EDC Meeting Recap: "Franklin First", QR codes, and complete streets discussed

Recap:  Brief update on re-opening provided at beginning of meeting. Grant application being readied for distribution, possible next week.
 
Shift to the market study and picking up on prior meeting discussion of placements at restaurants, adding QR codes to help with finding things, a “Franklin First” campaign in the works to help foster buying local.
 
Complete streets and the details around it reviewed, some of the impact seen with the rework on the Main St and downtown project completed a couple of years ago. Would be a policy (not a bylaw) to help address planning for the street to consider all modes of transit (rather than just the auto which is prevalent today).

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As with most meetings in this pandemic period, I took my notes via Twitter during the meeting reporting in real-time via the virtual session.
 
The Twitter hashtag can be found online #boh0902
https://twitter.com/search?q=%23boh0902&src=typeahead_click

• Shifting to real time reporting underway for EDC meeting which had just started at 5:45 PM #edc0902
• "Franklin First" campaign in the planning stages to help foster local buy, better linkage between cultural district and town page (as foreshadowed in Cultural District meeting) #edc0902
• Touting QR codes, do they realize (1) most devices don't read them (2) a major security issue is opened. #edc0902
• If you're not aware of QR codes, this link on Wikipedia can help explain https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QR_code  #edc0902
• QR codes being proposed as an additional items to help with navigation and info finding #edc0902 
• Website being touted as never done, actually seems to be referring to Cultural District page (Not Town page) which raises questions about what is the cultural district?
• Tapping into Metro West visitors bureau and other regional/state orgs to help with marketing in print, web, social, etc. #edc0902 an increase of biking seen in this pandemic period, work on 'complete streets' coordinate with traffic lights to get activated by bikes
• Policy proposal would need to be accepted by planning board and town Council #edc0902 complete streets would require all uses of the road would be considered, currently car is priority for road construction.
• The state is already complete streets planning, some of the road work we're doing is also complete streets (as in road narrowing) #edc0902 need to get credit for what they are doing. Framework and guidance doc, not a bylaw
• Meeting adjourned, getting ready for #3; Town Council up at 7 PM #edc0902. #tc0902 

The EDC agenda can be found online    https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/08/franklin-ma-economic-development.html

Photos captured during the meeting and shared with the Twitter thread can be found here

https://photos.app.goo.gl/bXGKVDGEQte4r6EB7

Councilor Brian Chandler new member of the EDC gestures in asking a question

Franklin, MA: Economic Development Subcommittee - Agenda - Sep 2 - 5:45 PM

Economic Development Subcommittee Meeting
Agenda & Meeting Packet
September 2, 2020
5:45 PM

Meeting will be held at the Municipal Building
2nd floor, Council Chambers 355 East Central Street

 

The public will NOT be permitted to enter the building or participate in person. Only 

pre-approved participants on the meeting agenda will be allowed to enter the Building and participate in person.

Residents can attend and participate via the “ZOOM” Platform.

 

Agenda

1.    COVID-19 Phase 3 Update
a.    Microenterprise grant update

2.    Market Analysis & Market Position Marketing Discussion & Work Plan 

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/mai/files/8a._final_town_of_franklin_market_study_1.pdf

Connection info for this meeting contained in the agenda doc

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/agendas/2020-09-02_edc_agenda_meeting.pdf

 

 

Franklin, MA: Economic Development Subcommittee - Agenda - Sep 2 - 5:45 PM

"Talk Franklin": Town of Franklin End of Summer Updates

FM #338 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 338 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my "Talk Franklin" conversation with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen and Communications Specialist Anne Marie Tracey. We had our conversation via conference bridge to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

We talk about: 

• Re-opening

Weekly numbers, need to maintain focus on social distancing, face coverings, etc.

