Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - Sep 15, 2021

 
1. ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE CHAIR

a. This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast channel 11 and Verizon Channel 29. This meeting may be recorded by others.
b. Chair to identify Council members participating remotely.

2. CITIZEN COMMENTS
a. Citizens are welcome to express their views for up to five minutes on a matter that is not on the agenda. The Council will not engage in a dialogue or comment on a matter raised during Citizen Comments. The Town Council will give remarks appropriate consideration and may ask the Town Administrator to review the matter.

3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
a. August 18, 2021   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/3a._1_august_18_2021_tc_meeting_minutes_-_draft_for_review.pdf

4. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
a. Police Department:
i. Sergeant Lee Drake - Retirement
ii. Sergeant Louis Marguerite - Promotion

5. APPOINTMENTS
a. Janice Prentice - Associate member, Historical Commission   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/5a._appointment_-_prentice.pdf
b. Chuna Keophannga - Finance Committee   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/5b._appointment_-_keophannga.pdf
c. Tyrel Hansen - Finance Committee   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/5c._appointment_-_hansen.pdf

6. HEARINGS - 7:10pm - None Scheduled

7. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS

a. Franklin Shed, LLC d/b/a Franklin Shed, New Section 12 Restaurant, All Alcoholic Beverages, and approval of manager, located at 340 East Central Street, Franklin, MA.   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/7a._web_franklin_shed.pdf

8. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
a. SAFE Coalition, Jennifer Knight-Levine, Executive Director
b. Delcarte Conservation Area Weed Remediation, Jennifer Delmore, Conservation Agent  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/8b._delcarte_weeds_pres.pdf

9. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
a. Capital Budget Subcommittee
b. Budget Subcommittee
c. Economic Development Subcommittee

10. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
a. Resolution 21-53: Gift Acceptance, Franklin Public Library $5,890, Veterans’ Service Department $300, Fire Department $200 (Motion to Approve Resolution 21-53 - Majority Vote)
b. Bylaw Amendment 21-875: Chapter 82, Trash and Recycling Fee Increase - Second Reading
(Motion to adopt Bylaw Amendment 21-875 - Majority Roll Call Vote)  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/10b._21-875_trash.pdf

11. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

12. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

13. COUNCIL COMMENTS

14. EXECUTIVE SESSION - None Scheduled

15. ADJOURN

Note:
Two-Thirds Vote: requires 6 votes
Majority Vote: requires majority of members present and voting

The agenda doc, including connection info and documents released for this meeting can be found ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/09-15-2021_town_council_agenda.pdf

Delcarte Conservation Area Weed Remediation

Town of Franklin, MA: Job Opportunities in Conservation, Police, DPW, Facilities, and Library

Job Opportunities

To apply for a vacant position, please submit a resume and cover letter to apply@franklinma.gov.  Please put the job title in the subject line of your email.  

• TEMPORARY Conservation Agent - Conservation Department  ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/temporary-conservation-agent-posting-sept2021.docx.pdf

• Police Patrol Officer - Franklin Police Department - we are looking for officers who have already been trained through the MPTC Police Academy ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/academy-trained-patrol-officer-posting-august2021.pdf
• Heavy Motor Equipment Operator - Department of Public Works - 2 vacancies  ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/hmeo-external-posting-august312021.docx.pdf
• Part-time and Substitute Custodians - Facilities Department   ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/part-time.and-substitute-custodians-august312021.pdf
• Substitute Library Assistant - Franklin Public Library    ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/substitute-library-assistant-posting-august2021.pdf

If you do not have a resume, you may send a completed Application for Employment instead.  (https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/application_for_employment_-_town_of_franklin.pdf)

To receive notifications of all job opportunities in the Town of Franklin, subscribe here  ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/subscribe

Town of Franklin, MA: Job Opportunities in Conservation, Police, DPW, Facilities, and Library

Franklin Annual Report - 2020: Franklin Conservation Commission

ANNUAL REPORT OF THE CONSERVATION COMMISSION

Franklin Conservation Commission is responsible for promoting and protecting the Town of Franklin’s natural resources, and protecting the Town’s wetlands resources.

