Saturday, April 27, 2013

In the News: place to prosper, plea deal, welfare benefits


At Dean College: A place to prosper


Hitting an academic wall in college can hurt more than in high school, as not only is it lined with less padding, but expectations that students will know where to turn and what to do after the initial impact are much higher.


Dookhan lawyer said he's had 'cursory' talks about plea deal

The lawyer for the chemist charged with faking results and tampering with evidence at a state drug testing lab says he has had "cursory" talks about a possible plea.


State releases information on bombing suspects' welfare benefits

Reversing course once again, Massachusetts' welfare agency made available new details Friday about state benefits received by the family of the Boston bombing suspects, saying public interest in the case trumped the privacy rights of Tamerlan and Dzokhar Tsarnaev.


Friday, April 26, 2013

Franklin Public Works: Upcoming Projects

Thanks to DPW Director Robert (Brutus) Cantoreggi for sharing the presentation document he used for the Town Council meeting on Wednesday, Apr 24, 2013.

Dan Meyer: Math class needs a makeover (video)


Today's math curriculum is teaching students to expect -- and excel at -- paint-by-numbers classwork, robbing kids of a skill more important than solving problems: formulating them. In his talk, Dan Meyer shows classroom-tested math exercises that prompt students to stop and think. (Filmed at TEDxNYED.)





Regent Circle Documents

Thanks to Steve Derdiarian for sharing these documents referenced during the Town Council meeting on Wednesday, Apr 24, 2013.

For my notes that accompanied the meeting you can check this link


MBTA Debuts 3 New Commuter Rail Coaches

The MBTA this week put into service the first three new commuter rail coaches from Hyundai-Rotem USA. 
The first trips for the 3 new coaches carried passengers on Train No. 213 from North Station to Haverhill Wednesday morning. The new coaches will continue to operate on the North Side of the commuter rail system in the weeks head. It is expected that an additional 15 new coaches will be in service throughout the system by the fall of 2013.
Read more here

MBTA Debuts 3 New Commuter Rail Coaches

In the News: healthy kids, anti-casino, amputee expenses

Hockomock YMCA slates Healthy Kids Day on Saturday

The Hockomock Area YMCA is celebrating Healthy Kids Day with a free community event that encourages kids to be active and provides families with options and methods for living healthier.


Towns to form anti-casino coalition


Facing a classic David versus Goliath scenario, several small towns opposed to having a casino in the neighborhood are seeking strength in numbers – about 58,000 residents worth.


Amputees from Patriots Day attacks facing wide range of expenses
Cost of amputating a leg? At least $20,000. Cost of an artificial leg? More than $50,000 for the most high-tech models. Cost of an amputee's rehab? Often tens of thousands of dollars more. These are just a fraction of the medical expenses victims of the Boston Marathon bombing will face.

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Town Council - 04/24/13

Regent Circle residents made another appearance at the Council meeting to continue to make their case for getting the road repaired, rebuilt and at minimum a date for such actions. They did gain a commitment to having the patch work started in the next 60 days. The patching will address the safety issues. Franklin will be working to combine the water/sewer work listing with the current road conditions listing and have the updated 'master' list ready by the end of the year. From that listing, there will likely be a proposal for a water bond issue to cover the next set of water main repairs. The funding from the last bond is what is providing the work currently scheduled for the next couple of years. A compete rebuilding of the road and neighboring roads is possible 2-3 years out at the earliest if the timelines discussed during the meeting hold true. Worse case, it could be easily beyond 5 years out for a re-buld of the road. Once money is allocated (and that is the key issue) design work would still need to be done before the work is started.

The status of the former municipal building on Emmons St drew some sharp criticism from some councilors as they reviewed an estimate for repairs that clearly had not been presented in any prior capital budget session. They hadn't because Facility Director Mike D'Angelo didn't recommend them. The Council's position is that they make the decisions and D'Angelo should simply be providing the data and information.

