Welcome to 2025 - What will your top topic be for this year?

What will your top topic be for 2025?

I suspect that a few of the “Watch List” items from last year will return:

• The budget for FY 2026 is one of the top ones. We start with about a $4M deficit and unless there is an override, balancing the budget means significant cuts to people and services.

• Housing and managing our growth smartly needs to be front and center. This goes hand in hand (or pocket to pocket) with the budget. 

• The Master Plan is up for approval to guide our next 10 years. This is another way of looking at the budget and growth issues as the Master Plan prescribes how we'll grow.

• The school district will continue to develop the implementation plan for the redistricting that begins in September 2025. While there is minimal budgetary savings this year, it is supposed to better position the district to be more effective going forward. Reducing from 9 schools to 7 schools (in 5 buildings) brings economies not available in the prior structure.

What else would you put on this listing of items to watch (and engage with) this year?

https://forms.gle/vo8QPEi1Aq2YTH6M6

Welcome to 2025 - What will your top topic be for this year?

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

• May 24 & 25 (budget hearings) - recap & audio links ->  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/05/audio-recordings-for-1st-of-2-budget.html       https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/05/town-council-approves-fy-24-budget_01384873643.html     

• recap & video links ->   https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/05/town-council-approves-fy-24-budget.html  

Finance Committee budget hearings for FY 2024

• May 11 - (FY 2024 budget hearing) public safety (police, fire, dispatch) -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/05/finance-cmte-completes-fy-2024-budget.html 

• May 10 - (FY 2024 budget hearing) schools (FPS, Tri-County, Norfolk Aggie) recap, audio & video links -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/05/finance-committee-budget-hearing-2-gets.html 

• May 8 - (FY 2024 budget hearing) general government and DPW (enterprise accounts (sewer, water, solid waste & stormwater) - recap, audio & video links ->    https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/05/fincom-gets-fy-2024-summary-from-town.html 

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)

SAFE Coalition shares their growth during 2022

"We continue to hear that reaching out for support can be a more significant barrier than actively engaging in care - and we get that! 

PLEASE KNOW YOU ARE NOT ALONE. 

Every day community members, schools, police, fire, and groups in between call and email us with requests for information and support. 

We are here to listen, answer your questions, and offer support on your terms."

Shared from -> https://www.instagram.com/p/CsGytx6Lu6h/

More information about the SAFE Coalition -> https://www.safecoalitionma.org/

SAFE Coalition share their growth during 2022

Town of Franklin, MA: Finance Committee - Oct 26, 2022 - 7 PM

Finance Committee Meeting

Agenda & Meeting Packet

Wednesday, October 26, 2022 - 7:00 PM

Meeting will be held at the Municipal Building

2nd floor, Council Chambers

Agenda

1. Call to Order

2. Public Comment

3. Approval of Minutes: 9-28-22 & 10-18-22

4. The Bill Dowd “Deep Dive” Series:

a. Presentation: Assessing Department, Kevin Doyle & the Franklin Board of Assessors

5. Future Agenda Items

6. Adjourn

Please find the agenda and links for the October 26th, 2022 Finance Committee meeting posted here: https://t.co/nzAX525RCo 

Shared from Twitter -> https://t.co/yJj0iyvERL

Town of Franklin, MA: Finance Committee - Oct 26, 2022 - 7 PM

"FINDING THAT CONNECTION - neurons connecting to one another in a Petri dish" (video)

"So amazing! Psych students- check this out!! https://t.co/VpvEYNadEn"

"In this video, Dr. Lila Landowski shares footage of two neurons connecting in a dish. Here's what Lila had to say about the footage:

You’re watching two neurons that I saw under the microscope sensing one another and connecting.

There are 86 billion neurons in the brain - how do they know how to connect to other neurons or body parts when our bodies are developing?"

Direct link to video ->  https://youtu.be/Rvmvt7gscIM

Shared from Ms Gordo via Twitter: https://twitter.com/ms_gordo/status/1470020817291464707

Strong Towns Event @ THE BLACK BOX - 11/15/21 (audio)

FM #661 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 661 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the Strong Towns Town Hall event with Congressman Jake Auchincloss, State Rep Jeff Roy, Franklin Town Councilor Cobi Frongillo, and Charles Marohn from Strong Towns. 

The event was held at THE BLACK BOX and broadcast via Franklin TV and Zoom. 

After a round of opening remarks, there is a question and answer period with audience participation. Each question asker identifies themselves so you should be able to follow along.

 

The recording runs about 1  hour and 14 minutes, so let’s listen to the Strong Towns Event on Nov 15, 2021. Audio file -> https://player.captivate.fm/episode/9af1799e-c16d-4b73-8329-74515b343b2f

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My notes from the session

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/11/recap-strong-towns-event-fostering.html 

More about Strong Towns can be found online -> https://www.strongtowns.org/

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

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"

 

FM #655 - Finance Committee Mtg - 11/10/21 (audio)

FM #655 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 655 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the Franklin, MA Finance Committee meeting held on Wednesday, November 10, 2021.

