This Quarterbacking session recaps the Joint Budget & the Town Council meetings (audio)

FM #1344 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1344 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 Thursday, December 19, 2024.  

• ok, what just happened? 

• What does it mean for Franklin residents and taxpayers?

Topics for this session

Joint Budget meeting

• Health care, pension cost updates; deficit was 3.7ish, now more like 4.5

• Communications planned with 5 or 6 listening sessions at different locations, end of Jan through March…

Town Council meeting

PROCLAMATIONS / RECOGNITIONS

• Fourth and Sixth Grade Youth Football Teams

• Peter Brunelli

• Steve Carlucci

5. APPOINTMENTS =  Agricultural Commission - Benjamin Rousseau

Annual License Renewals

PRESENTATIONS / DISCUSSIONS

• National Citizen Survey (aka Citizen Satisfaction Survey) - Kate Hinckley, Director of GIS   

• Biennial Town Council - Town Administrator Midterm Goals Review - Jamie Hellen, Town Administrator

• Town Seal and Logo Presentation - Amy Frigulietti, Deputy Town Administrator 

Legislation

• Resolution 24-82: Adoption of Updated Fiscal Policies

• Resolution 24-80: Cable Funds in Support of PEG Service and Programming per MGL Ch. 44, §53F3/4

• Resolution 24-81: Gift Acceptance - Veterans’ Services Department ($2,735), Senior Center ($130.02) , Fire Dept. ($1,515)

The recording runs about 40 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Tom as we recap both the Joint Budget and Town Council meetings held this week. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1344-town-council-quarterbacking-12-19-24/

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Franklin TV video

Joint Budget -> https://www.youtube.com/live/Pq0-UqDkm4o?&t=54 

Town Council -> https://www.youtube.com/live/5h-UYum-TtQ?&t=132 

Agendas

Joint Budget -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/2024-12-17_joint_budget_subcommittee_meeting_agenda.pdf 

Town Council ->   

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/tc_agenda_-_dec_18_2024.pdf 

My set of notes in one PDF ->  

Joint Budget -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yVajSM_qNPtttoVAWuWjqA9OMDRtTyYl/view?usp=drive_link 

Town Council ->  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yn6Ems4Gc0TfI9L-9vE_Ll40oVGHPfFU/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. 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"

This Quarterbacking session recaps the Joint Budget & the Town Council meetings (audio)

FHS' Woodall takes 1st at Lowell Wrestling

Via Twitter, Franklin TV, and our subscription to HockomockSports.com, we share the results of the Winter sports competition for Franklin High School on Saturday, December 21, 2024 

Boys Hockey = Franklin, 5 @ Falmouth, 6 – Final

Falmouth 6  Franklin 5.  Carter Balducci 🚨🚨🚨 Jack Wernig 🚨 and David Smith 🚨.  Back to work on Monday hosting Archie’s 

https://x.com/FHS_PuckCoach/status/1870615492286939242

Girls Hockey = Franklin, 1 @ Canton, 3 – Final

Final: Canton 3, Franklin 1. Third period goals from Rori Sasin and Caitlin Vicente propel the Bulldogs to a win over the Panthers in their league opener. Franklin freshman Gabe Trevino with 33 saves.

https://x.com/R_Lanigan/status/1870640106895561042

Ryan Lanigan, provides the complete game recap -> https://hockomocksports.com/canton-girls-hockey-rides-strong-third-period-past-franklin-in-hock-opener/

Wrestling = Lowell Tournament (Milford, Taunton, Canton, Franklin)

After the 2nd round in day 2 of the Lowell holiday tournament John Woodall takes out the 1 seed and Riley Carlucci takes out the 3 seed moving them onto the semi finals. Jack Sauer moves on to the consolation of 4! Good luck to these wrestlers the rest of the way!!!!  https://x.com/FHSWrestle/status/1870501479234302090 

After a long 2 days of wrestling at the Lowell holiday tournament John Woodall takes 1st, Riley Carlucci takes 4th and Jack Sauer takes 8th. Good job to these wrestlers!!!

https://x.com/FHSWrestle/status/1870618205552546010

And catching up to Friday's Gymnastics results 

"Proud of these girls!!  Fun start to our first meet"

https://x.com/fhs_gymnastics/status/1870315271958729004

Dec 12, 2024 Friday's Gymnastics results

For other results across the Hockomock League (subscription required)

https://hockomocksports.com/saturdays-schedule-scoreboard-12-21-24/

FHS Panther sports results shared via Twitter & subscription to HockomockSports.com

First Universalist Society of Franklin: Christmas Eve Service at 5:30 PM

Christmas Eve Service at 5:30 PM

"Join us in person or on Zoom at 5:30 pm for our annual Christmas Eve Service of Lessons and Carols. 

