Thursday, May 8, 2014

Consider the Franklin Pride bead for Mother's Day


What do you get for your mother?

All hearts and flowers?

Maybe some something that sparkles and shines?

Maybe a Franklin Pride bead?

Franklin Pride
Franklin Pride

Aside from wearing it proudly, the best part about the Franklin Pride bead is that each purchase contributes to the Franklin Food Pantry. You make someone happy with the Franklin Pride bead and you help a neighbor. That sounds like a win - win!

Franklin Pride
Franklin Pride with bracelet

This Mother’s Day wouldn’t that be a nice touch to add to the gift?

Franklin Pride
Franklin Pride with necklace

The Franklin Pride bead can be purchased through this link. Franklin Pride can be purchased (as shown) with a choice of necklace, or bracelet, or the bead alone.

The Franklin Food Pantry is pleased to collaborate with Confidence Beads and Beads for a Cause to make the Franklin Pride Bead available to you. Confidence Beads operates the store, handles the transaction and delivery of the item(s) you order. They will periodically make the donation to the Food Pantry based upon your purchases.

FHS Spring Sports Results - Wed May 7

Hockomock Sports provides the results for FHS in the spring sports activity on Wed, May 7

Baseball
Franklin, 5 @ Attleboro, 6 - Final - Trailing 5-0, Attleboro scored two runs in the sixth inning and then four runs in the seventh inning to rally for a walk off win over Franklin. Matt Elliot led off the sixth inning with a double and Ryan Bowen launched a two-run home run to make it 5-2. In the sixth inning, Brandon Clark connected for a one out single and hit batter and a walk loaded the bases. Bowen picked up his third and fourth RBIs of the day with a two-RBI single. Another walk loaded the bases before Nate Tellier picked up his third hit of the day with an RBI single. Patrick Dunn's RBI single won the game for the Bombardiers. Franklin's Zane Byrne tossed 6.1 innings with four strikes and one walk for a no decision. Nick Santucci had an RBI and a stolen base and Nick Burgos had two runs and an RBI for Franklin.

Softball
Franklin, 22 @ Attleboro, 0 - Final (5 innings) - Lilly Criscione surrendered just one hit in the circle for the Panthers, striking out eight batters. Brie Flaherty (3-5, home run, six RBI) and Sabrina LoMonaco (4-4, two-run home run, four RBI) led the charge offensively and Alicia Donovan (4-4, RBI) and Julia Arms (2-2) chipped in as well.

Boys Lacrosse
Franklin, 17 @ North Attleboro, 9 - Final

Girls Lacrosse
North Attleboro, 3 @ Franklin, 19 - Final - Tracy Pisani had a big game for the Panthers with two draws, five ground balls and two forced turnovers. Lauren Altobelli netted her first goal of the year and both Bailey Knous and Kendall Reardon scored a goal and had an assist. Alex Mitchell made eight saves in net for Franklin.


Boys Tennis
Franklin, 3 @ Attleboro, 2 - Final

Girls Tennis
Franklin, 4 @ Attleboro, 1 - Final

The full set of results across the Hockomock League can be found here:
http://www.hockomocksports.com/1/post/2014/05/hockomock-schedule-scoreboard-050714.html

the new FHS under construction
the new FHS under construction

Town Council - May 7

The collection of posted reported live from the Town Council meeting of May 7 can be found here


Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Live reporting - Closing


K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
thanks to all who came out for Earth day

Jun 4th ribbon cutting at DelCarte
Parade Mon May 26th


L. OLD BUSINESS
Kelly - Lincoln St project has seemed to come to a halt
Nutting - contract out for culvert repair at Winterberry
contracts out for reconstruction after school is out

Bissanti - see houses in a continued state of disrepair, is there anything else we can do?
Nutting - he checks on them monthly and updates the list

M. NEW BUSINESS
Jones - will we add the licenses to a future agenda?
Nutting - yes

N. COUNCIL COMMENTS
Jones - announcing Downtown Partnership events

Kelly - Memorial Day parade May 26th 10:30 regular route
Franklin Rotary Club sponsoring the parade

Feldman - my daughter enjoyed the work and the certificate
try to create awareness on the Solarize Franklin

Padula - we have a diverse opinions, we may not always agree but we are not disagreeable

Pfeffer - 236 unit complex coming in


O. EXECUTIVE SESSION
– Negotiations, Litigation, Real Property, as May Be Required

motion to go to executive session, seconded, passed 9-0 (via roll call)


The documents released for this meeting can be found here
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2014/050714.pdf

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