Franklin Downtown Partnership: General Meeting - Thursday 9/6/12

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

General Meeting This Thursday

via Franklin Downtown Partnership by noreply@blogger.com (Terri Frank) on 9/4/12

Franklin Downtown Partnership General Meeting Agenda

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Dean College Campus Center @ 8:30 a.m.

Golder Room

I.     Open Meeting

II.    Adoption of Agenda

III.   Introductions

IV.  Report from Executive Director
       a.  Membership and Sponsorship Updates

V.   Report from Harvest Festival Chairs Mary Graff and Jeanne Sherlock
       a.  Booths and Entertainment Update
       b.  Volunteer Sign-Up

VI.  Downtown Updates -- Jeff Nutting
       a.  Post Office Parking
       b.  Clean-up Projects Downtown
            1.  Post office, street cleaning, tree trimming, etc.
       c.  Streetscape Update
       d.  Meter Discussion -- Ideas and Options

VII.  Networking -- Joel Carrara

VIII. Business Updates

IX.   New Business

X.    Adjourn

Next FDP General Meeting will be Thursday, November 1

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Campaign donations

An article from the MetroWest Daily News last week that flew under the radar mentions the campaign funds for the 10th Norfolk District seat up for election. Thanks to an eagle eyed reader for finding it.

A five-way battle in Franklin to fill the 10th Norfolk seat, which Rep. James Vallee abruptly vacated in June, has raised the most money of any MetroWest or Milford area House race. 

The five candidates so far have raised $69,000 total, according to the state campaign finance website, which lists information on fundraising. 

Franklin Democrat Peter Padula has the most, $23,000. Republican Richard Eustis has the least, $5,800.

Read more: http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x1632291799/Open-seat-races-draw-most-campaign-cash#ixzz25aPkFTux

In the News: 4th Congrsesional, zentangle classes, active older adults

4th Congressional candidates making final push

by Jessica Trufant/Daily News staff

Zentangle classes offered in Franklin

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Hockomock Area YMCA hosts active older adult day

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Vote Reminder - Thursday, Sep 6

Hello.  This Thursday, September 6th, is Primary Election Day in Massachusetts.  The polls are open from 6am until 8pm, at the High School on Oak Street.  Please consider exercising your right to vote.

This e-mail has been sent to you by TOWN OF FRANKLIN. To maximize their communication with you, you may be receiving this e-mail in addition to a phone call with the same message. If you wish to discontinue this service, please inform TOWN OF FRANKLIN either IN PERSON, by US MAIL, or by TELEPHONE at 508-520-4938 or REPLY TO THIS EMAIL.

Photo essay: Community Gardens' growing!

I stopped for some photos as I ran by the Community Garden at the King St Memorial Field on Sunday morning. It is quite impressive to see so much goodness growing in the garden beds.

Cherry tomatoes

Red 'hot' peppers

The garden was built with raised beds to allow for the produce to be grown without getting contaminated by whatever pesticides and fertilizers had been used on the fields over the years. Nature does what it does best in good conditions, it simply grows. And in this case, out from under one of the raised beds, this tomato plant is doing it's thing!

How does your garden grow?

Internships available

Six One Seven Studios is currently accepting internships for an upcoming project to be released in the fall of 2012. Please contact Bryan Roberts at Six One Seven Studios for more details.

Contact Details: Bryan Roberts at Six One Seven Studios
Phone 888-234-0405
Email: hello@sixonesevenstudios.com
Webpage: http://www.sixonesevenstudios.com


Related post:
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/07/looking-to-tell-your-story-with-video.html


This appeared on my radar and was originally posted here http://newenglandfilm.com/node/41201

In the News: fishing trophy, women's club, audition workshop

Franklin teen reels in the big one

by Matt Tota/Daily News Staff

St. Mary’s Catholic Women’s Club to resume, Sept. 20

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

FSPA slates ‘How to Audition’ workshop

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

Parmenter: Modular update

The DPW was working on the grounds on Saturday, so I got up closer on Sunday morning to get these photos.

The unit connecting the modulars to the building itself was removed.

The units are now separated and ready to be moved.

Looks like they are now ready for the next train to pull in!

This stone is all in a roped off section.

Update: New Franklin High School

What has happened since the Franklin voters approved the debt exclusion for the new Franklin High School?
While it seems like nothing has been happening, the Building Committee has been quite busy. The paperwork was all completed so that the project could get out to bid which it did, on schedule. The bids are due this month.


What time line are we looking at now?
The construction will occur during three stages.

"Stage one begins on Oct. 12 and runs until the middle of June 2013. Phase two starts on Aug. 16, 2013, ending in the fall of 2014, as students move into their 306,543-square-foot school.
And the razing of the old building and planting of the new field gets under way shortly after, finishing up sometime in the spring of 2015."

How can I find out what is happening during these three stages?

"Since the project's earliest days, the School Building Committee has maintained an active social media campaign built around community awareness. This summer, committee member Ed Cafasso rolled out an updated website and Facebook page as part of the effort. 

