"Getting an unaccepted road on a town’s books can be a complicated process"

A Massachusetts Department of Transportation inventory found more than 3,200 miles of so-called unaccepted roads in the state last year, though the state may undercount the true number, according to Turner and several municipal highway officials. 

"It really is a bill that’s time has come," Turner said recently. "It’s really necessary." 

Such streets pepper the eastern Massachusetts landscape, often in subdivisions where builders skipped town, went bankrupt or died before a municipality reviewed and formally accepted the development’s roads as public ways. 

This often causes headaches, with no developer to plow, repair or pave such roads and towns under no obligation and without any state road funding to do any major maintenance of improvements to such streets.

...

Some towns have taken different approaches to unaccepted roads. Franklin adopted a streamlined process to accept roads and has been actively doing so, said Brutus Cantoreggi, the town’s public works director. The town can then count those roads in the formula used to determine how much state Chapter 90 highway maintenance money it receives, he said. 

"If it was initially going to be a publicly accepted roadway, that’s where it has to go," Cantoreggi said.

Read more: State bill aims to resolve confusion over unaccepted roads - Franklin, MA - Wicked Local Franklin http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x83400805/State-bill-aims-to-resolve-confusion-over-unaccepted-roads#ixzz2UZx2EMTe

Related posts:

The annual Report section on the DPW's Highway Division
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/01/annual-report-2012-dpw-highway-and.html

The DPW presentation to the Town Council in April, 2013 on the various projects being worked this year
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/04/franklin-public-works-upcoming-projects.html

The current road condition report
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/01/franklin-road-conditions-from-worst-to.html

Memorial Day Parade

The parade is scheduled to start at 10:30 AM. The parade forms at the Historical Museum and will walk up Main St to the Town Common. The parade will make stops at Dean College and the monuments on the Town Common for brief ceremonies.

From last years parade, the Horace Mann Middle School Band:

Horace Mann Middle School Band

"the day we remember what it means to be a hero"

An essay by Vanessa Desiato, an intern with the MA Dept of Veterans Services:

So what does Memorial Day mean to me, now that I'm older, more experienced, and a little bit taller? It means we should stop and think about the sacrifices men and women have given to make this world a safer place for someone else, not just on Memorial Day, but every day. As an intern at the Department of Veterans’ Services, serving Massachusetts' veterans, every day is a Memorial Day/Veteran’s Day hybrid. These soldiers are stronger and braver than I could ever imagine myself being. They are heroes. They are people like my brother, who heard the call to serve, and couldn’t be persuaded to do anything else. Someone I grew up with making snowballs, blowing up hotdogs, and climbing on, was a hero-in-the-making, and I had no idea.

Read the full essay here

"Massachusetts has raised tobacco taxes in 1993, 1998, 2002 and 2008"

This may also happen this year as the Governor, House and Senate all include a dollar a pack increase in their respective budgets for FY 2014.

Cigarette tax revenues, along with the settlement money, brought in about $815 million last year, according to the Department of Revenue. That figure would rise another estimated $165 million - for a total of $980 million - under a proposed dollar-per-pack increase supported by the governor, House and Senate. 

All of the increase would go to fix the state's aging transportation infrastructure. Nearly all the other tobacco tax revenue now goes into the general fund. Only $4.2 million went to anti-smoking programs this year. 

Marc Hymovitz, director of advocacy and Massachusetts state government relations for the American Cancer Society, said the use of tobacco tax revenue to fund anti-smoking programs in earlier years was superseded by the state's economic crises of the past decade.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x1910060119/States-becoming-more-dependent-on-tobacco-levies#ixzz2UUcmwren

Moving Wall in Medway May 30 - June 2

Do not miss this opportunity to visit the half-size replica, which will be located at the Medway VFW on Holliston Street. 

An opening ceremony will be held Thursday, May 30, at 6 p.m., and a closing ceremony is scheduled for Sunday, June 2, at 5 p.m. The exhibit will be open 24 hours a day until Monday morning, June 3, and will be staffed by volunteers for your inquiries or individual needs. 

Materials will be available to do rubbings of names, should you desire to do so, in remembrance of a friend or loved one killed in action in the Vietnam War.

Moving Wall

Read more: Downing: Vietnam Wall in Medway - Franklin, MA - Wicked Local Franklin http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/opinions/letters_to_the_editor/x776195863/Downing-Vietnam-Wall-in-Medway#ixzz2UUeMJNtP

Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda - May 28

Vision Statement

The Franklin Public Schools will foster within its students the knowledge and skills to find and achieve satisfaction in life as productive global citizens.

