Showing posts with label budget hearing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label budget hearing. Show all posts

Saturday, June 17, 2023

The #8 episode in the Franklin For All series gets into Zoning and New Growth - 06/05/23 (audio)

FM #1014 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1014 in the series. 


This session of the radio show shares the audio recording of the housing and zoning discussion with Brad Chafee, Melanie Hamblen, and Cobi Frongillo. We were joined by Town Administrator Jamie Hellen and Town Council Chair Tom Mercer for this discussion on new growth. Most of us were in the Franklin TV Studio on Monday, June 5, 2023. Tom joined us via the Zoom conference bridge.


Consider this a continuation of the downtown zoning discussion from the “Franklin For All” project which is underway with review and discussion at the Economic Development Subcommittee Plus meetings that Melanie Chairs and for which Cobi is Vice-Chair.  


The conversation centered on new growth and how the zoning decisions have a relationship with the budget. 


The recording of our conversation on zoning runs about 1 hour 10 minutes. Let’s listen in. Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1014-franklin-for-all-8-new-growth-06-05-23



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The collection of Franklin For All zoning discussions can be found here ->

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/02/franklin-for-all-housing-zoning-podcast.html


The value-per-acre visual that Cobi mentioned 

https://twitter.com/CobiFrongillo/status/1569899170042978304 


The "Growth Ponzi Scheme" Cobi mentioned

https://www.strongtowns.org/journal/2020/8/28/the-growth-ponzi-scheme-a-crash-course 


Town Budget page for FY 2024 ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/town-budget/webforms/fy-24-budget-materials 


Town Council budget hearings for FY 2024

Finance Committee budget hearings for FY 2024


The “must listen’ intro as mentioned with the 30 minute overview of the revenue projections https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/05/franklinites-spend-few-minutes-with.html 


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


The #8 episode in the Franklin For All series gets into Zoning and New Growth - 06/05/23 (audio)
The #8 episode in the Franklin For All series gets into Zoning and New Growth - 06/05/23 (audio)

Sunday, June 4, 2023

School Committee member Dave Callaghan talks about the school budget & hard choices - 05/31/23 (audio)

FM #1003 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1003 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my recorded conversation with Franklin School Committee member Dave Callaghan. We had our conversation in person in the Franklin TV Studio on Wednesday, May 31, 2023. 


Our primary topic was the school budget for Fiscal Year 2024 (FY 2024). The Finance Committee meetings are done, the Town Council held their budget hearings and approved the budget. Coming up at the June 7 are a couple of resolutions to add another approx. $700K to the schools budget. This still leaves the School budget short of what they were asking for and hard choices remain.


One bright spot coming out of the hearing is that there appears to be agreement on trying to do something to address the systemic issues in the school and town budget.


The recording runs about 40 minutes so let’s listen to my conversation with Dave Callaghan. Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1003-school-cmte-dave-callaghan-05-31-23



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School Committee page => https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-committee 


School budget ->  https://www.franklinps.net/fy24budget 


Town Administrator’s budget ->

https://www.franklinma.gov/town-budget/webforms/fy-24-budget-materials 

  

Town Council budget hearings (video & audio links)


Finance Committee budget hearings (video & audio links)



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


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"



School Committee member Dave Callaghan talks about the school budget & hard choices - 05/31/23 (audio)
School Committee member Dave Callaghan talks about the school budget & hard choices - 05/31/23 (audio) 

Tuesday, May 30, 2023

Town Council approves FY 24 budget after 9 hours over 2 nights, plan for schools to get $700K more (audio)

FM #1000 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1000 in the series. 


This session of the radio show shares the Town Council meeting held in Council Chambers on Thursday, May 25, 2023. All 9 members of the Council were present in the Council Chambers.


The first budget hearing did not complete on Wednesday evening, so Thursday's session opens to complete the first hearing and then starts the second hearing. When the second hearing completes, the legislation for action commences to record the various approvals as noted below.


