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Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Information Sessions Regarding Franklin Residually Designated Discharges
Plans for schools advance
Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:
via Boston Globe -- Globe West by Rachel Lebeaux, Globe Correspondent on 7/31/10
As the new school year approaches, officials in Franklin and Medway are on the verge of hiring architects for longstanding school renovation and repair efforts, and are moving closer to asking voters to approve property-tax increases to pay for the projects.
Medway - Franklin Massachusetts - Property tax - Business - FranklinThings you can do from here:
- Subscribe to Boston Globe -- Globe West using Google Reader
- Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites
Municipal Relief Bill enacted
The major item of interest here is the unfunded liability for the pensions that Franklin (and every other community) has to address. The deadline for having a fully funded plan has been extended to 2040.
Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:
via Commonwealth Conversations: Revenue by Robert Bliss on 7/29/10
Earlier this week, Gov. Deval Patrick signed with an Energency Preamble the new Municipal Relief law . The preamble allows the provisions of the law to take immediate effect.
Highlights of the law, formally titled An Act Relative to Municipal Relief, include:
-- Allowing cities and towns to extend their pension funding schedules out to 2040, rather than meeting the previous deadline of 2030 which seemed all but impossible given unprecedented asset losses from the stock market decline of 2008;
-- Giving communities more flexibility in their borrowing by allowing the financing of projects over a term matching the asset's useful life up to 30 years;
-- Permits communities to adopt a limited early retirement program;
-- As noted in City and Town article of July 22, "Certification Year Reshuffle," restructures the schedule for triennial property tax recertifications.
There is much more in the new law, including changes in bidding, intermunicipal agreements, and provisions to stimulate regionalization and shared services.
Highlights of the law, formally titled An Act Relative to Municipal Relief, include:
-- Allowing cities and towns to extend their pension funding schedules out to 2040, rather than meeting the previous deadline of 2030 which seemed all but impossible given unprecedented asset losses from the stock market decline of 2008;
-- Giving communities more flexibility in their borrowing by allowing the financing of projects over a term matching the asset's useful life up to 30 years;
-- Permits communities to adopt a limited early retirement program;
-- As noted in City and Town article of July 22, "Certification Year Reshuffle," restructures the schedule for triennial property tax recertifications.
There is much more in the new law, including changes in bidding, intermunicipal agreements, and provisions to stimulate regionalization and shared services.
Things you can do from here:
- Subscribe to Commonwealth Conversations: Revenue using Google Reader
- Get started using Google Reader to easily keep up with all your favorite sites
Franklin, MA: Absentee ballots available - Sep 25th primary election
ABSENTEE BALLOTS ARE NOW AVAILABLE AT THE TOWN CLERK’S OFFICE.
DATE: TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2010
TIME: 6:00a.m. – 8:00p.m.
PLACE: FRANKLIN HIGH SCHOOL FIELDHOUSE ON OAK STREET
ALL PRECINCTS
LAST DAY TO REGISTER TO VOTE: AUGUST 25, 2010 at 8:00pm at the Town Clerk’s Office, First Floor, 355 East Central Street, Municipal Building.
ABSENTEE BALLOTS WILL BE AVAILABLE BEGINNING JULY 28, 2010
Absentee Ballot Information: Absentee ballots are now available in the Town Clerk’s office. A registered voter who will be unable to vote at the polls on election day due to the following reasons may vote absentee up to 12:00 noon Monday, SEPTEMBER 13, 2010:
absence from your city or town during normal polling hours; or
physical disability preventing you from going to the polling place; or
religious belief.
All absentee requests must be made in writing with an original signature (no faxes or e-mails are accepted). If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call Deborah L. Pellegri, Town Clerk, at 508-520-4900.
Attest: Deborah L. Pellegri, CMC, Town Clerk/Election Administrato
Franklin, MA
TOWN OF FRANKLIN ELECTION NOTICE
STATE PRIMARY ELECTION
DATE: TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2010
TIME: 6:00a.m. – 8:00p.m.
PLACE: FRANKLIN HIGH SCHOOL FIELDHOUSE ON OAK STREET
ALL PRECINCTS
LAST DAY TO REGISTER TO VOTE: AUGUST 25, 2010 at 8:00pm at the Town Clerk’s Office, First Floor, 355 East Central Street, Municipal Building.