An evening of the ancient story told from scripture and from more modern readings with many of the old favorite Christmas Carols. 

We will end the service with a candlelit singing of Silent Night."

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/1GjMZmrWfz/

Franklin TV: Scurrying . . . The storm before the calm?

by Pete Fasciano, Executive Director 12/22/2024

Silent night. Holy night.

All is calm. All is bright.

Calm? Nope. Not just yet.

There must and will be that last minute shopping foray. ( – Guilty as charged.)

Scurrying, scrambling. Not the time for ambling. We take on this mercantile madness every year. It’s personally– socially– familially– obligatory. It’s a thing.

And what to buy for people who have much of what they need and want? A token? A bauble? An ill-fit that will likely end up in – closet oblivion?

That said – help is on the way.

For many joyful years my extended family has tamed Christmas gifting with a classic tradition – the Yankee Swap.

Each participant contributes one gift. Hmmm – what could this be? Who knows? (The gift box size, heft and fancy wrapping can be deceptive.)

Each participant pulls a number from a bowl/hat/Christmas stocking. (We usually have 16-20 Yankee gifters. Gift cost is in the $20-$30 range.) Then – one-by-one-by-number – each participant pulls a gift from the pile. Gifts may be ‘naughty or nice’. Open the gift. (drumroll…) Boom!

Hilarity ensues.

Each participant then opts to keep the pulled gift or swap it for someone else’s. Hilarity ensues.

The participant who pulled number 1 has the final/ultimate keep/swap choice. Hilarity ensues.

It’s friends and family. It’s merry. It’s joyful. And – isn’t that the point? And as for all that scurrying and shopping you didn’t have to do?

Sleep in heavenly peace, my friend. Sleep in heavenly peace.

And – as always –

Thank you for watching. 

Thank you for listening to wfpr●fm.

And staying informed at Franklin●news.

Get this week's program guide for Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) online  http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf   

Watch Listen Read all things that matter in Franklin MA

via Lower Cape TV: "One Storm Away - Erosion on Cape Cod" (video)

via Lower Cape TV: 

"Many thanks to Angela McNerney and Lower Cape TV for this new video about Cape Cod's coastal geology, featuring Mark Borrelli, Ph.D., Director of the Center's Seafloor Mapping Program.

Watch the video:  https://vimeo.com/1040088892" 

via Lower Cape TV:  "One Storm Away - Erosion on Cape Cod" (video)

Shared from - https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1D3y9kaMZJ/

Boston Globe: "Senate passes Social Security benefits boost for many public service retirees"

"The Senate passed legislation early Saturday to boost Social Security payments for millions of people, pushing a longtime priority for former public employees through Congress in one of its last acts for the year.

The bipartisan bill, which next heads to President Joe Biden, will eliminate longtime reductions to Social Security benefits for nearly 3 million people who receive pensions from work in federal, state and local government, or public service jobs like teachers, firefighters and police officers. Advocates say the Social Security Fairness Act rights a decades-old disparity, though it will also put further strain on Social Security Trust Funds.

The legislation has been decades in the making but the push to pass it came together in the final weeks — and was completed in the final minutes — that lawmakers were in Washington before Congress resets next year. All Senate Democrats, as well as 27 Republicans, voted for the bill, giving it a final tally of 76-20."

Continue reading the Bost Globe article (subscription maybe required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/12/20/nation/senate-vote-social-security/

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Saturday, December 21, 2024 ???

Saturday, December 21

• Fiber Art Installation (Franklin Public Library)
• Fresh Floral Holiday Arrangements 4 Sale (via Instagram) 
• Franklin Art Association, Art Show & Sale (Norfolk Public Library)

9:00am Thrifty Threads (Franklin Federated Church)

10:00am Winter Farmers Market (Fairmount Fruit Farm)

10:00am Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

10:00am Rise Up Holiday party (Franklin United Methodist Church)

1:00pm Fairytale Fun (Franklin Public Library)

2:00pm 'Tis the Season (Franklin High School)

5:00pm Holiday Charcuterie Workshop (Birchwood Bakery & Kitchen)

7:00pm The Fourtet (live music) (La Cantina Winery)

7:30pm 'Tis the Season (Franklin High School)

8:00pm Country Christmas Band (Teddy Gallagher's Irish Pub)

8:00pm Karaoke (Raillery Public House)

**   NO  Town Meetings today   **

What's happening today in Franklin? 

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Why are there multiple calendars?