An outstanding request for work orders for school building repairs also gather some sharp words when the conversation shifted to the persistent leak at the Jefferson School. Work on the leaks has been done since the building opened and is now the subject of an engineering study and proposal due in May to re-do the spot that is poorly designed and generating the leaks.

DPW Director Robert (Brutus) Cantoreggi made a presentation on the work projects the DPW has underway for the next couple of years. A copy of the presentation should be added here later.

A series of zoning bylaws was rescheduled to be heard on May 15th. The Planning Board has them currently under review and have not completed their work with them yet, hence the rescheduling.

Earth Day clean up will be held from Beaver St on Saturday, Apr 27 from 9:00 Am to 1:00 PM

The FY 2014 budget hearings will be at the Town Council on May 15 and May 16.


The collection of posts reported live from the Town Council meeting Wednesday, Apr 24 can be found below.


Art Opening Franklin Art Center


Franklin Art Center

CREATIVITY     CULTURE     COMMUNITY

SOLO SHOWING

Orfeo Fabbri - Solo Opening Reception May 4


Orfeo is an award winning artist living and working on Cape Cod while studying at the Rhode Island School of Design His work has been described as having a "…very strong, saturated color and powerful compositions, sometimes including mixed media. His techniques include extensive use of the palette knife, thus his surfaces have the strength of an impasto surface"

-Melissa J. Woringer, Art Consultant






The Encounter

May 4 - June 15, 2013

Orfeo has studied with some of Cape Cod's finest artists. He is a juried artist member of the Cape Cod Art Association and the Provincetown Art Association & Museum. In May (2009) he was awarded First Place in oil/acrylic by the Cape Cod Art Association for his piece, Sunday Afternoon, in the All Cape Cod Artist Juried Exhibit. Orfeo's work is included in private and corporate collections.

For more infor mation contact Franklin Art Center at franklinartcenter@gmail.com.
Or call 508 887-2797.

You're receiving this newsletter because you are also member of the FAA









Help beautify downtown Franklin on May 18th




The Franklin Downtown Partnership and the Franklin Garden Club currently are seeking volunteers and donations for the 10th annual Beautification Day on May 18. The event is scheduled from 9:00 a.m. to Noon, rain or shine.


The non-profit Partnership and the Garden Club plan to install more than 1,000 flowers and greens on the bridge and islands downtown and in planter boxes in front of some businesses. The group will also plant and mulch the memorial gardens on the Town Common.  All residents, especially students in need of community service hours, are asked to donate their time to help decorate downtown Franklin.
Franklin Downtown Partnership
Franklin Downtown Partnership


Besides planting help, a crew is also needed to help clean up brush and trash from downtown. Volunteers will meet at 9:00 a.m. on the center island in front of the Rome Restaurant. Any volunteers with pickup trucks are asked to help transport plants from Fairmount Farms on Lincoln Street at 8 a.m.


“We are working with Fairmount Farms again this year to create beautiful red, white and yellow displays,” says Beautification Day Chairperson Eileen Mason. “We are fortunate to have the continuing support of the FHS Hockey teams, and this year the YMCA has also stepped up. It’s our strong community spirit that helps us make a welcoming impression on the public.”

Beautification Day’s heavy lifting is accomplished by volunteers, some of whom work year-round planning, growing, planting, watering and maintaining the decorations. Donations and sponsorship are still needed. Fairway Independent Mortgage and D.G. Ranieri Real Estate are gold sponsors this year.

Additionally, proceeds from a fundraiser at Pour Richard’s Wine and Spirits will help to offset the costs. The entire community is invited to a wine and beer tasting event on May 7 from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. at Pour Richard’s, 14 Grove Street. Tickets are $10 per person.

