"the increase will help fund ongoing infrastructure improvements"

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

"Utility bills in Franklin this quarter were mislabeled with a typo showing old rates while residents were being charged with new rates. 

The higher rate, according to Treasurer-Collector Kerri Bertone, is the correct one, and the misconception will not be a problem next pay cycle because the error has been resolved. 

The bill system was updated, but the printing company contracted by the town, Globe Direct, did not update its template to match the town’s changes. The result was a misprint on the bill, causing some confusion among residents. 

Word about the error spread through the town’s website and social media. The Water Department won’t be re-sending the bill - a situation that, Bertone said, would likely cause too much confusion."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20180723/franklin-utility-bills-contain-error

"the increase will help fund ongoing infrastructure improvements"

Franklin Residents: Notice from the Treasurer/Collector regarding FY19 Utility Bills

Attention all Residents/Customers who have received their Fiscal Year 2019 Utility Bills, the charges were calculated using the "new" rates. 

However, the old rates were printed on the bills under "Special Message" in error. If you have any questions, please contact the Treasurer/Collectors office at 508-520-4950.

We are sorry for any inconvenience.

Notice from the Treasurer/Collector regarding FY19 Utility Bills

This was shared from the Town of Franklin page
http://www.franklinma.gov/home/news/notice-treasurercollector-regarding-fy19-utility-bills

Town Council Recap: Water/Sewer Rates Increase as of July 1, 2018

In the Town Council meeting on Wednesday, Feb 14, the minutes were approved for the January meetings. The appointments to the newly authorized Agricultural Commission were postponed to the next meeting. The appointment of Sean Preston to the Design Review Committee was approved.

All votes were recorded as 8-0 either by roll call or voice (with 1 absent - Kelly).

The Capital Plan was approved and the initial authorization of $1.8 M was approved. $1.5M was allocated from free cash and 325,000 from the "Receipts Reserved for Appropriation-Ambulance Fund"

You can find the details here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/10iChpSO_rql6Ksoiwm425UezCYUFBD-A/view?usp=sharing

Following the fiscal planning, amounts from free cash were allocated to the Fire Truck and Turf Fields stabilization accounts. Another $280K was allocated from free cash for the OPEB Trust Fund. This helps fund the outstanding OPEB liability.

The bylaw amendment to cover for circumstances where a developer can leave debris on a sidewalk or roadway as discussed in a prior meeting was revised and brought forth for a first reading. It was moved to a second reading.

The water and sewer rate increase came up for their second readings and were both approved unanimously by roll call votes.


-->Using my own household water and sewer usage from the most recent bill, I calculated the current rate and the future rate to show the projected increase.

	Usage	Current Rate	New Rate	Current Charge	New Charge	Qtrly Increase	Annual Increase
Water	14	$5.25	$5.75	$73.50	$80.50	$7.00	$28.00
		0-15 CCF
Sewer	14	$5.50	$6.05	$77.00	$84.70	$7.70	$30.80
		0-15 CCF
Totals				$150.50	$165.20	$14.70	$58.80

The Town Council Actions Taken document can be viewed/downloaded here

The Town Council agenda was published here

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/02/franklin-ma-town-council-agenda-feb-14.html

The Capital Plan was published here

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2018/02/capital-plan-for-fy-2018.html

My notes reported during the meeting on Wednesday

• Live reporting: Town Administrator's Report to Clo...
• Live reporting: Legislation for Action
• Live reporting: Subcommittee reports
• Live Reporting: Town Council - Feb 14, 2018

Town Council Recap: Water/Sewer Rates Increase as of July 1, 2018

• 
  

Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - Feb 14, 2018

The published agenda and documents for the Franklin Town Council meeting scheduled for Wednesday, February 14, 2018

(Note: where there are active links in the agenda item, it will take you to the associated document)

You can also find the full set of documents in one PDF (51 pages)

http://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/agendas/february_14_agenda_0.pdf

