Town Council approves 2 license transactions, listens to friendly 40b proposal & postpones vote to enable further work on proposal (video)

The Franklin Town Council met as scheduled on Wednesday, April 10, 2024. 8 members were present in Chambers, 1 participated remotely. The Council Chambers were over capacity with residents present for one or more of the topics for discussion on the agenda.

The Franklin TV broadcast of the 4 hour session is available for replay on YouTube ->  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4WPC4cB_S4

Agenda and supporting documents for this session -> 

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/april_10_2024_town_council_meeting_agenda.pdf

Quick recap:

• Approved license transaction for Table & Vine, mostly paperwork and ownership changes due to the family estate planning with no impact on the daily operations of the beer & wine license in operation at the Big Y
• Approved the all alcohol license transfer for Dacey's Market with restrictions to maintain current operation. 
• Long discussion on the proposed friendly 40b to be built in the land currently held by the Stobbart's Nursery. Multiple issues and questions were raised, many were not yet answered so in light of that the Council chose to have the administration and departments work with the developer and neighbors to work on the items in question before coming back to the Council
• As this is the second friendly 40b, and there are multiple issues raised, the process could be revised to better address some of the process issues (notification to abutters, clarification on what the Council vote really means, etc.)
• Resolution 24-17: Local Acceptance of GL Chapter 166 Section 32A was approved. Apparently this resolves a potential conflict where a part-time inspector is also prohibited from doing work in the Town. Whatever electrical work would be performed would still require inspection by another individual to avoid conflict of interest
• Another happy occasion for the Council to thank the individuals/businesses for their contribution to Resolution 24-18: Gift Acceptance - Veterans’ Services Department ($2,250), Senior Center ($1,500), Franklin Historical Museum (~$600)
• During the Town Administrator's report, Jamie revealed he was reinstating suspended Director Robert "Brutus" Cantoreggi effective Thursday, April 11. A web page would be published with all the information involved in reaching this decision

My notes captured via Twitter can be found in one PDF file -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1labnvYVykW4HGk01mHIQDk7d725ikuLn/view?usp=drive_link

Photo album with the slides as captured during the presentation on Wednesday

https://photos.app.goo.gl/WC1n843rA3AQwjTg7

listens to friendly 40b proposal & postpones vote to enable further work on proposal

Beaver Street Interceptor Construction begins 11/6, ground breaking ceremony 11/9

Beaver Street Interceptor (BSI)

 

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE:

Construction activities will begin Monday, November 6, 2023. For more information, please use the interactive map below.

JOIN US!

Groundbreaking Ceremony - 11:00 am on Thursday, 11/9/23 at Franklin Recreation Office (275 Beaver Street Franklin).

 

Beaver Street Interceptor Rehabilitation/Replacement Project

This project consists of the replacement and repair of Franklin's largest piece of sewer infrastructure, originally constructed in 1914

Beaver Street Interceptor Construction begins 11/6, ground breaking ceremony 11/9

 

 This site and map will be updated on a weekly basis to convey upcoming construction activities for the Beaver Street Interceptor (BSI) Construction project.

Interested in receiving email updates regarding the
Beaver Street Interceptor Rehabilitation/Replacement Project?
Please subscribe here (select Beaver Street Interceptor from the list).

History
The Beaver Street Interceptor (BSI) was originally constructed in 1914 and discharged to the former Franklin Wastewater Treatment Plant on Pond Street (aka, the sewer beds). Currently, the BSI conveys over 70% of the Town's sewage with an average daily flow (ADF) of approximately 1.5 million gallons per day (MGD) of sewage flow through the pipeline. The interceptor includes 59 manholes and approximately 2.3 miles (11,932 LF) of 16-inch to 24-inch cast iron (CI) pipe, reinforced concrete (RC) pipe, and vitrified clay (VC) pipe. The BSI extends from the intersection of Cottage Street and Union Street to the easement behind Pond Street, near the Interstate 495/Route 140 interchange, where it discharges to the Mine Brook Interceptor. Due to its age, the risk and consequence of failure, and the percentage of the Town's sewer flows conveyed by the interceptor, the BSI is considered Franklin's most critical sewer asset.

The BSI, constructed in 1914, has been in continuous service for 108 years. Other than routine maintenance, no improvements to the interceptor have been made since its construction. Since 2003, the Town has contracted for cleaning, internal investigation, and condition assessment of the BSI on a recurring 5-year basis. Extensive manhole inspections and cleaning and closed-circuit television (CCTV) inspection of the pipes were last completed in 2013 and 2014, respectively. Results of these investigations have shown signs of increasing deterioration and worsening conditions of the pipes and manholes, most notably increased tuberculation, cracks, manhole and pipeline infiltration, and root intrusion.

