Economic Development Subcmte hears of grant for Nu-Style clean up, discusses GR 5 & cannabis overlap zoning modification (audio)

FM #1007 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1007 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the audio recording of the Economic Development Subcommittee held on Wednesday, June 7, 2023 in the Council Chambers with all 4 members participating in the Council Chambers.

Quick recap:

• Nu-Style property now has $600K from two sources; $100K from ARPA funds, and a new grant received for $500K. Thanks to Brian Taberner who has continued to write for grants for this brownfield project and persisted in that effort

• General residential zoning changes initially proposed to increase the impervious coverage for the property and for the property plus parking would be increased as well as reducing the setbacks required for multi-family 

• Discussion around what percent the amounts should be, was currently, initially proposed to increase to 35, 45. 

• Amendment to change to 50, 60, second; after discussion amendment revised to be 45,55, seconded, passes 3-1 (Jones no)

• Recommendations as amended to move to the Council, passes unanimous 4-0

• Cannabis overlay district; this is literally only a house cleaning of the map itself, nothing else in the bylaw changes. As businesses changed, this allowed for other changes with restrictions removed

The recording of the meeting runs just under 1 hour.   audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1007-economic-development-subcmte-mtg-06-07-23

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The agenda doc also includes remote participation info ->   

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/edc_meeting_agenda_-_june_7_2023.pdf

Franklin TV YouTube video ->  https://www.youtube.com/live/UbMxtOXP6ms?feature=share 

My notes captured via Twitter during the meeting (in 1 PDF file)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZCa5NThqjXcxviE57inxIZMM7ycfnT9B/view?usp=drive_link 

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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!

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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"

Economic Development Subcommittee - Agenda for June 7, 2023  Meeting at 5:45 PM

All you need to know about the stormwater utility fee & what to do before July 1, 2023 (video)

All you need to know about the stormwater fee commencing July 1,2023. We get into the development of this fee since 2008, the EPA unfunded mandate, the increasing costs that Town is absorbing, how the utility fee structure will make management of these costs more equitable and fair going forward.

We talk about the  GIS information you can use to confirm your impervious coverage, and the steps you can take to apply for credits or abatements.

My thanks to Derek Adams, Stormwater & Environmental Affairs Superintendent; Kate Sjoberg, Director of GIS, Town Councilor Melanie Hamblen, and last but not least, Robert (Brutus) Cantoreggi, DPW director for their help in preparing this video overview. Thanks also go to Chris Flynn and Chris Leverone of Franklin TV for their work recording and editing this video.

Video overview link -> https://youtu.be/klrXLBQJmoE 

Credit manual (draft) ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/draft_stormwater_utility_credit_manual_rev_3_10.24.22_watermark.pdf 

Impervious Area Map  ->  https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/e45452a3047e4c83b27170a8f4f79aa5 

Video archive 

DPW Stormwater Management 05/22/2019 link -> https://youtu.be/N5k353qtAig

DPW Stormwater Management 03/06/20  link -> https://youtu.be/oNQVHT-Xl48 

DPW Stormwater Management 03/11/20   link -> https://youtu.be/SIiXKBcnDeY 

DPW Stormwater Management 09/09/20  link ->  https://youtu.be/nc-CkfeD4M8

DPW Stormwater Management 05/22/19

   

 DPW Stormwater Management 03/06/20

   

 DPW Stormwater Management 03/11/20 

   

 DPW Stormwater Management 09/09/20 

All you need to know about the stormwater utility fee & what to do before July 1, 2023 (video)

FM #347 Talk Franklin with Jamie Hellen - 9/11/20 (audio)

FM #347 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 347 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my "Talk Franklin" conversation with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen. We had our conversation via conference bridge to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

We talk about: 

• Election processing
• Stormwater map
• Budget subcommittee – Town Council meeting
• Re-opening: Restaurant extension
• Beaver St credit card payments

Good stuff in the news

• Police on wbz TV
• Students on wbur radio

The recording runs about 49 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Jamie.  Audio file = https://player.captivate.fm/episode/b18b550a-7318-4491-9877-1e0e41daf7e2

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Town Clerk page  https://www.franklinma.gov/town-clerk

Stormwater impervious map  https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/e45452a3047e4c83b27170a8f4f79aa5 

Town budget page  https://www.franklinma.gov/town-budget

Beaver St recycling  https://www.franklinma.gov/recycling-solid-waste/news/person-credit-card-payments-accepted-recycling-center

Franklin Police clip on WBZ  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/09/franklin-police-take-positive-steps-to.html

Franklin students on WBUR radio   https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/09/franklin-students-feature-in-wbur-story.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/

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"

FM #347 Talk Franklin with Jamie Hellen - 9/11/20 (audio)

 

FM #346 Stormwater Ad hoc SubComm Mtg - 9/09/20 (Audio)

FM #346 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 346 in the series.