Quick recap

  • Police to add to their staff to alleviate a scheduling issue that should help reduce the overtime cost and help moral by reducing the amount of forced overtime

  • Fire to add to their staff to help provide a third ambulance for coverage during four days of peak call volume. The staff increase is partially offset by additional ambulance revenues

  • Senior Center gets approval for a van driver for half the year as a step towards full time 

  • Town administration gets approval for a shift from an assistant town administrator to a Deputy Administrator along with a half year funding for an Arts & Culture Director

  • The Franklin school budget gets an increase of approximately $700K over the $1.1m initially allocated. These funds will be part of a two resolution vote being scheduled for the June 7 Council meeting. 24 school personnel positions were cut this week by the School District to meet their expected budget shortfall of over $2M. Some of those are due to the continued declining enrollment, some of those can be restored with the additional funds being allocated. As was made clear a few times during the hearings, the Town Council only provides a line item of funding to the Schools. The School district and School Committee have the full responsibility for choices on how that money is spent

  • The Joint Budget Subcommittee will begin meeting (schedule TBD) to work on a strategic plan to address the systemic issues across both the Town and Schools budget requirements. There was consensus on increasing the revenue. Some of the increase can come from a variety of measures (storm water fee, sewer rate increase, zoning changes to increase density, etc.) as well as consideration of a possible override ballot question. In order to get to the override question, the amount of increased revenue (i.e. property taxes revenue) needs to be explored and agreed to put before the taxpayers for their approval. There are already a number of increases planned (or expected) and that needs to be part of the consideration.

Planned

  • storm water begins July 1, 2023

  • sewer rate increase for next three years beginning July 1, 2023 to pay for the Beaver St interceptor replacement. Construction along RT 140 begins later this year

  • possible debt exclusion for Tri-County RVTHS building replacement (amount expected in Aug 2023, vote anticipated in Oct 2023)

Expected

  • water rate increase to pay for PFAS mitigations

  • potential debt exclusion for renovation of Davis Thayer (DT) for town use (to make it ADA accessible). Decision on potential use anticipated by Dec 2023 from subcommittee appointed to determine recommendations

  • potential debt exclusion for new Police station or renovation of existing, committee appointed and soon to begin work on this; their work will include the DT decision as applicable

  • potential operational override to address systemic revenue issues


The recording runs about 3 hours and 42 minutes. Let’s listen to the Town Council meeting on May 25, 2023.  Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1000-town-council-fy-24-budget-hearing-2-05-25-23



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The full agenda and documents associated with it can be found online ->    https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/may_25_2023_town_council_agenda_1.pdf


The Fy 2024 budget document folder ->

https://www.franklinma.gov/town-budget/webforms/fy-24-budget-materials 


The Franklin TV video replay for both sessions is available


My Twitter notes captured during the meetings can be found here


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

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"


Town Council approves FY 24 budget after 9 hours over 2 nights, plan for schools to get $700K more (audio)
Town Council approves FY 24 budget after 9 hours over 2 nights, plan for schools to get $700K more (audio)

Monday, May 29, 2023

Audio recordings for the 1st of 2 budget hearings on the FY 2024 budget conducted by Franklin (MA) Town Council - 05/24/23 (audio)

FM #998 & 999 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, numbers 998 & 999 in the series


This session of the radio show shares the first of two FY 2024 budget hearings held by the Town Council in Council Chambers on Wednesday, May 24, 2023. All 9 members of the Council were present in the Council Chambers.


The recording of the first session is split into two parts. The total meeting runs 4 hours and 50 minutes. 

  • Part 1 has the opening of the meeting and the first bunch of departments held. 

  • Part 2 has the Franklin School budget and citizen comments


The budget hearing was continued to Thursday night, resuming at 7 PM. That recording runs almost 4 hours and will be shared in one session.


** Part 1 - Town Administrator overview, budgets held for Town Council, Town Administration, Comptroller, Treasurer/Collector, Town Clerk, Facilities, Police, Fire, and Inspection audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-998-town-council-budget-hearing-1-part-1-of-2-05-24-23


** Part 2 - Public schools and citizen comments advocating for the school budget

audio file ->
https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-999-town-council-budget-hearing-1-part-2-of-2-05-24-23

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The full agenda and documents associated with it can be found online ->   

 https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/may_24_2023_town_council_agenda.pdf 


The FY 2024 budget documents -> 

https://www.franklinma.gov/town-budget/webforms/fy-24-budget-materials 


The Franklin TV video replay for Wednesday’s sessions is available ->  https://www.youtube.com/live/P5MzuZ7r7gA?feature=share


My notes captured via Twitter can be found in one PDF. 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hmk9G_oo0RXsmkV0KOiHADAXXgXbNGxk/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"