Rehabilitation/Repair Project Description
The Project is located in the Town of Franklin, MA in Norfolk County. The current interceptor is in need of replacement. Therefore, the Town proposes rehabilitation, replacement, and general improvements to the interceptor as well as a new pump station on the property at 275 Beaver Street, Franklin, MA. The proposed project provides the most cost-effective, long-term solution to the BSI's capacity and structural deficiencies, human health and environmental risks, accessibility and operation and maintenance challenges, by abandoning and rerouting sewers in the most risk-prone and problematic, inaccessible areas. The work of the Project to reroute sewers is being undertaken, in part, to move sewers out of wetland resource areas at the same time as making other improvements. 

The Project includes the following key components:

• New 6 MGD Beaver Street Pump Station and 4,000 LF of 18-inch Force Main from the pump station to discharge at Pond Street.
• Rehabilitation of 6,100 LF of BSI using Cured in Place Pipe Lining (CIPPL)
• Installation of 6,000 LF of new gravity sewers
• The work will take place at 5 MBTA/Keolis Railroad Crossings including 3 pipe replacements using jack and bore technique and 2 pipe rehabilitation locations using CIPPL.
• Abandonment of BSI from Panther Way to Franklin Village Plaza and Route 495 crossing

For additional information see links below:

Alternative Analysis:
Beaver St Interceptor Alternatives Analysis
Appendix A-Manhole Inspection Logs-May 2013
Appendix B-CCTV Inspection Logs-August 2014 to September 2014
Appendix C-Hydraulic Model Technical Memorandum
Appendix D-BSI Replacement-Franklin Town Council Meeting Presentation-10/21/20
Appendix E Project Cost Estimates

Presentations:
Interceptor Town Council Presentation Update June 2022
Interceptor Alternatives Analysis Town Council Presentation 10/21/20

Notice of Intent-Conservation Commission:
Notice of Intent Packet-Franklin Conservation Commission Submittal
Project Site Overview Figure

Media Coverage:
What is the Beaver St Interceptor? Why does it need to be replaced? -TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2022 (https://www.franklinma.gov/water-sewer-division/pages/beaver-street-interceptor )

Schedule:
December 21, 2022 - Advertise for Bids
https://www.franklinma.gov/purchasing/bids/beaver-st-interceptor-rehabilitationreplacement-and-new-beaver-st-pump-station)

(https://www.milforddailynews.com/public-notices/notice/12/21/2022/bids-beaver-street-pump-station-legal-2022-12-21-the-milford-daily-news-massachusetts-0cc175) 

March 8, 2023 - Bid Opening

June 15, 2023 - Anticipated Contact Award

Fall/Winter 2023 - Anticipated Construction Start

Summer 2026 -  Anticipated Construction Completion

Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/water-sewer-division/pages/beaver-street-interceptor

DPW Notice - Paving Schedule for August 9, 2022 (East Central, Ruggles, Lewis, corner of Chestnut & RT 140)

DPW Notice - Paving Schedule for August 9, 2022

Will impact East Central Street, Ruggles Street and Lewis Street.

Notice from the Franklin Department of Public Works

Paving will begin on Tuesday, August 9, 2022 and will impact the areas from East Central Street to Ruggles Street and Lewis Street.

Delays are anticipated. Please seek alternate routes and proceed with caution in construction areas.

Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/home/news/dpw-notice-paving-schedule-august-9th-2022

DPW Notice - Paving Schedule for August 9, 2022 (East Central, Ruggles, Lewis, corner of Chestnut & RT 140)

DPW Notice - Mill & Overlay Project to continue Wednesday, August 3, 2022

DPW Notice - Mill & Overlay Project to continue August 3, 2022

• Sections of Beaver Street near the recycling center, 
• Union Street near the Common 
• the intersection of King / Chestnut/ East Central (Route 140) will be impacted.

Notice from the Franklin Department of Public Works

Our road improvement program continues tomorrow. Areas that will be "Milled & Overlaid" (i.e. remove top inch and half of asphalt fix manholes and drains structures then repave with new asphalt) are sections of Beaver Street near the recycling center, Union Street near the Common and the intersection of King / Chestnut/ East Central (Route 140).

This work is expected to cause significant traffic delays especially at the intersection of King / Chestnut/ East Central (Route 140)! 

