Finance Committee Agenda - March 9, 2022 - 6:30 PM

Finance Committee Meeting

Agenda & Meeting Packet

March 9th, 2022 - 6:30 PM

Agenda

1. Call to Order

2. Public Comment

3. Approval of Minutes

a. February 9, 2022

4. Presentation: Department of Public Works

5. Stabilization Fund Balances as of 3-2-2022

6. Adjourn

Agenda doc with remote connection info ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/3-9-22_fin_com_meeting_agenda_0.pdf

Finance Committee Agenda - March 9, 2022 - 6:30 PM

Sorry we missed you: How can Franklin Build Climate Resilience? (video)

"So sorry that you missed our presentation last evening "How can Franklin Build Climate Resilience?". You can find a recording of the presentation on our YouTube Channel and slides on our website. 

Additionally I wanted to share our Climate Resilience Toolkit which is located on our website and includes different policy solutions to help increase climate resilience. "

Best,

Robert

--

Robert Kearns
Climate Resilience Specialist
Charles River Watershed Association
41 West St. Suite 800

Boston, MA 02111
t 617.540.5650 x 1075
He, Him, His

www.crwa.org/support

Recap - FinComm - Budget Hearing #3 - All DPW, and we find they they lose 2 positions in FY 2022

Quick Recap:

• Interesting twist instead of the formal line by line budget discussion of prior nights, DPW taking 2 people out of budget to bring in a balanced line as the stormwater fee apparently is NOT being considered for next year
• 3rd party peer review for Beaver St interceptor being funded to make sure costs and plans are good
• State target for per capita water usage 65 gals per person per day, we're at 42 and doing well
• Even with new pump station coming online, the DEP permit will still require water conservation measures. And that is not considering the drought status

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As with most meetings in this pandemic period, I took my notes via Twitter during the meeting reporting in real-time via the virtual session.

 

The Twitter hashtag can be found online  #fincom0429

https://twitter.com/search?q=%23fincom0429&src=typed_query 

Photos captured during the meeting and shared via Twitter can be found in one album https://photos.app.goo.gl/b2kW9RphygWgWoxZ6

The agenda for this meeting can be found

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/_2021-04-29_finance_committee_agenda_.pdf 

• Finance Committee meeting coming up at 6:30 - Part 3 of 4 - Time for all things  Dept of Public Works; Highway, Grounds, Central Motors, Solid Waste and Stormwater!  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/_2021-04-29_finance_committee_agenda_.pdf   #fincom0429
• To follow along, page 75 of Appendix A1 for DPW and all it does! #fincom0429 
• Finding out that the DPW is cutting personnel in their budget - that wasn't clear in anything heard previously!
• Interesting twist instead of the formal line by line budget discussion of prior nights, a few eye openers #fincom0429 DPW taking 2 people out of budget to bring in a balance line as the stormwater fee apparently is NOT being considered for next year
• #fincom0429 instead of making it about big bad phosphorus, or the Charles (isn't that in Boston). Street sweeping, catch basin cleaning, lots of really glamorous work is required to handle the stormwater and better ground water as we are a ground water aquifer user
• This is infrastructure, we need it, don't we really have bigger 'fish to fry?' #fincom0429 current nonprofit entities (Dean College) don't pay anything, government (Post office) don't pay, both would pay their "fair" share under the utility fee (sometime)
• Long discussion, can't reasonably do justice via this format. #fincom0429  George calculated $14/q and Franklin Village would be roughly $4,000/q... Will go back to the Jan 2020 meeting recording to help remind folks of what they said then.
• Stormwater conversation ends (finally) #fincom0429 now going to the DPW line by line street lights, p 86; solid waste p 87 (actually the recycling center) the remainder of solid waste is an enterprise fund
• Recycling needs to be looked at, it may be cheaper to burn as opposed to years a go recycling would earn us money #fincom0429 3rd party peer review for Beaver St interceptor being funded to make sure costs and plans are good. Per capita 65 gals per person per day, we're at 42
• Request for additional percentage amounts Motion to adjourn, second, passes 7-0   That's all for tonight, catch you next Tue, May 4 for the schools budget #fincom0429
• Oops forgot to add #fincom0429

 

FinCom member Susan Dewsnap

DPW loses two positions in FY 2022 budget due to Town Council inaction on Stormwater utility proposal

Why Town Council inaction?

You should ask them individually. I have been reporting on their meetings and while there is a lack of understanding around the reality of stormwater for some of the members, and how to best fund it, I had been lead to believe that this discussion was coming in the budget discussions. 

