Thursday, August 19, 2010

Underground Utilities - the rest of the story

With homage to the late Paul Harvey, whose signature line is quite appropriate here. For those watching the Town Council meeting on Wednesday evening, we were able to find out the "rest of the story" on putting the utilities underground.

1 - What was presented earlier is still valid.
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/08/franklin-ma-underground-utilities.html
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/08/franklin-ma-utility-wires-to-go.html

2 - The section of W Central between the bridge and Emmons, and Emmons between W Central and Main St were originally considered for underground utilities. The estimate for these sections would be 4-5 million dollars. Due to the estimate, these sections have been excluded from the current planning.

3 - Once the utilities go underground, the electric service is delivered to within 2 feet of the property line. The property owner would then either connect to the service there or need to run the service to where his power box is currently. This cost would be paid for the property owner. The utilities have thus far refused to estimate this cost. The cost estimates would be better obtained from electrical contractors. The property owners would have to pay for the work from their business income. In cases where the property is rental units, this cost would likely result in higher rental rates.

4 - Franklin would need to front the money for the work to be done due to the way the utilities would do it. NationalGrid would be 'easy' as its work and funding could be accomplished within a year. Both Verizon and Comcast, due to the expense involved, would require a longer period to obtain the funds and therefore would spread the work out over a longer period. This is not acceptable as all the work needs to be done when the street construction is done. Franklin can arrange to borrow the money for the work. The utilities would then through the customer surcharges reimburse Franklin.

5 - To go through this borrowing process, Franklin needs to hold a public hearing. The public hearing was agreed to by all the councilors present as they did not feel comfortable to make the decision on their own. The date for the public hearing was not determined during the Council meeting.

The agenda document for the Town Council meeting has supporting information (memos from Jeff Nutting) on this matter here. Look to pages 6, 7 and 8.
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2010tc/08182010Agenda.pdf



Franklin, MA

Town Council - 08/18/10

The collection of live reported posts from the Town Council meeting Wednesday, August 18th can be found here:





Franklin, MA

Dean College: Information session August 26

Dean College School of Professional and Continuing Studies hosts information session August 26

The School of Professional and Continuing Studies (SPCS) at Dean College will be holding an information session regarding fall programs on Thursday, August 26, 2010. The event will run from 6:00-7:00 p.m. in the Green Family Library Learning Commons, located on the Dean College campus.

“At these information sessions we will provide program overviews and the opportunity for potential students to schedule advising appointments,” said Renee Vachon Danho, Dean of SPCS. “Now that we are offering part-time baccalaureate degrees in Business and Liberal Arts and, this is a great opportunity to learn more about the options available to past, current and prospective part-time students.”

This event is free and open to the public. For more information regarding the School of Professional and Continuing Studies at Dean College, please call (508) 541-1624 or email spcsweb@dean.edu. Visit us online at www.dean.edu.


Franklin, MA

Do you have electronics to recycle?

I am posting this here for two reasons, one to help the Blackstone Valley area and two, if you have electronics to recycle, Cranston is not a bad drive from here.



Keep Blackstone Valley Beautiful, a program of the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council and in partnership with REI Cranston and Indie Cycle, LCC will hold an electronics recycling drive on Saturday, September 4th, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at REI, located at 22 Chapel View Boulevard in Cranston.

“This electronics recycling drive is being held in conjunction with REI’s annual Labor Day sale,” said Mathhew DeMello, Keep Blackstone Valley Beautiful program coordinator and AmeriCorps*VISTA member. .

Residents are encouraged to recycle the following items, all free of charge: computers, servers, printers, televisions, CRT monitors, LCD monitors, laptops, UPS battery back-ups, and stereo equipment. No other items will be accepted.

Donations benefit the environmental programs of Keep Blackstone Valley Beautiful. For more information, call 724-2200 or visit www.KeepBlackstoneValleyBeautiful.com.

Indie Cycle, LLC, a Providence-based company, recycles the electronic items. Their zero-waste policy means that everything is reused, resold, reclaimed or recycled.


About the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council
Established in 1985, the agency’s mission is to create positive change with regard to community values by developing and promoting coordinated, responsible and sustainable tourism in Rhode Island’s Blackstone Valley communities. To plan and collaborate with intrastate, state, regional, national and international organizations to sustain and enhance the character of our destination, and to develop the public and private natural, historic, cultural, ethnic, industrial, recreational, educational, special events, artistic and commercial resources in Pawtucket, Central Falls, Cumberland, Lincoln, Woonsocket, Smithfield, North Smithfield, Burrillville and Glocester.

About Keep America Beautiful
Keep America Beautiful is a national nonprofit public education organization dedicated since 1953 to engaging individuals to take greater responsibility for improving their local community environments. For half a century, Keep America Beautiful has been the nation’s leading community improvement organization successfully implementing an effective, systematic strategy for reducing waste, preventing litter and beautifying communities nationwide.

About Keep Blackstone Valley Beautiful
Keep Blackstone Valley Beautiful serves as the environmental education and awareness program of the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council. We are focusing on preventing litter, reducing waste and beautifying our communities by working with government, business and civic groups in Burrillville, Central Falls, Cumberland, Glocester, Lincoln, North Smithfield, Pawtucket, Smithfield and Woonsocket. We work with these cities and towns to understand their specific needs and to create programs that will enhance their landscapes. Emily Soergel, the program coordinator, is sponsored by AmeriCorps*VISTA.

Visit the event's Facebook page

Franklin, MA

In the News - Third Thursday, public hearing


Franklin prepares for final Third Thursday





Franklin to hold public hearing on putting utilities underground


Franklin, MA

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Live reporting - Closing

K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
Construction on Wachusetts St to start soon, will be completed next year

L. OLD BUSINESS
Pfeffer - program for road repair?
Nutting - I am ready to meet when you are

M. NEW BUSINESS
Zollo - status of work on Main St
Nutting - work has not yet been completed, the service needs to be cut to each property
the plates need to be held open until testing etc is done
I have to say at least another month

Will the road be repaved complete?
In 2012 when the full project is done
the plates will be done before the winter

McGann - requesting Brutus for a presentation on Water Treatment

N. COUNCIL COMMENTS
Vallee - congratulations to School For Performing Arts

Pfeffer - Chilson Beach closing this week
only beech around that doesn't have the tall lifeguard chairs
can we get Tri-County to collaborate with us to get them before next summer season

Mason - Jeff could you address the citizens comment?
Nutting - given personnel issues and threatened legal action I have no comment

McGann - based upon what I have heard tonight, there is no reason for this gentleman to be harrassed.

Vallee - motion to adjourn



Franklin, MA

Live reporting - Action items

I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS - none

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION –
1. Resolution 10-46: Appropriation – Repaving a Portion of Washington Street
McGann recused himself from this vote
Developer put the funds aside for this, this is moving the funds from one account to another to actually do the paving.
motion to approve, passed 5-0 (McGann recused)

2. Resolution 10-47: Appropriation – Spring Street Culvert

Nutting - during the spring rains, the culvert collapsed, by the time the bids came in, we still need to get it done before the winter

Pfeffer - where about is the culvert?
Nutting - description to be added

Motion to approve, passed via roll call 6-0


Franklin, MA