ABSENTEE BALLOTS WILL BE AVAILABLE BEGINNING JULY 28, 2010
Absentee Ballot Information: Absentee ballots are now available in the Town Clerk’s office. A registered voter who will be unable to vote at the polls on election day due to the following reasons may vote absentee up to 12:00 noon Monday, SEPTEMBER 13, 2010:
absence from your city or town during normal polling hours; or
physical disability preventing you from going to the polling place; or
religious belief.
All absentee requests must be made in writing with an original signature (no faxes or e-mails are accepted). If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call Deborah L. Pellegri, Town Clerk, at 508-520-4900.
Attest: Deborah L. Pellegri, CMC, Town Clerk/Election Administrato
Franklin, MA
Town Council - Agenda - 8/4/10
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – July 7, 2010
B. ANNOUNCEMENTS - Meetings of the Town Council are Recorded
Change of Council Meeting Date – Sept. 15 to Sept. 22
C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
D. CITIZEN COMMENTS
E. APPOINTMENTS
F. HEARINGS
G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION –
1. Resolution 10-40:Affordable Housing Strategy and Development Action Plan
2. Resolution 10-42:Establishment of North Grove Street Economic Opportunity Area
3. Resolution 10-43:Establishment of South Grove Street Economic Opportunity Area
4. Resolution 10-44: Establishment of Financial Way Economic Opportunity Area
5. Resolution 10-45:Purchase of Land at 459 Pleasant Street-Authorization and Appropriation
6. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 10-645: Site Plan Review & Design Review – 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 full agenda document can be found on the Franklin, MA website here (PDF)
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2010tc/08042010%20Agenda.pdf
B. ANNOUNCEMENTS - Meetings of the Town Council are Recorded
Change of Council Meeting Date – Sept. 15 to Sept. 22
C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
D. CITIZEN COMMENTS
E. APPOINTMENTS
F. HEARINGS
G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION –
1. Resolution 10-40:Affordable Housing Strategy and Development Action Plan
2. Resolution 10-42:Establishment of North Grove Street Economic Opportunity Area
3. Resolution 10-43:Establishment of South Grove Street Economic Opportunity Area
4. Resolution 10-44: Establishment of Financial Way Economic Opportunity Area
5. Resolution 10-45:Purchase of Land at 459 Pleasant Street-Authorization and Appropriation
6. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 10-645: Site Plan Review & Design Review – 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 full agenda document can be found on the Franklin, MA website here (PDF)
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2010tc/08042010%20Agenda.pdf
Monday, August 2, 2010
Franklin, MA: Town Council - procedures manual
Continuing to find some interesting summer reading, let's get into the Town Council procedures manual. It is posted on the Town website here (PDF):
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_Council/procedures07.pdf
and can be viewed here:
FranklinMA_TC_procedures07
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_Council/procedures07.pdf
and can be viewed here:
FranklinMA_TC_procedures07
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Native Plants of Franklin
Hello Franklin! It’s time to reveal what last week’s mystery plant was. Were you able to figure it out? Loretta was close, and Susan correctly identified it. Here is the picture again:
If you said it was pinesap, you are correct!
I photographed this pinesap, at the Franklin State Forest last September, which means you have some time to get out and look for this elusive plant yourself. This patch is visible from the trail that leads straight into the woods from the YMCA.
The trick to seeing pinesap, Monotropa hypopitys, is that it only grows above ground like this for a very brief window of time. You may notice that the plant isn’t green. It actually contains no chlorophyll, which means it isn’t getting its food from the sun. Instead, it is a parasite that feeds on a fungus, which in turn is in a symbiotic relationship with tree roots. Don’t ever try to transplant this type of plant, because its growing conditions are so complex that removing the plant from its environment would kill it.
A more common relative of pinesap is Indian pipe, Monotropa uniflora, which also grows in undisturbed, shady woodlands, and is in bloom right now.
Indian pipe is frequently mistaken for a fungus, but like pinesap, it is a parasitic flowering plant.
And here is our next mystery plant:
Happy plant-sleuthing!
Franklin, MA
If you said it was pinesap, you are correct!
I photographed this pinesap, at the Franklin State Forest last September, which means you have some time to get out and look for this elusive plant yourself. This patch is visible from the trail that leads straight into the woods from the YMCA.
