Franklin Matters: FY 2015

Showing posts with label FY 2015. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Annual Report - 2015: OPEB Trust Committee

The Town Council approved an OPEB* Trust Committee in Fiscal year 15 to manage the funds set aside for the Town’s OPEB unfunded obligation of approximately $90,000,000.

This obligation is for current and future health care cost for town and school retirees. Communities across the Commonwealth face similar problems funding this obligation. While the town is doing its best to fund this obligation it will not be achieved unless state laws are changed to ease our future obligation.

The Trust Committee met on several occasions and decided to invest with the Commonwealth’s PRIT fund to get the higher rate of return on our investment that allowed by law if the town was managing the funds. Our initial allocation into the account will be over $1,800,000.

We will continue to make requests of the Town Council to continue to fund the Trust to help meet our obligation.

Regards,

Jeff Nutting
Susan Gagner
Miriam Goodman
Peter Lounsbury
Greg McNeille
Treasurer, James Dacey

The full recent auditor's report on the OPEB obligation can be found here

http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Comptroller/Post%20Retirement%20Benefits%20Plan.pdf

Franklin's Town Common on a summer day

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http://ecode360.com/10432729?highlight=annual%20report,reports,annual,report#10432729

Shared from the full and complete PDF version of the Town of Franklin Annual Report for 2015

http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Clerk/annual/2015report.pdf

Annual Report - 2015: Cultural Council

Franklin Cultural Council began 2014-2015 concluding the extremely successful Ladybug Project, which enabled over 50 local artists and businesses to participate in a publicly accessible and popular exhibit that was steered ably through the summer by previous FCC Chair Claire Griffin. The council saw the project through to its fruition in October 2014 when the FCC hosted a public event celebrating ‘Ladybug Spots’ and had all the ladybugs on display together in one place for the last time.

Mrs. Griffin’s chairmanship of the FCC was completed in October 2014, and was celebrated at the reception which was generously hosted by The Franklin Art Center. At a subsequent event held at the Franklin Municipal Building, State Representative Roy and Senators Ross and Spilka were in attendance to present one of the Ladybug sculptures to The Town of Franklin as an ongoing reminder to residents and public servants, of the power of petition to local, state and national government in defense local Heritage and the development of Arts, Sciences and Culture within the increasingly urbanized community.

The FCC would like to acknowledge the assistance into the fall of 2014, of Claire Griffin, Chair 2013/2014, Kathy Ginley 2011/2015 Secretary, Marybeth Fraser 2011/2014 Treasurer, Rev. Bob Johnnene 2013/2014, Janet Norman 2011/2014, Cat Colson 2013/2014 and Beth Simon. 2015 brought a change in leadership and new members to the FCC. The Town Franklin Cultural Council is currently represented by:- Kai Olsson Chair, Teresa Burr, Anne Knapp, Justin Haslett, Gia Podobinski, Ian Kabat, Madison Weber and Karen Wellerson-Juhl.

In October 2014 the council solicited local groups to submit grant applications for FCC funding. At its December meeting FCC Members reviewed 73 grants and voted to fund 38 programs. At our annual allocation meeting in Franklin, funding was approved at the same level as in the previous year. In total the sum of $7172.00 was distributed amongst thirty-eight applicants including The 4th of July Coalition, Concerts on the Common, Horace Mann Middle School, Live Arts, various Franklin Public School PCC’s and more. On June 24th, the Cultural Council honored the 2014-2015 award recipients, at a special reception hosted by The Franklin Art Center. Amongst others in attendance were Town Administrator Jeff Nutting, Town Clerk Debbie Pellegri and State Representative Jeff Roy.

The FCC would like to note that on numerous occasions and at various similar events, its members have taken opportunity to inform our local and State Representatives of the widespread popular demand by individuals and cultural organizations for an increase in funding for community events in the area. We would like to also acknowledge that our local and State Representatives are aware of these community aspirations and work diligently to address public concerns.