The Commission is comprised of seven volunteer residents appointed for three year terms by the Town Administrator. Current Commission members have diverse professional experience related to environmental science, biology, engineering, 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 represented at the annual conference of the Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commissions each 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 Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD) provides administrative and technical support to the Commission.

Permitting of Work Within or Adjacent to Wetlands Resources
The majority of the Commission’s attention is directed to administering Massachusetts and Franklin wetland protection laws and regulations. Those laws and regulations require Conservation 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.

During the first quarter of FY20 the Commission voted to accept fast tracking NOI/ANRAD peer review consultant services as recommended by the Conservation Agent and DPCD. This change has helped move big projects along the permitting process more quickly.

During FY20 the Conservation Agent reviewed and administratively approved 15 minor buffer zone applications.

During FY20 the Conservation Commission received 46 permit applications to work within areas under their permitting jurisdiction. In addition the Commission issued Certificates of Compliance for previously permitted projects, and granted permit extensions to allow projects to finish. The table below is a summary of Conservation Commission activity during the 2020 Fiscal Year.

Some of the more interesting project applications before the Commission during FY20 include construction of a marijuana cultivation and production facility at 160 Grove Street and the Town’s projects off Meadowlark Lane and Griffin Road to improve water quality and reduce pollutant loading in the Chicken Brook-Charles River sub-watershed.

DelCarte Conservation Area 
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 Commission retained the services of ESS, Inc. to undertake an ecological study to ascertain the flora and fauna viability in the pond and develop a long term management plan. This study, completed in 2015-2016 has given the Town a comprehensive understanding of exactly “what is there” and includes a management plan to help keep the area viable as a true recreational jewel. The first two phases of the plan’s recommendations, the treatment of invasive plant species, was undertaken in the spring/summer of 2017-2019. The Town appropriated Capital Improvement funds to help implement the next phases of this study in 2019-2020. The pond’s invasive species were treated again throughout the summer of 2020.

In addition the funds are being used to implement the ADA recommendations under the master plan developed for DelCarte. This plan, developed for the Town by Mass Audubon was presented to the Commission in the fall of 2017. The Commission began to undertake improvements to the DelCarte Recreation Area in the late summer/early fall of 2018 to bring access to the trails and the water bodies up to ADA standards and improve the overall aesthetics of the area. This portion of the improvements was completed in the spring/summer 2019.

Continue reading the report from the Conservation Commission

https://www.franklinma.gov/town-clerk/files/town-franklin-annual-report-2020

Prior Annual Reports can be found online

https://www.franklinma.gov/town-clerk/pages/annual-reports

Franklin Annual Report - 2020: Franklin Conservation Commission

FM #441 Jen Delmore - Conservation Agent - 01/13/21 (audio)

FM #441 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 441 in the series.

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Conservation Agent Jen Delmore. We had our conversation via conference bridge to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

Links to the key topics covered here are included in the show notes. The recording runs about 36 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Jen Delmore.

Audio file =  https://player.captivate.fm/episode/fe003ca7-7e2a-456f-baf2-b9facd1bba62

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Conservation Forms  https://www.franklinma.gov/conservation/pages/filing-instructions-forms-and-fees

DelCarte Reports and Plan  https://www.franklinma.gov/conservation/pages/delcarte-conservation-area

Conservation Home owners 101  https://www.franklinma.gov/conservation/pages/homeowners-101

Conservation Regulations and bylaws  https://www.franklinma.gov/conservation/pages/regulations-and-bylaws  

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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm).

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.
 
How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors
• If you don't like something here, please let me know

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.
 
For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ 

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

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You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters" 

DelCarte, on a January morning 2020

Metacomet Land Trust Annual Meeting - Sunday, May 19

Hello!

