Comment period open until March 25, 2025 on Environmental Assessment for Veterans Memorial Drive Extension

The Town has received an $850,000 Community Project Funding (CPF) grant through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The funds will be combined with a portion of our FY2023 Massachusetts MassWorks Infrastructure Program grant to construct the Veterans Memorial Drive Extension in Franklin, which will extend the existing public right-of-way through an undeveloped tract of land to support the future construction of the Franklin Ridge Senior Affordable Housing Project.

The Town has recently completed an environment assessment (EA) of the Veterans Memorial Drive Extension project’s potential impacts, and has determined that the project will have no significant impact on the human environment.

 
Anyone disagreeing with this determination or wishing to comment on the project may submit to the Town of Franklin’s Department of Planning & Community Development.  All comments received by March 25, 2025 will be considered by the Town of Franklin prior to submission of a request for release of funds.  

On or about March 26, 2025 the Town plans to submit a Request for Release of Funds and Certification to HUD for the release of the $850,000 in CPF HUD funding.

Attached is a combined Notice that satisfies two separate but related procedural requirements for activities to be undertaken by the Town: a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) notice; and a Notice of Intent to Request Release of Funds (NOI-RROF).  

Thank you for your attention to this issue.

Bryan W. Taberner, AICP

Director of Planning and Community Development

355 East Central Street

Franklin, MA 02038-1352

Phone: 508-520-4907

Email: btaberner@franklinma.gov

Attached is a combined Notice ->   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_OXYwHNKaih9PkWieLoasKT5hpziuwOT/view?usp=drive_link

Comment period open until March 25, 2025 on Environmental Assessment for Veterans Memorial Drive Extension

Congressman Auchincloss Appointed to Energy & Commerce

Congressman Jake Auchincloss (D, MA-04) has been appointed to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce for the 119th Congress. The Committee is at the forefront of health care, technology, and energy policy. Rep. Auchincloss will serve on the Health, Energy, and Environment subcommittees. 

In particular, the committee has responsibility for matters including telecommunications, consumer protection, food and drug safety, public health and research, environmental quality, energy policy, and interstate and foreign commerce. 

 

Congressman Auchincloss Appointed to Energy & Commerce

“I am focused on lowering the cost of health care. Energy & Commerce is the prime committee for policy that can reduce co-pays and premiums, empower patients and doctors, and rein in the middlemen of corporate healthcare. I am excited to get working on legislation,” said Congressman Jake Auchincloss (D, MA-04)

 

A photo from Congressman Auchincloss’ first full-committee meeting can be viewed here -> 

Town of Franklin: Request for Proposals - Qualified Environmental Professional Services

Request for Proposals - Qualified Environmental Professional Services

The Town of Franklin wishes to retain the services of a Qualified Environmental Professional (QEP) to provide environmental planning, assessment, and remediation services related to the former Nu-Style Jewelry Factory Brownfield.

Additional Information:  RFP for Qualified Environmental Professional Services

Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/purchasing/bids/request-proposals-qualified-environmental-professional-services

Town of Franklin: Request for Proposals - Qualified Environmental Professional Services

Franklin Faith Forum - WFPR: 035 - Religion and the Environment (audio)

In this episode, Dr. Pandora Carlucci and Jay Horrigan are joined by Reverend Juncker, Reverend Oughton and Rabbi Alpert to talk about the relationship between religion and the environment; how faith ties into taking care of the planet, what different religious texts say and teach and much more.

If you would like to reach out with any questions, concerns or future discussion topics you can contact franklinfaithforum@gmail.com

You can keep up to date with the Franklin Interfaith Council here:   https://www.facebook.com/FranklinInterfaithCouncil

Audio link -> https://franklin-faith-forum.captivate.fm/episode/035-religion-and-the-environment

Franklin Faith Forum - WFPR

Bringing More Faith Into Your Day

Jay Horrigan and Dr. Pandora Carlucci join Pastor Juncker, Reverend Oughton, and Rabbi Alpert to discuss faith in their congregations and how listeners can embrace faith in their own lives.

Find all the episodes -> https://franklin-faith-forum.captivate.fm/

Franklin Faith Forum - WFPR

Making Sense of Climate #28: Catching up on climate news, touting action as antidote to despair (audio)

FM #1022 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1022 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Ted McIntyre, Franklin resident and climate activist via the Zoom conference bridge Thursday, July 13, 2023.  

