and requirements for home based businesses

Quick Recap:

• The housing production plan was reviewed and discussed. Key among the actions is to further obtain any and all citizen input/comment by June 25 and update this draft. The revised plan would then be approved by Planning Board and Town Council before being submitted to the State for acceptance.
• Key to specific items to address the housing would be the zoning assessment. This analysis would provide an objective 3rd party view on what we have and what we could do to allow for appropriate and affordable housing
• Discussion on home based businesses. Good to boot strap a concept, Health Dept is ok with food production as long as the ServeSafe and other related food prep requirements are adhered to. The wrinkle comes with handling the sewer waste and implementation of a grease trap which can be expensive.
• The Town is not prepared for how to address this opportunity. More research is required which they will conduct during the next couple of months and bring back to Subcommittee for further discussion.

----
As with most meetings in this pandemic period, I took my notes via Twitter during the meeting reporting in real-time via the virtual session.
 
The Twitter hashtag can be found online  #edc0616
https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Edc0616&src=typed_query 

Photos captured during the meeting can be found in one album
https://photos.app.goo.gl/AayFgpTfmSzB3Y2w9

• EDC meeting to begin soon, awaiting quorum #edc0616
  
• Without quorum, may at least open meeting and have a discussion. #fincom0616
  
• Quorum achieved (with virtual participation of Frongillo and Bissanti), EDC meeting opens at 7:09 PM. #edc0616
  
• Chair Hamblen opens meeting, reads protocol statement, #fincom0616 First item, housing production plan for discussion if needed, plan can be found https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/franklin_housing_production_plan_-_may_2021_public_draft.pdf 
  
• Feedback sought as part of the draft review process. #fincom0616
  
• Cool to be back in Municipal Bldg, Planner Amy Love provides an overview of the plan, similar to what was presented earlier in Housing Trust meeting #edc0616
  
• My notes from that (Municipal Affordable Housing Trust) meeting, for the record, can be found https://franklinmatters.org/2021/06/recap-municipal-affordable-housing.html?m=1 #edc0616
  
• Difference in accounting between apartment and residential units, all apartments count if only a smaller # are affordable; for owned residential units only the # affordable apply to the housing rate (i.e. 6 of 30, only the 6 - if apartments, 6 of 30 all 30 count) condos ->
• Condos count as owned units so only the # would count (like other owned residential, not like apartments). #edc0616 What is considered affordable for Franklin? Major issue
  
• Development costs are hire, art zoning would need to have incentives to allow the developers to make the money back that they give up making some of the units affordable. #edc0616
  
• Multiple discussion points on affordable and how to tackle it, the new housing behind Eaton Place will help but it won't be online soon (still needs funding) #edc0616
  
• Motion to move housing plan forward to planning board and to Council for approval incorporating the changes and comments #edc0616 passes 4-0 via roll call.
  
• Moving to home occupied businesses for next part of discussion. #edc0616
  
• How do you permit a bootstrap business from a home, some i.e. kitchens can pose health concerns, others may have traffic/delivery issues for neighbors. #edc0616 permit some level of production up to which they're good, beyond that next level up. ZBA may be an option
  
• In commercial areas, need to protect the sewer system, with grease traps, when blockages occur it stops things and that is not good. Title 5 systems are built for 3 or 4 bedrooms not commercial industry business. #edc0616 who acts the agent for volume?
  
• We can't use the ZBA or planning board and their temporary benevolence, if something is good, let's make it right. #edc0616 strict guidelines on food prep, zoning is the issue in the case of chocolate bars (as the talking point example)
  
• let's provide some time to research, see what others are doing, Boston is a whole different system. #edc0616 what might work, what would be some controls, there is no capacity at Charles River. we do need to consider the big picture of affordability
  
• Motion to adjourn, second, passes 4-0 via roll call #fincom0616 

Audio file to be available in a couple of days

discussion on housing plan and requirements for home based businesses

FM #558 - Municipal Affordable Housing Trust Meeting - 06/02/21 (audio)

FM #558 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 558 in the series. 

This session shares the Franklin, MA Municipal Affordable Housing Trust meeting held on Wednesday, June 2, 2021. 

