Tom Mercer and I condense the 3 hour Town Council meeting to about 35 minutes (audio)

FM #1431 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1431 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, April 17, 2025.  

Our conversation condensed the Town Council meeting of April 16, 2025. 

We focus on two questions:

• ok, what just happened? 

• What does it mean for Franklin residents and taxpayers?

Topic for this session:

• School Committee Chair D Callaghan provided an update on recent meeting updates including the potential naming of the "Horace Mann Campus"

• per Town Clerk Nancy Danello, notification of election coming via mail re: the override election June 3. Postcard with QR code to register to vote, also includes a vote by mail application. Only one card to head of household not one per every voter

• Appointment of the 2025 election workers was approved by unanimous vote

• Resolution 25-18: June 3, 2025 Election Early & Mail in Voting was approved unanimously. The scheduled early voting dates will be added to the Community calendar

• Proclamations and recognition for 

• the FHS Cheerleaders, National Champs for 5th year

• the FHS boys basketball team, State Division 1 Champs

• members of the Dean College Athletic Training first responders who saved the life of an individual at a recent athletic event

• Public hearing conducted on 2 related bylaw changes to allow Shared-Use Commercial Kitchens in commercial zones. The Planning Board had approved also, these measures were moved to a second reading (at a future meeting)

• Presentation and update on work being done by  Franklin Police Department Mental Health Clinician Division - Kallie Montagano, Clinician Program Manager 

• Followed by an update on the Franklin Crisis Action Team by Deputy Administrator Amy Friguiletti. Housing and temp shelter the top issue the FCAT group sees

• A Zoning Bylaw to Amend Chapter 185, Section 24, Floodplain District - Referral to the Planning Board was approved unanimously. Apparently, the Town slipped in knowing that this had a 5 year life expectancy and was due to be updated. Only minor changes required but the due process is being initiated now with this referral

• Approval for acceptance of gifts

Let’s listen to my conversation with Tom as we recap the Town Council meeting. Approx. 35 minutes Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1431-town-council-quarterbacking-04-17-25/

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The Franklin TV video is available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/live/C9jXhRmTTlI?&t=94 

The agenda and released documents can be found -> https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04162025-1682

My full set of notes captured during the meeting

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nIb72BBNqBkuEgMCgS9ggo5T5UR8A7BD/view?usp=drive_link 

Photo album of the recognitions ->   https://photos.app.goo.gl/NFs8QPA39vzy5tzn8 

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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

• 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!

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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"

Tom Mercer and I condense the 3 hour Town Council meeting to about 35 minutes (audio)

We spent our "Talk Franklin" time on Mental Health Month and closed with some Songs of Hope (audio)

FM #1218 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1218 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen, Deputy Town Administrator Amy Frigulietti, Police Lt Jason Reilley, and Kallie Montagano, Co-Response Program Manager on Tuesday, May 21, 2024.    

We get a very brief recap of current events (it’s all about the budget) and then get into the evolution of the “jail diversion” program to the “co-response” program now managed by Kallie with 2 other clinicians (Sonja and Caroline). There is no typical day.

We close out with discussion and laughter around the Top 20 songs of Hope. (playlist below)

Our conversation runs about 45 minutes.    Audio link -> https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/letstalkfranklin/episodes/Talk-Franklin--A-Podcast-from-the-Town-Administrators-Office---May-21--2024-e2k73h4/a-abad5g2

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

Police Department page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/police-department

Contact info for Lt Reilly -> jreilly@franklinma.gov 

Contact info for Kallie -> kmontagano@franklinma.gov 

Co-Response Program page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/police-department/pages/co-response-program 

Songs of Hope YouTube playlist -> https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLL2XKlvMgLAldLSI4Eiro2M-gyEz73X2n 

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

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!

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

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

We spent our "Talk Franklin" time on Mental Health Month and closed with some Songs of Hope (audio)

Congratulations to Montagano, Ferris, Colecchi for graduation from Crisis Response & Behavioral Health certificate course

(L-R) Colecchi, Ferris, Montagano

Congratulations to Clinician Kallie Montagano, Clinician Caroline Ferris, and Sgt Michael Colecchi. Earlier today (May 20, 2024) all three graduated from the William James College Graduate Certificate Course in Crisis Response & Behavioral Health.

The Center for Crisis Response and Behavioral Health at William James College provides training and education to mental health professionals and law enforcement on effective response methods for encounters with individuals who are experiencing a psychiatric, substance-related, or mental health crisis.

The program addresses an important need for expanding roles and opportunities in public safety and seeks to create effective partnerships between mental health and law enforcement.

Shared from -> https://www.instagram.com/p/C7NN7ZMxQti/

Sonja Wagner starts with FPD as the second mental health consultant

Sonja Wagner starts with FPD

Via Franklin Police Dept 

"Please welcome Sonja Wagner to the Franklin Police Department. Sonja joins the FPD as our second clinician for FPD’s Co-Response Program.  

Sonja started in November and has already hit the ground running. Sonja is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and has over 4-years of experience working with law enforcement in a co-response role and has prior experience working as a mental health counselor."

Shared from -> https://www.instagram.com/p/C0WYy4jO6hb/

From the October 18, 2023 Town Council meeting, Kallie Montagano is introduced as she rejoins the Police Dept to lead the Co-Response Program. Kallie had joined the dept as part of the pilot grant several years ago, left for another opportunity and now has returned.

• Audio & video link to Council meeting with introduction of Kallie https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/10/town-council-observes-police-new-hires_0250604876.html

• Tom Mercer covers this re-introduction in our Town Council Quarterbacking session  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/10/this-town-council-quarterbacking.html