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 *
Monday, February 6, 2023
How should the CPA funds be used? You have the chance to provide input!
Wednesday, June 8, 2022
Community Preservation Committee approves plan for first authorization of CPA funds
FM #813 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 813 in the series.
This session of the radio show shares the Community Preservation Committee meeting held in hybrid format on Tuesday, June 7, 2022.
- Chair/membership: C Feeley, D McNeill (remote), M Doyle, J Livingstone, P Malcolm, M Giardino, W Simarian, L Oxford [R Power, absent]
- Town Administration: J Hellen, A Alleyne, K Bertone
The meeting approved the minutes of the prior meeting via roll call vote (8-0-1; 8 for, 0 against, 1 absent).
With some discussion on the overall plan, the committee then voted on each of the resolutions which passed with the same 8-0-1 vote via roll call.
a. Resolution 22-36: FY23 CPA Reservations (Budget) $1,887,000
b. Resolution 22-37: FY23 CPC Appropriation of Capital Funds (Project Recommendations) - $905,000
c. Resolution 33-38: CPC Appropriation of Funds - Debt Service Maple Hill Land - $271,489
There may not be a need to meet until September or later. With the new fiscal year, and the rolling project form, someone could propose something at any time. Once they did, it would be scheduled for a meeting.
The recording runs about 26 minutes, so let’s listen to the Community Preservation Committee discussion on June 7, 2022.
Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-813-community-preservation-cmte-mtg-06-07-22
--------------
Meeting agenda => https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/06-07-2022_cpc_packet.pdf
CPC Plan -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/2022_cpa_plan_v.2_3.pdf
My notes ->
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1koc2S9_y8Ksz_Q5M9K0A1zvTi4VGTAfg/view?usp=sharing
Purpose | Amount |
Historic Preservation Reserve Town Clerk Vault Records Preservation | 15,000 |
Historic Preservation Reserve Historical Museum Cupola | 70,000 |
Historic Preservation Reserve Red Brick School House - Exterior Preservation | 200,000 |
Community Housing Reserve Franklin Ridge Affordable Housing Project | 320,000 |
Budgeted Reserve Nason Street Tot Lot | 300,000 |
Total | 905,000 |
--------------
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"
Monday, March 21, 2022
MA topics recap - pilot payments, infrastructure funding, land preservation, and remote meeting access
“It’s about fairness. It’s about how do you want to participate in this city that you get city services from: police, fire, public works. I think you should share in those costs.”
So spoke Boston’s late former mayor, Thomas Menino, back in 2010, when talking about nonprofit universities and hospitals—”eds and meds” in popular parlance—and their community responsibilities.
House Bill 3080 (Senate Bill 1874) authored by Erika Uyterhoeven of Somerville and cosponsored by 19 fellow state legislators, would finally realize Menino’s vision and empower cities to set common rates. Under the legislation, cities could require payments of up to 25 percent of commercial property tax rates for nonprofits with over $15 million in property and could include provisions for in-kind community benefit contributions in lieu of cash."
"EFFORTS TO REPLACE the MBTA’s entire Green Line trolley fleet, a statewide move toward electric vehicle adoption, and projects to make infrastructure more resilient in the face of climate change impacts would all get a boost under a $9.7 billion bond bill Gov. Charlie Baker outlined on Thursday.Nearly two months after he first hinted at plans to file a new transportation bond bill, Baker offered an initial glimpse at a proposal the head of the MBTA expects will play a “catalytic role” to maximize money headed to Massachusetts under a new federal infrastructure law.Once filed, the legislation will kick off debate over years of investments in the state’s pothole-dotted roads and bridges, aging public transit, and infrastructure ill-equipped to withstand the brunt of climate change."