I found out during the Finance Committee hearing Thursday evening, that adjustments were made to 'get by' in anticipation that the Town Council would not approve the utility fee. So the DPW gets cuts now. There is still time for the stormwater discussion to happen. The Council has their budget hearings May 27-28 at which they will approve the budget for FY 2022.

• The stormwater story summarizes the development since the stormwater bylaw was passed in 2007.

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/04/the-stormwater-story-summary-for.html

The stormwater utility fee was established as a mechanism to fund stormwater by a Unanimous vote in Jan 2020. It was created then to provide time for the MUNIS system to be adjusted to actually enable the billing. The software work required seems to be done as the billing does show stormwater utility with $0

All that is required now is for the Council to (1) actually create the fee so (2) the other detailed items can help establish it (credit items, credit process, etc.) and potentially restore the two positions to the DPW for FY 2022.

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

 

From the DPW section of the Town of Franklin FY 2022 budget narrative:

 (bold text indicates my change for emphasis to show where the cuts were 'buried' in the text.)

FY22 Budget Modifications, Increases & Reductions

It is important to note the shifting funding amounts and location of costs in the DPW Budget. The issue of stormwater affects the FY22 budget for DPW and will continue in future fiscal years.

Going forward, the DPW will see significant budgetary changes that will affect the services they perform. The effects of the pandemic and economy will only expedite the process.  The most notable impact being the implementation of EPA’s federally required stormwater permit and how to pay for it.  The new mandated requirements of this permit are unfunded (yes, an“unfunded mandate”).  In order to implement these legal requirements, staff have to propose shifting funds from other areas of DPW to a new stormwater division. The amount of funds required in FY22 are only the beginning,over the next two years cost increases due to theMS4 are anticipated to be at least another $200,000annually. Over time, this will “eat up” operating capacity in the budget which, in turn, will reduce other services and improvements we provide.

In order to continue to meet the needs of our residents,address changes in regulatory requirements, and staffing concerns next year, the following list outlines the major changes in the Franklin Public Works Budget.While there are nominal increases in some areas, the majority of changes are just shifting funds from specific lines to areas that are of a higher priority.

Once again, the most pressing issue is funding the new MS4 permit requirements that are mandated by the recent settlement with the EPA, but have not been appropriately funded in the past.

In order to accurately reflect the cost of the ongoing required stormwater efforts, we have to create a Stormwater Division within the DPW General Fund with a budget of $867,545. Specifically, $265,545 in personnel salaries and $602,000 in expenses.

The salary costs of $265k are a reallocation of current staff from other DPW divisions to reflect their current efforts in stormwater the town has been doing for years. In other words, these monies have not changed, they have just moved from one division in the DPW to another.

Therefore, the additional funding needed to meet the requirements in FY22 is $602,000 over what the Town already does for stormwater work. To make up for the deficit caused by these additional costs, many cuts and reallocations of funds were made in other DPW Divisions. The most pressing concerns include cutting two labor positions, one from our highway and one from our grounds crews, which will affect our response to daily duties but more importantly to emergency situations like snow and ice operations.  Expense line items were cut across the board as deemed the most appropriate.In addition to these cuts, requests for increases in various service areas were forgone, most notably in road construction and tree maintenance.

Overall the DPW General Fund budget did go up $338,000. This includes a cut of ($22,000) on the salary side and an overall increase of $360,000 of expense items.

The majority of the salary change includes, cutting two positions from our crew, adding a GIS position to accommodate town wide needs, adding staff hours to meet increased demand at the Recycling Center, and required payroll increases due to the collective bargaining agreement, COLA costs for non-union employees and the minimum wage increase in Massachusetts.  Many of the salary and personnel decisions revolve around current and future stormwater requirements. We have also reallocated a portion of the salaries of our Stormwater Manager, Management Staff, Administrative staff, and two DPW Crew Members to the new Stormwater Division.

With the retirement of our Deputy Director of Operations in FY21, we made a change to our management structure by eliminating the position  and hiring an  Assistant Highway & Grounds Superintendent and an Assistant Water & Sewer Superintendent instead. Due to the growing needs of our department, this transition has been very successful and we plan to continue this setup in FY22.  The Town did not fill the Deputy Director of Operations position.

