In accordance with MGL c. 30 section 39m, it is the intention of the Town of Franklin to seek sealed bids for the Phase 7 Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation Project.
Additional Information: Phase 7 Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation Project
Shared from -> https://www.franklinma.gov/purchasing/bids/phase-7-sanitary-sewer-rehabilitation-project
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| Town of Franklin: Phase 7 Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation Project - Invitation for Bids |
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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"
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| Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda for the May 3, 2023 Meeting |
FM #958 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 958 in the series.
This session of the radio show shares the Town Council meeting held in Council Chambers on Wednesday, March 15, 2023. All 9 members of the Council were present in the Council Chambers.
Quick recap:
Not to be missed by all the hubbub around the 40b housing issue, the Police Dept swore in 4 new officers. While ‘new’ to the Town they are effectively backfilling existing budgeted positions. These are not ‘new positions’. There is turnover within the department not unlike other departments are seeing, they at least are fortunate to be able to find qualified candidates to provide the backfill
The Police Dept also presented a proposal to install 2 license reading cameras to enable a 30 review of traffic to see who is coming off i495 into Franklin. The system and the local police departments that maintained a ‘watch list’ that can also alert the Police to the presence of nefarious folks (folks with existing warrants for arrest) entering town. The project is funded by unspecified internal Dept sources as a pilot. The timeline for install remains TBD, there was promised additional info and communication to the community about the nature of the cameras, what they do and don’t do
Appointments to the Master Plan Update Committee were presented and unanimously approved
The Council did unanimously approve an additional 2% COLA for Norfolk County retirees
The Council did approve a sewer map addition for 160 Grove St by a 8-1 vote (Chandler no, he had voted no the first time around too)
The 121 Grove St 40b proposal
The Franklin, MA Town Council whiffs on an easy layup to bring more housing and "Affordable" housing to Franklin. At the Council meeting on Wednesday, March 15, the Council voted 4-5 to support a "friendly 40b" proposal. The proposal needed 6 votes to pass, it was 4 yes (Frongillo, Sheridan, Hamblen, Mercer) and 5 No (Cormier-Leger, Chandler, Pellegri, Jones, Dellorco).
Why did they blow this 'easy layup'? Ask them to explain, the short summary I have is they misunderstand the ‘friendly 40b process”.
From the ‘friendly 40b’ process memo:
“Because Franklin is above the 10% affordable housing threshold, it can permit so-called "Friendly 40B" projects to build mixed-income housing.
Unlike traditional 40B projects, this allows municipalities to remain in control of most aspects of project design and construction. A "Friendly 40B" project is a project that has local support because of the contribution it can make to the community's need for more diverse housing options, and the contributions the developer agrees to make to local needs (infrastructure, public safety, land protection, etc.).”
Bottomline the proposal will likely go forward as a regular 40b. The developer could have chosen to do so but they chose the ‘friendly route’ and the Council vote nixed that.
