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| Panther Way - to get a new sidewalk as part of the high school project |
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| Where in Franklin? - 2013 05 |
In November 2011 the town of Franklin incorporated Franklin Community Cable Access, Inc. (FCCA) d/b/a Franklin TV as an educational, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization to run the community’s three local cable channels. In taking up the charter of the cable committee, we are submitting this report as a nongovernmental body that maintains a close working relationship with municipal agencies, other nonprofit organizations and civic groups.
In February 2012 a seven member board of directors was elected to run the corporation. In March, 2012 the town funded FCCA through the licensing fees collected from Comcast and Verizon. No taxpayer dollars are used to maintain and operate the community cable access studios.
In April 2012 the board hired Peter Fasciano as its executive director to run the day to day operations. The first order of business was to stabilize our technical operation and brand our three channels.
Our channels are:
Franklin All Access TV,
Our Public Access Channel (Comcast 8, Verizon 26),
Franklin Pride,
Our Educational Channel (Comcast 96, Verizon 28),
Franklin Town Hall TV,
Our Government Channel, (Comcast 11, Verizon 29).
Throughout the past 16 months, Franklin TV has upgraded its equipment and broadcast signal. We continue to work with Comcast to have them carry our channels in a digital format. Our cameras are now recording programs in HD, waiting for Comcast and Verizon will provide HD channel support.
Franklin.TV is our web site. Our weekly programming schedule is posted along with information about the station and contact information for posting messages to our Community Bulletin Board (CBB).
In February 2013 we purchased the market building at 23 Hutchinson St to serve as our new home and broadcast studios. Construction will soon be underway to renovate the building and add a 1200 Sq Ft studio in the rear. The site will provide Franklin and its residents with a free, open access, state of the art Media and Arts Center.
The Corporation is fully committed to serving the community. In April 2013 we entered into a PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) agreement with the town, becoming the first nonprofit organization to do so. We have also installed three small live TV facilities (video control systems and audio mixers with three cameras at each location) at two middle schools and at the high school. In June we awarded our $1,000 scholarship to Andrew Cyr, a deserving Franklin senior studying Communications. We are active members of the Downtown Partnership and Greater Attleboro Chamber of Commerce. We are working closely with other nonprofit and benevolent groups in Franklin to promote their mission goals and good works.
We are very thankful to the cable committee and local officials for their prudent planning and foresight in managing the access studios in the years prior to our formation, thus insuring a bright future for both Franklin TV and the Franklin Community.
Respectfully submitted,
Ken Norman,
President, FCCA, Inc.
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| one of the three channels, Franklin Town Hall TV |
2013 is winding down, December 31st is just a few days away and you can make a dream come true for one or more of the 3800 children and adults with disabilities who are supported by 600+ caring and committed HMEA staff throughout the year. By taking any one or more of the actions below, you will be supporting individuals with autism and special needs and helping them realize their fullest potential at home, in school, at their job and in the community.
How? Do any one of these. It only takes a minute….
- Volunteer at a program – sign up at www.hmea.org
- Make a year-end tax deductible gift at www.hmea.org to
- Sponsor a Holiday Party at their home or program site
- Purchase occupational or physical therapy equipment and supplies
- Underwrite a community outing
- Provide unrestricted funds to benefit programs throughout the year
- Make a pledge to support HMEA by writing me (below) or responding to this email.
Thank you and here's to a healthy, prosperous an very Happy New Year!
Take care,
Doug MacPherson
Vice President, Development and Public Relations
HMEA, 8 Forge Park East
Franklin, MA 02038
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| Where in Franklin? 2013 03 |
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| Fletcher Field on a rainy day |
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| Where in Franklin? - 2013 04 |
The Building Inspection Department is a multifunction office responsible for the construction, demolition, alteration, repair and occupancy of all residential, commercial, business and industrial uses for both existing and new construction in accordance with the Massachusetts Building Code. The department is responsible for the administration, interpretation and enforcement of the following codes:
- Massachusetts State Building Code - 780CMR
- Town of Franklin Code - Zoning – CH 185
- Mass. Electrical Code – 527 CMR
- Mass. Plumbing and Gas Code – 248 CMR
- National Fuel Gas Code – NFPA 54-2002
- Sealer of Weights and Measure – G.L. CH 98
- Architectural Access Board – 521 CMR
Hours of OperationThe Building Inspection Department’s hours are
Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday 8:00a.m.-4:00p.m.,
Wednesday 8:00a.m.-6:00p.m. and Friday 8:00a.m.- 1:00p.m.