Anyone interested in sponsoring or volunteering for Beautification Day should contact Eileen Mason at emason11@verizon.net.  Anyone interested in assisting the downtown clean-up committee can e-mail Chris Bond at c.bond@murphybusiness.com or Jim Schultz at  jims@fairwaymc.com . Gold and platinum-level sponsors will have their names prominently displayed on a sign in the center island for the 2013 season. Silver sponsors will have their name displayed on a group sign in the center island for the remainder of the year. Details about sponsorship can be found at franklindowntownpartnership.org/.

The Franklin Downtown Partnership is a non-profit, 501(c)3 organization and all contributions are tax deductible. Please make checks payable to: Franklin Downtown Partnership, P.O. Box 413, Franklin, MA, 02038. For more information about the Partnership and becoming a member contact Executive Director Lisa Piana at (774)571-3109 or downtown.franklin@yahoo.com.



This was originally posted to
http://www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/2013/04/beautification-press-release.html

In the News: Best Buddies, All Night Party, tea party, Summer courses


Best Buddies Dodge Ball Tournament Set

The first annual Best Buddies Dodge Ball Tournament will be held at the Horace Mann Middle School on Sunday, May 5, 2-5 p.m.

Franklin All Night Party chaperones meeting set
The All Night Party is holding a chaperone meeting on Wednesday, May 15, 7 p.m., in the Franklin High School cafeteria.

Franklin High School All Night Party Bottle and Can Drive
The Franklin High School All Night Party will be having a bottle and drive on Saturday, May 11th, 8am in the FHS parking lot.

Franklin Rec slates Mother’s Day tea party
The Franklin Recreation Department is hosting a Mother’s Day Mother-Daughter Tea Party on Friday, May 10, 3:30-5:30 p.m. at the recreation department, 150 Emmons St., Franklin.

Franklin STAR program expands summer courses
The Franklin Public Schools Summer STAR program has expanded its summer courses and is offering new classes specifically designed for incoming 5th and 6th grade students.


Boston Transportation Services Update

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Live reporting - closing

K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT 
Budget hearings May 15, May 16
Earth Day - Saturday, Apr 27

Flag lowering - performed as instructed by the Governor, only for the facilities not for all the flags
originally through to Sat, then amended to Monday and then further to today

Regent Circle will get addressed in the next 60 days
will be aligning with water, sewer and road plans in the future
would like to do more with the roads but we don't have the money
we have other obligations to consider, I don't have other options other than a dedicated override for roads


L. OLD BUSINESS 
get the listing of the facility tickets

M. NEW BUSINESS 
Regent Circle, it will be repaired but not reconstructed

Steve Derderian, I appreciate the presentation, it was thorough, details and you have a lot on your plate
no one dispute that is in horrendous conditions
you are slipping further and further
you clearly need a funding source year in and year out
chip sealed done 25 years ago
if I had a budget, it is getting back to basics, here is a fifty year old road that has never had proper repair
I voted for the high school

Diane Martin - I was told two years ago that the road wasn't on the next ten year plan and to bring it to the Town Council, safety is a concern, we are looking for road reconstruction

Nutting - we start planning things a year or two ahead, in the short term we are going to fill some holes, we are going to use hot top, not cold patch, it will be makeshift until we can rebuild
the dilemma we have is some get fixed with the water line and others not
$55,000 but that doesn't do the water line

Cantoreggi - it has got to the point where it needs to be reconstructed
we are going to take care of the safety sections of the road, it may not look great but it will be safe

Bissanti - I hear what you are saying, I think what you are asking is to be moved up on the list

Pfeffer- we can't just do Regent Circle
it is not worth doing your street without doing the water
we are doing the best we can

Jones - we understand your complaints, I know the condition it is, the underlying issue is money
168 miles of road, I am convinced the plan we have is in good condition, the only way to gain additional money is through an override, there has been only one successful.

Kelly - we are all listening to you, I live on Crescent St. Getting on the Council is not a way to get it done anyway quicker. We are trying to play catch up. Prior to ten years ago, there was nothing, the capital planning now is better than it was. there is no money left. The budget is level funded, if there was anything left I would spend it. There is not a councilor here who doesn't want to fix this but we need the money.