To help you through this cold, wet spring we've scheduled an exciting speaker for our land trust annual meeting on Sunday, May 19 at the Nipmuc High School.

Doug Harris will present Let the Landscape Speak and will delve into the characteristics and possible meanings behind the Indigenous Ceremonial Stone Landscape that surrounds us in New England. Often hidden in plain sight in our forests and fields, these enigmatic stone structures can be remnants of a network built by Indigenous Americans for ceremonial and other purposes. 

Doug Harris, Deputy Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for the Narragansett Indian Tribal Historic Preservation Office, has been Tribally certified in the identification of ceremonial stone features for 16 years. Harris will present an illustrated talk showing the various types of Indigenous ceremonial stone features found in the region.

Won't you join us with a preview of our silent auction items at 1 PM with our program starting at 2 PM? A visit to Upton's Chamber will be offered depending on the weather.

Please be sure to join us and invite friends and family as well!

Find more info at https://metacometlandtrust.org/event/metacomet-land-trust-annual-meeting/

If you cannot make it please consider sending your proxy ballot for the annual meeting to me at this address. It can be found in our annual report here

https://metacometlandtrust.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/2018-Metacomet-Land-Trust-Anual-Report-1.pdf


In conservation,
Lisa


Lisa Mosczynski
President
Metacomet Land Trust
508-341-4876

Metacomet Land Trust Annual Meeting - Sunday, May 19

The Town of Franklin is hiring for these positions

Job Opportunities

To apply for a vacant position, please submit a resume and cover letter to apply@franklinma.gov.  Please put the job title in the subject line of your email.  

• Part-Time Library Assistant 

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/uploads/library-assistant-external-posting-april252019.pdf

• Heavy Motor Equipment Operator - Department of Public Works 

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/uploads/hmeo-external-posting-march282019.pdf

• Administrative Assistant and Marketing Coordinator 

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/uploads/admin.asst_.marketing-posting-march222019.pdf

• Part-Time Conservation Agent

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/uploads/conservation-agent-posting-feb2019.pdf

• Summer Jobs - DPW and Facilities

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/uploads/summer-jobs-posting-feb2019.pdf

• Summer Engineering Intern - DPW 

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/uploads/engineeringintern-posting-feb2019.pdf

• Junior Building Custodian

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/uploads/jr-custodian-updated-feb262019.pdf

• Part-Time Custodian 

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/uploads/part-time.custodian-posting-october2018_0.pdf

• Firefighter/Paramedics - The Town of Franklin's Fire Department is in the Massachusetts Civil Service system. 
  • If you are currently a Firefighter/Paramedic in a Civil Service community and are interested in working for Franklin, send a resume and cover letter to apply@franklinma.gov. 
  • Please note: new hires must have and maintain a paramedic certification and complete an Associate's Degree within 5 years of the date they are hired.   

If you do not have a resume, you may send a completed Application for Employment instead.

The Town of Franklin is hiring for these positions

Charles River Meadowlands Initiative Schedules Public Forums

As they come close to completing their efforts, working with BETA, the Charles River Meadowlands Initiative (www.charlesrivermeadowlands.org) is presenting a series of community forums in Bellingham, Franklin and Medway in April. Any interested parties in these communities are invited to learn about the Charles River Meadowlands Initiative and share your thoughts.

State Rep. Jeff Roy and two of his colleagues (now no longer on Beacon Hill) helped secure a line item budget allocation to hire a consultant capable of professionally evaluating the recreation potential of the Charles River Meadowlands. 

The town of Franklin, in particular the Planning Department and Bryan Taberner, provided immeasurable help by receiving the funding on behalf of the Initiative and using their professional skills to help select a skilled consulting organization – the BETA Group.

Since late last year, BETA has been making field visits, developing maps, talking to officials in Franklin, Bellingham, and Medway, and developing concepts for consideration. They have helped identify real obstacles, for example potential rare-species areas that will likely have to be avoided. But the last few months have seen real, exciting progress.

