FHS production of Grease. March 23 & 24, 2012 at the Horace Mann Middle School in Franklin starting at 7pm. Tickets are $10 at the door.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Sign bylaws passed
In other news, the council held a somewhat heated discussion before accepting a trio of zoning bylaws meant to revamp bylaws on signs.
“I don’t like to see these things become too restrictive,” Councilor Andrew Bissanti said, a sentiment four other councilors echoed. “I’m just saying, signage is a language, it’s a form of communication for business.”
The new sign rules are meant to upgrade the previous laws. Currently, there are several violations of the bylaw used prior to tonight’s acceptance within the town, from banner signs to signs that are too large, to political signs. Political signs are now legal under the adopted rules, if regulated.
“We have outdated definitions, we have inadequate definitions,” town attorney Mark Cerel said. “This is ... a significant improvement over what is in place now.”
The bylaws delineate four districts in Franklin: residential, downtown, industrial, and commercial and business. That part of the bylaw was initially not accepted when a majority, rather than the necessary two-thirds of councilors voted for it.
Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x1866854492/Franklin-council-urges-passage-of-override#ixzz1pq1KAfEP
The full set of documents used in the Town Council meeting can be found here
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2012%20docs/032112.pdf
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
News Flash from The Garden Front!
Hello Gardeners, Friends, and Supporters!
Just found out this morning that tomorrow our new garden shed (paid for by an awesome grant from the Franklin Rotary Club!) will be constructed on site at the King Street Memorial Garden. The students at Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School will be there setting it up.
When: Thursday, March 22
Time: In the morning, around 9 am
If you are able to join us and lend a hand (or a round of applause!) we'd love to have you.
Bring something cool to drink, it will be quite warm out.
If you would like to donate any gardening tools we now have a place for them to live!
Many thanks to the students and staff at Tri-County RVTHS, the Franklin DPW, the Franklin Rotary Club, Town Administrator Jeff Nutting, and all of our gardeners and volunteers!
Hope you can join us at the Garden!
Many Hands make light work!
Deepest Thanks,
Your Friends from the Franklin Community Garden
Visit us on Facebook!
Follow us on Twitter!
FY2013 Budget Issues and Procedures
For those really into the details of the local budget and accounting this has some good information on the proper procedures for handling specific circumstances.
DLS Releases FY2013 Budget Issues and Procedures Bulletin
The Division of Local Services has posted on its website a new Bulletin addressing several issues that cities, towns, regional school and other districts should consider for FY2013 revenue and expenditure budgeting and other related matters.
Parmenter 5K - June 10th
This year's 4th Annual Parmenter Fun Run for All Ages will be held on Sunday, June 10th at 10am. More details will follow soon, including registration. For specific questions, one can email parmenter5k@gmail.com
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Franklin Votes - March 27th (video)
A video to summarize the pros and cons of the vote on the debt exclusion for the new Franklin High School is now available. The video features appearances by School Superintendent Maureen Sabolinski, Town Administrator Jeff Nutting, and Town Councilors Jeff Roy and Bob Vallee. Town Clerk Debbie Pellegri provides some insights to help the voting process on March 27th.
Get out to vote on March 27th!
Get out to vote on March 27th!
495/MetroWest Development Compact Plan
Local, state and regional priorities for development and preservation are identified.
Prime sites to develop include Milford’s Bear Hill area, Northborough Crossing, the Golden Triangle in Framingham and Draper Mill in Hopedale, which would all have strong regional significance.
The state also wants to see companies move to the Forge Industrial Park and North Grove Street in Franklin, Framingham’s downtown and Tech Park and 9/90 crossing, Legacy Farm and South Street in Hopkinton and Tower Street Mill in Hudson.
Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x299890263/Development-plan-puts-focus-on-future-of-region#ixzz1peILKVB3
The full plan can be found here (PDF)
http://www.mass.gov/hed/economic/eohed/pro/planning/metrowest/
Monday, March 19, 2012
Congratulations to the Hockey Team
It is an accomplishment to have made it to the State Finals two years in a row!
Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x1569575760/Heartbreak-hocked-for-Franklin-Medway#ixzz1pYOzARMa
For Franklin, it was March redux. Last year at this time the Panthers came within a goal of winning the state title. Yesterday, the differential — and the outcome — was the same at TD Garden.
Wilmington’s 3-2 victory left the Panthers a goal shy of their goal. Again.
“It’s tough, two years in a row,” said Franklin coach Chris Spillane, who was on Franklin’s last championship team, in 1983.
Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x1569575760/Heartbreak-hocked-for-Franklin-Medway#ixzz1pYOzARMa
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Community Garden: A grey day for green thumbs!
It may have been a grey day for green thumbs but about 30 folks gathered to "Give Peas a Chance" at the Franklin Community Garden on Saturday. Some had plots in the garden some gardened in their own space. All came together to hear Chris Clay share some tips on peas and other things to plant early.
There was a line briefly to get peas
One plot has been stringed off in grid fashion to help with their planting this year
Amy Acevedo watched as Leo O'Brien planted his peas in a starter cup
Jack Barry observes as Chris sinks his round of green wire mesh as a support for the peas
As Chris explains, his son Gabe plants the peas around the wire mesh
Jack lends a hand as Chris ties off the bamboo sticks in a teepee shape which is another way to support your peas
This was the first of a series of sessions to talk about gardening and share gardening tips
Where is the Community Garden?
