"It's a fantastic opportunity for us"

"It's been a great success, especially since the Field House program (took off) just as the economy began to sink," Cafasso said. "The business community's support for high school athletics is really inspiring. We really appreciate it."

The School Committee came up with a list of guidelines that prohibits alcohol and drug content, the use of vulgar or sexually explicit language and anything harassing or prejudicial.

Gym and field ads cost the vendor $480 for a one-year commitment, which goes directly into the athletics account, Sidwell said.

"This is just one of the innovative ways the School Committee has tried to avoid draconian cuts in important non-academic programs," Cafasso said. "This doesn't cost the taxpayers a dime, but it's priceless to athletics at Franklin High."

Franklin to expand advertising to outdoor ball field

from The Milford Daily News News RSS by Ashley Studley/Daily News staff

Franklin, MA

Conservation Commission - Price Chopper

The applicant team presented to the Conservation Commission on May 13th for the site proposal at 485 East Central St.

You can view the video on the Franklin website here
http://view.liveindexer.com/ViewIndexSessionSL.aspx?indexPointSKU=szzm9lYUY7Sv62s3X%2faulA%3d%3d

The property is 9.6 acres, zoned Commercial 2

Review of water flow on the property, on both sides of the access road

Spaces for 307 vehicles in the parking lot for the proposed supermarket, approx. 61,000 sq ft. Current zoning requires this number of parking spots, the tenant also agrees that this amount would be consistent with the use of the property as proposed. (Note: this differs from the proposal for the Big Y down the road, where they are proposing less parking than zoning required with substantial information to support the lesser number.)

Prior development plans included the plans coming right up to RT 140 (East Central St), current plans would be recessed from RT 140.

Recommend a site walk before the hearing is closed to better understand the proposal and the property itself

Proposal includes a "fully actuated lighting system at the intersection" this would require approval from MassHighway

Applicant will be going for an LEED certification, hoping to achieve a "silver" classification.

Explanation of wetlands activities, mitigation, prior disturbances, attempted restoration of prior conditions.
Notice of Intent (NOI) cites specifics.

Site walk scheduled for 5/18/10 at 6:30 PM

Nick Alferi comments, calculation of permitting fee was short, dollar amount provided
Documents submitted require additional information
Plantings need to be specified and be on the "best practices guide"
Construction sequence was missing some statements
De-watering plan is required
Need to address "bubbling water"

A project description need to tell what the property is like and what it will look like, existing conditions were well explained but the construction details need to be expanded upon it.

The existing cliff is going to be moved back 40-50 feet.

The building would be put on the property on top of the existing rock, the parking lot would be at a level lower, and the existing access road would remain at a level still lower
The elevation of the north retaining wall would be about 50ft at its highest point
The access road would be expanded as it approached the intersection

Motion to continue public hearing May 27th (time TBD), passed 5-0


Franklin, MA

Franklin, MA: Special election flyer

The flyer with pertinent information about the special election on June 8th can be viewed here:

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Downtown Beautification Day - May 22

All residents are welcome to pull on their gardening gloves and bring their tools to help plant more than 1,200 plants during Franklin’s seventh annual Beautification Day on Saturday, May 22, from 9:00 a.m. to Noon. The event will take place rain or shine.

The Franklin Downtown Partnership, together with the Franklin Garden Club and Wadsworth Farm, is again organizing the plantings for the bridge and the islands downtown. Volunteers are asked to meet at 9:00 a.m. on the center island in downtown. High school students who need community service hours are welcome to participate.

“This is our seventh year beautifying the downtown and it’s become a passion for all involved,” says Eileen Mason, Beautification Day chairperson.  “We want to make a strong, positive impression on all those who visit Franklin in hopes that they may someday come back to shop, eat and relax in our wonderfully revitalized downtown community.

“We also do this to soften and minimize the ‘concrete look’ in the center of town,” adds Mason.  “All this is accomplished solely through sponsorships, donations and 100 percent volunteer hours. We need everyone’s participation.”

The color scheme for this year’s plantings is pinks and blues, including Rose and Purple Wave Petunias, Blue Annabelle Lobelia, Persian Shield, Diamond Frost, and blue, white and pink Salvia.

