Joint Budget Subcommittee recommends to the Town Council a $3.862 M override for Tuesday, June 3 (audio)

FM #1404 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1404 in the series. 

This session shares the last of the 6 Joint Budget Listening Sessions held Wednesday, March 12, 2025 at the FHS Auditorium. 10 of the 11 members participated along with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen & School Supt Lucas Giguere.

Quick recap:

• Brief statements by TA Hellen and Supt Giguere opened the session before going to the audience for questions and comments. 

• Approx 100 folks in the audience this evening, a mix of town staff, school dept and teachers, and residents

• 10 members of the Joint Budget Subcmte present on the stage along with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen and School Superintendent Lucas Giguere

• A dozen folks asked questions, some more than 1; some got long answers, some got short answers

• the Subcommittee gets their say one at a time (beginning approx 9:15 PM), then after hearing the majority for the 3.8 number with some for a pyramid (also adding a higher #, 4.9 possibly)

• Motion for the $3863,672, seconded and then after discussion it passes by a 9-1 vote (1 voting no, O'Sullivan)

• Motion for Tuesday, June 3, 2025 as the date, second, passes 10-0

• motion to adjourn, passes 10-0

The recording runs about 3 hours 20 minutes , so let’s listen in. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1404-joint-budget-listening-session-6-03-12-25/

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Franklin TV video for viewing -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3yEVAe0NHU 

Meeting agenda doc -> https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/Joint-Budget-Subcommittee-6/?#_03122025-1620

My notes captured during the session  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Afr2hGWcMvzGJX1zd_VojMpjkl9WMTU-/view?usp=drive_link 

Link to the Town page with the budget materials for both Town and School sides

https://www.franklinma.gov/Archive.aspx?ADID=500 

Updated FY 2026 budget document -> https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4593/2025-03-05-Town-Council-Preliminary-Budget-Presentation-v2 

Citizen discounts and exemptions -> https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/4418/Local-and-State-Assistance-Programs-PDF 

You can find the collection of video, audio, and transcripts for the prior sessions here ->  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/02/joint-budget-listening-sessions-fy-2026.html 

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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

• And if you have interest in reporting on meetings or events, please reach. We’ll share and show you what and how we do what we do

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

Joint Budget Subcommittee recommends to the Town Council a $3.862 M override for Tuesday, June 3

US Surgeon General's advice "We have to rethink what defines success and a good life"

Catching up to the message from the departing Surgeon General Vivek Murthy

"Today (Jan 7, 2025) , I am issuing my Parting Prescription for America—my final reflections as I complete my time as U.S. Surgeon General. It addresses a foundational—and urgent—question I have grappled with: what are the root causes of the pain and unhappiness so many are experiencing?

"We have to rethink what defines success and a good life"

In addition to more commonly discussed challenges such as economic hardship, mental health struggles, and uncertainty about the future, there is something else that has been missing for many people that is a critical driver of health and well-being: community.

The three critical components of community are relationships, service, and purpose. They comprise the triad of fulfillment.

Yet half of young people and a third of adults struggle with loneliness; formal and informal service have remained low; and an alarmingly high number of young adults say they have low or no meaning or purpose in their lives.

Rebuilding community will require a cultural shift to recenter our lives around the triad of fulfillment: relationships, purpose, and service. We have to rethink what defines success and a good life—and build our individual lives, institutions, and policies around that.

My Parting Prescription for America lays out a pathway for how we can make this critical shift. Community is a force for health and fulfillment. It is an antidote to division and despair. We need it more than ever. 

Read the full Parting Prescription at Surgeongeneral.gov/community"

Shared from -> https://www.instagram.com/p/DEiLEZevDbL/

You can find a copy of the full PDF message in the Franklin Matters archives

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ed_S8wqvKbcllN_KIU6PAZ1NsirTkYYB/view?usp=drive_link

Commend a Franklin (MA) Police Officer

Frequently, many of our officers exceed the expectations of the public by providing exceptional service that surpasses the norm. If you observe a Franklin police officer performing their duties in a manner that you think is exceptional and reflects favorably upon the officer and the Franklin Police Department, then please let us know about it.

Officers take great pride in being recognized by members of the community when they have exceptionally performed their duties. Also, officers who receive such praise from the citizens realize that their hard work is appreciated. We want to hear from you!  

To commend an officer please visit the attached link: https://www.franklinma.gov/police-department/webforms/commend-franklin-police-officer

 

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/CbQoDARsBJR8dPUG/

 

Commend a Franklin (MA) Police Officer

 

Magic Mirror Photo Booth at the Strawberry Stroll & Franklin For All Table - THIS FRIDAY!

Magic Mirror Photo Booth at the Strawberry Stroll & Franklin For All Table - THIS FRIDAY!

June 10, 2022 from 4 PM - 8 PM

Franklin For All will be at the Strawberry Stroll this Friday from 4pm-8pm! Attendees will be able to connect with Franklin for All project staff regarding the proposed recommendations and enjoy a town sponsored magic mirror photo booth experience to document the fun and resident dreams of downtown revitalization. Find us at the intersection of Dean Ave and Main Street, directly across from the stage for fun and engaging photo- op!

Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/home/news/magic-mirror-photo-booth-strawberry-stroll-franklin-all-tabling-friday

Magic Mirror Photo Booth at the Strawberry Stroll & Franklin For All Table

Economic Development Subcommittee - agenda - June 8 at 5:30 PM

 Economic Development Subcommittee Meeting

Agenda & Meeting Packet

June 8, 2022 = 5:30 PM

Agenda:

1. Update: MAPC “Franklin For All” zoning reform project for Franklin Center, including the Downtown Commercial District and surrounding neighborhoods

a. Draft set of Recommendations - Slideshow from 5/16/22 Presentation  

https://www.mapc.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Public-Forum-2-Presentation_updated-5-16.pdf

b. Updated Memo & Timeline (see below)

Re: Franklin For All Project Future Dates

The Franklin For All project is in it’s home stretch heading towards completion of the diagnostic analysis. Future dates are a sketch for upcoming meetings to note, but are subject to change:

1. June 10th at the Strawberry Stroll there will be a promotional event to help discuss the Franklin For All Project recommendations with residents and festival goers.

a. The Planning and Community Development department will be located at the intersection of Dean Ave and Main Street, directly across from the stage.

b. Attendees will be able to connect with Franklin for All project staff regarding the proposed recommendations.

c. Enjoy a town sponsored magic mirror photo booth experience to document the fun and resident aspirations of downtown revitalization.

2. June 30th Final report due (but should be in earlier and will be released upon final receipt)

3. July/August meeting of the EDC + Steering Committee to discuss prioritization of the formal recommendations by MAPC.

a. Each member of the Steering Committee will be given 3 votes to prioritize recommendations by MAPC to the staff. This is an effort to allow the committee to discuss the recommendations and give the staff some initial priorities to help focus our work and alleviate the potential to be scattered.

b. The Committee dates over the summer have not been set. We are hopeful that at the June 8th meeting we can set those dates in July or August on an evening without additional meetings after it.

c. The staff will also have some additional recommendations to consider that are not a part of the MAPC recommendations that focus on areas outside of the study zone, these are issues that have arisen locally that need to be addressed or have been discussed during this process.

4. September we will begin to publicly discuss the recommendations chosen by the Steering Committee and staff.

Agenda doc with remote participation info ->

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/6-8-22_edc_agenda.pdf

Economic Development Subcommittee - agenda - June 8 at 5:30 PM

Franklin For All Forum #2 reveals 11 recommendations - 05/16/22 (audio)

FM #799 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 799 in the series. 

This shares the second Franklin For All Forum that was held on Monday, May 16, 2022.

The meeting was held at THE BLACK BOX. It was hosted by MAPC via Zoom and broadcast via Franklin TV as well as live streamed. The video will also be available on YouTube.

Links to the meeting information and my notes captured during the Forum are in the show notes. 

This recording runs about 70 minutes.  Let’s listen to the Franklin For All Forum held May 16, 2022.  Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-799-franklin-for-all-forum-2-05-16-22

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Franklin For All project page -> https://www.mapc.org/resource-library/franklin-for-all/  

The presentation document to share the 11 recommendations
https://www.mapc.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Public-Forum-2-Presentation_updated-5-16.pdf 

My notes captured via Twitter and shared in summary form
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LM5r6VLuDw4yE2JPFEtw3ABaE4AbDADi/view?usp=sharing 

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

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 www.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"

word cloud create from the survey results gathered by MAPC

How to comment or watch the Franklin For All event Monday, May 16 at 6:30 PM

Monday, May 16, 2022 at 6:30 PM, join MAPC and the Town of Franklin for the next Franklin For All hybrid public forum. 

This event will take place at THE BLACK BOX (15 West Central Street) and over Zoom. Weigh in on draft zoning recommendations and learn about next steps for the rezoning effort. Doors to The Black Box open at 6:00 PM.

To participate & comment:

• in person at THE BLACK BOX
• via Zoom (registration required to get link (and ensure on mailing list))

To view/watch only:

• Via Comcast (11) or Verizon (29)
• via Zoom (registration required to get link (and ensure on mailing list))
• via YouTube (Franklin MA TV) and find the "Live" show - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp4_sDQGHNa9MKpqfmXGZrg/featured
• via Live stream on your desktop/laptop, etc. from the Franklinma.gov page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/home/pages/live-meetings-stream

Yes, it is the same broadcast starting on Zoom, then feeding out to the various channels of delivery to you at home or wherever on your device.

Yes, it would have been nice to have the recommendations in advance to review and prepare questions & comments. That has not happened; little will change that at this point. What we can do is be patient to listen to what is revealed as a recommendation or recommendations. 

Whatever is revealed may take time to digest. 

The best response may well be quiet, thoughtful absorption of what they reveal.

As mentioned in other meetings, whatever is recommended will be digested and discussed at future Economic Development meetings. 

It will take time to determine what if any changes will be made to the downtown zoning. Those zoning changes also will take time. 

How much time will it take? 

The Town will need 

• proposal to be drafted by the Dept of Planning and Community Development
• reviewed by the Economic Development Committee (EDC) (may be more than 1 meeting)
• when ready EDC will forward to the Town Council
• the Town Council discuss but decide to refer to the Planning Board for two readings & hearing before Planning Board returns the proposal with recommendation(s) to Town Council
• the Town Council will also hold two readings and hearing to review and discuss such before final vote (to accept or reject)

So it will be good to see what MAPC proposes but this is really the START of the process if anything will change.

How to comment or watch the Franklin For All event today