The FCC is presently reviewing proposals for a sculpted structure to honor local schoolmistress Palma Johnson and her 1974 2nd Grade Kennedy Elementary School class, who instilled “Ladybug pride” from the classroom to the State House and back to the town of Franklin. The FCC will also continue to review various projects should unencumbered funds become available at the conclusion of the FY15 fiscal year. We will continue to report the results of upcoming cultural requirement surveys to the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

Respectfully submitted,

Kai Olsson
FCC Chairman

Franklin Cultural Council banner

For more about the Cultural Council find their page on the web
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_BComm/cultural

The ceremony at the Municipal Building was recorded and photos can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/02/fm-109-delegate-ladybug-lands-in.html

Ladybugs on Parade at the Town Common August 2014
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/08/ladybugs-on-parade.html

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http://ecode360.com/10432729?highlight=annual%20report,reports,annual,report#10432729

Shared from the full and complete PDF version of the Town of Franklin Annual Report for 2015

http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Clerk/annual/2015report.pdf

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Annual Report - 2015: Insurance Advisory Committee

Each of the municipal and school unions, as well as retired employees has a seat on the Town of Franklin Insurance Advisory Committee. It provides recommendations to the Town Administrator on health and dental plans. Meetings are an opportunity for employees from the unions to learn about insurance products, industry trends, and to help identify ways to meet employee needs within the framework of the Affordable Care Act, Massachusetts General Law, and available financial resources.

With the further portions of the Affordable Care Act from the Federal Government on the horizon, we anticipate changes, administrative challenges, and premium increases in the coming years. The original quote for a renewal with Blue Cross Blue Shield was in the double digits – an increase unacceptable to the Committee and the Town.

With the assistance of a consultant we requested quotes from other carriers, and received a very competitive quote for nearly an identical plan from Tufts Health Plan. The Committee verified that the match with current providers was very high and elected to make the change. We sponsored informational sessions at six locations so that all employees and retirees had an opportunity to talk with Tufts representatives in person.

The Town continued a Health Reimbursement Arrangement to help offset hospital in patient costs. We are happy to report that few of our employees required in patient care. The Town provides dental benefits on a totally employee paid basis. The Committee again selected Guardian Life Insurance as the provider for its dental plan no increase to premiums. Approximately 300 employees have elected this benefit.

The Flexible Spending Account vendor was retained. This vendor provides debit cards for employees to use for immediately payment. Employees can avoid an additional out of pocket expense by using the cards. The plan runs on a September 1 through August 31 calendar to more closely coordinate with the Health Insurance Plan and with the school year. We hope the participation in this plan will grow as employees recognize the tax savings available to them, and become more experienced in planning for medical and dependent care costs. Since this program exists on a tax exempt basis, changes at the federal level may cause plan changes. We will monitor any activity about Sec. 125 of the Tax Code to ensure we remain in compliance.

Participants on the IAC brought good questions to the process and have been very effective in exploring alternatives, and making recommendations. The IAC plans to continue its work gaining knowledge about the full insurance program. In the coming year we hope we will be able to reach out through this committee to other employees so that there is greater understanding of benefit plans.

Respectfully Submitted

Stephanie Lutz
Human Resource Director

Franklin Municipal Building

Additional information can be found on the Town of Franklin - Human Resources page
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Human/index

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http://ecode360.com/10432729?highlight=annual%20report,reports,annual,report#10432729

Shared from the full and complete PDF version of the Town of Franklin Annual Report for 2015

http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Clerk/annual/2015report.pdf

Annual Report - 2015: Franklin Housing Authority

BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS

The following Officers were duly elected at the annual organizational meeting of the Franklin Housing Authority held on April 23, 2015.

George A. Danello, Chairman
Christopher K. Feeley, Vice Chairperson
Mark A. Teehan, Treasurer
Diane Padula-O’Neill, Commissioner
Peter L. Brunelli, Commissioner

FHA STAFF

Lisa M. Audette, Executive Director
Candice Day, Administrative Assistant
Carole Blanchard, Office Assistant
Michael Gilligan, Maintenance Supervisor
Frank McAvoy, Maintenance Laborer
James Brunelli, Maintenance Groundskeeper
Anne Ayotte, Service Coordinator

Lisa Audette, Executive Director was elected president of MassNAHRO (Massachusetts Chapter of the National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials) making her the lead advocate for public housing in Massachusetts. As president, she will lead an organization that represents more
than 240 local housing authorities in Massachusetts and will preside over major changes in the delivery of housing services as a new public housing reform law is implemented.

Modernization of the Franklin Housing Authority Properties

A Contract for Financial Assistance from the Department of Housing & Community Development for the purpose of repairing components of the aged agency for their fiscal year ending June 30, 2015 was awarded to the FHA. Several projects were completed using this very timely and important funding including roofs, appliance replacement, electric panel replacement, installation of GFCI outlets and tree removal. Also, Franklin Housing Authority was awarded $24,795 in Health and Safety funds for flooring replacement in the community building.

