Providing accurate and timely information about what matters in Franklin, MA since 2007. * Working in collaboration with Franklin TV and Radio (wfpr.fm) since October 2019 *
Sunday, March 9, 2025
5th Joint Budget Listening Session held with remote participation option on Saturday (video)
Monday, March 3, 2025
Town Administrator Ad-hoc Review Meeting 2/27/26 (audio)
FM #1392 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1392 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 Thursday, February 27, 2025 in the Council Chambers.
Subcommittee Chair Ted Cormier-Leger opens the meeting. Councilors Melanie Hamblen and Glenn Jones participate. Town Administrator Jamie Hellen and many Town department heads are also present and contribute to this session.
Quick recap:
Exemplary performance review; Area for improvement to be mindful of verbiage, tone, in public meetings, emails, etc. Be better able to step back and help us all be better
In lieu of reading the draft review doc, they walked through some of the sections to pick out key points and allowed Jamie to elaborate on the development of the individual items touting what he (and the town staff) did to complete the item
Many of the department managers were present and added comments for their review of Jamie
The meeting runs about 1 hour & 55 minutes, so let’s listen to the Ad Hoc committee for the Town Administrators review meeting. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1392-franklin-ma-town-administrator-review-02-27-25/
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Franklin TV video available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjaqeHc6eII
The agenda doc includes the draft review ->
https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02272025-1604
My notes captured during the meeting ->
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AssnKA3WLeBxDqbwfKc6owJY6MQ9d6pM/view?usp=drive_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
And if you have interest in reporting on meetings or events, please reach out. 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"
Sunday, March 2, 2025
Town Administrator Ad-hoc Review Meeting 2/27/26 (video)
- Exemplary review, Area for improvement to be mindful of verbiage, tone, in public meetings, emails, etc. Be better able to step back and help us all be better
- In lieu of reading the draft review doc, they walked through some of the sections to pick out key points and allowed Jamie to elaborate on the development of the individual items touting what he (and the town staff) did to complete the item
- Many of the department managers were present and added comments for their review of Jamie
Thursday, February 27, 2025
What's happening in Franklin, MA: Thursday, February 27, 2025 ???
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for additional details on Library events -> https://franklinma.gov/calendar.aspx?CID=24&showPastEvents=false |
Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) - No meeting, next scheduled meeting March 13
https://franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02272025-1539
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What's happening today in Franklin? |
The School district calendar is found https://franklinpublicschooldistrictma.sites.thrillshare.com/o/fpsd/page/school-calendars
Wednesday, February 26, 2025
Town Administrator Evaluation Ad Hoc Committee meeting scheduled for February 27, 2025
a. Chair Memo & Evaluationb. Town Council/Town Administrator Goals list September 2024-25c. Town Administrator Contract Languaged. Staff Input:
- i. James McLaughlin, Fire Chief
- ii. Ryan Jette, Recreation Director
- iii. Felicia Oti, Library Director
- iv. Amy Frigulietti, Deputy Town Administrator
- v. Kerri Bertone, Chief Financial Officer
- vi. Other Department Heads
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Town Administrator Evaluation Ad Hoc Committee meeting scheduled for February 27, 2025 |
Friday, February 14, 2025
Jamie leads the group on 5 hot topics in this "Talk Franklin" episode (audio)
FM #1382 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1382 in the series.
This session of the radio show shares our “Talk Franklin” discussion with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen in the Municipal Building on Tuesday, February 11, 2025.
