This shares the second Franklin For All Forum that was held on Monday, May 16, 2022.

The meeting was held at THE BLACK BOX. It was hosted by MAPC via Zoom and broadcast via Franklin TV as well as live streamed. The video will also be available on YouTube.

Links to the meeting information and my notes captured during the Forum are in the show notes. 

This recording runs about 70 minutes.  Let’s listen to the Franklin For All Forum held May 16, 2022. 

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Franklin For All project page -> https://www.mapc.org/resource-library/franklin-for-all/  

The presentation document to share the 11 recommendations

https://www.mapc.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Public-Forum-2-Presentation_updated-5-16.pdf 

My notes captured via Twitter and shared in summary form

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LM5r6VLuDw4yE2JPFEtw3ABaE4AbDADi/view?usp=sharing 

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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?

• 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 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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You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

This session of the radio show shares my "Talk Franklin" conversation with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen. We had our conversation via the Zoom Conference Bridge.

Conversation around the following topics with a common thread of peaks and valleys, journey more important than the destination:

• Welcome back
• Friday 13th, not superstitious

So much good happening

• Fire dept ISO Class 1
• Clean audit report
• AAA bond rating
• DPW water conservation award

Where do you go from here?  The challenge is greater to maintain this

• Budget through Finance Committee
• Next up Town Council

MAPC forum and recommendations

The recording runs about 38 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Jamie as we “Talk Franklin”.

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Town of Franklin meeting calendar -> https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar 

Town budget page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/town-budget

Franklin For All -> https://www.mapc.org/resource-library/franklin-for-all/ 

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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?

• 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 your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

This session of the radio show shares the MetroWest Arts & Culture Symposium Introductory Remarks and Keynote held on Saturday, May 14, 2022. 

Kaye Kelly, Chair of the Franklin Cultural Council opens the session. A string quartet of FHS students plays a piece before going off to their MICCA competition.

• Kaye begins her remarks at approx. 10 minutes
• Kaye introduces Town Administrator Jamie Hellen at approx. 17 minutes
• Jamie in turn introduces Roberta Trahan and Pandora Carlucci at approx. 22 minutes
• Kaye returns to the podium to introduce Michael Bobbitt, Executive Director of the Mass Cultural Council at approx. 27 minutes
• Michael speaks and then opens for questions from the audience at approx. 47 minutes
• Kaye returns to the podium to thank Michael at approx. 1 hour 9 minutes. 

The four break out sessions start approx. 15 minutes later each of which run for about 45 minutes, take a 15 minute break and then repeat with a different audience. After the second session, a networking lunch closes out the day.

When the Franklin TV video recording of the full event is available, we’ll update and let folks know.

The full recording runs about an hour and eighteen minutes, so let’s listen to the introductory remarks, and then the Keynote for the MetroWest Art & Culture Symposium.

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Symposium speakers and schedule

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/04/franklin-cultural-district-arts-are.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?

• 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"

This session of the radio show shares the Finance Committee budget hearing #3 for the FY 2023 Town of Franklin budget held on Thursday, May 12, 2022. 

The meeting was conducted in a hybrid format: 7 members of the Finance Committee were in the Council Chambers along with some of the public, 1 member was remote along with some members the public via conference bridge, all to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period. 

• Chair Bill Dowd opens the Finance Committee, 8 members participating (although by time of vote 1 member had left leaving a 7 member vte). This is the last of three sessions on the FY 2023 budget
• This session covered Franklin Public Schools, Tri-County Regional Voc Tech and Norfolk Agricultural. Representatives from the first two schools were present for the discussion and Q&A. 
• Interesting questions for both schools. More interesting for the future will be what will happen with the Tri-County feasibility study underway. As a regional school, the approval process for a new school is complex. There is also not a lot of history/precedent for such. Stay tuned as this could get interesting with 11 communities involved.
• The budget as recommended and presented ultimately passed unanimously 7-0

The recording runs about an hour and eighteen minutes, so let’s listen to the Finance Committee meeting May 12, 2022.

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Meeting agenda => https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/_2022-05-12_finance_committee_agenda_1.pdf 

FY 2023 budget package => https://www.franklinma.gov/town-budget/webforms/fy-23-budget-materials 

Link to Finance Committee => https://www.franklinma.gov/finance-committee 

My notes for the meeting =>  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oOKQmRPPjOucVB1yuCkTsFu4fv_2LpzN/view?usp=sharing 

YouTube recording => https://youtu.be/fgyyBjOb-RE 

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

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?

• 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...

This session of the radio show shares the Finance Committee budget hearing #2 for the FY 2023 Town of Franklin budget held on Wednesday, May 11, 2022. 

