Live reporting: Closing

K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
RT 140 is almost complete, last time you may recall I had heard from the State that it was on their radar but lacking funding, three days after the letter, they started the work

a letter thanking the Fire Dept for their work, saving a life

Concerts on Commons beginning July 9th

Grand opening of the DelCarte this evening
thanks to the Council for funding and supporting the work
the playground committee and a host of others
dedicated to Nick Alfieri


L. OLD BUSINESS
Bissanti - exploring land swap by recycling center
Nutting - still under exploration


M. NEW BUSINESS
Kelly - circle bylaw and the special permit criteria
want to chat about the both of them in the future, would like to see them and figure out how to proceed

Bissanti - exploring a viable Zone 6 for multi-family
Nutting - already in the works, they have to write a draft to bring it forward

Vallee - FSPA will have a performance on Jun 18th before leaving on their tour of Europe

N. COUNCIL COMMENTS

Padula - at time of graduation, need to reflect on the impact of the schools upon our lives
Senior Jerry Leone had passed, wrote about 40 years ago
coaches make a difference
thank you Coach for making a difference!
Congratulations to all the kids graduating!

Feldman - Community Blood Drive - Jun 7th to support Noah Smith

Mercer - into last 8 weeks of building constructions, substantial completion July 28th
continue to be on schedule, on budget
when is the demolition to start, 2nd week of July will begin abatement of asbestos
field house and wing near with start between the 15th and 18th of July
will put together another tour for the Council end of June/beginning of July

Williams - just passed Memorial Day, coming upon on 4th of July
June 6th is the 60th anniversary
thanks for your service

Kelly- thanks to Brutus and his staff for the Town Common and how well it looks
DelCarte looks great, to think some folks were objecting to fixing dams but it looks great

Can we say anything about the manhole covers sticking up and blowing tires
Down will take a year, how many tires will be blown then?

Pfeffer - thanks it is great to have a plaque to recognize Nick
$500 sponsorship for a ladybug, part of the 4th of July celebration and on display all over the town
thanks to Joe Halligan for use of the car

Jones - I am happy that the dedication went to Nick, my kids refer to it as the 'tree park'
thanks for all who helped put on the Memorial Day parade
to Brian and the Planning Development Dept, thanks for the platinum rating for biodevelopment

Bissanti - I am proud to be part of this Council, we hit our six month mark here
we still need help in the public relation dept
we are not media hounds, but when I read the Milford Daily News I don't see much about Franklin

Strawberry Stroll - June 12th at 4:00 PM


P. ADJOURN
motion to adjourn, passed 9-0


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

Live reporting: Legislation

I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
none


J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1. Resolution 14-37: Authorization for Planning and Design Costs for Library Reconstruction/Addition

Nutting the initial funding would be to support a project manager and an architect to come back in a year or so with some more detailed plans and dollars required. Even with the expansion we would still be the 2nd smallest library in the comparable communities.

We will pay for this within the general fund debt. The recreation fields, the fire station, senior center, etc were all funded within this plan. We are coming into a capacity cycle where we can utilize this funding for the library.

Motion to approve $1M
seconded, passed 9-0 via roll call

2. Resolution 14-38: Appropriation – Town Administration: Zoning Board of Appeals
effectively an end of year transfer to balance the books
motion to approve $500 from free cash, seconded, passed 9-0 


3. Resolution 14-39: Appropriation – Town Administration: Street Lights
also an end of year transfer to balance the books
paying for the repairs for the street lights, the electrical charges are covered appropriately

Q - do we have plan for conversion to LED for street lights?
A - not yet, the cost hasn't come down enough for a payback
Also there was no tariff for the LEDs at a reduced rate
We were the first town to buy our own street lights from National Grid as they were making a boatload of money on them, We have saved big time by owning our own. Street lights don't last, we go through about 20-25% per year

motion to approve $10,000 from free cash, seconded, passed 9-0 


4. Resolution 14-40: Appropriation – Town Administration: Legal Expenses
amount requested is $10,000 from free cash
also an end of year transfer to balance the books
as a result of ongoing collective bargaining issues, the legal bills continue to mount

motion to approve $10,000 from free cash, seconded, passed 9-0 

5. Resolution 14-41: Appropriation – Snow and Ice
amount requested $280,000
motion to approve $280,000 from free cash, seconded, passed 9-0 

6. Resolution 14-42: Appropriation – Town Administration: Comptroller
training to cover a 42 year service employee leaving
motion to approve $1,000 from free cash, seconded, passed 9-0 


