Thread by @FranklinMatters

Reporting about the Town Council meeting about to begin #tc0504

In addition to the live streaming and cable broadcast, it is also available tonight via YouTube #tc0504

Chandler absent tonight due to minor health and won't be participating remotely #tc0504

C Cass thinking about the environmental crisis, attention shifts, urgency lost, what should the #tc0504 do to help? Besides leaving it to others to figure out, accept help wherever it comes, need to act for net zero.

No other comments, motion to approve minutes of Mar meeting, second, passes 8-0; motion on Apr meeting minutes, second, passes 8-0. #tc0504

Recognition this evening Proclamation - Harriet DiMartino
celebrates her 100th birthday; her sons are present to receive proclamation #tc0504 she was reported to be watching via TV Apr 18 by Chair Mercer

Rep Roy presents House of Representatives certificate of resolution #tc0504 to the Demartino's

Gov Baker also has a certificate for her 100th birthday being presented by Rep Roy as well! #tc0504

Congressman Jake Auchincloss appearing tonight as the first Federal elected representative to appear with the Town Council #tc0504

Auchincloss updating (1) on the Ukraine conflict with Russia and almost a "blank check" to provide support to their cause in defense of their country. (2) COVID now largely back to normal, bill to fund further research and international efforts for vaccination #tc0504

(3) recognition of supply change issues, the American competes act, job training, etc (4) build back better slimmed down still possible for passage, would help climate resilience, we have the votes to pass it, time to bring it to the floor #tc0504

(5) need to also pass the voting act, and Congress's role in the election. Should be formalized and not rely on a single person as we did on Jan 6 (6) infrastructure assistance #tc0504

Jones raises Franklin Senior housing project as an item #tc0504 Looking to far better capitalize housing that has been done. Beaver st interceptor raised. PFAS money also being made available using ARPA funds for water is good

The car centric approach is changing, we were not all where we should be on the last bill, we do need to do more and there are other avenues for this as well. Spoke with Buttegig (?) about parking and it is recognized as hard to do #tc0504

Working with Rep McGovern on the food supply and food insecurity issues, I expect whether this term or next we will get to make great progress. #tc0504

We need to address not just the supply side but why are they not in good mental health, COVID did raise it but it was already here, need to address the hopelessness, had never given into hopelessness. I have confidence we will do it again #tc0504

Advice to students, get off the social media apps and follow your passion to do things in earnest with people locally #tc0504 (good to hear!)

Will get back on Fire grant, not sure of police grants; applauds Fire for their ISO 1 rating not easy to get #tc0504 tremendous amount of work being done on mental health services, don't have enough people, period, education, training, etc. reimbursement policies

Work also on reimbursement for telehealth, professionals should be making that decision not the insurance companies #tc0504 citizen asking for assistance with the MBTA in providing more than 'lip service' - funds available for better parking at the Forge Ok station

Cautious about committing but due to the state and MBTA responsible could get complicated, needs to be aligned. #tc0504 citizen raises the Supreme Court leak and the trauma surrounding the issue. House did pass the act, Senate has stalled on it, filibuster...

Reproductive health care should be a human right, need to be working with the groups/companies providing support, a la planned parenthood, etc. Do need to codify the final ruling in Congress #tc0504
Taking 2 minute recess

Meeting returns to session, picking up with the two continued hearings on the compliance check failures #tc0504 first notice apparently not received, police did deliver the 2nd not, all were contrite on issue, do acknowledge the incidents. Motion for 3 days, 1 served, 2 held

Added to the motion, day to be served May 11, passes 8-0
Liquor World up next; do acknowledge failure, concede circumstances, agrees also for May 11, 1 served and 2 held in abeyance #tc0504

Cobi did the math on the street acceptance to make the reminder on how much infrastructure costs and how little our tax revenue covers the maintenance #tc0504 Hearings closed for these street acceptances

Next up, Melanson & Health audit results presented franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/… #tc0504 audit went well, no significant issues found, no disagreements on how to apply principles.

