Grove-Washington Street Shared Use Path - Notice of Intent - Conservation

Town of Franklin - Conservation Commission

Pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Ch. 131, s.40 (The Wetlands Protection Act) Franklin Conservation Commission will hold a Hybrid Public Hearing on Thursday, February 23, 2023 at 7:01 PM on a Notice of Intent filed by Elyse Tripp, of BETA Group, Inc. on behalf of the Franklin Department of Public Works. The project proposes roadway improvements along Grove Street as part of the second phase of a two-phase project to improve use by motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists, including upgrades to stormwater management infrastructure, with work taking place within the 100-foot Buffer Zone to Bordering Vegetated Wetlands (BVW) and the 200-foot Buffer Zone to Perennial Streams.

The Project is located along Grove Street from its intersection with Tobacco Road to its intersection with Kenwood Circle, in the Rural Residential 1 and Industrial Zones. The hearing will provide an open forum for the discussion. This meeting will be done remotely via the “ZOOM” platform and “In-person” in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building, 355 East Central Street. Residents can visit the Town Website (Franklinma.gov) and click on the Town Calendar for up to date information on how to access the meeting.

All records and files for this project can be viewed at the Conservation Office located on the first floor of the Franklin Municipal Building.

Any person or organization so wishing will be afforded an opportunity to be heard. The hearing location is accessible to persons with physical disabilities. If you require a translator or accommodations for a hearing impairment, contact the Conservation Department at the Municipal Building or by calling (508) 520-4929.

Patrick Gallagher

Chairman 

Shared from ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/grove_street_dpw_noi_public_hearing_notice.pdf

Grove-Washington Street Shared Use Path - Notice of Intent - Conservation

Did you know that FHS has an archive for their notifications?

If you missed that Tweet, or REGROUP message, there is a place to go back and check to see what it said.  Check this link = 

https://www.franklinps.net/fhs/pages/mass-notifications-archive-date-sent

Did you know that FHS has an archive for their notifications?

Franklin Public Schools: Website Email Subscriptions Update

Website Email Subscriptions Update

A recent update in our website e-subscriber notification system has improved the communications between our families/community and the School District.

These website communications are OPT IN/OPT OUT. If you have ever subscribed to news or alerts from one or more of our schools on our website you will now be receiving these emails. You can change your subscription by adding notifications (perhaps your child has moved on to Middle or High School) or you can unsubscribe from notifications. 

Please visit our website at www.franklinps.net/subscribe to make any changes to your current e-subscription. 

Please note, these notifications are NOT the Regroup alerts you may have subscribed to from individual schools. These are notifications from the Franklin School District website when News, Urgent Alerts and/or School Committee information is posted. 

If you have any questions please reach out to us at 508-553-4819 and thank you for your patience as we adjust to this change.

Thank you again!

Franklin Public Schools

Franklin Public Schools: Website Email Subscriptions Update

Conservation Commission - Meeting - Jan 3, 2018

Three new Notices of Intent (NOI) were filed recently in advance of Public Hearings scheduled for the Conservation Commission. Their next meeting is Thursday, January 3, 2019 at 7:00 PM in the Council Chambers.

The full agenda can be found online
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/agendas/jan_3_meet.pdf


The new Notice of Intent filings are as follows:

Pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Ch. 131, s.40 (The Wetlands Act) a Public Hearing will be held on Thursday, December 20, 2018, January 3, 2019 at 7:00 PM in the Council Chambers of the Franklin Municipal Building, 355 East Central Street, Franklin, MA on a Notice of Intent filed by Eversource Energy of Westwood, MA for a geotechnical boring program in the buffer zone of bordering vegetated wetlands. 

This project is located along the existing Right-of-Way.

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/agendas/eversource_-_boring_program.pdf

Pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Ch. 131, s.40 (The Wetlands Act) a Public Hearing will be held on Thursday, January 3, 2019, at 7:05 PM in the Council Chambers of the Franklin Municipal Building, 355 East Central Street, Franklin, MA on a Notice of Intent filed by Spring Street Renewables, LLC of Boston, MA for construction of a large scale ground mounted solar energy system in the buffer zone of bordering vegetated wetlands. 

This project is located on Spring Street.

