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The project was permitted in 2004 as a senior housing development. Construction began one to two years later, but a weak real estate market and high unemployment made it difficult to sell units. In 2008, the Zoning Board granted a variance making two of the five buildings non-age restricted.
"It has been transformed ... into something that is unique," Gary Hogan, an attorney for the developer. "There is not another similar development in this town."
That variance coupled with a decrease in the selling price of units led to increased sales, Hogan said, adding that 25-30 percent of the units have been sold and 40 percent have been built.
We are all reading about cyberbullying in the news. Now Franklin’s own home-grown expert Teenangels and their founder, cybersafety expert and head of StopCyberbullying.org, will help the Franklin community understand how it works, how big a problem it is and what we can do about it. The Teenangels are teens who train under Dr. Aftab for 2 years to become cybersafety experts in their own right. They are sought after by the media, governmental agencies and Congress for what they know and their practical approach to addressing cyber-risks.
Parry Aftab is Executive Director of WiredSafety.org, the largest online safety and educational program and the cybersafety contributor to the Today Show, Good Morning America, Dr. Phil, CNN and MSNBC. She is best known for empowering families to use digital technologies more safely and responsibly. She is a member of Facebook’s five member international safety advisory board and MTV’s advisory board.
This event is sponsored by: Franklin WiredTeens Club, Franklin Community Health Council, and the Franklin Anti-Bullying Task Force.
N. COUNCIL COMMENTS
Pfeffer - congrats on Franklin Arts Show
Senior Center held the Veterans Day, well attended, thanks to the participants
The Council did have an open meeting at the coffee shop and the only attendees were the councilors
Dec 10th -
Holiday Stroll - Dec 2nd
Tree lighting - Nov 28th 4:00 PM
H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
Cable- Creation of a Non-profit access Corporation
Proposed Changes to the Sign Bylaw, the Commercial 1 Zoning District, & Creation of a New Downtown Commercial Zoning District- Zoning Bylaw –
Bryan Taberner, Department of Planning & Community Dev.
Nick Alferi, Asst Planner
Existing sign bylaw does not meet the Town's needs
treat the downtown as a separate commercial zone
re-zone 74 parcels into the new Commercial I zone
all the changes are coming through together as they are all related to one another
Change the district, zoning map, use tables, change the parking requirements
Eliminates the special permit for height by reducing permit for 4th and 5th story buildings to be only 3 story buildings
Could still get 4th and 5th floor outside the downtown district via special permit
Changes mixes uses for downtown to allow retail on the first floor and residential above
Residential parking .75 for one bedroom, plus one space for every ten bedrooms
option to buy out and feed a parking fund
sign districts similar to design review guidelines
permitted and no-permitted signs
exempt, temporary and political sign
signs allowed by district - in table (part of packet)
establishing a procedure for timing of the temporary signs and the political signs
bylaw changes are not going to make all current signs illegal (if illegal today, still illegal)
does not disallow all temporary and political signs
listing of the multiple bylaws required to accomplish all the changes required
Pfeffer - I was at that meeting in Jan 2008, why did it take you so long to get here
Taberner - The sign bylaw took multiple revisions
Pfeffer - When Mariani came downtown, the bylaws were changed to allow his building coloring
Taberner - That was before my time, I understand what was done, we are making it easier now
Nutting - the bylaws were changed back in 2003, we have learned from what we did then to incorporate them now. These proposals have a building setback, they add downtown parking, they allow a 3 story by right as opposed to the special permit.
Pfeffer - I don't understand why we changed it then and are changing it now
Nutting - changing the density from 40 to 20 is much more practical
Vallee - I like the mixed use, but there are a number of things that I don't like. What model did you use to get this?
Taberner - this is developed specific to what we need to do here, learning from what others have done
Vallee - what do you have against the mixed use.
Taberner, right now, these are not allowed by right, that is what this is about. I understand what you are saying about the upper stories. To get a special permit, right now will take a long time and there is no guarantee of getting it. With the 3-story, it is an appropriate use for that space and should be available by right. Leaving the option for 4-5 in the outside the core is possible
Taberner - if you change the use, then these regulations would kick in, unless you change the use, these changes wouldn't kick in
Alteri - the parking requirements are based upon the square footage of the building
Nutting - that is a non-conforming pre-existing use, if they don't change the use, this would not have an effect
Powderly - What is the feedback from the Downtown Partnership
Taberner - I was there several months ago, I will be there tomorrow morning
I expect that there will be additional input from them based upon the current proposals
H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
Cable- Creation of a Non-profit access Corporation
Jeff Nutting provided an overview, then Bob Dean, current committee chair went into the details
the committee would look at setting up a cable access corp, a non-profit to help separate the Town legally from some of the broadcast issues.