The scheduled meetings include:

Thursday, April 11, 2019 - King Street Fire Station, 600 King Street, Franklin (enter the parking lot 6:30 PM from Constitution Boulevard. The meeting room entrance is on the King Street side of the building). In cooperation with the Franklin Department of Planning and Community Development

Tuesday, April 16, 2019 - Bellingham Town Hall, Arcand Meeting Room, 10 Mechanic Street 6:30 PM. In cooperation with the Bellingham Planning and Zoning Department

Monday, April 29, 2019 - Thayer Homestead, 2B Oak Street, Medway, 6:30PM. In cooperation with the Medway Open Space Committee and the Medway Community and Economic Development Department.

For more information, please contact Alan Earls, alan.r.earls@gmail.com

Charles River Meadowlands Initiative Schedules Public Forums

Town of Franklin: Job Opportunities - Apply Now!

Job Opportunities

To apply for a vacant position, please submit a resume and cover letter to apply@franklinma.gov.  Please put the job title in the subject line of your email.  

• Fire Chief 

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/uploads/fire-chief-posting-march2019_1.pdf

• Administrative Assistant and Marketing Coordinator 

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/uploads/admin.asst_.marketing-posting-march222019.pdf

• Part-Time Conservation Agent

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/uploads/conservation-agent-posting-feb2019.pdf

• Summer Jobs - DPW and Facilities

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/uploads/summer-jobs-posting-feb2019.pdf

• Summer Engineering Intern - DPW 

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/uploads/engineeringintern-posting-feb2019.pdf

• Junior Building Custodian

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/uploads/jr-custodian-updated-feb262019.pdf

• Part-Time Custodian 

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/uploads/part-time.custodian-posting-october2018_0.pdf

• Firefighter/Paramedics - The Town of Franklin's Fire Department is in the Massachusetts Civil Service system. 
  • If you are currently a Firefighter/Paramedic in a Civil Service community and are interested in working for Franklin, send a resume and cover letter to apply@franklinma.gov. 
  • Please note: new hires must have and maintain a paramedic certification and complete an Associate's Degree within 5 years of the date they are hired.   

If you do not have a resume, you may send a completed Application for Employment instead.

To receive notifications of all job opportunities in the Town of Franklin, subscribe here .

View this on the Town of Franklin web page

Among the Town of Franklin job opportunities is the role of Fire Chief

The Amazing Story of the Franklin State Forest

The presentation copy that Alan Earls shared at the Franklin Historical Museum on Sunday, Sep 9, 2018 is shared here. 

About 40 people participated in the presentation and discussion on Sunday. The daughter of Leonard Cook shared some highlights of his memoir reflecting on the time he had served in a CCC camp in western MA. 

"Most people, of a certain age, know the term CCC. A public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed and unmarried men. There were CCC camps and environmental projects in every state. The project was responsible for planting more than three billion trees and constructed trails and shelters in more than 800 parks nationwide during its nine years of existence. These programs and projects helped to shape the modern national and state park systems we enjoy today. Join us to learn about Franklin's own CCC Camp and it's place in this program's history. 

Contrary to what a casual observer might assume, the Franklin State Forest is not the forest primeval - undisturbed by humans -- but a "modern" invention – spawned by a 1914 act of the Massachusetts legislature that authorized gradual creation of state forests around the commonwealth. It was finally made a reality during the Great Depression through "bargain" land purchases and with plantings and improvements by President Roosevelt's Civilian Conservation Corps, which had a large encampment in town for a time. Further modest enlargements were made in the late 20th century.  

Join us Sunday afternoon, September 9 at 1:15 as local historian Alan Earls, tells the forest's story through Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) records, maps, and film clips made in 1935 by Franklin's pioneer documentarian, Stanley Chilson."