The meeting was conducted in a hybrid format: 7 members of the Finance Committee were in the Council Chambers along with some of the public, 1 member was announced as expecting to join via remote along with some members the public via conference bridge, all to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period. 

• Chair Bill Dowd opens the Finance Committee, 7 members participating. This is the second of three sessions on the FY 2023 budget
• This session covered public safety: police, fire, and dispatch as well as public works; the DPW divisions and the enterprise accounts for water, sewer, and solid waste 
• Each department was reviewed, some were straight forward, some had minor increases or adjustments. For example, 2 positions previously cut in last year's budget were restored in this year's budget for the DPW

The recording runs about an hour and forty minutes, so let’s listen to the Finance Committee meeting May 11, 2022.

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Meeting agenda =>   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/_2022-05-11_finance_committee_agenda_.pdf 

FY 2023 budget package => https://www.franklinma.gov/town-budget/webforms/fy-23-budget-materials 

 Link to Finance Committee => https://www.franklinma.gov/finance-committee 

My notes for the meeting =>  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SERBrhfi0U1eOLfFR6GWHkcl07UiazpH/view?usp=sharing 

YouTube recording => https://youtu.be/zqiyIdFy8ik 

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

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?

• 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"

This session of the radio show shares the regular School Committee meeting held Tuesday, May 10, 2022. 

6 members were present in Council Chambers (1 absent)

Quick Recap:

• FHS student updates, Superintendent report highlight a number of events and accomplishments around the district (Superintendent report usually posted day after meeting but last couple are missing)
• FHS Unified basketball team appeared in Council Chambers. They will represent MA in the Special Olympics this summer. A special recognition for a program that has made great strides through the years and around the district
• Presentation and discussion on “Approaches to Student Behavior” a highly interesting and engaged conversation. Very impressive approach, note that it does take time (i.e. people power) to implement and manage.
• The School Committee entered executive session to continue work on their contract negotiations. 

The meeting opened at 7 PM and ran approx. 2 hours 30 minutes.

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Agenda doc -> 

https://www.franklinps.net/sites/g/files/vyhlif4431/f/uploads/scagenda_5-10-22.pdf 

 Meeting packet folder (with other docs released for this session)

https://www.franklinps.net/district/meeting-packets/pages/may-10-2022-school-committee-meeting-packet

My notes -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lLY9SCDvKusqfRV30SQjNiLx3I2WSoBN/view?usp=sharing 

Franklin TV Video link -> https://youtu.be/JcjrcaHzf90 

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

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?

• 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"

This shares my conversation with Town Council Chair Tom Mercer. This is one of a series of conversations meant to provide a recap of the prior Council meeting. Akin to one of the many sports post-game analysis broadcasts we are familiar with in New England,  this would be a discussion focused on the Franklin Town Council meeting of May 4, 2022: 

• ok, what just happened? 
• What does it mean for Franklin residents and taxpayers?

We cover the following key topics condensing the almost 4 hour meeting to less than 40 minutes

4.        PROCLAMATIONS / RECOGNITIONS

a.        Proclamation - Harriet DiMartino

6.        HEARINGS - 7:00 PM

a.        Alcoholic Beverages Licensees, Failure to Pass Compliance Check - Continued from 4/13/2022

i.         TM1 Solutions, Inc. d/b/a 7-Eleven 37380 - 664 Union Street 

ii.        Dharma Bhakti Corporation d/b/a Liquor World - 365 West Central Street

b.        Street Acceptances:

i.         Joseph Circle  & ii. Susan's Way, and a portion of Lawrence Drive

8.        PRESENTATIONS / DISCUSSION

a.        Discussion: Congressman Jake Auchincloss, 4th Congressional District

b.        Presentation: FY21 Annual Financial Audit - Melanson and Heath 

9.        LEGISLATION FOR ACTION

c.        Bylaw Amendment 22-879: Chapter 170, Vehicles and Traffic, Appendix A, Fines, Parking Violations - First Reading (Motion to Move Bylaw Amendment 22-879 to Second Reading - Majority Vote) 

d.        Bylaw Amendment 22-880: Chapter 170, Vehicles and Traffic, Article IV, Stopping, Standing and Parking, §170-15 Parking Prohibitions and Limitations, D. Parking Prohibited, Downtown Parking Map - First Reading (Motion to Move Bylaw Amendment 22-880 to a Second Reading - Majority Vote) 

10.     TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT =  a.  Davis-Thayer Update

Our conversation runs about 36 minutes:

Links to the meeting agenda and associated documents released for this meeting are included in the show notes. 

Let’s listen to this recording of Town Council Quarterbacking May 4, 2022

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Agenda document ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/town_council_agenda_may_4_2022.pdf

My notes from the meeting  ->  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/05/town-council-hears-from-congressman.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?

