Live reporting: TA Report through to Closing

11. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT
24,000 pounds in two weeks with pink bags collected

Chrissy and Alicia both took the MA Municipal Assoc finance course and passed

transitional assistance/homeless
Senior Center partnership with St Vincent DePaul
any social services, hard time paying bills, etc.
if you know of folks with an issue, work through the Senior Center

thanks for your support, I love this job
happy holidays to everyone, we'll see you in 2020


12. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
discussion on sidewalk clearing for merchants for a future item

Senior Center update and discussion on the services available

13. COUNCIL COMMENTS
Earls - happy holidays this year, 2020 will have good things in store for us
Kelly - merry Christmas, happy Chanukah, looking forward to next year
Hamvblen - farmers market on Saturday, La Cantina will be there; happy holidays, happy new year 
Pellegri - sidewalks for beaver St (Kelly to catch up off line)
Jones - merry Christmas, happy holidays, happy new year
Dellorco - also happy holidays, be safe, have a great time
Mercer - happy holidays to all, great safe and happy holiday season


14. EXECUTIVE SESSION
- Purpose #6: to consider the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property (majority roll call vote)

motion to aDJOURN in executive session, not to return to public meeting

motion, seconded, passed 9-0

Live reporting: Town Administrator Evaluation

b. Town Administrator Annual Evaluation
draft provided to Councilors for review and comment
in position for 7 months, am happy with the performance (per Mercer)
the ease of the transition from Jeff to Jamie 
two and half years of training under Jeff per the success plan

Jones - you jumped in to the communication, quite feisty which is a good thing

Kelly - kudos to the transition going well, can't be loved by everyone
the number of transitions within the overall Town administration is amazing
new Fire Chief, HR Director, Board of Health Director, new folks elsewhere

Dellorco - only here 7 months but it feels like 7 years (and that is meant to be a compliment)

Chandler - being the newest person, I have asked Jamie a million things and he gets back to be right away, thanks to the rest of your team

Bissanti - thanks to my speed reading courses, I have read the document, I piggyback upon what Councilor Chandler said

Mercer - he shows up at everything, every meeting, he is as close to a Franklinite as you can get, it means a lot to us and to the people

motion to approve the written summary, seconded, passed 9-0


9. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
a. Capital Budget Subcommittee
meeting Jan 15, 6 PM
have been participating in the FinCom to review the capital

b. Budget Subcommittee
status quo

c. Economic Development Subcommittee
meeting Jan 8 5:30 - plot line clean up and residential zoning for solar

10. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
Resolution 19-89: Gift Acceptance - Franklin Veteran’s Services Department, $1,480 (Motion to Approve Resolution 19-89 - Majority Vote (5))

motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0

Live reporting: Plastic Bag Waste Reduction

8. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
a. Plastic Bag Waste Reduction
Ethan leading a group of approx 14 students lined up to present each section of the plastic waste reduction plan

year long transition period to allow for work out of existing stock
can also apply for an additional 3 month waiver if necessary (just once)
state bill imposes a mandatory 10 cent fee, this does not
the State bill was passed by the Senate, and not by the House, no way to know for sure if it will pass
other communities are passing similar legislation around us
26 of 29 businesses talked with approve
347 signatures on petition
multiple meetings to prepare for this

Mercer - thank you, we applaud your efforts in bringing this forward

Hamblen - this group has been before the EDC four times
What if the State passed and overturned this?

Jones reading part(?) of the proposed bylaw for "clarification sake"

Earls - statement on recycling, questioning the single stream due to other recycling issues
"bag ban problematic in several ways" 
study from Australian professor questions the textbook case of the CA example

Bissanti - I don't want to see them leave here, let's give them the chance
let's get this done in Franklin

Dellorco -my concern was for the small businesses, you have answered that with this proposal and the implementation plan

Hamblen - they have encouraged people to try different materials
plastic with wood fibers so it will dissolve, another from a root, some of the smaller packets being made from sea weed; it is a statement to get people thinking

Kelly - thanks for changing from a ban to reduction, it plays better

really three options:

1. send a resolution
2. start a bylaw
3. wait for the state

looking for a sense of where we are for which direction

bylaw
resolution (Earls)
bylaw
bylaw
bylaw
bylaw
bylaw
bylaw
(Mercer did not publicly declare)

hence bylaw is to be drafted, written then announced for two public hearings, and then voted on

it is possible that the State could get their act together and take it out of our hands

two minute recess

You can also find the full set of documents in one PDF

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/agendas/12-18-19_full_agenda_web_1.pdf

Live reporting: Alcohol Licenses - new, changes, and renewals

7. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
- 7:10 PM

7a. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
a. La Cantina Winery Company, Farmer Winery, Farmers Market

to allow for samples at the winter farmers market
motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0


7b. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
b. The Chateau Restaurant of Franklin, Change of Hours, 466 King Street.
a correction of the hours that should have been submitted originally with the initial application. An oversight missed in the original application; bar and food served through the hours indicated

motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0

7c. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
c. Acapulcos Mexican Restaurant, License Modification, Change of Location, 371 Union Street
Bissanti recused himself

pending inspections as construction is not complete
similar process used for others in the past, will hold off submitting to State after inspection complete

motion to approve, seconded, passed 8-0-1 (Bissanti abstain)

