"City of Franklin TownThis location is in the city of Franklin Town, MA. Franklin Town has an average Walk Score of 22 and has 31,635 residents."
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Franklin High School |
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121 Grove St (site of a proposed 40B) |
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Franklin Library, 118 Main St |
Providing accurate and timely information about what matters in Franklin, MA since 2007. * Working in collaboration with Franklin TV and Radio (wfpr.fm) since October 2019 *
"City of Franklin TownThis location is in the city of Franklin Town, MA. Franklin Town has an average Walk Score of 22 and has 31,635 residents."
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Franklin High School |
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121 Grove St (site of a proposed 40B) |
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Franklin Library, 118 Main St |
FM #962 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 962 in the series.
This session of the radio show shares the audio recording of the housing and zoning discussion with Brad Chafee, Melanie Hamblen, Cobi Frongillo and Dean College Chancellor Ed Augustus.
Brad, Melanie, Ed and I were in the Franklin TV Studio on Wednesday, March 15, 2023. Cobi joined us for the discussion via Zoom.
Consider this a continuation of the downtown zoning discussion from the “Franklin For All” project which is underway with review and discussion at the Economic Development Subcommittee Plus meetings that Melanie Chairs and for which Cobi is Vice-Chair.
We were joined by Chancellor Ed Augustus for this session to include his insights as former Town Manager of Worcester, MA and the lessons from the Worcester experience that might be considered for Franklin.
The recording of our conversation on zoning runs about 57 minutes. Let’s listen in.
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Principles of walkability: useful, safe, comfortable, and interesting. Watch the TED Talk with Jeff Speck - https://www.ted.com/talks/jeff_speck_the_walkable_city
Jane Jacobs writer and activist on urban design wrote her book in 1961 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Death_and_Life_of_Great_American_Cities
Center for Living City is an organization that continues in the spirit of her work -> https://centerforthelivingcity.org/janejacobs/#jane-and-the-center
Other podcast episodes in this series:
4th discussion with Melanie and Cobi included Brad (FM #942) ->
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/02/listen-to-this-discussion-on-housing.html
3rd discussion with Melanie and Cobi included Joel D’errico (FM #922) ->
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/01/downtown-zoning-discussion-with-derrico.html
2nd discussion with Melanie and Cobi in December (FM #904) ->
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/12/downtown-zoning-discussion-with.html
1st discussion on Franklin For All project -> (FM # 755) https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/03/this-franklin-for-all-discussion.html
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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"
In a soon to be released Talk Franklin episode, Town Administrator Jamie Hellen reveals that the #1 complaint to the Municipal building is speeding. Not parking, not zoning, speeding.
With schools opening this week, more traffic will be on the roads, more people will be on the sidewalks, please take care and go slow.
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The new paving along King St has new crosswalk markings for the Parmenter School. |
Time for us all to
"Slow down, you move too fastYou've got to make the morning last ..."
Quick summary:
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 #tc0812 https://twitter.com/search?q=%23tc0812&src=typeahead_click
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Franklin events today! |
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Sidewalk Sale! Franklin Federated Church Friday, July 24, 12-5 |
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FM #296 Capital Budget SubComm - 6/10/20 (audio) |
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screen grab of virtual meeting |
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screen grab of capital funding project list |
a. This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast Channel 11 and Verizon Channel 29. This meeting may be recorded by others.2. CITIZEN COMMENTS
a. 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.3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
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Bylaw Amendment 20-848: Chapter 147, Snow and Ice Removal - First Reading |
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view of the downtown train station |
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sidewalk shoveling quality varies around town |
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On the Town Common |
On Friday February 17th at approximately 5:43pm the Franklin Police responded to a report of two pedestrians struck by a motor vehicle in the area of 110 East Central Street. Franklin Police and Fire responded to the scene.
One of the injured was transported to Milford Hospital while the second injured pedestrian was transported to Rhode Island Hospital. The operator of the vehicle remained at the scene, and will be interviewed by officers from the Franklin Police Accident Reconstruction Unit. At this time the injuries to one victim appear to be serious.
No further information is available at this time.
This crash remains under investigation by the Franklin Accident Reconstruction Unit. The names of the involved parties are not being released at this time.
J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION |
9. BYLAW AMENDMENT 17-785: REPEAL OF SIDEWALK SNOW AND ICE REMOVAL BYLAW - 2ND READING (MOTION TO MOVE BYLAW AMENDMENT 17-785 - MAJORITY ROLL CALL VOTE (5))
as currently written it is not enforced, nor is it practical to be enforced
should be eliminated
motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0 via roll call
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Sidewalk bylaw should be re-written not removed |
"The town is reconsidering a 1975 bylaw that requires businesses to clear nearby sidewalks of snow.
The Town Council recently voted to repeal the bylaw - which sets a 12-hour time limit for businesses to remove snow - at the suggestion of Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting. A second vote is needed before the repeal occurs.
When the bylaw was passed, Nutting said, most of the Franklin's businesses were located downtown, so clearing the sidewalk in front of storefronts was a straightforward proposition. Now, he said, businesses are located in many places throughout town, including the area along Rte. 140, Kenwood Circle and Union Street and in the two industrial parks.
"I don't think it's practical any more," he said. "I don't think we've written tickets (for it) in the years that I know of."