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Sunday, March 14, 2021
LiveARTS: Two Pianos, Four Hands, all Rachmaninov! - Mar 21
FM #488 - Finance Committee Meeting - 03/10/21 - P1 of 3 - capital budget (audio)
This session shares part 1 of the Franklin, MA Finance Committee meeting held on Wednesday, Mar 10, 2021.
The meeting was conducted in a hybrid format: the Finance Committee members, Town Administrator and key personnel, were in the Council Chambers; the remainder, along with the public, were remote via conference bridge, all to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.
I’ve split the just almost three hour meeting into three logical segments:
- *** First *** covers the capital budget discussion and vote to approve (approx. 75 minutes)
- Second - covers the public safety presentations and discussion; the MECC, Fire Dept and Police Dept. (approx. 67 mins)
- Third - and last but not least a look at the estimate for revenues for the FY 2022 budget. More to come on this as the budget cycle begins in earnest now meeting (approx. 30 minutes)
The show notes contain links to the meeting agenda and to my notes.
Let’s listen to this segment of the Finance Committee meeting of Mar 10, 2021
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Agenda doc
https://franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/agendas/revised_fin_com_agenda_complete_1.pdf
My notes from the meeting
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/03/finance-committee-meeting-recap-topics.html
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/ 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!
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You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"
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| Franklin uses 'free cash' for its capital budget |
FM #489 - Finance Committee Meeting - 03/10/21 - P2 of 3 - public safety (audio)
This session shares part 2 of the Franklin, MA Finance Committee meeting held on Wednesday, Mar 10, 2021.
The meeting was conducted in a hybrid format: the Finance Committee members, Town Administrator and key personnel, were in the Council Chambers; the remainder, along with the public, were remote via conference bridge, all to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.
I’ve split the just almost three hour meeting into three logical segments:
- First - covers the capital budget discussion and vote to approve (approx. 75 minutes)
- *** Second *** covers the public safety presentations and discussion; the MECC, Fire Dept. and Police Dept. (approx. 67 mins)
- Third - and last but not least a look at the estimate for revenues for the FY 2022 budget. More to come on this as the budget cycle begins in earnest now meeting (approx. 30 minutes)
The show notes contain links to the meeting agenda and to my notes.
Let’s listen to this segment of the Finance Committee meeting of Mar 10, 2021
Audio file = https://player.captivate.fm/episode/ebddf331-f1ea-432d-864b-601e72d320a4
Agenda doc
https://franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/agendas/revised_fin_com_agenda_complete_1.pdf
My notes from the meeting
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/03/finance-committee-meeting-recap-topics.html
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/ 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"
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| Chief Lynch answers a question during this segment of the meeting |
FM #490 - Finance Committee Meeting - 03/10/21 - P3 of 3 - FY22 revenue estimates (audio)
This session shares part 3 of the Franklin, MA Finance Committee meeting held on Wednesday, Mar 10, 2021.
The meeting was conducted in a hybrid format: the Finance Committee members, Town Administrator and key personnel, were in the Council Chambers; the remainder, along with the public, were remote via conference bridge, all to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.
I’ve split the just almost three hour meeting into three logical segments:
- First - covers the capital budget discussion and vote to approve (approx. 75 minutes)
- Second - covers the public safety presentations and discussion; the MECC, Fire Dept. and Police Dept. (approx. 67 mins)
- *** Third *** and last but not least a look at the estimate for revenues for the FY 2022 budget. More to come on this as the budget cycle begins in earnest now meeting (approx. 30 minutes)
The show notes contain links to the meeting agenda and to my notes.
Let’s listen to this segment of the Finance Committee meeting of Mar 10, 2021
Audio file = https://player.captivate.fm/episode/7ade95d3-e023-4a12-b4fb-72640e702aec
Agenda doc
https://franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/agendas/revised_fin_com_agenda_complete_1.pdf
My notes from the meeting
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/03/finance-committee-meeting-recap-topics.html
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/ 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"
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| Town Administrator Jamie Hellen explaining the revenue estimates as we start the budget cycle for FY 22 |
Mass. Public Health: Trust the Facts! Get the Vax!
"The #COVID-19 #vaccine does not contain the live virus. If you experience side effects, these are most likely signs that your body is building immunity against the virus. "
Learn more: https://t.co/Bm8ycw2dHa or https://www.mass.gov/info-details/trust-the-facts-get-the-vax
#TrustTheFacts #GetTheVax https://t.co/fs1fJWIMxk
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| Mass. Public Health: Trust the Facts! Get the Vax! |
FHS PCC - Meeting Monday, Mar 15, changed to 7:30 PM
"Our meeting time has changed to 7:30 PM on Monday, March 15th 2021. Sara Ahern will be in attendance at our meeting."