Respectfully, the Library and Senior Center calendars are too full of events to include all their events so we tend to focus on the major events. Town and School meetings are also kept separate. Links for all the calendars are shared here:

Find the full Community event calendar  https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:  https://bit.ly/Submit2Calendar

The Library calendar of events ->    calendar link

The Senior Center calendar of events ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/node/39/events/upcoming

The Town meeting calendar is found  https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar
The School district calendar is found  https://franklinpublicschooldistrictma.sites.thrillshare.com/o/fpsd/page/school-calendars

DPW reminder on overnight parking ban during snow storms

via Franklin Dept of Public Works (DPW)

These types of winter storms are some of the most difficult to plan and manage. Yesterday we were told by our weather service provider, that Franklin would get a coating to 1 inch of snow. We got 4 inches. Another difficult part is going forward over the next several days, the weather pattern is going from a warm period to a cold (very cold) period, so the roads will freeze up. The salt we used today is treated with Magnesium Chloride which melts ice down to 5 degrees. Unlike un-treated salt that only melts ice to 19 degrees, of course treated salt does cost more.

overnight parking ban during snow storms

Tomorrow will be overcast and the shortest day of the year, so we really can't count on radiational warming from the sun to help melt and dry the roadways. We were able to do a lite scaping of all the sideroads to open them up and push the slush to the side. This was done with our own Public Works employees, we did not call in contractors. With that said we did not fully clear all cul-da-sacs. Also all or our assigned sidewalks were plowed. Please reach out to us to let us know of any areas of concern. Remember to slow down there might be some icy spots out there.....

Being the first snow removal of the year, we would like to remind folks that during snow events between the hours of 1AM and 5AM it is against Town by-laws (Article 170) to park vehicles on the public right of way. Parking on the public right of way makes our job much more difficult during the snow removal, and also leaves snow in the road that can become a hazard and safety issue to your fellow residents.

Below more information about the by-law:

Article 170 Winter Storm and Overnight Parking Ban

The purpose of the winter storm overnight parking ban shall be to provide for the safe movement of police, fire and emergency medical service vehicles during snow and ice storms and otherwise provide for public safety during winter weather conditions. The parking ban shall also serve to enhance the capability of the Public Works Department to remove snow and ice from the roadways effectively and efficiently.

Activation of parking ban.

A winter storm overnight parking ban shall automatically take effect upon occurrence of any of the following:

Snow, sleet, or freezing rain has fallen, or is imminent.

The National Weather Service and/or local television and/or radio stations or other media are reporting commencement of snow, sleet, or freezing rain within the local area or are predicting that snow, sleet, or freezing rain will begin in Franklin within 12 hours.

Effect of parking ban.

The parking of any motor vehicle within the layout of the right-of-way of any public street or any roadway open to the public or on any municipally owned property is prohibited between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. while a winter storm parking ban is in effect.

Violations and penalties.

Winter storm overnight parking ban violators shall be charged a fine of $25 for each offense.

In addition to the foregoing penalty or in lieu thereof, the Town may have the violator's vehicle towed and stored at the violator's expense.

For purposes of this section, the vehicle's registered owner and any permitted user shall be deemed a violator.

Effective time period.

This article shall be in effect from October 15 to April 15

 

Economic Development Subcmte gets updates on MBTA Community status and Nu-Style brownfield (audio)

FM #1343 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1343 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the audio recording of the Economic Development Subcommittee (EDC) held on Wednesday, December 18, 2024 in the Council Chambers. 

All 4 members of the subcommittee participated in Chambers (Hamblen, Sheridan, Frongillo & Chandler).

Quick recap

• The Nu-Style project history is laid out in the presentation doc, progress is being made but complicated by the split of ownership of the properties involved. Especially as the building on the Town property that needs to come down is adjoining to the neighboring property building which has structural issues. Grant money is primarily being used for remediation work, additional grants are being sought to complete the work required.

• After all the zoning bylaw changes made for the Franklin For All project and specifically to meet the MBTA Community requirements,  we may finally be there. The last paperwork was submitted to the State and an answer is expected hopefully to confirm we do meet (actually exceed) the requirements. The timeline on the changes including the critical zoning changes is included in the presentation doc (shared below)

Motion to adjourn, passes 4-0 

The recording of the meeting runs about 55 minutes.   Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1343-economic-development-subcmte-mtg-12-18-24/

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Franklin TV broadcast is available for replay ->  https://www.youtube.com/live/AcTwbyEEB9s?&t=91

The agenda doc ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/_2024-12-18_edc_agenda.pdf 

Presentation doc ->   https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1JJz3RhlTZXN7gA8Ux2O8wSqFxhUDFYnC/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=101938843903614700481&rtpof=true&sd=true

My full set of notes in one PDF ->  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DqhtXZdJneqbD0nDshW3iqBbgB9R1PRX/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"

Nu-Style property photo

MBTA Community status summary