Dear Rail Vision Subscribers,
Thanks to more than 100 participants at last week's Rail Vision Open House. Our team heard lots of comments and suggestions, explained the alternatives, and learned about your challenges and preferences. You can follow up by visiting the project website where there are fact sheets on each alternative that include a map of the service area, service features, and a summary of benefits and trade-offs. You can share additional comments by emailing us at RailVision@state.ma.us.
The Rail Vision Non-Rider Survey remains available until March 29. It can be accessed on any device by visiting www.MBTARailVisionSurvey.com. The survey takes about 20 seconds to complete and is a creative way for people who do not regularly use the rail system to let us know what is important to them. Non-rider voices and their responses will help frame alternatives we hope will inspire more drivers to leave the highway and board a train more regularly. Please share the survey link widely.
If you were not able to attend the open house, you can find the presentation on the study website, along with materials from our past Advisory Committee meetings. You can also send comments and questions via the website.
The Rail Vision Team
This location is accessible to people with disabilities. MassDOT provides reasonable accommodations and/or language assistance free of charge upon request (including but not limited to interpreters in American Sign Language and languages other than English, open or closed captioning for videos, assistive listening devices and alternate material formats, such as audio tapes, Braille and large print), as available. For accommodation or language assistance, please contact MassDOT's Chief Diversity and Civil Rights Officer by phone (857-368-8580), fax (857-368-0602), TTD/TTY (857-368-0603) or by email
MASSDOT.CivilRights@dot.state.ma.us. Requests should be made as soon as possible prior to the meeting, and for more difficult to arrange services including sign-language, CART or language translation or interpretation, requests should be made at least ten business days before the meeting.
Title VI Notice of Nondiscrimination: MassDOT complies with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and related federal and state statutes and regulations. It is the policy of MassDOT to ensure that no person or group of persons shall on the grounds of Title VI protected categories, including race, color, national origin, or under additional federal and state protected categories including sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, creed, ancestry, veteran's status (including Vietnam-era veterans), or background, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be otherwise subjected to discrimination under any program or activity administered by MassDOT.
To request additional information about this commitment, or to file a complaint under Title VI or a related nondiscrimination provision, please contact MassDOT's Title VI Specialist by phone at (857) 368-8580, TTY at (857) 368-8580, fax (857) 368-0602or by e-mail at MASSDOT.CivilRights@dot.state.ma.us.
If information is needed in another language, please contact the MassDOT Title VI Specialist by phone at (857) 368-8580.
Friday, March 15, 2019
Register Now: Spring Music for Young Children session at Encore Music
The Spring Music for Young Children session is open for registration now at Encore Music.
Register online at http://www.encoremusicacademy.net/
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| Register Now: Spring Music for Young Children session at Encore Music |
Register online at http://www.encoremusicacademy.net/
Crafters wanted - 17th Annual Strawberry Stroll - June 14
The Franklin Downtown Partnership is seeking crafters for its upcoming Strawberry Stroll on Friday, June 14 at 4 PM to 8 PM (rain date June 15). This 17th Annual Strawberry Stroll is expected to be the largest ever.
Enjoy live music, dancing, sidewalk sales, activities, delicious foods and more with thousands of people of all ages on the closed-off streets of downtown Franklin.
Crafters can register for a space at the Strawberry Stroll for $75. The registration form will be available on the Partnership’s website in mid-April, www.franklindowntownpartnership.com
Enjoy live music, dancing, sidewalk sales, activities, delicious foods and more with thousands of people of all ages on the closed-off streets of downtown Franklin.
Crafters can register for a space at the Strawberry Stroll for $75. The registration form will be available on the Partnership’s website in mid-April, www.franklindowntownpartnership.com
The Franklin Downtown Partnership is a non-profit, 501©3 organization that supports downtown revitalization and streetscape efforts, and organizes events such as the Strawberry Stroll, Harvest Festival and Beautification days.
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| Crafters wanted - 17th Annual Strawberry Stroll - June 14 |
Thursday, March 14, 2019
Charter School building updates
The BFCCPS Charter School has been one of the topics of conversation at the School Committee and Town Council meetings this week. The financial forecast for this year and next year's budget is not good and coming up with additional funding (yes, an override option was mentioned) is part of the discussion.
The Charter School was one of the topics due to the State funding formula which would re-allocate additional money from the FPS school budget as BFCCPS expands this September. 98 additional students from Franklin are reported to have won a lottery to attend the new school as it opens in Sep, unfortunately also taking funds from Franklin per the State formula.
