Saturday, January 26, 2013

"I’m very, very cautious"

The MA Budget discussion began in earnest this week with the publication of the Governor's version. The House and Senate will separately draft their versions and all three will ultimately be reconciled before the Governor gets to sign the final budget before June 30.  Milford Daily News talked with some of the local community officials to get their viewpoint.

Franklin Town Council Chairman Robert Vallee said he is glad Patrick is seeking to invest in transportation infrastructure and education. Vallee said the education aid would be helpful for Franklin as it is the town’s largest expense. 
Valle said he expects Patrick’s plan will likely be embraced by the heavily Democratic Legislature. 
"It’s the right thing to do," he said of supporting education and transportation.

Read more: http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x1058237407/Local-officials-cautiously-optimistic-about-governors-budget-plan#ixzz2J4vuCn6T

The Governor's budget can be found here:
http://www.mass.gov/bb/h1/fy14h1/index.html


The MassBudget analysis of the budget can be found here
http://www.massbudget.org/report_window.php?loc=budget_monitor_governor_fy14.html

In the News: suspect search, Kennedy visits



Franklin cops search for suspects in two robbery tries

A pair of potential robberies were thwarted on Wednesday, but not by the authorities.


Dean College welcomes Kennedy

U.S. Rep. Joseph Kennedy III toured Dean College on a frigid Friday afternoon and spent some time discussing the merits of an individualized education with the institution’s president, Paula M. Rooney.

Friday, January 25, 2013

Annual Report 2012: DPW - Engineering

The Department of Public Works is organized into several divisions. Each of their sections in the Annual Report will be published separately to allow for better reading.


Engineering Department

During the fiscal year 2012 the Engineering Department managed a very active Capital Improvement Project schedule to the town’s infrastructure. Capital Improvement Projects substantially completed this past year include:

  • Anchorage Road roadway and Storm Drain System.
  • Emmons Street, Dean Avenue, Depot Street and Ray Street Roadway and Storm Drain System.
  • Partridge Street Culvert
  • East Central Street Water Main
  • Wilson Road Culvert
  • Daniels Street Roadway
  • Partridge Street Roadway
  • Mill Street Roadway
  • Summer Street Roadway
  • Lockewood Drive Detention Pond Upgrade
  • High Ridge Circle Detention Pond Upgrade


The Engineering Department completed inhouse design drawings and specifications for the following projects:


  • East Street, West Street, Nason Street, Walnut Avenue and Church Street. Water line and Roadway Reconstruction.
  • Crescent Street, Garfield Street, Martin Avenue and Charlotte Court water line and roadway reconstruction.
  • Miller Street, Green Street and Wyllie Road Storm Drainage System 
  • Wilson Road Culvert
  • High Ridge Circle Detention Pond Rehab


Capital Improvement Projects currently under construction or out for bids include:

  • East Street, West Street, Nason Street, Walnut Avenue and Church Street water line and roadway reconstruction.
  • Crescent Street, Garfield Street, Martin Avenue and Charlotte Court water line and roadway reconstruction.
  • Miller Street, Green Street and Wyllie Road Storm Drain System
  • Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation Phase IV
  • Greensfield Road Roadway
  • Evergreen Drive Roadway
  • Riverside Drive Roadway
  • Overlook Drive Roadway


At the end of the fiscal year, the department included the following staff.

  • William Yadisernia, P.E., Town Engineer
  • Michael Maglio P.E. Assistant Town Engineer
  • Warren Groth, Engineering Assistant
  • William Wenners, Construction Inspector


The Engineering Department has completed construction for the three-storm water treatment system upgrades included in a $131,000 grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The projects include construction of an infiltration basin on Panther Way and upgrades to the existing detention ponds on  Lockewood Drive and High Ridge Circle. These storm water retrofits are designed to improve sediment removal, phosphorous nitrogen reduction and will significantly increase groundwater recharge to our drinking water aquifers and will improve base flow to the adjacent streams and rivers.