7d. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
d. GlenPharmer Distillery, LLC, New Farmer Series Pouring Permit for a Farmer-Distillery, 860 West Central Street

this is the pouring permit to accompany the already approved distillery operation

will be serving a full menu of food service during the service of alcohol
recipes being tested, 72 seats inside, some outdoor is seasonal

more complicated than imagined it would be, master distiller on site
test batches done, chef in place, looking for construction completion
it is highly regulated, looking to open Jan/Feb
a little behind schedule, but close to the light at the end of the tunnel
looking to provide a unique destination for Franklin

delays are weeks, not months, ready from a construction stand point but then the approvals are required; not looking forward to opening on Super Bowl weekend

open with tasting room on ground floor
looking for an other tenant for the 2nd floor

motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0

7e. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
e. 2020 Annual Alcoholic Beverages License Renewals

the hold for La Cantani was removed with successful inspection yesterday
but the packet came out before, it is the nature of the business

motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0

Council Clerk read the licensee listing "after" the vote to include it per request of Town Attorney Mark Cerel

second vote to properly approve, seconded, passed 9-0

You can also find the full set of documents in one PDF

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/agendas/12-18-19_full_agenda_web_1.pdf

Live reporting: Town Council - December 18, 2019

Present: Chandler, Hamblen, Pellegri, Dellorco, Mercer, Jones, Kelly, Earls, Bissanti
Absent: none


1. ANNOUNCEMENTS

a. 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

a. 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. October 2, 2019

motion to approve, seconded, passes 9-0

• b. November 13, 2019

motion to approve, seconded, passes 9-0


4. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
- None Scheduled

5. APPOINTMENTS
a. Historical Commission, Associate Member: Alan R Earls
Eamon Earls recused himself as Alan is father

discussion on appointment not being reviewed by commission itself
everybody is correct, not every appointment has gone through the review process, TA admits an end run on this one. Done in this case as it is an 'associate member', some were aware
it is what you want to do as a body


motion to approve, seconded, passes 8-0-1 (Earls abstain)


6. HEARINGS
- None Scheduled

You can also find the full set of documents in one PDF

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/agendas/12-18-19_full_agenda_web_1.pdf

FM #188 - Finance Committee - Capital Plan for FY 2020 (audio)

FM #188

This internet radio show or podcast is number 188 in the series for Franklin Matters.

This recording shares Finance Committee meeting held on Tuesday, Dec 17, 2019 at the Senior Center beginning at 6:30 PM.

This is the second of two sessions to review the Capital Plan for FY 2020. This session covers the DPW and the enterprise Water and Sewer accounts.

The documents for the meetings are available on the Town of Franklin page as well as Franklin Matters. The links are contained here so you can follow along.

Agenda doc - 12/17/19
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/news/fincom_agenda_12-17-19.pdf

The Finance Committee approved the three recommendations that the Town Council will take up at a January/February 2020 meeting

• 20-01 Recommends Capital FY 2020 of $1,640,579 (as detailed on page 20 of the agenda document)
• 20-02 Recommends transfer of $348,000 for the OPEB Trust Fund (page 22)
• 20-03 Recommends transfer of $570,000 from Free Cash to the appropriate stabilization accounts (as detailed on page 24 of the agenda document)

The meeting runs about 50 minutes so without further ado here is the Finance Committee meeting of Dec 17.

https://www.hipcast.com/podcast/HN2yBvXX



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

Audio File - 12/10/19 meeting
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/12/fm-186-finance-committee-capital-budget.html

FY 2020 Capital Budget document
https://www.franklinma.gov/town-budget/files/fy20-capital-budget

FinCom Agenda doc
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/agendas/2019-12-10_finance_committee_agenda_fy20_capital_plan_1.pdf

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but I can't do it alone. I can always use your help.

How can you help?

Overall:

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors.
• If you don't like this, please let me know.

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements.
Thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/
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"

sidewalks have been part of the plan but not this year

 

ALERT: Support HS students' Plastic Bag Ban at Franklin Town Council vote WED DEC 18!

"Wednesday, Dec 18, the Franklin Town Council will be voting on a bylaw for Plastic Bag Reduction. The meeting starts at 7 pm at the Town Hall, 2nd floor.

The students from Franklin High School have been working with the subcommittee of the Town Council, the Economic Development Committee, for about a year trying to get this bylaw ready. The students will be presenting, the result of all their work, the bylaw, to the Town Council.

It would be wonderful to have as many residents of Franklin as possible to attend the meeting to support the high school students and to encourage the council members to finally pass this bylaw.

Can you please show support your support of the students' efforts by attending the meeting?"

Thank you!

Carolyn Barthel
350 Mass Greater Franklin Node
508-473-3305 H

image from the proposal presentation by the FHS students in Oct 2016

From 2016
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/10/we-dont-need-to-put-each-piece-of.html


Economic Development Meeting 12/4/19
https://www.hipcast.com/podcast/HyrcVWxX

Economic Development Meeting 10/23/19
https://www.hipcast.com/podcast/H1gfBHQX