Town Council recap - capital money spent, DelCarte playground to be replaced (again)

Much of the Town Council business actions on Wednesday were of the 'standard' type. Approval for a new appointment to the Cultural Council. Liquor license transfer from Annie's Market to BJ's (marking the end of an era for Franklin). Acceptance of the reorganization at Alumni Restaurant as the mother passes the license to her daughter.

The money side of the business saw the Council approve of capital expenses. 

$115,000 toward the purchase of a new fire truck. This is part of the 5 year rotation of vehicles. Some money is set aside each year. This was added to the $485,000 saved already for the expected $600,000 total.

A total of $1,681,000 was authorized for a variety of capital needs across the Town and School departments. The full listing of items can be found here
http://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/mai/files/resolution_capital_17_-10_revised.pdf

$665,000 was approved to be spent on capital from the Water Enterprise account. The enterprise account set of water receives the fee from our water use and pays for its services from the fees to be self sustaining. The fee will occasionally be set for an increase to cover expenses.
http://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/mai/files/resolution_17-11_wtr_enterprise_capital.pdf

$610,000 was approved to be spent from the Sewer Enterprise account. Also an enterprise account, the sewer fees are set aside to cover the sewer related expenses.
http://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/mai/files/resolution_17-12_swr_enterprise_capital.pdf

In the Town Administrator summary of the meeting it was announced that the playground at DelCarte had seen additional problems over the winter event though it was covered. Franklin has worked with the manufacturer to get a full replacement of the unit. This time they will use a more standard material set (steel and plastic) rather than the concrete mix which, although it is reported to be working well in other installations, has not been successful here. The removal and replacement of the playground unit will likely keep the playground from being used for several weeks. It is anticipated to be available for June 1. There is no cost to Franklin for this work.

The Franklin TV video of the meeting is available for replay on demand here
http://view.earthchannel.com/PlayerController.aspx?PGD=franknma&eID=438

The official actions taken listing can be viewed here:

• Live reporting: Closing, etc.
• Live reporting: Town Council - March 1, 2017

playground at DelCarte will be removed and replaced with a new unit of more standard materials

"the playground problems are unfortunate"

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"The town will replace the popular DelCarte playground because of continuing problems with the equipment's structural integrity, officials announced this week. 

Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting raised the matter at Wednesday's Town Council meeting, saying a recent check of the playground equipment revealed new cracks. That discovery, he said, prompted the Recreation Department to call in the contractor that installed the equipment. 

"We asked them to replace the entire playground with something more traditional - something we can use throughout the year," he said. 

The contractor agreed to replace the playground and provide credit toward a future project, he said. Nutting said the contractor could not determine the problem - installations using the same material had worked well in other locations."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170303/franklins-delcarte-playground

the white bundle will be uncovered and removed. The process of replacement will take several weeks

Additional info from my live reporting of the Town Council meeting on Wednesday
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/03/live-reporting-closing-etc.html

Live reporting: Closing, etc.

K. Town Administrator's Report	(updates provided during meeting) DelCarte playground still having a problem even after coverage did a deal with the company to get a total replacement with a new one and coverage for another unit if needed Company will replace at their expense, no cost to Franklin concern about the timing of the replacement given their record the current tree was formed from a special concrete and just not lasting
L. Future Agenda Items	would like opportunity to revisit wording of the online training section of the TIp training
M. Council Comments	when I made my comments on the COrnetta's application, it was a nice clean job, very complete purchase of property on Union and Cottage St Vallee curious on how this came up again? the propoerty is apparently under a purchase agreement before it was a five acre lot, and now it is less could not do much with it if we got it anyway Jones Franklin Almanac episode 3 all poles to be installed at PIsani Field, lights were donated to and they are coming high school fields are on schedule, will be ready to go April 1 ' compliments on the hard work to get all the work done and ready for Spring Dellorco great job on the fields Bissanti great job on the Senior Center inspired by the attendence and turn out Pfefffer had an article the day before, but missed the day of wonderful programs, blood pressure, games, chair exercises new parking lot, furnature and colors are bright and cheerful Kelly Secretary of Elders Affairs appeared acknowledged everyone wants a senior center like ours, how do we do it? we are taking good care of our seniors
N. Executive Session	(not scheduled)
O. Adjourn motion to adjourn, passed 8-0

the cover did not help this winter, as noted in the meeting, the whole playground unit at DelCarte unit is to be removed and
replaced by the vendor with no cost to the Town

DelCarte Pond Herbicide Treatment - Timeline for 2017

During 2017 and 2018, herbicide treatments will be applied to the DelCarte Ponds as part of the restoration and preservation of this important recreation area. The treatments are designed to eliminate the invasive plant species which are proliferating rapidly and threaten to completely “take over” the waterbodies unless action is taken to stop their spread.