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/08/second-sunday-speaker-series-continues.html

CCC State Forest Presentation from Franklin Matters

The Amazing Story of the Franklin State Forest

Follow up treatment of the Delcarte Ponds will be conducted on July 12, 2018

The date for the follow up treatment of the invasive plants in the DelCarte Ponds is July 12, 2018. (subject to the weather - It can't be a rainy day.) 

The pond will be closed for fishing, canoeing etc. for 24 hours, but the rest of the area for hiking etc. will be open.


This was shared from the Town of Franklin page
http://www.franklinma.gov/home/news/follow-treatment-delcarte-ponds-will-be-conducted-july-12-2018

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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.

invasive species in the water at DelCarte

The ecological study performed to show the need for these herbicide treatments can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/02/ecological-and-management-study-of.html


The reminder on the treatments was shared from the Town of Franklin page
http://www.franklinma.gov/home/news/get-rid-those-invasive-weeds-delcarte-pond-herbicide-treatment-begins-2017-stay-tuned-more

"now we qualify for grants for up to $250,000 a year"

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

"Saving the world, one light bulb at a time, are the newest communities that were welcomed as Massachusetts Green Communities on Thursday at the Franklin municipal building. 

Judith Judson, commissioner of the state Department of Energy Resources, said 210 towns and cities in Massachusetts are now considered “Green Communities.” They encompass more than 72 percent of the state’s population. 

“It’s providing a lot of benefits for our commonwealth,” she said. “It enables energy savings for the cities and towns that become Green Communities, and we provide grant funding in order to make energy improvements.” 

These efforts, she said, are visible to residents who see reductions in their towns’ energy use, emissions and their associated costs. The money saved, she said, might find its way into the schools or into public safety, strengthening those services."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20180608/franklin-named-green-community

Many Thanks to MassDOER Commissioner Judith Judson for coming to Franklin today to officially declare Franklin A “Green Community” and give us our grant award! A huge thank you to our Town staff for a great job well done!

Charles River Meadowlands Initiative Walk/Cleanup - Apr 28

Several people interested in the Charles River Meadowlands Initiative participated in a walk and cleanup on Saturday from noon to 1:30 in conjunction with Town ‘Earth Day’ cleanup on April 28. 

Tom Betts, site supervisor at the Montage condominium project under construction on Pond Street, kindly gave permission to the group to park and access the adjacent town lands. The Montage project will eventually include a public access component and parking for reaching town and federal land. 

During the Saturday walk, attendees filled two bags with trash, explored existing trails, and assessed federal and state signage on the property borders. 

The Meadowlands Initiative is meeting next week with the town administration and representatives of the Army Corps of Engineers, which is in charge of some 400 acres of land in Franklin, to explore ways to improve public access and improve conservation.

For more about the Charles River Meadowlands Initiative visit their page
charlesrivermeadowlands.org

L-R Paul Sager, Alan Earls, Juanita Urban

“It’s a matter of people willing to think about this"

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

"Awareness group Franklin in Focus will be holding a forum called “Where’s the Green” Saturday to discuss the future of open space in town. 

The forum will take place at the Franklin Senior Center from 10 a.m. to noon. Coordinator Alan Earls said that multiple town officials have been invited as well as a representative from Metacomet Land Trust to discuss conservation options. 

Franklin in Focus was formed by Franklin residents Earls and Monique Doyle in 2017 soon after election time in November. 

“I think we both felt that there was and is a need for change,” he said. “There are a lot of things in Franklin that aren’t as good, or effective, or efficient, or responsive, or transparent as they should be.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20180312/franklin-in-focus-to-discuss-open-space

Where’s the Green?  - Mar 17

Where’s the Green? - Mar 17

A look at prospects for open space, agriculture, and recreational space in Franklin and a discussion about the town’s continued growth

On Saturday, March 17 Franklin in Focus is inviting all interested people to gather for a look at the past, present, and future of Franklin’s open space and continued growth with an eye to preserving town character, enhancing recreation and conservation, and encouraging agricultural activities.

