Thursday, December 6, 2012

"There’s an air of uncertainty"

You may have heard it before and you did because it is true. Until the overall economic conditions radically improve, this situation will arise each budget year.

Franklin Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting said Wednesday that he’s confident the town has enough money in its reserve to make it through the year without slashing jobs if the state makes cuts, but fiscal 2014 could be a different story. 
"We can survive short-term, but it’s the long term I’m worried about. Franklin is overly dependent on state aid, and a cut would have a major effect on us," said Nutting. 
About one-third of Franklin’s 2013 budget – $30 million of $92 million – is funded by state aid due to the town’s fast growth and school-aged population. Even a slight decrease in fiscal 2014 aid would therefore be concerning for the town. 
"We are much more heavily dependent on state aid than other communities our size," Nutting said. "A fiscal 2014 reduction in state aid of even 2 or 3 percent is a million bucks, and to another town of size, it could only be $200,000."

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x1107418643/Officials-concerned-with-future-of-state-aid#ixzz2EGdLTLxa

Best Buddies (video)


There have been a number of Best Buddies activities in Franklin so this new holiday video message is a good one to share.



"Show up
Stand up
I'll be your buddy anyway!"


For more information and to donate to Best Buddies visit their web page  http://www.bestbuddies.org/


Related posts on the Best Buddies program in Franklin schools
Best Buddies provides grants
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/06/franklin-ma-school-committee-agenda-jun_24.html

Best Buddies brought the Meiers to Franklin
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/03/i-hope-that-you-welcome-them.html

Best Buddies grant awards
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2010/01/fm-54-week-ending-11710.html

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Live reporting - legislation, closing


H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
none

I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
none

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1. Resolution 12-82: Legal Notices
motion to approve, seconded, passed 8-0

2. Resolution 12-83: 2013 Schedule of Town Council Meetings
moving the meeting in July to the 17th
Feb 20th moved to the 13th
Mar 17 moved to the 24th
motion to approve, seconded, passed 8-0

3. Resolution 12-84: Southern New England Trunkline Trail Multi-Community Joint Planning Resolution
Received a grant for $10K to do some planning, working to study the Prospect St crossing

Powderly thanks for all the effort, this is a long development
motion to approve, seconded, passed 8-0

K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
Can suspend the parking on Saturday beginning this weekend
just can't park all day

Planning Board endorsed the Site Plan bylaw and it will come back to Town Council

DelCarte dam construction will start next week and should end about May

Governor's adjustment to budget in administrative areas, looking to the Legislature to make local aid cuts, not too concerned about the short term cuts, the schools will get hit the most due to the circuit breaker
big concern to look to FY 2014, especially given Congress inability to do anything
it will be a trickle down effect to the local communities, this year we'll get by, next year is a concern

zoning bylaw on medical marijuana, looking to get ahead of the curve
choices are, don't allow it at all, or allow it in the adult entertainment area (industrial park) or not do anything which will create a problem eventually

Q - are there a limited number of dispensaries?
A -  in the beginning there will be five dispensaries per county, but after that they can expand

L. OLD BUSINESS
none

M. NEW BUSINESS
none

N. COUNCIL COMMENTS
Roy - had opportunity early on to be interviewed when on the School Committee, that experience taught him to be better prepared
Received many compliments on the tree lighting on the common, it has been well received

Bissanti - congratulations to Stella on her award, I had heard her name referenced as a person to be recond with

Pfeffer - she knows what is going on, she is on top of her game; I remember going to her father's store (the holder of the first liquor license)

Powderly - had received the first congratulatory phone call from Stella
Echo the fine comments on the Town Common, it looks beautiful
thanks to the Downtown Partnership for a great Holiday Stroll

Kelly - congrats, the common looks beautiful

Dellorco - congrats, the lights look great, the trees that were cut were a great call

Mercer - congrats on the award, my family has know Stella for many years; I had worked with her on the Senior Center project and she was a great leader along with Judy Pfeffer
Mountains of dirt being moved around on the high school site. foundations getting poured in the next couple of weeks and with some weather luck we'll see some steel shortly after

Vallee - I'd like to thank you for what you have done, and thank you to Karen for bringing her to the meeting, that is over and above her duty

O. EXECUTIVE SESSION
Negotiations, Litigation, Real Property, as May Be Required

P. ADJOURN

motion to adjourn, approved 8-0

Live reporting - appointments, licenses renewals


D. CITIZEN COMMENTS
none

E. APPOINTMENTS
Cultural Council - Caterina Colson
motion to appoint, seconded, passed 8-0

2013-2014 Election Workers
motion to appoint, seconded, passed 8-0

F. HEARINGS

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
Change of Location and Alteration of Premises - Pour Richard’s Wine and Spirits
moving to 14 Grove St, looking to move subject to approval and completion of the improvements
motion to approve, seconded, passed 8-0