• If you can use the information that you...

This session of the radio show shares the School Committee - Space Needs Subcommittee meeting held in the 3rd floor training room on Tuesday, May 10, 2022. 

The meeting reviewed data requested about aspects of the study in the prior meeting. The next meeting is scheduled for June 6 to preview the update to be provided to the full School Committee at the regularly scheduled meeting of June 14, 2022.

SubCmte Chair - Al Charles; committee members - Denise Spencer, Elise Stokes; Central office support - Supt Sara Ahern, Business Manager Miriam Goodman, Student Services Director Paula Marano.

The recording runs about 55 minutes, so let’s listen to the Space Needs discussion on May 10, 2022.

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Meeting agenda =>    https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/05/space-needs-facilities-assessment.html 

My notes for the meeting =>  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rP5gMrQv4kgPi2EdbaevJcypfk5Jh20V/view?usp=sharing 

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

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?

• 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"

This session of the radio show shares the Finance Committee budget hearing #1 for the FY 2023 Town of Franklin budget held on Monday, May 9, 2022. 

The meeting was conducted in a hybrid format: 8 members of the Finance Committee were in the Council Chambers along with some of the public, 1 member was remote along with some members the public via conference bridge, all to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period. 

• Chair Bill Dowd opens the Finance Committee, 9 members participating (1 remote, hence roll call votes req'd). This is the first of three sessions on the FY 2023 budget
• The FinCom heard the proposal for the second pass on the FY 22 capital plan, and moved to approve as put forward to recommend to the Town Council. Vote was 9-0 via roll call
• Town Administrator Jamie Hellen provides a brief overview of the revenue summary, referring to the budget narrative to be read for additional details.
• Each department item for the General Government was reviewed, some were straight forward, some had minor increases or adjustments. For example, three of the permitting staff were previously in one budget and now allocated out to the individual departments so those adjustments appeared.

The recording runs about an hour and twenty minutes, so let’s listen to the Finance Committee meeting May 9, 2022.

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Meeting agenda =>    https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/_2022-05-09_finance_committee_agenda_1.pdf

Link to Finance Committee => https://www.franklinma.gov/finance-committee 

My notes for the meeting =>  https://drive.google.com/file/d/18ZEDkgsyqARABbLEuDz0RoYIOIAHPFYh/view?usp=sharing 

YouTube recording => https://youtu.be/iXCn6jBND1U 

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

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?

• 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"

This session shares part of the Franklin, MA Town Council meeting held on Wednesday, May 4, 2022. 

The meeting was conducted in a hybrid format: members of the Town Council and Town Administration personnel were in the Council Chambers, some members of the public participated in person, some via the Zoom conference bridge, all to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

Quick recap:

• Recognition of Harriet DiMartino on her 100th birthday
• Compliance check failures continued from prior meeting; both 7-Eleven & Liquor World acknowledged and accepted violations, agreed to one day suspension of license effective May 11
• Public hearing for street acceptances held, both ultimately passed via legislation with 8-0 vote (1 absent)
• Congressman Jake Auchincloss, 4th Congressional District, appeared to provide multiple updates and answer questions from the Council and meeting participants. First Federal elected official to appear before Council
• Melanson & Heath presented an overview of the just completed audit results; the results are good, no issues found, nor was a management letter included also a good sign that the financial processes are in good order
• Bylaw to adjust parking fines tabled for 2nd meeting in June, more discussion clearly required on this topic. As reported, there was no consensus among the EDC which brought it forward and there remains no consensus on how to proceed
• Second bylaw parking zone map proposed changes to add a ban on overnight parking downtown. Almost got tied to the other bylaw item (they are separate but related) but did get moved to a second reading
• Update on Davis Thayer provided by Town Administrator. The building is still in School Committee control, confirmation received from MSBA on their awareness of closing and that the closing should have no impact if the Town does decide in future to go for MSBA funding. Not sure why the Council remains “impatient” with this status as they could have started their planning process to determine a future use anytime after the building actually closed. The School District is not using the building for education, another use can start to be determined, it will take time to do so, and likely be still not finally decided by the time the School Committee turns the building over legally to the Town

The recording runs about 3 hours and 35 minutes (3:35)

The show notes contain links to the meeting agenda. Let’s listen to the Town Council meeting of May 4, 2022

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Agenda document ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/town_council_agenda_may_4_2022.pdf

My notes of the meeting captured via Twitter are shared in one PDF here. https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fMWY7GtMKVFxIC_v1UtFIWXE7iIrLK4a/view?usp=sharing

You can find the video link here -> https://youtu.be/eTzFFC_N9ds (the meeting starts at 2:50)

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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?

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