The meeting was conducted in a virtual format: some members were in the Municipal Bldg, other committee members and a small group of public participation were remote via the Zoom conference bridge, all to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

The meeting was a public hearing on the draft Housing Production Plan. It is open from comment until June 25, 2021. At that time, the comments will begin to be incorporated into an update which will also be subject to public hearings in particular by the Planning Board and Town Council as part of their approval process before being submitted to the State.

The show notes contain links to the meeting agenda and to the presentation document used. Let’s listen to the Municipal Affordable Housing Trust meeting of June 2 Audio file = https://player.captivate.fm/episode/9fdbe6af-3f6b-4f3b-922d-bf85ba9af371

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

Agenda document 

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/municipal_affordable_housing_trust_june_2_2021_01.pdf 

Copy of the plan can be found https://franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/franklin_housing_production_plan_-_may_2021_public_draft.pdf

Link to presentation doc

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uNhzpp7CJn-a8iaCaV3_Ym72o9xrNTy4/view?usp=sharing 

My notes from the meeting

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/06/recap-municipal-affordable-housing.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"

 

Planning Director Bryan Taberner

Recap - Municipal Affordable Housing Trust 06/02/21

Quick Recap:

• Presentation by Planning Director Bryan Taberner provides an overview of the Housing Production Plan as drafted for review and comment
• Some clarification questions were asked by the small audience. Who sets the affordable housing rate? The State does and each community uses the same calculation. What is calculated as affordable isn't really affordable for some.
• Before the meeting closed an overview of process from this point was provided: more meetings/public hearings coming, the public comment period closes 6/25/21, then a redraft is made to incorporate the public comments. Another schedule of hearings by the Planning Board and Town Council before they approve the HPP and it is submitted to the State for approval

----
As with most meetings in this pandemic period, I took my notes via Twitter during the meeting reporting in real-time via the virtual session.
 
The Twitter hashtag can be found online  #hpp0602

https://twitter.com/search?q=%23hpp0602&src=typeahead_click 

Agenda doc for this meeting -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/municipal_affordable_housing_trust_june_2_2021_01.pdf 

Meeting recording to be available soon

• Live reporting underway for the Municipal Housing Trust public hearing on the housing production plan #hpp0602
  
• Copy of the plan can be found https://franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/franklin_housing_production_plan_-_may_2021_public_draft.pdf #hpp0602
  
• Slides from presentation being shared by planning director Bryan Taberner #hpp0602
  
• (I obtained a copy of the presentation so that is available - see link below - Several tweets shared 3 photos of the slides as Bryan moved through the updates. He read much of the content. When finished, there was more discussion and that is picked up in my notes)
• Affordable rent currently in Franklin is about $1600-1800/month which in most cases is not really affordable. #hpp0602
  
• How do we increase density? In some zoning districts multi family is via a special permit, or we could change the current zoning bylaws to allow for more than we have #hpp0602
  
• Zoning changes take time but the process for housing adjustments starts now. There is a study of our overall zoning regs specifically looking at affordable and housing #hpp0602 the study will help outline some possible changes
  
• At one point we were comfortably over the affordable percent. Every time we build a house and add it to the inventory our percent drops if it is not affordable. So if we add a development of x units with none affordable, it makes a bigger change. #hpp0602
  
• #hpp0602 if a project comes on with a portion of affordable, the whole total, assuming the portion goes thru the state affordable process, can count in the inventory of affordable.
  
• #hpp0602 there have been projects that were good for the Town that didn't work out. We really should go for a friendly 40b where we still get a say and the affordable units.
  
• There are developers who are very anxious to work on affordable units, we (the Town) should have an appropriate set of an incentives available #hpp0602
  
• Four developments and the senior housing account for 90% of our affordable units #hpp0602 attachment D in the plan as linked before contains the details of our current inventory
  
• Some Q&A, overview of process from here, more meetings coming, public comment closes 6/25 and then a redraft is presented for approval by Planning Board and Town Council before submitting to state #hpp0602
  
• Motion to adjourn, passes 3-0. Catch you next time. #hpp0602

Membership of the Municipal Affordable Housing Trust

https://www.franklinma.gov/municipal-affordable-housing-trust

• Present: Chris Vericker (chair), Maxine Kinheart, Judy Pfeffer
• Absent: Town Administrator Jamie Hellen, Mary Anne Bertone, Chris Feeley, Robert Keras

Planning Director Bryan Taberner

Link to presentation doc

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uNhzpp7CJn-a8iaCaV3_Ym72o9xrNTy4/view?usp=sharing 

Strategies for Affordable Housing Production ** 2021 Town of Franklin - Housing Production Plan - Public Review Draft **

Strategies for Affordable Housing Production
 

Section 3 of this Housing Production Plan (HPP) includes a substantial number of Implementation Strategies, which for the most part are ways to incentivize the creation of affordable housing. The Implementation Strategies section provides an explanation of the specific strategies the Town will achieve its housing production goals. In addition, Section 3 provides a description of Regulatory and Funding Incentives that can be used to stimulate affordable housing or other desired development projects.
 