The meeting was conducted in a hybrid format: the seven Finance Committee members present were in the Municipal Building along with some of the public, other members of the public joined via conference bridge, all to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

The recording runs about 29 minutes.

Links to the meeting agenda and associated documents released for this meeting are included in the show notes. The link to my notes taken during the meeting is also provided.

Let’s listen to this segment of the Finance Committee meeting Nov 10, 2021

 

Audio file ->  https://player.captivate.fm/episode/c3c9189c-91ac-4510-856e-de5712479fc5

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Finance Committee Agenda doc (including connection info) ->  

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/11/franklin-ma-finance-committee-agenda.html

 

My notes captured during the meeting -> 

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/11/recap-finance-committee-hears-of-fy.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"

 

FM #655 - Finance Committee Mtg - 11/10/21 (audio)

Recap: Finance Committee hears of FY 2022 overall budget reduction of $454K

Quick Recap:

• New growth had been forecasted to be $1,199,593 and is being revised down to be $1,105,000; the $94,593 less revenue is one piece of several moving parts of the budget

• The State numbers (Chapter 70, etc.) were finalized in August and now those numbers become real and update what had been expected when the budget was put together in Mar/Apr. The total net change to the bottom line is a decrease of over $400K. The Town side will absorb about $300K and the school budget will be reduced by $93K. The summary of how the decrease is absorbed can be found on page 12

• Host community agreements are not considered 'general revenue', they are targeted to be mitigations for the impact of the sale of such cannabis products that generate the agreements. They are forecast for a five year revenue period, currently the max allowed under MA general law. The host community agreement funds are therefore allocated to DPW, SAFE Coalition, and Police Department as outlined in the memo/draft resolution on page 13

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As with most meetings in this pandemic period, I took my notes via Twitter. I participated in the meeting in the Council Chambers. 
 
The Twitter hashtag can be found online  #fincom1110
https://twitter.com/search?q=%23fincom1110&src=typeahead_click 
 
Agenda document -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/11/franklin-ma-finance-committee-agenda.html
 

• #fincom1110 meeting about to start agenda and connection info -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/11/franklin-ma-finance-committee-agenda.html
  
• Chair calls meeting to order with 7 members present #fincom1110
  
• Town Administrator Jamie Hellen speaks to the adjustments for FY 2022 as part of the annual budget process. Usually done about this time before the tax rate is set in late Nov/early Dec  https://franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/fin_com_agenda_nov_10_2021.pdf…  #finCom1110
  
• new growth amount to be reduced, use 10 year average, and things have changed since it was forecasted earlier this year #fincom1110 main item of note from memo, packet on page 2, see totals of new growth over last 10 years preparation of savings in good times, paves way
  
• "baring any unforeseen circumstances", everyone is seeing disruptions in supply chains; State revenues finalized after our budget was done, so the numbers are finalized at this time - page 7 in the packet show offsets on Charter school revenue vs. assessments #fincom1110
  
• pause for Qs on revenue sheet; none at this time -  narrative of memo that intros the doc explains these line item changes #fincom1110 Fire/Police changes due to unforeseen retirements and resulting new hire training/staffing items
  
• decrease to Schools also due to the lower revenue growth; Health Dept adjustment due to Health nurse starting later than anticipated, hence salary savings #fincom1110 health ins categories decreases reflect enrollment numbers vs. projections
  
• host community agreements are not 'general revenue', they are targeted to be mitigations for the impact of the sale of such; #fincom1110 memo on 13 outlines where the incoming funds would be used
  
• page 12 - outlines the total general operating budget adjustments #fincom1110 host agreements currently for a 5 year term;
  
• motion to approve general fund adjustments #fincom1110 seconded, passes 7-0 (Corbosiero and Keophanga absent)
  
• motion to approve resolution on host agreements, seconded, passes 7-0
• late receipt of bills from printing (performed during prior fiscal year) #fincom1110 (possible pandemic related problem, hoping it a one time problem) motion to approve, seconded, passes 7-0
  
• motion to adjourn, seconded, passes 7-0 #fincom1110
  
• stay tuned for Town Council meeting coming up at 7 #tc1110  #fincom1110

 
 Audio recording of meeting to be available in couple of days

 

summary of how the decrease is absorbed

Population changes for Franklin, MA from 2020 Census Data

"Like the rest of the nation, Massachusetts is getting more diverse, according to data released by the US Census Bureau on Thursday.

The map below shows how each town in Massachusetts has changed from the 2010 Census to the 2020 one. You can see the percent change in population since 2010, or explore each town’s demographic changes individually. The towns that shrunk the most are redder; those that grew are greener."

Continue reading the article online (subscription maybe required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/08/12/metro/new-census-data-see-how-each-mass-town-has-changed/

Related Boston Globe article ->  https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/08/12/metro/new-census-data-is-being-released-thursday-beginning-2021-redistricting-process-earnest/

Overall population growth has slowed and the community has gotten more diverse.

Population change for Franklin, MA from 2020 Census Data