Save the Date - February 14, 2024
Franklin's Master Plan Committee is hosting a Public outreach meeting. They are looking to provide an update on the process and want your feedback. The outreach will be held at the Town Hall, in the Town Council Chambers at 6:30 PM.
Hope to see you there!
Option 1 - Proposes that current district attendance boundaries remain the same while a Master Facilities Plan is conducted. ASMS/Keller spaces will continue to be used flexibly. Both administrative teams at the complex will continue to work together to utilize the available space to accommodate the needs of all students.Option 2 - Proposes a change to district attendance boundaries in an attempt to balance enrollment while also maintaining geographic contiguity and undertaking a Master Facilities Plan, which may result in further redistricting based on the outcome.Option 3 - While the current district attendance boundaries remain the same as Option 1, there is a consideration for including a "Buffer Zone" for designated areas of the former Davis Thayer attendance boundary, which could allow families to opt-in to Oak Street and/or Parmenter Elementary School for specific zones as a special consideration.
1. The District will not provide transportation, and parents/guardians of students who request to transfer must transport their child to and from school.2. Requests are taken on a first-come, first-served basis based on room availability.3. Families approved for the voluntary buffer zone opt-in may be subject to a reassignment of their district boundary pending the results of a Master Facilities Plan.
About the Franklin Public School District:The Franklin Public School District strives to nurture a safe, supportive, inclusive and collaborative learning environment in each of our 10 schools. We believe in providing an engaging and rigorous curriculum with exemplary instructional practices that will support and challenge students to reach their full potential through personalized learning opportunities. Our goal is to develop the necessary social-emotional, academic, and career skills for each Franklin student, so that they will be a productive citizen in an ever-changing world.
"The popular playground on Boston Common, which draws children from across the city and beyond, would nearly triple in size. A revamp of the equally popular Frog Pond would include multiple fountains, while a soccer pitch would be added to the athletic fields. More restrooms, everywhere. And, a place to get a beer or glass of wine.Those are just a few of the big changes that could be coming over the next decade to the nation’s oldest public park, according to a new master plan for the Common that was released by the city and Friends of the Public Garden on Wednesday.The grand reimagining calls for both ambitious new projects and more subtle improvements, with a goal of making the Common even more inviting and navigable. So, dog owners would have an enclosed park to let their pets run free. The Parkman Bandstand would have a ramp for people with disabilities. And the athletic fields would welcome soccer and basketball players for the first time."
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| "A new master plan could help transform Boston Common into a ‘better version’ of itself" |
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.
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.
a. October 6, 2021
a. Franklin Cultural Council: Venus Senjamb. Franklin Cultural Council: Patrick Kinnerc. Franklin Cultural Council: Shelley Greend. Franklin Cultural Council: Jacob Juncker
a. Residence Inn Boston Franklin, License Modification, Change of Manager, Officers/Directors/ LLC Managers & Change of ownership Interest, 4 Forge Parkway, Franklin, MA 02038b. Shaw's Supermarkets, Inc. d/b/a Shaw's, License Modification, Change of Officers/Directors/LLC Managers, 255 East Central Street, Franklin, MA 02038c. 99 Restaurants of Boston, LLC d/b/a The Ninety-Nine, License Modification, Change of Officers/Directors/LLC Managers, 847 West Central Street, Franklin, MA 02038
a. Capital Budget Subcommitteeb. Budget Subcommitteec. Economic Development Subcommittee
a. Resolution 21-65: Cable Funds in Support of PEG Service and Programming per MGL Ch. 44,§53F3/4 - $18,500.22 (Motion to Approve Resolution 21-65 - Majority Vote)b. Resolution 21-66: Gift Acceptance: Veterans Service Department ($3,295.00) and Fire Department ($965.00) (Motion to Approve Resolution 21-66- Majority Vote)
a. Considering the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property, because an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the negotiating position of the Board.17. ADJOURN
i. Schmidt’s Farm, Prospect Street
Two-Thirds Vote: requires 6 votesMajority Vote: requires majority of members present and voting
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| Franklin MA: Town Council - Agenda - Nov 3, 2021 |
What about public comment, public participation, and public hearings?