State Audit

The Auditor’s Office did an audit of the FHA for the period of April 1, 2010 through June 30, 2012. After 3 months of review, no findings were found. The Official Audit Report was issued on September 17, 2013 by the Office of the State Auditor, Suzanne M. Bump.

FHA Property

The Franklin Housing Authority manages 161 units of State Aided Elderly/Disabled Housing, 33 units of low income Family Housing and an 8-unit Group Home. Additionally, the Housing Authority is responsible for a four bedroom congregate facility. This program provides a shared living
environment for its residents who maintain private bedrooms. Congregate housing is a shared living environment and was established for residents who are self-reliant, however may need limited support.

Franklin Housing Authority also owns two single family homes and one duplex in Franklin. These properties are reserved for lease to low-income persons and afford these families the opportunity to reside in a residential neighborhood. Additionally, Franklin Housing Authority is developing
another Chapter 689 housing facility. This housing will be reserved for clients of the Department of Development Services and will be located on Plain Street. Franklin Housing Authority expects to begin construction in late 2015.

Special Events Noted with Appreciation

• Rotary Club members served their annual spaghetti dinner to FHA residents and area seniors complete with all the fixings. John R. Padula was the head Chef and also provided some entertainment along with his brother Tony Dale. Rotary members cooked, served, entertained and picked up after. Rotarians always comment that the smiles and the kind words of appreciation received make their time and efforts very rewarding.

Special Thanks
The Board of Commissioners, Staff and Residents of the Franklin Housing Authority wish to express their thanks and appreciation to the following:
• The Clergy, a continuous support and comfort in the time of need and always.
• Franklin Senior Association Members:

This Association plans pizza parties, holiday gatherings, morning coffee and donuts, card parties and many more events for the enjoyment of all Franklin Seniors.
• Chairman Bob Vallee and all of the Franklin Town Council Members, Town Administrator, Jeffrey Nutting and his staff for their continued support and assistance.
• Council on Aging, Veterans Agent, SHINE Program and Food Pantry for assisting residents with health care concerns and working with the Authority to recognize needs and provide activities, nourishment and specialized services.
• Franklin Police Department, Chief Semerjian and the entire Franklin Police Department for continuous concern, attention and response to the needs of the Authority and its Residents.
• Franklin Fire and Rescue, Chief Gary McCarraher and his department are always professional and respectful.
• Senator Karen Spilka, Senator Richard Ross, Representative Jeffery Roy for their relentless support of the Housing Programs and Bills with the best interest of our residents at heart.
• Governor Baker for his support of Massachusetts public housing.
• Norfolk County Sherriff’s Department and Sheriff Michael Bellotti for including FHA in their inmate community service program.
• Dean Bank and its’ President and CEO Kevin R. Goffe for the generous donation to our Senior Community Hall for the benefit of our residents.

Through the years, the community and the housing authority are finding ways to improve the quality of life for our area seniors and low-income families. With the support of the Commissioners and the community the Franklin Housing Authority continues to be a great, safe and affordable community living opportunity.

Respectfully submitted,

Lisa M. Audette, PHM, MCPPO, Executive Director
franklinhousing.org

Franklin Housing Authority

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http://ecode360.com/10432729?highlight=annual%20report,reports,annual,report#10432729

Shared from the full and complete PDF version of the Town of Franklin Annual Report for 2015

http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Clerk/annual/2015report.pdf

Monday, December 28, 2015

Annual Report - 2015: Fire Department

The Department

The Franklin Fire Department is divided into two divisions: Operations and Maintenance, which is the largest and responsible for dispatch, emergency medical services, fire suppression and hazardous materials response. Administration and Support Services is responsible for personnel, budget and finance, training, code compliance and coordinating the Town’s emergency preparedness.

Franklin (MA) Fire Dept

Our Mission

The mission of the Franklin Fire Department is to:

Have a positive impact in the lives of citizens and visitors of Franklin in their time of crisis by providing compassionate, contemporary, community driven services.
Safeguard human life from the perils of fire, sudden illness, injury or other emergency medical condition, natural and man-made disasters as well as preserve the environment and property from ensuing destruction.
Be responsible for a safe, productive and pleasant work environment for our employees, and provide them opportunities to gain new skills and advance their personal career goals.