"WE OFTEN THINK of floods, hurricanes, snowstorms and the like as threats to our normal way of life, but the COVID pandemic has shown us a unique threat that affects everyone in a very different way — isolation and inability to gather together. What brought many of us through the last few years was the availability of nearby open spaces for outdoor passive recreation. As much as we need to plan for 100-year floods, we also need to plan for 100-year pandemics. Enter the Public Lands Preservation Act.Massachusetts has a wonderful collection of State Parks with a huge variety of sites and activities along with Mass Audubon, The Trustees, The Trust for Public Land, and many local and regional private land trusts. Most of the publicly owned open spaces are nominally protected in perpetuity under Article 97 of the Commonwealth Constitution. However, the protection can be removed by a two-thirds vote of each branch of the Legislature. Forty to fifty laws are enacted every legislative session removing protection from parcels protected “in perpetuity.” How can we prevent this erosion of public land? Enter the Public Lands Preservation Act."
"THE DARKNESS OF the pandemic brought a surprise element of transparency to government, and a range of groups, including those representing individuals with disabilities, this week are calling on the Governor’s Council to resume online streaming of meetings where elected officials vet judicial candidates.“In the case of government entities based in Boston, like the Governor’s Council, live streaming enables people to tune in from every corner of the state; discontinuing remote access is devastating for regional equity,” eight groups wrote in a letter Thursday that was sent to the eight-member council and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, who chairs council meetings where Gov. Charlie Baker’s judicial nominees are considered. “Remote access is the latest instance of universal design — alongside curb cuts, elevators, closed captioning, audiobooks, and other features — that began as accommodations and expanded to universal popularity. Like these innovations and others emerging during the pandemic, remote access to public meetings should become a permanent feature.”
MA issues recap - pilot payments, infrastructure funding, land preservation, and remote meeting access |
Wednesday, October 28, 2020
Community Preservation Act (CPA) For Franklin Discussion - 10/22/20 (audio)
FM #374 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 374 in the series.
This session shares the conversation about the Community Preservation Act. The conversation was conducted on Thursday, Oct 22, 2020 via conference bridge to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.
The voices you will hear in order of appearance will be that of mine, Monique Doyle, Roberta Trahan, and Susan Speers.
The show notes contain links to the Community Preservation Act webpage and other social media links.
--------------
Community Preservation Act web page https://www.cpaforfranklin.org/
Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/cpaforfranklin
Instagram account https://www.instagram.com/cpa_for_franklin/
Twitter account https://twitter.com/cpa_franklin
--------------
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"
Community Preservation Act (CPA) For Franklin Discussion - 10/22/20 (audio) |
Monday, September 28, 2020
Three Voices of Franklin: Vote Yes for the Community Preservation Act
We urge residents to vote for Franklin’s future by voting Yes for the Community Preservation Act in the upcoming election!
This is our chance to fund Franklin’s special needs that too often go ignored or postponed, such as protecting open space for water supply protection and farms, parks, new playgrounds or improving current recreation, preserving the Brick School and the South Meeting House, and creating new community housing.
Our local CPA contributions will allow Franklin to receive a distribution from the state CPA fund. This state distribution comes from the fees paid on transactions at the Registry of Deeds. Those fees were raised in 2019, which mean that the state contribution is secured for the future. This year the state match is estimated to be more than 20% for the 176 cities and towns which have already voted CPA. Franklin would begin to receive a share of that pool in 2022 if CPA is approved.
This question asks us to approve a CPA surcharge of 2% on our property tax. Residential properties would get an automatic $100,000 exemption, and exemptions would be offered to low-income families and moderate-income seniors.
The average homeowner in Franklin would pay about $105 a year... or about $2 a week... less than one cup of coffee, let alone a latte! Far less than a year’s gym membership and less each week than a train ticket to Boston, parking in the MBTA lots or a new pencil case for a kindergarten student.
The funds raised by the CPA stay in Franklin in a dedicated fund for eligible projects. A five to nine-person committee will evaluate proposals annually and the final section will be made by the Town Council.
It’s estimated that the funds raised through CPA would be more than $1 Million a year and the fund would grow to allow Franklin to invest in many of the “wish list” goals for historic buildings, open space, parks and recreation, and much needed community housing for seniors and families – all projects that are often set aside for “someday.”
Well, if we pass CPA, we can make that “someday” possible. If each family gives a little, we all will get much more in return. Please look for the Community Preservation Act at the bottom of the ballot and vote “Yes”!
