"The Town Council has established the Master Plan Update Committee to update the 2013 town-wide Master Plan.The Committee will:
- Review the current Master Plan and existing planning documents, data and achievements;
- Identify the key issues facing the community in the next ten years;
- Assist in the identification of existing conditions and conduct trends analysis;
- Recommend goals and objectives related to Franklin's future;
- Develop a clear action plan for the Town of Franklin; and
- Make a final report to the Planning Board within 18 months from the date of ratification of the Committee members."
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 *
Monday, November 27, 2023
The Master Plan Survey is ready for your input
Wednesday, November 22, 2023
Congressman Auchincloss: An Update for the prior two weeks (11/21/23)
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Tuesday, October 24, 2023
#LOVEfranklin // Emergency Shelter Humanitarian Aid UPDATE - 10/23/23
Hello!
Thank you for being patient as we took a brief pause to evaluate our process to make sure that we are asking for donations people actually need. There have been a lot of disparate community asks for donations and many of those asks overlapped which created a glut of some things and a scarcity of others.
While the outpouring of donations is immensely appreciated, we want to make sure 1) that we receive things that will be used in a timely manner and 2) that we don't put too many asks out at one time and burn people out.
This is not a "short term project." This is a long-term effort. We need to make sure that the process of assessing and meeting needs is sustainable. So, we needed to take a pause, meet with all the stakeholders, and create a new procedure.
Here is how we are operating as we move forward:
- The SAFE Coalition will do intake interviews for new placements and assess needs upon arrival. They will also be giving out welcome/hospitality bags that will provide basic supplies. Most people arrive with little to nothing.
- Needs will be regularly communicated to the Franklin Interfaith Council who will then ask for donations via its email list and through the various communities of faith. Drop-off points will be at St. Mary's and the Franklin United Methodist Church (details of hours will be provided when the ask is issued). Note: moving forward please do not drop-off clothing donations at the Franklin Federated Church. No donations should be dropped off at the hotel.
- Items will be sorted and stored at the Franklin United Methodist Church.
- Volunteers will gather needed items from the Franklin United Methodist Church and deliver them directly to the individuals/families.
- The SAFE Coalition will do regular visits to individuals/families to assess any new or changing needs. They will also remove items that may no longer be of use. Remember: there isn't a lot of room for storing accumulated items in the hotel rooms. At that point, we loop back to step two (2) and the process keeps repeating.
If you have any questions about this process, please don't hesitate to ask. I'll do my best to answer any/all your questions. The Franklin Interfaith Council, SAFE Coalition, and others are meeting weekly, outside of the town-called stakeholders meeting, to communicate and collaborate with one another. I hope to send out an updated call for donations by the end of this week.
In the meantime, we are continuing to train volunteers for the After-school Program which is anticipated to begin on Wednesday. If you'd like to help with that, please contact Rev. Kathy McAdams (rector@stjohnsfranklinma.og).
We will need volunteers to help sort and put things in storage at Franklin United Methodist Church. We are finalizing lists of donations for the welcome/hospitality bags. And, we are making plans for a weekly sit-down meal for emergency shelter residents that will include a "carry-out" option for those not able to be seated for the meal (space is limited).
Thank you for your patience during this pause. And, most importantly, thank you for your generosity as seek to meet the needs of those placed in the emergency shelter so that they might come to #LOVEfranklin as much as we do.
Peace.
Jacob
#LOVEfranklin // Emergency Shelter Humanitarian Aid UPDATE - 10/23/23 |
Wednesday, October 4, 2023
Congressman Auchincloss: An Update for the past 2 weeks in review (10/03/23)
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Monday, September 18, 2023
Master Plan Update Committee & Subcommittee meetings 9/18 to 9/27
- Sustainability Subcommittee - Sep 18
- Land Use Subcommittee- Sep 19
Master Plan Update Committee & Subcommittee meetings 9/18 to 9/27 |
Monday, August 28, 2023
Master Plan Update Committee discusses timeline, outreach, survey and more in 2 hour session (audio)
FM #1048 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1048 in the series.
This session of the radio show shares the Master Plan Update Committee meeting held on Wednesday, August 23, 2023.