The trick to seeing pinesap, Monotropa hypopitys, is that it only grows above ground like this for a very brief window of time. You may notice that the plant isn’t green. It actually contains no chlorophyll, which means it isn’t getting its food from the sun. Instead, it is a parasite that feeds on a fungus, which in turn is in a symbiotic relationship with tree roots. Don’t ever try to transplant this type of plant, because its growing conditions are so complex that removing the plant from its environment would kill it.
A more common relative of pinesap is Indian pipe, Monotropa uniflora, which also grows in undisturbed, shady woodlands, and is in bloom right now.
Indian pipe is frequently mistaken for a fungus, but like pinesap, it is a parasitic flowering plant.
And here is our next mystery plant:
Happy plant-sleuthing!
Franklin, MA
Franklin, MA: Customer Service commitment
Jeff Nutting, the Franklin Town Administrator, has posted the following customer service commitment on the Administrator's page on the Town website (PDF):
Franklin MA Customer Service
Franklin MA Customer Service
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Franklin, MA: summer reading
Looking for some summer reading?
Something more than a paperback novel or a magazine from the grocery store check out line?
Try the Financial Audit Reports for 2008 and 2009. You can obtain both reports from the town website here:
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_Admin/Audits/
If you find a term you are not familiar with, look it up with your favorite search engine. The results should include one or two dictionary references, an entry for wikipedia and perhaps some professional references including higher education institutions.
By the time you finish reading and studying, the summer will be over!
Enjoy!
By the way - if you are interested in the Town budget documents, you can find the prior years here:
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_Admin/previous
You can find the current Fiscal Year 2011 budget here:
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_Admin/FY%2011%20Budget/
Franklin, MA
Something more than a paperback novel or a magazine from the grocery store check out line?
Try the Financial Audit Reports for 2008 and 2009. You can obtain both reports from the town website here:
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_Admin/Audits/
If you find a term you are not familiar with, look it up with your favorite search engine. The results should include one or two dictionary references, an entry for wikipedia and perhaps some professional references including higher education institutions.
By the time you finish reading and studying, the summer will be over!
Enjoy!
By the way - if you are interested in the Town budget documents, you can find the prior years here:
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_Admin/previous
You can find the current Fiscal Year 2011 budget here:
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_Admin/FY%2011%20Budget/
Franklin, MA
Friday, July 30, 2010
HOUSING STRATEGY RECOMMENDATIONS - 6, 7, 8
6. Amend the zoning by-laws to allow:
“Assisted living” and other elderly housing facilities in residential and certain commercial zones,
Greater densities for housing reserved for the elderly residents.
7. Maintain an inventory of existing housing facilities.
The Town will maintain an inventory of existing housing facilities that details the location of existing affordable housing facilities, 55+ senior developments and 40B housing developments within Franklin (Map 4: Existing Affordable Housing).
8. Identify areas where there is potential for development of affordable housing.
CONCLUSION
The Town of Franklin has postured itself as a key player and stakeholder in the creation of housing consistent with the above stated policy, goals and objectives. The Town reaffirms it commitment to ensure that a variety of housing opportunities exist to meet the diverse needs of its existing and future citizens. The Town looks forward to working with a broad coalition of public and private entities to achieve its affordable housing goals.
“Assisted living” and other elderly housing facilities in residential and certain commercial zones,
Greater densities for housing reserved for the elderly residents.
7. Maintain an inventory of existing housing facilities.
The Town will maintain an inventory of existing housing facilities that details the location of existing affordable housing facilities, 55+ senior developments and 40B housing developments within Franklin (Map 4: Existing Affordable Housing).
8. Identify areas where there is potential for development of affordable housing.
- The focus area for potential housing development is centered around the Downtown area with a focus on providing multi-bedroom housing units.
- Provide housing opportunities in the Downtown area where mixed-use and infill development opportunities are available. This area provides the most services and has a housing stock that is generally affordable and can more easily be converted to affordable housing.
- Allow housing conversions in the Downtown area to allow multi-bedroom housing-units.
- Consider a multi-family zoning around the central business district by-right rather than requiring a special permit.
- School land that is owned by the Town of Franklin should be evaluated for residential uses. Housing at schools could be used for teachers and other municipal workers. Renting or leasing to these people may require specific eligibility conditions such as income limits and residency terms.
- Retain, support, and expand existing affordable housing sites that are scattered throughout Franklin.
