Finance Committee hears economics of development as "it's complicated", approves Capital budget requests (video)

The Finance Committee met on Wednesday, Jan 14, 2025. 8 members (1 absent) were present in Council Chambers for a four hour session.

Franklin TV video for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaC9XFahY1M

The agenda and released documents for this meeting -> https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01142026-2089 

Quick recap ->

• Board of Assessors and Town Staff: The Economics of Development, residential valuations are based upon residential property sales and comparables. Commercial Industrial valuations are more complicated in that there is a revenue factor for how much money the operations is actually making (confidentially reported to the Assessors) along with several other factors. The repeated phrase was "it's complicated"
• We did hear that there is NO issue with water supply or sewer capacity. Police and Fire are understaffed (but managing as best they can for the volume), Schools built extra capacity as part of the redistricting effort. The per pupil amount talked of is not what each net new student would cost. There are existing capacities to handle some number of students without adding a teacher.
• The capital budget first pass was approved after a lengthy discussion. Town policy calls for funding multiple stabilization accounts, this year only the OPEB account was proposed for funding due to the budget shortfall and that it had not been funded last year.
• The OPEB fund resolution passed 8-0-1 (1 absent)
• The first pass at the tier 1 capital requests accounted for $1.8M and was proposed to amend to remove the sprinkler system work required at the Senior Center. The amendment was meant to reserve the additional $750K for the potential budget deficit. The motion to amend after a lengthy discussion failed by a 1-7-1 (1 for, 1 absent, 7 against removal for the item). The vote on the original resolution passed 7-1-1 (7 for, 1 against, 1 absent)

School Committee approves "Comprehensive School Facility Planning" effort (audio)

The School Committee met on Tuesday, July 25, 2023 as scheduled and completed business without student updates (school vacation) or any presentations (summer time) with a brief Executive Session and the total was within an hour. A rare but worthy accomplishment.

• Getting ready to report on the School Committee meeting at 7 PM follow along with the agenda #schcom0726  https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/scagenda_7-25-23.pdf
• Chair Spencer opens meeting, gets right to the Supt Giguere report on the activity this summer. Administrator pretreat the day after school ended to close and reflect on the past school year. #schcom0725 retreat next week, 3 days, asst and principals together
• Planning and strategic planning key topic, to be held at Dean College; MSAA executive institute for Lucas, Paula & Tina at the Cape recently, how to move from striving to thriving, budget development also a key topic #schcom0725
• Elementary literacy materials arrived, being distributed to the schools, 30 openings currently but a moving # as candidates are in process, HS experience, new teacher orientation, professional development before schools starts, report and dates coming in writing
• Clarification q, 2 asst principals open at this time. No presentations, now discussion action items
• Space Needs & Facilities Assessment Sub Committee - I recommend that the School Committee dissolve the Space Needs & Facilities Assessment Sub Committee as detailed motion to approve, second, passes 7-0
• School Facilities Master Planning Subcommittee - I recommend that the School Committee establish a School Facilities Master Planning Subcommittee as detailed motion to approve, second, Amended to be Comprehensive School Facility Planning Subcmte, passes 7-0; Second vote to pass formation of committee as amended, passes 7-0
• Off-site/retreat working on an overall calendar for meetings and subcommittee meetings to make them as predictable as possible, likely ready in a couple of weeks #schcom0725
• Consent agenda recommended to be approved, moved, second, passes 7-0
• Order for Committee comments, Callaghan advises participating in Joint Budget Subcmte meeting Aug 2
• Motion to executive session, to return to open meeting, second, passes 7-0 via roll call We will hang out for this one, not supposed to be a long session. Stay tuned!
• Ok, about to return to open session
• Called back to order, motion to adjourn, via roll call passes 7-0 That's all for tonight catch you next time!
  

My notes captured via Twitter can also be downloaded in one PDF ->

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1B6e2erfStEAvBxEN7GfhZHU7gIxni4t6/view?usp=drive_link

Franklin TV video replay -> https://www.youtube.com/live/C-AM9cmYqSU

Audio link ->  https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1029-franklin-ma-school-cmte-mtg-07-25-23

