Franklin Matters

Sunday, April 6, 2014

Lawrence Lessig's wish

Lawrence Lessig's wish appeals to all citizens

Here's my wish. May one. May the ideals of one boy unite one nation behind one critical idea that we are one people, we are the people who were promised a government, a government that was promised to be dependent upon the people alone, the people, who, as Madison told us, meant not the rich more than the poor. May one. And then may you, may you join this movement, not because you're a politician, not because you're an expert, not because this is your field, but because if you are, you are a citizen. Aaron asked me that. Now I've asked you.

http://www.ted.com/talks/lawrence_lessig_the_unstoppable_walk_to_political_reform

Find out more about the wish here http://www.rootstrikers.org/

Franklin Public Schools: Feedback Opportunity

A message from FRANKLIN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT

Hello

All our stakeholders have a voice in Franklin Public Schools' ongoing pursuit of educational excellence.

Beginning on Monday, April 7 we will be asking for your feedback about the individual school your child attends or where you are assigned as a staff member. We are focusing on critical school issues such as academic preparation, student support, parent engagement, diversity, school operations and accessibility of school leaders.

This survey will take approximately 15-20 minutes to complete. All responses are strictly confidential.

After the survey closes, we will report the findings publicly sharing what we have learned and what specific changes you may anticipate as a result of your feedback. The survey will open on Monday at 4:00 pm and you will receive an email with the link. We thank you for your support and we value your feedback.

Respectfully,

Maureen Sabolinski

Franklin Public Schools

This e-mail has been sent to you by FRANKLIN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT. To maximize their communication with you, you may be receiving this e-mail in addition to a phone call with the same message. If you wish to discontinue this service, please inform FRANKLIN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT either IN PERSON, by US MAIL, or by TELEPHONE at 508-613-1777.

Rails to Trails and Rails WITH Trails - Apr 16

Rails to Trails and Rails WITH Trails projects in
Southern New England:
How we got here and where we’re going

Presenter: Craig Della Penna, Executive Director, Northeast Greenway Solutions

Date/Time: Wednesday, April 16, 2014. 7:00 pm

Location: Franklin Public Library, Community Room (Downstairs)

SNETT sign - Grove St entrance

The Southern New England Trunkline Trail (SNETT) is one of the longest trails in the region and is currently the center of a local effort to convert this old rail line to a universally accessible trail. Formerly the site of a major rail line from Boston to NY, the trail begins in Franklin (on Grove Street) and heads west through Bellingham. Developing the SNETT into a multi-use, non-motor vehicle trail will improve home values and businesses in both towns and create a recreational outlet for all ages. Come learn how a rail trail will benefit you.

For additional information on SNETT visit the Franklin Bellingham Rail Trail Committee page
franklinbellinghamrailtrail.org

Downtown Partnership - talking points on Emmons St building

The following are the talking points presented by Executive Director Lisa Piana to the Town Council at the 7:00 p.m. meeting on April 2:

Message from the FDP Board to the Town Council -- April 2, 2014

The Partnership Board of Directors recently sent a letter to the Town Council recommending that they give the community time to further develop concepts for the Emmons Street property. We also recommended that the Town Council evaluate the potential traffic and parking issues prior to sending out an RFP.

We believe there is no downside to inviting the community to participate in the process. We think Franklin has some very talented residents who could offer some creative solutions.

The March 4th workshop was a great start, and we appreciated being invited to participate, but many of us were under the impression that there would be time to further develop ideas and research funding possibilities.

We feel that there is no rush to sell this property, since we believe the land will only increase in value once the streetscape project is completed.

We understand that a few Town Council members want to sell the property as quickly as possible. However, we feel that there are 5 key questions that still need to be answered prior to putting out an RFP:

What are the specific long-term goals for this property?

What is the plan for where businesses will park during the construction project?

Businesses have been told for the last year that parking would be available at the Emmons Street property.
When Main Street is under construction, there needs to be a place for people to park.

How will losing the 50 parking spaces on this property affect downtown businesses?

It is important to be proactive and plan for the future parking needs and growth of the downtown.

What will the new traffic patterns be after the streetscape project and the two-way traffic pattern is implemented?

What state funding is available in the town considers a cultural center and greenspace?

We have been told that there may be state funding available.
We think it would be in the town’s best interest to pursue these options before deciding to sell the property.

The town is so fortunate to own this “Gateway” property. We have a chance to really put something special on Emmons Street.

Something special means different things to different people. One of the reasons the Partnership Board wrote the letter to the Town Council was because of some of the commercial ideas that were being talked about. When the developer started talking about a drive-thru coffee shop and a drive-thru drycleaners, we started to get calls and e-mails.

One of the concerns is that if the town loses control of this property and the wrong commercial business gets built, we could see traffic back-ups all the way to the Davis Thayer School.

The Partnership Board of Directors would like to recommend that the Town Council give the community time to work together with the Council, Jeff Nutting and the Planning Department to further develop ideas and research funding options.

We also ask the Council to take the time needed to answer the important questions that I just mentioned. Once these questions are answered, we believe the community will feel more comfortable with the final plan for this property.

We feel that the more ideas, facts and knowledge the town has, the better the final outcome will be for this important “Gateway” property.

Thank you.