Operational Objectives

Initiating advanced life support to patients within 8 minutes of receiving the telephone call at our communications center.
To access, extricate, treat and transport and transport trauma patients to a level one trauma medical facility within one hour of the occurrence of the injury.
Interrupt the progression of fires in structures within 8 minutes of open flame ignition.
To insure response readiness remains greater than 70%.
Provide safety and survival skills for all school students in grade K through 5 consistent with the Student Awareness Fire Education (SAFE) initiative of the Commonwealth.
Provide educational opportunities for department members to insure optimal performance and safety.
To develop and maintain “best practice” to insure personnel and citizen safety.
Insure fire safety through timely, consistent code compliance services to all external customers.
Provide all department services in a manner that satisfies the needs of our customers.

Message from the Fire Chief

Fiscal Year 2015 ended as the busiest year in department history, with nearly 3,800 emergency responses. The department continued to enjoy the benefit of a Federal Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant that provided four replacement Firefighter/Paramedics positions that were lost in 2009. The SAFER Grant will expire in November of Fiscal Year 2016, and with the direction and assistance of the Town Administrator, the department will be able to maintain these positions through the balance of Fiscal Year 2016 and beyond.

This continued support is imperative given the response pattern the department has experienced over the past several years. Over that time, we have seen the number of calls for service that occur back-to-back or simultaneously grow steadily averaging nearly 380 calls per year over the past five years. Back-to-back or simultaneous calls are where the department receives another emergency call for service while managing a call for service (two at a time). Indeed the department, with the guidance of the Town Council has developed our resources to manage this scenario. What is concerning is the frequency of receiving three or more emergency calls simultaneously as we are quickly stripped of resources to respond and typically must rely on out of Town resources. Over the past five years the frequency of 3 or more simultaneous emergency responses has risen by 50%, totaling 360 events in Fiscal Year 2015.

The overwhelming majority of these responses involve requests for emergency medical services. In Fiscal Year 2015, this caused 138 ambulance responses from other Towns into Franklin. The increasing use of out-of-town resources causes delay in our ability to provide timely transport to the hospital emergency room. Franklin’s average response time is 5 minutes, 44 seconds; the average response time for an out-of town ambulance is 12 minutes, 33 seconds – this time difference can have a great impact on the quality of patient outcomes for people with medical emergencies.

This trend of call distribution is compounded by the increasing calls for services. As previously noted, the department responded to nearly 3,800 emergency responses in Fiscal Year 2015, an increase of more than 10% from Fiscal year 2014. We believe this trend is in response to an upturn in our economy. This year saw increased occupancy rates in the Town’s Industrial Parks as well as opening of new businesses and facilities. All of these combine to bring more people into the community and increase our demands for services. We will continue to monitor all of these trends and work with the community to develop strategies to maintain acceptable levels of emergency services within the Town.

The year we welcomed Michael Berthiaume to the department. Mike is a graduate of Franklin High School and comes to the department by way of the Bourne Fire Department – we look forward to his contributions.

Additionally, this year saw the promotion of Joseph Barbieri to the rank of Captain. Joe will be responsible for the department’s fire prevention and life safety operations and brings a great deal of energy and education to this position.

Firefighter Keith Darling has been appointed as the department’s SAFE Officer, responsible for safety training and education for the Town’s young and senior populations.

Congratulations to both!

In addition to emergency response, the department also continued to try to expand its fire prevention education activities, providing safety and survival education to the most vulnerable population to fire – our children and seniors. Through the dedicated efforts of SAFE Officer Keith Darling, the department continued to educate over 100 children per month as well as attend various activities at the Senior Center. This year the department began offering home visit for our senior citizens. The focus of these visits is to insure there are working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, remove trip hazards as well as provide safety education. Lieutenant Tom Carlucci with Firefighter Doug Perro, Paul Molla and Bill Blanchard provide dedicated assistance in completing this important service to our citizens.

Our employees continue to be the chief reason for maintaining our current the level of success and level of services we provide our citizens. They continue to work tirelessly to protect life and property within Franklin. In addition to their on-duty responses, our employees commit countless hours in continuing education and training targeted to maintain and improved upon their emergency skills. Additionally, they continue to press forward in attempt to provide the highest level of service to the community based upon advancement in the fire-rescue field and advancements in technology. These efforts have yielded significant and broad insight into the requirements necessary to maintain and improve upon the services we provide to the citizens of Franklin.