For more information, sign up at CPA4Franklin@gmail.com.
Monique Doyle
Roberta Trahan
Three Voices of Franklin: Yes for the Community Preservation Act |
Friday, September 18, 2020
Community Preservation Coalition - Happy birthday CPA!
This week marks the 20th anniversary of Gov. Cellucci signing the #CommunityPreservationAct into law.
Community Preservation Coalition - Happy birthday CPA! |
Picked up by the Franklin radar via Twitter https://t.co/EyUgKHnMAM
Monday, May 25, 2020
Commuity Preservation Act update
"While the COVID emergency’s impact on the Community Preservation Act Trust Fund is difficult to predict, the Division of Local Services on May 1 issued preliminary guidance, projecting an 11.2% first-round distribution to CPA communities in November.Continue reading the article online
“While current events have made estimating the state match a challenge, we have calculated a conservative estimate for use in municipal budget discussions,” the DLS stated.
Revenue for the trust fund comes from filing fees collected at the state’s registries of deeds (for home sales and mortgage filings, for example), but it’s unclear how COVID will impact the real estate market in the coming months.
A change to fees collected by the registries of deeds went into effect on January 1, 2020. This change was implemented to boost the CPA trust fund balance to provide for a greater state match."
https://www.mma.org/dls-issues-preliminary-estimate-of-11-2-for-fall-cpa-trust-fund-distribution/
The recent CPA materials used for the Town Council discussions
- Feb 5, 2020 meeting recap
- The audio segment of the Feb 5, 2020 meeting
- CPA presentation materials
It was a sense of deja vu for Jamie as he realized that he had come to Franklin on November 7, 2001 |
Sunday, May 3, 2020
Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - May 6, 2020
A NOTE TO RESIDENTS: Due to the growing concerns regarding the COVID-19 virus, we will be conducting a remote/virtual Town Council Meeting. In an effort to ensure citizen engagement and comply with open meeting law regulations, citizens will be able to dial into the meeting using the provided phone number (Cell phone or Landline Required) OR citizens can participate by clicking on the attached link (Phone, Computer, or Tablet required). The attached link and phone number will be active for the duration of the meeting for citizens to ask questions/voice concerns.
Link to access meeting: May 6, 2020 Town Council Meeting Link HERE -- Then click “Open Zoom”
Or copy and paste this URL into your browser: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86173909783
Call-In Phone Number: Call 1-929-205-6099 and enter Meeting ID # 861 7390 9783 --Then press #
1. ANNOUNCEMENTS
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
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
March 25, 2020
4. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
- None Scheduled
5. APPOINTMENTS
- None Scheduled
6. HEARINGS - 7:10pm
Zoning Bylaw Amendment 20-854: Changes to §185-40. Water Resource District
7. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
Dean College: New Section 12 All Alcoholic Beverages License, Located at 135 Emmons Street, Franklin, MA.
