Town Administrator's Report on the Migrant Housing Status - 09/20/23 (audio)

FM #1065 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1065 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the Town Administrator’s Report segment from the Town Council Meeting of Sep 20, 2023. Town Administrator Jamie Hellen provides an update on the Migrant Housing status.  

The report segment runs about 27 minutes. Let’s listen to this segment of the Town Council meeting on Wednesday, September 20, 2023

Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1065-tc-segment-town-admin-report-09-20-23

Video link timed to start of Town Administrator's Report ->   https://www.youtube.com/live/bF13Dgn_6qs?si=P49HB-MYPrGfpeym&t=5122

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Town Administrator page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/administrator

Town Council agenda doc ->  

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/town_council_agenda_-_sept_20_2023.pdf 

Update from Sep 6 meeting ->

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/09/town-administrators-report-on-migrant.html 

Notification on migrant temporary housing

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/08/ma-notifies-franklin-of-plans-to-house.html

Franklin TV video of 09/20/23 meeting -> https://www.youtube.com/live/bF13Dgn_6qs?si=UQh6elNMORZvbLln

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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"

Town Administrator's Report on the Migrant Housing Status - 09/20/23 (audio)

Jamie & Amy provide updates on FinCom, migrants, municipal aggregation, and outlook to Council Mtg (audio)

FM #1064 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1064 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my "Talk Franklin" session with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen and Deputy Administrator Amy Frigulietti. We had our conversation in the Municipal Building on Monday, September 18, 2023.  

Topics for this session

Finance Cmte recap

Migrant update

Municipal Aggregation

Town Council outlook

• Open Space plan

• Council goals update

• Tri-County ballot question

• Demolition bylaw

• Spring St decommission

The recording runs about 38 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Jamie & Amy on Monday, September 18, 2023 Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1064-talk-franklin-09-18-23

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Town Administrator page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/administrator

Talk Franklin podcast page -> https://anchor.fm/letstalkfranklin 

Finance Committee agenda for 9/13/23 ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/finance_committee_agenda_9.13.23.pdf 

Town Council agenda for 9/20/23 -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/town_council_agenda_-_sept_20_2023.pdf 

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

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"

Jamie & Amy provide updates on FinCom, migrants, municipal aggregation, and outlook to Council Mtg (audio)

Town Administrator's Report on the Migrant Housing Status - 09/06/23 (audio)

FM #1055 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1055 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the Town Administrator’s Report segment from the Town Council Meeting of Sep 6, 2023. Town Administrator Jamie Hellen provides an update on the Migrant Housing status.  

The recording runs about 22 minutes. Let’s listen to this segment of the Town Council meeting on Wednesday, September 6, 2023. Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1055-town-administrators-report-migrant-housing-status-09-06-23

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Town Administrator page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/administrator

Town Council agenda doc ->  

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/town_council_agenda_-_9.6.23.pdf

 

Notification on migrant temporary housing

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/08/ma-notifies-franklin-of-plans-to-house.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 iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

Town Administrator's Report on the Migrant Housing Status - 09/06/23 (audio)

Finance Cmte completes FY 2024 budget hearing series, approves it as proposed, TA Hellen indicates possible additions for School's budget in summer (audio)

FM #996 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 996 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the Finance Committee meeting and last of three budget hearings for the FY 2024 budget year. The meeting was held on Thursday, May 11, 2023. 

Eight members of the Finance Committee participated (1 absent - Koke); 6 present in the Council Chambers, 2 remote. Town Administrator Jamie Hellen, Comptroller Chris Sandini, Treasurer/Collector Kerri Bertone. 

Quick recap:

• Police Chief TJ Lynch lays out the case for adding four officers to the total to address systemic issues with the schedule and to reduce overtime that results from it

• Ideally, he would add a minimum of 2 more (to remove the ‘bad’ shift remaining), along with 2 more dedicated to traffic control 

• Fire Chief James McLaughlin makes the case for adding 2, 1 EMS Captain, and 1 firefighter/paramedic. This would be an interim step towards enabling a 3rd ambulance. Calls for 2022 exceeded 5,000 for the first time, 2023 on pace to exceed that total. 44% of the calls result in a patient transport to the hospital. 

