Talk Franklin - a podcast from the Town Administrator's Office Town of Franklin, MA

FM #1184 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1184 in the series.

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen, Deputy Town Administrator Amy Frigulietti, Conservation Agent Breeka Li Goodlander and Recreation Director Ryan Jette on Monday, April 29, 2024.

We get a very brief recap of current events (it’s all about the budget) and jump right into Earth Day and the other activities of the Conservation and Recreation departments

Conservation


Projects more this year than last
Friends of Conservation group forming

Recreation


Growth in participation
Field upgrades at Fletcher & King St
Beaver Pond has a new kayak launch

We close out with discussion and laughter around the Top 35 songs about weather

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Eu2npqGS0fH9N0Uc0iB5WCitoawIMFdJ/view?usp=drive_link

Our conversation runs about 41 minutes.

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

Contact info: for Jamie & Amy:

https://www.franklinma.gov/administrator

Conservation page:

https://www.franklinma.gov/conservation

Recreation page:

https://www.franklinma.gov/recreation-department

Fact checking update:

● In 1969 at a UNESCO Conference in San Francisco, peace activist John McConnell proposed a day to honor the Earth and the concept of peace, to first be observed on March 21, 1970, the first day of spring in the northern hemisphere. This day of nature's equipoise was later sanctioned in a proclamation written by McConnell and signed by Secretary General U Thant at the United Nations. A month later, United States Senator Gaylord Nelson proposed the idea to hold a nationwide environmental teach-in on April 22, 1970. He hired a young activist, Denis Hayes, to be the National Coordinator. Nelson and Hayes renamed the event "Earth Day" https://www.earthday.org/history/

● The group garnered worldwide attention with 1987 album Diesel and Dust. Its singles

"The Dead Heart" and " Beds Are Burning" illuminated the plight of indigenous Australians

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Midnight_Oil

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



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.franklin.news/ or www.Franklinmatters.org/

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve@gmail.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 my conversation with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen, Deputy Town Administrator Amy Frigulietti, School Superintendent Lucas Giguere, and Assistant Superintendent Dr Tina Rogers on Wednesday, April 3, 2024.

We get a brief recap of current events and the dive into the major discussion of the budget and the timeline around its final development. Information on the key questions that remain to be answered are discussed.

Budget timeline:

● April 9 - School Committee vote on school’s budget

● April 12 - Town FY 2025 budget released

● April 17 - Finance Committee meeting

● April 24 - Joint meeting of School Committee & Town Council at FHS Auditorium

● May 6, 8, and 15 - Finance Committee budget hearings

● May 22, 23 - Town Council budget hearings

We close on a lighter note with discussion and laughter around the Top 20 songs about schools:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AEq1QElhBShhGAMjH-S_uEceAfNPftlC/view?usp=drive_link

Our conversation runs about 55 minutes.

Topics for this session

Water & Sewer


Beaver Stream Interceptor
PFAS mitigations

Stormwater


New fee abatement cycle opens April 1

Trash & recycling


Composting coming

GIS (graphical information service)


The storymaps and the “data”

Fleet management


Over 200 registered vehicles
Another 80 unregistered devices (large & small)
Always looking for efficiencies

Engineering


Baron Road out to bid for work this year (ARPA funded)

Highway/ & Grounds


The most visible working section of the DPW



The recording runs about 96 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Jamie, Amy & the DPW group on Thursday, February 22, 2024

This session of the radio show shares a new format for "Talk Franklin" with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen, Deputy Administrator Amy Frigulietti.

This episode features a conversation on the 2024 elections with Town Clerk Nancy Danello. We recorded our discussion in person in the 3rd floor Training Room on Thursday, January 25, 2024.

Topics for this session

Quick news highlights


Franklin Ridge received $8.5M funding


Town Council goals set for next 2 years


Jamie elected as Vice-President of Mass Municipal Assoc (MMA)

Elections for 2024


Presidential Primary - March 5


State Primary - September 3


Presidential Election - November 5

Quick outlook


Council Meeting - Jan 31


Finance Mtg - Feb 6


Council Mtg - Feb 28


Joint Budget Cmte - March 6



The recording runs about 47 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Jamie, Amy & Nancy on Thursday, January 25, 2024.

A conversation with Steve Sherlock of Franklin Matters, Town Administrator Jamie Hellen, Deputy Town Administrator Amy Frigulietti, and Town Council Chair Tom Mercer.

They talk about...


Proclamation: William “Ken” Norman - Ken was recognized with a Town proclamation and State House of Representative resolution for many years of service on the Board of Assessors (16 years) and many other committees.


2024 Annual Alcohol License Renewals - all approved, 8 being held for payment and final inspection completion Resolution 23-71: Town Council Approval of County ARPA Funds - Council approved application to Norfolk County for ARPA awards in the total amount of $1,359,000

○ Police Dept - $559,000

○ Sewer projects - $500,000

○ Franklin Food Pantry - $100,000

○ SAFE Coalition - $100,000

○ YMCA Bernon Family Branch - $100,000


ARPA Direct funds announced for :

○ $1M to reconstruct Baron Road

○ $420,000 for replacement & construction of visitor bleachers at the high school field


Bylaw Amendment 23-902: A Bylaw to Amend the Code of the Town of Franklin by Inserting Chapter 147, Snow and Ice, Removal Of - Second Reading - approved by 7-2 vote (Jones, Dellorco voted no)
Bylaw Amendment 23-903: A Bylaw to Amend the code of the Town of Franklin at Chapter 82, Fees, Municipal Service - Second Reading - mattress fee raised to $65, unanimously approved (9-0)


2023 year in review, January 3, hit the ground working on 2024

The recording runs about 38 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Jamie, Amy & Tom on Thursday, December 21, 2023.

A conversation with Steve Sherlock of Franklin Matters and Town Administrator Jamie Hellen.

They talk about...


Budget cycle starting new
Tough decisions in FY25 and beyond
Migrant housing status stabilized