2013 Annual Alcoholic Beverages Licenses Renewals
with a few licenses being held back until past due invoices are paid in full
while some of the restaurants are on the listing, there maybe another party (land owner for example) responsible for the tax bills.
motion to approve, seconded, passed 8-0

Live reporting - Town Council - Dec 5, 2012

Present: Mercer, Dellorco, Kelly, Powderly, Vallee, Pfeffer, Bissanti, Roy
Absent: Jones

A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
April 18, 2012
move approval of the minutes, seconded, passed 8-0

B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast channel 11 and Verizon channel 29.
and by Franklin Matters

C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
Citizenship Award – Stella Jeon


Stella said she shares this award with a number of folks, members of the groups she is part of and works with. "It has been a joy of me to serve the community."

Karen Alves, read a poem written by Stella to commemorate the 1st anniversary of the Senior Center


12 Days of Donating: Day 6

On Day 6 of the "12 Days of Donating", let's continue to look back through the events of the year and see how much we can be thankful for in Franklin.

In June, the Town Council approved the budget for FY 2013, the Downtown Partnership held their Annual Strawberry Stroll, and MassDOT held a public hearing on the Downtown Project among many events during the month.

The Franklin Community Garden operating in its second year was the setting for a good bit of sharing on healthy alternatives to the use of pesticides. If you have not been to the Community Garden at the King St Memorial Field, please make a date to do so sometime. It is a great example of the collaboration among organizations within Franklin. The benefits are enormous. Every time I go there, I come away with another good story to share. While good food is grown in the raised garden beds, the conversations among the gardeners, and with those who pass by, is building the kind of community where we can all be proud to say we live here!

Franklin, MA: Community Garden

For more on the Community Garden and healthy alternatives to pesticides, visit this link
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/06/franklin-community-garden-diatomaceous.html

For additional information on the Community Garden, visit their website http://www.franklincommunitygardens.org/


Another good example of collaboration is the current 12 Days of Donating where the Franklin Food Elves are combining forces with the Franklin Downtown Partnership benefit the Franklin Food Pantry. Donation bins are available at these participating businesses:
  • Berry Insurance, 9 Main St.
  • Chestnut Dental Associates, 38 Pond St.
  • Dean Bank, 21 Main St.
  • Dean College, Campus Center
  • DCU, 500 West Central St.
  • East Coast Driving School, 25 East Central St.
  • Emma’s Quilt Cupboard, 12 Main St.
  • Franklin Downtown Partnership Office, 9 East Central St.
  • Jane’s Frames, 11 East Central St.
  • Murphy Business, 15 East Central St.
  • RE/MAX Executive Realty, 445 Franklin Village Dr.
You can also make a donation securely through the Franklin Food Pantry web page


Day 5 - http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/12/12-days-of-donating-day-5.html

Day 4 - http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/12/12-days-of-donating-day-4.html 
Day 3 - http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/12/12-days-of-donating-day-3.html
Day 2 - http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/12/12-days-of-donating-day-2.html
Day 1 - http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/11/12-days-of-donating-day-1.html

"duel entrances in and out were the preferred option"

For those shopping at Stop & Shop, using the points for gas purchases meant going to the Shell Station on RT 140. There are plans in the process of gaining approval for a Stop & Shop gas station to be located at the empty lot on the corner of Grove St and RT 140. The Planning Board will continue their hearing on Dec 17th with Zoning Board and Conservation Commission approval required as well before they can begin.

Stop & Shop has proposed a gas station with five fueling islands that can service 10 vehicles at a time. Near the pumping stations, the company has said it wants to build an attendant’s kiosk with an attached restroom. Underneath the facility will be two gasoline tanks (diesel won’t be available): one holding 30,000 gallons of fuel the other 8,000 gallons. 
The gas station would be located about a quarter mile from the Stop & Shop supermarket at 40 Franklin Village Drive. 
Should the Planning Board — which met on Monday to discuss the proposal during a public hearing — approve the design plan and issue the company a special permit, Stop & Shop has indicated that it would look to begin construction sometime in the spring.
Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x719501777/Franklin-Stop-Shop-gas-station-proposal-closer-to-approval#ixzz2EAmQAW5r

Where would the gas station be located? On the empty lot at the corner of Grove St and RT 140 according the the address and the map.



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