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/mai/files/7a._dean_college_license_application_web.pdf
8. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
a. Coronavirus Update
b. Community Preservation Act (CPA)
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/mai/files/10a._resolution_20-20_community_preservation_act_cpa_web_0.pdf
9. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
a. Capital Budget Subcommittee
b. Budget Subcommittee
c. Economic Development Subcommittee
10. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
10a. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
Resolution 20-20: Community Preservation Act, G.L. Chapter 44B, Sections 3-7 Authorization for Ballot Question (Motion to Approve Resolution 20-20, CPA Ballot Initiative - Majority Vote)
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/mai/files/10a._resolution_20-20_community_preservation_act_cpa_web.pdf
10b. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
Resolution 20-21: Gift Acceptance - Recreation Department - $75,000 from the Boston Bruins Foundation (Motion to Approve Resolution 20-21 - Majority Vote)
10c. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
Bylaw Amendment 20-857: Chapter 82, Trash and Recycling Fee Increase - Second Reading (Motion to Adopt Bylaw Amendment 20-857 - Majority Roll Call Vote)
10d. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
Resolution 20-22: Ratification of the Memorandum of Agreement Between Department of Public Works, AFSCME Council 93, Local 1298 Employees and the Town of Franklin (Motion to Approve Resolution 20-22 - Majority Vote)
10e. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
Resolution 20-23: Amendment - Library Union Contract (Motion to Approve Resolution 20-23 - Majority Vote)
10f. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
Resolution 20-24: Amendment - Facilities/Trades Union Contact (Motion to Approve Resolution 20-24 - Majority Vote)
10g. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
Resolution 20-25: Amendment - Custodians Union Contract (Motion to Approve Resolution 20-25 - Majority Vote)
10h. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
Resolution 20-26: Amendment - Firefighters Union Contract (Motion to Approve Resolution 20-26 - Majority Vote)
11. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT
12. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
13. COUNCIL COMMENTS
14. EXECUTIVE SESSION
- None Scheduled
ADJOURN
Note:
Two-Thirds Vote: requires 6 votes
Majority Vote: requires majority of members present and voting
https://www.franklinma.gov/town-council/agenda/may-6-town-council-agenda-remote-meeting
Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - May 6, 2020 |
Sunday, April 12, 2020
Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - April 15, 2020
A NOTE TO RESIDENTS: Due to the growing concerns regarding the COVID-19 virus, we will be conducting a remote/virtual Town Council Meeting. In an effort to ensure citizen engagement and comply with open meeting law regulations, citizens will be able to dial into the meeting using the provided phone number (Cell phone or Landline Required) OR citizens can participate by clicking on the attached link (Phone, Computer, or Tablet required). The attached link and phone number will be active for the duration of the meeting for citizens to ask questions/voice concerns.
Link to access meeting: April 15, 2020 Town Council Meeting Link
https://www.franklinma.gov/town-council/agenda/april-15-town-council-agenda-remote-meeting (Editors Note: the link should be password protected for the safety of all participants and to ensure the uninterrupted conduct of business; as it is not (yet), you'll need to go to the Town of Franklin page to access the link)
-- Then click “Open Zoom”
Call-In Phone Number: Call 1-929-205-6099 and enter Meeting ID # 701 131 488
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. March 19, 2020
b. February 12, 2020
4. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
- None Scheduled
5. APPOINTMENTS
- None Scheduled
6. HEARINGS - 7:10 PM
a. Zoning Map Changes on or Near Pleasant, Chestnut, and Brook Streets
7. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
a. Dean College: New Section 12 All Alcoholic Beverages License, Located at 135 Emmons Street, Franklin, MA.
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/mai/files/license_transaction_-_dean_college_-_all_alcohol.pdf
8. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
a. Coronavirus Updates
b. Community Preservation Act (CPA)
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/mai/files/community_preservation_act_cpa_discussion_-_04-15-2020.pdf
9. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
a. Capital Budget Subcommittee
b. Budget Subcommittee
c. Economic Development Subcommittee
10. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
10a. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
Zoning Bylaw Amendment 20-853: Zoning Map Changes on or Near Pleasant, Chestnut, and Brook Streets - First Reading (Motion to Move Zoning Bylaw Amendment 20-853 to a second reading - Majority Vote)
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/mai/files/20-853_zoning_bylaw_amendment_-_pleasant_chestnut_brook_0.pdf
10b. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
Resolution 20-19: Solar Authorization - Maple Street Bellingham (Motion to approve Resolution 20-19 - Majority Vote)
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/mai/files/solar_pilot_agreement_-_main_street_solar_1_llc_-_ta_authorization.pdf
10c. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
Bylaw Amendment 20-857: Chapter 82, Trash and Recycling Fee Increase - First Reading (Motion to move Bylaw Amendment 20-857 to a second reading - Majority Vote)
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/mai/files/20-857_municipal_service_fees_-_trash.pdf
11. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
12. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
13. COUNCIL COMMENTS
14. EXECUTIVE SESSION
- None Scheduled
ADJOURN
Note:
Two-Thirds Vote: requires 6 votes
Majority Vote: requires majority of members present and voting
The full agenda can be found on the Town of Franklin page
https://www.franklinma.gov/town-council/agenda/april-15-town-council-agenda-remote-meeting
The agenda can also be found in one LARGE PDF file (~59MB - can take time to download)
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/agendas/04-15-2020_town_council_meeting_agenda.pdf
Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - April 15, 2020 |
Sunday, March 15, 2020
Town Council meeting of Feb 5, 2020 - Recap
- Randy LaRosa appointed to Historical Commission
- beer/wine license approved for Maks
- Community Preservation Act presentation and discussion
- first pass at the capital budget was approved
Audio segment - Community Preservation Act (Audio)
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/02/fm-203-community-preservation-act-feb-5.html
My notes reported live during the meeting
- Live reporting: Town Administrator's Report to Closing
- Live reporting: Legislation for Action
- Live reporting: License transaction - Norfolk County Sheriff - CPA
- Live reporting: Town Council - Feb 5, 2020
Monday, February 10, 2020
FM #203 - Community Preservation Act - Feb 5, 2020 (audio)
This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 203 in the series, that we are now producing in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm).