Several folks joined in this roundtable discussion on a variety of hot topics around development. Joining the discussion
Breeka Li Goodlander, Conservation Director
Cathleen Liberty, Health Director
Bryan Taberner, Director of Planning & Community Development
Joel D’Errico, Franklin resident & developer
Joe Halligan, Franklin resident & developer
Brad Chaffee, Franklin resident & developer for Camford Property Group
Gus Brown, Building Commissioner
Key topics
Main development issue, change
Then 5 things that are top complaints
Traffic
Density
Environmental concerns
Too many school children
Character of the Town
The recording runs about 1 Hour & 40 minutes. Let’s listen to this conversation on Franklin’s development hot topics. Audio link -> https://creators.spotify.com/pod/show/letstalkfranklin/episodes/Talk-Franklin---A-Podcast-from-the-Town-Administrators-Office-e2f34do/a-aatdjc7
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Town of Franklin page https://www.franklinma.gov/
Community calendar https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar
Master Plan (as approved by Planning Board & Town Council)
https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4018/Final-Report
Jimmy McMillen, founder of the “Rent is too Damn High Party”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rent_Is_Too_Damn_High_Party
--------------
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!
------------------
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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Jamie leads the group on 5 hot topics in this "Talk Franklin" episode (audio) |
Saturday, February 1, 2025
Franklin, MA Town Administrator Jamie Hellen Voted as MMA President
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Franklin Town Administrator Jamie Hellen (left) will serve as president of the MMA and Amesbury Mayor Kassandra Gove (right) will serve as vice president. (MMA Photo) |
Wednesday, January 8, 2025
Town of Franklin Seeks Input from Residents in Community-Wide Survey
The Town of Franklin will launch The National Community Survey (NCS) on January 8, 2025 to gather resident input for strategic planning initiatives and to align goals around the community’s top priorities.
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National Community Survey (NCS) |
Polco brings people and data together to help build stronger, healthier communities. With award-winning community engagement tools and services, Polco allows leaders to engage residents around their most important topics, align goals, and strengthen public trust. Polco is committed to a strict privacy policy, designed to keep participants’ responses confidential and protect personal data.Learn more at info.polco.us.
Friday, January 3, 2025
National Community Survey to launch in January to a random sample of Franklin households
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National Community Survey to launch in January |
In just a few days, Franklin will launch The National Community Survey. Randomly selected households will receive mailed survey invitations over the next few weeks. If you receive an invite, please follow the instructions and share your input! Your feedback will help us make important plans for our future.
If you aren't selected for this initial survey effort, we'll also share a community-wide survey soon. To become a member of Franklin's digital sounding board and get notified when this community-wide survey is available, follow this link and register for a Polco profile: polco.us/n/res/signup
For additional information, follow this link: https://www.franklinma.gov/town-council/webforms/national-community-survey
Thank you for helping to create a better community for all!
Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/home/news/national-community-survey
Monday, December 16, 2024
Agenda for the Joint Budget Subcommittee Meeting - Tuesday, Dec 17 at 7 PM
a. March 8, 2023 -https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/1a._2023-03-08_joint_budget_subcommitte_meeting_minutes_-_google_docs.pdfb. August 2, 2023 -https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/1b._2023-08-02_joint_budget_subcommittee_meeting_minutes_-_google_docs.pdfc. October 11, 2023 -https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/2023-10-11_joint_budget_subcommittee_meeting_minutes.pdfd. March 6, 2024 -https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/2024-03-06_joint_budget_subcommittee_meeting_minutes.pdfe. October 23, 2024 -https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/2024-10-23_joint_budget_subcommittee_meeting_minutes.pdf
a. Administrator Memo -https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/2a._2024-12-17_jbsc_memo.pdfb. Updated Five Year Forecast Document -https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/2b._fy25_5_year_budget_forecast_with_override_-_revenue_summary.pdfc. Norfolk County Retirement Board Letter & Documents -https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/2c_0_norfolk_county_retirement_board_letter_11.1.24.pdf
- i. Option 1 - Fully funded by 2030 https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/2c_1_option_1_white_sheet_-_sheet1.pdf
- ii. Option 2 - Fully funded by 2032 https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/2c_2_option_2_ivory_sheet_-_sheet1.pdf
- iii. Option 3 - Fully funded by 2035 https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/2c_3_option_3_updated_pink_sheet_scenario_-_county_voted_-_sheet1.pdf
d. State House News Service State Budget Update articleshttps://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/2d_1_articles.pdf
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Agenda for the Joint Budget Subcommittee Meeting - Tuesday, Dec 17 at 7 PM |