Respectfully Submitted,
Gary B. McCarraher, Fire Chief

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For additional information, visit the Fire Dept on the Town of Franklin webpage
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Fire/index

Franklin Fire Station #1 - West Central St

Additional photos on the fire stations and equipment can be found here
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Fire/stations

Quarterly Scorecard for 4Q - 2015 Franklin Fire Dept

additional performance scorecards can be found here
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Fire/Quarterly%20Performance%20Scorecard

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http://ecode360.com/10432729?highlight=annual%20report,reports,annual,report#10432729

Shared from the full and complete PDF version of the Town of Franklin Annual Report for 2015

http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Clerk/annual/2015report.pdf

Annual Report - 2015: Design Review Commission

The Design Review Commission (DRC) is a Committee comprised of 5 regular members and 2 alternate members. All are residents and volunteers who are appointed by the Town. The Committee represents Citizen interests and strives to ensure new developments and sign installations enhance the appearance of the Town while meeting Town codes and bylaws. This Committee has approval authority on signage and recommendation input to the Planning Board on Site Plans as to landscaping and lighting and Building Plans as to exterior design, colors and materials.

The Commission meets twice monthly and has addressed numerous projects and sign applications this past fiscal year. The Commission is currently composed of Mark Fitzgerald, Chair, Chris Baryluk, Nancy Coleman, Anna Moses, and Claudine Silverman, as well as associate members, Doug Newton and Kate Harrington.

This past fiscal year, the Commission reviewed and addressed several Site Plans as to landscaping and lighting and exterior Building Plans as to elevations, design, colors and materials. Reviews included projects such as the Midas Store site on West Central, Planet Chrysler-Jeep-DodgeRam renovations and expansion, and Oteri Funeral Home, as well as several other, smaller projects. In addition sign applications were received, hearings held and decisions issued for 50 signs during the past fiscal year.

Meetings are held at the Franklin Municipal Building, 355 East Central Street, Room 205, at 7:00 p.m., on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month. Meeting times, dates and agendas are posted at the Town Clerk’s Office.

Respectfully submitted,
Mark Fitzgerald, Chair

For additional info on the Design Review Commission, the page can be found

http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Planning/design

Definitions applicable to the sign bylaw

http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Planning/designdocuments/definitions.pdf

The sign bylaw

http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Planning/designdocuments/signbylaw.pdf

The new FHS sign includes a digital sign that is off as it does not conform with the current bylaws

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http://ecode360.com/10432729?highlight=annual%20report,reports,annual,report#10432729

Shared from the full and complete PDF version of the Town of Franklin Annual Report for 2015

http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Clerk/annual/2015report.pdf

Sunday, December 27, 2015

Annual Report - 2015: Conservation Commission

The Franklin Conservation Commission is responsible for promoting and protecting the natural resources of Franklin and protecting the town’s watershed resources. A large part of the Commission’s attention is directed to administering Massachusetts and Franklin wetland protection laws and regulations. Those laws and regulations require the Commission permits to work in or within 100 feet of a wetland, in the 100 year flood hazard zone or within 200 feet of a perennial stream.

The Commission is comprised of up to seven volunteer residents appointed for three year terms by the Town Administrator. The current members of the Commission have diverse professional experience related to environmental science, biology, engineering, landscape design, and project management. Because of their different backgrounds, each commissioner is able to offer a different perspective during the review of applications for a wetland permit that ultimately benefits Franklin.

Franklin has continuously been well represented at the annual conference of the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions in March, with Commissioners attending classes and workshops and talking with other Commissioners from across the state as well as lawyers, ecologists and engineers active in conservation.

The Commission, via its Chairman, has also participated in the Keystone Project, which is organized and run by UMASS. The Keystone Project is designed to stimulate forest landowners and community opinion leaders to be advocates of sound forest conservation, and to help inform the land management and conservation decisions of their friends, neighbors, organizations, and communities.

In 2012, the EPA proposed regulations to reduce the amount of phosphorus in storm water runoff into the Charles River basin, with Franklin, Bellingham and Milford as the pilot communities These regulations remain at a standstill as the EPA continues to work out the regulatory details. The Commission monitors the status of these regulations while encouraging and advising on appropriate stormwater management practices where applicable in Conservation jurisdiction.

