Franklin Matters

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Live reporting - Legislation

H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
– Available Alcoholic Beverages(Package Store) Licenses
could be used as a resolution and guide for future issuance of licenses

I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
none

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1. Resolution 14-32: Appropriation: Wachusett/Upper Union House Demolitions
motion to approve, seconded, passed 8-0-1 (Padula recuses himself from the decision)

there are funds remaining from the Beaver St home that we can use for the Wachusett and see if we need any more, transfers from existing fund

2. Resolution 14-33: Appropriation: Recreation – Expenses
motion to approve, seconded, passed 8-0 (Mercer stepped out briefly)

participation has increased and expenses did also

3. Resolution 14-34: Appropriation: Postage
motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0

increase in postage, and an increase in volume of mailings

4. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 14-728-R: Industrial to Single-Family III-1st Reading
motion to move to second reading, seconded, passed 9-0

see notes on public hearing for tonight

5. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 14-732: Amendment to the Franklin Town Code at Chapter 185, Section 21. Parking, Loading, and driveway requirements- 1st Reading
motion to move to second reading, seconded, passed 9-0

see notes on public hearing for tonight

6. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 14-733: Zoning Map changes from Commercial I to Downtown Commercial District in an Area on or Near Alpine Row-1st Reading
motion to move to second reading, seconded, passed 9-0

see notes on public hearing for tonight

several questions to clarify the zoning change
Bissanti not for it, believe someone is trying to do away with C1 which he believes is more beneficial

Taberner - the reason for downtown commercial is to promote mixed use by right
Nutting - C1 came to pass in 2004 after how to develop the downtown
no parking requirement, maybe we went a little too far, so stepping back to create more opportunity as a matter of 'right' rather than 'special permit'

7. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 14-734: Zoning Map Changes from Industrial to General Residential V District in an Area on or Near Josephine Street-1st Reading
motion to move to second reading, seconded, passed 9-0

see notes on public hearing for tonight

8. Resolution 14-35: Compensation Plan
motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0

we have a wage table, raising wage scale by 2.5%, changes the scale not the actual pay

Live reporting - Hearings on bylaw changes

E. APPOINTMENTS
– Disabilities Commission - Martha Murray
motion to appoint, seconded, passed 9-0

F. HEARINGS – 7:10 PM
1. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 14-728-R: Industrial to Single-Family III

rezoning 6 parcels on Washington St left over from industrial area

2. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 14-732: Amendment to the Franklin Town Code at Chapter 185, Section 21. Parking, Loading, and driveway requirements

2 proposed changes to site plans, to use a different standard rather than a fixed length
makes sense to have sight required based upon speed of vehicles (MA DOT)

zoning board currently has authority, but they are already in front of the Planning Board, switch to Planning Board to ease process

3. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 14-733: Zoning Map changes from Commercial I to Downtown Commercial District in an Area on or Near Alpine Row

proposal came out of the Master Plan and the zoning workshop last year
not a big area but trying to clean up the map

4. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 14-734: Zoning Map Changes from Industrial to General Residential V District in an Area on or Near Josephine Street

proposal came out of the Master Plan and the zoning workshop last year
not a big area but trying to clean up the map, 5 of the parcels are town owned and swamp

~~5. Bylaw Amendment 14-735: Chapter, 25, Personnel Regulations, Appendix A and Appendix B~~
removed from revised agenda listed on 5/6/14

Live reporting: Town Council - 5/7/14

Present: Feldman, Padula, Mercer, Kelly, Vallee, Pfeffer, Jones, Bissanti, Williams
Absent:

A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

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

C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
none

D. CITIZEN COMMENTS
none

Presentation
Karen Alves, Erin Rodgers

Franklin Senior Center (presentation to be added later)
"Independence, information and connections"

4400 residents 60+ per 2010 census
projected to increase to 6600 by 2020 and 9200 by 2030

1200 active participants in Senior Center
General Fund covers 54%
revolving accounts, grants and Friends of Franklin Elders provide the balance

30% males, 70% females - compared to other seniors centers that never see a male, this is good

multiple programs offered (see listing)

liaison with Gatra for transportation

nutrition
based upon cafe with breakfast and lunch
some folks say that the Senior Center meal is the only one freshly cooked

happy to have the police present, the seniors feel more comfortable making the call when necessary

health and wellness is a huge component of the services provided
evidenced based programs, reducing hospital and doctor visits
"A Matter of Balance" offered frequently and well utilized

volunteer installed grab bars for seniors at home, bath rooms, etc.

support groups for specific areas (eye health, weight loss, etc.)