7. Resolution 14-44: Acceptance of Gift – Town of Franklin
From Franklin TV for video equipment for the new studio at the new FHS
amended to state as Building Committee, passed 9-0
motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0 

8. Resolution 14-45: Dedicated Proposition 2-1/2 Override Ballot Question for Stabilization Fund for Roadway, Sidewalk, and Related Drainage

The text for the override can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/06/resolution-14-45-dedicated-override-to.html

minor amendment to text with change of 2016 to 2015
motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0

basically $1M a mile to reconstruct a road
presentation to be added later

this is one piece of the funding puzzle
contingent upon Chap 90 funding
contingent upon Council continuing to fund the water line replacement program every 5 years
a big band aid but not the total solution

our main roads are in good share except for Pleasant St, the subdivisions are in danger of imploding

Cantorregi - "I'm picking up the pieces of poorly executed roadways from the building booms earlier"

Bissanti - I will support this going to the voters
Nutting - we have the lowest tax rate around
Bissanti - the amount of service we get for the tax rate we pay is great

Pfeffer - question on what would happen if Council voted not to use the money?
Nutting - I would take from that that you can't use it, it would sit

Pfeffer - would you need additional employees?
Cantorregi - it is too early to tell, it may be part time or seasonal inspectors to ensure that the work is done

Feldman - Any other funding options?
Cantorregi - every town is looking for funding, the Legislature has funded a good amount, the Governor has not released it, so we are at their mercy

Nutting - this makes the most sense in terms of planning and pricing, cheaper option than funding this via debt. It is the people's option to make their choice. The roads are going to get fixed without money.

Cantorregi - a mix of preventive maintenance, road repairs, and sidewalk repairs/maintenance
Nutting - part of it is art and part is science, the five year plan is in your packet

Vallee - What is the status with Lincoln St?
Cantorregi - some small stuff might be done before the 4th of July, we do want to do it after school is out

motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0 


9. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 14-728-R: Industrial to Single-Family III - 2nd Reading
changes a small group of homes, has been discussed previously
motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0 via roll call

10. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 14-732: Amendment to the Franklin Town Code at Chapter 185, Section
21. Parking, Loading, and driveway requirements - 2nd Reading
changes sight distance requirement of 400', to MA distance standard, based upon uniform traffic rather than a set amount; and streamlines the process to have the Planning Board handle it rather than the ZBA

motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0 via roll call


11. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 14-733: Zoning Map changes from Commercial I to Downtown Commercial District in an Area on or Near Alpine Row - 2nd Reading
based upon Master Plan recommendation, five parcels on Alpine Pl, as well as the zoning workshop
motion to approve, seconded, passed 8-1 via roll call (Bissanti the only 'no')


12. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 14-734: Zoning Map Changes from Industrial to General Residential V District in an Area on or Near Josephine Street - 2nd Reading
changes a hand full of locations from industrial to residential, should have been done years ago, it is not buildable land
motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0 via roll call

13. Bylaw Amendment 14-737: Amendment to Sewer System Map – 1st Reading
Bissanti recuses himself
36 Pinehurst St extension; had failed septic system, no opportunity to rebuild according to inspector, no extension beyond this lot

motion to pass to second reading, seconded, passed 8-0

Live reporting: Cultural Council presentation

H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
– Allan Mercer – Cultural District

Last fall during the visit with Anita Walker, Executive Director of MA Cultural Council had mentioned this would be a good opportunity to become a cultural district.

Attract business and tourists...
steering committee formed in March
continuing to work on application
identified 40 organizations to be stakeholders, likely more to be added

will look to form a 501(c)3
will be looking to fund raise
there is no connection between this group and the campaign around the Emmons St building

instead of a single organization like FSPA, there is power with the greater numbers

2015 envisioned a week long celebration of the arts to be held downtown
there is a lot of work left to do
here tonight to inform you and to ask of your assistance as we go forward

Bissanti - I appluad you for taking this forward
Jones - I think this is a great idea, a no-brainer. Are there additional benefits offered by the State?

Mercer - initially no, but once we are operating and running programs, there are additional funding available for programs.