Shared from Twitter: https://t.co/EfbMnaC4Gl or https://twitter.com/FHS_PCC/status/1370747837282140163
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| FHS PCC - Meeting Monday, Mar 15, changed to 7:30 PM |
MA Legislature Extends Vote-By-Mail Through June
The Massachusetts House of Representatives and state Senate on Thursday March 11, 2021, passed legislation to extend mail-in voting and early voting options for elections held through the end of June 2021. The vote-by-mail provision was previously set to expire at the end of March 2021.
“As other states across our country work to disenfranchise their voters, I am proud Massachusetts is choosing to extend and enhance efforts to ensure every eligible resident can exercise their fundamental right to cast a ballot in our local elections, stated Senate President Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “With a record number of ballots casted in 2020, our successful vote-by-mail system increased access and protected our most vulnerable residents from putting their health at risk. I would like to thank Senators Rodrigues, Finegold, Lewis and Creem as well as Speaker Mariano and my colleagues in the House for their collaboration on this bill and look forward to this extension of voting options becoming law.”
“During this pandemic, our vote-by-mail system has proved to be an accessible and secure tool for voters to exercise their right to vote without putting their health at risk,” said Speaker of the House Ronald J. Mariano (D-Quincy). “We are glad to have passed this extension that will allow cities and towns to continue offering vote by mail and other voting options for their upcoming elections. I thank my fellow members in the House, and Senate President Spilka and our state senators for their collaboration in getting this bill to the Governor’s desk. We must continue to explore options that encourage and empower voters to be active participants in our democratic process, and I look forward to working with Chairs Aaron Michlewitz and Daniel Ryan in legislation that will make vote by mail permanent in Massachusetts.”
“Ensuring access to the polls is a vital part of democracy, and I am happy that the Legislature has taken this important step to ensure upcoming local elections can move forward safely without disruption,” said Senator Michael J. Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “Thank you to Senate President Spilka and Senator Finegold for their leadership on this issue, and thank you to my colleagues in the Legislature for supporting equitable access to voting for all residents of the Commonwealth, including individuals with disabilities.”
“By passing this short-term extension of the vote by mail reforms the Legislature enacted last year, we are ensuring that cities and towns will be able to provide voters with safe and easy access to the ballot box this Spring,” said Representative Aaron Michlewitz, Chair of the House Committee on Ways & Means (D-Boston). “Later this session I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Legislature to make these reforms permanent, so that these measures will continue to safeguard our elections and guarantee that our democratic process will not be hampered by this or any future public health crisis.”
“This legislation will help ensure that residents can continue to vote safely and easily during the ongoing pandemic,” said Senator Barry R. Finegold (D-Andover), Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Election Laws. “Last year, the Legislature passed a common-sense, bipartisan bill to expand early voting and implement a secure vote-by-mail system for elections in 2020. These reforms protected public health, empowered voters, and helped generate record-breaking turnout. I am glad that the Legislature is temporarily extending mail-in voting through the end of June, and I look forward to working with my colleagues and local election officials on legislation to make vote-by-mail permanent.”
‘Over this past year, the COVID pandemic has caused us to take a closer look at, and improve upon, many of our society’s systems. Voting is one of those,” said Representative Daniel J. Ryan, House Chair of the Joint Committee on Election Laws (D-Boston). “I applaud Chairman Michelwitz and my House and Senate colleagues for working swiftly to extend vote-by-mail and other safety precautions through this spring’s elections. I especially want to thank Speaker Mariano for his leadership on these ballot access measures and his bold commitment to work toward their permanency. I’m looking forward to a robust discussion on how to best move election legislation forward.’
“Voting reforms like mail-in voting and expanded early in-person voting have been critical to ensuring that all voters can safely and conveniently exercise their right to vote during the pandemic,” said Senator Jason Lewis (D-Winchester), lead Senate sponsor of the legislation. “I’m very grateful to my colleagues in both the House and Senate for the strong bipartisan support of this bill and look forward to working together to hopefully pass further legislation later this session to make these voting reforms permanent.”
“Vote by mail and early voting options have allowed us to conduct safe elections during the pandemic while also expanding voter participation,” said Senate Majority Leader Cindy Creem (D-Newton). “By extending these options today, this bill ensures that we can conduct safe, secure municipal elections this spring without limiting anyone’s access to the ballot box.”
The bill also allows municipalities to provide residents with the option to vote early in-person in these elections. Additionally, the legislation requires local election officials to make reasonable efforts to grant accommodations for voters with disabilities who might have difficulty accessing a paper mail-in ballot and request an accommodation. Furthermore, cities and towns can postpone municipal elections and caucuses scheduled before June 30, 2021 until August 1, 2021.
The bill now advances to the Governor for consideration.
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| MA Legislature Extends Vote-By-Mail Through June |