The Commission continues to work on the DelCarte Area (aka the Franklin Reservoirs) off of Pleasant Street. There are a series of seven “structures” (six dams that had been originally used for cranberry farming and a stone wall that beavers had dammed) along Miller brook thru the 100+ acre DelCarte Area. The dams are identified serially from Dam #1, located closest to downtown adjacent to the MBTA Dean station, to #6, located furthest downstream, closest to Miller Street. The Commission is currently in the process of investigating the undertaking of an ecological study to ascertain the flora and fauna viability in the pond.

DelCarte in full fall color

Since the last annual report, the Conservation Commission has received 63 permit applications to work within areas under their permitting jurisdiction. These applications range from the removal of dead trees in a buffer zone to the construction of industrial buildings and associated drainage. The Commission also issued 26 certificates of completion for various projects and granted extensions to allow projects to finish. Two emergency certifications were also issued to the Franklin Dept. of Public Works. In addition, based on the snow emergency declared by DEP in Feb-March 2015, emergency snow storage permissions were developed and issued.

The Commission would like to draw the attention of the Town’s residents to the many protected natural areas in the Town and the opportunities for passive recreation they enable:

The DelCarte Area, with parking off of Pleasant Street, has recently improved walking trails through woodlands along a series of ponds. Two canoe launches and an above-water boardwalk to completely connect the trail system have been installed.

Several Eagle Scout and school/class projects have been completed or are on-going in the DelCarte and Dacey Field areas, and the town forest.. These projects have helped in the clearing of trails and the erecting of educational signage and the cleaning up of debris. Additional projects are being undertaken in the Town Forest to improve the existing trail system; The Town Forest has good access points off of both Summer Street and Russet Hill Road with a network of walking trails thru woodlands and across Uncas Brook;

There is a network of walking trails that cross Shepards Brook and go thru fields and woods behind the Dacey Recreation Area off Lincoln Street;

Indian Rock has good access off of both King Phillip Road and Lost Horse Trail with walking trails thru woodlands near two large vernal pools and to the top of historic Indian Rock;

The Metacomet Land Trust owns several pieces of protected land, notably the walking trails off of Bridle Path and The Lady Bug Trail near JFK school;

The Franklin State Forest is accessible off of Grove Street and Forge Hill Road and boasts an extensive network of walking and ORV trails;

The SNETT trail goes all the way to Douglas. There is a Town parking lot off of Grove Street. The Trail section from Prospect Street into Bellingham is currently being reconstructed by the Dept. of Conservation and Recreation. The reconstruction was permitted by the Commission in early 2015;

The expansive marsh near Interstate 495 exit #17 is the US Army Corps of Engineers Natural Valley Flood Storage Project, preserved to protect against downstream flooding in the Charles River basin. That marsh is along Mine Brook, the largest stream in town, draining about half of Franklin, starting at the extreme south end of Franklin, passing underneath Washington Street, Beaver Street, 495, Grove Street, West Central Street, 495 again, Beech Street, and Pond Street before finally meeting the Charles River on the Medway border.

Other significant streams in Franklin include Shepards Brook, Miller Brook, Uncas Brook and Bubbling Brook. Lake Populatic is part of the Charles River, the other navigable ponds in Franklin are Spring (Green’s) Pond, Beaver Pond, and Uncas Pond, the last two of which are listed as Great Ponds by Mass DEP. There are many other natural areas in Franklin waiting to be explored.

The Commission would also like the town residents to be aware of the potential tax savings of M.G. L. Chapter 61 (forest land), 61A (agricultural land) and 61B (recreational land). Such programs are designed to benefit the land owner via reducing the tax burden as well as to preserving and
maintaining the quality and quantity of environmentally sensitive and natural areas within the commonwealth.

Conservation Commission Members:

Jeff Livingstone – Chair
Paul Harrington - - Vice Chair
Scott McLean
Ravi Pendkar
Steve Younis
Bill Batchelor

Respectfully submitted,

Jeff Livingstone, Chair

Please visit our website for additional information including application forms, and regularly posted Conservation Commission agendas and meeting minutes at http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Conservation/index

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http://ecode360.com/10432729?highlight=annual%20report,reports,annual,report#10432729

Shared from the full and complete PDF version of the Town of Franklin Annual Report for 2015

http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Clerk/annual/2015report.pdf

Annual Report - 2015: Charles River Pollution Control District

During Fiscal Year 2015, the Charles River Pollution Control District’s (District) regional advanced wastewater treatment facility received and treated approximately 1,440 million gallons (3.95 million gallons per day) of raw wastewater, including 5.85 million gallons of septage from the District’s member and customer towns before discharge to the Charles River. The volume of waste treated was higher than the previous year due to an increase in precipitation.

