| K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT | nothing tonight |
| L. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS |
Jones - private wells are part of the water ban
Pfeffer - joint meeting of Planning Board and Council, should we get one again
Vallee - should put the train station on the
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| M. COUNCIL COMMENTS |
Pellegri - my comment would have been on Officer Marguerite but that was covered
Jones - excited to see the new technology stuff on the agenda
Bissanti - I want to announce my acting debut I will be playing an adult in Humbug!
Pfeffer - I can't think of a better honor to have my name in every bar and restaurant
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Wednesday, December 7, 2016
Live Reporting: Closing
Live Reporting: Legislation for Action
| 6. Resolution 16-71: 2017 Schedule of Town Council Meetings Change March 22 instead of March 15
Sep 20 instead of Sep 27
motion to approve, seconded, passed as amended 9-0
| |
| 7. Resolution 16-72: Legal Notices even though the new website was created to post notices still need to by law post in the newspaper (approx $30,000) motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0 | |
| 8. Resolution 16-73: Acceptance of Grant of Utility (Drainage) Easement on Property at 9 Macintosh Street the pipe was put on the property without an easement, this is legally cleaning up the situation motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0 | |
| 9. Resolution 16-74: Declaration as surplus and available for Disposition (Ground Leasing) and Authorization Therefor of a Portion of Town-owned land off Forge Hill allows Franklin TV to locate their tower on the site, will save money as the town antennas will be moved to this locatiion this is a win-win, Franklin TV will open up their low band signal at 102.9 motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0 | |
| 10. Memo to Capital Budget Subcommittee outline of 'free cash' |
| 10.1 Resolution 16-76: Appropriation - Technology - Google Applications movement of Town employees to the Google email and applications will enhance compliance motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0 | |
| 11. Resolution 16-77: Appropriation - Turf Field Design and Development FInCom voted 7-0 on 12/6 'straight forward process, take up carpet, level stone, replace new carpet and use new infill EPA report coming on the crumb infill in June 2017 encapsulated material recommended, economic alternative but with less issues the coating can be colored which will reduce the heat generated by the fields used for about 4-5 years, the longest used material fields warranted for 8-10 years, your fields should have been replaced a few years ago We have been saving for this, we have about 800K in the fund, and it is estimated at 1.2 or 1.3M once we are done, we want to continue to save as we also have a third field to take care of and 8-10 years will go quickly. motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0 | |
| 12. Resolution 16-78: Appropriation - Technology - E Permitting pilot program for Town Clerk's office would expand to other offices later, want to get the dog licenses up and running for Jan motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0 |
| 13. Resolution 16-79: Acceptance of Gift - Council on Aging motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0 | |
| 14. Bylaw Amendment 16-778: Chapter 160, Taxpayers, Delinquent - 1st Reading (Motion to Move Bylaw Amendment 16-778 to a 2nd Reading (majority)) modernization amendment requires changes to our bylaw motion to move to second reading, seconded, passed 9-0 |
Live Reporting: Fire Dept civil service discussion
| 1. Resolution 16-58: Request for Legislation |
Exempting all positions in the Fire Department from Civil Service Law
|
http://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/mai/files/civil_service_0.pdf
Chief McCarragher
The civil service has provided us valuable employees, it is flawed with regards to hiring and promoting. The discussion is to get people into positions quicker. It has cost us 20 weeks to bring people in. It is time to move on from the system and move to a system that will allow us to be more timely.
We don't agree with leaving civil service, we have negotiated the promotion side. It doesn't fix the hiring process. There are a lot of things that it does well and some it doesn't do well. It is not apples and oranges. Hiring would be more difficult
Nutting: I sent everybody a memo, it takes months to get people hired. How can we do this quicker. The Police as an example. They had a test in November, they'll have someone in December, 30 days. It is really up to the Council to make the decision
3 completing physical ability test, 3 other open spots
Dellorco: I took the civil service test in Boston years ago. I called other departments how is taking so long? I don't know where civil service is the problem. Fall River came out 2 years ago, and went back. Would we have preference for children of members?
Nutting: No, not by law
Kelly: we do not proctor our exams
Dellorco: Hopkinton got 35 applications and hired one
Nutting: we could use the civil service list along with this. We struggle with the process as the first person on the list is not the one we want. It does take time to do the background checks, etc.
Pellegri: why are you so adamant to get rid of civil service?
McCarragher: I don not know that we are adamant, we want an efficient and quicker process. We are trying to do the process better. We think we can do that better outside of civil service than in. It is your decision, we will work with what we have
Nutting: there is not enough people to take the exam, so we are going to wait another year to get a captain. The proof is in the pudding, look at the Police dept. as a good example
Pfeffer: would we get someone from Franklin?
Nutting: any existing list would be honored until it expired. That was always part of the deal. Since 1950, approximately.
Pfeffer: I have been in Franklin all my life, my relatives were fire fighters and I see no reason why we would remove it
Jones: as a member of the two largest unions I am glad for the ability for the two parties. Apparently, there hasn't been enough discussion to reach a solution. I think there needs to be more discussion. There needs to be a reasonable solution to this problem.
