- Brownie troop 64085 led the pledge as part of the work on the Democracy badge
- The minutes for the Jan meeting were approved
- The OPEB financial report was presented and reviewed, we are in a better position than we were previously
- FY24 Capital Improvement Plan was approved
- associated transfers to account for the funding approval were also approved
- The Council voted to support the Pending State Legislation Entitled “The Municipal Empowerment Act”
- The Revised 2024 Town Council Meeting Schedule was approved
- Gift Acceptance - Veterans’ Services Dept. ($2,900), Senior Center ($200), Police Dept. ($50) were approved with thanks
- Designation of “Special Municipal Employee” Under State Ethics Law were approved for newly create committees not previously covered by this move (housekeeping)
- Cable Funds in Support of PEG Service and Programming per MGL Ch. 44, §53F3/4 actually 2 resolutions were approved. If the "empowerment Act noted above becomes law, this kind of approval would disappear from Council agendas
- Council entered executive session to not return to open meeting for discussion of a matter regarding a real estate purchase
- Joint Budget SubCmte meeting on March 6 will begin work on how to resolve a $10.5M budget deficit across town and school budgets. Agenda and budget details to be released Friday March 1
Providing accurate and timely information about what matters in Franklin, MA since 2007. * Working in collaboration with Franklin TV and Radio (wfpr.fm) since October 2019 *
Thursday, February 29, 2024
Town Council spends 2 hours and takes "no action" on zoning proposal (video)
Monday, September 7, 2020
"unemployment taxes are 'probably the first of many bills' from the pandemic"
From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:
"With unemployment soaring, state lawmakers are considering ways to soften the blow from a major impending increase in the taxes employers pay toward the state’s unemployment system, a jump in costs that one business group described as a “pretty staggering.”
With the unemployment insurance trust fund suddenly facing a multibillion-dollar deficit over the next four years, the contributions required from Massachusetts businesses are set to increase nearly 60% when the calendar turns to 2021 and then continue growing at a smaller rate through 2024.
Those higher taxes -- estimated at an average of $319 more per qualifying employee next year -- will be due starting in April, raising concerns that the sharp uptick will put a drag on the economic recovery from the ongoing COVID-prompted recession and make it more difficult for employers to bring back jobs they cut.
Christopher Carlozzi, state director for the National Federation of Independent Business Massachusetts, said his group and the employers with which it works view the projected increases as “a looming crisis.”
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200906/how-is-massachusetts-going-to-pay-all-of-unemployment-requests-employers-will-face-staggering-hike-in-unemployment-taxes?rssfeed=true
Sunday, March 1, 2020
Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - March 4, 2020
1. ANNOUNCEMENTS
a. This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast Channel 11 and Verizon Channel 29. This meeting may be recorded by others.
2. CITIZEN COMMENTS
a. Citizens are welcome to express their views for up to five minutes on a matter that is not on the agenda. The Council will not engage in a dialogue or comment on a matter raised during Citizen Comments. The Town Council will give remarks appropriate consideration and may ask the Town Administrator to review the matter.