Dellorco - After the last meeting, I drove your road. It is horrible. Brutus you will do a good job here. Come back and tell us how good they did

Brutus - we don't do cold patch anymore, the stuff we use is better

Nutting - we can get a date later this year when we get our water master plan

Vallee - what is happening with the corner of Cottage and Union?
Nutting - calls have been made and no return has been received, we may need to get our Representative involved

N. COUNCIL COMMENTS 
Dellorco - my condolences to those involved, kudos to the Metro SWAT team they did really well

Powderly - really best of humanity that we saw, every single person responded well, it showed the best of who we can be

Bissanti - commend the men in blue and yellow coats, made me proud to be an American

Jones - god bless anyone who was hurt
kudos to the Watertown Police dept

congratulate Hamilton Technology, grand opening this week, there may even be an expansion

Pfeffer - congrats to the Cultural Council

Vallee - Does D'Angelo have staff?
Nutting - has one person got sick from mold? no
we have less custodians, less employees, a lot more square feet to manage, the complexity of the job is incredible, go find another town and see if there buildings beat ours



O. EXECUTIVE SESSION 
Negotiations, Litigation, Real Property, as May Be Required 


P. ADJOURN 

motion to adjourn, passed 8-0

Live reporting - action items


I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS 

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION 
1. Resolution 13-24: Authorization for Town Administrator to Execute Mass DOT Land Damage Agreement in Connection with Route 140 Improvements
an easement to the State for the traffic light for the Big Y
motion to approve, passed 8-0

2. Resolution 13-29: Authorization to Sign Amended Regulatory Agreement for Meadowbrook Heights
switching units within the plan
motion to approve, passed 8-0

3. Bylaw Amendment 13-700: Amendment of Chapter 82. Appendix A, List of Service Fee Rates – 2nd Reading
effective Jul 1, an increase of $8 to the trash fee
motion to approve, passed 8-0 (via roll call)

4. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 13-701: Amendment to Chapter 185, Section 3. Definitions – 1st Reading
5. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 13-702: Amendment to Chapter 185, Section 36. Impervious Surfaces – 1st Reading
6. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 13-703: Amendment to Chapter 185, Section 40. Water Resource District – 1st Reading
7. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 13-704: Amendment to Chapter 185, Attachment 9. Schedule of Lot, Area, Frontage, Yard and Height Requirements – 1st Reading
motion to move to May 15th
motion to approve, passed 8-0

8. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 13-705: Amendment to Chapter 185, Section 5. Zoning Map – 1st Reading
motion to move to second reading
motion to approve, passed 8-0

Live reporting - DPW Upcoming Projects



DPW Director – Brutus Cantoreggi 
Mike Maglio - Asst Town Engineer

2013 water system improvements
Lincoln St
Daniels St
about a mile and half of water line, will be disruptive, part of appropriation 2 years ago
Replace waterline
(see photo of slide to be added)
probably not start until the Fall

updating the master plan for the water line, will tie to the road condition report

Crecent and Garfield, East and West (see photos from weekend walk)

Grove St
Ledge St
Beaver st Recycling Center

highway improvements
Miller St, Green St, Wylie Rd

Prospect St
culvert repair

Panther Way - construct the sidewalk, needed for the high school

Near Parmenter School on King St (recently approved)

Crack, chip and seal
listing of roads, about $250K 

Sewer system improvements
new grinder pumps at Jefferson Rd and Miliken Rd

'swifter's' stuff up the pumps
please properly dispose of these, do not put down the toilet

Downtown construction project
going out to bid this fall, most work next year

DelCarte dam project
going pretty dam good!

