The Rotary Club International is a non-profit organization made up of a diverse group of men and women “who come together to create positive, lasting change in our communities and around the world.” https://www.rotary.org/en/about-rotary
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 *
Saturday, March 16, 2024
Rotary Club of Franklin MA 2nd Annual Comedy Night Fundraiser, Saturday, April 20, 2024
Thursday, November 16, 2023
Town Council keeps leadership team for new session; mattress fee to increase, snow removal bylaw revived (video)
Friday, September 29, 2023
Town Council Quarterbacking session catches up to the Sep 20 meeting and provides a recap (audio)
FM #1068 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1068 in the series.
This shares my conversation with Town Council Chair Tom Mercer. This is one of a series of conversations meant to provide a recap of the prior Council meeting. Akin to one of the many sports post-game analysis broadcasts we are familiar with in New England, this would be a discussion focused on the Franklin Town Council meeting of September 20, 2023:
ok, what just happened?
What does it mean for Franklin residents and taxpayers?
We cover the following key topics
Three appointments to individual committees were unanimously approved. a. Council on Aging - Collette Ferguson b. Finance Committee - Heather Sanscoucy c. Municipal Affordable Housing Trust - Kimberly Mu-Chow
Franklin Elks Riders presented a donation of $1k, the Franklin Elks Bingo donated $10k to the Town of Franklin veterans services
Council goals review, a long list of accomplishments, a list to be proud of
The funds previously allocated for purchase of a new ambulance were authorized to be paid to the vendor to hold the contract and avoid a price increase - Resolution 23-54: Ambulance Transfer & Appropriation
The Council discussed and approved placement of the debt exclusion to fund the Franklin portion of the Tri-County RVTHS new building. The question language approved was as follows:
"Shall the Town of Franklin be allowed to exempt from the provisions of proposition two and one-half, so-called, the amounts required to pay the Town’s allocable share of the bonds issued by the Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical School District to pay costs of designing constructing and equipping a new high school to be located at 147 Pond Street, in Franklin, including the payment of all costs incidental or related thereto?"
The Open Space & Recreation Plan developed over the course of 15 months, muti[;e meetings and 3 public hearings was approved by the Council. IT will be submitted to the State and assuming their acceptance will also be part of the Master Plan Update now underway
Town Administrators report provided updates on the migrant housing situation, the demolition delay report and a report on decommissioning a section of Spring Street.
Our conversation runs about 35 minutes. Let’s listen to this session of Town Council Quarterbacking recorded Sep 20, 2023. Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1068-town-council-quarterbacking-09-28-23
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The Franklin TV video is available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/live/bF13Dgn_6qs
Town Council agenda doc -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/town_council_agenda_-_sept_20_2023.pdf
My full set of notes captured via Twitter during the meeting are collected in a single PDF for easier reading -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1khvMQCoANrW3vZxzRHMYP1pPlrpfAfP4/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 your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"
Saturday, September 23, 2023
Town Council receives Elks donations, approves debt exclusion question for Tri-County school (video)
- Three appointments to individual committees were unanimously approved. a. Council on Aging - Collette Ferguson b. Finance Committee - Heather Sanscoucy c. Municipal Affordable Housing Trust - Kimberly Mu-Chow
- Franklin Elks Riders presented a donation of $1k, the Franklin Elks Bingo donated $10k to the Town of Franklin veterans services
- Council goals review, a long list of accomplishments, a list to be proud of
- The funds previously allocated for purchase of a new ambulance were authorized to be paid to the vendor to hold the contract and avoid a price increase - Resolution 23-54: Ambulance Transfer & Appropriation
- The Council discussed and approved placement of the debt exclusion to fund the Franklin portion of the Tri-County RVTHS new building. The question language approved was as follows:
"Shall the Town of Franklin be allowed to exempt from the provisions of proposition two and one-half, so-called, the amounts required to pay the Town’s allocable share of the bonds issued by the Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical School District to pay costs of designing constructing and equipping a new high school to be located at 147 Pond Street, in Franklin, including the payment of all costs incidental or related thereto?"
- The Open Space & Recreation Plan developed over the course of 15 months, muti[;e meetings and 3 public hearings was approved by the Council. IT will be submitted to the State and assuming their acceptance will also be part of the Master Plan Update now underway
- Town Administrators report provided updates on the migrant housing situation, the demolition delay report and a report on decommissioning a section of Spring Street.