The time frame for this work is as follows:

• Prepare and File MA DEP License to Apply Chemicals Permit - APRIL
• Pre-Treatment Survey – MAY
• Variable Milfoil Treatment – EARLY JUNE
• Initial Water Chestnut Treatment – EARLY JUNE
• Interim Survey – LATE JUNE
• Follow-Up Water Chestnut Treatment – EARLY JULY
• Final Post-Treatment Survey – AUGUST/SEPTEMBER
• Year-End Report – NOVEMBER/DECEMBER

Signs will be posted at the ponds concerning this work it is important to bear in mind that ON THE DAY OF THE TREATMENTS, USE OF THE PONDS WILL BE RESTRICTED.

Any questions on this project should be directed to the Conservation office at 508-520-4929.

The northern pond at DelCarte in winter

This was shared from the Town of Franklin webpage
http://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/news/delcarte_pond_herbicide_treatment_notice_0.pdf

In the News: Milford schools exploring panic button; Master Plan progress noted

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"School officials are targeting a February date to debut a smart phone panic button program to better alert faculty, staff, students and families in the event of an emergency. 

The Rave Mobile Safety program will be implemented sometime in late winter, said Superintendent Kevin McIntyre at Thursday's School Committee meeting. 

IT Director Matthew Joseph has taken on the rollout of the program, working "hand-in-hand" with the Police Department and Chief Tom O'Loughlin. 

Joseph, O'Loughlin and school administrators have been working throughout the school year on the program, which is essentially a smart phone app that allows a faculty member to alert authorities with the click of a button."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170105/milford-schools-smart-phone-panic-button-program-coming-in-february

"Town officials said Franklin has made good progress over the past year toward its master plan goals, but the town still needs less costly housing. 

The Town Council considered the matter at its Wednesday night meeting as part of a yearly review. 

Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting said one of the highlights of the town's 2016 efforts involved improving the DelCarte Conservation Property, which helps fulfill a goal that the town protect natural resources. 

"A management study for the DelCarte property is out," he said, adding that the town was beginning its efforts to combat invasive weeds in the ponds there."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20170105/franklin-council-reviews-master-plan-progress

frozen pond at DelCarte

The DelCarte playground will be covered up during the winter

Dear Residents

Please note, the DelCarte playground will be covered up this week for winter to help protect the playground after it was repaired this past Spring. 

We want to be on the safe side!

The playground will reopen in March.

the DelCarte playground will be covered up during the winter

This was shared from the Town of Franklin page
http://www.franklinma.gov/home/news/delcarte-playground-closing-winter

DelCarte Open Space - 11/12/16 (video)

A brief video to share of the DelCarte open space that I took while on my walk Saturday morning.

Other videos recorded at DelCarte

• Video from Dec 2012

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/12/delcarte-property-video.html

• Video from Oct 2013

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/10/delcarte-property-video.html

• Video from Mar 2014

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/03/delcarte-property-winter-wonderland.html

DelCarte Open Space Guidebook

The Guide Book for DelCarte Open Space Area has been published. Much of it seems to have been repurposed from the invasive species study conducted last year, this guide book focuses less on the technical aspects of the recreational space and more on how to utilize the space. Trail maps, sample photos of the wild life and fish are included.

You can read it and download it from here



or here
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0wjbnXDBhczdXV2UkM5NkFxc2M


Or from the Town of Franklin webpage here
http://franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_News/024BA540-000F8513

on the northern pond at DelCarte

• The full study can be found here

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/02/ecological-and-management-study-of.html

"will look to introduce the herbicides when they would be most effective"

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"The town has released the final version of a study of ponds at the DelCarte property as conservation efforts move forward. 

The study was conducted by Rhode Island firm ESS Group and examines the four ponds on the conservation property. Its draft - which stated that invasive plant and fish species pose a threat to the ponds - was released in February. 

Town Conservation Agent George Russell said the final version of the document was unchanged from the draft. Town officials, he said, had reviewed the study and determined that no changes to its text were needed."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160809/franklin-pond-conservation-efforts-moving-forward

The full final report on the DelCarte ponds can be found here
http://www.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_News/0248C390-000F8513

the fall foliage along the DelCarte property

Conservation Commission discusses the DelCarte Open Space (video)

Conservation Agent George Russell and Conservation Commission Chair Jeff Livingstone sat down with Ken Norman in the fall of 2015 to talk about the work of the Conservation Commission and DelCarte Open Space.

