Stormwater Information Session Recordings

The Town of Franklin held two storm water information sessions to share information with residents on the facts of storm water and the financial impact. 

Due to the pandemic and social distancing policies being enforced, the event scheduled for Saturday (March 21) at the Library is NOT happening.

As soon as a new date is determined it will be shared.

You can listen to each of the first two session recordings

FM #223 - Stormwater Utility Fee Info Session 1 - March 6, 2020 (audio)
https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-223-stormwater-session-1-3-5-20

FM #225 Stormwater Utility Session 2 - March, 11, 2020 (audio)

https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-225-stormwater-utility-session-2-3-11-20

The presentation doc was updated for the second session and available here.
https://www.slideshare.net/shersteve/town-of-franklin-stormwater-info-session-2
 

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

The second session was held at the Franklin TV studio

"He is not worried to take public transportation"

From the Milford Daily News, an article of interest for Franklin:

The normally bustling downtown Framingham train station resembled a ghost town at rush hour Thursday morning.

Only 20 or so passengers boarded a double-decker train after it pulled into the Waverly Street station shortly after 7:30 a.m. Thursday.

Framingham’s Bryce MacIver was one of the handful of passengers making the trek to Boston via the commuter rail. It was his first trip on the train this week, but he rode it all last week and noticed a substantial drop in ridership as the week went on.

“The parking lot on Friday was a quarter full,” he said as he waited to board.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200319/train-stations-across-framingham-worcester-franklin-lines-ghost-town-amid-coronavirus-outbreak

a black and tan themed photo for the snowy St Patrick's day this week.

Artist Reception - rescheduled to April 26

The previously scheduled art reception hosted by The First Universalist Society in Franklin for Franklin artist Chris Blue Lamb Toubeau has been postponed from March 29 to Sunday, April 26, 1:00 - 3:00 PM. Please join the artist and learn about her series of paintings called "Future Awash"
  
Ms. Toubeau (www.chrisbluelamb.com) uses art as a vehicle to communicate about the current climate change crisis, and how humans are complicit. 

The exhibit will run from March 9 - May 3 at the First Universalist Society in Franklin, 262 Chestnut Street, Franklin. www.fusf.org.

1 of a series of paintings "Future Awash"

Audible: While school is on pause, kids listen free.

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With all of us experiencing varying degrees of social distancing and school closures, we have created something that we hope makes our customers' lives a little easier. At stories.audible.com, you will find hundreds of our titles available completely free. The collection has been handpicked by our editors and is a mix of stories to entertain, engage, and inform young people, ages 0–18. 

These stories offer a screen-free option that we hope may help break up the day for families with students home from school. 

There are selections for our listeners in English, Spanish, German, French, Japanese and Italian. 

To access the free titles, just visit stories.audible.com from any web browser. 

The experience is completely free – no log-ins, credit cards, or passwords required. Just click, stream and listen. 

We wish you and your loved ones good health, and we hope that listening to a good story will offer some respite during these unsettling times.

All of us at Audible

stories.audible.com

Why wash your hands for 20 seconds? 3 video links worth watching

https://youtu.be/-LKVUarhtvE





https://youtu.be/9Ay4u7OYOhA





https://youtu.be/qPoptbtBjkg




The Town of Franklin Coronavirus Information Portal:
https://www.franklinma.gov/home/urgent-alerts/coronavirus-information-portal-updates-here

Real time reporting: Town Council - March 19, 2020

Present: Chandler, Hamblen, Dellorco, Mercer, Kelly, Earls, Bissanti, Jones
Absent: Pellegri


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. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

a. Coronavirus Update and Discussion

4. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION

• a. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 20-854: Changes to §185-40. Water Resource District - Referral to the Planning Board (Motion to Refer Zoning Bylaw Amendment 20-854 to the Planning Board - Majority Vote)

kept on agenda to keep process going, otherwise ad expenses would be required to spent again

motion to refer - second, approved 8-0

• b. Resolution 20-17: Acceptance of Conservation Restriction to Protect Well 3A (Motion to Approve Resolution 20-17 - Majority Vote)

motion to refer - second, approved 8-0

• c. Bylaw Amendment 20-855: Chapter 82, Water Fee Increase - First Reading (Motion to move Bylaw Amendment 20-855 to a second reading - Majority Vote)

discussion on holding off on the long expected rate increase, bad timing

fees last increased 2 years ago

preference to wait among councilors

con on the water is devastating policy situation; there is a hard ship provision to handle fees, added ambulance fees to that recently

this is to pay off a borrowing payment that this Council had already authorized, there is an $11M dollar contract in jeopardy of default

The con is extremely painful, contractor onsite

This is an enterprise fund, paid for the by the rate payers who use the service

Asking for more explanation on the increases for FY 21 and FY 22

wants to see the plans but forgets that the plans had been reviewed at each step along the way, this is the last step

we have historically done 2 step increase to ensure planning for all parties, employees, contracts, bond rating, auditors, etc.

motion to move to 2nd reading - second, withdrawn

motion to table to our next scheduled meeting (Apr 15), seconded, passed 8-0

• d. Bylaw Amendment 20-856: Chapter 82, Sewer Fee Increase - First Reading (Motion to move Bylaw Amendment 20-856 to a second reading - Majority Vote)

motion to table to our next scheduled meeting (Apr 15), seconded, passed 8-0

• e. Bylaw Amendment 20-857: Chapter 82, Trash and Recycling Fee Increase - First Reading (Motion to move Bylaw Amendment 20-857 to a second reading - Majority Vote)

motion to table to our next scheduled meeting (Apr 15), seconded, passed 8-0

Councilor Comments (added to agenda)
social distancing doesn't have to mean social isolation

wave hi to your neighbor, check on folks to see if they are okay

look out for everybody

thanks for participation in stormwater information forums
AgCom collecting chemical opt out, check on the Facebook page

we're resilient, we'll come out in the end

thank you for what you have done, stay safe

Thanks to Chris /Franklin TV for coming out tonight, not our normal night
Our first responders, can't thank you enough

be safe, be smart



5. ADJOURN
motion to adjourn, seconded, passed 8-0


An updated version has been made available for tonight's meeting
https://www.franklinma.gov/town-council/agenda/march-19-town-council-agenda

FM #226 Virtual Conversation with State Rep Jeff Roy 3/19/20

FM #226 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 226 in the series.

Thanks to Representative Jeff Roy for making some time in his schedule to join me for a virtual conversation about COVID-19 and what’s happening in the state government as he works virtually.

The audio segment runs about 20 minutes, so listen in to my conversation with Representative Jeff Roy  https://www.hipcast.com/podcast/HNCx93cX


Jeff Roy’s COVID-19 update page (as mentioned) 
https://jeffreyroy.com/covid-19-updates/





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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm).

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/
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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COVID-19 updates