Located in the King St Memorial Park
View Larger Map
There was a line briefly to get peas
One plot has been stringed off in grid fashion to help with their planting this year
Amy Acevedo watched as Leo O'Brien planted his peas in a starter cup
Jack Barry observes as Chris sinks his round of green wire mesh as a support for the peas
As Chris explains, his son Gabe plants the peas around the wire mesh
Jack lends a hand as Chris ties off the bamboo sticks in a teepee shape which is another way to support your peas
This was the first of a series of sessions to talk about gardening and share gardening tips
Where is the Community Garden?
Located in the King St Memorial Park
View Larger Map
Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - 3/21/12
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
December 7, 2011
B. ANNOUNCEMENTS – This meeting is being recorded by Verizon, Comcast, and Franklin Matters
C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
D. CITIZEN COMMENTS
E. APPOINTMENTS
Franklin Disabilities Commission - Anthony J. Molinaro
F. HEARINGS
G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
Letter to the Editor
Bryan Taberner – Director, Community Planning & Development
I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1. Resolution 12-20: Adoption of Amendment to Town Council Procedures Manual
2. Resolution 12-21: Amendment to Creation of A Citizen Committee
3. Bylaw Amendment 12-674: Amendment to Chapter 48, Tobacco Products – 1st Reading
4. Bylaw Amendment 12-675: Amendment to Chapter 63, Numbering of Buildings – 1st Reading
5. Bylaw Amendment 12-676: Amendment to Chapter 84, Fire Alarms - 1st Reading
6. Bylaw Amendment 12-677: Amendment to Chapter 86, Fire Lanes – 1st Reading
7. Bylaw Amendment 12-678: Amendment to Chapter 95, Garbage, Rubbish and Refuse – 1st Reading
8. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 12-669:Amendment to Chapter 185-45. Administration and Enforcement – 2nd Reading
9. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 12-670: Amendment to Chapter 185-3. Definitions – 2nd Reading
10. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 12-671: Amendment to Chapter 185-4. Districts Enumerated – 2nd Reading
11. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 12-672: Amendment to Chapter 185-20. Signs- 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 documents for this agenda can be found on the Franklin website
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2012%20docs/032112.pdf
Weight Watchers: Schedule of hours
In January, I found that Weight Watchers would be opening an office in the Horace Mann Plaza. I stopped by on Saturday to confirm that they were open (yes) and picked up a copy of their schedule (see below).
Weight Watchers Franklin
Grease is the word!
FHS production of Grease. March 23 & 24, 2012 at the Horace Mann Middle School in Franklin starting at 7pm. Tickets are $10 at the door.
495/MetroWest Development Compact Plan
In addition to assessing the area’s demographics, the report lists zones that cities and towns would like to see either developed or preserved, a tally then whittled down when accounting for regional and state interests and priorities.
Cities and towns identified 497 areas for preservation and 800 spots for development, including the majority of the commuter rail stations, downtown Framingham, South Street in Hopkinton and the Rte. 9 interchanges with both the Turnpike and Interstate 495. Large tracts of vacant land were featured in 30 of the development zones.
Infrastructure was singled out as a key need and a potential barrier in the report, including water, sewage treatment and some particular components: the bridge for routes 9 and 20 in Northborough, the Washington Street bridge in Hudson, and rail crossings in downtown Ashland and Framingham.
Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x1612628130/Report-looks-at-I-495-area-s-needs#ixzz1pSqSR22m
In a marked improvement, the report itself is available and linked to from the story above.
http://www.495partnership.org/assets/Compact/FinalPlan/finalcompactplansmall.pdf
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Voices of Franklin: David Brennan - Vote No
This was posted earlier on Saturday as a comment on the Comment Policy posting posted in Dec 2007 and hence buried in the archives. I have re-posted it here rather than leave it buried.
David Brennan - Mar 17, 2012 11:06 AM
My son will be attending Franklin High School in the fall and I will be voting no to a new building.
I recently toured the High School at an open house and found it to be perfectly fine. In fact it is much nicer than the Franklin Charter School my son has attended for 8 years which was built in 1955.
The Parmenter School was built in 1951,Davis Thayer was built in 1924, Kennedy and Horace Mann in the sixties, Tri County was built in the 70's.
All these schools are still going strong and there is no reason the High School which is only forty years old can't do the same for decades to come.
The tax payers of Franklin have been very generous over the past few years - approving monies for both reasonable updates to existing schools and building new ones.
Franklin High may need some sprucing up but everything I have read about and seen in person is cosmetic and can be done at a far lower cost than tearing down the school and building a completely new one.
Of course you would have to want to keep spending down in order to do that. Instead town officials have chosen to take the bait from the state where the incentive is to make the project as expensive as possible.
Nobody knows what the final cost will be. The Ballot question gives no definite amount of money that we are being asked to approve. It does not say a debt exclussion of $47 Million - it is completley open ended.
It would be foolish for tax payers to give a blank check to town officials who along with the state have thus far demonstrated every proclivity to spend as much money as possible.
We have only been presented with one choice and it is by far the most extravagant and expensive one and it could in the end be even more extravagant and expensive than we now know.
If we give them open ended approval does anyone doubt that they will not go for broke with a once in a lifetime opportunity to throw in as many expensive extras and pet projects as they can possibly tag on. They could throw in an Olympic Pool and Ice Arena if they like.
I'll be voting no because:
Spending $100 Million + on a new school to address cosmetic issues with the existing one is extravagant and wasteful.
The ballot is worded in such a way that it is simply a blank check and gives free reign for even more money to be spent.
Finally there is the common good to consider. These days many working families and especially our senior citizens are in no position to have taxes increased even more than they already go each year. They simply can't afford to build a fancy new school just because some folks find the existing one to be a little drab.
Editorial Note: There are two factual errors in the above that are corrected here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/03/two-additional-points-for-david-brennan.html
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