Mark Ellis presenting the $10,000 check from bingo |
Elks riders presenting the check for $1000 |
Wednesday, September 6, 2023
Save the Date: Meet the Candidates Event Tuesday, Oct 17, at the Elks
Thursday, April 6, 2023
Comedy Night to benefit Clear Path for Veterans programs - April 22, 7 PM
Monday, March 13, 2023
Rotary Comedy Night - April 22 - 6 PM
Rotary Comedy Night - April 22 - 6 PM |
Sunday, December 4, 2022
This Town Council "Quarterbacking" session condenses the 11/30/22 meeting to about 28 minutes (audio)
FM #891 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 891 in the series.
This shares my conversation with Town Council Chair Tom Mercer. This is one of a series of conversations meant to provide a recap of the prior Council meeting. Akin to one of the many sports post-game analysis broadcasts we are familiar with in New England, this would be a discussion focused on the Franklin Town Council meeting of Nov 30, 2022:
ok, what just happened?
What does it mean for Franklin residents and taxpayers?
We cover the following key topics
8. PRESENTATIONS / DISCUSSION
a. Presentation: Elks Riders Donation to Veterans’ Services Department
6. HEARINGS - 7:00 pm
a. Franklin Tax Classification Hearing
b. Resolution 22-77: Tax Classification Residential Factor
c. Resolution 22-78: Tax Classification Open Space Exemption
d. Resolution 22-79: Tax Classification Small Business Exemption
e. Resolution 22-80: Tax Classification Residential Property Exemption
f. Resolution 22-81: Tax Classification Senior Means Tested Exemption
g. Resolution 22-82: Declaration of Town-owned Property Containing “South Franklin Congregational Meeting House” Located at 762 Washington Street as Surplus and Authorization for Disposition (Sale) to Old Colony Habitat for Humanity
h. Resolution 22-83: Downtown Parking Lot Kiosks Authorization
i. Resolution 22-84: 2023 Town Council Meeting Schedule
k. Resolution 22-85: Public Property Naming & Memorial Installation Policy
Our conversation runs about 28 minutes:
Links to the meeting agenda and associated documents released for this meeting are included in the show notes.
Let’s listen to this session of Town Council Quarterbacking recorded Dec 1, 2022
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Meeting agenda and documents released for this session ->
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/nov_30_town_council_agenda.pdf
Watch the Franklin.TV video replay on YouTube -> https://youtu.be/FXWkMcix63s
My notes in one threaded PDF document
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uTxaQe3MXLug8od6xq5C_bqLzbDLoEjY/view?usp=share_link
My 4 key tax rate charts as discussed in this session
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/11/good-news-tax-rate-is-going-down.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 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 your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"
Saturday, December 3, 2022
Town Council accepts Elk Riders donation, sets tax rate, approves sale of South Meeting House and more (audio)
FM #890 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 890 in the series.
This session of the radio show shares the Town Council meeting held in Council Chambers on Wednesday, November 30, 2022. 7 members of the Council were present in the Council Chambers, one member remote (Pellegri) and one member absent (Dellorco), hence all votes were via roll call.
Quick summary of meeting:
Accepted donation from Elks Riders for the Veterans Services and Veterans Fund
Held the Tax Classification Public Hearing prior to approving the single rate at 12.58%. Overall residential assessments rose approx 17% resulting in the drop of the rate from 14.05 to 12.58. There were a series of votes to complete the formal process to set the rate for this Fiscal Year 2023
Approval to sell the Old South Meeting House to the Habitat for Humanity to convert to a single family affordable housing was granted by the Town Council to allow the Town Administrator to complete the paperwork and actions for the transaction
Formal approval to purchase the new kiosks to be used in the town parking lots to implement the parking bylaw changes approved in the prior meetings was granted
The Town Council approved as amended the calendar year 2023 meeting schedule. The one change was from Apr 9 to Apr 26. The document also included the Finance Committee and Community Preservation Committee proposed meeting schedules for reference. Those groups need to respectfully approve their own schedule
The policy to formally call out the process and approvals required for naming any public property was approved. It had been referenced many times that such a policy existed but when it was looked for it could not be found, hence this is now in place.
The recording runs about 1 hour and 50 minutes, so let’s listen to the Town Council meeting on November 30, 2022.
--------------
Meeting agenda and documents released for this session ->
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/nov_30_town_council_agenda.pdf
Watch the Franklin.TV video replay on YouTube -> https://youtu.be/FXWkMcix63s
My notes in one threaded PDF document (one correction, on the vote for the single tax rate my notes said the no vote was cast by Chandler when it was really Sheridan. Twitter doesn’t allow for editing tweets hence this note of acknowledgment.)
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uTxaQe3MXLug8od6xq5C_bqLzbDLoEjY/view?usp=share_link
My 4 key tax rate charts as discussed in this session
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/11/good-news-tax-rate-is-going-down.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 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"
Members of the Elks Riders presented a donation to the Veterans Fund |