In this episode we cover multiple topics as we caught up on what has happened since our prior recording. Links to the articles we talk of are located below.  

Briefly

• Climate challenges are here, when will it be recognized that change is required?

• Solar, agrivoltaics, home wind turbines, nuclear

• ISO New England & grid intersections 

• Energize Franklin, action is the antidote to despair

This discussion continues our journey understanding the MA roadmap toward net zero and while it helps me “make sense of climate”, we hope it helps with your understanding as well. 

If you have climate questions or Franklin specific climate questions, send them in and we’ll try to answer them in a future session.  

The conversation runs about 42 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Ted McIntyre as he helps me ‘make sense of climate’

Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1022-making-sense-of-climate-28-07-13-23

--------------

  

Links to articles referenced:

Temperature records ->  https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jul/05/tuesday-was-worlds-hottest-day-on-record-breaking-mondays-record

Solar power roof maps -> https://www.wbur.org/news/2023/07/06/solar-power-rooftop-map-technical-potential-climate-goals 

Electrical grid interconnections (ISO New England to ISO New York, etc.)

https://www.wbur.org/news/2023/07/05/electrical-transmission-power-lines-massachusetts-new-england-clean-energy-doe 

Shift in thinking about nuclear -> https://commonwealthmagazine.org/energy/shift-in-thinking-on-nuclear-power/ 

Agrivoltaics -> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agrivoltaics 

Home wind turbines -> https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2023/07/11/home-wind-turbine-renewable-energy/ 

Power cell efficiency ->

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jul/06/revolutionary-solar-power-cell-innovations-break-key-energy-threshold 

Turbine efficiency -> https://www.vernier.com/experiment/rev-12_turbine-efficiency/ 

** See the page that collects all the “Making Sense of Climate” episodes -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/02/making-sense-of-climate-collection.html 

--------------

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.  

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/ or www.franklin.news/

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!

------------------

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

Making Sense of Climate #28: Catching up on climate news, touting action as antidote to despair (audio)

Intro to the Town of Franklin Conservation Agent: Breeka Li Goodlander (audio)

FM #920 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 920 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my introductory conversation with the Town of Franklin Conservation Agent Breeka Li Goodlander, CWS, PWS. We had our conversation via conference bridge.  

Topics for this session

• Background on Breeka Li’s road to Franklin

• Role of a Conservation Agent; protection of wetlands, etc.

• Beaver institute training underway

• Liaison for community on potential issues with management of open space & wetlands, invasive species, 100-200 foot guidelines

• Typical day of an agent: office work, field work & lots of liaison work

The conversation runs about 13 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Breeka Li

Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-920-town-of-franklin-intro-to-our-conservation-agent-01-12-23

--------------

Conservation page ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/conservation 

Contact info ->  Conservation Agent/Natural Resource Protection Manager

(508) 520-4847

Open Space & Recreation plan update  https://www.franklinma.gov/conservation/pages/2023-open-space-and-recreation-plan-update 

--------------

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.  

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/ or www.franklin.news/

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!

------------------

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

 Town of Franklin Conservation Agent: Breeka Li Goodlander (LinkedIn profile photo)

sign up for the Environment MA release of "Renewable Communities 2022" webinar on Aug 10

Via Environment MA (https://twitter.com/EnvironmentMA) 

"Across Massachusetts, cities and towns are leading the way to a future powered by clean energy. Our new report shows how.

Join us for the release of Renewable Communities 2022 next Wednesday at 11 AM:"

Register for this event -> https://environmentmassachusetts.webaction.org/p/salsa/event/common/public/?event_KEY=1353

sign up for the Environment MA release of "Renewable Communities 2022" webinar on Aug 10

Say "NO" to exempt from "a slew of environmental requirements" for a stadium

"The Massachusetts House passed legislation late Thursday that could clear the way for Robert Kraft to build a long-sought soccer stadium for the New England Revolution on a waterfront property steps from the Encore Boston Harbor casino in Everett.

Without floor debate or public input, lawmakers added language to a wide-ranging, multibillion-dollar economic development bill Thursday evening that would exempt the 43-acre industrial property straddling the Everett and Boston line from a slew of environmental requirements so it could be developed as a “sports, recreation or events center.”

Two people briefed on the legislation said the amendment is designed to aid Kraft’s pursuit of a soccer stadium after more than a decade of searching, but repeatedly failing to secure a new home for the Revolution in or around Boston."