The District received its renewed National Pollution Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit in July 2014 for discharge of its treated wastewater to the Charles River. Under the renewed NPDES permit, the District and the Towns of Franklin, Medway, Millis, and Bellingham will maintain an ongoing preventive maintenance program to prevent overflows and bypasses caused by malfunctions or failures of the sewer system and an infiltration and inflow reduction program. In addition, the new limit for phosphorus has been reduced from 0.2 mg/L to 0.1 mg/L in the summer months and a winter limit of 0.3 mg/L was added.

The District conducted an Infiltration and Inflow Study in 2013, with CDM Smith, to identify areas of the District’s interceptors that needed further investigation and repair. Last summer, the District investigated the manholes in a portion of its interceptors to determine each manhole’s condition. This winter/spring, the District will inspect the same portion of its interceptor to determine the condition of the pipe and identify any sources of infiltration and inflow. CDM Smith and District staff prepared a 20-year capital improvement plan (CIP) to improve the wastewater treatment facility to meet more stringent NPDES permitting requirements and provide a more reliable wastewater treatment facility at its current capacity.

In July 2010, the District was informed of its acceptance on the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (Mass DEP) Bureau of Resource Protection Calendar Year 2010 Intended Use List for State Revolving Funding (SRF). In order to expedite the designs and proceed with the project in a timely manner, the CIP was divided into three phases (A, B and C).

Phase A, which was completed in December 2013, included the replacement of both primary clarifier mechanisms, addition of two screenings washer/compactors in the wet well, primary scum handling improvements, and plant lighting and security improvements.
Phase B, the capping of the on-site residuals landfill, was completed in August 2013.
Phase C, focuses on improving phosphorus removal, replacing the disinfection system, and extending the life of the facility for an additional 20 years. This phase began construction in May 2014 and is expected to be completed in September 2016.

The District funded Phases A and B with a 20-year State Revolving Fund (SRF) loan of approximately $2.9M. Phase C costs will be funded through separate SRF loans of approximately $26.5M, which includes bidding, construction, and resident engineering. Ineligible costs (i.e. design of Phase C) for SRF loans were funded by a General Obligation Bond of approximately $1.95M.

The District’s Fiscal Year 2016 budget is 25.4% higher than the previous years’ budget. The increase is mainly due to the commencement of the repayment of one of the Phase C SRF loans. The District’s FY 2016 budget for operations and maintenance is $3,372,370, while the capital projects budget is $1,857,460. Franklin’s share of the operation and maintenance and capital projects budgets are estimated to be $1,789,070 and $1,154,740, respectively.

Respectively submitted

Douglas M. Downing, Chairman (Medway)
Gene Guidi, Vice-Chairman (Franklin)
Alfred H. Wahlers, Clerk (Franklin)
Joseph Cameron (Franklin)
Paul J. DeSimone (Medway)

CRPCD Officers:
Elizabeth Taglieri, P.E., Executive Director
Emma J. Catalano, Treasurer
Barbara Maffeo, Executive Secretary
Cornetta, Ficco & Simmler, Legal Counsel

The Pond St property was the site of the former sewer treatment plant for Franklin
before becoming part of the Charles River Pollution Control District

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http://ecode360.com/10432729?highlight=annual%20report,reports,annual,report#10432729

Shared from the full and complete PDF version of the Town of Franklin Annual Report for 2015

http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Clerk/annual/2015report.pdf

Presentation from 2009 to the Franklin Town Council on the improvements outlined
http://www.slideshare.net/shersteve/charles-river-pollution-control-district-presentation-2509

Saturday, December 26, 2015

Annual Report - 2015: Town Council

"On behalf of the Franklin Town Council, it is my pleasure to submit our annual report for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2015.

The Town Council remains busy and committed to serving the best interest of all the citizens of our community. I am proud to report on several matters including the opening of our New High School. Congratulations to the High School Building Committee and all of our citizens that made the project a true success. It will serve our students for generations to come.

Other projects that were completed include the reconstruction of Lincoln and Daniels Streets, water main replacement on several roads, and the sidewalk on Panther Way.

We appointed committees to complete the second floor of the senior center and to make improvements to our historic library.