"The listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law."

1. Routine Business
Citizen’s Comments
Review of Agenda
Minutes: I recommend approval of the minutes from the May 14, 2013 School Committee Meeting.
Payment of Bills Mrs. McIntyre
Payroll Mrs. Douglas
FHS Student Representatives
Correspondence:

2. Guests/Presentations
a. District Improvement Plan
(details of the proposed plan are contained in the following Google docs)
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczTElwY2dqUkRQQnc/edit
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczTmF6cjJKR1VHSkU/edit

b. Jefferson Elementary School Update – Linda Ashley
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczNHlmYlNlWXJ4VGs/edit

3. Discussion Only Items
Increase in School Lunch Prices – Miriam Goodman
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B0wjbnXDBhczOGlEUXBDVEd5VjA/edit

4. Action Items
a. I recommend approval of the FPS District Improvement Plan for the 2013-2014 school year
b. I recommend approval of an increase to school lunch prices to: Elementary $2.20, Middle School $2.65 and High School $2.90 as discussed.
c. I recommend acceptance of the donation of cameras and other supplies (Valued at $1702.84) for RMS TV Studio from Franklin TV.
d. I recommend acceptance of a check for $282.66 from Wells Fargo Community Support for Douglas Lee for the FHS.
e. I recommend acceptance of a check for $75.00 from Roger and Roberta Trahan for a FHS Scholarship.
f. I recommend acceptance of a check for $100.00 from Denise Miller for a FHS Scholarship.
g. I recommend acceptance of the donation of 5 laptops, MS Office licenses and 5 carts (valued at $3,719.85) from the JF Kennedy PCC for Kennedy students.
h. I recommend approval of the budget transfers as detailed.
i. I recommend acceptance of a check for $250.00 from the Norfolk DA for an Operation Graduation Grant for FHS.
j. I recommend acceptance of the donation of 8 standing desks (cost: $1819.30) for grades 3 and 5 at Oak Street Elementary School from the PCC.
k. I recommend acceptance of the donation of 15 fans (cost: $1602.90) for Oak Street’s second floor from the PCC.
l. I recommend acceptance of a check for $355.72 from O’Connor Portraiture, Inc. for Davis Thayer Elementary School.
m. I recommend acceptance of a check for $200.00 from Jayne Sabolinski for a FHS scholarship.

5. Information Matters
Superintendent’s Report
School Committee Sub-Committee Reports
School Committee Liaison Reports

6. New Business
To discuss future business that may be brought before the School Committee.

7. Executive Session
Contractual Negotiations

8. Adjourn

Franklin News: dog licenses, museum volunteers, water conservation

I'll find the current news on the official Franklin webpage and share it here for you to also share it among your friends and neighbors.


AVOID A LATE FEE…LICENSE YOUR DOG TODAY!!!!!!!

Town Clerk, Deborah L. Pellegri is reminding dog owners that licenses were due April 1st. Owners have until July 1ST to come into the office or mail in a renewal to obtain a 2013 license without any additional fees. After July 1, the late fee will be $25.00 plus the cost of the dog tag. Please remember to license your dog TODAY and avoid any late charges. All dogs must show updated rabies information if it is not on file with us.

Notice: Museum Volunteer

The Historical Commission is looking for a volunteer to sort and put in ABC order some old newspapers. Call: Deborah L. Pellegri at 508-520-4900

Water Conservation Measures Effective Mon June 3rd

The summer Water Conservation Measures are needed to limit the daily demand on the water system in order to ensure that adequate water is available to meet the public health and safety needs of the Town. This measure is necessary to maintain the water levels in the tanks for fire protection and normal consumption. During the summer months, the Town experiences excessively high demands for water due to lawn watering. There have been 24-hour periods during which water consumption has been more than twice our average daily water usage for the year. Because of the tremendous increase in the demand for water and State restrictions on the amount of water that can be pumped daily, the Town of Franklin must place mandatory water conservation measures in effect for lawn watering during the summer months. 

A total of l-inch of water once per week from rain and watering promotes the healthiest lawns. Non­ compliance with these regulations could adversely affect public health and safety. Violators are subject to fines up to $200. 

For additional information, visit the DPW web page. Any questions should be directed to the Department of Public Works at 508-520-4915 or 508-553-5500.