We are inviting representatives from the Town Council, Town Conservation Commission and Planning Board, Metacomet Land Trust, Charles River Meadowlands Initiative, Franklin State Forest, and Franklin Bellingham Rail Trail, Agricultural Commission, and Community Garden and other to join us.

The event will be held at the Franklin Senior Center from 10 - noon.


For more information, contact franklininfocus@gmx.com

Where’s the Green?  - Mar 17

In the News: schools wrestle with hate crimes; wild turkeys return

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

"As schools across Massachusetts grapple with a recent surge in racist graffiti and anti-Semitic incidents, many educators say they are working to build programs into their curriculum to combat hate. 

As schools across Massachusetts grapple with a recent surge in racist graffiti and anti-Semitic incidents, many educators say they are working to build programs into their curriculum to combat hate. 

“We are trying to focus proactively on creating an inclusive culture and climate in a preventative way,” said Sara Ahern, superintendent of schools in Franklin, where swastikas were scrawled on school buildings and playground equipment three times last year and again earlier this month."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20171110/massachusetts-schools-wrestle-with-hate-incidents

"For more than 100 years, there were no wild turkeys in Massachusetts. 

Hunting and increased development completely wiped out the wild turkeys, but in the past few decades, the large birds have rebounded in a big way. Turkeys are increasingly popping up in urban and residential areas. 

“It is a great success story we were able to get them re-established,” said Wayne Petersen, director of important bird areas for Mass Audubon. 

The Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife tried in 1911, then in the 1950s and ’60s, to bring wild turkeys back to the Bay State, but the attempts didn’t find success until the late-1970s. That is when adult turkeys trapped in upstate New York were moved into the Berkshires. The initial group of 37 turkeys took hold and thrived. As the wild turkey population grew, MassWildlife caught some of the birds and brought them to other parts of the state and turkeys soon became a re-established species."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20171110/turkeys-conservation-success-story-in-massachusetts

part of the flock of wild turkeys seen in the Four Corners area

Charles River Meadowlands hike recap

The Oct. 28 Charles River Meadowlands hike attracted a total of 20 people. The group made it through the rugged, wet, and overgrown terrain south of Oak Street Extension, eventually emerging in beautiful upland fields and tall stands of evergreens, ultimately exiting via White Avenue. 

Two town council candidates attended the event: Eamon McCarthy Earls and Andy Bissanti. 

“It was great to have so many people exploring this area,” said Meadowlands organizer, Alan Earls. “We got to see the challenges for trail development in the wetter areas as well as the enormous potential in the extensive field and forest sections,” he added.

Charles River Meadowlands hike recap

Green Infrastructure in Parks: A Guide to Collaboration, Funding, and Community Engagement

INTRODUCTION 

"This guide is intended to encourage partnerships between park agencies and stormwater agencies aimed at promoting the use of green infrastructure on park lands. Green infrastructure can help to maximize the environmental, economic, and social benefits of parks. By building strong partnerships, agencies can improve park lands and access to parks, better manage stormwater, increase community resiliency to shifting weather patterns, and provide funding to implement and maintain park enhancements that benefit the community. 

The guide offers information on why partnerships between stormwater managers and parks managers can be beneficial and how you can create such partnerships. The guide presents an overview of green infrastructure and describes practices that can be used to manage stormwater in parks. In addition, you will find information on factors that influence the selection of appropriate green infrastructure practices, such as maintenance requirements. 

The guide is designed to provide you with a stepwise approach for building relationships with potential partners, and includes information on how to identify and engage partners, build relationships, involve the community, leverage funding opportunities, and identify green infrastructure opportunities. It includes recommendations on the types of projects that are most likely to attract positive attention and funding, and which provide a wide range of benefits. Case studies are included to illustrate the approaches presented in the guide. These real-life examples portray how partnerships between municipal stormwater agencies and parks departments have improved recreational resources in the community, enhanced environmental protection, and reduced risks and burdens. 

