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| June 3 Override Special Election: Specimen Ballot |
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| June 3 Override Special Election: Early Voting Schedule |
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| Voting in Franklin, MA |
FM #1411 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1411 in the series.
This session of the radio show shares our “Town Council Quarterbacking” with Town Council Chair Tom Mercer. We had our conversation via the Zoom Conference Bridge on Friday, March 21, 2025.
Our conversation condensed the Town Council meeting of March 19, 2025.
We focus on two questions:
• ok, what just happened?
• What does it mean for Franklin residents and taxpayers?
Topics for this session
Discussion and vote to set an override before the community in the amount of $3,862,672 and on Tuesday, June 3, 2025. There were 2 separate votes, one on the ballot question text and the second on the date. Both passed with the same 8-0-1 (8 for, none against, 1 absent - Dellorco)
The School Committee had met earlier that evening and voted unanimously to support the override vote. Chair Dave Callaghan and Vice-Chair David McNeill stood up to make that announcement during the discussion
Other legislation for action on the minimum item agenda for the evening; 2 items to extend the sewer and water lines to a new residence that had already been approved in the first vote both received the passing vote by the same 8-0-1 vote (1 absent) via roll call
A resolution accepting gifts to the Veterans services was approved and thanks extended
Town Administrator's Report
Jamie acknowledged receipt of a letter from Archbishop Henning commending the work of the Fire Dept on the St Mary's Church fire. He had just recently attended the re-opening masses. The letter will be posted to the Town pages
The lease for Town use of the Ferrara's parking lot was signed to extend the agreement for 5 years
The final approvals on the deed and associated documents for the Old South Church were completed and to be handed over to Habitat for Humanity so the docs can be filed with the Registrar of Deeds, and work can begin to renovate the building for a residence
Let’s listen to my conversation with Tom as we recap the Town Council meeting. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1411-town-council-quarterbacking-03-21-25/
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Franklin TV video for replay of meeting -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoNPkBHRLzI
The agenda doc released for the meeting -> https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03192025-1639
My full set of notes taken during the meeting (in one PDF) -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TPEkxHcViPCNwOGHmiydPVt1rGW5Xy05/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"
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| Franklin TV video for replay of meeting -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoNPkBHRLzI |
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| Town of Franklin, MA: Unofficial Election Results for Nov 5, 2024 |
FM #1305 This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1305 in the series.
This session shares the Franklin (MA) Town Council Meeting of Wednesday, Oct 30, 2024. 8 members were present in Council Chambers, Frongillo was absent.
Quick recap
After multiple citizen comments on a variety of topics the Council got to their agenda items
Fire Department - Swearing In of New Firefighter / Paramedics
Paul Schleicher Jr.
Michael Dumican
Corey Rafter
Steven Osorio
Shea Hurley
First time to have 60 firefighters on staff, need to keep up with the growing needs of the community. All 60 are licensed paramedics
The Police Department had 2 Promotions, Both sworn in by Town Clerk Nancy Danello
Lieutenant Michael Colecchi
Sergeant Cody Landry
Rescission of Prior Approval of Transfer of Section 15 All Alcoholic Beverages Package Store License, Heeru Corporation d/b/a DeVita’s Market. Jamie explains quick background on the recession as the "easy" way for the parties to resolve the issues they have, including allowing DaVita's to reapply for a renewal of the license Building code issues need to be resolved to enable the transfer. vote passes 8-0-1 (8 - yes, 0 - no, 1 absent)
Public hearing on Bogan's way; Order of Layout, Acceptance, and Taking of Bogans Way and Drainage Lot Parcel A and Easements. Planning did approve acceptance, Continuing to chip away on all the public streets in town Public hearing closed with no comments. vote passes 8-0-1 (8 - yes, 0 - no, 1 absent)
License Modification - Change of Manager of a Section 15 Retail Package Store License: Shaw’s Supermarkets, Inc. d/b/a Shaw’s. So moved, second, passes 8-0-1 (1 absent)
Franklin Children's Museum - Meghan Hagen & Erin Gallagher, joined by architect and Brad Chaffee, Camford Property Group. Presentation slides -> https://photos.app.goo.gl/4SqkayuitiSFjuzU8
Resolution 24-63: Gift Acceptance: Senior Center ($100) (Motion to Approve Resolution 24- 63 - Majority Vote). So moved, second Passes 8-0-1 (1 absent)
Resolution 24-64: Town Council Approval of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funds ($8,304) (Motion to Approve Resolution 24-64 - Majority Vote). So moved, second Passes 8-0-1 ,1 absent)
Friendly 40B Policy Update introduced by Jamie in response to what has been heard from the community. After some discussion, when it wasn't really an item for discussion, it is not clear if it is in effect as proposed, or if it is being referred to a subcommittee and/or future agenda for further discussion. Editor's note: there should be a further review and potentially additional changes made to this. It is not a policy that is clearly understood and appreciated by either the Council or the community
Let’s listen to the meeting recording which runs just short of 3 hours. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1305-town-council-mtg-10-30-24/
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The Franklin TV video is available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kNbkQwNvQkA
The agenda doc can be found here -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/town_council_meeting_october_30_2024_packet_2.pdf
My notes captured during the meeting and now in one PDF file ->
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zqgR9Lc2lYE9H3f8WOor2CoM-XPxaUG3/view?usp=drive_link
-------------
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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| Fire Dept news hires pose with Town Council |
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| Police Dept promotions pose with Town Council |
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| Notice of Advanced Removal of Early Voted Ballots & Advanced Depositing of Early Voted Ballots for Nov 5, 2024 |
"First full week of in person early voting complete!!