"Social Media, especially Facebook, has been critical for a project like this, because so much of it is visual," Cafasso said. "It allows you to post pictures and renderings and share those easily. Based on what we saw during the early campaign, the Facebook page will be a valuable tool for keeping people in touch with all the latest developments over the next two years."

You can read more about the current status in the Milford Daily News: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x1803411544/New-Franklin-High-on-schedule#ixzz25P7anihm

You can view the updated webpage for the new Franklin High School here http://www.newfhs.com/

or follow the progress on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/thenewfhs

In the News: Class of '37, 4th Congressional

Lifelong friends remember Franklin High class of '37

by Mike Gleason/Daily News Staff

While Franklin Matters has covered the 10th Norfolk campaign, , we have not spent much time at all covering the 4th Congressional candidates.

4th Congressional candidates making final push

by Jessica Trufant/Daily News staff

"Regional equity with transportation funding"

The problem exists and the solution requires coordination and networking. The primary election on Thursday Sep 4th can help to provide Franklin with the voice in this effort.

The problem many see in the MetroWest I-495 corridor is the highways straddle the turf of two MPOs — the Boston Metropolitan Planning Organization and the Central Massachusetts Metropolitan Planning Organization — as well as two regional planning agencies, the Metropolitan Area Planning Council and the Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission. 

"Their budgets are limited, which makes a project like the 495 interchange (difficult)," Denoncourt said, adding that it’s easier for MPOs to work on projects solely within their jurisdiction. 

Denoncourt and Westborough Town Planner Jim Robbins agreed the political boundaries also make things difficult. 

"When you drive from (I-)290 to the Mass. Pike via (I-)495, you drive through four congressional districts," Denoncourt said, which sometimes makes it tough to find a unified voice.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x1606939612/Fueling-future-road-improvements-a-tall-task#ixzz25P3gws6U

Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - Sep 5, 2012

A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
July 18, 2012, Regular and Executive Session-to be released

B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
This meeting is being recorded by Verizon, Comcast, and Franklin Matters

C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS

D. CITIZEN COMMENTS

E. APPOINTMENTS
Election Workers

F. HEARINGS
Zoning Bylaw Amendment 12-689: Amendment to Chapter 185 §5. Zoning Map – Single Family III to Business Zoning – 7:10 PM

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
99 Restaurant of Boston LLC, Inc – New Officer/Director…

H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
Master Plan Committee

Director of Public Works

• Roads
• Fees

I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 12-689: Amendment to Chapter 185 §5. Zoning Map – Single
Family III to Business Zoning – 1st Reading
2. Bylaw Amendment 12-686:  Amendment to Chapter 165, Transient Vendors- 2nd Reading
3. Bylaw Amendment 12-690: Amendment to Chapter 8, Council on Aging – 2nd Reading
4. Bylaw Amendment 12-691: Amendment to Chapter 75, Dogs – 2nd Reading

K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

L. OLD BUSINESS

M. NEW BUSINESS

N. COUNCIL COMMENTS

O. EXECUTIVE SESSION
Negotiations, Litigation, Real Property, as May Be Required

P. ADJOURN


The associated documents for this agenda can be found on the Franklin website (PDF)
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2012%20docs/090512.pdf

"this is kind of a balancing act"

What is a balancing act? Managing health care costs. Many communities are found not to be managing their health care costs aggressively. Franklin (and Medway) are singled out in this report by the Milford Daily News for having reduced their costs as much as the State program offered!

Among the Daily News' other findings, from reports to the state comparing existing local plans to GIC offerings and from the paper's survey of the most heavily subscribed municipal plans: 

n Two-thirds of cities and towns don't include deductibles in their plans or do so for just some of their offerings. Those that do have largely followed the GIC's lead of setting levels at $250 for individuals and $750 for families. In Medway, though, the amounts are $1,000 and $2,000, respectively. Hopkinton is also trying to get new employees on a plan with similar deductibles. 

n Medway is listed as having saved as much as the GIC, along with just one other town - Franklin. 

n Two-thirds of cities and towns carry plans that don't charge workers for high-tech scans, and several don't include co-pays for hospitalizations and outpatient surgeries.

There are additional finding in this report, you can read more here: http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x1606939434/Not-all-communities-find-ways-to-save-on-health-insurance-costs#ixzz25JFxs7SG

MDN Editorial: Primary candidates deserve voters

Yes, Thursday, September 6th - Primary Election day

The Milford Daily News has a recap of the candidates and positions up for this primary election

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Editorial: Primary candidates deserve voters

via Wicked Local Franklin Opinions RSS by GateHouse Media, Inc. on 9/1/12

Massachusetts state primaries never seem to come at a convenient time. The early September scheduling disadvantages challengers, who have barely six weeks to campaign once they've captured their party's nomination.

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Two companies bidding to run the commuter rail system

For the Franklin commuters!

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Two companies bidding to run the commuter rail system

via The Milford Daily News News RSS by Jeff Malachowski/Daily News staff on 9/1/12

Nearly a decade after acquiring the contract, officials with the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad Co. say riders have benefited from improvements to service and infrastructure. Despite service upgrades the past 10 years, company Chairman Jim O'Leary said there is still more work that needs to be done for riders of the 13 rail lines.

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