Franklin Matters

Friday, June 17, 2011

Water alert

We received an automated phone call yesterday from the Franklin DPW notifying us about a test on Well #9 that returned bad results. The well was taken off line. No action on our part is required. This is a normal part of the daily effort to deliver clean water to Franklin.

Franklin water sample contains bacteria

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

There was a presentation on the water supply recently and recapped in this article
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2011/05/they-didnt-know-how-much-time-is-spent.html

Farmers Market Open Today !

Franklin Farmers Market, Friday, 12:00pm to 6:00pm

ALERT: Public Redistricting Hearing - This Saturday!

The following is an email from Senator Karen Spilka about the redistricting being done in MA.

June 15, 2011

Dear Steve,

As a member of the Special Joint Committee on Redistricting, I am pleased to invite you to a public hearing we are hosting this Saturday, June 18th at Framingham State University.

Following the results of the Census conducted last year, the Massachusetts Congressional delegation must be reduced from ten seats to nine and the district lines for State Representative, State Senator and Governor's Council seats must be redrawn to make sure that each district remains proportionate.

This is an opportunity for you to learn more about the committee, the redistricting process and what it means for you and your community. This is open to the public, giving anyone the opportunity to testify as to their thoughts, questions or concerns regarding redistricting.

Since this will be the only redistricting hearing held in the MetroWest area, I urge all my constituents and all others in the region to attend. It is crucial that we get feedback on this issue so that we can do the best possible job for the Commonwealth.

I look forward to seeing you at this important hearing and discussing how to ensure that the MetroWest remains an economically vibrant region with a strong presence in the legislative process.

Event Details:

Special Joint Committee on Redistricting

Public Hearing

Saturday, June 18th

10:00AM-2:00PM

Framingham State University

Forum Room at the McCarthy Center

100 State Street

Framingham, MA 01701

Get Directions

For those who cannot attend the hearing, the Committee hosts a website at http://www.malegislature.gov/redistricting that provides redistricting information, the full hearing schedule and locations and a contact page for residents to submit questions, comments or materials.

If you have any other concerns or comments, please do not hesitate to email me at Karen.Spilka@masenate.gov or call my office at (617) 722-1640.

Regards,

Karen E. Spilka
2nd Middlesex and Norfolk
http://www.karenspilka.com/

Office of State Senator Karen E. Spilka

Room 511-C, State House

Boston, Massachusetts 02133

(617) 722-1640 phone - (617) 722-1077 fax

Karen.Spilka@masenate.gov

http://www.karenspilka.com/

This message was sent to shersteve@gmail.com from:

Office of Karen Spilka | Office of State Senator Karen E. Spilka, Room 511-C, State House | Boston, MA 02133

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Between 2006 and 2009, for instance, Chilson Beach at Beaver Pond in Franklin was closed 12 times for E. coli - the most of all MetroWest and Milford-area beaches during that time.

Since those closings, a Franklin Parks and Recreation Department staff person said the town had not taken any extra precautions other than continuing to test for the substance.

Condon sympathized with town officials.

"You can't really control mother nature," she said.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/archive/x1648848389/Beaches-need-to-be-clean-to-allow-swimming#ixzz1PWjHy7cH

Related post about Well #9
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2011/06/water-alert.html

Note: related to the Chilson Beach results, Franklin's drinking water comes from wells around town. Nature will normally produce E.coli (where do the animals go?).

Thursday, June 16, 2011

New England Transformed - 2010

The Boston Federal Reserve Bank has just published its annual report for 2010.

The feature essay of the 2010 annual report discusses some of the changes that have occurred in New England over the past four decades, comparing the challenges we faced in the mid-1970s with those we face today.

Well worth spending a few minutes to read!

Boston Federal Reserve Bank: New England Transformed 2010

Franklin fire fighters finally get a contract!

The contract with International Association of Fire Fighters Local 2637 covers fiscal 2008 through fiscal 2011 and gives members a 7.5 percent raise retroactive to July 1, 2010.

The raise is on par with what other unions received over that time, Nutting said after the meeting, noting the firefighters had not received a salary increase during those four years.

Ratification of the contract was delayed for about three years by negotiations, he said.
The union agreed to drop grievances with the town about vacation scheduling, training and other issues upon ratification of the contract, according to the contract.

Nutting's contract covers fiscal 2011 through 2013 and keeps his salary at $131,300. Town Council Chairman Scott Mason said the contract was similar to other town administrators' agreements to oversee communities that are smaller than Franklin.