Sharing this segment of the Town Council meeting on Feb 5, 2020 as the Community Preservation Act will likely be one of the prime subjects of discussion until November 2020.
Town Council Chair Tom Mercer opens this segment of the Council meeting asking Town Administrator Jamie Hellen to lead the Community Preservation Act discussion and overview. It was a sense of deja vu for Jamie as he realized that he had come to Franklin on November 7, 2001 to do the same thing early in his career. There were a few good stories to share as he recounted from the minutes of that Town Council meeting almost 20 years ago.
The presentation thus set in time perspective did proceed. A link to the presentation doc used is included in the show notes. After the Town Council had the opportunity to ask questions, members of the audience also had their turn to raise questions or comments. Each individual introduced themselves as they came forward to speak.
At the end of the discussion, Tom asks Jamie to start working on the details to enable this to come back before the Council, and eventually before the community, for a vote at the November 2020 election.
Without further ado, here is the recording for the meeting segment on the CPA approx 65 minutes https://www.hipcast.com/podcast/HDKcCY9X
-------------
The presentation document, memo to the Town Council and other information on the Community Preservation Act process can be found online
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/02/community-preservation-act-cpa.html
This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but I can't do it alone. I 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 this, please let me know
Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements.
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"
It was a sense of deja vu for Jamie as he realized that he had come to Franklin on November 7, 2001 |
Sunday, February 9, 2020
Community Preservation Act (CPA) Presentation
Community Preservation Act (CPA) Presentation
- **CPA Presentation - Presented by Jamie Hellen**
- Memo - Jamie Hellen CPA Presentation
- CPA Adoption Process
- General CPA Information
Wednesday, February 5, 2020
Live reporting: License transaction - Norfolk County Sheriff - CPA
7. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS - 7:10 pm
Maks Roast Beef and Breakfast, Inc., New Wine and Malt License, Located at 451 West Central Street, Franklin, MA 02038
Richard Cornetta, attny for applicant
own and operate the business
general restaurant, breakfast, lunch, and dinner
glass of wine or beer to compliment the meal
not a bar operation, only sit down restaurant
would also use outdoor patio in warmer months
owned elsewhere for about 15 years (Revere) (Bellingham)
- motion to approve, seconded, passed 8-0
8. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
a. Norfolk County Sheriff Office and House of Corrections Update with Sheriff McDermott Community
appointed by Gov Baker to replace Bellotti
female inmates were not being treated equitably
would encourage taking a tour of the facility
Q&A session with the inmates available
will also travel to middle/high school with program
team building program, anti-bullying
ropes challenge course
in talks with Dean College to replicate program (along with others)
Leadership academy
working to meet the needs for kids mental health, leading to experimentation with drugs
stigma on mental health
looking to produce report within 6 months across Norfolk County
inmate work crews available, municipalities and non-profits
vast majority in due to drugs and mental health
44 US Marshal inmates also inhouse now, drug gang members
an uptick in drug activity in MA
Bissanti - had visited, left knowing that you care, supporter of Gilly's House
Kelly - Franklin is not along, we are facing the same or similar situation as others are
Jones - great to have you here, good for our citizens hear about the programs you do
Chandler - are you able to help with some of the weekend folks Franklin houses?