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
a. February 5, 2020
4. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
a. Boston Post Cane Award
5. APPOINTMENTS
- None Scheduled
6. HEARINGS
- None Scheduled
7. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
- None Scheduled
8. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
A. Municipal Aggregation
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/mai/files/8a._municipal_aggregation.pdf
B. FY21 Budget Update
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/mai/files/8b._fy21_budget_update.pdf
9. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
A. Capital Budget Subcommittee
B. Budget Subcommittee
C. Economic Development Subcommittee
10a. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
Resolution 20-14: The Town of Franklin Civil Discourse Pledge (Motion to approve Resolution 20-14 - Majority Vote)
10b. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
Resolution 20-15: Appropriation of Cable Funds in Support of PEG Service and Programming per M.G.L Ch.44, §53F3/4 (Motion to Approve Resolution 20-15 - Majority Vote)
10c. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
Zoning Bylaw Amendment 20-853: Zoning Map Changes on or Near Pleasant, Chestnut, and Brook Streets - Referral to the Planning Board (Motion to Refer Zoning Bylaw Amendment 20-853 to the Planning Board - Majority Vote)
10d. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
Zoning By-Law Amendment 20-849: Changes to Ground-Mounted Solar Energy System Use Regulations, And Use Regulations Schedule Updates- Second Reading (Motion to Adopt Zoning Bylaw Amendment 20-849 - Two Thirds Majority Roll Call Vote)
10e. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
Zoning By-law Amendment 20-850: Zoning Map Changes On Or Near Highland, Maple and Lincoln Streets- Second Reading (Motion to Adopt Zoning Bylaw Amendment 20-850 - Two Thirds Majority Roll Call Vote)
10f. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
Zoning By-law Amendment 20-851: Zoning Map Changes On Or Near Oak Street and Dailey Drive - Second Reading (Motion to Adopt Zoning Bylaw Amendment 20-851 - Two Thirds Majority Roll Call Vote)
11. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT
12. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
13. COUNCIL COMMENTS
14. EXECUTIVE SESSION
Collective Bargaining
I request a motion that the Board vote to convene in Executive Session for the purpose of discussing strategy with respect to collective bargaining, because an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the Board.
15. RETURN TO OPEN SESSION FOLLOWING EXECUTIVE SESSION: LEGISLATION FOR ACTION, CONTINUED
a. Resolution 20-16: Ratification of the Memorandum of Agreement Between the AFSCME Local 1298, Council 93, Public Facilities Maintenance Employees and the Town of Franklin (Motion to Approve Resolution 20-16 - Majority Vote)
ADJOURN
The agenda and associated documents can be found at the Town of Franklin page
https://www.franklinma.gov/town-council/agenda/march-4-town-council-meeting
The agenda can also be found in a single PDF file
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/agendas/2020-03-04_town_council_meeting_packet_final_0.pdf
Note:
- Two-Thirds Vote: requires 6 votes
- Majority Vote: requires majority of members present and voting
Franklin Public Library entrance at night |
Monday, June 24, 2019
The projected budget deficits for Franklin FY 2021 and beyond
Plans have started for an override to be put before the voters for the FY 2021 budget. The specific amount and details remain to be finalized. The timing of the override vote also remains to be determined.
Agenda doc
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/06/joint-budget-subcommittee-meeting-june.html
As acknowledged in the meeting, these numbers are projections. The rationale and timing for 'finalizing' the numbers is outlined by Town Administrator Jamie Hellen is captured in the audio recording of the meeting:
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/06/fm-167-joint-budget-subcommittee.html
You can download a copy of the spreadsheet
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UMZFs6fJxSHB6gj_yKVCldt2oOjd8jPg/view?usp=sharing
Franklin FY 2021 and future projected budget deficits |
Sunday, February 24, 2008
In the news - deficit ahead, museum name
Despite passing a $2.7 million override last year to prevent drastic cuts in schools, the town is again facing an estimated $3-$4 million deficit this year, according to Finance Committee Chairman Jim Roche.
State leaders say Franklin, when compared with other towns, is in good fiscal shape and receives more state aid than many of its counterparts.
They have been doing well. My district is one of the highest communities in terms of getting money (from the state),'' said state Sen. Scott Brown, R-Wrentham.
Likewise, state Rep. James Vallee, D-Franklin, said, ``Franklin gets more state aid than almost any other community in Massachusetts, especially with six or seven new buildings.''
---------------------------
As part of its move to the former senior center on West Central Street, the Horace Mann Museum is getting a new image.
For starters, Horace Mann is getting the boot in favor of a less confusing title that does not imply a museum for the historical figure, said Carol Harper, chairwoman of the Historical Commission. The Historical Commission, which runs the museum, wants the public to know the building showcases Franklin artifacts - such as straw hats manufactured here by the same company that supplied hats for the movie, "Gone with the Wind," Harper said.