Quick Recap:
- Two sets of recognitions: one for officer Mellor leaving to go to law school; second, for the multiple police and fire personnel from Franklin and Norfolk who responded to the Winter St fire
- Two restaurant all alcohol licenses issued, one for Sierra Brick Over Pizza, the other for Proof to operate the second floor as a separate restaurant in the same building as Glen Pharma
- Open meeting complaint received and acknowledged for not approving meeting minutes in the timely manner as required by law; changes being made to adjust process
- Two transactions to help close out the FY 2021 finances, both about 200K in total and considering these are the adjustments on a over $100+ budget during a pandemic year, the Town did (and does) well managing their budget
- Veterans Officer Dale Kurtz to retire, replacement to be hired
- parking bylaw change referred to Planning Board for their review and decision before it comes back to the Council for 2 readings before final vote
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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
Photos captured during the meeting and shared via Twitter can be found in one album https://photos.app.goo.gl/guZrk1xe1hnUSs5C6
The Twitter hashtag can be found online #schcom0608
https://twitter.com/search?q=%23schcom0608&src=typeahead_click
Agenda folder -> https://www.franklinma.gov/town-council/agenda/june-23-town-council-agenda
Agenda doc (including connection info) -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/6-23-21_town_council_agenda.pdf
- Getting ready for the Town Council meeting at 7 PM. The agenda doc can be found. #tc0623 https://franklinma.gov/town-council/a
- Dial in info for the session can be found in the image #tc0623
- Frongillo participating remotely, Dellorco not present in the ViceChair spot. Steve Gilmore talking of the Be The Match for Gigi, link and info shared earlier https://franklinmatters.org/2021/06/be-match-for-gigi-june-26-video.html?m=1. #tc0623
- Match entries on Saturday will be entered into a drawing for tickets to a Patriots game when #12 visits this season #tc0623 Citizen commenting on the condition of the Brick School. Unipay payments fee will be waived beginning in July (hurrah!) For bank transfer
- Paperless payments coming to more payments, fee waivers at 35 cents vs. postage at 55 cents #tc0623 per Kerri Bertone the Treasurer/Collector
- Officer Mellor leaving Police Dept to go to law school. #tc0623
- Plaque presented #tc0623
- Chair Mercer lists the fire and police personnel from Franklin and elsewhere who were involved in the Winter St fire #tc0623 2 min recess to allow for in person recognitions
- Clerk Jones reads the listing of annual appointments to boards and committees #tc0623
- Motion to approve appointments, second, passes (Kelly also not present during break) (although both are expected some time for the meeting) #tc0623 vote via roll call 7-0-2
- License approval for https://franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/mai/files/7a._sierras.pdf sierra brick oven pizza #tc0623 Attny Doherty speaks for the applicant who is present via zoom; ABCC licenses for restaurants capacity of 40; unlimited qty for us; motion and seconded, passes 7-0-2 2 absent
- Another license for Proof https://franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/mai/files/7b._proof.pdf #tc0623 motion and second, proof to open on 2nd floor of the space at Glen Pharma vote on motion via roll call 7-0-2 (2 absent)
- Interesting stat from the 495/MetroWest partnership showed that the largest sector of employment in Franklin was restaurants #tc0623 a copy of the stat can be found in this doc
- Next up, open meeting complaint about Town Council meetings not approved timely. #tc0623 well handled with response by Town Administrator Jamie Hellen https://franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/
- "This is petty, of all the things we do, and this is the worse thing to happen?" #tc0623 "I hope Mr Higgins isn't reading my thought bubbles" "A rule is a rule, a law is a law, and we must comply." Attny Cereal recommends an authorized response (vote by council) vote ->
- Motion and second, via roll call 7-0-2 (2 absent) EDC met last Weds, two discussions, HPP and home based business;
- Legislation for action: https://franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/mai/files/10a._21-33_fletcher.pdf #tc0623 motion and second for Fletcher Foundation funding for recreation via roll call 7-0-2 (2 absent)
- Downtown zoning and marketing capital account https://franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/mai/files/10b._21-34_dt_zoning_marketing_commerical.pdf #tc0623 motion and second; last time study like this was done in 2003; civic engagement targeted for Sep/Oct/Nov vote via roll call 7-0-2 (2 absent)
- Appropriation transfers https://franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/mai/files/10c._21-35_fy21_aprop._transfers.pdf #tc0623 motion and second, only a $70+K transfer on a over $100M budget is a good thing, especially during the pandemic vote via roll call 7-0-2 (2 absent)
- franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/mai/files/10d._21-36_pd_gift_100.pdf gift acceptance, motion and second, vote via roll call 7-0-2 (2 absent)
- Termination of veterans services Agreement, https://franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/mai/files/10e._21-37_term._vets._agrmnt.pdf Dale Kurtz to retire in Sep 2021 motion and second, vote 7-0-2 (2 absent) kudos for Dale from all the Councilors and TA Jamie Hellen
- Acceptance of gift https://franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/mai/files/10f._21-26_historical_donation.pdf #tc0623 Motion and second, vote via roll call 7-0-2 (2 absent)
- Zoning bylaw amendment referral to planning board, https://franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/mai/files/10g._21-875_dt_parking.pdf #tc0623 motion to refer to Planning Board, vote via roll call 7-0-2 (2 absent)
- TA report, will look at the red brick school house, was scheduled for historical tour for CPC #tc0623 job posting to replace Anne Marie Tracey was made, interviews hopefully in July. Looking to fill before Sep. Chrissy will be leaving and part of transition; Alysia ->
- Will replace Chrissy, backfilling for Chrissy, job posted In council comments, cool story on the 2nd performance of Bright Stars during the storm Sat night. #tc0623 Chair Mercer recognizes that the police and fire personnel come out in good numbers in recognition of some ->
- That the public may not always be aware of or see,
Note: I did not wait for their return. Per conversation with Chair Mercer the morning after, one of the two items for the session were in fact brought to a vote, the other was held due to the 2 absent councilors (Dellorco, Kelly)
Audio recording of meeting to be available in couple of days
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| The Winter St heroes, Franklin police and fire along with some Norfolk personnel |
