FM #1792 - Economic Development Subcmte Mtg - 08/04/26

The Economic Development Subcommittee met on Tuesday, August 4, 2026 as scheduled. Committee Chair LeBlanc, members Morrongiello, Malloy & Griffith were present for this session.

Quick recap:

• Discussion and update on the UMass Boston study of downtown to be conducted over 2 semesters of the college year. Final number of students involved to be determined when classes begin in September. Coordinate to have them meet the Committee (either in person, or virtually) early one (Sept or October).
• update: the Depot Plaza hearing at the Planning Board has changed from 8/10 to 8/24. the application was withdrawn for a technical change and resubmitted, hence the date change
• Next up the 40b policy revision
• likely for Morrongiello and LeBlanc to meet with Jamie and Morena to review the items in more detail to bring back a version for further discussion
• next up, Sustainability Committee
• Jamie and staff can draft a charter for the committee to review before bringing to the Council
• next up, GATRA update
• World Cup was big for them, transported a bunch of folksfunded by State, so we didn't lose anything from other servers to compensate 38,385 riders in Franklin during the past year (demand response) approx 3,000/month
• GATRA had a fixed route once upon a time https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/03/on-this-date-mar-5-2010-franklin-area.html
• What would a study for the GATRA fixed route cost? What would it cost for GATRA to do so? We can't finance the route on our own.
• The pipeline to the Planning Board is minimal, they are cancelling meetings as they don't have work to review

The meeting runs about 2 hours & 35 minutes.

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The Franklin TV video can be viewed here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJ8h5WC8rP0

The agenda and released docs can be found - https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08042026-2434

My full set of notes captured during the meeting

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1cKNSbTXGpP-s3395o_i52zDkPXuPn4tJ/view?usp=drive_link

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