Continue to improve PEG (Public Education and Government) access for the citizens
Continue existing lease for now to go through the non-profit establishment/creation
Approx $1 million in fund currently
Possibility of putting the studio in as part of the high school renovation, that is possible
but not likely to happen within 3-5 years due to the construction timeline
Existing fees and capital grants have contributed to the current fund level
Jeff - Bob was a little shy in getting a studio set up
There are two options, we (the Town) keeps operating or we set up a non-profit to operate it
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – October 20, 2010
motion to approve, passed 7-0
B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
Meetings of the Town Council are Recorded by Verizon, Comcast and Franklin Matters
C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS - none
D. CITIZEN COMMENTS
Steve Sherlock spent a couple of minutes making three recommendations to the Town Council
these are available in more detail in the FM #77 Mid-Term Update
E. APPOINTMENTS
Franklin Disability Commission (Mary O'Neill) motion to accept, passed 7-0
Library Board of Trustees (Karen Gerwatowski) motion to accept, passed 7-0
Long Range Financial Planning Committee
The names of seven citizens appointed will be added, their appointed was accepted 7-0
Updated 11/18/10 - this update was removed and the correct names listed below
Doug Hardesty, Deborah Bartlett, Graydon Smith, Greg DiMarzio, John Hogan, Ken Harvey, Orrin Bean Updated 11/29/10
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, Gratitude Hugs to our many supporters who touched our hearts and shelves this past year – With you we are able to make a difference. Thank You.
Thank you:
Linda, Dave, Michael and Tony for your extraordinary dedication in keeping the shelves stocked and clients satisfied
Vicki, Karen, Amy, Linda, Maureen, Paul and Steve for bringing your talent and collaborative spirit to our new Board
Rockland Trust
Susan and Pat for your support during this transition
75+ volunteers who helped us unload, sort and stock over 8,000 lbs of deliveries and donations this month
Volunteers for helping us assemble more than 200 Thanksgiving bags
Interfaith Council for working together to collect food donations to fill our Thanksgiving bags
Davis Thayer Bobcat Buddies and Mrs. Wayne for organizing, assembling and delivering 65 Thanksgiving bags
Mayflower trucking for picking up our turkeys from the Greater Boston Food Bank
Tony M for donating turkeys in memory of your wife Dora
Panera, Elizabeth's Bagels and BJ's bakery for your weekly bread and pastry donations
Lisa for your time, mentoring spirit, generous resources and connections
Stop and Shop for hosting a collection bin for the Franklin Food Pantry resulting in more than 6,000 lbs of donations this year
Rich Brachold, Bigelow Station and 3 restaurant for organizing a wonderful evening of friends, fundraising, great food, music and dancing
Legacy Place for including us in your inaugural event
Tangerini's Farm for your generosity and fresh, local produce which made Mondays our favorite day for 20 weeks
Amy and Tony for meeting us at the Farm every week to help with UPick and loading 15 CSA shares
Brenda for helping us back at the pantry every Monday for 20 weeks of free, fresh produce distributions
Backyard gardeners who donated their garden harvest to those in need
Acorn Animal Hospital and Vet Med for keeping our pet food shelves stocked
Andrew Wilson (& Wilson family) for Eagle Scout project organizing and completing more than 130 hours developing our Salesforce.com database
Annie Sullivan Middle School
Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter School
Berry Insurance
Birthday celebrations who collected Food Pantry donations instead of presents
BJ's Franklin
Boston Sports Club
Boy Scout Troops
Caritas Norwood Hospital
Chestnut Dental
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints
Church of the Redeemer
Circle of Friends Coffeehouse
Clients for your gratitude and patience
Cost Cutters
Covidien
Curves Franklin
CVS
David Thayer Elementary School
David & Pat
Dean Bank
Dean College
Define by Design
Digital Federal Credit Union
Donations of gently used refrigerators and freezers
Dr Mark Valle DDS
Dr William Koplin DDS
Dynisco