Strategies include, but are not limited to the following:

• Amendment of zoning regulations in order to increase the likelihood of creating Subsidized Housing Inventory (SHI) eligible housing developments
• Use an incentivized Inclusive Zoning bylaw to attract SHI unit developments.
• Utilize Workforce Housing Special Tax Assessments (WH-STA’s), multi-year property tax exemption, as incentive to create middle-income housing.
• Perform an extensive assessment of the Town of Franklin Zoning Bylaw, Chapter 185 of Franklin Town Code. Specific attention will be shown to housing density, creating zoning related development incentives, assessing parking requirements, and other Zoning best practices.
• Advance projects under the Local Initiative Program to create the type and level of affordable housing best for the community.
• Consider creating a density bonus incentive program that allow more units of housing to be built than would be allowed under current zoning regulations, in exchange for a developer’s provision of affordable housing units or other public good.
• Actively engage with developers to further incentivize SHI development.

Plan Implementation
The HPP’s implementation will require the commitment of a variety of organizations and individuals, including non-profit organizations, state agencies, resident volunteers, and Town departments, boards, commissions, and committees. Through the combined efforts of all parties mentioned above the Town will implement the goals outlined in Section over a five-year implementation period. Department of Planning and Community Development  (DPCD) will provide an update the HPP implementation on a biennial basis, or as requested by the Town Administrator.

 

Find the full copy of the Housing Production Plan

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/franklin_housing_production_plan_-_may_2021_public_draft.pdf

Info on the public comment period

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/05/2021-draft-housing-production-plan-open.html

Plan Development and Public Participation

 

 

What do housing choice and brownfields have in common?

There not a real direct link but now that I have your attention, there are two things to be aware of:

 

1 - MHP (@mhphousing) tweeted on Wed, May 12, 2021:

 

In this episode of The Rewatchables, listen from 11 to 29 min. when @MAPCMetroBoston Eric Hove goes over key features of #HousingChoice & multifamily near transit requirement. Detailed look at new laws & what needs ironing out. https://t.co/EK2FwgmAJ4 @massmunicipal @MassEOHED

Shared from Twitter: https://twitter.com/mhphousing/status/1392555249907421186?s=03)

2 - MAPC (@MAPCMetroBoston) tweeted on Thu, May 13, 2021:

 

Join MAPC & @GroundworkUSA for a workshop on repurposing brownfields sites with solar energy installations!

You'll hear about models for B2B projects that advance equity & community benefits, & learn about a new tool to ID potential sites.

Register: https://t.co/ySZTyOS5ax  or here: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJcvcu6vqzIrHtUEDaOjJ16fekHd77_S4Wru

 

Shared from Twitter:  https://twitter.com/MAPCMetroBoston/status/1392877668631187462

 

workshop on repurposing brownfields sites

"we don’t build enough homes for everyone"

"PASSING AMBITIOUS LEGISLATION matters for obvious reasons, but so too does the rule-making process that follows a law’s passage. Final language often leaves state agencies with tremendous leeway, and real-world impact can vary widely based on administrative decisions that often get far less public scrutiny. Political scientist Leah Stokes calls this the “fog of enactment,” which opens the door for better-resourced interest groups and engaged insiders to water down the impact of landmark legislation.

Responding to years of advocacy for zoning reform, the Legislature recently passed a new transit oriented development law requiring cities and towns in the MBTA service area to create at least one zoning district that legalizes modest multi-family housing construction of at least 15 units per acre. The new law is a great opportunity to address our region’s housing crisis, but critical details remain to be worked out through a complex rule-making process involving the Department of Housing and Community Development, Department of Transportation, and the MBTA – which could last for much of the coming year. Depending on where this process lands, this promising new law could, in practice, net thousands of new homes – or almost none. "

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/housing/getting-the-details-right-on-transient-oriented-development-law/ 

Toronto's urban center "grappling with a housing shortage and affordability crisis"

Before I retired I had the opportunity to visit Toronto a few times. As Canada largest city, they have rejected a technology based development to take a more human approach. As Franklin continues the discussion on development and affordable housing, their work may provide some ideas we can use.