As always, please seek alternate routes and proceed with caution in construction areas.

Shared from Town of Franklin DPW ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/home/news/dpw-notice-mill-overlay-project-continue-tomorrow-august-3rd-2022

DPW Notice - Mill & Overlay Project to continue Wednesday, August 3, 2022

Franklin Residents: Road construction alert for work on 140/Main St in Norfolk

"The Town of Norfolk will begin roadwork on Main Street (beginning at the Franklin town line), which will impact traffic for Franklin. This work is projected to begin Monday, August 10th. Please see the attached map for detour information."

Franklin Residents: Road construction alert for work on 140/Main St in Norfolk

https://twitter.com/TOFranklinMA/status/1287827718621614081?s=09

What does 103 teachers look like?

Photos of the teachers who raised awareness on RT Tuesday afternoon before the School Committee meeting.


The Boston 25 video brief on the article:
https://www.boston25news.com/news/local/hundreds-march-support-103-franklin-teachers-who-were-laid-off-last-week/SY2JL7QSDJHW5EMGGI46BMBISA/

Note: there is a difference between "notification" and "cuts". The School Committee has not yet voted to approve either the 25 or 50 cuts that would be required to balance the budget (depending upon the planning scenario used). These notifications were made in advance of the date required per contract.

The details on the budget will be figured out over the next several months due to the fluid situation. This is not like prior years where once the budget was set, it was rarely changed. Town Administrator Jamie Hellen expects to make several revisions to the budget for FY 2021.

The discussion at the School Committee meeting did not reveal when the budget vote would be scheduled, only that there was still work to do.

The FY 2021 school budget page
https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-district-budget/pages/fy-2021-budget 

The FY 2021 budget collection for the Town of Franklin 
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/06/fy-2021-budget-collection.html

What does 103 teachers look like? - 1

What does 103 teachers look like? - 2

What does 103 teachers look like? - 3

Road Construction Alerts

If you missed listening to DPW Director Cantoreggi's interview, there are a couple of road construction projects underway to be aware of.

1 - State paving work on RT 140

From Lewis St to the Wrentham line RT 140 is being repaved via "mill and overlay". The top surface has been ground up during overnight work the past week and should be paved this week. The work is scheduled for overnight.

State paving work on RT 140 - 1

State paving work on RT 140 - 2

2 - Franklin waterline replacement work on Lincoln St 

From Maple St to Brook St, the water line will be replaced by a contractor for Franklin DPW using the funding plan for water line replacements.

Franklin waterline replacement work on Lincoln St - 1

Franklin waterline replacement work on Lincoln St - 2

Franklin waterline replacement work on Lincoln St - 3

To listen to the interview with DPW Director "Brutus" Cantoreggi
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/03/fm-231-franklin-ma-dpw-director-robert.html 
 

Franklin Residents: Road work scheduled on Rt 140 - overnight on 3/30 and 3/31

Road work scheduled on Rt 140

Mass DOT will be milling and paving a section of Rt 140 in Franklin between Lewis Street and the Wrentham line. This is scheduled to occur on Monday, March 30 and Tuesday, March 31 at night. 

Shared from Twitter:
https://twitter.com/TOFranklinMA/status/1242876106379857921
 

The section would run from about CVS on one end to the Franklin Country Club on the other end

MassDOT: Rt 140 Road Construction Status Update

Rt 140 Road Construction Status Update

9/24/19

The Town had received many inquiries as to when the road work will be completed on State Highway Route 140 at the Exit 17 off ramp intersection. The Town has contacted the state to receive this update.

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is anticipating completion of paving Rt 140 by the end of this week or early next week, weather dependent.

The pavement will need to cure for 3 days before painting and striping. Once the pavement has been striped, paving of Apron/Entrances will commence.

The state is looking at completing the entire project within roughly two weeks. 



This was shared from the Town of Franklin page
https://www.franklinma.gov/home/news/rt-140-road-construction-status-update

In the News: Franklin curbside pickup fees to rise; Fall construction alert - Rtes. 16 and 140 near Milford Regional Medical

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

Franklin curbside pickup fees to rise

"Trash and recycling fees are going up due to international struggles with plastic disposal. 

Town councilors approved a rate hike of $32 on March 20, raising the average annual cost for curbside trash and recycle pickup to $240. The council also voted to raise the price of stickers in 2020 from $25 to $35 for the transfer station on Beaver Street. 