ElemenTree House
Elizabeth's Bagels Franklin
Emma's Quilt Cupboard
EMC
ERA Key Realty
Fallon Community Health Plan
Families who collected food while trick or treating this year
HP angel who helped us stay within our technology budget
Integrated Defense Solutions
Jefferson Elementary School
Keller Williams Realty
Kennedy Elementary School
Kimberly Clark
Legacy of Giving
Liquor World
Longobardi Construction
MA Track Coaches Association
Metrowest Community Healthcare Foundation
Middlesex Savings Bank
Milford Daily News for Gifts of Hope and helping us share our stories
Mom's Clubs
Next Generation
New England Chapel
Oak Street Elementary School
Obers Express
Panera Bread Franklin
Parmenter Elementary School
Paul A Longobardi Trucking
Pierce Aluminum
Prospect Hill Country Day School
Random Smile
Remax Executive Realty
Remington Middle School
Ricks Restaurant
Rockland Trust
Santa Foundation
Shaws Supermarket
St Johns Episcopal Church
St Marys Catholic Church
St Vincent de Paul
Stop and Shop
Sunrise Montessori School
Tangerini's Farm
Team Fitness
Temple Etz Chaim
Thermo Fisher Scientific
Town of Franklin
Tri County High School
United Regional Chamber of Commerce
United Way of Tri County
Vendetti Motors
Vet Med
Walgreens
Weight Watchers
WGAO 88.3 FM (Dean College)
WMRC 1490 AM (Milford)
Women's Success Network
to the many individual donors who we are unable to mention by name
to the many neighbors who support us anonymously
Gratitude Hugs to All - Happy Thanksgiving
Please forward our Thank You to anyone associated with those listed above.
in gratitude,
Anne Marie -- Anne Marie Bellavance Franklin Food Pantry 43 West Central Street PO Box 116 Franklin, MA 02038 (508) 528-3115 www.franklinfoodpantry.org
The United Regional Chamber of Commerce celebrated the opening of its new downtown Franklin office location with a ribbon cutting ceremony and open house on Nov. 12. The new office is located at 4 West St. in Franklin. Local dignitaries and members of the Chamber came to the ribbon cutting to welcome the new office.
Chamber members and local dignitaries attended the opening of The United Regional Chamber of Commerce’s new Franklin office at 4 West St. recently. Attending the event from left to right are: Brian Doherty of B & M Clambakes, Olga Allen of The United Regional Chamber of Commerce, Franklin Town Clerk Deborah Pellegri, Matt Kelly of the Franklin Town Council, Renee Danho of Dean College, Jean St. Andre of Time for You Massage, Carl Scheinman of Dean Bank, Charlene Cabral of Ayotte-Cabral Insurance Agency, Terry Katsaros of Rockland Trust, Carie Ann Bailey of Middlesex Savings Bank, State Rep. Betty Poirier, Oreste D’Arconte of The Sun Chronicle and president of the Board of Directors of The United Regional Chamber of Commerce, Nathan Suhrer of Wedding Reels Video, Jack Lank of The United Regional Chamber of Commerce, State Rep. James Vallee, State Rep. Richard Ross, Rose McGrath of Ferguson Enterprises, Ed McDonough of Executive Coaching, Lisa Nelson of US Rep. James McGovern’s office, Mary Graff of Berry Insurance, Lisa Daly-Boockoff of The United Regional Chamber of Commerce, Irene Pelley of The United Regional Chamber of Commerce, Amanda Gentile of Hampton Inn Franklin and Wayne Reid of Hampton Inn Franklin.
5. Information Matters
Superintendent’s Report
Big Lots - opening the 19th, will donate $2500 to the Parmenter School
Still looking for folks to participate in the visioning sessions
Can't move them away from during the week, already scheduled
School Committee Sub-Committee Reports
budget subcommittee did meet on Friday
did come up with a game plan to run by everyone
Kindergarten full day, half day discussion - January 25th
Saturday budget workshop, January 29th
level service budget, same services with the increased costs
explaining the budget in detail, allowing to have conversation in detail with the administrators
Once the money we will get from the State and Town is clear, then we can adjust
Feb 1 public hearing
Budget adoption on Feb 15th
Space needs subcommittee tweaking the report for a Jan presentation
School Committee Liaison Reports
6. New Business
To discuss future business that may be brought before the School Committee.
FEF Casino night Nov 19th
7. Executive Session
Contractual Negotiations
motion to enter, not to return to public meeting passed 7-0
