Town Council Quarterbacking gets inside the meeting of Jan 4, the recognition, legislation, and creation of 4 committees (audio)

FM #912 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 912 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 Jan 4, 2023: 

• ok, what just happened? 

• What does it mean for Franklin residents and taxpayers?

We cover the following key topics

PROCLAMATIONS / RECOGNITIONS

a. Proclamation: Franklin Panthers 4th Grade Football Team

PRESENTATIONS / DISCUSSION

National Register Historic Districts in Franklin - Vicki Earls, Franklin Public Library https://youtu.be/KdGHozDRa1E 

Town Council Goals Update - Jamie Hellen, Town Administrator

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/8b._goals.pdf 

LEGISLATION FOR ACTION

Renewal of Municipal agreement with Tri-County for school resource officer

Ratification of 3 contract adjustments with Police (2) and Fire (1)

Authorize formation of four committees

• Arts & Culture

• Master Plan

• Police Station

• Davis Thayer reuse

Our conversation runs about 41 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 Jan 5, 2023

Audio file ->  https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-912-town-council-quarterbacking-01-05-23

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Meeting agenda and documents released for this session ->

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/01/franklin-ma-town-council-meeting-agenda.html

The National Register Historic Districts presentation ->   https://youtu.be/KdGHozDRa1E

Watch the Franklin.TV video replay on YouTube ->  https://youtu.be/N-WomocGBlc

My notes in one threaded PDF document -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1iIH7JAlnlgN69HDkUYIS-3U44pUSUW15/view?usp=share_link 

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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

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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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Councilor Cormier-Leger reading the proclamation for the Panthers 4th grade team

Did you see how many ways you can help Franklin make decisions? Police station, master plan, Davis Thayer, etc...

The Town of Franklin will be looking for help to make decisions on the police station, Davis Thayer, the Master Plan and Arts and Culture. As the legislative body, the Town Council gets to make these decisions and will be soliciting help from the community through a committee and study process for recommendations.

The Town Council meeting agenda for Weds, Jan 4, sets up the initial committees. Soon, the application process for each of these will allow for community members to state their case for a role on the committee.

Even if you are not selected for a role on the committee, the meetings are public and usually allow for participation. In these cases, there are likely to be one or more opportunities for public forums as well.

The time to get involved in helping to determine is NOW!

• should we build a new police station, renovate the existing, if building new - where?
• what is the best use for Davis Thayer?
• how do we need the Master Plan to layout as objectives for the next ten years?

From the Town Council agenda for Jan 4, 2023:

f. Resolution 23-05: Police Station Building Committee Charge (Motion to Approve Resolution 23-05 - Majority Vote)  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/9f._23-05_police_station_building_committee.pdf

g. Resolution 23-06: Subcommittee for Arts and Cultural Initiatives (Motion to Approve Resolution 23-06 - Majority Vote)  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/9g._23-06_subcommittee_for_cultural_initiatives.pdf

h. Resolution 23-07: Master Plan Update Committee (Motion to Approve Resolution 23-07 - Majority Vote)  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/9h._23-07_master_plan_update_comm.pdf

i. Resolution 23-08: Davis-Thayer Building Reuse Advisory Committee Charge (Motion to Approve Resolution 23-08 - Majority Vote)  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/9i._23-08_davis_thayer_reuse_comm.pdf

The full agenda and remote participation info can be found ->

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/jan_4_2023_tc_agenda.pdf

Franklin Police Station 911 Panther Way

Franklin, MA: Town Council - Meeting Agenda for Jan 4, 2023

FRANKLIN TOWN COUNCIL

Agenda & Meeting Packet

January 4, 2023 - 7:00 PM

Meeting will be held at the Municipal Building - 2nd floor, Council Chambers

355 East Central Street

1. ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE CHAIR

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.

b. Chair to identify members participating remotely.

2. CITIZEN COMMENTS

a. Citizens are welcome to express their views for up to three 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. November 30, 2022

b. December 14, 2022

4. PROCLAMATIONS / RECOGNITIONS

a. Proclamation: Franklin Chargers 4th Grade Football Team

5. APPOINTMENTS - None Scheduled.

6. HEARINGS - 7:00 pm - None Scheduled.

7. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS - None Scheduled.

8. PRESENTATIONS / DISCUSSION

a. National Register Historic Districts in Franklin - Vicki Earls, Franklin Public Library https://youtu.be/KdGHozDRa1E

b. Town Council Goals Update - Jamie Hellen, Town Administrator

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/8b._goals.pdf

9. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION

a. Bylaw Amendment 22-888: Chapter 170, Vehicles And Traffic, Section 170-22, Subsection A, Location of Stop Signs - Second Reading (Motion to Approve Bylaw Amendment 22-888 - Majority Roll Call Vote)   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/9a._22-888_stop_signs_0.pdf

b. Resolution 23-01: Authorization for Inter-Municipal Agreement with Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School for Franklin to provide it with a School Resource Officer (Motion to Approve Resolution 23-01 - Majority Vote)  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/9b._23-01_tri_county_sro.pdf

c. Resolution 23-02: Ratification of the Memorandum of Agreement between the Franklin Police Association employees and the Town of Franklin (Motion to Approve Resolution 23-02 - Majority Vote)  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/9c._23-02_police_association.pdf

d. Resolution 23-03: Ratification of the Memorandum of Agreement between the Franklin Police Sergeants Union employees and the Town of Franklin  (Motion to Approve Resolution 23-03 - Majority Vote)  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/9d._23-03_police_sergeants_contract.pdf

e. Resolution 23-04: Ratification of the Memorandum of Agreement Between the Professional Firefighters of Franklin and the Town of Franklin (Motion to approve Resolution 23-04 - Majority Vote)  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/9e._23-04_firefighters_contract.pdf

f. Resolution 23-05: Police Station Building Committee Charge (Motion to Approve Resolution 23-05 - Majority Vote)  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/9f._23-05_police_station_building_committee.pdf

g. Resolution 23-06: Subcommittee for Arts and Cultural Initiatives (Motion to Approve Resolution 23-06 - Majority Vote)  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/9g._23-06_subcommittee_for_cultural_initiatives.pdf

h. Resolution 23-07: Master Plan Update Committee (Motion to Approve Resolution 23-07 - Majority Vote)  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/9h._23-07_master_plan_update_comm.pdf

i. Resolution 23-08: Davis-Thayer Building Reuse Advisory Committee Charge (Motion to Approve Resolution 23-08 - Majority Vote)  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/9i._23-08_davis_thayer_reuse_comm.pdf

j. Resolution 23-09: Town Administrator Evaluation Subcommittee

(Motion to Approve Resolution 23-09 - Majority Vote)  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/9j._23-09_ta_eval_subcomm.pdf

k. Resolution 23-10: Gift Acceptance - Police Dept. ($5,050), Veterans’ Services Dept. ($2,600)  (Motion to Approve Resolution 23-10- Majority Vote)  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/9k._23-10_gifts.pdf 

10. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

11. SUBCOMMITTEE & AD HOC COMMITTEE REPORTS

a. Capital Budget Subcommittee

b. Economic Development Subcommittee

c. Budget Subcommittee

d. GATRA Advisory Board

12. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

13. COUNCIL COMMENTS

14. EXECUTIVE SESSION - None Scheduled.

15. ADJOURN

Note: Two-Thirds Vote: requires 6 votes

Majority Vote: requires majority of members present and voting

The agenda doc contains the remote participation information

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/jan_4_2023_tc_agenda.pdf

Franklin, MA: Town Council - Meeting Agenda for Jan 4, 2023