We dedicated a playground at Fletcher Field funded by the Commonwealth. We purchased and demolished a house at 92 Wachusett Street to expand parking for Fletcher Field, and bought 19 acres of land off of Lincoln Street to provide recreation opportunities and access to the Charles River.

The downtown project is finally underway and we sold the old municipal building at 150 Emmons Street for commercial development. We included in the sale a small green space and for a statue of Horace Mann a Franklin native and considered to be one of the founders of public education in America.

We supported the citizens group for solar energy as well as the group looking to establish a cultural district in Franklin.

In closing, we will continue to work for you, the Citizen, and the Community we all share. You can be assured that you have dedicated, competent, and professional individuals working and volunteering their time on your behalf.

Again we thank our Town Administrator, Jeff Nutting, for his dedication to the Town of Franklin through good times and tough times, and all of the Town employees who help to make this community a great place to live and work.

On behalf of my fellow councilors, Andrew Bissanti, Robert Dellorco, Brett Feldman, Matthew Kelly, Thomas Mercer, Peter Padula, Judith Pfeffer, Robert Vallee, and Stephen Williams, I want to thank you for the opportunity you have given us to serve this great community.

Respectfully Submitted,

Robert Vallee
Chairman, Franklin Town Council"

The Fletcher Field tot lot as mentioned was dedicated in Dec 2014

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http://ecode360.com/10432729?highlight=annual%20report,reports,annual,report#10432729

Shared from the full and complete PDF version of the Town of Franklin Annual Report for 2015
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Clerk/annual/2015report.pdf

Additional info on the tot lot can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/12/fletcher-field-tot-lot-video.html

Additional info on each of the Town Council meetings reported on can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/p/meeting-notes.html

Annual Report - 2105: Town Administrator

"It continues to be my honor to serve the Town Council and the citizens of Franklin.

Under the leadership of the Town Council over the years we continue to try and improve the quality of life for our residents while maintaining a balanced budget, fiscal prudence and a look towards the future. Fiscal year 15 showed no signs of letting up on improving our community.

So, what have we done this year?

The list of improvements in FY 15 are many including the new High School, road and water main improvements, purchase of open space, adding a playground at Fletcher Field, a sidewalk on Panther Way, selling the old municipal building for commercial development, making zoning changes in accordance with the Master Plan, seeing the downtown project get underway, funding the design of sidewalks for Pleasant and Chestnut Streets, working to spruce up the Rail Road stations, and reducing the trash fee.

Since the Town Administrators Office assumed the duties of the Passport Office things are hopping, you can now get your passport here with an appointment on Monday or Wednesday and Friday.

All this is accomplished with hard working volunteers and a great staff of employees in all departments We continually provide high quality services and the lowest possible cost to the tax payer.

As I look to the future there are many challenges but if history is any lesson, the strong leadership of the Town Council and great staff will respond to every challenge.

I want to make note of the retirement of my Secretary, Dianne Blanchard. She was an exceptional employee, dedicated to serving the citizens of Franklin. I wish her well in her retirement.

As always, I want to thank the employees of the Town of Franklin. It is my pleasure to come to work every day with such dedicated and hard working people who do their best for the citizens of Franklin.

Jeff Nutting

It is my pleasure to submit my annual report for your review, and please feel free to write, e-mail, or stop by with any questions, concerns, or comments.

Respectfully submitted,

Jeff Nutting
Town Administrator"

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http://ecode360.com/10432729?highlight=annual%20report,reports,annual,report#10432729

Shared from the full and complete PDF version of the Town of Franklin Annual Report for 2015
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Clerk/annual/2015report.pdf

Additional information from the Town Administrator can be found on his webpage
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Admin/index

Franklin Matters

Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Annual Report - 2015: OPEB Trust Committee

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Annual Report - 2015: Cultural Council

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Annual Report - 2015: Insurance Advisory Committee

Annual Report - 2015: Franklin Housing Authority

Modernization of the Franklin Housing Authority Properties

State Audit

FHA Property

Special Events Noted with Appreciation

Monday, December 28, 2015

Annual Report - 2015: Fire Department

The Department

Our Mission

Operational Objectives

Message from the Fire Chief

Annual Report - 2015: Design Review Commission

Sunday, December 27, 2015

Annual Report - 2015: Conservation Commission

Conservation Commission Members:

Annual Report - 2015: Charles River Pollution Control District

Saturday, December 26, 2015

Annual Report - 2015: Town Council

Annual Report - 2105: Town Administrator

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