"Canada’s largest city is moving towards a new vision of the future, in which affordability, sustainability and environmentally friendly design are prioritized over the trappings of new and often untested technologies.

In announcing its new vision this week for Quayside, Toronto has backed away from many of the previous plan’s most futuristic promises, a move experts say reflects growing skepticism over technology’s role in urban planning decisions."

What is the new vision?

"Waterfront Toronto today launched an international competition to secure a development partner for the Quayside lands. The first step in this effort is to issue a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) to identify potential development proponents with the proven experience, design portfolio, financial resources, and shared vision necessary to bring Quayside to reality.  

“The people of Toronto have told us that they want to see a bold vision realized on the waterfront that reflects the confident, welcoming, and imaginative civic spirit of our city,” said Stephen Diamond, Chair of the Board for Waterfront Toronto. 

“We are looking for leaders in the development field that will share our ambition to create a place that fuses Quayside to the water, and provides more beauty, utility, and originality than previously imagined. We want Quayside to be timeless, adaptive, and to propel us into our rightful place among the great waterfronts of the world,” Diamond concluded. 

Quayside will usher in a new chapter in Toronto development. It will remind people of everything they want from living in the city and demonstrate what is possible when vision, passion, and design excellence are brought together. " 

Continue reading about the development planning for Quayside:

https://waterfrontoronto.ca/nbe/portal/waterfront/Home/waterfronthome/newsroom/newsarchive/news/2021/march/waterfront+toronto+launches+international+competition+for+quayside+development+partner

Opening quote from The Guardian gets into more of the background on the rejected development approach: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/mar/12/toronto-canada-quayside-urban-centre

Affordable Housing Opportunity - 24 Shayne Road, Unit 111

Affordable Housing Opportunity

Franklin Heights Estates – First Come First Serve 24 Shayne Road, Unit 111 - Resale

$191,780

Garden Style Condominium, 1st Floor, 2 Bedrooms, 1 Bath, 1,000 sf, with Gas Heat and Central Air Conditioning

Includes: Refrigerator, Stove/Oven, Microwave, Dishwasher, Washer/Dryer, Hard Wood Floors, Basement-Storage Unit

Taxes: $14.65 per $1,000, Condo Fee $174.00/Month Maximum Income Guidelines:

1 Person Household: $67,400 2 Person Household: $77,000 3 Person Household: $86,650

4 Person Household: $96,250

Maximum Household Asset Limit is $75,000.

First complete application received as of 3/12/21 will have the opportunity to purchase. You Must Be a First Time Homebuyer. For Application contact Maxine at 508-553-4890 or mkinhart@franklinma.gov or https://www.franklinma.gov/municipal-affordable-housing-trust page.

Shared from the Housing Trust page

https://www.franklinma.gov/municipal-affordable-housing-trust/news/affordable-housing-opportunity-24-shayne-road-unit-111

Recap of Town Council meeting Mar 3, 2021 - train station discussed, appt to ConComm approved, ambulance fees approved

Quick Recap:

• appointment to Conservation Commission approved, all committees/board now with full compliment of appointments
• Erin Rogers of Senior Center talks about the tax work off programs available from the State and from Franklin
• discussion on the condition and future of the downtown MBTA train station and exercise in futility. parking an issue downtown, apparently due to zoning changes made that can be/should be reviewed again
• vaccine not available for local clinic per State, teachers were added to eligibility as of Mar 11, 2021

Photos captured during the meeting and shared via Twitter can be found in one album  https://photos.app.goo.gl/gN3Z5Y2wUxdXqBNa6

----
As with most meetings in this pandemic period, I took my notes via Twitter during the meeting reporting in real-time via the virtual session.

