Showing posts with label bag. Show all posts
Showing posts with label bag. Show all posts

Thursday, June 13, 2019

Economic Development Meeting: recap - June 12, 2019

The Economic Development Subcommittee of the Town Council met on Wednesday evening, June 12. There were two items on the agenda (see link below).

Updates on three grants in progress. One already mentioned during the recent water/sewer proposal will save Franklin a half percentage point on the loan interest for work on the pump station repairs.

Another grant (valued about $48,000) is a joint effort with Bellingham on vulnerability planning.

The discussion moved to the plastic bag ban proposal brought forward by a group of FHS students (mostly sophomores and juniors).



The students will come back with their formal presentation and a revision to the bylaw language as proposed last time with modifications as outlined (see link for proposal). Timeline was not fully resolved it could be later this summer or in September.

The audio recording was captured and should be ready in day or so.


Meeting agenda and links to prior discussions on bag ban: 
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/06/economic-development-subcommittee-jun.html

Economic Development Meeting: recap  - June 12, 2019
Economic Development Meeting: recap  - June 12, 2019


Wednesday, June 12, 2019

Economic Development Subcommittee: Jun 12 - Agenda

Economic Development Subcommittee Meeting

Municipal Building
355 East Central Street, 
3rd Floor Training Room Franklin, MA
June 12, 2018 - 6:00 PM


REVISED

Announcements:
This meeting may be recorded by audio or video.


1. Grants Update
  • a. DLTA Economic Profile analysis
  • b. Municipal Vulnerability Grant w/ Bellingham
  • c. Housing Choice Designation
2. Plastic Bag Ban Proposal


The Agenda can be found on the Town of Franklin page
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/agendas/edc_agenda_-_revised_6-12-19.pdf

The summary of the FHS student proposal for the plastic bag ban
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczTzdEaHFyZWdaYUEtYmRuMWwxR2xIS29pNnRB/view?usp=sharing





From the archives:

  • online petition in May 2016

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/05/petition-to-franklin-town-council.html


  • FHS Student presentation to Town Council Sep 2016

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/09/in-news-plastic-bag-ban-proposed-sen.html

and
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/09/town-council-recognizes-helen-huang-and.html


  • FHS students present to Economic Development Committee in Dec 2016

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/12/this-thing-got-to-us-as-council-when-it.html

some of the FHS students making the plastic bag ban proposal to the Town Council
some of the FHS students making the plastic bag ban proposal to the Town Council in 2016

Wednesday, April 3, 2019

In the News: Supermarket group backs plastic bag ban

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

"A group representing supermarkets and other food stores offered its conditional support Tuesday to a bill that if approved would make Massachusetts the latest U.S. state to outlaw single-use plastic shopping bags viewed by environmentalists as a major source of pollution and a grave threat to marine wildlife. 
The proposal would prohibit retailers from providing customers with single-use carryout bags at the point of purchase. Stores would be required to make recyclable paper bags available to customers for a charge of 10 cents, and food stores would have the option of making reusable grocery bags available for 10 cents or more. 
Nearly 100 cities and towns, including Boston, already have local plastic bag ordinances in place, though the specifics of those bans vary among communities. 
In testimony prepared for the Legislature’s Natural Resources, Environment and Agriculture Committee, the Massachusetts Food Association said it could support a statewide ban on plastic bags to replace the patchwork of local rules and create an “even playing field” for supermarkets and grocery stores."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190402/supermarket-group-backs-plastic-bag-ban

FHS students discussing the proposal with the EDC Nov 30, 2016
FHS students discussing the proposal with the EDC Nov 30, 2016

From the archives

A petition online had been created in May 2016
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/05/petition-to-franklin-town-council.html

FHS students brought their plastic bag proposal to the Town Council in Sep 2016
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/09/town-council-recognizes-helen-huang-and.html

After the Town Council presentation in September, the Economic Development Committee picked up the matter for their meeting Nov 30, 2016 (audio file of the meeting available)
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/12/fm122-economic-development-committee.html

Saturday, January 12, 2019

In the News: plastic bags eliminated by BIG Y; breathalyzer tests require validation

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

Plastic bags being eliminated by BIG Y

"In a decision affecting all 70 Big Y supermarket locations across Massachusetts and Connecticut, Big Y Foods, Inc. this week announced it will eliminate plastic bags from checkout counters. 
That includes the store in Milford, off Rte. 109 and one in Franklin on Rte. 140.
The company uses 100 million plastic bags at checkout counters each year.
 