 

You can find this section beginning page 64

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/2021-04-16_fy_2022_budget_message_narrative_working_document_1.pdf

You can also find the DPW section (extracted from the full doc here)  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WqhlP0LsIHcAY3HKTngU1gSRGQgSVnFo/view?usp=sharing  

Check out the impervious coverage map for your property -> https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/e45452a3047e4c83b27170a8f4f79aa5

The stormwater story summary for Franklin

One of the key items in all of the budget discussions is going to be the stormwater utility question. This has been a topic that has developed since 2007 when the initial storm water bylaw was passed. The EPA and Mass DEP have continued to add requirements to how storm water should be managed. The costs for such mitigations have grown over the years. The introduction of the storm water utility fee would allow the Town to better manage the impact on the Town budget.

Why must we manage storm water?

We are part of the area feeding into the Charles River and hence are under the provisions as outlined in the Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4) permit. We have an extensive outflow system to catch and manage storm water. Check out the map here -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/outfall_map.pdf 

Did the Town of Franklin sue the EPA?

Yes, and while we ultimately ‘lost’ the case, we did gain concessions on the implementation timeline that benefit all under the MS4 permit requirements.

When did the storm water bylaw pass?

The Storm water bylaw originally passed in 2007. Check out the bylaw language here -> https://ecode360.com/10434264

What is the storm water utility fee?

Article IV - storm water utility was added in Jan 2020. Bylaw #19-846 approved 9-0 vote. Check out the language here -> https://ecode360.com/FR1096/laws/LF1135684.pdf 

What is the MS4? 

Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems or by the shorter name MS4. The current storm water mitigation plan - updated in 2020 ->  Stormwater Management Plan (revised 2020)

Can I find out what my impervious coverage is?

Check out the impervious coverage map for your property -> https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/e45452a3047e4c83b27170a8f4f79aa5

Finance Committee budget hearing scheduled to continue this discussion

• April 29 Agenda  = Dept of Public Works 

 https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/_2021-04-29_finance_committee_agenda_.pdf

 

How did we get here?

Soak it up Franklin site introduced in 2014   https://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/03/soak-it-up-franklin.html 

Find the “Soak it up Franklin” page here ->  https://www.soakitupfranklinma.org/

Storm water mitigated by rain gardens https://www.soakitupfranklinma.org/residential-rain-garden-project.html 

The storm water utility was mentioned in the EPA response in 2015

“Full compliance with the 2014 Draft MS4 Permit is an additional significant effort that cannot be currently supported with the Town' s existing resources and funding within the next permit cycle, as specified in the draft permit. The Town wishes to continue improving stormwater management and water quality, but this effort needs to take into consideration the progress made to date and be balanced with future infrastructure demands town-wide and economic conditions. Additionally, the town feels that the most cost-effective approach for stormwater improvements is integration with redevelopment and capital projects as infrastructure needs to be upgraded and/or replaced.

 

Similar to many other communities, Franklin has considered creating a stormwater utility to meet the current and proposed additional costs associated with the updated MS4 permit. Attached are working budget sheets that are based on current costs to meet the existing MS4 permit compared to estimated short-term EPA proposed MS4 stonn water activities. These worksheets clearly show that the additional tasks proposed by the new MS4 permit would go up over l00%!

 

Presently the Public Work's General Fund Operational Budget (GFOB) is $3,996,424.00. It is estimated that 14% or $559,499.00 of the GFOB is used for  only stormwater tasks.  lf the new MS4 permit becomes effective as proposed, it is estimated that the stormwater program effort in Franklin would require an increase to 26% or $1,039,070.00 of the GFOB”

 

Find the full doc with this quote here ->

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/2014_draft_massachusetts_small_ms4_general_permit.pdf 

Storm water info mailer in 2018

https://drive.google.com/file/d/11hl1hOGir3MwAoFwmFBTprKXC2lBL25C/view?usp=drivesdk 

The bylaw was discussed in Nov 2019 TC meeting

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/11/live-reporting-presentations-open.html

Received first reading and approval to second reading 

Actions taken Dec 4 move to 2nd reading

https://www.franklinma.gov/town-council/files/tc-actions-taken-12-4-19

Dec 2019 TC meeting

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/12/live-reporting-legislation-for-action.html

Stormwater Utility fee structure was approved by 9-0 in Jan 2020

Actions taken Jan 8 2020 - approval to set the process for the MUNIS adjustments required to bill for an actual fee (to be determined later). https://www.franklinma.gov/town-council/files/1-8-2020-tc-actions-taken

Info session doc 3/11/20

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1I2WQBG4XgPRjak-b4athnfqal6h1xMR-/view?usp=drivesdk 

Town council goals midterm

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/11/franklin-residents-town-council-goals.html