The Twitter hashtag can be found online  #TC0303

https://twitter.com/search?q=%23tc0303&src=recent_search_click 

• Real time reporting about to begin for Town Council meeting #tc0303 https://www.franklinma.gov/town-council/agenda/march-3-town-council-agenda 
• Meeting opens, Chair runs thru the standard protocol statement on meeting conduct #edc0303 a small group at opening.
• #edc0303 meeting is announced for phone callers  One (member) remote, other 8 in Chambers
• #tc0303 (yup, 2nd time tonight used prior meeting to tag a tweet, oops) no citizen comments
• Motion to approve Jan 3 minutes, second, Chandler announces that the minutes are in great order, compliments to Judy L for doing them. Passes 9-0 via roll call. Motion on Feb 17 minutes
• Second, passes via roll call 9-0, #edc0303 appointment to conservation commission, Bissanti recuses, motion and second, after tonight, all vacancies are now full. Passes 8-0-1 1 recused (Bissanti)
• No hearings, no license transactions; moving to presentations, Erin Rogers from Senior Center on the tax work off program, if taxes are more than 10% of income, if renter and taxes more than 25% of income. Need to file with state, meet income guidelines. #tc0303
• #tc0303 anything we can do to help residents with their taxes, talk to their accountants and to the senior center for the form. If people qualify for this, they should also apply for the DPW for a credit against the water, sewer, etc. Storm water if it comes, may would need to
• Suggestion for something on the webpage for assistance available. #tc0303 clarification, you can do both it is not double dipping. State program is one and there is also the Franklin program.
• Other than web page, send elsewhere (i.e. newsletter) as some seniors don't go to the website. #tc0303 legal ads we spend 40K annually with Milford Daily News, also appearing as PSA with Franklin TV. http://Ma.gov webpage takes you right to DOR page and info
• #TC0303 moving to downtown Franklin MBTA station and parking lot. Was on evaluation and goals, a paper trail was included in the meeting docs. Kudos to Frank Falvey who has been a persistent advocate for addressing this item see page 17 https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/agendas/3-3-21_town_council_agenda.pdf 
• Maps of the station from package  #tc0303
• Continuing discussion on the station, a frustrating situation. This is a T issue and with pandemic they are in lots of trouble with revenue. #tc0303
• They are extending the line double track and going around the station. Also would need to take care of the bridge
• If you're in for a penny, you're in for more than a pound. #tc0303 we offered to but it from them, and they turned us down. Zoning changes recently increased parking requirements downtown and there is no space available. "This like beating a dead horse"
• #tc0303 lighting is brutal, and the bike racks are always full, can't they add some?
• Best opportunity may be the transit oriented development the Legislation that was recently passed called for.
• Let's think of the downtown and consider changing the zoning when the guidance Jamie mentions comes out. #tc0303 
• Budget meeting 3/17 at 6 PM, EDC just met tonight. Some things coming to council for consideration. Draft of business guide reviewed. Coming soon
• Moving to legislation for action, second reading https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/mai/files/10a._als_bls_web.pdf #tc0303 for ambulance service fee adjustments for this year.  Motion and second, vote via roll call (BLS basic life support, ALS advanced life support.) 9-0
• #tc0303 next up Quarterly PEG funds, the flow through of cable fees to Franklin TV per MGL, as an approved transaction  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/mai/files/10b._peg_-_web.pdf motion, second, passes via roll call 9-0 (Bissanti not going to yell at cable tonight)
• #tc0303 St Patrick's day serving dinner to seniors via the curbside cafe. Make reservations! Phase IV part 1 the library will be opening March 22, incredible innovation, popular curbside pickup; COVID school staff eligible as of Mar 11, schedule via portal
• No local clinic anytime soon, legislative delegates advocated but we're not getting supply. #tc0303 insufficient doses available in March to meet requirements. Per Gov Baker's press release. Happy to answer questions.
• Moving on. #tc0303 consensus on addressing downtown zoning now
• Kudos to the sports teams, great work! Great to hear of the town's work on a national podcast. Buses moved from former Kegan space to use King St until the Panther Way property is ready, helping the schools
• Yesterday was Franklin's birthday, and it wasn't noticed. 3/2 is the birthday. 243 years young. 
• Agendas and packets for CPC will be online #tc0303 excited that the library will be open. Don't let the guard down, we are almost there.
• Thanks to the community for doing what it takes, numbers are down, keep it that way. #tc0303 motion to adjourn, second, passes 9-0 
• That is all for tonight, thanks for following, catch you next time!

train station discussed