This session shares the Stormwater Ad-hoc Subcommittee meeting held on Wednesday, Sep 9, 2020. The meeting was conducted via conference bridge to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

Chair Melanie Hamblen officially opened the meeting.

• One of the key questions for the proposed stormwater utility fee is “What is impervious area? “ The DPW has updated one of the GIS Franklin maps with the calculation per property.
• The new web page highlighted during this meeting is a great start. How to calculate the fee based upon your impervious area needs to be added. What credits are available also need to be added.
• The utility fee proposal now moves to the Town Council for further discussion. There will be more info coming on this as it continues to develop for an implementation in July 2021.

The show notes contain links to the agenda doc, the Stormwater Division page, the new impervious area map, and my notes from the meeting. 

The meeting itself runs about just under an hour, so let’s listen to the Stormwater Ad-hoc Subcommittee meeting.  Audio file =   https://www.hipcast.com/podcast/HXb02rPK

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Stormwater Division page
https://www.franklinma.gov/stormwater-division

Impervious Area Map
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/e45452a3047e4c83b27170a8f4f79aa5 

My meeting notes
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/09/stormwater-ad-hoc-committee-recap-sep-9.html

The meeting agenda
https://franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/agendas/2020-09-09_stormwater_ad_hoc_committee_0.pdf

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

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/

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"

 

FM #346 Stormwater Ad hoc SubComm Mtg - 9/09/20 (Audio)

Stormwater Ad hoc Committee Recap - Sep 9, 2020 - find your impervious area

Summary:

• One of the key questions for the proposed stormwater utility fee is “What is impervious area? “ The DPW has updated one of the GIS Franklin maps with the calculation per property.
• The new web page highlighted during this meeting is a great start. How to calculate the fee based upon your impervious area needs to be added. What credits are available also need to be added.
• The utility fee proposal now moves to the Town Council for further discussion. There will be more info coming on this as it continues to develop for an implementation in July 2021.

As with most meetings in this pandemic period, I took my notes via Twitter during the meeting reporting in real-time via the virtual session.

The Twitter hashtag can be found online #swsc0909
https://twitter.com/hashtag/swsc0909?src=hashtag_click 

• Real time reporting underway for Stormwater ad hoc subcommittee #swsc0909
• Follow along shortly with your own property on this map https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/e45452a3047e4c83b27170a8f4f79aa5 
• #swsc0909
• 2 page memo mentioned with charge per unit $18.66 #swsc0909 copy of memo found after agenda page here  https://franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif591/f/agendas/2020-09-09_stormwater_ad_hoc_committee_0.pdf 
• 50% credit for property initially, if qualify for Community assistance, get full waiver of fee. Would require a bylaw change but it is not anticipated to be a problem #swsc0909 Town Admin Jamie Hellen providing updates
• If we don't do this, liable for fines from EPA for non-compliance, already took them to court and gained remediation on timeline #swsc0909 the proposed charge is less than other Communities that have implemented a similar fee. DPW Director Cantoreggi adds points of info
• Stormwater fee will eventually allow for shifting of some expenses from operations budget to Stormwater utility fee (similar to trash/recycling or water/sewer) #swsc0909 will allow for billing for usage across all properties commercial and residential
• Approx $1.2m in operations budget today could move to utility over time, recognize that the fee needs to build up some to be able to pay those invoices. Wouldn't start charging until 3Q 2021 due to billing change to system to add the line #swsc0909
• Leaf pickup has not been included in this yet as EPA has not created the credit value for leaves. It would be a capital expense (to get the trucks/equipment) to do so. #swsc0909 moved to demo portion to highlight use of map
• A great start to helping to provide the information to explain what it is #swsc0909 https://www.franklinma.gov/stormwater-division 
• Would need to add how to calculate the billing unit from the impervious area. #swsc0909 would need to add the other approved surfaces i.e. to replace a blacktop driveway with some stone or other approved surface - what is the standard?
• Motion to move forward to full town Council for review and discussion, second, passes 3-0 via roll call (Hamblen, Dellorco, Jones) #swsc0909
• Motion to adjourn, second, passes 3-0... #swsc0909 That's all for today folks, catch you next time!

Photos from the meeting used in the Twitter stream can be found online

https://photos.app.goo.gl/pSzwosBcnN6o8ecT8

 

Stormwater Ad hoc Committee Recap - Sep 9, 2020 - find your impervious area