Franklin Matters

Saturday, December 28, 2013

Franklin Matters: Year in Review - May 2013

Stepping back into the archives for Mary 2013 we find

Photos of the parade on Memorial Day
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/05/memorial-day-parade-photos.html

The new word added to our vocabulary was "anaerobic digestion"
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/05/anaerobic-digester-presentation-town-of.html

The Historical Museum had a good talk on the farming in Franklin
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/05/farming-in-franklin-then-and-now-photo.html

Construction on the new high school continued and the 'quality' wall was built
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/05/fhs-construction-update-and-quality.html

There were choices for road races to be run this month. The Elks 5K raised funds for the Franklin Food Pantry and the Wounded Warrior Project
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/05/franklin-elks-care-5k-road-race-results.html

This one action by you will reach 3800 people with disabilities

Hello

2013 is winding down, December 31^st is just a few days away and you can make a dream come true for one or more of the 3800 children and adults with disabilities who are supported by 600+ caring and committed HMEA staff throughout the year. By taking any one or more of the actions below, you will be supporting individuals with autism and special needs and helping them realize their fullest potential at home, in school, at their job and in the community.

How? Do any one of these. It only takes a minute….

Volunteer at a program – sign up at www.hmea.org

Make a year-end tax deductible gift at www.hmea.org to

Sponsor a Holiday Party at their home or program site

Purchase occupational or physical therapy equipment and supplies

Underwrite a community outing

Provide unrestricted funds to benefit programs throughout the year

Make a pledge to support HMEA by writing me (below) or responding to this email.

Thank you and here's to a healthy, prosperous an very Happy New Year!

Take care,

Doug MacPherson

Vice President, Development and Public Relations
HMEA, 8 Forge Park East
Franklin, MA 02038

(508) 298-1105

www.hmea.org

Friday, December 27, 2013

Where in Franklin? - 2013 04

The correct answer to yesterday's photo challenge was provided via Facebook by Karen Cauble-Pina. The marker is located at Fletcher Field.

Yesterday's photo:

Where in Franklin? 2013 03

The larger view of the marker and playground

Fletcher Field on a rainy day

And the new challenge - Where in Franklin would you find this?

Where in Franklin? - 2013 04

You can get bonus points for identifying how this picture will change?

Annual Report 2013: Building Inspection Department

Continuing our series sharing sections from the Annual Report 2013 of Franklin, MA we have the Building Inspection Department.

The Building Inspection Department is a multifunction office responsible for the construction, demolition, alteration, repair and occupancy of all residential, commercial, business and industrial uses for both existing and new construction in accordance with the Massachusetts Building Code. The department is responsible for the administration, interpretation and enforcement of the following codes:

Massachusetts State Building Code - 780CMR

Town of Franklin Code - Zoning – CH 185

Mass. Electrical Code – 527 CMR

Mass. Plumbing and Gas Code – 248 CMR

National Fuel Gas Code – NFPA 54-2002

Sealer of Weights and Measure – G.L. CH 98

Architectural Access Board – 521 CMR

Hours of OperationThe Building Inspection Department’s hours are
Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday 8:00a.m.-4:00p.m.,
Wednesday 8:00a.m.-6:00p.m. and Friday 8:00a.m.- 1:00p.m.

For your convenience, you may visit our website: at www.franklin.ma.us/inspections. This site contains a series of forms easily accessible and available to download. The website provides permit applications, sample plot plans, sign regulations, swimming pool instruction manuals. Shed/barn instruction manuals, zoning criteria and other information necessary to process a permit or to simply provide information to the public.