Lincoln St, shares bridge with Medway
phase 1, should save both towns lots of money

New DPW entrance on Hayward

sign inventory, 

improve and create turning lane at Panther Way coming out to RT 140

construct new building for DPW storage, design is out for bid right now

Earth Day- Beaver St 9:00 to 1:00 on Satu Apr 27th

If you give me the money, I'll spend it

Dellorco - Panther Way, sidewalks on both sides?
Miglio - on one side, on the side of the Police Station

Street signs, standard from Federal government, now upper and lower case, so it seems lower
We have a sign shop and we save a lot of money that way

it is truly a good staff down there, it is a pretty substantial list

Adjusting hours at the recycling center is labor cost, I could put some numbers together

in the next 60 days, we'll do some patching there
one of the reasons we did the outside engineer firm to do our road condition report, so we would not have our 'inside' view. It is on the website so you can see what your rating

I have plans for other roads up there but I don't have funding for Regent Circle
I have focused on the major reconstructions on the wagon wheel roads, Chestnut street we overlay-ed it, was it the best plan, no but it works.

We don't just through darts on the wall, we have a plan
everybody in this town works with limited funds


Live reporting - Facilities


G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
none


H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
Facilities Director – Michael D’Angelo
The old municipal building now housing the Recreation Department

built in 1894, added to in 1968
consultants came in to see what the conditions are, what the options would be to use or re-use
ramp system is in poor condition, masonry of original building in need of re-pointing
metal doors require replacement
ballaster on the railings going up the stairs don't meet current code
HVAC needs updates
cost estimates provided don't include paint, paper, etc.
$2.2 M price tag

relocate the Recreation Dept.
Could the Town lease?

Many items are maintenance items, who has not been taking care of this?
The council tried to sell this six years ago and didn't get a buyer

Nutting - We didn't want to spend the money to fix

Pfeffer - You haven't done anything with this building
D'Angelo - I wouldn't recommend anything other than selling it
Pfeffer- you never reported to use what the costs are for repairing this building

Bissanti - I am confused. perhaps it needs to be demolished, I don't know why we are trying to hang on to it

Nutting - We have been using the building with other departments there, now there is only one
We've been twiddling our thumbs since 2007 since the market tanked
Was priced at $1M, offered at $700K and the council didn't want to take it
The land is more valuable than the building
this is prime space downtown

Jones - does it or not include asbestos/
D'Angelo - hard to tell without testing, it was built along time ago so there may not be much as one built in the 40's or 50's
Jones - is there mold?
D'Angelo - I don't know, for some reason the building has never had a real ventilation issue
Jones - I think it needs to go, something needs to be done with the corner

Powderly - the question is whether we want to hold, it sell it or raze it
this is an exorbitant amount of money, I would like to see what we could get for it
there are lot of safety questions and we have people going in there regularly, if we don't know what is there, then we would need to get out of there

Nutting - I think you're jumping the gun, you need to replace the parking for the Post Office, 

Kelly - if this building should be knocked down, and we have the recreation dept in there, we need to get the family and kids out

Nutting - these are safety issues only if you re-do the building

Kelly - countless meetings of the capital  committee over the years, we need the details, we make the decisions. 

Bissanti - if we want to sell the building, we can craft the RFP to provide us coverage during the downtown project. Developers would be more than willing to make that concession. 

Pfeffer - this is an asset that we are not taking care of, are there any others that we are not taking care of

D'Angelo - the old museum, we moved out of

Nutting - we are doing a study on the library, we did the outside, we are updating the inside with the new set of plans

Jones - I have concerns about the building and with community working and coming to it, we should relocate the Recreation Dept as soon as possible. I would tear the building down and use it for parking during the construction

Nutting - you can lease, sell, lots of options that you could explore before the Council makes a decision

Jefferson School
Design on replacement of roof system, bids due back on May 9th, hope to bring the project to you on the 15th

Pfeffer - the last time you came you said there was no mold, it was tested in one spot where it was leaking
D'Angelo - tested in one spot with the ceiling tile, no other visible spots where it would likely be, currently 2 areas where water comes in