You ask, we answer

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/03/you-ask-we-answer-tax-our-driveways.html

MS4 info session summary

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/05/the-ms4-permit-is-important-step-to.html

Finance Committee meeting in June 2020

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/06/franklin-ma-finance-committee-budget_6.html

Town Council Budget hearing June 2020

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/06/town-council-budget-hearing-2-recap.html

Storm water ad-hoc committee meeting Aug 2020 (audio)

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/08/fm-327-stormwater-subcomm-mtg-80520.html

Storm water ad-hoc committee meeting Sep 2020 (audio)

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/09/fm-346-stormwater-ad-hoc-subcomm-mtg.html

Finance Committee meeting Jan 13, 2021 (Audio)

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/01/fm-435-finance-committee-mtg-011321.html

Town council Jan 20, 2021 (audio)

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/01/fm-444-town-council-mtg-p2-of-2-012021.html

 

The stormwater story summary for Franklin

Town Council Meeting recap - 02/03/21 - town finances in great shape, storm water fee discussed, ambulance fee gets 1st approval

Quick Recap:

• Scout leader Bill Murphy recognized for 30+ years of service for Troop 126
• Valuable information in the presentation/discussion on Finance and borrowing. Town at great credit rate, recognition of fiscal management over the years
  
• Difference between excluded borrowing and non-excluded borrowing explained. "Excluded" are those school building debt exclusions approved by voters. Over next several years only the new FHS will be left to pay for. Meanwhile, the "non-excluded" borrowing has paid for the Senior Center, fire stations, Library, etc. There is capacity for funding projects within the current operational budget for non-excluded projects over the next several years
  
• Long impassioned discussion on the proposed storm water utility fee, not the last time for this discussion. For some councilors they appeared to have missed all the opportunities to participate in informational sessions as the proposal developed last year. Planning Board Chair took offence at not being included last year either
• Ambulance fee increase approved for second reading. (Oh and one councilor who complained about 'death of thousand cuts' on the storm water fee approved this without raising a question)
• Town ready to distribute vaccine to approved order of individuals but needs supply. Still supply/demand issue. Hope on horizon with possible increases in supply coming. Patience for now
  

 

Photos captured during the meeting and shared via Twitter can be found in one album https://photos.app.goo.gl/v5HhoVwmEofmqE1X9

 

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As with most meetings in this pandemic period, I took my notes via Twitter during the meeting reporting in real-time via the virtual session.

 

The Twitter hashtag can be found online  #tc0203

https://twitter.com/search?q=%23tc0203&src=typed_query

• Swivel seat to real time reporting for the Town Council meeting at 7, agenda doc here https://franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/agendas/2-3-2021_town_council_meeting_agenda_0.pdf With connection info and details on topics. #tc0203
• Moving to approval of minutes, Dec 16, seconded, via roll call passes 8-0-1 (Pellegri absent) Motion to approve, second, via roll call same 8-0-1 (Pellegri absent) #tc0203
• Phone number available to join #tc0203
• Moving to approval of minutes, Dec 16, seconded, via roll call passes 8-0-1 (Pellegri absent) Motion to approve, second, via roll call same 8-0-1 (Pellegri absent) #tc0203
• Proclamation for Bill Murphy, Troop 126 leader over 30+ years. Proclamation read by Councilor Bissanti. #tc0203

Finance and borrowing presentation/discussion

• Moving along to presentation on finance and borrowing https://franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/mai/files/tc_borrowing_debt_presentation.pdf #tc0203
• Slide captures, #tc0203
• Non-excluded vs excluded (prop 2 1/2 like FHS) #tc0203
• Opportunity to leverage the debt funds to pay for the long term expenses i.e do the sewer interceptor without any additional funding. #tc0203 we are at AA+ only one step down from highest rating (AAA).
• Note an addition to the Council chambers to the right of councilor Jones, one of the new air filter units. #tc0203 floor mount, black cover white sided...
• Non-excluded debt competes for interest expense in the ops budget, not so much an issue with number of projects, relates to the dollars associated with the projects and then with the interest for the bonds per project #tc0203
• #tc0203 Bissanti not getting the dollar flow for the bonding, "rainbows and puppy dog tails", things change and they don't always change for the best. Stay within the budget so we can get the funding and maintain the rating.
• Excluded debt comes from the prop 2 1/2 question and ballot choice, i.e. FHS the school required $100m of which the state reimbursed approx 60% so we bonded the 40% and that rolls off when done #tc0203 the rating is high due to the behavior of the Town Council in fiscal mgt
• Kelly refuting the Bissanti comment, the town Council report card is AA+ hence we have been doing great. Are we about to change? I have no doubt future Council will do similar for our fiscal future. #tc0203