Bissanti: candidly, I see both sides. These are our first responders, I think they should be happy. I haven't been given enough info on going away from it. If they feel comfortable with it, I am comfortable.
Padula: Both sides have compelling arguments. This is not going to be a 9-0 vote. My decision is not going to be based on the morale of the fire dept. I don't feel it is the same as the police. At the end of the day it is based upon significant vetting. A lot of time has been spent on this. They are still talking and that is a good thing. When my head hits the pillow, I will sleep well.
Mercer: I have gone back and forth. I am trying to look at the logic picture, there are compelling arguments at both sides. When civil service came in in the 1950's, there were 15 groups, over the years the other 14 groups have moved away from civil service for one reason or another. Over the time, I have not heard of any mistakes in making those moves away from civil service. Civil service for the existing doesn't change, wheat does change is the new hires coming on board. This is one of the more difficult decisions I have had to make. They are not easy discussions. There needs to be ongoing discussions to make this better.
Kelly: I feel like since I got on the Council that this has been a pending decision. I hope that we can do that tonight and move on. The union and the fire fighters have been great and we'll work together
Yes would send the petition to the legislator
6 no (Pellegri, Padula, Pfeffer, Bissanti, Dellorco, Jones)
3 yes (Mercer, Vallee, Kelly)
3 yes (Mercer, Vallee, Kelly)
Civil Service will stay
Live Reporting: Franklin Advisory Committee
| H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS |
Franklin Advisory Committee
|
looking to come up with a game plan for the Old South Meeting House
former location of the Franklin Historical Museum
looking to see if grant money for this preservation is available
Train station
looking to see what can be done to help fix up the Depot Station
There is some money for MBTA infrastructure work
Rep Jeff Roy
has been meeting with the T and Keolis particularly about the performance of the Franklin line
there have been improvements
Falmouth train station as an example; a local economic development org will take this one over and enhance it
looking for direction from the Council to proceed
any given expenditure would trigger ADA compliance
which would include an elevator down to the platform, a costly venture
any of the repairs to the building other than painting would trigger ADA
to become a world class station, it would require high platforms along the entire Franklin Dean Station (similar to those in place at Forge Park)
Nutting: ADA trigger occurs when an improve is made to a building that exceeds 30% of the assessed value
Roy: the other item would adding a double track to the Franklin Line, it is needed from Dedham Corp to Franklin
Roy: The Greenbush line was developed in the right way, all high platforms, etc. That is the good example. Ridership is a factor. Franklin doesn't just serve us, there are folks from the surrounding areas coming into the our stations
Pellegri: would we be able to get an exemption?
Roy: no
Jones: we have had several discussions with the T over the past years.
Roy: is this a property that you want to take over and run? Is this a parking lot that you want to take over an run?
Pfeffer: a 180 parking spots is not enough for the T, they need a garage downtown to help us and the commuters
(Note there is an operating coffee shop in the Franklin/Dean Station)
Kelly: I am ashamed of the station, it is a mess. I have met the T and Keolis down there, it is all lip service. I am all in favor of doing something with that. Frankly we could do a whole lot better than they could
Nutting: it is public land, they would go through an open process
What are the terms and conditions?
Kelly: I think we are all in favor of doing something
Live reporting: Annual License Renewals
| G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS |
The listing of the license holders (with tax holds or not) can be found here
motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0
Live Reporting: Tax Hearing
| . 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.
no comments
|
| E. APPOINTMENTS | (No appointments listed) |
| F. HEARINGS |
Public Hearing - 7:10 pm
|
| 2. Resolution 16-67: Classification Tax Allocation - Residential Factor motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0 | |
| 3. Resolution 16-68: Classification Tax Allocation - Open Space Exemption motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0 no exemption | |
| 4. Resolution 16-69: Classification Tax Allocation - Small Business Exemption motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0 no exemption | |
| 5. Resolution 16-70: Classification Tax Allocation - Residential Property Exemption motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0 no exemption |
Live reporting: Town Council - Dec 7, 2016
Present: Pellegri, Padula, Mercer, Vallee, Kelly, Pfeffer, Bissanti, Dellorco, Jones
Absent: none
Absent: none
| Agenda Item | Summary |
|---|---|
| A. Approval of Minutes | A. November 16, 2016 Minutes motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0 |
| B. ANNOUNCEMENTS |
Town Council Announcements
|
| C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS |
Swearing in of Police Officers
Chief Lynch introduces two new officers
Jack Flynn
Tara Sousa
|
 |
| Chief Lynch introduces Jack Flynn and Tara Souza as new police officers. |
 |
| Town Clerk Teresa Burr conducts the official swearing in |
Chief Lynch retells the story of the police officer who racked the front yard while the two other workers took care of the leaves in the back yard. Over 300,000 views on Facebook.
"Just Louie being Lou"
David Down - recognized with a proclamation
(photo added later)
 |
| Councilor Bissanti reading the proclamation with Down family members |
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