This topic was also raised with Franklin's legislative delegates during the School Committee Legislative Forum in February. There is talk of changes to the formula but when and if that happens this year is unknown.
Stay tuned to the budget discussion. The Finance Committee budget hearings open Mar 18, Mar 19, Mar 25, and Mar 26.
From the BFCCPS web page:
Find additional photos and updates from BFCCPS on their web page
http://bfccps.org/march-1st-expansion-update/
The Charter School was one of the topics due to the State funding formula which would re-allocate additional money from the FPS school budget as BFCCPS expands this September. 98 additional students from Franklin are reported to have won a lottery to attend the new school as it opens in Sep, unfortunately also taking funds from Franklin per the State formula.
This topic was also raised with Franklin's legislative delegates during the School Committee Legislative Forum in February. There is talk of changes to the formula but when and if that happens this year is unknown.
Stay tuned to the budget discussion. The Finance Committee budget hearings open Mar 18, Mar 19, Mar 25, and Mar 26.
From the BFCCPS web page:
"We visited the site on Friday March 1st and have lots of new photos to share. You will see lots of interior progress since our last two weeks ago. We will continue to share updates on the building every other week moving forward."
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| exterior view of the new facility under construction for BFCCPS and scheduled to open in Sep 2019 (BFCCPS photo) |
http://bfccps.org/march-1st-expansion-update/
TOM RUSH with Matt Nakoa at OCC Coffeehouse, Wrentham
OCC COFFEEHOUSE
Original Congregational Church
1 East Street, Wrentham, MA 02093
Phone: 508-384-3110
The two concerts listed below are the final ones of our 2018-2019 season. Tickets for the Tom Rush show are selling briskly, so it is likely they will sellout. Tickets for all shows are available at the church office, 508-384-3110, or at www.musicatocc.org.
TOM RUSH with Matt Nakoa
Friday, April 5, 7:30 PM
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| TOM RUSH with Matt Nakoa at OCC Coffeehouse |
Rush's impact on the American music scene has been profound. He helped shape the folk revival in the '60s and the renaissance of the '80s and '90s, his music having left its stamp on generations of artists. James Taylor told Rolling Stone, "Tom was not only one of my early heroes, but also one of my main influences." Country music star Garth Brooks has credited Rush with being one of his top five musical influences.
Matt Nakoa,Tom's keyboard player and vocalist, now tours internationally, recently performing at The White House, throughout India, and regularly with folk music icon Tom Rush. Matt's piano music has received favorable reviews in publications including The New York Times, and his film scoring has been featured by Disney.
Tickets are $45, in the church sanctuary.
BILL & KATE ISLES
Saturday, April 27, 7:30 PM
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| BILL & KATE ISLES |
Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door, in Fellowship Hall.
2 FHS music students to perform with All Eastern Honors Ensembles
The 2019 All-Eastern Honors Ensembles to Perform at The David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh, PA April 4-7, 2019, Pittsburgh PA
More than 780 of the most musically talented high school students in the Eastern region of the United States have been selected to perform in the 2019 All-Eastern Honors Ensembles.
Selected to perform in the All-Eastern Honors from Orchestra and Band are the following students from Franklin High School in Franklin, MA.
With assistance from their music teachers, Mrs. Diane Plouffe and Mrs.Leighanne Rudsit, these exceptional students will prepare remarkably challenging music that they will perform under the leadership of prominent conductors in this biennial event. Students will spend three days rehearsing with one of five conductors during the Eastern Division Conference of The National Association for Music Education to be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in preparation for performances on April 7, 2019.
The All-Eastern Honors Ensembles, consisting of concert band, symphony orchestra, mixed chorus, treble chorus, and jazz ensemble, are organized by members of The National Association for Music Education. The concert band and symphony orchestra will each have approximately one hundred fifty instrumentalists, the jazz ensemble will have eighteen instrumentalists, the treble chorus will have one hundred twenty vocalists, and the mixed chorus will have approximately three hundred twenty vocalists. Student participation from each state is determined by a percentage of the total Eastern Division membership.
Each of the state music educators associations in the Eastern Division (CT, DC, DE, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, RI, PA, VT, Europe) oversee the selection process in their state during the fall of the year before the event and compile ranked lists of recommended juniors and seniors for consideration. The method used to compile the lists varies from state to state, although all recommended students must have been selected to participate in their home all-state festivals.
The committee builds the ensembles from the state presidents' ranked lists, trying to mimic the state population percentages in each group.
The 2019 All-Eastern Honors Ensembles (all except for Jazz, which will perform on Saturday evening, April 6) will perform for an audience of thousands on Sunday, April 7, 2019, in the Spirit of Pittsburgh Ballroom at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh, PA. For program and ticket information please visit www.pmea.org.