Franklin recycles about 3,600 tons of waste a year. The cost will rise to $55 a ton in 2020, $20 more a ton than the town currently pays. The town sold around 240 stickers last year, but is considering either eliminating the option or increasing the 10-day fee to $25. 

In the last year, China has been sent massive amounts of plastic waste for recycling purposes. According to NPR, about 106 million metric tons, or roughly 45 percent of the world’s plastic ready for recycling, was exported to China. Inundated with the waste, the country decided at the start of last year to decline any more shipments."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190326/franklin-trash-recycling-fees-increasing

Note: The first of two votes to approve the rate increase was held on March 20. The second vote is scheduled for a future Town Council meeting before becoming effective July 1. While the fee is increasing, we are still below where the fee was in 2005.

Due to global market issues for recycling, proposal to increase curbside fee

Construction alert: Rtes. 16 and 140 near Milford Regional Medical Center

"The planned facelift for one of Milford’s most heavily traveled roads remains on track to begin this fall. 

The half-mile stretch of Rte. 16 from just past the Milford police headquarters to the Hopedale town border will receive a long-awaited upgrade. The project will focus on the intersection of Rtes. 16 and 140 near Milford Regional Medical Center. The intersection is a regular spot for traffic backups and will be widened to make way for dedicated turning lanes, which should ease the turning radius for large trucks and tractor-trailers. 

“You cannot get through that intersection if someone is taking a left turn,” said Highway Surveyor Scott Crisafulli. “It’s too small.” 

New modern traffic signals with preemptive control for emergency vehicles approaching the intersection are part of the project."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190325/milford-rte-16140-intersection-project-includes-new-signals-bike-lanes

“They really are great sandwiches”

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

"Foodies are getting excited about a new sign that popped up on Rte. 140 in Franklin on Wednesday afternoon, teasing a new place to eat. 

Jersey Mike’s Subs plans to open a shop in the plaza at 471 West Central St., the company’s corporate office confirmed. The company did not provide an opening date. 

Franklin will be the company’s second Massachusetts shop, the other being in Marlborough. 

Some folks are familiar with Jersey Mike’s classic Italian sub and grilled chicken cheesesteak."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20181214/jersey-mikes-sub-shop-is-coming-to-franklin

Twitter profile image for Jersey Mike's

Twitter = https://twitter.com/jerseymikes
Webpage = https://www.jerseymikes.com/

Midas is coming soon to Franklin

In January 2015, one of the items before the Planning Board was the addition of a Midas Muffler service on the second of three lots where Wendy's currently is located.

Construction is underway. These photos were captured on my walk on Saturday.

Midas sign

Midas sign

construction underway

Planning Board meeting Jan 5, 2015
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/01/live-reporting-planning-board-jan-5-2015.html

In the News: state police alert on scams, eagle scouts recognized, development along RT 140, MCAS argued for

Massachusetts State Police issued a scam warning on their official Facebook page Thursday. According to the posting, scammers pretending to be members of the state police or affiliated with the police are calling people and soliciting money for drug prevention and intervention programs. 

The scammers may claim to be part of a narcotics unit, police said.

Continue to read the article online here (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150917/NEWS/150916356/1994/NEWS

Boy Scouts Patrick Cunniff, Jonathan Tomaso and Joseph Kroon, from Troop 99 of Franklin, were honored at an Eagle Scout Court of Honor on Aug. 1 for achieving the highest rank in Boy Scouts. 

Each scout completed a community service project that benefited the community: Cunniff worked with the Franklin Girls Softball Association to build four dugouts at the Remington-Jefferson fields; Tomaso constructed a walkway between the front and back entrances to the Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School benefiting both charter school students and St. Mary Parish CCD students; and Kroon, sponsored by the Town of Franklin, built an arched foot bridge over a stream on the disc golf course at Dacey Fields.

arched foot bridge at Dacey Field disc golf course

Continue to read the article online here (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150917/NEWS/150916212/1994/NEWS

"There will be several different buildings," he said. "There's a gas station and, adjacent to that, a lube place and at least one restaurant. There will be several other retail spaces as well." 

According to Taberner, the developer has not labeled all of the proposed buildings, meaning it is uncertain which businesses will occupy them. 

Taberner said the board has requested more information from the developer, and would likely be considering the project for some time. He said he did not know how long the process might take. 

"The matter was continued to the next Planning Board meeting," he said. "It could be two, three, four or five - I have no idea how many meetings it might take."