• Market study

EDC meeting sort of/unofficial
Listening sessions scheduled

Nexamp solar farm info sessions - replay available
Municipal aggregation starts Nov 1

• FY 2021 Budget

Being mindful as FY 21 gets underway
Likely November budget discussion before tax rate hearing in December

• Elections

Sep primary, Absentee, mail, early voting; 
November election; Ballot questions; Community Preservation Act

The recording runs about 40 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Jamie and Anne Marie.

https://anchor.fm/letstalkfranklin/episodes/TOF-End-of-Summer-Updates-eipmbm/a-a32gl9j

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• Market Study Listening Sessions  https://www.franklinma.gov/economic-development
• Nexamp session  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jnqi1ExZtSs
• Town budget page  https://www.franklinma.gov/town-budget
• Town Clerk page  https://www.franklinma.gov/town-clerk

--------------
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/

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"

Talk Franklin: A new episode is available

Franklin Residents: 3 upcoming meetings to be aware of and participate in

Town of Franklin, MA (@TOFranklinMA) tweeted at 3:33 PM on Thu, Aug 27, 2020:

Three Upcoming Public Meetings:

• EDC (9/2/20): https://t.co/E4JtjEUOWJ
• Stormwater (9/9/20): https://t.co/QTDOsdbrPu
• Budget Subcommittee (9/16/20): https://t.co/yADSS2fseI

(https://twitter.com/TOFranklinMA/status/1299067549557182465?s=03)

Franklin Residents: 3 upcoming meetings to be aware of and participate in

Business Listening & Networking Sessions Scheduled

"The Franklin (MA) Town Council Economic Development subcommittee invites business owners, key community stakeholders, and citizens to a series of a Business Listening & Networking Sessions."

Please find the flyer and RSVP link here https://t.co/hcbqrS6xpz https://t.co/Ffr74x1rFq

You can get a copy of the flyer here

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xV_-aylOsYilUpwhXta-8f2fSxAQqYRG/view?usp=sharing

The Market Study can be found here
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/mai/files/8a._final_town_of_franklin_market_study_1.pdf

 

Business Listening & Networking Sessions Scheduled

FM #334 Economic Development Comm Meeting Not 8/20/20 (Audio)

FM #334 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 334 in the series. 
This session shares the Economic Development Subcommittee meeting that was scheduled for Thursday, August 20, 2020. The meeting was conducted via conference bridge to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

Due to lack of quorum, the meeting never officially opened, all discussion was relevant but not official. The Chair, Melanie Hamblen, was present from the beginning along with multiple Town Administration staff. One other member of the committee (Jones) joined about 26 minutes into the recording but they still lacked one of the other two members (Earls, Bissanti) to make an official meeting.

The recording runs just about 48 minutes, so let’s listen to the discussion from the unofficial meeting of the Economic Development Subcommittee.

The agenda for the meeting can be found here
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/agendas/08-20-2020_edc_agenda.pdf

The next meeting is targeted for Sep 2 starting approx 5:00 or 5:30 PM effectively before the Town Council meeting, the same night.

Audio file = https://www.hipcast.com/podcast/H63FkD7K

 

--------------
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/

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"

screen grab of proposed schedule for listening sessions

'Talk Franklin' with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen - 8/14/20 (Audio)

FM #329 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 329 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my "Talk Franklin" conversation with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen and Communications Specialist Anne Marie Tracey. We had our conversation via conference bridge to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

We talk about: 

• Re-opening

• Election

• Recap/set up

• Stormwater - Sep 9 next meeting; 

• #thinkBlueFranklin extension to 8/23

• EDC/ MAPC 

• Aug 20 next meeting, listening sessions scheduled

• MECC grant

• Senior center office hours 8/20

• Councilor Earls leaves for law school

The recording runs about just over an hour, so let’s listen to my conversation with Jamie and Anne Marie. Audio Link = https://anchor.fm/letstalkfranklin/episodes/Town-Updates-and-News-Reopening--Elections-and-more-ei9f85/a-a2vir6h

 

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

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/

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"

'Talk Franklin' with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen - 8/14/20 (Audio)

Economic Development Subcommittee - Agenda - Aug 20, 2020

 August 20, 2020 =  6:00 PM

Agenda:

1.      Reopening Phase 3 Discussion

2.      Economic Development update

3.      Market Analysis & Market Position Presentation Discussion & Work Plan

For the connection information (via Zoom) along with the MPAC Market Study, find the agenda doc on the Town of Franklin page  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/agendas/08-20-2020_edc_agenda.pdf

Economic Development Subcommittee - Agenda - Aug 20, 2020