The Master Plan Update Committee met in the 3rd floor Training Room/ RM 326
Discussion on branding efforts complicated by heavy web presence of Franklin Tennessee and wanting to avoid confusion with them
Will have booth at Harvest Festival, discussion on logo, branding desire to have something ready to handout or engagement with community at booth
Proceeding with "Form Franklin's Future"
Recommendations from multiple members to obtain input in map based form, for multiple good reasons to help visualize and work with qualitatively, if not quantitatively
extended discussion on survey and use of an incentive to increase participation, action to run this by the Town Attny for 2 answers, one if the committee could do so (per meeting likely not); alternatively, might another non-town org (i.e. Dean College) run the survey (and include incentive) to enable the data to be used by the committee. Amy to get answers
Amy to create spreadsheet for committee members to use to add orgs and other contact points for outreach effort
The 2020 update to the Master Plan is the one to use for status of which of the prior plans objectives and actions items were completed or not. Ginelle has marked up the spreadsheet with color coding on completion status and will share to the drive from other members to work with
Meeting adjourns
Listen to the recording of the Master Plan Update Cmte meeting held on August 23, 2023. The meeting runs about 2 hours.
Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1048-master-plan-update-cmte-mtg-08-23-23
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The agenda doc is rich with links to the prior master plan and associated materials
The Master Plan update Committee page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/master-plan-update-committee
My notes captured during the meeting can be found in one PDF file ->
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aIOl7qtMIACVrUlp5-hYD6KkQRleMdo_/view?usp=drive_link
The meeting video is available for replay ->
https://www.youtube.com/live/1sLTy6XZK48
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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"
Friday, August 25, 2023
Master Plan Update Committee discusses timeline, outreach, survey and more in 2 hour session (video)
- Discussion on branding efforts complicated by heavy web presence of Franklin Tennessee and wanting to avoid confusion with them
- Will have booth at Harvest Festival, discussion on logo, branding desire to have something ready to handout or engagement with community at booth
- Proceeding with "Form Franklin's Future"
- Recommendations from multiple members to obtain input in map based form, for multiple good reasons to help visualize and work with qualitatively, if not quantitatively
- extended discussion on survey and use of an incentive to increase participation, action to run this by the Town Attny for 2 answers, one if the committee could do so (per meeting likely not); alternatively, might another non-town org (i.e. Dean College) run the survey (and include incentive) to enable the data to be used by the committee. Amy to get answers
- Amy to create spreadsheet for committee members to use to add orgs and other contact points for outreach effort
- The 2020 update to the Master Plan is the one to use for status of which of the prior plans objectives and actions items were completed or not. Ginelle has marked up the spreadsheet with color coding on completion status and will share to the drive from other members to work with
- Meeting adjourns
Tuesday, July 25, 2023
Franklin, MA: Master Plan Update Committee - Agenda for July 26, 2023 at 6:30 PM
1. Community Outreach Plan● Review draft2. Establish Mission and Goals3. Subcommittee Meeting Schedules
Franklin, MA: Master Plan Update Committee - Agenda for July 26, 2023 at 6:30 PM |
Thursday, June 29, 2023
Master Plan Update Committee gets update on Open Mtg law compliance (video)
- Attorney Mark Cerel provides some background and insights in how to operate safely within the Open Meeting law. Nuances around quorum of the committee as a whole (7) and of the subcommittees (2 or 4), and what could happen if members of the main committee attend a subcommittee meeting they are not part of (watch & listen = ok; vs. actively participate = problematic).
- Subcommittees announced (not yet posted to Committee page nor part of agenda doc)
- discussion around the mission statement, potential for revision, send comments to Chair by July 19 for compilation and review at next meeting July 26
- discussion around draft timeline to be reviewed next time along with a draft outline for public engagement
Master Plan Update Committee met June 28, 2023 beginning at 6:42 PM |
Sunday, June 25, 2023
Master Plan Update Committee scheduled to meet June 28, 2023 at 6:30 PM
a. Mark Cerel, Town Attorney
a. Establishment of five subcommitteesi. Land Use & Zoningii. Housing & Economic Developmentiii. Community Services, Facilities, & Circulationiv. Open Space & Recreation; Natural, Cultural, & Historic Resourcesv. Sustainability
b. Policies and Proceduresc. Goal settingd. Scheduling
a. Envision Franklin discussion
Master Plan Update Committee scheduled to meet June 28, 2023 at 6:30 PM |