More than 780 of the most musically talented high school students in the Eastern region of the United States have been selected to perform in the 2019 All-Eastern Honors Ensembles.
Selected to perform in the All-Eastern Honors from Orchestra and Band are the following students from Franklin High School in Franklin, MA.
- Lauren Dennett - Tenor Saxophone
- Brinda Venkataraman - Violin
With assistance from their music teachers, Mrs. Diane Plouffe and Mrs.Leighanne Rudsit, these exceptional students will prepare remarkably challenging music that they will perform under the leadership of prominent conductors in this biennial event. Students will spend three days rehearsing with one of five conductors during the Eastern Division Conference of The National Association for Music Education to be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in preparation for performances on April 7, 2019.
The All-Eastern Honors Ensembles, consisting of concert band, symphony orchestra, mixed chorus, treble chorus, and jazz ensemble, are organized by members of The National Association for Music Education. The concert band and symphony orchestra will each have approximately one hundred fifty instrumentalists, the jazz ensemble will have eighteen instrumentalists, the treble chorus will have one hundred twenty vocalists, and the mixed chorus will have approximately three hundred twenty vocalists. Student participation from each state is determined by a percentage of the total Eastern Division membership.
Each of the state music educators associations in the Eastern Division (CT, DC, DE, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, RI, PA, VT, Europe) oversee the selection process in their state during the fall of the year before the event and compile ranked lists of recommended juniors and seniors for consideration. The method used to compile the lists varies from state to state, although all recommended students must have been selected to participate in their home all-state festivals.
The committee builds the ensembles from the state presidents' ranked lists, trying to mimic the state population percentages in each group.
The 2019 All-Eastern Honors Ensembles (all except for Jazz, which will perform on Saturday evening, April 6) will perform for an audience of thousands on Sunday, April 7, 2019, in the Spirit of Pittsburgh Ballroom at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh, PA. For program and ticket information please visit www.pmea.org.
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| Lauren Dennett - Tenor Saxophone; Brinda Venkataraman - Violin |
Franklin SEPAC: Franklin Fire Department Community Day - Mar 23
Franklin Fire Department Community Day
This is an event for those with special needs to become more comfortable with our first responders.
Special appearances by Ben Franklin, therapy dog and newest member of the Franklin PD and Sparky the Fire Dog!
When: Saturday, March 23 from 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM
Where: 40 West Central Street, Fire Dept HQs
Space is limited, please RSVP to Franklin SEPAC at franklinsepac@gmail.com.
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| Franklin SEPAC: Franklin Fire Department Community Day - Mar 23 |
Franklin Art Association April 3, 2019 Meeting
The Franklin Art Association will meet on Wednesday, April 3, 2019 from 6:30 to 9:00 PM at the Franklin Senior Center, 10 Daniel McCahill Street in Franklin.
Refreshments and social time will begin at 6:30 PM, followed by a short business meeting and a watercolor demonstration by Joyce McJilton Dwyer, an artist with thirty years' experience working in watercolors and drawings.
FAA meetings are held the first Wednesday of every month, September through May, and are free and open to the public. For more information log on to www.franklinart.org
Refreshments and social time will begin at 6:30 PM, followed by a short business meeting and a watercolor demonstration by Joyce McJilton Dwyer, an artist with thirty years' experience working in watercolors and drawings.
FAA meetings are held the first Wednesday of every month, September through May, and are free and open to the public. For more information log on to www.franklinart.org
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| Franklin Art Association April 3, 2019 Meeting |
"69 percent of the weekend pass sales are in zones 6 through 8"
From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190313/mbta-to-leave-price-of-weekend-pass-at-10
"A possible silver lining to the commuter train fare hikes approved this week is that travelers will continue paying $10 for unlimited weekend trips, as the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has made the $10 weekend commuter rail fare permanent.
The MBTA’s Fiscal and Management Control Board on Monday approved an average 6 percent fare hike that will see the cost of Worcester riders’ tickets increasing from $11.50 to $12.25 as of July 1. The fare hikes will raise around $29 million annually, according to the MBTA. An amendment at the vote Monday puts off another fare hike for three years.