Agenda Item	Summary
A. Approval of Minutes	A. Approval of Minutes : January 10, 2018,   January 24,2018
B. Announcements	B. Announcements: This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast channel 11 and Verizon channel 29. This meeting may also be recorded by others.
C. Proclamations/Recognitions	C. Proclamations/Recognitions
D. Citizen Comments	D. Citizen Comments - 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.
E. Appointments	E. Appointments 1. Agricultural Commission Jeffrey Perry – One year term to expire June 31, 2018  Marian Szymanski – One year term to expire June 31, 2018 Linda Noel – Two year term to expire June 31, 2019  Carly Fisher – Two year term to expire June 31, 2019  Roger Trahan – Three year term to expire June 31, 2020 2. Design Review Commission Sean Preston
F. Hearings	F. Hearings
G. License Transactions	G. License Transactions
H. Presentations/Discussions	H. Presentations/Discussions
I. Subcommittee Reports	I. Subcommittee Reports 1. Capital 2. Budget 3. Economic Development Commmittee
J. Legislation for Action	J. Legislation for Action 1. Resolution 18-04 - Appropriation - Street Lighting (Motion to Move Resolution 18-04 - Majority Vote (5)) 1a. FY 18 Capital Plan Proposal 1b. Capital Plan FY 19- FY 22 2. Resolution 18-05 - Appropriation - General Fund Capital FY 18 (Motion to Move Resolution 18-05 - Majority Vote (5)) 3. Resolution 18-06 - Appropriation - Fire Truck Stabilization Fund FY 18 (Motion to Move Resolution 18-06 - Majority Vote(5)) 4. Resolution 18-07 - Appropriation - Turf Field Stabilization Fund FY 18 (Motion to Move Resolution 18-07 - Majority Vote (5))  5. Resolution 18-08 - Appropriation - Enterprise Fund Capital FY 18 (Motion to Move Resolution 18-08 - Majority Vote (5)) 6. Resolution 18-09 - Appropriation - OPEB Trust Fund FY 18 (Motion to Move Resolution 18-09 - Majority Vote (5)) 7. Resolution 18-10 - Dissolution of the Senior Center Building Committee (Motion to Move Resolution 18-10 - Majority Vote (5)) 8. Resolution 18-11 - Dissolution of the Library Building Committee (Motion to Move Resolution 18-11 - Majority Vote (5)) 9. Resolution 18-12 - Dissolution 18-12 - Dissolution of the Franklin Advisory Committee (Motion to Move Resolution 18-12 - Majority vote (5)) 10. Bylaw Amendment 18-798R - Chapter 155, Streets and Sidewalks - 1st Reading(Motion to Move Bylaw Amendment 18-798R to a 2nd  Reading - Majority Vote (5)) 11. Bylaw Amendment 18-799 - Chapter 82, Fees, Appendix B - Sewer Rates - 2ndReading (Motion to Approve Bylaw Amendment 18-799 - Majority Roll Call Vote (5)) 12. Bylaw Amendment 18-800 - Chapter 82, Fees, Appendix B - Water Rates - 2ndReading (Motion to Approve Bylaw Amendment 18-800 - Majority Roll Call Vote (5))
K. Town Administrator's Report	K. Town Administrator's Report
L. Future Agenda Items	L. Future Agenda Items
M. Council Comments	M. Council Comments
N. Executive Session	N. Executive Session - None
O. Adjourn	O. Adjourn

DelCarte has a frozen surface now and is scheduled for
additional invasive species work later this year

"new regulations only allow .5 percent of contaminated materials in any given bale"

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

"Outside E.L. Harvey’s single-stream recycling and sorting plant in Hopkinton, Ben Harvey points to stacks of nearly 3,000 bales of mixed paper that he doesn’t know what to do with. He’s not able to ship it overseas to Asia like he’s done for decades. 

That’s because China recently imposed strict guidelines that make it nearly impossible for recycled materials to be shipped out. For the past two months the 2,000-pound bales are being stacked up in the parking lot. 

“We’ve got a building full. We have trailers full,” Harvey, president of the company, said Wednesday afternoon. “We are pretty much maxed out with our storage capacity; we don’t want to store material that doesn’t have a market.” 

Single-stream recycling allows consumers to collect all recyclables in the same bin. Harvey’s operation sorts the materials and prepares them for shipping."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20180104/mountains-of-paper-stacks-up-after-china-says-no-more

This topic is not a surprise as it was covered in the DPW update to the Town Council in the December 2017 meeting reported on here. The presentation doc covers trash/recycling beginning on page 21 after providing an update on the sewer system.
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/12/live-reporting-dpw-presentation.html

Franklin can do its part to help improve its recycling. The current contamination rate is about 6%, the industry average is 14%, and the new regulations require less than .5%.

For additional info on what to recycle and what not to check out the Recyclopedia
http://www.franklinma.gov/recycling-solid-waste/pages/recyclopedia-what-do-i-do

or this site provided by Waste Management
http://recycleoftenrecycleright.com/

Franklin, MA: DPW - Sewer and Solid Waste/Recycling Update from Franklin Matters

Town Council Recap: Agricultural Commission confirmed; DPW presents; Concession Stand proposal heard

Only three votes were recorded on Wednesday, Dec 20 at the Town Council meeting. (1) The vote to approve the prior meeting minutes passed 9-0. (2) The vote to approve a change in hours for DeVita's Market passed 8-0-1. None voted against, Councilor Padula abstained. (3) The third and final vote was to adjourn the last meeting of 2017. Before the Council adjourned for the year, they did hear updates on the following topics:


Representative Jeff Roy announced that the Agricultural Commission had been formally signed by Governor Baker. He presented a copy of the official parchment along with the pen used to sign the legislation to Councilor Melanie Hamblen who was instrumental in getting the Agricultural Commission started.

