FM #528 - Finance Cmte Budget Hearing #3 - 04/29/21 (audio)

The meeting was conducted in a hybrid format: members of the Finance Committee, selected guests, and Town Administration personnel were in the Council Chambers, the remainder were remote along with the public via the Zoom conference bridge, all to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

The show notes contain links to the meeting agenda including documents released for this agenda. 

Let’s listen to this budget hearing on "all things DPW"

Audio file = https://player.captivate.fm/episode/d4c456be-97e9-4a06-b37d-acb36622db3e

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• April 29 Agenda = all things DPW

 https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/_2021-04-29_finance_committee_agenda_.pdf

• Town budget page for FY 2022

https://www.franklinma.gov/town-budget/pages/fy-22-budget-materials

• My notes from the meeting

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/05/recap-fincomm-budget-hearing-3-all-dpw.html

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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?

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For additional information, please visit www.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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FinCom member Susan Dewsnap

Schools budget up for review at the Finance Committee budget hearing May 4

The 4th and final of the budget hearings for FY 2022 held by the Finance Committee is scheduled for May 4.

• May 4 Agenda = Schools (Franklin K-12, Tri-County, Norfolk Aggie)
  

 https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/_2021-05-04_finance_committee_agenda_.pdf

 

Additional details on the FY 2022 budget can be found
https://www.franklinma.gov/town-budget/pages/fy-22-budget-materials

 

Additional details on the Franklin School district budget can be found

https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-district-budget

 

The Franklin School Committee fact sheet for FY 2020  https://drive.google.com/file/d/154tNXBolLLkq4kPlMwr4mjfp4XgNnUvq/view?usp=sharing 

 

Franklin Farmers Market set to open season June 4

We are excited to be kicking off the 2021 season in 1 month. The first Market will be on June 4, new hours this year are 2-6 PM. We have a lot of exciting vendors and events to offer. We will be posting vendor highlights on social media over the next month. Be sure to follow us daily using our new hashtag  #buyfrankfresh

Shared from Facebook: https://facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=4181562898570329&id=533086900084632

Franklin Farmers Market set to open season June 4

Franklin Downtown Partnership: "Ladybug Trail Springing to Life"

The Franklin Downtown Partnership, in collaboration with other local organizations and businesses, is launching an exciting new project to create a sculpture trail connecting historical and cultural sites in downtown Franklin. 

 

The Ladybug Trail will use ladybug sculptures to tie approximately 25 sites together. Visitors will walk along the trail using a digital map and view signage detailing the history of Franklin and the names of the artists who painted the ladybugs. 

 

The purpose of the Ladybug Trail will be to promote economic development in downtown Franklin by encouraging residents and visitors to enjoy all that Franklin center has to offer by visiting, dining, and shopping at downtown businesses while they walk the trail of sculptures.

 

There are currently several outdoor ladybugs sculptures in the downtown area, including those at the FDP, Dean Bank, and Keefe Insurance. By the end of summer, the FDP hopes to place more than 15 ladybugs downtown Franklin tying the trail together. A recent grant to the FDP from the Franklin Cultural District and the Massachusetts Cultural Council will help fund a portion of the ladybug installations.

 

The history of the ladybug in the town of Franklin is a storied one. In 1974, Franklin’s John F. Kennedy School second grade students and their teacher, Palma Johnson, petitioned the bill to name the ladybug the state insect and subsequently witnessed it signed into law.

 

“The elementary school, JFK, rallied the state to make the ladybug the state bug,” said Beth Simon who along with Claire Griffin were members of the Franklin Cultural Council in 2014 that initiated the ladybug public art project. “It’s a wonderful idea to have a Ladybug Trail to highlight how this was accomplished. It will be a great addition to Franklin.

 

”The Ladybug Trail Committee represents key organizations in the Franklin community, including the FDP, Franklin Cultural District, and Historical Commission. Members are: Lisa Piana, Beth Simon, Roberta Trahan, Pandora Carlucci, Mary Olsson, Melanie Hamblen, Eileen Mason, and Jane Curran.

 

“We are so excited to bring together several organizations in Franklin to make this project a reality,” said Lisa Piana, Executive Director of the FDP and chair of the Ladybug Trail Committee. “Our vision is to have visitors and residents alike enjoy the opportunity to walk the downtown trail and visit the unique businesses along the way, as well as view the historical and cultural sites.

 

”Additionally, the FDP is coordinating a number of public art projects that will be included on the trail.  “It has been a fun experience working with five talented artists from the Franklin Art Association to paint murals in what will be known as 'Flower Alley’ on East Central Street,” Piana said. “This will be just one of the 25 stops along the way.” 

 

Shared from the Downtown Partnership page

https://www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/2021/04/ladybug-trail-springing-to-life.html

 

The Ladybugs were introduced in August 2014. A collection of the photos as they were displayed on the Town Common can be found here

https://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_sherlock/albums/72157645935226828

Franklin Downtown Partnership: "Ladybug Trail Springing to Life"

 

Rhapsody’s Victorian Coffee House: Special Announcement

Special Announcement

 

The improved economic outlook is great news for everyone. Restaurants that have been closed are re-opening, therefore these restaurants will quickly need to come up to speed. I personally noticed hiring signage at almost every other restaurant in the area. It is my belief that the food and beverage industry is now suffering a labor shortage. Experienced chefs that have worked through the pandemic are now in extremely high demand. As a result, restaurants have enticed resilient chefs and experienced kitchen help away from their current jobs. 