According to Mason, the downtown beautification effort follows a year-long cycle. This spring’s plants were chosen last November, and then planted in the Wadsworth Farm greenhouses in March in order to be ready for planting this May. In October, beautification volunteers remove the plants and prepare for winter, placing evergreen decorations in containers the Sunday before Thanksgiving.

“Although we plant in May, this is a year-round project. Sponsorships and donations are what keep this effort going,” says Mason.

Sponsorship opportunities are still available. Gold and platinum-level sponsors will have their names prominently displayed on a sign in the center island for the 2010 season. Silver sponsors will have their name displayed on a group sign in the center island for the remainder of the year.

Interested sponsors and volunteers should contact Eileen Mason at 508-330-4234 for more details. 


All contributions to the Franklin Downtown Partnership, a non-profit organization, are tax deductible. Please make checks payable to:  Franklin Downtown Partnership, P.O. Box 413, Franklin, MA, 02038.  For more information about the Partnership and becoming a member, contact Executive Director Lisa Piana at (774) 571-3109 or downtown.franklin@yahoo.com. 


Franklin, MA

In the News - Price Chopper, murder mystery, beautification day, support group

Price Chopper eyes Franklin site

from The Milford Daily News News RSS by Ashley Studley/Daily News staff

Franklin Federated Church presents Murder Mystery Dinner Theater

from The Milford Daily News News RSS by Staff reports

Beautification day set in Franklin

from The Milford Daily News News RSS by Staff reports

St. Mary Church begins bereavement support group

from The Milford Daily News News RSS by Staff reports

Franklin, MA

Live reporting - Franklin Market (Price Chopper)

Planning Board
Halligan recused for the hearing on the Franklin Market, 485 East Central St.
John Carroll, the associate Planning Board member has been activated for this hearing/decision.

The shuffling of the large plan drawings are irritating to the ears on the broadcast

There would be a single building with a proposed 307 parking spots, less than the requirement already approved. The prior plan was for multiple businesses in a smaller foot print.

Went before the Conservation Commission on May 13th, doing a site walk through on 5/18 and then coming back before the Conservation Commission on May 27th.

Design Review submission planned to get on the agenda for the June 8th meeting

A good deal of additional information required for submission

Zoning Board of Appeals would be involved later as the plans finalized to cover the removal of the stone.

MASSHighway will be involved as there is a proposed light at the intersection of 140 and the access road.
The applicant plans to have a dedicated left turn lane from 140 into Chestnut Ridge, as well as a dedicated right turn lane from the other direction on 140 into the Chestnut Ridge. The section along 140 would be widened to allow for the turning lanes and maintaining sidewalks.

Store is proposed for a 24 hour operation. Most of the shelf stocking would be done during the off hours but there would be staff to handle purchases of the few around the clock.

The building height would bring the roof equal to the ledge existing. The roof would contain air conditioner units and while screened and muffled for sound would clearly be visible.

The loading dock and dumpsters would be positioned along the East Central side of the building.

There are wetlands and sewer issues to be handled.

The unit would be operated as a Price Chopper in the proposed 61,000 sq. ft. building.

Several residents spoke of concerns about the blasting required to bring the wall back another 50 ft.

Bryan Taberner spoke to address some of the concerns expressed by the residents.
Beth Dahlstrom addressed the special permit requirements which is the one area where the Planning Board will have some leeway to address the concerns on the quality of life, etc.

LEED - Leadership in Energy and Efficient Design  More on LEED can be found here.

One resident was calling for a "master plan". There is a master plan and it is being updated this year.

Beth Dalhstrom also reminded the audience that the plans as submitted by the applicant are available for review by all the residents in the Planning Dept. There is also a public copy available in the Council Chambers for reference during the meeting.

June 8th - Design review
June 21st - continue public hearing at 7:15 PM


Franklin, MA

EPA Storm water proposal information

The handout provided to the attendees for the EPA Informational Forum on the new storm water regulation meeting held Wednesday, May 12th at Tr-County Reg Voc Tech can be viewed here:

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Note: Email subscribers will need to click through to Franklin Matters to view the document.


Franklin, MA