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| The Chestnut Street Revue Variety Show - Nov 11 |
FM #1005 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1005 in the series.
This session of the radio show shares the audio recording of the housing and zoning discussion with Brad Chafee, Melanie Hamblen, Cobi Frongillo, and Sam Williams. Most of us were in the Franklin TV Studio on Tuesday, May 30, 2023. Cobi joined us via the Zoom conference bridge.
Consider this a continuation of the downtown zoning discussion from the “Franklin For All” project which is underway with review and discussion at the Economic Development Subcommittee Plus meetings that Melanie Chairs and for which Cobi is Vice-Chair.
We were joined by Sam Williams for this session to include his insights as the Vice-Chair of the Design Review Commission.
The conversation centered on design aspects of the ongoing Franklin For All discussion. Design Review had come up in a couple of the prior sessions so we decided to spend some time on it here with Sam.
The recording of our conversation on zoning runs about 58 minutes. Let’s listen in. Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1005-franklin-for-all-7-talks-about-design-review-05-30-23
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The collection of Franklin For All zoning discussions can be found here ->
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/02/franklin-for-all-housing-zoning-podcast.html
Design Review page https://www.franklinma.gov/design-review-commission
Design Review Guidelines (established in 2005) https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/guidelines.pdf
Design Review Best Practices (as updated in 2016) https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/best_development_guidebook_sept_2016_1.pdf
Sign guidelines mentioned but more likely to be part of a future discussion
https://www.franklinma.gov/design-review-commission/pages/sign-guidelines
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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!
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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"
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| The Franklin For All series continues with a discussion on Design Review - 05/30/23 (audio) |
Have you ever desired to volunteer for a town board or committee to enhance the great quality of life in Franklin? Below is a list of open vacancies on town boards and committees, including three new committees that have recently been established on major community-defining projects in town.
| Board/ Committee | # of Vacancies |
|---|---|
The Davis-Thayer Citizens committee will explore options for reuse of the former school. | 5 |
Applicants should expect a 12-18 month process to develop a ten-year vision for the community, including town facilities, arts and cultural development, housing, infrastructure, open space and economic development and much more. Read the current town-wide Master Plan. | 6 |
Applicants must have a background in engineering or in construction management. The committee will evaluate and plan a Police Station. | 2 |
The Committee promotes arts and cultural development in the district as part of the Town's certification with the Commonwealth. | 3 |
| 1 (Associate) | |
The Cultural Council awards grants to local arts organizations every year and assists in sponsoring major events like the Cultural Festival And Annual Arts Symposium. | 2 |
To apply, submit a Volunteer Application Form. Deadline to apply is March 3, 2023.
Paper copy forms and prospective applicants may also visit in person or call the Town Administrator's Office at 508-520-4949 and speak with Executive Assistant, Julie McCann. The staff are willing to assist anyone submitting an application by not using the online application portal.
Shared from the Town of Franklin page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/home/news/town-volunteer-opportunities
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| Town of Franklin has a number of Volunteer Opportunities - one of these could be a good fit for you! |
FM #925 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 925 in the series.
This session of the radio show shares the audio recording of the Ad Hoc committee for the Town Administrators Review. The meeting was held on Wednesday, January 25, 2023 in the 3rd floor training room. I recorded this audio in the room.
Subcommittee Chair Tom Mercer opens the meeting. Councilors Robert Dellorco and Glenn Jones participate. Town Administrator Jamie Hellen and HR Director Karen Bratt are also in the room.
Live reporting from the TA Ad-hoc Review Cmte meeting starting now, Chair Mercer, Councilors Dellorco Jones present along with TA Jamie Hellen and HR Director K Bratt
#tareview0125
Summary draft provided to subcmte related to the Council goals discussed earlier this year (1/4/23) meeting. Credit to the staff recruited and operating under Jamie and to the work accomplished, Jamie happy to be here with these circumstances #tareview0125
Nothing to add to the goals, other than the new committees, #tareview0125
Per Jamie, looks great as drafted, we have a great team. Going to full committee for formal approval at the Feb 1 meeting, motion to move to Council, approved by 3-0; motion to adjourn, 3-0
The meeting runs about 8 minutes, so let’s listen to the Ad Hoc committee for the Town Administrators review meeting. Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-925-tof-town-administrators-review-ad-hoc-cmte-mtg-01-25-2
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Agenda doc (no remote participation info) -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/2023-01-25_ta_evaluation_agenda.pdf
My notes from the meeting
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xdviRoGYvAeeKXjBEeq6iRkbip9eI79_/view?usp=share_link
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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 iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"
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| Ad-hoc Town Administrator Review Cmte meets briefly to move formal review to Council (audio) |
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"I’VE BEEN STRUGGLING to find the right metaphor for our current economic situation. After the great recession of 2007-2009, my go-to was a staircase: the recession had knocked us down a flight of stairs and it took us a decade to climb back up.But that won’t do today. If COVID knocked us down the stairs, our response was to leap–like some superhero–up and out of the building. Only afterwards did we realize we don’t know how to land.Or how’s this analogy…to avoid a dangerous tangle on the highway, we successfully accelerated around it–only to discover that our brakes aren’t working well.You get the point. For the first time in decades, the problem with the US economy is that it’s running too hot, with plentiful job opportunities driving unsustainable wage growth and consumer demand keeping inflation above healthy levels.Fixing all this is mostly a job for the feds. But lawmakers here in Massachusetts have an important role to play: they need to adapt."
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| CommonWealth Magazine: "Old laws, like Prop 2 1/2, need to adapt to times" |
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| FTC to Explore Rulemaking to Combat Fake Reviews and Other Deceptive Endorsements |
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| Annual Report Of The Town of Franklin - FY 2021 |
FM #7773 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 773 in the series.
This session of the radio show shares the School Committee Superintendent Review meeting held Tuesday, April 12, 2022.
There is only one item on the agenda: Superintendent’s Evaluation Process Discussion
Elise Stokes, chair of the subcommittee provided an overview of the process. There was a discussion on timing and focus to clarify points in the process.
The school committee members will get a form to fill out to be compiled and reviewed at a meeting in May and then bring the review forward targeted for the June 14 school committee meeting.
The meeting opened at 6:06 PM and ran approx. 16 minutes. Note the audio quality improves a few minutes into the recording as I move the device to the front of the speaker table in the Council Chambers.
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Meeting agenda->
https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/agendas/scagenda_4-12-22_workshop.pdf
My notes ->
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PSIjHYgr5T0Rk1asgFTIYoqtCR_m0n0n/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 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"
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| School Committee discusses the Superintendent Review process - 04/12/22 (audio) |