• These two would be positioned at the downtown station, and during their normal 5 day shift could respond as a third ambulance. To bring on a full time 3rd ambulance for all shifts requires staffing of 10 (8 more than these 2)

• Gary Primo, Metacomet Emergency Call Center (MECC), provides the regional dispatch function for 6 communities. Potential for more growth, expanding within their existing footprint to provide the space for that. It will take time to negotiation with the other communities to jin, as well as time to set up the connections for implementation.

• Gus Brown, Building Inspector, minor adjustments to the budget, actually doing better than a couple of years ago (after restructuring) 

• Committee vote 8-0-1 (1 absent, Koke) to approve the budget and enterprise funds as proposed. 

• Town Administrator Jamie Hellen then outlined the possible addition of approx. $800K to the school budget. He would wait until the State budget is finalized this summer (July/Aug) before doing so to ensure the funding as proposed is possible. Desire is to get the funding to the Schools before September. 

• Question unanswered is what the Schools will be able to do without a confirmation of their additional $800K funding? Would they still need to make the cuts and then adjust during the summer (assuming the additions did happen)?

The meeting recording runs about an hour and 40 minutes, so let’s listen to the Finance Committee meeting May 11, 2023.

Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-996-finance-cmte-budget-hearing-3-05-11-23

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Meeting agenda document ->   

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/may_11th_fin_com_agenda.pdf 

FY 2024 budget information -> https://www.franklinma.gov/town-budget/webforms/fy-24-budget-materials 

Jamie's slides with the plan for "next steps" for the School budget (presentation to be put on the Town page, in meantime, here are photo captures) ->   https://photos.app.goo.gl/dMZ92X98eWdrABoS9

Franklin TV YouTube link -> https://www.youtube.com/live/cAvlHmmmccQ?feature=share

FY24 Town Administrator Budget Materials website  ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/town-budget/webforms/fy-24-budget-materials

My notes can be found in one PDF ->   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ByHzZZz4KS0i985Vf4ncWVnJE8d3j7iu/view?usp=share_link

Link to Finance Committee => https://www.franklinma.gov/finance-committee 

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

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"

TA Hellen indicates possible additions for School's budget in summer - p1 

TA Hellen indicates possible additions for School's budget in summer - p2

Talk Franklin: Jamie and I go 'long' talking patience, process, and engagement results - 04/28/23 (audio)

FM #985 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 985 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my "Talk Franklin" conversation with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen. We had our conversation in person at the Senior Center. We had already been involved in back-to-back sessions and added our recording session to this slot on Friday, April 28, 2023.  

We usually watch the clock to keep the session shorter but we were having such a good discussion we went with the flow.

Topics for this session

Arts & Culture listening session (2nd of 3 scheduled)

Senior Center volunteer recognition event

Finance Committee budget hearings scheduled May 8, 10, & 11

Town Council hearings scheduled for May 24 & 25

The recording runs about 55 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Jamie on Friday, April 28, 2023

Audio file -> https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/letstalkfranklin/episodes/State-of-Franklin---May-2023-e23gcru

 

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Town FY 2024 budget page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/town-budget/webforms/fy-24-budget-materials 

Arts & Culture survey -> https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf4AWODps2aVQd_tzHIGfcJBRwUdpvYB9jK3hgfxploSWc7zw/viewform?usp=sf_link

Town of Franklin calendar for May meetings & events -> https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar/month/2023-05 

Town Administrator page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/administrator

Talk Franklin podcast page -> https://anchor.fm/letstalkfranklin 

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

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"

Talk Franklin: Jamie and I go long talking patience, process, and engagement results - 04/28/23 (audio)