The Engineering Department completed the design of storm drainage improvements at the intersection of Miller Street and Green Street and at the end of Wyllie Road. These storm drain improvements are part of a DEP and EPA grant. They are designed to improve sediment removal, phosphorous and nitrogen reductions and will significantly increase ground water recharge to our drinking water aquifers.

The Engineering Department has its own experienced Resident Engineer Staff that inspects and monitors Capital Improvement projects resulting in a significant cost savings to the Town of Franklin.

In addition to the listed highlighted public projects, the division was involved in many other projects and provided engineering services to other Town departments, boards, and entities. These services include mapping, surveying, and preparation of conceptual designs, property research, cost estimating, developing charts/graphs, and review of contracts.

The Engineering Department provides technical reviews of all proposed new private commercial projects and residential subdivisions and submits recommendations to the Town Council, Planning Board, Conservation Commission and Board of Appeals.

The Engineering Department conducts preconstruction conferences with commercial and residential developers and provides construction inspections and bond estimates for completion of the work.

Respectfully Submitted,

William Yadisernia, P.E.
Town Engineer

-----

The first section of the DPW Annual Report can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/01/annual-report-2012-dept-of-public-works.html

Additional information on the DPW activities can be found on their webpage http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_DPW/index


Published by the Town Clerk, this comes from the 2012 Annual Report
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_Clerk/annual/

"We have to make another attempt"

One of the important discussion items on the agenda of the Town Council meeting was the presentation by Jim Dacey, the Treasurer/Collector. The Milford Daily News gets around to reporting on that section of the meeting that you read about here already.
"The next treasurer/collector should not be decided by who has the most signs, biggest newspaper ads, and most people standing at the polls during Election Day, handing out trinkets," said James Dacey. "I was elected. That’s how I got the job. But after being here 13 years, I’ve seen the job evolve tremendously." 
Most of the towns that surround Franklin appoint their treasurer/collector, Dacey said. He said the towns that do not, tend to have relatively small populations. 
At present, the only qualifications to run for treasurer/collector are that the candidate be at least 18 years old and live in Franklin.
Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x1503807295/Franklin-treasurer-collector-wants-position-to-be-appointed#ixzz2IzAReCxo

Franklin DPW: Winter Road Treatments and Snow Removal Plan

The presentation on the Winter Road Treatment or Snow Removal by the DPW at the Town Council meeting can be viewed here. DPW Director Robert Cantorregi and Carlos Rebelo, Highway Superintendent delivered this presentation and answered questions.

My notes from Weds will be updated to include a copy of this presentation




Office Hours: Rep Jeff Roy

Rep Jeff Roy will be holding his first office hours in Franklin and Medway.


  • Tues, Jan 29th - 6:00 PM at the Franklin Municipal Bldg, Room 106
  • Tues, Feb 5th - 8:00 AM at the Medway Municipal Bldg, 2nd Fl


Additional details can be found in the notice shown below:



MassBudget: analyzing the Governor's budget



MassBudget    Information.
   Participation.
 Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center    Democracy.
Budget Monitor
Yesterday, the Governor filed his budget proposal for FY 2014. Our new Budget Monitor shows how the Governor's budget would affect core programs in state government, from health care and education to public safety and the environment--including information on tax revenues.

This Budget Monitor expands and updates our analysis of the Governor's major proposals to increase education funding, repair and improve our transportation system, and raise new revenue. It also describes:

  • The first funding increase for Local Aid in five years

  • Limitations on funding for--and access to--emergency shelters, connected to the Governor's broader effort to move people towards permanent housing

  • Changes to Health Care programs as a result of the "Affordable Care Act"

Read Our BUDGET MONITOR


The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) produces policy research, analysis, and data-driven recommendations focused on improving the lives of low- and middle-income children and adults, strengthening our state's economy, and enhancing the quality of life in Massachusetts.

MASSACHUSETTS BUDGET AND POLICY CENTER
15 COURT SQUARE, SUITE 700
BOSTON, MA 02108
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