The $10 weekend special fare was piloted last summer with the goal of increasing commuter rail ridership and revenue on the weekends, when trains have additional capacity. It offers $10 tickets for unlimited weekend travel from the first scheduled Saturday trip through the last scheduled Sunday trip and began June 3."Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190313/mbta-to-leave-price-of-weekend-pass-at-10
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| MBTA gets fare hike approved for commuter rail and subway |
FREE funding workshops at Community Arts Advocacy Day - Mar 30, 2019
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Wednesday, March 13, 2019
Live reporting - Closing
Town Administrators report
response on mail box reimbursement
Future agenda items
none
Council Comments
Casey - shout out to FHS girls basketball team
Dellorco - shout out to the winter sports teams
Kelly - Memorial Day parade coming
motion to adjourn, second, passed 7-0
Live reporting: Legislation for Action
| 9. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS |
a. Capital Budget Subcommittee
b. Budget Subcommittee
c. Economic Development Subcommittee
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| 10. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION | |
| 10a. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION |
Resolution 19-21: Acceptance of Gift to the Franklin Fire Department from the Singleton Family Foundation (Motion to Approve Resolution 19-21 - Majority Vote (5))
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0 |
| 10b. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION |
Resolution 19-22: Appropriation of Cable Funds (Motion to Approve Resolution 19-22 - Majority Vote (5))
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0
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| 10c. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION |
Resolution 19-23: Authority for Town Administrator to Settle Pending Litigation Against Town and Payment Appropriation (Motion to Approve Resolution 19-23 - Majority Vote (5))
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0
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| 10d. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION |
Resolution 19-24: Norfolk Aggie Supplemental Appropriation FY19 (Motion to Approve Resolution 19-24 - Majority Vote (5))
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0
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| 10e. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION |
Zoning Bylaw Amendment 19-829: District Enumerated-Creation of Mixed Business Innovation Zoning District-2nd Reading (Motion to Adopt Zoning Bylaw Amendment 19-829 - Two Thirds Majority Vote (5))
attempting to change the existing zoning and eliminate some of the 'dirty' uses; citizen who owns the two properties questioned last time had not responded to reach out attempts until stepping up during the meeting.
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0 (via roll call (Padula, Pellegri absent))
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| 10f. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION |
Zoning Bylaw Amendment 19-830: Use Regulations- Mixed Business Innovation Zoning District- 2nd Reading (Motion to Adopt Zoning Bylaw Amendment 19-830 - Two Thirds Majority Vote (5))
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0 (via roll call (Padula, Pellegri absent)) |
| 10g. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION |
Zoning Bylaw Amendment 19-831: Mixed Business Innovation Zone Dimensional Regulations- 2nd Reading (Motion to Adopt Zoning Bylaw Amendment 19-831 to a 2nd Reading- Two Thirds Majority Vote (5))
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0 (via roll call (Padula, Pellegri absent)) |
| 10h. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION |
Zoning Bylaw Amendment 19-832: Changes to §185-20. Signs, Mixed Business Innovation Zoning District- 2nd Reading (Motion to Adopt Zoning Bylaw Amendment 19-832 to a 2nd Reading- Two Thirds Majority Vote (5))
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0 (via roll call (Padula, Pellegri absent)) |
| 10i. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION |
Zoning Bylaw Amendment 19-833: Zoning Map Changes from Industrial to Mixed Business Innovation on Area on or near Fisher and Hayward Streets -2nd Reading (Motion to Adopt Zoning Bylaw Amendment 19-833 - Two Thirds Majority Vote (5))
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0 (via roll call (Padula, Pellegri absent)) |
| 10j. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION |
Zoning Bylaw Amendment 19-834: Changes to Sign District Overlay Map, Mixed Business Innovation Zoning District -2nd Reading (Motion to Adopt Zoning Bylaw Amendment 19-834 - Two Thirds Majority Vote (5))
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0 (via roll call (Padula, Pellegri absent)) |
| 10k. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION |
Bylaw Amendment 19-836: Amendment to the Town Code to Add New Chapter 108 Library Board of Directors- 2nd Reading (Motion to Adopt Bylaw Amendment 19-836 - Majority Roll Call Vote (5))
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0 (via roll call (Padula, Pellegri absent))
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| 10l. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION |
Zoning Bylaw Amendment 19-837: Zoning Map Changes from General Residential V to Single Family Residential IV, an area on or near West Central Street- Referral to the Planning Board (Motion to Refer Zoning Bylaw Amendment 19-837 to the Planning Board- Majority Vote (5))
Attny Cerel alerted the Council that there is a suit against the Planning Board and they should be cautious in their response to Mr D'Errico Mr Marguerite speaks in favor of the R5, he has a deal with Mr D'Errico
motion to approve, seconded, passes 4-3 (simple majority due to the presence of 7)
Hamblen, n
Dellorco, nKelly, n Casey, Jones, Mercer, Earls all yes |
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