A clean opinion (without even a management letter) assessment focuses first on net liabilities. Market gains helped reduce the Norfolk retirement and OPEB outstanding liabilities, 70% retirement and 12% both are good stands vs your comparable communities #tc0504

Unassigned fund balance of about 11% vs total budget is good, there is a footnote getting into the details on the unassigned fund balance. Next
P24 of the doc increase in OPEB comes from 2 sources; mkt increase, and actual increase of about $1M #tc0504 open for questions

Jones learns so much and appreciates the good report, your dollars are being used wisely #tc0504 use of depreciation amount as a factor of what we have is possible
Q from Cormier-Leger confirms that the absence of a mgt letter is a good thing!!!

Moving to legislation for action: franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/… #tc0504 moved, seconded, passes 8-0

Next street acceptance franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/… #tc0504 motion to waive reading, passes 8-0
Motion to approve, seconded passes 8-0

Bylaw amendment franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/… #tc0504 motion to 2nd reading, seconded; discussion: this was raised from the Dean College and West, East Sts neighbors

20 years since the fees were updated, EDC chair Hamblen adds on the Cmte discussion in Apr; Jones fears setting too high and deter downtown visits, 2 hours is a short time to spend time downtown #tc0504 discussion to clarify points in the bylaw, overtime, meter, when checked

3 now verbally for the $25 vs $35 for the overtime parking fee, L Piana speaking on behalf of FDP not for all of them, didn't get to all of them. No signs, it is an education problem. #tc0504 suggestions: better signage, general meeting invite Jun 2 to talk with the businesses

Dean neighbor calculates 14 tickets to get equal to the Dean fee, 2 separate issues and should be treated as such. April Rock, Escape into Fiction also speaking to 2 hours as too short for what her business is trying to do #tc0504

S Pisini looking for balance, encouraging parking and turnover, could be inferred as a penalty, and wrong message on overtime fine #tc0504 relationship vs transactional is nature of business now, 3 hr would be more conducive

S Martin, E Mason also speaking for consideration, fines being proposed but we don't have a parking plan, let's get that and then discuss possible fine. J Curran former owner downtown. Jamie 24 spaces designated as business parking and no one has used them #tc0504

There is a parking map for downtown, it has been sent out by FDP. There haven't been takers, lack of awareness #tc0504 there are some challenging decisions and discussions to have. Signage, policy, fines - were 3 things. We have enough spaces not moving folks to those spaces

Consensus seems to be to not act on this tonight without doing other things (i.e. plan, signage, etc.)
Dellorco withdraws motion, seconded to withdraw. Motion to table item to Jun 22, second, passes 8-0 #tc0504

Next bylaw on parking franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/… #tc0504 motion to move to second reading, seconded, parking district map shown. Adds a no overnight parking and extends the 2 hour zone to the new section

M Rock, Escape into Fiction, signage is not adequate, most of the business is early 11-2, #tc0504
L Piana let's have more discussion on this. Students at the Dean lot are parking overnight in front of the bakery. It is all about parking, signage, education...

Where do you want the 3 hour parking? We do need to look at the bylaw for the commuter lots. 3 where? #tc0504 legislatively need to do this a piece at a time, first reading only, effective if it continues Jul 1, 2022. Vote 7-1 (Dellorco no)

franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/… #tc0504 motion to passes, seconded, passes 8-0

Budget released, docs available, plug for FinCom hearings May 9, 11, 12 next week, agendas published for each night #tc0504 update on Davis Thayer, did talk with MSBA about the situation, huge progress; SchCom needs to wait 6 months to declare surplus to maintain standing...

Anticipate fall sometime to declare DT as surplus, starting to plan for a site visit for the community #tc0504 nothing to stop the TC from setting up a future determination for the building now,

Subcommittee report, EDC met earlier tonight on the Franklin For All topic, next public forum, May 16 at THE BLACK BOX, #tc0504
Some discussion on climate change, future discussion with MBTA on parking garage re Auchincloss comment, review the space if not used

Councilor Comments: Cormier-Leger, kudos to Giguere and concerned about the DT delays, negligence, Pellegri agrees
#tc0504 Hamblen wants folks to help build bridges, treat others with respect... Motion to adjourn, passes 8-0

That's all for tonight, catch you next time! #tc0504

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