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/agendas/spring_street_renewables.pdf

Pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Ch. 131, s.40 (The Wetlands Act) a Public Hearing will be held on Thursday, January 3, 2019, at 7:10 PM in the Council Chambers of the Franklin Municipal Building, 355 East Central Street, Franklin, MA on a Notice of Intent filed by PIDC Construction of Milford, MA for construction of a new parking area with 84+/- spaces on the westerly side of the existing building in the buffer zone of bordering vegetated wetlands. 

This project is located at 27 Forge Parkway.

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/agendas/27_forge_parkway.pdf

Spruce Pond on a sunny day in November 2018

In the News: parking bylaw vote next week, new law changes legal notice publication process

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

"A new set of parking rules will be up for final debate next week, and may be fully in place by the fall. 

The town has undertaken a revision of its parking bylaws as a project that reworks the downtown traffic flow enters its final stages. The Town Council is set to vote on the set of proposals at its meeting next week. 

The new regulations would remove parking meter language from the bylaws, and establish parking zones in which two-hour limits would be in place for certain parts of the day. The changes are intended to increase convenience for visitors to the area while discouraging commuters from tying up spaces all day."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160802/franklin-parking-bylaw-vote-ahead

"A new bill - filed by State Rep. Jeffrey Roy, D-Franklin, and signed into law last week - is set to change the way legal notices are published in the state. 

The new law has the notice not only appear in newspapers, but on the papers' websites and a new statewide website, maintained by the Massachusetts Newspaper Publishers Association (MNPA)."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160802/franklin-new-bill-to-change-handling-of-public-notices

The press release from Representative Roy's office was published last week
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/07/new-law-requires-posting-of-legal.html

screen grab of a quick search for "Franklin" open meetings

New law requires posting of legal notices online

Today Governor Charles Baker signed into law H1566, An Act relative to electronic publication of certain legal notices. The bill was filed by Representative Jeffrey N. Roy (D-Franklin) in January 2015 and was enacted by the House and Senate last week.

The new law requires that all legal notices must now appear, not only in a newspaper's print publication, but also on the newspaper's website and on a statewide website that may be maintained as a repository for such notices

"As you know, print media subscriptions are at an all-time low, but readership of newspapers is at all-time high because of the availability online," noted Roy. "This new law will capitalize on online readership and increase access to information, including public records, documents and hearing notices. It encourages civic engagement and it will revolutionize access to public notices, long left to the back pages of newsprint in small fonts and unattractive layouts."

"Publishing legal notices online is a common sense move in our modern digital age. This new law will enhance transparency and make sure public information is accessible to residents across the Commonwealth," said Senator Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland).

This increased access will be accomplished at no additional cost to any government entity. The Massachusetts Newspaper Publishers Association (MNPA), on behalf of the state's newspapers, will bear the cost of launching, operating and maintaining this statewide website. In fact, the MNPA just recently launched the new Public Notice Massachusetts website, which can be found at masspublicnotices.org, and a number of newspapers have already started uploading notices to the site.

The new MNPA site is based on a legal-notices platform developed in Illinois and in use in a number of states, including New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. It will give users access to all public notices from all newspapers in the state. In addition, it features a smart search capability that will allow users to receive daily updates relative to legal notices that respond to user delineated search terms.

"The Illinois site has been a great success and the new MNPA site will be a welcome addition to the Massachusetts landscape," added Roy. "Indeed, public notices inform citizens of the everyday activities of government. From government spending to developing new policies, it is important for people to be informed of actions taken by public officials that affect citizens' everyday lives. Without public notices, citizens cannot properly and adequately make informed decisions."

"Legal notices are an essential means by which citizens are kept informed about the actions of their state and local governments and courts," said Robert J. Ambrogi, MNPA executive director. "The newspapers of Massachusetts are committed to ensuring the broadest-possible access to these notices, both in print and online. We appreciate the efforts of Rep. Roy to make this possible."

The new law will take effect in 180 days.

the top level MPNA webpage

screen grab of a quick search for "Franklin" open meetings

Schools - Brochure/Flyer Dissemination Process

Based on feedback received from parents and guardians about the overwhelming number of flyers and brochures that have been traditionally sent home in student backpacks, we will be piloting an innovative way to disseminate information this year. In lieu of sending home paper copies of information we will establish a website where all approved brochures, notices and flyers will be posted. A link to the site will be featured prominently on the district web site, school based web sites and in the monthly schools newsletters to parents. The link will be titled NEWS YOU CAN USE and the link is: http://www.franklin.ma.us/auto/schools/FPS/flyer/default.htm

With approval from the Office of the Superintentendent of Schools, we will continue to disseminate information from all Town of Franklin Departments and non profit community groups such as the Parent Communication Councils (PCC), Franklin Education Foundation (FEF) , the YMCA and non-profit community based service and athletic programs such as Boy/Girl Scouts, Metrowest basketball etc.