"The Open Meeting Law does not require that public bodies allow public comment or public participation during meetings -- to the contrary, the Open Meeting Law specifies that nobody shall address the public body without permission of the chair. However, the Attorney General encourages public bodies to allow public comment and/or public participation when feasible.
Because the Open Meeting Law does not require that public bodies allow for public comment or public participation during meetings at all, the manner that public bodies may choose to accept comment or questions is outside the scope of the Open Meeting Law.
Public hearings, on the other hand, are governed by separate laws that impose additional requirements, and may require opportunity for public comment or testimony. Those requirements are outside the scope of the Open Meeting Law and therefore do not fall within the Division of Open Government’s jurisdiction. Public bodies and members of the public should consult with legal counsel for guidance on the requirements for public hearings. "
"While a SEPAC itself is generally not a public body subject to the Open MeetingLaw, the leadership group may be a public body subject to the Open MeetingLaw. Massachusetts law requires that membership in a school’s SEPAC beoffered to all parents of children with disabilities and other interested parties. SeeG.L. c. 71B, § 3. In many cases, the SEPAC establishes or elects a leadership orgoverning committee. That group of elected or appointed officers will likelyconstitute a public body under the Open Meeting Law, and it is thereforeadvisable that such groups comply with the Open Meeting Law’s requirements.
Now that the issue has been formally presented to this office, and after review and analysis of the applicable statutes and regulations pertaining to the establishment of SEPACs as well as the structure and function of SEPACs, we conclude that the Brockton, Brookline, and Melrose SEPACs are not public bodies subject to the Open Meeting Law. We also conclude that whether a SEPAC’s leadership group is a public body depends on the structure and role of that group. We find that the officers of the Melrose and Brockton SEPACs do not constitute public bodies;and that the Board of the Brookline SEPAC is a public body for limited purposes."
Document link -> https://massago.onbaseonline.com/Massago/1700PublicAccess2/PublicAccessProvider.ashx?action=ViewDocument&overlay=Print&overrideFormat=PDF
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| Learn about the MA Open Meeting Law or report a violation with the Attorney General's Division of Open Government |
Mass. Select Board Assn concluded its annual Leadership Conference series with a webinar on the future of public meetings w/ @TOFranklinMA Town Administrator Jamie Hellen & #Stow Town Administrator Denise Dembkoski. https://t.co/6GTFYf0aCl
"The future of public meetings was the topic of the fourth and final webinar in the Massachusetts Select Board Association’s Leadership Conference series today.Franklin Town Administrator Jamie Hellen kicked off the meeting with a discussion about how the town has transitioned from all-virtual to hybrid board and committee meetings that allow for a combination of virtual and in-person participation. Hellen showed how Franklin’s Town Council chambers have been set up to allow the council, staff, presenters and meeting participants to attend meetings in-person while the public joins remotely.
Hellen covered important aspects of the set up, such as room layout and the necessary technology, as well as the town’s partnership with its local access TV provider, Franklin TV. He also emphasized the importance of trial and error in order to develop a system that works best for the community."
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| Mass. Municipal Assn: "Select board group discusses the future of public meetings" |
"FOR A WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS resident to attend a two-hour meeting in Boston, it’s an eight to 10 hour commitment, said state Rep. Mindy Domb, an Amherst Democrat. To get to Boston in the early evening, someone needs to take time off from work to drive into the city. They must have their own car and money to pay for gas and parking. They might have to pay a babysitter. They will get home at 10 or 11 p.m.
“My neighbors, friends, coworkers won’t even consider participating in a statewide board or commission,” Domb said. “It’s not only cutting off people’s ability and capacity to participate. It’s reducing what government gets from Western Massachusetts and the Cape. Not just the regional perspective but the human perspective, the experience, the expertise of hundreds of thousands of people who live outside 495.”
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| Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight |
One of the key items in all of the budget discussions is going to be the stormwater utility question. This has been a topic that has developed since 2007 when the initial storm water bylaw was passed. The EPA and Mass DEP have continued to add requirements to how storm water should be managed. The costs for such mitigations have grown over the years. The introduction of the storm water utility fee would allow the Town to better manage the impact on the Town budget.
Why must we manage storm water?
We are part of the area feeding into the Charles River and hence are under the provisions as outlined in the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) permit. We have an extensive outflow system to catch and manage storm water. Check out the map here -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/outfall_map.pdf
Did the Town of Franklin sue the EPA?