For your convenience, you may visit our website: at www.franklin.ma.us/inspections. This site contains a series of forms easily accessible and available to download. The website provides permit applications, sample plot plans, sign regulations, swimming pool instruction manuals. Shed/barn instruction manuals, zoning criteria and other information necessary to process a permit or to simply provide information to the public.
Building Department Staff
Building Commissioner/Zoning Officer: Lloyd Brown
Inspectors:
Inspector of Wires: Bernard Mullaney
Asst Wiring Inspector: James Laughlin
Plumbing/Gas Inspector: Richard Cornetta
Asst Plumb/Gas Inspector: Richard McCormick
Local Building Inspector: Stephen O’Neill
Sealer of Weights & Measurers
Comm. of Mass. /Div. of Standards
Staff Assistants
Barbara J. Curran
Nancy Danello/Zoning
Judy Demers
Lloyd Brown, Commissioner of Buildings, is responsible for all construction trade inspectors, municipal maintenance and supervision of all construction, zoning interpretation and determination, pre-planning and review of all subdivisions and proposed construction and improvements and general input for all other municipal departments and construction-related inquiries.
Fiscal Year 2013 brought many changes to the department. In August Stephen O’Neill was hired to the fill the Local Building Inspector position and Nancy Danello became the Zoning Board Administration Secretary and Building Department staff assistant in September.
Building Permits
Fiscal year 2013 was a continuation of strong permit activity, with the new high school being at the top of large projects that we oversee. Agastini Construction is the contractor building the new high school and they are on schedule. New home construction was up by 10 units and alterations of homes and businesses also increased.
This year the Building Department issued a total of 1257 building permits and the revenues collected were $449,987.00
The following is a breakdown of the past years building permit activity:
Single Family Residence 35
Attached Town Houses 7
Apts. Or Stacked Condos 24
New Building Commercial 6
Building Misc. $671.00
Accessory Dwelling Units 5
Addition(s) 30
Alteration(s) 672
Amended Permit(s) 1
Deck 64
Swimming Pool(s) 23
Garage(s) 3
Shed(s) 13
Foundation(s) Only 2
Demolition(s) 11
Tent(s) 17
Sign(s) 55
Woodstove(s) 32
Carnival(s) 2
Fence 3
Earth Removal 2
Repair(s) Rehab 107
Certificates of Inspection
Inspection and certification of specified use groups shall be inspected annually in accordance with Table 110 of the Massachusetts State Building Code. This year the staff issued 82 certificates of inspection and the fees collected for the certifications amounted to $18,240.00.
Certificates are issued for all public and private schools, churches, day care centers, nursing homes, funeral homes, bleachers, restaurants, alcoholic beverage establishments, multi-family dwellings (3or more units), movie theaters and other places of assembly. The Fire Department has assisted our department in assuring compliance with the Fire Prevention Code. The purpose of these inspections are to ensure the public safety and well being of the general public.
Certificates of Occupancy
The Building Inspection Department issues a certificate of occupancy in accordance with the Massachusetts State Building Code. All buildings/structures shall not be used or occupied in whole or part until a certificate of occupancy is issued.
This department has issued a total of 118 certificates of occupancy and the total fees collected amounted to $8,250.00
Electrical Permits
The total number of electrical permits issued was 963, the total fees collected and deposited amounted to $103,640.00.
Plumbing Permits
The total number of plumbing permits issued was 859, the total fees collected and deposited
amounted to $109,439.00.
Gas Permits
The total number of gas permits issued was 874 and the total fees collected and deposited amounted to $34,767.00
Division of Weights and Standards
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulations, Division of Standards provides this service on behalf of the Town of Franklin. The Department of Weights and Measures is responsible for providing the services of testing, adjusting, sealing and handling all complaints regarding commercial weighing and measuring devices within the Town of Franklin. The department investigates consumer complaints regarding unit pricing laws; spot-checking prepackaged items for compliance with all weights and measures laws.
Inspections were conducted by the State and the total fees collected and deposited amounted to $8,393.00 Total Revenues Collected: $733,387.00
This past fiscal year was my first as a building commissioner and the help from my staff, citizens and town workers made the transition a great experience. I look forward to continuing to serve the Town of Franklin.
Respectfully,
Lloyd Brown
Commissioner of Buildings
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| Franklin Municipal Building |
The Massachusetts Municipal Association is exhorting state lawmakers to pin millions of dollars in funding for road and bridge projects to the $12.1 billion transportation bond bill, aiming to prevent any delays in the release of the money.
Earlier this month, the association, a nonprofit that advises Massachusetts cities and towns, pushed a legislative committee to attach a five-year Chapter 90 bond bill — providing $300 million per year — to the Patrick administration’s state transportation bill.