In the last two years we have been inundated with requests from a number of local and out of town businesses to sponsor programs, fundraisers and special events. We will forward some of these requests to the PCC officers for consideration as we are not in a position to sponsor these types of activities as per our district policies.

Non-profit groups that would like their information to be posted for web site publishing should contact the Office of the Superintendence at 508-553-4819.

FM #10 - 5 things from the week ending 8/24/08

Another in a series of podcasts on what matters in Franklin, MA. This one reviews the four key items from the Town Council Meeting of 8/20/08 and the lack of a quorum for the Financial Planning Committee on 8/21/08.

Time: 18 minutes, 20 seconds



MP3 File

Session Notes:

Music intro

My intro

From the Town Council meeting this past Wednesday, there are four things I think you should be aware of. However, the most important item from the week is the lack of a quorum at the Financial Planning Committee meeting on the 21st.

From the Town Council meeting of 8/20/08

1 - Bylaw Amendment 08-627: Chapter 4, Public Notice and Advertising of Public Hearings – 2nd Reading

As discussed in the 7/23/08 meeting, the Council moved to adjust the notifications. Jeff Nutting references 2 of the three questions from that meeting. The third question, to provide examples of such that would be covered by this, if it was answered, it does not appear during the discussion nor in the council meeting package.

The Town Council meeting package for 8/20/08 can be found here: http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2008tc/082008agenda.pdf

listen here

2 - Resolution 05-55 – Transfer of Care, Custody, Management and Control of Red Brick School From Franklin School Committee to Franklin Town Council

The Benjamin Franklin Charter School inquiry is discussed but the inquiry by the Franklin School for Modern Art is not referenced although the Milford Daily News and the Boston Globe cover both this interests.

Milford Daily News:
http://www.milforddailynews.com/homepage/x169545726/Brick-School-issues-still-need-resolution

Boston Globe:
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/08/24/potential_tenants_study_franklins_historic_brick_school/?rss_id=Boston+Globe+--+Globe+West

listen here

3 - Zoning Bylaw Amendment 08-625: Chapter 185-5, Town Code: Zoning Map – Business to Commercial II – 7:10 PM - covers the land of the Knights of Columbus, and along that row of Tedeschi’s, Dunkin Donuts. The hearing was closed and this item was moved to first reading

4 - Town Administrator, Jeff Nutting presented on an update on the Town's efforts to reduce auto fuel used. A "No idling" policy was issued, Jeff will come back to Council with a request to balance the fuel budget. With increase in gas prices, they are projecting they will be about $100,000 short. Jeff talked of coming back in a future meeting with some actions to handle this. Apparently there was a change in our revenue forecast due to the MBTA and GATRA assessments. This change will result in an increase in revenues of about 160,000. Stay tuned to see what happens on this front.

5 - The most important thing this week, I think was the lack of a quorum at the Financial Planning Committee meeting on 8/21/08.

The group is chartered with defining our future financial needs and then coming up with a plan to get the town to agree to. One, their own internal communications appear to be lacking. Of the nine official members, two were present, only one other was acknowledged having a prior notification of absence. What happened to the other 6?

If they can’t communicate within the group, will they be able to communicate out to us?

-----------

This podcast has been a public service provided to my fellow Franklin citizens and voters by Steve Sherlock

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.blogspot.com/

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

The musical intro and closing is from the Podsafe Music Network
Jon Schmidt - Powerful Exhilarating Piano Music

FM #9 - Quiet Week & Look ahead

Another in a series of podcast on what matters in Franklin (MA). This looks back at the summer week that was and ahead to the Town Council and the Financial Planning Committee meetings.

Time: 9 minutes, 18 seconds



MP3 File

Session Notes:

Music intro

My intro

This was a relatively quiet week in Franklin. Many folks out of town enjoying summer vacation. No Town Council meeting. No School Committee meeting.