“Single-use plastic bags create an inordinate amount of waste,” a press release from the company says. “Big Y recognizes its responsibility to cut down on unnecessary plastic waste that contributes to litter, harms the environment and can endanger wildlife.” 
The change won’t happen until 2020, allowing employees and customers to get used to the idea, and make the switch to reusable bags."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190111/milford-franklin-big-ys-to-eliminate-plastic-bags-in-2020

Recall that some FHS students in 2016 had created an online petition, brought forward a proposal, worked their way through the local legislative process before ultimately getting dismissed by the Economic Development Committee of the Town Council in one of their lesser highlight moments. The students can be happy now.
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/11/nearly-60-massachusetts-municipalities.html

FHS students discussing the proposal with the EDC Nov 30, 2016
FHS students discussing the proposal with the EDC Nov 30, 2016

Balance of power plays out

"Prosecutors trying to get convictions for people suspected of driving drunk have seen their jobs get much more difficult after a Massachusetts judge ruled this week that Breathalyzer tests cannot be used as evidence in court. 
Judge Robert Brennan, who was hearing a consolidated test case that involved more than 400 Breathalyzer exams throughout the state, ruled the tests can’t be used until the Office of Alcohol Testing proves it results are accurate. 
Brennan’s ruling is being hailed by MetroWest defense attorneys as fair. 
“I think it’s the right decision,” said David Levinson, a Framingham lawyer. “There have been so many issues with the various testing devices. There has to be some kind of accountability.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190111/breathalyzer-court-ruling-roils-prosecutors-police

Interesting that many of the Google provided links to the MA Office of Alcohol Testing all end up at the District Attorneys page. There is also this reference but no page link. The office must truly being being rebuilt.  https://www.mass.gov/service-details/forensic-chemistry-sections


Monday, August 6, 2018

In the News: competition for Senator Ross' seat; PMC rides through Franklin; A resident against bag ban in Natick

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:
"The Sept. 4 primary for the state Senate race is fast approaching, and three Democrats are vying for the chance to challenge incumbent Republican Richard Ross of Wrentham for the Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex District Senate seat. 
The district covers parts of Wellesley and Needham, as well as sections of Franklin, Millis, Norfolk, Plainville, Wrentham, Attleboro, North Attleborough, Natick, Sherborn and Wayland."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20180805/three-democrats-aim-to-unseat-senator-richard-ross


"Before hundreds of cyclists rolled into the Jefferson Elementary School, Kevin Lydon held back tears. 
Lydon was a volunteer at Saturday’s water stop for cyclists participating in the annual Pan-Mass Challenge to raise money for cancer treatment and research. 
Lydon, a Mansfield resident, choked up when he said his cancer returned last month. He had been in remission before a surgical oncologist told him his lymphoma is back. The diagnosis has not been confirmed, although test results are expected this week."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20180805/pmc-ride-makes-stop-in-franklin-outpouring-of-love-for-those-lost-to-cancer


"A resident is on a crusade to repeal the town’s plastic bag regulation, and he’s meeting with town officials to state his case. 
Brent Longtin called it “a disaster,” and he wants officials to encourage residents to focus on re-usable bags. 
Natick’s policy allows plastic bags with a minimum thickness of 2 millimeters. Retailers can also provide bags made of recycled paper or reusable bags made of cloth or other washable fabric."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20180805/resident-calls-naticks-plastic-bag-regulation-disaster



Wednesday, February 14, 2018

In the News: Cannabis Control Commission timeline discussion; Boston Herald sold; Hopkinton waiting on plastic bag ban

