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 November 15, 2023:
- ok, what just happened?
- What does it mean for Franklin residents and taxpayers?
We cover the following key topics
Election/re-org
1. SWEARING IN OF TOWN COUNCIL
2. ELECTION OF OFFICERS – Town Council Chair, Vice-Chair & Clerk
3. ADOPTION OF TOWN COUNCIL PROCEDURES MANUAL
a. Resolution 23-60: Adoption of the Procedures Manual of the Franklin Town Council (Motion to Approve Resolution 23-60 - Majority Vote)
Resolution 23-65: Establishment by Town Council of Subcommittee for Review of Rules of Procedure of the Town Council (Motion to Approve Resolution 23-65 - Majority Vote)
A total of 3,126 voters cast ballots in this election, only 12% of the 24,474 registered Franklin voters.
Tri-County 1645 voted, 1329 yes, 516 no 6.8% of Franklin 6.4% over the Tri-County 11 communities
Discussion: Open Meeting Law, Public Records, Ethics and Conducting a Public Meeting - Mark Cerel, Town Attorney
DiVita’s Market – license transfer
transfer of Section 15 All Alcoholic Beverages Package Store License, Approval of Pledge of Liquor License, and Approval of Bhaveshkumar Patel as the Manager - Heeru Corporation d/b/a DeVita’s Market, Located at 198 East Central St., Franklin, MA 02038
Elks Riders
Presentation: Franklin Elks Riders Donation to Veterans’ Services Department, $1,000 donation
Legislation
a. Resolution 23-58: General Funds Appropriation, Transfers and Adjustments FY24 (Motion to Approve Resolution 23-58 - Majority Vote)
c. Bylaw Amendment 23-903: A Bylaw to Amend the code of the Town of Franklin at Chapter 82, Fees, Municipal Service - First Reading (Motion to Move Bylaw Amendment 23-903 to a Second Reading)
d. Bylaw Amendment 23-902: A Bylaw to Amend the Code of the Town of Franklin by Inserting Chapter 147, Snow and Ice, Removal Of - First Reading (Motion to Move Bylaw Amendment 23-902 to a Second Reading - ⅔ Majority Vote)
g. Resolution 23-63: Gift Acceptance - Veterans’ Services Department ($1,975)
Our conversation runs about 32 minutes. Let’s listen to this session of Town Council Quarterbacking recorded Nov 16, 2023
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Franklin TV video link -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04-9DhPNSzU&t=5132s
Town Council agenda doc -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/nov15_2023_town_council_agenda.pdf
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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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