Continue reading the article online at the Boston Globe (subscription maybe required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/07/15/metro/house-measure-could-help-open-door-professional-soccer-stadium-everett/ 

Seth Godin in his podcast "Akimbo" addresses Stadium subsidies

https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly9mZWVkcy5hY2FzdC5jb20vcHVibGljL3Nob3dzLzA3MDU4YjIwLWU1MzctNDIyNS05YzU2LTNhZGYwZTJhNjY5YQ/episode/NjJhODljNWMyNjEwMDQwMDEyZjI1YmNl

And while there is economic value to such a proposed exemption, the worth of government subsidies for such stadiums was debunked by the Brookings Institute

https://www.brookings.edu/articles/sports-jobs-taxes-are-new-stadiums-worth-the-cost/

Disclosure: yes, I happen to follow the Revolution as a season subscriber but that doesn't change my opinion on the "one" earth we have that is already challenged by climate change. We shouldn't be creating exemptions for this kind of building.

construction on new lighthouse tower at Gillette in June 2022

On the Climate front: gas companies say more gas is the answer; researchers finally calculate the cost in lives by acting now

Boston Globe:  "As gas companies plan for a climate future, their vision: more gas "

"Up on the fourth floor of Westin Copley Place this week, hundreds of natural gas representatives mingled among glossy posters and tables littered with branded baseball hats and Oreos. Among the niceties and exchanges of business cards it became quickly clear — the climate crisis is very much on people’s minds. Another thing became clear, too. The solution, as they see it, is more gas.

“Additional natural gas pipelines are the answer to many of the questions we face today,” Amy Andryszak, chief executive of the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America, told a panel audience Tuesday.

It was the 27th annual gathering of the Northeast LDC Gas Forum — nicknamed the “Best Deal-Making Conference” in the industry, according to the organizers, and seemingly as good a place as any to get the gas industry’s view of the climate crisis as it is lived every day in the executive suites, field sites, and maintenance trucks of the scores of companies that operate in New England."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/06/16/science/gas-companies-plan-climate-future-their-vision-more-gas/

The Guardian: "How millions of lives can be saved if the US acts now on climate"

"The rapidly shrinking window of opportunity for the US to pass significant climate legislation will have mortal, as well as political, stakes. Millions of lives around the world will be saved, or lost, depending on whether America manages to propel itself towards a future without planet-heating emissions.

For the first time, researchers have calculated exactly how many people the US could save by acting on the climate crisis. A total of 7.4 million lives around the world will be saved over this century if the US manages to cut its emissions to net zero by 2050, according to the analysis.

The financial savings would be enormous, too, with a net zero America able to save the world $3.7tn in costs to adapt to the rising heat. As the world’s second largest polluter of greenhouse gases, the US and its political vagaries will in large part decide how many people in faraway countries will be subjected to deadly heat, as well as endure punishing storms, floods, drought and other consequences of the climate emergency."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jun/16/us-climate-crisis-millions-lives-saved

Just 10 US states could save 3.7 million lives worldwide by cutting their emissions to net zero. Photograph: Iuliia Bondar/Getty Images

Making Sense of Climate #11 - Steve talks with Ted McIntyre - 06/09/22 (audio)

FM #817 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 817 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Ted McIntyre, Franklin resident and climate activist. We recorded this via the Zoom conference bridge Thursday, May 19, 2022.  

This discussion continues our journey understanding the MA roadmap toward net zero and while helping me “make sense of climate”, we hope it helps with your understanding as well. 

If you have climate questions or Franklin specific climate questions, send them in and we’ll try to answer them in a future session.  

The conversation runs about 44 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Ted.

Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-817-making-sense-of-climate-11-06-09-22

--------------

Articles referenced are collected in one PDF

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1rczYh14x-r6emEQM7QXSHIkKIKHD7hQ6/view?usp=sharing 

See the page that collects the “Making Sense of Climate” episodes -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/02/making-sense-of-climate-collection.html 

Conference committee members (3 from MA House & 3 from MA Senate)

House of Representatives: 

• Roy - https://malegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/JNR1 

• Chan - https://malegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/T_C1 

• Jones - https://malegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/BHJ1 

 

MA Senate: 

• Barrett - https://malegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/MJB0 

• Creem - https://malegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/CSC0 

• Tarr - https://malegislature.gov/Legislators/Profile/BET0 

--------------

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.  

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/ or www.franklin.news/

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!

------------------

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

Making Sense of Climate #11 - Steve talks with Ted McIntyre - 06/09/22 (audio)