1 - the 'friendly 40b' process - one claimed to have been lied to (as to what the ‘friendly 40b’ process was) when this vote was their one chance to have a say in the matter and what they said with the negative vote was "we don't want to work with developers to bring in affordable housing"
2 - they denied the opportunity to continue to work with the developer to iron out some of the issues as it went through the process. Now they have conceded all the issues to the Zoning Board of Appeals. Yes, the ZBA always had the final say, the Council never would, but this was their one chance to ensure they (and the Town departments) had a thoughtful chance to provide input and they failed. What department will willingly work with this developer when the Council has said “No”
3 - the property has been turning in approx. $13K revenue to the Town, the proposal would have generated about $800K. Yes, a $790K increase in revenue for a vote (and they failed). The budget cycle is a challenge to cover the $5.7M deficit, and they kicked away a significant potential increase to Town revenues (No, not this year but beginning is some future year and there after)
4 - the property is zoned industrial and given the topology (a bunch of wetlands, which are still being worked out with the Conservation Commission) wouldn't not actually be used for industrial development. Or it would have in the years prior. Here was a residential use that would increase revenues without additionally burdening services and they failed to pass it. (Future discussion item should be a review of such areas zoned as commercial/industrial where it is ‘known’ to have an issue to prevent their actual use as such. Akin to the lot line clean up underway, let’s review inappropriately zoned plots especially where they are undeveloped)
5 - there is a big difference between "Affordable" (note Capital "A") defined at Federal and State levels and what is actually "affordable" (lowercase "a") . Locally we have no control over that. We do need housing, we do need "Affordable" units and while this would have brought "Affordable" units, the council failed
6 - the persistent error in ‘claiming the Town has insufficient water’ due to the annual DEP permit which requires water conservation measures. Yes, there have also been a few years with real “water bans” but those were the results of the Fisher St pump station fire (July 2019) and the ‘drought status’ issued by the State DEP. Each time, usually every year, when the DPW comes to provide their water update, they do outline how we are well prepared to handle current and future growth. We have enough water yet some folks continue to believe otherwise (Facebook keyboard warriors win again)
The meeting runs about 3 and 39 minutes. Let’s listen to the Town Council meeting on March 15, 2023. Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-958-franklin-ma-town-council-mtg-03-15-23
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Details on the proposal from the agenda are found here:
b. Discussion & Project Presentation: 121 Grove Street, a “Friendly 40B” - Fairfield
i. Legislation for Action #9a
1. Staff Memo (https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/8b._1_-_memo_-_121_grove_street_a_friendly_40b2.pdf ) ,
Chapter 40B PowerPoint Presentation (https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/friendly_40b_presentation-pp_only.pdf ) ;
Friendly 40B process (https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/2a._-_friendly_40b_process.pdf )
& State Median Income Qualifications (https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/2b._-_median_income_qualifications.pdf )
2. Proposed 121 Grove Street Application (
& 121 Grove Street Site Plan (https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/2d._-_121_grove_st._site_plan.pdf )
3. Planning Board comment letter (https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/2e._-_planning_board_letter.pdf )
& Conservation Commission comment letter (https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/2f._conservation_commission_letter.pdf )
YouTube Video link -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGx3TPCumWw
My notes on the full meeting are in one PDF file.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1klC-QiovRvigrLwu1W-KYGot97x-CjkG/view?usp=drivesdk
--------------
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"
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| positioning of the buildings around the anticipated wetlands enables this developer to make a workable product |
In accordance with MGL c. 30 section 39m, it is the intention of the Town of Franklin to retain the services of a company for the purposes of upgrades at an existing sewer ejector station in the Town of Franklin.
Additional Information: Monterey Drive Sewer Station Repairs
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| Town of Franklin - Invitation for Bids (IFB): Monterey Drive Sewer Station Repair |
In a continuing effort to support a more sustainable Commonwealth, the Baker-Polito Administration today announced $8.1 million in grants through the Gap Energy Grant Program to help water facilities, non-profits and small businesses reduce energy use, increase energy efficiency, and generate renewable energy. The Gap Energy Grants are administered by the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP), which operates the initiative under its Clean Energy Results Program. By filling the “gap” in project financing, these grants are made possible through the Climate Protection and Mitigation Expendable Trust and enable its recipients to use utility incentives and funds from other sources to build or install energy efficiency and clean energy projects. This year, the 63 recipients receiving the grants represent three sectors in the state: municipal water facilities; non-profit multi-family affordable housing organizations; and agricultural and food-producing non-profits and small businesses.
“Assisting municipalities, small businesses and non-profit organizations to proactively work to reduce their energy usage and utilize clean, renewable energy is among our top environmental priorities,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “These Gap Energy Grant Program funds will greatly assist these municipalities and organizations as they work to improve efficiency, reduce energy use, and generate clean energy to produce immediate and long-term energy savings and contribute to the state’s efforts to reduce its carbon footprint.”