Continue to read the article online here (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150917/NEWS/150916038/1994/NEWS

In a meeting with the Daily News editorial board on Wednesday, Pioneer Institute’s Jamie Gass and Tom Birmingham, former Senate president and co-author of the Education Reform Act of 1993 which created the MCAS, cautioned against switching from the long-standing test. Instead, the pair recommended working within the current system for better results. 

After education reform went into effect, Birmingham said the state set and met new standards that have pushed school performance to the top in the nation. If Massachusetts signs on to the PARCC test, Birmingham said he worries standards will drop to accommodate students in other PARCC states that don't have tests as rigorous as those in Massachusetts. 

“Before you outright jettison what has been coincident, at least, with our historic, unprecedented education success stories … I think you should bear in mind the words from the Hippocratic Oath, which is first, do no harm,” Birmingham said. “I’m fearful that if we do jettison MCAS and replace it with something else that is yet completely untested, we are inviting regression in terms of our education success.”

Continue to read the article online here (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150917/NEWS/150915990/1994/NEWS

Info on MCAS can be found here   http://www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/

Real time reporting: Planning Board - Sep 14, 2015

I did real time reporting and my Storify summary can be found here

screen grab of 150 Emmons property proposed layout

Downtown triangle signs

On the triangle, if you have driven by this week maybe you saw one side of the sign.

If you didn't go back the same way, maybe you did not see the other side of the sign

With the eventual reconfiguration of this intersection to allow two way traffic on Main St, I expect these signs will go away. I recall from one of the preparation meetings, there is a plan for the historical water trough. It wasn't always here and can be re-located.

I hope it finds a good place. It is one of the connections to where I grew up, down the road a piece in Pawtucket, RI.

Two hurt in head-on crash on Rte. 140 in Franklin

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Two hurt in head-on crash on Rte. 140 in Franklin

via Wicked Local Franklin News RSS by Jessica Trufant/Daily News staff on 1/17/13

Two people were injured, one of them seriously, in a head-on crash on Rte. 140 near Franklin Village Thursday night, police said.

Things you can do from here:

• Subscribe to Wicked Local Franklin News RSS using Google Reader
• Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites

Franklin's Wendy's new and improved (video)

The new Wendy's opened on RT 140 here in Franklin has made the news as it is one of the first of 10 stores and one of two in MA to convert to this new format.

Reminder: Public Hearing - Thursday, Jun 28, 7:00 PM

The MassDOT will hold a public hearing on the RT 140 and Downtown Project on Thursday, Jun 28 at 7:00 PM. The hearing will be conducted at the Municipal Bldg in the 3rd Floor Training Room. (Note due to this choice of location in the Municipal Bldg, the hearing is not likely scheduled for broadcast via cable.)

Additional info on the public hearing can be found in this official notification



Why a public hearing?
The project is funded by the State of MA and hence MassDOT has controlling interest. The project delays are primarily due to the State schedules. Franklin was granted the funds at $1 M per year and waited for the $5 million total was accumulated before beginning the detail planning on this project.

"asked for a waiver on two restrictions"

This plan eliminated a second drive-through proposed earlier, but asked for a waiver on two restrictions: one that prohibited left turns out of the property, and another that prohibited the restaurants being open during breakfast hours. It also asked for permission for, but didn't commit to building, increased square footage for one of the buildings, from 2,360 square feet to 5,280 square feet. 

"Doubling the size of a building doesn't come under a limited site plan, in my opinion," said Planning Board member Joseph Halligan, before the board took a vote that would have forced Daddario to create a full site plan, instead of push his project forward with a limited plan. 

An initial vote to require a whole new plan came out in a tie. 

After vehement disapproval from the applicant and Ballarino, and a suggestion of compromise from the Town Planner Beth Dahlstrom, the board reconsidered the decision. 

The board then voted to use the limited site plan, but not approve it until a further traffic study was examined and to limit the building size for now. 

The hearing was continued until July 25, when the board will vote on reconsidering the restriction on left turns.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x1498054749/Franklin-board-hears-changes-to-development-plan#ixzz1Rsl9DT4O

Mailer on 2 new supermarkets coming to RT 140

Already mentioned here is the Planning Board meeting scheduled for Monday March 22, where the Big Y application for a special permit will be continued.

This flyer arrived via the mail today:

The link referenced for the Environmental Notification Form (ENF) filed with the State can be found here: http://www.env.state.ma.us/mepa/mepadocs/2010/031010em/opur/enf/14550.pdf

The MA Environmental Protection Agency home page can be found here:
http://www.env.state.ma.us/mepa/home.aspx


Franklin, MA