Storm water discussion

• Chair Mercer summarizes similar comments, Bissanti still not getting it. #tc0203 Moving to the storm water topic, utility fee, etc. Presentation copy here, we did sue the EPA and got concessions on timing and effort https://franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/mai/files/8b._storm_water_presentation.pdf discussion only tonight
• Pros/cons on the utility fee proposal #tc0203
• We have the infrastructure that needs 2 be paid for, we either do it with the fee or taxes. #tc0203 Bissanti confused; the EPA and MA DEP, are government agencies not a private entity, Secretary level agency at the Governor's office. He's glad 2 hear that, was hearing otherwise
• #tc0203 the utility fee provides for leeway (via exemption and credits) not available from property tax funding. Also the non-profits and state agencies pay the fee where they are exempt from the property taxes. How will credits work? List to be our together
• Sidewalk and roads are part of town responsibility. The per 1000 SQ foot makes it easier to manage and calculate. Gravel road today is impervious. Could we change it? A choice to make. Where did the up to 50% come from? Why not a higher max? Majority of Communities do #tc0203
• The end of the day, it goes back to the money raised for us to do the work. If x doesn't pay, someone else would. #tc0203 options to provide credits, etc. don't exist if property tax revenue is to be used. An ongoing discussion, not to be solved tonight.
• Churches, non-profits are exempt from property taxes due to legislative decision. Attny Cerel chimes in on Q if legislative body could exempt them on this, apples to oranges; other municipality have enacted these, in MA also. Kelly argues that it is tax on commercial #tc0203
• #tc0203 the utility is proposed because it is the most equitable way. The infrastructure here was put in over time and needs to be managed (paid for) we either do it this way equitably or via taxes, ultimate decision. The older building still needs to be covered with this code
• #tc0203 from a Council side, I know we need the money, from a resident side they are going to be upset. We have a rebate program on rain barrel today. Can we get feedback on the MS4 permit? We need to push to get someone from the EPA to talk with us.
• Kelly can go for a flat fee but not for an escalation fee. (Actually counter to what he said on the fiscal responsibility he talked of before) #tc0203 admits he is on soap box. Chair Mercer interjects that this only a discussion, moves on to another.
• Not just about storm water, there are other things in the MS4 permit coming down the road, we are only talking about the implementation for the first phase. #tc0203 Padula disappointed if any Council member would vote for this. Planning Board was not asked to be part ...
• Planning Board is the storm water manager per prior decision. #tc0203 this is the just the beginning. Putting salt into our water, and not cleaning catch basins so we are saving money. Now trying to generate more with this? Reconsider this
• Chandler what happens if we don't do this? EPA thinks this is a palatable thing. There is not a lot of support for this, I get that. The requirements will increase year to year. If we don't do this fee, it will come from the tax revenue. And compete with other expenses #tc0203
• Do we sacrifice other services? Or wait for the EPA to force and fine you. When, not sure but it will come. #tc0203 like OPEB, it needs to be funded, how are we going to do this. This will be on future agendas, it is a lengthy discussion.
• The permit requires more than what we are already doing. So what we have been doing is in the budget. The question is where will the future come from. Tax or utility fee. #tc0203 the interest rate varies but one bonded remains the same. Future discussion, not any more tonight

 Subcommittee reports

• Subcommittee reports: Budget, no meeting. Capital, not yet. EDC met just before this meeting, another listening session on food truck, craft brew bylaw. Report to be sent out on TA review prior to next subcommittee meeting. #tc0203

 Legislation for action

• Next up, legislation for action. https://franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/mai/files/10a._21-869_als_bls_rate_changes_0.pdf Ambulance fee schedule changes. Adjusting rate to maintain level in comparison with other Communities #tc0203 adjusting yearly to avoid major changes
• Motion to move to 2nd reading, majority required, via roll call 8-0-1 (1 absent) Town Administrator report, vaccine now, call BoH or Senior Center. We don't have doses available. #tc0203 we are preparing to deliver 100 to seniors over 75, supply/demand issue