Yes, and while we ultimately ‘lost’ the case, we did gain concessions on the implementation timeline that benefit all under the MS4 permit requirements.
When did the storm water bylaw pass?
The Storm water bylaw originally passed in 2007. Check out the bylaw language here -> https://ecode360.com/10434264
What is the storm water utility fee?
Article IV - storm water utility was added in Jan 2020. Bylaw #19-846 approved 9-0 vote. Check out the language here -> https://ecode360.com/FR1096/laws/LF1135684.pdf
What is the MS4?
Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems or by the shorter name MS4. The current storm water mitigation plan - updated in 2020 -> Stormwater Management Plan (revised 2020)
Finance Committee budget hearing scheduled to continue this discussion
How did we get here?
Soak it up Franklin site introduced in 2014 https://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/03/soak-it-up-franklin.html
Find the “Soak it up Franklin” page here -> https://www.soakitupfranklinma.org/
Storm water mitigated by rain gardens https://www.soakitupfranklinma.org/residential-rain-garden-project.html
The storm water utility was mentioned in the EPA response in 2015
“Full compliance with the 2014 Draft MS4 Permit is an additional significant effort that cannot be currently supported with the Town' s existing resources and funding within the next permit cycle, as specified in the draft permit. The Town wishes to continue improving stormwater management and water quality, but this effort needs to take into consideration the progress made to date and be balanced with future infrastructure demands town-wide and economic conditions. Additionally, the town feels that the most cost-effective approach for stormwater improvements is integration with redevelopment and capital projects as infrastructure needs to be upgraded and/or replaced.
Similar to many other communities, Franklin has considered creating a stormwater utility to meet the current and proposed additional costs associated with the updated MS4 permit. Attached are working budget sheets that are based on current costs to meet the existing MS4 permit compared to estimated short-term EPA proposed MS4 stonn water activities. These worksheets clearly show that the additional tasks proposed by the new MS4 permit would go up over l00%!
Presently the Public Work's General Fund Operational Budget (GFOB) is $3,996,424.00. It is estimated that 14% or $559,499.00 of the GFOB is used for only stormwater tasks. lf the new MS4 permit becomes effective as proposed, it is estimated that the stormwater program effort in Franklin would require an increase to 26% or $1,039,070.00 of the GFOB”
Find the full doc with this quote here ->
Storm water info mailer in 2018
https://drive.google.com/file/d/11hl1hOGir3MwAoFwmFBTprKXC2lBL25C/view?usp=drivesdk
The bylaw was discussed in Nov 2019 TC meeting
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/11/live-reporting-presentations-open.html
Received first reading and approval to second reading
Actions taken Dec 4 move to 2nd reading
https://www.franklinma.gov/town-council/files/tc-actions-taken-12-4-19
Dec 2019 TC meeting
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/12/live-reporting-legislation-for-action.html
Stormwater Utility fee structure was approved by 9-0 in Jan 2020
Actions taken Jan 8 2020 - approval to set the process for the MUNIS adjustments required to bill for an actual fee (to be determined later). https://www.franklinma.gov/town-council/files/1-8-2020-tc-actions-taken
Info session doc 3/11/20
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1I2WQBG4XgPRjak-b4athnfqal6h1xMR-/view?usp=drivesdk
Town council goals midterm
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/11/franklin-residents-town-council-goals.html
You ask, we answer
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/03/you-ask-we-answer-tax-our-driveways.html
MS4 info session summary
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/05/the-ms4-permit-is-important-step-to.html
Finance Committee meeting in June 2020
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/06/franklin-ma-finance-committee-budget_6.html
Town Council Budget hearing June 2020
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/06/town-council-budget-hearing-2-recap.html
Storm water ad-hoc committee meeting Aug 2020 (audio)
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/08/fm-327-stormwater-subcomm-mtg-80520.html
Storm water ad-hoc committee meeting Sep 2020 (audio)
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/09/fm-346-stormwater-ad-hoc-subcomm-mtg.html
Finance Committee meeting Jan 13, 2021 (Audio)
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/01/fm-435-finance-committee-mtg-011321.html
Town council Jan 20, 2021 (audio)
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/01/fm-444-town-council-mtg-p2-of-2-012021.html
The stormwater story summary for Franklin