• The study mentioned can be found here:

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/02/ecological-and-management-study-of.html

The Town Council did approve funding for the remediation steps outlined to gradually reduce the invasive plant species in the water.

A recent photo shows the spread of water lilies and other plants over the water surface at DelCarte

In the News: DelCarte playground repairs delayed, Tri-County compete for Innovator Award, ice skating academy registration open

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin

Rain has delayed repair work on the playground at the DelCarte conservation property, town officials said. 

Workers were slated to perform structural repairs to the equipment at the end of last week, but the poor weather has halted the project. 

Deputy Town Administrator Jamie Hellen said, since a portion of the work involves pouring concrete, the rain led to delays. Work will likely begin when more sunny days are in the forecast. 

At a recent Town Council meeting, Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting said the project itself will likely take two to three days. After the concrete is poured and the playground structure is welded, the Department of Public Works will place mulch at its base.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160506/rain-delays-franklin-playground-repairs

the kids playground at DelCarte is currently closed for repairs

A microgravity scale designed by students at Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School received second-place honors in the For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Future Innovator Award competition. 

Engineering Technology seniors Kevin Kohls, of Millis, Tyler Thomas, of North Attleborough, and Thomas Vagnini, of Medfield, traveled to St. Louis on April 28 to represent their classmates as finalists in the national competition. 

The FIRST Future Innovator Award is open to all FIRST Robotics teams. The award recognizes students who invent a product that effectively solves a real-world, complex problem. Competitors were asked to submit a summary of the problem and an explanation of their invention. Submissions were judged based on the complexity of the problem and effectiveness of the invention in solving that problem.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160506/tri-county-regional-students-win-at-future-innovator-award-competition

FMC Ice Sports’ Pirelli Veterans Arena, 910 Panthers Way, Franklin, will present summer skating academies Aug. 1-5. 

The academies will bundle practice and instruction to provide every skater the opportunity to experience various skating disciplines while focusing on the overall development of the skater. Each day will offer 4 hours of on-ice class instruction and 1 hour of off-ice teaching with the arena’s team of experienced instructors. 

Participants must be at least 6 years of age by July 1, and have passed the Ice Skating Institute Alpha test or U.S. Figure Skating pre-preliminary test. Skaters will be grouped by ability and age and should bring skates, bottled water, clothing for on-ice activities, sneakers for off-ice training and lunch. 

To register or for more information, visit http://fmcicesports.com/program/advanced-figure-skating-academy.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160506/franklin-fmc-ice-sports-to-offer-summer-skating-academies

"we use the trail often, and it's nice to give back"

"The town held a volunteer cleanup of its DelCarte Conservation Property on Saturday in what officials hope will become an annual tradition. 

The event - which ran from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. at the Pleasant Street property - had people picking up trash, planting and raking. 

Conservation Commission member Tara Henrichon, who helped organize the cleanup, said the event was going "amazingly well." 

"We have about 20 to 25 people so far," she said. "There are a bunch of projects - we're adding natural plants to the rain garden and about 10 to 12 people are out on the trails... We're also clearing out invasive plants."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160423/franklin-being-kind-to-mother-nature

Folks out and about cleaning up at DelCarte

The ladies from Starbucks with full trash bags

Deputy Town Administrator Jamie Hellen helped to knock down and spread out a pile of mulch

It was good to see more than 30 people come out for this event. Town Administrator Jeff Nutting and several members of the Conservation Commission participated.

Thanks to Soren, a student from BFCCPS, who helped me work on spreading the pile of mulch.

In the News: School Committee hears about counseling, Atty General Healy looking for equal pay, DelCarte clean up scheduled

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin

"The School Committee heard an extensive presentation on district counseling efforts this week. 

The committee at its Tuesday night meeting listened to several members of the counseling staff - as well as some students - as they outlined initiatives at the elementary, middle school and high school levels. 

Committee Chairman Kevin O'Malley said the role of school counselors had changed dramatically from the days when the focus was college and job preparedness. 

"School counseling is not what it used to be," he said. "It has never been more involved or far-reaching."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160414/franklin-schools-work-to-develop-counseling

The Franklin Matters reporting on the School Committee meeting can be found here  http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/04/storify-real-time-reporting-school.html

"Attorney General Maura Healey calculates that she could have purchased 1 million cups of coffee with the additional wages she would have earned if she were paid the same as her male co-workers. 