So what did happen this past week?
• King St/I495 construction announced
• Repairs on the library have started

What do we have coming up this week?
• Town Council meeting on Wednesday the 20th - Agenda posted.

I think the most interesting items on the agenda:

Hearing
Zoning Bylaw Amendment 08-625: Chapter 185-5, Town Code: Zoning Map – Business to Commercial II – 7:10 PM - Knights of Columbus building and land

Presentations
• Fuel Efficiency –Jeff Nutting, Town Administrator
• Disaster Mitigation Plan- Gary McCarraher

Legislation for action

1. Resolution 08-53 – Order of Layout, Acceptance and Taking Newell Drive, Dover Circle, Cohasset Way, Sherborn Lane and Related Easements
2. Resolution 08-54 – Order of Layout, Acceptance and Taking of Hancock Road, Winthrop Road, Corey Way and Lantern Road and Related Easements
3. Resolution 05-55 – Transfer of Care, Custody, Management and Control of Red Brick School From Franklin School Committee to Franklin Town Council
4. Bylaw Amendment 08-627: Chapter 4, Public Notice and Advertising of Public Hearings – 2nd Reading
   

Financial Planning Committee is scheduled to meet on 8/21/08

This committee has their meeting schedule available on the new town web site but I don’t find anything else for them, meeting agendas, meeting minutes, etc.

Community section takes you off the new virtual Town Hall pages to a new portal provided by American Towns. Nice layout, seems to have all the prior community links moved over. In a future podcast, I’ll spend some time looking through those pages. In the meantime, go exploring. If you find something there of interest, let me know. If you find something missing, that should be there, let me know

Ben Franklin would say: "Never leave that till tomorrow which you can do today."

-----------
This podcast has been a public service provided to my fellow Franklin citizens and voters by Steve Sherlock

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.blogspot.com/

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

The musical intro and closing is from the Podsafe Music Network
Jon Schmidt - Powerful Exhilarating Piano Music

FM #7 - 3 Things Town Council Mtg 7/23/08

Another in a series of podcasts on what matters in Franklin, MA. This one focuses on the 3 things you should know about from the Town Council Meeting July 23, 2008.

Time: 19 minutes, 0 seconds



MP3 File

Session Notes:

Music intro

My intro

Three things today: What you need to know from the Town Council meeting on 7/23/08

1. bylaw amendment to adjust notifications
2. DPW update on projects around town
3. Storm water presentation/fee or tax
   

1 – I have recorded the full discussion on the bylaw amendment to adjust the notifications. The discussion includes the Q&A following with Councilors Bartlett and Doak raising questions; Administrator Jeff NUtting and Attorney Mark Cerel providing answers (approx 7:00 minutes)

I want to see the answers to the questions Bartlett and Doak asked.
How much will we save?
What notices does this affect?

Tombstone ads can go away, but with new web site still under transition, I would not bank on that


2 - While waiting for the presentation to be setup, DPW director Robert A. (Brutus) Cantoreggi provides an update (approx 5 ½ minutes)

I hope the insights on the various projects underway and upcoming was beneficial


3 – The presentation on Storm Water provided plenty of good information, too much to include in this podcast. What will come out of this is further discussion on a Storm water fee – tax or good idea?

I sent a question to the DPW to confirm that this is projected to be an annual cost. At $500,000, that is a lot of money. We aren’t spending anything now so going from zero to 500K might be a bit much. Can we do it for less?

PS – It did not make it into the recording but Brutus Cantoreggi did confirm that the 40 dollars and $500,000 are projected to be annual amounts.

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

This podcast has been a public service provided to my fellow Franklin citizens and voters by Steve Sherlock

For additional textual information, please visit Franklinmatters.blogspot.com/

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

The musical intro and closing is from the Podsafe Music Network
Jon Schmidt - Powerful Exhilarating Piano Music

Town Council Mtg Summary - 7/23/08

The collection of writing on the Town Council meeting 7/23/08

• live reporting - adult entertainment district, old...
• live reporting - Stormwater
• Live reporting - Town Council meeting 7/23/08

Town Council Meeting 7/23/08 - Agenda

The three things you should know about from this meeting were collected in a podcast that you can listen to here.

Parmenter Notices

Parmenter Notices, originally uploaded by shersteve.

The sign says it all for the upcoming schedule at Parmenter Elementary School.