Franklin, MA: School Committee Meeting - July 25, 2023 at 7 PM

Town of Franklin: Update on the State of Massachusetts Reopening Process

Find sector-specific guidance

An Update on the State of Massachusetts Reopening Process NEW UPDATES ON FEBRUARY 25, 2021:   Thursday at 1:00 PM, Governor Baker, Lt. Governor Polito, and Secretary Kennealy made several announcements pertaining to the state's reopening process and sector-specific guidance. These include: Phase 3, Step 2:  Effective March 1st, the Commonwealth will move forward into Phase 3, Step 2. This will reopen: Indoor performance venues such as concert halls, theaters, and other indoor performance spaces Open at 50% capacity with 500 person max Indoor recreational activities with greater potential for contact: laser tag, roller skating, trampolines, obstacle courses Open at 50% capacity Updated Capacity Limits:  Effective March 1st the following industries will increase to 50% capacity. Employees will be exempt from capacity restrictions in all of these industries: Arcades & Other Indoor and Outdoor Recreation Businesses Close Contact Personal Services Driving and Flight Schools Fitness Centers and Health Clubs Golf Facilities (indoor) Libraries Operators of Lodging (common spaces) Museums, Cultural & Historic Facilities, Guided Tours Office Spaces Places of Worship Sectors not Otherwise Addressed Theaters and Performance Venues Relevant EEA Industries – Youth sports spectators etc. The following industries remain unaffected by capacity limits:  Drive-in movie theaters  Construction  Laboratories  Manufacturing Additional Guidance Changes: Effective March 1st, Restaurants will no longer be subject to a % seated capacity limit and their capacity is limited only by the requirement of 6 feet between tables  Musical performances allowed in restaurants (with appropriate distancing)  90-minute time limit on tables stays in place  Limit of no more than 6 per table stays in place  Food courts remain closed Effective March 1st, Fitting rooms may open in all retail businesses Gatherings Limit:  Effective March 22nd, subject to public health data, the gatherings limit will increase for event venues and public settings, but will stay the same in private settings: Event Venues and Public Settings: 100 indoor 150 outdoor Private Settings (such as private residences): 10 indoors 25 outdoors Phase 4, Step 1:  Effective March 22nd, subject to public health data, the Commonwealth will move into Phase 4, Step 1: Indoor and outdoor stadiums, arenas, and ballparks will reopen with a 12% capacity limit  A large venue is defined as having a capacity of 5,000 or more  Venues with capacity under 5,000 are subject to the Indoor and Outdoor Performance Venue guidance Large venues will be required to submit a safety plan to the Department of Public Health Overnight Camps will be allowed to open for Summer 2021 Exhibition and Convention Halls may reopen, subject to gathering limits and event rules Dance floors may open at weddings and events only All other Phase 4 industries will not be able to open until a future reopening step. Those include: Road races, street festivals, and parades, and fairs Amusement parks, theme parks, outdoor water parks Indoor water parks and indoor/outdoor ball pits Saunas, hot-tubs, steam rooms at fitness centers, health clubs, and other facilities Beer gardens/ breweries/ wineries/ distilleries Bars, dance clubs, and nightclubs—venues offering entertainment, beverages, or dancing and not providing seated food service Updated guidance can be found at www.mass.gov/reopening. This information is posted on our website at https://www.franklinma.gov/home/pages/reopening-resources Town of Franklin | www.franklinma.gov   ‌

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FM #376 School Committee Mtg - 10/27/20 P2 of 3 (audio)

FM #376 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 376 in the series. 

This session shares one of three segments for the Franklin, MA School Committee meeting held on Tuesday, Oct 27, 2020. 

The meeting was conducted in a hybrid format: some of the School Committee and Central Office personnel were in the Council Chambers, the remainder of the Committee was remote via conference bridge, all to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

I’ve split the almost three hour meeting into three logical segments:

* First - covers the opening through the Superintendent's Report, covering the re-opening status; moving from remote to hybrid (52 minutes)

* Second - covers the presentation/discussion on the Comprehensive Facility Analysis (1 hour and 17 mins)

* Third - covers the Discussion Actions Items, and the remainder of the meeting up to where the School Committee enters the executive session not to return to a public meeting. (40 minutes)

The show notes contain links to the meeting agenda and to the presentation document.

Let’s listen to this second segment of the School Committee meeting of Oct 27, 2020   Audio file  = https://www.hipcast.com/podcast/HVJdxbqK

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Agenda doc
https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/scagenda_10-27-20.pdf 

Meeting packet folder
https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-committee/pages/october-27-2020-school-committee-meeting-packet 

Comprehensive Facility Analysis presentation doc
https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-committee/files/facilities-analysis-presentation-10-27-20 

Facility Assessment report doc
https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-committee/files/facilities-assessment-report 

My notes from the meeting
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/10/school-committee-meeting-oct-27-2020.html 

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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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Craig Olsen presenting on the facilities assessment