For those who wish to go deeper into a topic, the guide includes short descriptions and links to external resources that provide more detail on the material presented within."

You can find the full EPA document here



Or on the Town of  Franklin webpage (PDF)
http://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/news/epa_parks_book.pdf

Sculpture Park on Panther Way in Franklin

Charles River Meadowlands Update

Don't Forget to Send Your Comments to Army Corps of Engineers!

* We had a great turnout at the recent US Army Corps of Engineers meeting in Millis on the 19th of April -- about 35 people in total. Among attendees were local legislators from Franklin (Judy Pfeffer) and Bellingham, as well as the Medfield Town Manager and Franklin's Assistant Town Manager Jamie Hellen.

The Corps expressed a clear willingness to work with the towns and the Initiative on access and signage issues. As always, there are many details to be worked out but we had access to several Corps officials and they clearly heard our concerns...

NOTE: The final deadline for receipt of written comments on the US Army Corps Draft Master Plan for the Meadowlands must be received by June 15. Please go to our home page to download copies of both the master plan and the USACE comment form. (www.charlesrivermeadowlands.org).

* We will not be meeting in June and when we resume meeting in July. It will be on a Wednesday night schedule to accommodate those of you unable to make Tuesday evening events. For details, check the website.

Sincerely,

Alan Earls
Charles River Meadowlands

Charles River Meadowlands

Charles River Meadowlands Army Corps meeting reminder - Weds - Apr 19

​The public meeting scheduled by the Army Corps of Engineers to discuss their Master Plan for the Charles River Natural Valley Storage Area (a.k.a. the Charles River Meadowlands) will be held on Wednesday, April 19 from 5-8 pm at the Millis Town Library, 961 Main St, Millis…This is a unique opportunity to share concerns and views with decision makers at the Army. Please try to be there!

In OTHER NEWS, things are not aligning this year for an EarthDay Walk. SO, we are not doing a walk, cleanup, or paddle on either the 22nd or the29th. Maybe we can pull together something later in the year.​


For more info on the Charles River Meadowlands
https://www.charlesrivermeadowlands.org/

For more info on the Charles River Meadowlands

Related posts
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/04/important-news-from-charles-river.html

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/03/news-and-upcoming-charles-river.html

Land Use Workshop - Thursday, April 13

Land Use Workshop 

April 13, 2017 at 6:30 PM

355 East Central Street 

Council Chambers

Topics for Workshop

• COMMUNITY APPROACH TO HOUSING and Economic Development
1. Current Growth spurt? - see attached Memo
2. Residential VII ?
3. Commercial I
4. Commercial II
5. Height of issues in Cl, C2, Downtown and RS
6. Affordable housing

• lnclusionary Zoning - for affordable/or open space?

7. Open Space Acquisition Plan?


History
Master Plan Adopted by the Town Council in 2013 

Changes as a result of the Master Plan
• Change Industrial to R 5 at the end of Dean Ave (Thompson Press)
• Allow surface parking lots as primary use in Downtown
• Clean up zone lines in the Downtown
• Rural business (was Neighborhood Commercial) - Washington Street and Spring Street
• Change R4 to RS on West Central near Beaver Street

Zoning in Master Plan not addressed to date
• C-1 issues/options/location

Recent proposed changes not included in the Master Plan
1. Residential VII East Central Street - Citizen/Developer petition
2. Storage Facility moved from CII to industrial - In process
3. Medical Marijuana - State law passed - adopted
4. Recreation Marijuana - State law passed - adopted

Thompson Press building on Dean Ave - future site of 200+ condos

The original agenda document for the Land Use Workshop




The Master Plan can be found on the Town of Franklin webpage
http://www.franklinma.gov/planning-community-development/pages/master-plan

The 5 part Special Report on the development of the Residential VII zoning proposal can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/01/part-5-full-residential-vii-timeline.html