This Town Council Quarterbacking session condenses the meeting of Nov 15, 2023 (audio)

FM #1101 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1101 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 November 15, 2023: 

• ok, what just happened? 

• What does it mean for Franklin residents and taxpayers?

We cover the following key topics

Election/re-org

1. SWEARING IN OF TOWN COUNCIL

2. ELECTION OF OFFICERS – Town Council Chair, Vice-Chair & Clerk

3. ADOPTION OF TOWN COUNCIL PROCEDURES MANUAL

a. Resolution 23-60: Adoption of the Procedures Manual of the Franklin Town Council (Motion to Approve Resolution 23-60 - Majority Vote)

Resolution 23-65: Establishment by Town Council of Subcommittee for Review of Rules of Procedure of the Town Council (Motion to Approve Resolution 23-65 - Majority Vote)

A total of 3,126 voters cast ballots in this election, only 12% of the 24,474 registered Franklin voters.

Tri-County 1645 voted,  1329 yes, 516 no  6.8% of Franklin  6.4% over the Tri-County 11 communities

Discussion: Open Meeting Law, Public Records, Ethics and Conducting a Public Meeting - Mark Cerel, Town Attorney

DiVita’s Market – license transfer

transfer of Section 15 All Alcoholic Beverages Package Store License, Approval of Pledge of Liquor License, and Approval of Bhaveshkumar Patel as the Manager - Heeru Corporation d/b/a DeVita’s Market, Located at 198 East Central St., Franklin, MA 02038

Elks Riders

Presentation: Franklin Elks Riders Donation to Veterans’ Services Department, $1,000 donation

Legislation

a. Resolution 23-58: General Funds Appropriation, Transfers and Adjustments FY24 (Motion to Approve Resolution 23-58 - Majority Vote)

c. Bylaw Amendment 23-903: A Bylaw to Amend the code of the Town of Franklin at Chapter 82, Fees, Municipal Service - First Reading (Motion to Move Bylaw Amendment 23-903 to a Second Reading)

d. Bylaw Amendment 23-902: A Bylaw to Amend the Code of the Town of Franklin by Inserting Chapter 147, Snow and Ice, Removal Of - First Reading (Motion to Move Bylaw Amendment 23-902 to a Second Reading - ⅔ Majority Vote)

g. Resolution 23-63: Gift Acceptance - Veterans’ Services Department ($1,975)

Our conversation runs about 32 minutes. Let’s listen to this session of Town Council Quarterbacking recorded Nov 16, 2023. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1101-town-council-quarterbacking-11-16-23

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Franklin TV video link -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04-9DhPNSzU&t=5132s 

Town Council agenda doc ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/nov15_2023_town_council_agenda.pdf  

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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!

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

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

This Town Council Quarterbacking session condenses the meeting of Nov 15, 2023 (audio)

This Town Council Quarterbacking session condenses the Oct 18 Council meeting for you (audio)

FM #1088 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1088 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 October 18, 2023: 

• ok, what just happened? 
• What does it mean for Franklin residents and taxpayers?

We cover the following key topics

(1) Town Clerk provided updates on the upcoming Oct 24 election for the new Tri-County school building and the Biennial Town election on Nov 7. Both votes will take place at the High School. Folks can vote early in the Town Clerk's office during business hours

(2) the swearing in of the new round of hires (backfill replacements) for the Police Dept. along with the introduction of Kallie Montagano who returns to the Dept in a new role as the Co-Response Program continues to grow. And last but not least, the introduction of Frankie, the departments new therapy dog

(3) approval of the license changes to enable Bob Vozzella to expand into his new space and operate with his farmers licenses for wine and beer at La Cantina Winery

(4) impactful and moving update from Jennifer Knight-Levine, CEO and cofounder of the SAFE Coalition on their work. The audio segment of her presentation along with the Q&A with the Council is shared separately. Her update includes the expansion of their work in meeting the needs of our community into handling the migrant housing needs  -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/10/jen-knight-levine-updates-council-on.html 

(5) Town Administrator Jamie Hellen's update on the migrant status will also be shared separately as an audio segment

Our conversation runs about 27 minutes. Let’s listen to this session of Town Council Quarterbacking recorded Oct 23, 2023.  Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1088-town-council-quarterbacking-10-23-23

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The Franklin TV video is available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-7D1fTJLhY  