A - we had some internal debates about that, we are able to see an uptick in increases
limited cell space can fill up quick, we can hold them and put the police back on the streets
Hamblen - distracted driver program
A - show them before prom season, with simulator, googles to simulate driving when under the influence; putting green empty pizza box, hard to walk across the room with the googles
MCI Framingham - not a nice place to spend your time, men had a better time at county level were not getting the same choice; six week program with NE wildlife coming
equine therapy and canine therapy being explored as well
b. Preservation Act Discussion.
- i. Town Administrator Memo & Backup Material
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/mai/files/cpa_town_admin_memo_backup_material_-_web.pdf
Jamie had been in the 2001 Town Council to present the CPA as part of the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs
Pellegri - I had pushed for this in 2007, this presentation is far superior than what we did back then. We need to see what money we have given in and lost (over 20 years). We could be using for historical buildings, open space, etc. We have got to work hard, to set up coffee, teas, so we can explain
Hamblen - the match percentage changes throughout the years, back up to 24%, does it change every year/
A - it has ebbed and flowed. if you were an early adopter, it was more of a dollar for dollar match, put in two million, get two million aback, that is a good ROI. The match did slide slowly to 11% an all time low, it was adjusted to currently to the 24%, it could continue to ebb and flow
it is all in how you play it, if we can get some of the match, we can free up some money for other things within the capital budget
Boston did it for affordable housing
Chandler - it almost something for everybody,every one pays in but there is something for everybody veterans, affordable housing, open space
Bissanti - I had an opportunity to participate in another community meeting, it is a great program, the funds dwindled unfortunately. Is this an opportunity we could loose if we don't act?
A - if you look at the list of priorities, something is on the priority listing up and down where this could be used; renewed optimism to look at
Earls - sense of long term trends on where this is going? any other local options
A - no idea where the long term trend is... our own imaginations could go wild with how to do this
Community Preservation Committee - appointments to committee with a representation from several other board/depts
database of every project done
Kelly - 5th most contribution in Norfolk County, with how close we came in 2007, it might be worthwhile to put it back, it would be good to see a veterans exemption, we'd need to lobby hard for that; this is our next step towards avoiding suburban sprawl
Jones - I am for this, anything we can do to help support open space and historical, I am for
Lisa Audette Franklin Housing Authority
renovating 40 units $2.5 million at Central Park Terrace
could have been a $650K project with CPA funding available
Jim Schultz - question on historical building criteria
Mark - national register or local historical commission, great flexibility
there may be restrictions on re-habbing an older building but not on the use restrictions
Ed Symansky
what would be the process to get it from here to the ballot
Mercer - process would start in the not to distant future, at least 60 days prior to an election
there is a lot of interest in the town to see this happen
Roberta Trahan
how did we loose all that money, we do need to educate the public
what do we need to do, we should get it on the next election
Susan Speers
we moved to Franklin 32 years ago for the schools and the Library
active with a group that does open space and environmental
because of what they can do with their capacity
I was involved in 2007, we have to a lot of time to tell the word out and get the community a chance to get behind it this time
Mary Olsson
representative of the Historic Commission
Canton told the story of what they were able to do with their amount
it is about educating the Town, we need to campaign as if it was a candidate on the ballot
it is possible, we can get it done
Mercer - this is something from what I have heard and seen, I think I would ask the Town Administrator to begin the process, sooner rather than later is the right thing
the education piece is the biggest piece, help us to spread the word
there will be more here at Council meetings, and elsewhere
the most people who would be out to an election would be in November for the Presidential election
set up an ad-hoc committee to work on this
we need your help to let the taxpayers know why we need this
9. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
- a. Capital Budget Subcommittee
- b. Budget Subcommittee
- c. Economic Development Subcommittee
another lot change coming to Council
next meeting March 4