“The Gap Energy Grant Program enables municipal water utilities and other organizations to leverage critical sources of funding, including energy efficiency incentives from electrical utilities, to fully implement energy saving measures,” said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito. “Importantly, with lower energy bills, these entities can reinvest their operational cost savings into their facilities and organizational missions.”
These 63 grant awards will support more than 100 projects that are to be completed by the end of 2024. The projects are anticipated to generate more than 9,000 megawatt hours (MWh) in annual electricity savings or onsite generation of clean energy, sufficient to power more than 250 households and reduce carbon emissions by 3,359 metric tons. Overall, the grantees expect to have an estimated annual savings of up to $1,642,963. Examples of awardees include:
“Massachusetts is a national leader in energy efficiency and the development of renewable energy, which the one-of-a-kind Gap Energy Grant Program furthers our collective efforts and delivers beneficial results across the Commonwealth,” said Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Beth Card. “These critical grants provide a positive return on investment, not only for the organizations receiving funding, but also for the state, energy utilities, and the public.”
“Based on the success of the Gap Energy Grant Program over the last decade, MassDEP is pleased to expand the program to non-profit multi-family affordable housing and non-profit agricultural and food distribution entities,” said MassDEP Commissioner Martin Suuberg. “These entities, like municipal water utilities, can be limited by funding in accessing deep energy savings and renewable energy opportunities through energy improvements. The non-profit organizations that we are funding with a Gap Energy grant will now be able to reduce energy costs and reinvest those savings into their programs, which serve many of the most vulnerable and needy in our state.”
This year marks the first time that the Gap Energy Grant Program has extended its reach to include non-profit organizations and small businesses. In 2018, the second round of Gap Energy grants awarded 43 drinking water and wastewater treatment facilities $4 million, subsequently funding 36 energy projects that are saving facilities $1.3 million annually and generating approximately 9,580 MWh in annual electricity savings or on-site clean energy generation. In 2014, the first round of Gap Energy grants included awards to 21 water and wastewater facilities of more than $1.7 million for 30 projects that have generated enough electricity to fully heat and power nearly 900 Massachusetts homes each year for 15 years.
“In our efforts to mitigate the climate crisis, pursuing energy efficient initiatives is a critical component to reducing carbon emissions,” said State Senator Julian Cyr (D-Truro). “I am thrilled that water facilities in Edgartown, Orleans, and Yarmouth as well as housing-focused non-profits on Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard will receive monies from the Gap Energy Grant Program that will help fund local projects that further our community’s clean energy journey.”
“Elliot Farm is a fantastic small business in Lakeville that has continued to evolve and grow,” said State Senator Michael Rodrigues (D-Westport), Chair of the Senate Committee on Ways and Means. “I congratulate Elliot Farm as a recipient of the Massachusetts Gap Energy Grant Program and thank them for being a model business that is demonstrating how to grow a business, be energy efficient, and contribute to a healthier planet.”
For a full list of grant awardees funded by the Gap Energy grants by sector, please visit MassDEP’s webpage.
MassDEP’s mission is to protect and enhance the Commonwealth’s natural resources – air, water and land – to provide for the health, safety and welfare of all people, and a clean and safe environment for future generations. In carrying out this mission, MassDEP commits to address and advance environmental justice and equity for all people of the Commonwealth, provide meaningful, inclusive opportunities for people to participate in agency decisions that affect their lives and ensure a diverse workforce that reflects the communities served by the agency.
Grant award listing -> https://www.mass.gov/doc/massachusetts-gap-iii-energy-grant-awardees/download
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| sign at the East Central lift station although not part of this award |
"Exciting stuff, if you like Sewer work! The sewer main lining that happened in September is complete and now a crew is in Town Grouting the services and ends.
If you see these guys around town, they are the grouting crew that is the final step to keep the ground water out of the sewer. For a virtual representation of what is being done check out this video - "
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| DPW updates on the sewer lining work underway around town 2 |
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| DPW updates on the sewer lining work underway around town 1 |
