Thread by @FranklinMatters

Franklin (MA) Town Council meeting coming up at 7 PM. You can participate (1) In person - Municipal Building, 2nd floor - Council Chambers (2) Via cable - This meeting is shown on Comcast channel 11 and Verizon Channel 29 #tc0119

(3) Via live stream - franklinma.gov/home/pages/liv… (4) Via Zoom - see the agenda doc for info franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/… #tc0119

Good time to find out all about the Franklin DPW at the Town Council meeting beginning at 7 PM - find out all about what and how the DPW does what they do... franklinmatters.org/2022/01/good-t… #tc0119

Meeting opens, moment of silence dedicated to memory of Andrew M Bissanti former Councilor, #tc0119
Dellorco announced as not participating tonight

Citizen comments - none in Chambers, none in Zoomland #tc0119. Motion to approve mins for Dec 15, second, passes 8-0; motion for Jan 5 mins, second passes 8-0

Proclamation/Recognition: Police Department: Retirement - Sgt. Brian Johnson #tc0119 Rep Roy with a legislative proclamation from the House

Proclamation/Recognition: Police Department: Retirement - Patrol Officer Rick Grover #tc0119 also a proclamation from the MA House presented by Rep Roy, Councilor Chandler read the Council recognition

#tc0119 Recognition: Police Department: Moving On - Kallie Montagano, Clinical Social Worker

Brief break in meeting, 2 mins for Police Dept and associates leave after recognitions #tc0119

Catching up to Council proclamation by Council Pellegri #tc0119

DPW Director Cantoreggi up next for a budget preview #tc0119 hasn't been vetted with FinCom but this is where they are and what challenges they have

Can view the presentation copy here franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/… #tc0119

Lots of equipment to run and to maintain #tc0119

Continuing to share slides, Brutus is on a roll... #tc0119

More slides, rolling along #tc0119

#tc0119 rolling along, costs rising, ARPA money will create issues on supplies and contractors, there are 12,000 turnoff valves in the road for the water system!

Will need more people resources, GIS, inspectors, etc. to tackle the projects #tc0119 we haven't gotten the trucks you appropriated last year! Staff and work concerns on a separate slide, has less staff than when Brutus started here yet more miles, more everything to do

Waste Management their entire reason to be is drivers with CDL licenses, they are having trouble doing that which is why we see problems with the schedule trash/recycle #tc0119 regulatory concerns, well 7 shut today for PFAS, slightly over test range for 1st time

The MS4 permit is being costed out, $60 over a number of years, we're working to break it down year by year. We've done the easy stuff, the cost effective stuff, replacing water lines, avoiding water breaks #tc0119 asset management planning, esp with the roads, ...

Chip sealing extends the life of the road, we use GIS info daily, saves time, effort and money. #tc0119 we do outsource where it makes sense, tree removal, their equipment makes it easier to do a # of trees in a day, more than we could. Not the same DPW as we had when we started

$40M is road backlog, doesn't include other needs water, sewer, sidewalks, etc. Councilor Frongillo retelling the story of how we got here re: suburban experiment around roads to enable cars, built faster than we could maintain; developers did the initial work ... #tc0119

The maintenance bills are coming due now, water pipe in some sections don't serve as many folks as they do in the downtown section #tc0119 developers don't pay for a long term maintenance fee, we actually got a lawsuit for that once upon a time

How are we going to keep it going? Can go the tax route, or the fee route, or not? We have to make different decisions, build out in ways that don't exacerbate the costs we already have #tc0119 thanks for your help with the flood on Monday, especially when they need ...

To get to the hospital for an appointment. We did make repairs, it should drain better next time. #tc0119 we should thank the rank and file folks for doing the dirty work on a bad weather day. Macintosh neighborhood to be finished, King St perhaps mill/overlay ...

I know what we need but don't know what we'll get when, town was funding road construction off the hotel tax, that is a revenue loss, Federal funding may be changing around use for roads; weeding was cut due to storm water, Approx $30K #tc0119

Last year was a good year for weeds as it was wet. #tc0119 the really big stuff no one knows but the little stuff gets noticed and a call on. What's the 1st thing everyday? take a flush, and turn the water on, thank the DPW!

Thank you, we rely on you and we appreciate it! #tc0119 18% of impervious surface in Franklin, how does it compare? Hard to say, that's roof tops and driveways. First 5 years investigation, then come up with a plan to mitigate. Requirements increase every year for MS4

There was an override for roads a few years ago and it failed almost 2-1, funding is not easy. (Aside, the override wasn't well communicated or managed; Towns record of passing one 1 operational override stands...) #tc0119

Financial problems of the DPW need to be solved by the folks in this room, these are tough times, and there will be a breaking point which we will need to address. #tc0119 2 water treatment plants? can they handle all of our wells? Not for a long term period, ...

Do you foresee issues with the trash pickup? Yes, there will be problems. They are addressing the driver and shortage issues. The trucks are also waiting to dump the trash they have picked up. An ongoing problem, not unique to Franklin. #tc0119

Do we have enough and the right staff to apply for the funding options? It is in the budget for additional resources. #tc0119

Resolution 22-04: Adoption of 2021-2022 Town Council Goals (Motion to Approve Resolution 21-74 - Majority Vote)
franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/… #tc0119 formal vote on goals, red highlights indicate changes from last time; more equitable taxation? Citizen comments ...

Endorsing the net zero goal added to the goals, "chance for Franklin to step up and take the lead"#tc0119 gets us to become more efficient in reducing carbon footprint, and using renewable energy. Moved, second, passes 8-0

Resolution 22-05: FY22 Transfer of MECC Appropriation (Motion to Approve Resolution 21-74 - Majority Vote)
franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/… moved, second, passes 8-0

Resolution 22-06: Gift Acceptance - Senior Center ($1,700) (Motion to Approve Resolution 21-74 - Majority Vote)
franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/… #tc0119 moved, second, passes 8-0

TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT, introducing Danielle Hopkins, deputy director Christina LaRose, #tc0119

For future agenda item, request for school topic to address issues at FHS, (video referenced being shared Thursday AM) #tc0119 also statement on affirming values
Councilor comments: office hours at Senior Center 8:30 AM

Chandler seconding comments on video, Frongillo reminded again this weekend on antisemitism exists around, video is powerful, this is a community wide issue that we need to address. #tc0119 thanks for vigil service Jan 6, Cultural Council grants being announced congrats!

Mercer - condolences to Bissanti family, almost skipped Jones, motion to adjourn, second, passes 8-0 #tc0119

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