Total of 1,640 voters! The flow was steady with NO lines!!
Thank you to all of our voters!!"
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| tabulator testing |
Tabulator Testing for the Presidential election will be held on October 23rd beginning at 9 AM in the Council Chambers.
Please register with Town Clerk's Office if you plan on attending.
Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/home/news/tabulator-testing-presidential-election
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| Tabulator Testing for Presidential Election - Weds, Oct 23 at 9 AM |
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| Early voting schedule for Franklin, MA |
"In September, local elections clerks received an email that purported to be from a reputable national organization that helps to ensure voting integrity. The message asked clerks to fill out a survey and include their personal cellphones and home addresses.But the URL behind the sender was not for the cybersecurity group the Elections Infrastructure Information Sharing & Analysis Center, or EI-ISAC. Instead, it led to a website, electioncrimebureau.com, with an image of a grinning Mike Lindell, the MyPillow CEO-turned-high-profile-election-denier who continues to believe former president Donald Trump won the 2020 election.The faux email, say Massachusetts election clerks, is just the latest example of the deluge of threats, interference, misinformation, and burdensome requests coming at them as they approach what many fear will be one of the most daunting elections yet.Burnout and frustration after the 2020 election and the subsequent storm of misinformation sparked massive turnover within the ranks of local elections officials. Those who stayed faced cybersecurity threats and emails sent by bad actors. The threats come on top of new state laws that boosted access to mail ballots and expanded early voting."
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| Boston Globe: "Threats, requests, and expanded voting: Mass. clerks are gearing up for a daunting election" |
This proposed law would gradually increase the minimum hourly wage an employer must pay a tipped worker, over the course of five years, on the following schedule:• To 64% of the state minimum wage on January 1, 2025;• To 73% of the state minimum wage on January 1, 2026;• To 82% of the state minimum wage on January 1, 2027;• To 91% of the state minimum wage on January 1, 2028; and• To 100% of the state minimum wage on January 1, 2029.The proposed law would require employers to continue to pay tipped workers the difference Under the proposed law, if an employer pays its workers an hourly wage that is at least the state minimum wage, the employer would be permitted to administer a “tip pool” that combines all the tips given by customers to tipped workers and distributes them among all the workers, including non-tipped workers.
There are no direct fiscal consequences on the Commonwealth or municipalities because they generally do not employ tipped employees. Nevertheless, this measure will affect proposed state and municipal revenues and expenditures due to impacts on employee and business income and earnings. While those impacts are difficult to project due to the lack of reliable data, increasing the minimum hourly wage of tipped employees will likely increase state income tax collections because employees will earn more in hourly wages from which state income tax is withheld. The impacts on gratuity earnings and gratuity tax reporting are unknown
A YES VOTE would increase the minimum hourly wage an employer must pay a tipped worker to the full state minimum wage implemented over five years, at which point employers could pool all tips and distribute them to all non- management workers.A NO VOTE would make no change in the law governing tip pooling or the minimum wage for tipped workers
Full PDF of the Secretary of the Commonwealth's Information for Voters "red book" -> https://www.sec.state.ma.us/divisions/elections/download/research-and-statistics/IFV_2024.pdf
Additional voting info for the State can be found ->
https://www.sec.state.ma.us/divisions/elections/elections-and-voting.htm
Specific info for Franklin, MA voters can be found on the Town Clerk page ->
https://www.franklinma.gov/town-clerkelection-administrato
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| MA Ballot QUESTION 5: Minimum Wage for Tipped Workers |