Pfeffer - we brought this up last year nothing has been done since then 

Kelly - I was told there were 26 tiles replaced during the vacation
D'Angelo - mostly in those two main areas

D'Angelo - with single ply roofing, we are always chasing leaks and always fixing leaks

Kelly - we asked to see a listing of work orders, we still haven't seen it
Mercer - I asked for it
D'Angelo - what time frame would you like the report for?
Mercer - last year
D'Angelo - I'll get Mr Nutting the report to distribute it to you

D'Angelo - the engineer that came out did the checks, he does it for a living, it is a metal deck system, mostly mold needs something to grow on. Just change the tile, it is the easiest way to go. Even the best roofer in the world doesn't find every leak on every trip

Mercer - during the Horace Mann project we became very mold aware, we kept records on that for 5 years, I received a report every 90 days. That was part of the contractor report that we should be doing at Jefferson?

D'Angelo - we had a leak at Horace Mann that had never showed up before, we patched, it leaked again, it did do more damage, we replace sheet rock, dried out the cavity and it has rained since then with nothing else happening

Mercer - do we go back and test?
D'Angelo - yes, right away

Cerel - there are hundreds of thousands of species of mold, some are more common than others, some are more dangerous than others

Mercer - that was not a hard thing to do, to get the report every 90 days
D'Angelo - you are in a priority spot right now, there is no big secret that there is mold up there, at least out in the rumor mill right now


Live reporting: Hearings


F. HEARINGS - 7:10 PM
1. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 13-701: Changes to Chapter 185, Section 3. Definitions 
2. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 13-702: Changes to Chapter 185, Section 36. Impervious Surfaces
3. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 13-703: Changes to Chapter 185, Section 40. Water Resource District
4. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 13-704: Changes to Chapter 185, Attachment 9. Schedule of Lot, Area, Frontage, Yard and Height Requirements
motion to move these items to another meeting.
reason, the Planning Board has these under discussion but hasn't completed their hearing yet to make a recommendation to the Town Council. Moving the items out to another meeting gives them the time to do so

5. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 13-705: Changes to Chapter 185, Section 5. Zoning Map

This came through the Economic Development Council

motion to close hearing, passed 8-0
motion to move to first reading, passed 8-0


Live reporting: Town Council - Apr 24, 2013

Present: Mercer, Dellorco, Kelly, Powderly, Vallee, Pfeffer, Jones, Bissanti
Absent: Roy


A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
February 13, 2013, March 27, 2012 
adjust March 27, 2012 to 2013
motion to approve, passed 8-0

B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast channel 11 and Verizon channel 29. This meeting may be recorded by Franklin Matters.

C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
none

D. CITIZEN COMMENTS 
Steve Derdierian
Regent Circle resident

brings the road condition back to the discussion, did a separate survey and analysis of the worst conditions roads, Regent came out 7th in this listing so as bad as it is there are worse roads

Earl Martin
Regent Circle


E. APPOINTMENTS
none


Parmenter Book Fair

The Parmenter School sign on Weds morning. A dreary start to the day but one that should brighten and warm up, assuming the weather forecast holds true.


The Book Fair starts Thursday and runs through May 1 when the "Night of the Arts" is held at the school.




Boston Strong Spirit Day Friday 4/26/13


A message from FRANKLIN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

Join the Franklin Public Schools in a "Boston Strong" Spirit Day!

Wear your favorite Boston team's spirit wear or red, white and blue this Friday, April 26th.

The suggested donation for participation is $1 dollar.

All proceeds will be donated to the One Fund Boston, Inc.
Checks can be made out to the Town of Franklin.

Thank you!
This e-mail has been sent to you by FRANKLIN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT. To maximize their communication with you, you may be receiving this e-mail in addition to a phone call with the same message. If you wish to discontinue this service, please inform FRANKLIN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT IN PERSON, by US MAIL, or by TELEPHONE at (508) 613-1777.