150 Emmons St, Franklin, MA

http://www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/2014/04/talking-points-from-town-council-emmons.html

Saturday, April 5, 2014

Bocce Club Meeting - Apr 22

The Senior Center Bocce Club will be meeting on Apr 22 at 10:00 AM

Bocce Club meeting - Apr 22, 10:00 AM

For information about additional activities at the Senior Center visit their webpage
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Senior/index

or review their monthly newsletter
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Senior/newsletter%20archive/

Citizen Committee Annual Report

Steve - attached is the annual report on the Citizens Committee which was delivered to all town council members as well as to Town Administrator - this was done in January - thought you may want to see what the Citizens Committee has been involved with this past year - jppfeffer

Chairman Vallee:

Pursuant to your request for a report from the Citizen's Committee for topics and issues addressed this past year, please be advised:

AGENDA/DISCUSSIONS:

1. Improvement to recycling site on Beaver Street (ongoing).

2. Acquisition of land adjacent to recycling site (ongoing).

3. Improvements at train station (ongoing).

4. Cook's Farm/Country Club/Gateway initiative (ongoing)

5. Davis Thayer/temp classrooms/Gateway initiative (ongoing).

6. RFPs for Pond Street , old town hall, other potential town-owned properties (ongoing)

7. Enhancing the cbd (central business district) aesthetically and commercially. PRIORITY

8. Seeking a developer to consider a public/private venture for a major cbd redevelopment. PRIORITY

9. Consideration of an "unkempt property" by-law for both commercial and certain residential properties (bank-owned, foreclosed, abandoned, etc.).

10. Maintaining/Improving/enhancing the town's properties, roadways and facilities; (ongoing and PRIORITY).

11. Review and reconsider adoption of R6 zoning as initially written by the town prior to changes made to restrict/discourage development.

12. Inclusion of Dean College as a potential partner in certain town initiatives.

Those items above identified as "ongoing" indicate Council action, monitoring or participation as necessary, as shall the Committee.

GENERAL AND RANDOM COMMENTS:

The Committee, with regular attendance and input from the Planning Board and ZBA chairs, is supportive of rezoning on many (if not all) our arterial roadways, and particularly #140 in its entirety. Rezoning major roadways to accommodate certain commercial and retail development in residential areas, consistent with the Master Plan, and cognizant of the town's history in which neighborhoods frequently had mixed uses, and "mom and pop" stores to serve their needs, would reduce extensive travel for small purchases (milk, bread, etc.) and decrease traffic congestion. This is particularly true for North and South Franklin residents. (note: the issue of rezoning, too often an emotional issue, impacting property values does not appear, in most cases, to be accurate. We could not identify any properties devalued as a result of rezoning. In reality, the opposite resulted with properties on #140 that were residential, particularly in the area of 3 Restaurant, greatly increased in value once designated commercial/retail).

It was offered at one of our meetings that Franklin was comprised of 80% residential property and 20% comprising all other classifications. If so, it is obvious that our financial position is not likely to improve if our revenue stream is driven, primarily, by residential taxation.

The Committee is supportive of expanding regional services and efforts whenever possible or beneficial. It also believes the permitting process in Franklin, although somewhat improved, needs further improving if we are to compete with our neighbors.

Housing, almost always in demand, should seek creative and alternative development as suggested in the Master Plan. Allowing market forces to determine housing is preferred and there appears to be a large inventory of existing affordable housing in the community (as well proposed); a small percentage of luxury housing; senior housing appears to be a likely issue in the near future and will require consideration. A review of R6 to allow for certain condominium development, eliminating the restrictions imposed to curtail development, is recommended. The recent R7 zoning requires "stand alone" units and precludes duplex or quads as constructed in desirable developments as Chestnut Ridge, Spruce Pond, etc. The fear of multiple condo development proposals, as alluded to in the R7 debate, has not materialized and is unlikely to materialize as history tells us development is market driven.

Those items above identified as "ongoing" indicate Council action, monitoring or participation as necessary.

The use of sub-committees, and a more aggressive agenda by the Economic Development Committee, are encouraged and necessary to complete the issues/topics noted above. Simply, Council participation enhances projects and proposals toward completion. Topics identified as PRIORITY, most of which are relative to the aesthetics of the community, cannot be too strongly emphasized. Characterizing Franklin 's cbd as "seedy" (Boston Globe) is a negative difficult to overcome. Every major developer or investor inspects our downtown before considering Franklin as a potential site; there has been some improvement, and the blending of the downtown reconstruction along with the depot site is encouraging, but more needs to be done and should be a priority of the Council.

As suggested by the Town Administrator, there needs to be a "Team Franklin" approach to conducting the town's business. Workshops for all those, elected, appointed and/or volunteering should be ongoing to educate and encourage for a unified response to the town's problems and initiatives. Historically, Franklin has been most productive and successful when the Council actively participates in moving the agenda and issues forward. Assuming the town administrator, well qualified and energetic, can accomplish all these objectives alone is unrealistic. The use of sub- committees is both recommended and essential and, in the past, served the community well in meeting its' needs.

Lastly, there needs to be an enhancement of the relationship between Dean College , one of the town's largest landowners, and the community at large, particularly in the greater cbd development. Dean is the elephant in the room; we need to recognize and appreciate the symbiotic potential and aggressively move to enhance it; it is in our mutual interest to do so.

These are mostly the issues, subjects and topics we discussed in 2013 and shall continue to monitor in 2014, along with new or emerging proposals.

On behalf of the Committee, Robert Avakian, Andrew Bissanti, Paul Cheli, Matt Kelly, Judith Pfeffer and Robert Ficco, Esq.,

I am, yours truly,

L.P. Benedetto,

January 19, 2014.

Franklin Municipal Building

Note: The Citizens Committee did get their own reference page set up on the Franklin website.
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_BComm/Citizen%20Committee

While there has not been a published meeting schedule, or meeting agendas, or meeting notes, it is anticipated that these deficiencies will be corrected.