Town Administrator report

• FHS is an approved site, we are ready to go, we just need supply. #tc0203 the vaccine rollout is our #1 Economic Development effort, we are ready to go. It is frustrating not getting supply. Over 75, call senior center to get on list. https://franklinma.gov/home/pages/vaccination-information be patient
• #tc0203 we prepared to answer questions. If on listing, still working on the oldest and working back. 90+ for first round, only getting 100 doses. Looking at how many we can get? It is not just Franklin, everyone across the state has same issue
• #tc0203 are you prepared for second lists to use all the doses? Yes, already covered. Even if it is one dose, we don't want to loose it. Budget calendar. Neutral for Town at this point with governor's release, probably early March for first view and hearings re: memorial day
• Request for trail info. Tech review meeting possible item for Depot plaza, garage, etc. Conversation on density zoning with planning board. Look at study of bylaws re: equity (based on roundtable discussion) #tc0203
• Frongillo touting video on roundtable on race in Franklin recorded in November available now https://franklinmatters.org/2021/01/watch-roundtable-discussion-of-racism.html Alert on spam email as if from Chair Mercer, cautioned, checked with him before opening #tc0203
• #tc0203 heart wrenching story from Jones who can't attend wake for pastor he had worked with in Haiti missions, a great loss for so much that he had done. For veterans, if you call Bedford VA can call to get one. Wishes for Pellegri
• Speedy recovery to Ronni Pellegri, motion to adjourn, seconded, via roll call 8-0-1 ( 1 absent) #tc0203

 

Town Council Meeting recap - 02/03/21

CommonWealth Magazine: "Consider the potential of water utility jobs"

 

“WHEN I GROW UP, I want to be a wastewater operator.” That is probably not a commonly heard sentiment, but we think it should be, especially for our young people who have been historically marginalized.

When it comes to “green jobs,” typically it’s the clean energy industry – solar or offshore wind – that comes to mind. Yet there are thousands of good-paying jobs related to the delivery of clean water, disposal of wastewater, and management of stormwater. And right now there is a near-crisis as more people — generally older white men — are retiring from these water, wastewater, and stormwater jobs than are entering them. Retirement eligibility in the water utility world is estimated to be as high as 30 to 50 percent."

Continue reading the article online

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/opinion/consider-the-potential-of-water-utility-jobs/ 

Visit the Town of Franklin Stormwater Division page for info on the program here

One of the key topics for discussion at the Town Council meeting Wednesday is the stormwater utility fee proposal. 

Department of Public Works: Stormwater Document for Feb 3 discussion  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/mai/files/8b._storm_water_presentation.pdf

Link to presentation copy from one of the Stormwater Information Session in 2020   https://www.slideshare.net/shersteve/town-of-franklin-stormwater-info-session-2

Town of Franklin: Stormwater Info Session #2 from Franklin Matters

Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - Feb 3, 2021

1. ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE CHAIR
This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast channel 11 and Verizon Channel 29.  This meeting may be recorded by others.

2. CITIZEN COMMENTS
Citizens are welcome to express their views for up to five minutes on a matter that is not on the agenda. The Council will not engage in a dialogue or comment on a matter raised during Citizen Comments. The Town Council will give remarks appropriate consideration and may ask the Town Administrator to review the matter. 

3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
a. December 16, 2020
b. January 6, 2020

4. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
a. Bill Murphy

5. APPOINTMENTS
None Scheduled

6. HEARINGS - 7:10pm
None Scheduled

7. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
None Scheduled

8. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
a. Finance Department: Borrowing & Debt Update 
b. Department of Public Works: Stormwater   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/mai/files/8b._storm_water_presentation.pdf

9. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
a. Capital Budget Subcommittee
b. Budget Subcommittee
c. Economic Development Subcommittee
d. Town Administrator Evaluation Ad Hoc Subcommittee Report

10a. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
Bylaw Amendment 21-869: Chapter 82, Municipal Service Fees Section 82-6 Schedule of Service Fees, Subsection F. Fire - First Reading (Motion to Move Bylaw Amendment 21-869 to a second reading - Majority Roll Call Vote)

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/mai/files/10a._21-869_als_bls_rate_changes.pdf

11. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT
a. COVID-19 Updates
b. FY22 Budget Calendar

12. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

13. COUNCIL COMMENTS

14. EXECUTIVE SESSION
None Scheduled

ADJOURN

Note: 
Two-Thirds Vote: requires 6 votes
Majority Vote: requires majority of members present and voting 

The agenda folder on the Town of Franklin page

https://www.franklinma.gov/town-council/agenda/february-3-town-council-agenda

The PDF doc with the agenda and docs released  (35 pages)

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/agendas/2-3-2021_town_council_meeting_agenda.pdf

new rain garden at the end of Griffin Road