Representative Jeff Roy and Councilor Melanie Hamblen

A presentation on the proposed new concession stand for the high school (Pisini Field) was reviewed and discussed. It has been conditionally approved by the School Committee (pending funding progress) and did not need a vote from the Town Council. The presentation was for community awareness. You can view the presentation copy in the links below or on the Town of Franklin webpage
http://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/mai/files/concession_stand_proposal.pdf

Robert (Brutus) Cantoreggi, DPW Director along with Chris White, Solid Waste Coordinator and Scott Haynes, Arcadas Engineering presented an update on the Sewer system as well as the solid waste processing. The document used in the presentation can be found in the links below as well as on the Town of Franklin webpage
http://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/mai/files/council_update_nov_17_sewer_and_trash_1.pdf

Robert (Brutus) Cantoreggi, DPW Director along with Scott Haynes, Arcadas Engineering
and Chris White, Solid Waste Coordinator

The official "Actions Taken" document can be found here
http://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/news/town_council_actions_taken_for_december_20_2017.pdf

• Live reporting: to Closing
• Live reporting: DPW presentation
• Live reporting: Town Council - Dec 20, 2017
• 
  

Live reporting: DPW presentation

H. Presentations/Discussions

2. Sewer/Recycling - Brutus Cantoreggi Robert (Brutus) Cantoreggi Chris White Solid Waste Coordinator Scott Haynes, Arcadas Engineering

Franklin, MA: DPW - Sewer and Solid Waste/Recycling Update from Franklin Matters

upgrades to toilets can get a rebate from the Town webpage (link to be added later)

inspected about 123 miles of the pipe system

Franklin has 64% of the Charles River Pollution Control District
annual operating cost $2.14 M
Capital assessment $1.54 M

sewer lift station - all gravity feed in sewer system so there are some pumps around town to raise the flow to the proper level to

would need to take another look at a new pipe, would it go along the same route or another way
would need to explore all option, pros/cons

The Beaver St Connector is 120 years old and still working, a valuable asset

current pipe from the old sewer bed runs along Mine Brook

Town of Plymouth issue with their pipe costing $40M (so far) and the expense to be borne by about 4200 residents

Town has been successful in putting large sites to store (temporarily) the sewerage on site and then pump into the system in the off hours

18 in and 24 in at the end, 1100 feet long,
really becomes a capacity issue

more likely 5-6 years would need to be dealt with
Pump 3 etc is water issue and also an expensive option

Trash/Solid Waste

reduced 2000 tons of trash by implementing the single stream system
in 2007, it was $300/yr, now it is $204

the carts are owned by the Town, $800,000 was the initial purchase
$200,000 helped to pay for it

recycling cost is indexed on how clean the recycling is

the recycling center is a service to the community, there are cameras to catch the violators
more people are using the recycling center
we are the cheapest pass for the recycling center and you can get the most service

we have a great curbside program as well as a great recycling center

people are paying attention to recycling (with only 8% contamination)

DPW Presentation on Sewer and Recycling

The DPW is scheduled to provide an update to the Town Council at Wednesday's meeting, Dec 20.

While it is best to hear what will be said during the update, there are several slides that can almost speak for themselves.

• Page 10 shows the reduction in sewer water flow (much of this should be associated with a similar reduction in water usage)
• Page 13 shows the annual sewer cost since 1995
• Page 22 shows the annual recycling rate (and how it jumped since the single stream was implemented)
• Page 24 shows the decrease in cost to the residents for the increase in recycling and trash

Franklin, MA: DPW - Sewer and Solid Waste/Recycling Update from Franklin Matters

The full agenda for the Town Council meeting can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2017/12/franklin-ma-town-council-agenda-dec-20.html

Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - Dec 20, 2017

The published agenda and documents for the Franklin Town Council meeting scheduled for Wednesday, December 20, 2017

(Note: where there are active links in the agenda item, it will take you to the associated document)

You can also find the full set of documents in one PDF

http://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/agendas/december_20_town_council_agenda.pdf

Agenda Item	Summary
A. Approval of Minutes	A. Approval of Minutes - November 29, 2017
B. Announcements	B. Announcements - This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast channel 11 and Verizon channel 29. This meeting may also be recorded by others.
C. Proclamations/Recognitions	C. Proclamations/Recognitions
D. Citizen Comments	D. Citizen Comments - 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.
E. Appointments	E. Appointments
F. Hearings	F. Hearings
G. License Transactions	G. License Transactions - DeVita's Market - Change of Hours
H. Presentations/Discussions	H. Presentations/Discussions 1. State Representative, Jeff Roy 2. Sewer/Recycling - Brutus Cantoreggi 3. High School Concession Stand
I. Subcommittee Reports	I. Subcommittee Reports 1. Budget 2. Capital Plan 3. Economic Development
J. Legislation for Action	J. Legislation for Action
K. Town Administrator's Report	K. Town Administrator's Report
L. Future Agenda Items	L. Future Agenda Items
M. Council Comments	M. Council Comments
N. Executive Session	N. Executive Session - None
O. Adjourn	O. Adjourn

Note: I have a work event on Wednesday and will be unable to report on the meeting until the video replay is available

High School Concession Stand proposal