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

"With the chorus of critics calling for the Cannabis Control Commission to pump the brakes on its rollout of an expansive legal marijuana industry growing louder, the top marijuana regulator said Tuesday the agency will debate later this month whether it should license only certain types of marijuana businesses to open July 1 and wait to license others. 
Gov. Charlie Baker, House Speaker Robert DeLeo and others have called on the CCC to scale back the industry envisioned in its draft regulations -- which includes marijuana cafes, delivery-only marijuana businesses, and the ability for establishments like cinemas and massage parlors to offer limited marijuana products -- at least until an initial retail market takes hold. 
“We’re absolutely going to talk about that and if we do decide to not issue certain categories of licenses on day one we’re not going to leave them open-ended, we’ll say ‘here’s our timeline for subsequent rollout,’ ” CCC Chairman Steven Hoffman said Tuesday when asked if the commission would consider a phased rollout of legal cannabis businesses. “But we have not made that decision, we are going to have that conversation.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20180213/official-pot-licenses-could-be-rolled-out-on-timeline



"The second biggest newspaper in Boston is on track to be sold for $11.9 million. 
A subsidiary of Digital First, owner of the Denver Post and hundreds of other publications across the country, made the winning bid for the Boston Herald at a closed-door auction held at the downtown Boston offices of the Herald’s bankruptcy attorney, Brown Rudnick, which confirmed the bid selection to The Patriot Ledger on Tuesday night. The Boston Herald reported that the bid was for $11.9 million. 
Digital First was one of three companies to submit bids for the paper before a deadline Friday, including GateHouse Media, the owner of The Patriot Ledger. The company also owns the Lowell Sun and the Fitchburg Sentinel and Enterprise in Massachusetts.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20180213/digital-first-media-wins-auction-for-boston-herald


"The town is waiting to see how a statewide plastic bag ban take shape before taking its own action. 
Board of Health member Jennifer Flanagan brought up the idea to ban plastic bags at stores in town about a year ago after hearing about such a ban passed in Natick. Last week, the board brought the discussion back up. 
“We are still in the research and review stage,” said Shaun McAuliffe, health director."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20180213/hopkinton-waits-on-statewide-plastic-bag-ban

Thursday, December 1, 2016

Plastic bag bylaw put aside; recreational marijuana zoning proposal moves forward

I used Twitter to record some of my notes from the Economic Development Committee meeting on Wednesday. I used Storify to summarize the meeting.
  • Plastic Bag Bylaw
After some contentious discussion and nitpicking the plastic bag measure was declined to move forward by a unanimous vote. Additional work was acknowledged to be done. To the students credit, they took this in stride and are prepared to do the work and bring the measure back.
  • Recreational marijuana zoning
The Committee also voted to bring forward a measure to allow Franklin to implement a 2% tax on the sale of recreational marijuana and to adjust the zoning to use the existing adult and medical marijuana overlays to also include recreational marijuana. Both of these actions are in advance of the first sale sometime in 2018 with additional State level regulations to be announced before then. The Town Council should see this at one of their meetings in December.


I will post the audio recording of the meeting to share that for your listening pleasure.

FHS students leading the discussion on the proposal to ban plastic bags for retail
FHS students leading the discussion on the proposal to ban plastic bags for retail

(be sure to scroll within the Storify widget to review all the entries)



Saturday, February 2, 2008

Franklin: I can use your help


Franklin: 2 bag recycle walk, originally uploaded by shersteve.

Yes, I can use your help. Franklin can use your help.

I came up with this brain storm of an idea a couple of weeks ago. When Dolores and I go walking now on the weekend, I carry a bag (or two) and pick up the recycling I find along the way.

All Franklin walkers could help in this effort. Take a bag with you. PIck up the recycling.

A little bit at a time, Franklin will be cleaner.

A little bit at a time, people will notice us picking up the recycling.

Maybe after they notice, they might stop and think about tossing their recycling out on our roads and sidewalks.

Our walk today generated two bags and I could have easily filled about a dozen more.

A little bit at a time.

Franklin matters. Please recycle!