Kelly - I'd love to see this happen. I would also like to see the district expand, there are lots of old houses that might be able to take advantage of this

Live reporting: Town Council - June 4

Present: Feldman, Padula, Mercer, Kelly, Vallee, Pfeffer, Jones, Bissanti, Williams
Absent: none


A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
– March 19, 2014
motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0

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

E. APPOINTMENTS
none

F. HEARINGS
none

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
– Super HK, LLC d/b/a Maguro House
had been prohibited by landlord from having a license in 2009, did get bear/wine license in 2010 looking to get full alcohol license
motion to approve, passed 9-0

Easy Walks in Franklin - Beaver Pond (Chilson Beach)

We are fortunate to be able to share a few excerpts from "Easy Walks in Massachusetts: Bellingham, Blackstone, Franklin, Hopedale, Medway, Milford, Millis, Uxbridge, Wrentham, and Woonsocket, RI" recently published by Marjorie Turner Hollman.

Beaver Pond (Chilson Beach)

Notable: Look for signs of beaver and migrating waterfowl.

Trail Map: Not available presently.

GPS Coordinates: 42°4'57.39"N, 71°25'5.38"W

Directions: Rt. 495 exit 17, Franklin Rt. 140, travel toward Franklin Center on Rt. 140 for .75 mile. At stop light, turn right on Beaver St. just past Akin Back Farm. Beaver Pond is .5 mile down on left, just before the 495 overpass.

Cost: Chilson Beach pass for Memorial Day to Labor Day, for Franklin residents only, $75.

Bathrooms: Summer only.

Best time to visit: For Franklin residents only during the summer; swimming and boating. Year-round for hiking, no residential restrictions before Memorial Day and after Labor Day.

Trail conditions: Unimproved, wide dirt track.

Distance: .25 mile.

handy guide

The sounds of Rt. 495 are inescapable, but Beaver Pond still offers a nice, easy walk and plenty of parking. Also called Chilson Beach, the pond area posts lifeguards in the summer, offers swimming and ball fields, but beyond the beach area on the left (the east side of the pond, away from Rt. 495) there is a trail that follows the edge of the pond. 

The trail intersects Beaver Pond and a marsh area, which lies on the other side of the trail. Lots of opportunity for birding. The trail dead-ends in a water department access road. There is no public access in or out of this road. 

About three-fourths of the way to the end of the trail, another trail branches off to the left along the edges of the marsh—follow it around the marsh edge to see multiple signs of beaver, appropriate for a recreation area on Beaver St.! Parts of the trail are somewhat obstructed by beaver activity, but still fun to explore with children, who may discover the tell-tale signs of beaver’s presence.

You can obtain your own copy of this book via this Amazon link

Is your email shielded from snooping?

Are your emails safe? Last week, thousands of Take Action members joined us and many other groups in pressing for real surveillance reform in the USA FREEDOM Act. But whether or not Congress pulls through, there are things you should know about keeping your emails safe and secure. An email actually goes through a lot of steps between when you hit "Send" and when it lands in the recipient's inbox. Your message is secure only if both the sender's and recipient's email providers encrypt them in transit. We've put together a page that details how this kind of encryption works, and which email providers support it. Take a look, and see how your provider, and those of your friends, performs. Educate your friends about email security. Share this: Gmail has supported encryption in transit since 2010. But 50% of the email sent from other providers to Gmail users and 35% of the email sent from Gmail users to other providers is not encrypted in transit. That's why we're working to make end-to-end email encryption more accessible to every user, regardless of their email provider. A big part of making everyone's email safer is educating your friends about why it's important. Do your part by spreading the word today: https://takeaction.withgoogle.com/f/safer-email More soon, Derek Slater Google Inc. P.S. June 5th is Reset the Net Day and we're taking part. Join this effort, and find out what you can do to secure your part of the web. © 2014 Google Inc. 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA

FHS All Night Party - June 6th

The All Night Party Committee would like to welcome parents of new and returning students to a new school year at Franklin High School. Whether your son or daughter is a Freshman, Sophomore or Junior the All Night Party committee needs you now. Your involvement contributes to the support of the present senior class and guarantees the continuation of this tradition for your future seniors.  

This tradition was started in 1990 and is a gift to all seniors in celebration of their high school year. The graduates enjoy a fun-filled night that includes games, prizes and best of all the transformation of the high school into a magical place.  

It takes the hard work of 400-500 volunteers and the support of the school community and business partnerships to make this event a success.  

The party takes place at the high school on graduation night from 11 pm to 5 am. This year’s All Night Party will be on Friday, June 6th.

Please visit the Volunteer Opportunities page to learn more and then go to the sign up to volunteer page to sign up now. Some with commitments as little as 2 hours.   http://www.fhsallnightparty.com/

If you have any questions please email:
info@FHSAllNightParty.com