Senior Expo in Sept (Sep 26th)

Caregiver support programs added, providing increasing support to community
"The Sunshine Club"
in home respite for care givers
caregivingmetrowest.org/ being launched May 16th as a internet based resource

legal help, tax preparation assistance,
Social Service Coordinator (Erin)

housing, transportation, government assistance guidance, etc.

socialization - key reason for the Senior Center

recreation - closely aligned with socialization

computer training for about 10 years, added phone and tablet training as the demand for that has been rising

lecture series with Dean College to be formalized to recognize Stella Jeon

volunteers are such a valuable resource, provided 11,190 hours of service to help the center's operation
students volunteered 1,130 hours as well

$67,960 recovered via the tax workoff program by 93 seniors
department heads appreciate the work

Free medical equipment and supplies available at the Senior Center

Franklin Connection Newsletter sent out monthly available in the mail or via online at the Senior Center page

Advocacy

affordable and accessible housing
transportation (evening and weekends)
tax relief

Kelly - you both do a wonderful job, the question on the tax workoff came from me?
Alves - we have 95 slots, used 93 last year, have them filled this year, there is some change during the year

Jones - the Senior Center does a great job, thank you and to all the volunteers

Feldman - I did have to utilize the equipment for a family member, thank you
Alves - we probably should be doing better advertising that

Bissanti - chess team?
Alves - Weds at 2:00

Pfeffer - councilors will resume visiting on the second Tuesday of the month for breakfast

These buds are for you

The photos from several weeks ago showed trees in all their bareness. The trees these past two weeks are beginning to bud. The buds are opening. Soon the world will be more green as the leaves open.

budding tree - 1

forsythia

budding tree - 2

budding tree - 3

Do you have photos of buds to share?

Book Drive: Milford 99 - May 17-18

Book Drive - Milford 99 - May 17-18

Stop by the 99 in Milford on May 17th and 18th from 11am-4pm and check out our Book Drive to benefit The Dana Farber Cancer Institute and Jimmy Fund.

Lots of amazing books available to get you ready for your Memorial Day Trip reading pleasure!

Stock up on our summer reading material!

Toddler books, Children's books, teenage reading, Novels, books on travel, ...self-help books...the list goes on!

Wonderful author's such as:

James Patterson

Steven King

John Grisham

Danielle Steel to just name a few.

Stock up for summer! Find summer reading material for your students. Come check us out! We have LOADS of books!

We will also be collecting returnable cans and bottles at this time.

All proceeds from the Book Drive & Bottle and Can collection will be donated to The Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Jimmy Fund.

Last year we raised $7,000. Help us reach our goal of $10,000 this year.

Via https://www.facebook.com/events/671104832957396/

Analyzing the House Budget for FY 2015

MassBudget		Information.
MassBudget		Participation.
Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center		Democracy.

The House Budget for FY 2015:
Analysis of Amendments Adopted During Debate

During three days of budget debate the House made only modest changes to the budget put forward by the Ways and Means Committee. These changes are detailed in our full Budget Monitor. Overall, the House added $143.9 million in amendments, about a third of one percent of the budget. The final House budget, like the Governor's proposal, makes incremental efforts to address major challenges, but does not make the type of substantial progress in expanding opportunity in all of our communities that could be achieved with new revenue invested effectively.

The House adopted amendments affecting most areas of the budget, including the following:

Child Welfare received an additional $7.7 million in funding, mostly to support the hiring of additional social workers. This should allow reductions in the number of cases each worker needs to manage and therefore increase the department's capacity to protect vulnerable children. This is a step forward. But it is only one of many steps that would be needed to support all of our families in crisis, protect all of our vulnerable children, and give them the opportunity to thrive. The final funding level in the House is essentially the same as that proposed by the Governor in January.
Youth Jobs and related programs received $6.2 million in increased funding during floor debate. The total funding level for these programs in the final House budget, however, remains $7.7 million below current funding levels.
MassHealth received an additional $44 million during floor debate, directed to increasing reimbursement for the state's safety net hospitals that serve large numbers of low-income patients, and for nursing homes. The federal government will reimburse Massachusetts for half of this total.

For detail on the most significant changes between the Ways and Means budget proposal and the final House version, please read our full Budget Monitor HERE.

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