Building Department Staff
Building Commissioner/Zoning Officer: Lloyd Brown
Inspectors:
Inspector of Wires: Bernard Mullaney
Asst Wiring Inspector: James Laughlin
Plumbing/Gas Inspector: Richard Cornetta
Asst Plumb/Gas Inspector: Richard McCormick
Local Building Inspector: Stephen O’Neill
Sealer of Weights & Measurers
Comm. of Mass. /Div. of Standards
Staff Assistants
Barbara J. Curran
Nancy Danello/Zoning
Judy Demers

Lloyd Brown, Commissioner of Buildings, is responsible for all construction trade inspectors, municipal maintenance and supervision of all construction, zoning interpretation and determination, pre-planning and review of all subdivisions and proposed construction and improvements and general input for all other municipal departments and construction-related inquiries.

Fiscal Year 2013 brought many changes to the department. In August Stephen O’Neill was hired to the fill the Local Building Inspector position and Nancy Danello became the Zoning Board Administration Secretary and Building Department staff assistant in September.

Building Permits
Fiscal year 2013 was a continuation of strong permit activity, with the new high school being at the top of large projects that we oversee. Agastini Construction is the contractor building the new high school and they are on schedule. New home construction was up by 10 units and alterations of homes and businesses also increased.

This year the Building Department issued a total of 1257 building permits and the revenues collected were $449,987.00

The following is a breakdown of the past years building permit activity:
Single Family Residence 35
Attached Town Houses 7
Apts. Or Stacked Condos 24
New Building Commercial 6
Building Misc. $671.00
Accessory Dwelling Units 5
Addition(s) 30
Alteration(s) 672
Amended Permit(s) 1
Deck 64
Swimming Pool(s) 23
Garage(s) 3
Shed(s) 13
Foundation(s) Only 2
Demolition(s) 11
Tent(s) 17
Sign(s) 55
Woodstove(s) 32
Carnival(s) 2
Fence 3
Earth Removal 2
Repair(s) Rehab 107

Certificates of Inspection
Inspection and certification of specified use groups shall be inspected annually in accordance with Table 110 of the Massachusetts State Building Code. This year the staff issued 82 certificates of inspection and the fees collected for the certifications amounted to $18,240.00.

Certificates are issued for all public and private schools, churches, day care centers, nursing homes, funeral homes, bleachers, restaurants, alcoholic beverage establishments, multi-family dwellings (3or more units), movie theaters and other places of assembly. The Fire Department has assisted our department in assuring compliance with the Fire Prevention Code. The purpose of these inspections are to ensure the public safety and well being of the general public.

Certificates of Occupancy
The Building Inspection Department issues a certificate of occupancy in accordance with the Massachusetts State Building Code. All buildings/structures shall not be used or occupied in whole or part until a certificate of occupancy is issued.

This department has issued a total of 118 certificates of occupancy and the total fees collected amounted to $8,250.00

Electrical Permits
The total number of electrical permits issued was 963, the total fees collected and deposited amounted to $103,640.00.

Plumbing Permits
The total number of plumbing permits issued was 859, the total fees collected and deposited
amounted to $109,439.00.

Gas Permits
The total number of gas permits issued was 874 and the total fees collected and deposited amounted to $34,767.00

Division of Weights and Standards
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulations, Division of Standards provides this service on behalf of the Town of Franklin. The Department of Weights and Measures is responsible for providing the services of testing, adjusting, sealing and handling all complaints regarding commercial weighing and measuring devices within the Town of Franklin. The department investigates consumer complaints regarding unit pricing laws; spot-checking prepackaged items for compliance with all weights and measures laws.

Inspections were conducted by the State and the total fees collected and deposited amounted to $8,393.00 Total Revenues Collected: $733,387.00

This past fiscal year was my first as a building commissioner and the help from my staff, citizens and town workers made the transition a great experience. I look forward to continuing to serve the Town of Franklin.

Respectfully,

Lloyd Brown
Commissioner of Buildings

Franklin Municipal Building

The full annual report can be obtained from the Town Clerk's office (hard copy) or viewed and/or downloaded from the Franklin website here
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Clerk/annual/2013report.pdf

Annual reports of prior years can also be found online at

http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Clerk/annual/