“It is long past the time to get this done,” said Healey, who joined with state Treasurer Deborah Goldberg, State Auditor Suzanne Bump and dozens of male and female legislators by the Statehouse’s Grand Staircase for Equal Pay Day, which was Tuesday. 

Chief among the topics was a pay equity bill (S 983) that prohibits employers from discriminating on wages based on gender. 

The bill would make it illegal for a company to ask what a job applicant made in a previous job, which Healey said often used as a way to keep women’s salaries down. The legislation would also bar any prohibitions against employees discussing their wages with each other."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160414/legislators-stump-for-equal-pay

"The Conservation Commission is seeking volunteers for a cleanup of the DelCarte Conservation property next weekend. 

The cleanup - scheduled for 8 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 23 - is the first such event at the 136-acre Pleasant Street property, which the town has opened up for recreational uses. 

Town Conservation Agent George Russell said the work that day would likely involve mostly trash pick-up. 

"It's more a maintenance issue than anything," he said, adding that the work would take place along the property's trails and picnic areas."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160414/franklin-delcarte-cleanup-scheduled-for-april-23

the playground at DelCarte is currently closed for repair but scheduled to be re-opened for May

Earth Day trails project at the DelCarte Recreation area - Apr 23

Dear Franklin residents: 

We are writing to invite you to participate in an Earth Day trails project at the DelCarte Recreation area on Pleasant Street in Franklin. 

DelCarte is a 136 acre conservation area, managed by the Conservation Commission. This unique property offers multiple recreation opportunities for our Town residents including picnicking, birding, fishing, canoeing/kayaking or hiking along the dam, meandering past wetlands and through wooded upland trails. 

With spring’s arrival, it is a perfect time to refresh the trails and picnic areas, pruning back fallen branches, raking leaves, making sure trail markers are in place and low lying trails are passable. 

On Saturday, April 23rd , the Commission will be hosting a 1st annual clean-up of DelCarte, from 8am – 11am. The morning will include projects led by Conservation Commissioners familiar with the trails, light snacks, and an informative talk on our local wildlife led by Mass Audubon Sanctuary Director, Doug Williams. 

For more information call Conservation Commission at 508-520-4929 

Thanks so much for your participation. 

Sincerely, 

George Russell, AICP
Town of Franklin Conservation Agent
355 East Central Street
Franklin, MA 02038
conservation@franklin.ma.us

an early morning view from the MBTA Franklin train to Boston

• Video from Dec 2012

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/12/delcarte-property-video.html

• Video from Oct 2013

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/10/delcarte-property-video.html

• Video from Mar 2014

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/03/delcarte-property-winter-wonderland.html


This notification was shared from the official Town of Franklin page
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_News/02390411-000F8513

In the News: DelCarte playground repairs scheduled, Medway board to consider site design

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin

"Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting, speaking at last week's Town Council meeting, said officials have met with the playground manufacturer. 

"We had a very productive meeting," he said. "They made a proposal to move forward on testing the concrete and the soil, and to come back and disassemble a portion of it and weld it back together, so it doesn't keep popping from the ice." 

Nutting said company representatives expect they can do the work at the end of April - assuming the weather is fair. The job would take two or three days. 

"They'll bear all expenses in this matter," he said. "Any final decision would be contingent on having a warranty, so we're not doing this over and over again."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160318/franklin-playground-repair-work-slated-for-april

DelCarte playground - currently closed for repairs that are scheduled for the end of April

Medway Planning and Economic Development Board meeting

"Exelon’s project represents a much larger proposal at a cost of about $240 million, according to an environmental report. 

The company hopes to build a 200-megawatt expansion of its existing Summer Street power plant, which currently only produces about 117 megawatts of energy via three oil-fired turbines. 

Two new turbines are proposed, along with two 160-foot-tall stacks, a 1-million-gallon fuel oil tank, a 500,000-gallon water tank, a 450,000-gallon demineralized water tank and a 12,000-gallon aqueous ammonia storage tank. 

The board is restricted to only dealing with engineering and site design issues, as the state Energy Facilities Siting Board has the final say as to whether the company can build."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160318/exelon-eversoure-to-dominate-board-meeting-march-22

Franklin Parks and Recreation Space (video)

Have you been to all the parks and recreation spaces in Franklin?