Every year municipalities get a varying amount of Chapter 90 funds to pay for upgrades or repairs to infrastructure. For Bellingham and Franklin, which have a backlog of roads in need of repair, the money is critical.
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| located at 44 Main St |
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| Where in Franklin? 2013 - 03 |
The Zoning Board of Appeals currently consists of three (3) members and two (2) associate members appointed by the Town Administrator, subject to the confirmation by the Town Council, for terms of such length and so arranged that the term of one member shall expire each year. There is currently one (1) opening for an associate member. The members would like to take this opportunity to thank Barbara Curran for her 13+ years of dedicated service and also welcome Sean Slater as an Associate Member to the Zoning Board of Appeals.
The Board of Appeals holds Public Hearings, as advertised, for Variance(s), Special Permits (including gravel removal), Findings and Chapter 40B applications. The Board also renders determinations on land use and zoning issues. All necessary forms and applications may be obtained through the Building Inspection Department and via Board of Appeals website at http://www.franklin.ma.us.
The Zoning Board of Appeals meets in Town Council Chambers at the Franklin Municipal Building on Thursday evenings usually twice a month, at 7:30pm. The calendar may be viewed via website at http://www.franklin.ma.us.
All meetings are open to the public. The Board has been very active this fiscal year and the following agenda is a list of all applications filed, indexed and recorded with the Town Clerk.
Respectfully submitted,
Franklin Zoning Board of Appeals
Member Since
Bruce Hunchard, Chairman 1991
Robert Acevedo, Vice Chairman 2003
Timothy Twardowski, Clerk 2010
Philip Brunelli, Associate Member 2009
Sean Slater, Associate Member 2012
Nancy Danello, Administrative Secretary
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| Franklin, MA Municipal Building |
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| as we won't have a white Christmas this year, we'll step back in time to 2012 |
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| Where in Franklin? 2013 - 02 |
Each year we try to improve the quality of life for our citizens. We are committed to providing great customer service and high ethical standards. We continue to live within our means. There will be challenges in coming years, but we will continue to meet those challenges the only way we know how, head on and with our goal of providing the best service we can.
So, what have we done this year?
On the Budget front, we had a very good year. We balanced the budget with no use of reserves or any layoffs. We maintained a single tax rate and we established an operating stabilization account. We settled all but one bargaining agreement. We authorized a Solar project that will provide the town with about 75% of its electricity use.
Our day-to-day activities include: the continuation of the water main replacement program where we replace a defective water main and then replace the road and sidewalk. We accepted Lady Slipper, Pasture, Symmes, Ruby, Opal, Jade, Garnet, Tanglewood, Sierra, Mary Jane, Anna, Summer Heights, Autumn, Fall, and Dutchess Roads. We updated the flood plan district. The Council authorized the purchase of land at 37 Beaver Street to be used for additional parking at the Senior Center. The Council also transferred town owned land on Beaver Court to the Housing Trust to be used for affordable housing. We continued the
development of the Sculpture Park at the site of the old town pool on Panther Way. We worked on a Ballot question on whether to appoint the treasurer/collector. We adopted a Tax workoff program for Veterans similar to the senior tax workoff program.
We also sought to spur economic activity with zoning changes. We rezoned land off of Exit 16 from Residential to Commercial. We initiated a zoning change to streamline the site plan process as well as a zoning change to improve the impervious coverage bylaw. We also adopted zoning for medical marijuana.
We continued the review of our Town Bylaws to ensure they are fair and reasonable while protecting the interest of all of our citizens. This year we updated the Council on Aging, Dogs, and Transient Vendors bylaws.
With Dams 3 and 4 nearly complete, The Town Council voted funds for the Recreation Park at the DelCarte Property. The property will include a recreation park and a boardwalk to enhance the existing trails.
The Town Council voted to transfer the responsibility of Public Access Cable TV to a Cable Access Corporation. Franklin TV has entered into a PILOT tax agreement with the Town of Franklin.
Probably most important of all, the new model high school project approved in March of 2012 by the voters is right on schedule. Construction that began in the fall of 2012 is on schedule to be completed in September of 2014.
As always, I want to thank the employees of the Town of Franklin. It is my pleasure to come to work every day with such dedicated and hard working people who do their best for the citizens of Franklin.
It is my pleasure to submit my annual report for your review, and please feel free to write, e-mail, or stop by with any questions, concerns, or comments.
Respectfully submitted,
Jeff Nutting
Town Administrator
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| Franklin's Municipal Building |
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| coffee and craft - for adults |