 

Regrettably, Rhapsody’s is losing both our chefs and will be forced to close the kitchen for the time being, starting Thursday May 13th. However, Rhapsody’s Victorian Coffee House will remain open for coffee, tea, croissants, danishes, and muffins until we reconstitute another stellar team. This is anticipated to take some time as they have been phenomenal! We wish them both the best on their next endeavors. 

 

- Mike

 

Shared from Facebook:https://facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1196596740770673&id=263757654054591

Rhapsody’s Victorian Coffee House:  Special Announcement

Franklin TV: Grand Opening! Life! - Coming Soon to a TV Studio Near You.

 by Pete Fasciano, Executive Director 05/02/2021

March,2020 – we closed up shop. Our building, shuttered. Our routine, shattered. Things taken for granted were taken away. A sad and uncertain time.

As dark months crept by, the building lost its vibrance. Hibernating.

“ Is this really necessary?  Seems extreme.”  Or, so some part of me thought at the time. We all knew little then. It’s not over just yet, but we know more now, We know what to do; what not to do, and we have vaccines and protocols.

Armed with that knowledge, we are currently planning to reopen the studio in the weeks ahead. We will do so safely, with limited staff on premises. But, we will be open nonetheless.  I consider reopening (however cautiously) as an act of defiance. It’s a step toward some normality in a post-pandemic world.

May is a naturally optimistic month. Classically primavera, it brings us flowers and a warm hug. It encourages us to ‘do something – anything’. So, indeed we shall.

There won’t be any fanfare. No ribbon cutting, balloons, streamers or flag banners. Just unlocking the front door and turning the lights back on will be enough. We will have one or two of our staffers present during normal business hours, and our doors will be open to visitors on a limited basis. Step-by-step.

Life, albeit limited, will return to our studio. That’s the ‘grand’ part.

And – in this most enthusiastic month, we will remember. Memorial Day is an oddly appropriate way to wrap up May’s natural optimism. We take pause to remember that there were front-line heroes in all this.

For those among them who are no longer with us, we welcome May.
Thanks to them, we get to reopen. 

And – as always – 

Thank you for listening to wfpr●fm. 

And, thank you for watching.

 

Get this week's program guide for Franklin TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) online

http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf  or for archive purposes

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1r6JLQmHNjssK2yYusQXCiIoPsjwIthkT/view?usp=sharing

 

Franklin TV: Grand Opening! Life! - Coming Soon to a TV Studio Near You.

 

Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - May 5, 2021

FRANKLIN TOWN COUNCIL

Agenda & Meeting Packet

May 5, 2021

Meeting will be held at the Municipal Building
2nd floor, Council Chambers, 355 East Central Street
7:00 PM 

1. ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE CHAIR
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. 
b. Chair to identify Council Members participating remotely

2. 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.

3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
None Scheduled

4. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
Brutus Cantoreggi, Public Works Director - American Public Works Association, Public Works Director of the Year Award

5. APPOINTMENTS
None Scheduled

6. HEARINGS - 7:10 PM
Bylaw Amendment 21-868: Chapter 185, Zoning Article V, Special Regulations

7. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
La Cantina Winery/La Cantina Brewery, Change of Category on their Farmer Series Pouring Permit from Wines to Wine and Malt Beverages, 355 Union Street, Franklin, MA 02038

8. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
a. Melanson & Heath - FY20 Audit 
b. Franklin TV - Pete Fasciano 
c. Anne Marie Tracey - Town Communications and Civic Engagement Update

9. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
a. Capital Budget Subcommittee
b. Budget Subcommittee
c. Economic Development Subcommittee

10. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
10a. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
Bylaw Amendment 21-868: Chapter 185, Zoning Article V, Special Regulations - Second Reading (Motion to adopt Bylaw Amendment 21-868 - Two Thirds Majority Roll Call Vote)

10b. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
Resolution 21-24: Gift Acceptance - DPW Highway & Grounds Division, Sand Sweeper (Motion to Approve Resolution 21-24 - Majority Vote)

10c. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
Resolution 21-25: Ambulance Refund Acceptance - Fire Department (Motion to Approve Resolution 21-25 - Majority Vote)

10d. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
Resolution 21-26: Gift Acceptance - Historical Commission, $100 (Motion to Approve Resolution 21-26 - Majority Vote)

10e. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
Resolution 21-27: Gift Acceptance - Police Department, $300 (Motion to Approve Resolution 21-27 - Majority Vote) 

11. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR'S REPORT
a. COVID-19
b. FY22 Budget Update - FY22 Town Administrator Budget Materials

12. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

13. COUNCIL COMMENTS

14. EXECUTIVE SESSION
None Scheduled

ADJOURN

Note:  Two-Thirds Vote: requires 6 votes
Majority Vote: requires majority of members present and voting

Meeting agenda (PDF version)   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/5-5-21_town_council_agenda_packet.pdf

Town Council agenda web page with links to all docs

https://www.franklinma.gov/town-council/agenda/may-5-town-council-agenda

Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - May 5, 2021