Franklin Park Compilation from Nick Nurnberg on Vimeo.


For more info on the parks and recreation spaces
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Recreation/fields/index

from the south end of the southern basin at DelCarte

For more about the ecology of DelCarte
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczS21jQkFfb19PeHc/view?usp=sharing

In the News: invasive plant attack, voter turnout trends

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin

"It concluded that the major problem is invasive plant life," he said. "Until that is addressed, all other life will be choked out." 

The study, conducted to evaluate obstacles to the ponds' recreational use, stated that non-native aquatic plants (milfoil and water chestnut) and invasive carp are threats to the native life at DelCarte. 

"Those fish (carp) will eventually take over the whole water body," Russell said. "A single-species ecosystem is unhealthy." 

Russell said the town's three-year plan - based on the study's recommendations - would call for the application of herbicides in years one and two and bolstering the ponds' spawning habitat in year three.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160228/franklin-looking-to-curb-invasive-species

The ESS Study referred to in the article can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/02/ecological-and-management-study-of.html

DelCarte in autumn color

Ashland Town Clerk Tara Ward remembers the spring town election of 2014.
All day and into the evening, Ward and her staff manned voting stations. 

When the polls closed, it didn't take long to tally the results: Only 211 people voted. 

"I was telling my election workers to vote," said Ward. "I was floored." 

Ward's experience isn't unique in MetroWest, where residents come out in droves for presidential and state elections, but skip local races.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160228/towns-see-consistently-low-turnouts-for-local-elections

While not one of the communities listed in this article, Franklin's voting record aligns with the other communities. The numbers for elections from 2003 through 2014 can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/11/franklin-voter-turnout-2003-2014.html

Town Council meeting 2/24/16 - missing portion

I was able to report on the Council meeting via the live broadcast for a portion of the Wednesday meeting. Left to handle a business meeting and returned to catch the end of the lengthy meeting. This portion I caught via the video replay.

As with the other Storify summaries I have posted, be sure to scroll within the widget to see all the entries.

A member of the Conservation Commission and the Franklin Conservation Agent George Russell

In the News: DelCarte playground closed again, try hockey for free

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin

The playground at the DelCarte Conservation Area - which was closed for much of last summer - is once again facing problems, town officials said. 

The Pleasant Street playground - notable for its slide that resembles a tree - first opened in fall 2014, but was shut down for some time last year. 

"Last winter or early spring, we discovered the playground had structural issues," said Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting. "It was closed off for many, many months."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160218/franklin-problems-recur-at-delcarte-playground

DelCarte playground as closed in May 2015

The Franklin Youth Hockey Association will hold a Try Hockey for Free event from 1:30 to 2:20 p.m. Feb. 20 at Veteran’s Arena, 910 Panther Way. The event will provide ages 4-9 a free experience to try youth hockey. 

A limited amount of equipment is available to borrow, and children do not need any previous skating or hockey experience.The event is sponsored by USA Hockey and will be supported by the Boston Bruins. 

The Bruins will send their youth hockey coaches, street team and mascot, Blades. 

To register, visit tryhockeyforfree.com/register.php?e=6315.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160218/franklin-youth-hockey-to-hold-try-hockey-for-free-event

In the News: DelCarte ecology study released, bylaw considered on alcohol training

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin

The town released the results of a study on the ponds at the DelCarte Conservation Area last week. 

The study, conducted by the Rhode Island firm ESS Group, lays out the challenges faced by the four ponds on the property and the best ways to address them. It concludes that the bodies of water do have threats to their ecological health. 

"Opportunities that are currently afforded by the pond system include fishing, canoeing, hiking and wildlife viewing," the report reads. "The system is significantly impacted by non-native aquatic plants (milfoil and water chestnut), which are reducing the ponds' capacity to provide the ecologically healthy habitat that these activities rely upon."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160216/franklin-releases-delcarte-pond-study

The north pond at DelCarte

The Town Council is considering a proposal that would require training for anyone who serves alcohol in town. 

Town officials have written a draft bylaw requiring managers, bartenders and all employees who sell or serve alcohol to undergo "safe service of alcohol" training. The town will circulate the draft among affected parties and the council is set to take up the subject at a future meeting. 

Town Councilor Andrew Bissanti had raised the matter at several council meetings, as he said the current system - in which some businesses train of their own volition - is insufficient. 

"A lot of times, bartenders and servers have no alcohol-awareness training," he said Monday. "It just made no sense to me."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160215/franklin-considers-alcohol-training-requirement