CONCLUSION
The Town of Franklin has postured itself as a key player and stakeholder in the creation of housing consistent with the above stated policy, goals and objectives. The Town reaffirms it commitment to ensure that a variety of housing opportunities exist to meet the diverse needs of its existing and future citizens. The Town looks forward to working with a broad coalition of public and private entities to achieve its affordable housing goals.
The full Affordable Housing Strategy and Development Plan can be found on the Franklin, MA website
Franklin, MA: Farmers Market
A friendly reminder that the Farmers Market is open each Friday from now until October. It operates on the Town Common on the corner away from the veterans memorials.
There is a big sign for those on RT 140 at the Davis Thayer School to point you in the proper direction:
There are also quite a few strategically placed signs like this to help spread the word:
Now that you are there, what will you find?
Susan Morrison posted a summary from her recent visit on ActiveRain here:
http://activerain.com/blogsview/1760086/farmers-market-in-franklin-ma-we-support-our-local-farms-
Tangerini's Farm was recently featured in an article in the Milford Daily News here:
http://www.milforddailynews.com/features/x1070618329/A-growing-trend-Massachusetts-farms-are-thriving
Franklin, MA
There is a big sign for those on RT 140 at the Davis Thayer School to point you in the proper direction:
There are also quite a few strategically placed signs like this to help spread the word:
Now that you are there, what will you find?
Susan Morrison posted a summary from her recent visit on ActiveRain here:
http://activerain.com/blogsview/1760086/farmers-market-in-franklin-ma-we-support-our-local-farms-
Tangerini's Farm was recently featured in an article in the Milford Daily News here:
http://www.milforddailynews.com/features/x1070618329/A-growing-trend-Massachusetts-farms-are-thriving
Franklin, MA
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Hold the date - Aug 3rd - Sit & Chat - Bill Glynn
Bill Glynn, School Committee member, will hold a "Sit & Chat" on the Franklin Town Common (near the Bandstand, in the Bandstand if it rains) on Tuesday August 3rd from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. There is no agenda, it’s just an opportunity to share your thoughts, ask questions, engage in discussion on different topics, etc. The discussion is open to all.
Bring a chair, your thoughts, and perhaps a question or two to the Common near the Bandstand.
Franklin, MA
Bring a chair, your thoughts, and perhaps a question or two to the Common near the Bandstand.
Franklin, MA
HOUSING STRATEGY RECOMMENDATIONS - 5
5. Increase housing opportunities for seniors and the elderly.
- Encourage affordable housing for the elderly through alternative residential programs such as life-care, assisted, or congregate living arrangements.
- Evaluate different programs for providing elderly housing.
- Explore expanding the number of rental opportunities for senior and elderly residents.
- Encourage development of housing units that can easily be adapted or modified for handicap accessibility as needed.
- Other options to improve elderly housing include utilizing town-owned land for housing sites and utilizing the senior center for outreach and counseling.
The full Affordable Housing Strategy and Development Plan can be found on the Franklin, MA website
HOUSING STRATEGY RECOMMENDATIONS - 4
4. Encourage development of multifamily housing.
The Town will encourage development of multi-family housing at appropriate locations in Franklin and encourage adaptive reuse of existing buildings for future residential use, particular downtown redevelopment areas. The Town will work towards the redevelopment of the Town’s older sites for a mixture of uses, including lower cost housing for families and the elderly. Methods include:
The Town will encourage development of multi-family housing at appropriate locations in Franklin and encourage adaptive reuse of existing buildings for future residential use, particular downtown redevelopment areas. The Town will work towards the redevelopment of the Town’s older sites for a mixture of uses, including lower cost housing for families and the elderly. Methods include:
- Providing financial incentives through the planning and permitting process;
- Addressing development impacts;
- Identifying downtown/mixed use development sites that would be appropriate for redevelopment;
- Working with property owners to create mixed use developments through incentives such as density bonuses or tax incrementing financing.
- Utilize Town owned tax-title properties for development of low, moderate, and middle-income housing units.
The full Affordable Housing Strategy and Development Plan can be found on the Franklin, MA website
Franklin, MA: fiscal policies
What are the fiscal policies of Franklin?
The policies are published on the Town website (PDF) and can be viewed here:
FranklinMA_fiscalpolicies
The policies are published on the Town website (PDF) and can be viewed here:
FranklinMA_fiscalpolicies
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