Town Council agenda doc -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/town_council_agenda_10.18.23.pdf  

Photo album of the police introductions and swearing in -> 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/qanQvXdNFAvbQQN76 

Jen Knight-Levine's update for the SAFE Coalition was shared separately as an audio  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/10/jen-knight-levine-updates-council-on.html 

Town Administrator Jamie Hellen's report including the migrant housing update was shared separately  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/10/town-council-segment-migrant-housing.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 your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

This Town Council Quarterbacking session condenses the Oct 18 Council meeting for you (audio)

Town Council Chair Tom Mercer condenses the Council Meeting of Oct 11 to about 25 minutes (audio)

 FM #1077 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1077 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 October 11, 2023: 

• ok, what just happened? 

• What does it mean for Franklin residents and taxpayers?

We cover the following key topics

Discussion: A Bylaw to Amend the Code of the Town of Franklin by Inserting Chapter 147, Snow and Ice, Removal Of  

Migrant update – nothing major is new

Joint Budget Subcmte Mtg

• Brief update on FY 24, change in new growth coming, reduction of $250K, implications remain TBD

• Schools updated some of their numbers, planning for FY 25, to include the 4 years after, due approx.. Mar/Apr; looking into comparable communities (i.e. Hockomock League)

• Next Joint session in Jan 2024

Our conversation runs about 27 minutes. Let’s listen to this session of Town Council Quarterbacking recorded Oct 12, 2023. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1077-town-council-quarterbacking-10-12-23

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The Franklin TV video is available for replay ->  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7gfH__gYXk

Town Council agenda doc -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/town_council_agenda_-_oct_11_2023.pdf

My full set of notes captured via Twitter during the meeting are collected in a single PDF for easier reading  -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SZ4uXFaq0j33jI4XaFIjXCcU7S_f6b3S/view?usp=drive_link 

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

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 your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

Town Council Chair Tom Mercer condenses the Council Meeting of Oct 11 to about 25 minutes (audio)

Town Council Quarterbacking session catches up to the Sep 20 meeting and provides a recap (audio)

FM #1068 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1068 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 September 20, 2023: 

• ok, what just happened? 

• What does it mean for Franklin residents and taxpayers?

We cover the following key topics

• Three appointments to individual committees were unanimously approved.  a. Council on Aging - Collette Ferguson  b. Finance Committee - Heather Sanscoucy   c. Municipal Affordable Housing Trust - Kimberly Mu-Chow 

• Franklin Elks Riders presented a donation of $1k, the Franklin Elks Bingo donated $10k to the Town of Franklin veterans services

• Council goals review, a long list of accomplishments, a list to be proud of

• The funds previously allocated for purchase of a new ambulance were authorized to be paid to the vendor to hold the contract and avoid a price increase - Resolution 23-54: Ambulance Transfer & Appropriation

• The Council discussed and approved placement of the debt exclusion to fund the Franklin portion of the Tri-County RVTHS new building. The question language approved was as follows: 

• "Shall the Town of Franklin be allowed to exempt from the provisions of proposition two and one-half, so-called, the amounts required to pay the Town’s allocable share of the bonds issued by the Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical School District to pay costs of designing constructing and equipping a new high school to be located at 147 Pond Street, in Franklin, including the payment of all costs incidental or related thereto?"

• The Open Space & Recreation Plan developed over the course of 15 months, muti[;e meetings and 3 public hearings was approved by the Council. IT will be submitted to the State and assuming their acceptance will also be part of the Master Plan Update now underway

• Town Administrators report provided updates on the migrant housing situation, the demolition delay report and a report on decommissioning a section of Spring Street.

Our conversation runs about 35 minutes. Let’s listen to this session of Town Council Quarterbacking recorded Sep 20, 2023. Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1068-town-council-quarterbacking-09-28-23

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The Franklin TV video is available for replay ->  https://www.youtube.com/live/bF13Dgn_6qs   

Town Council agenda doc -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/town_council_agenda_-_sept_20_2023.pdf 

My full set of notes captured via Twitter during the meeting are collected in a single PDF for easier reading  -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1khvMQCoANrW3vZxzRHMYP1pPlrpfAfP4/view?usp=drive_link 

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

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 your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

Town Council Quarterbacking session catches up to the Sep 20 meeting and provides a recap (audio)