Downtown Streetscape Project Update #4

From Franklin's Town Administrator Jeff Nutting

Downtown Project Update #4

June 9, 2015

The expected work over the next two weeks will involve sidewalk work on Main Street from Emmons up to Pleasant Street, except the sidewalk next to the Town Common and sidewalk work on Emmons Street between Main and West Central Street.

new sidewalks being installed along Main St

The contractor plans to start road work between Main and Pleasant Street including High Street on or after June 15th

Further he expects to start sidewalk work on West Central Street between Emmons and Union Street on both sides and the sidewalk along West Central Street on the Fire Station side.

The sidewalk on the other side of West Central will be done after all the old utility poles have been removed.

The specific dates for the above mentioned work may vary depending on weather and crew availability

If anyone has a question please feel free to reach out to the DPW Director, Brutus Cantoreggi or Town Engineer Michael, Maglio at 508-553-5500 or my office at 508-520-4949.

FPAC Presents Original New Musical "Zero"

Franklin Performing Arts Company (FPAC) presents an original new musical, Zero, on June 12-14. Performances will be staged Friday and Saturday nights at 7:30 and Sunday at 2 p.m. at THE BLACK BOX, FPAC’s theater, music, and event venue in downtown Franklin. 

Zero is an energetic and experimental show that tells the simple story of a fool’s journey through life. The fable unfolds in 21 distinct scenes, each inspired by the symbolism of a card from the major arcana of a tarot deck. The show will evolve throughout the rehearsal process, but the audience can expect to see magic, video projections, puppetry, innovative choreography, stunning visual effects and evocative music inspired by cultures from around the world. The musical’s hero, Zero, will encounter joy and loss, fear and wonderment, and will take audiences along for the ride.  

THE BLACK BOX theater, downtown Franklin

 

Franklin’s Nick Paone is the creative force behind FPAC’s newest musical. He directs and appears in the production as well. A prolific FPAC performer and director, the versatile Paone has been featured this season as Captain Hook, Scrooge, and Harold Hill in Peter Pan, Humbug! and The Music Man, respectively. Humbug!, Paone’s contemporary musical adaptation of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, has become a cherished part of many FPAC holiday seasons. Paone is the founder of FPAC’s annual summer Whatever Theater Festival and directs the festival’s One Acts and presentations of Shakespeare on the Common. 

In addition to Paone, area performers featured in Zero include Jason Barney, Lily Barney, Julia Buccella, Brooke Collins, Aaron Frongillo, Ali Funkhouser, Kelly Irwin, Jocelyn Jones, Sydney Leach, Catherine LeClair, Lindsey Sparages, Hallie Wetzell, Lindsey Wyner, Melissa Wyner, and Peter Wyner of Franklin; Colie Vancura of Medfield; Alan Mercer of Medway; and Griffin Wilkins of Walpole. Musical direction is by Hallie Wetzell.  

THE BLACK BOX, the home of the Franklin Performing Arts Company, is located at 15 West Central Street. Tickets are $26. For tickets and more information, visit www.THEBLACKBOXonline.com or call (508) 528-3370.

FHS baseball season ends with loss to Mansfield

In a tie game and with two outs in the fourth inning, Mansfield senior Branden Nevius picked a perfect time for his first career home run.

Nevius smoked a 3-2 fastball over the wall in left field for a three-run home run to put the Hornets up 4-1, a lead they wouldn’t relinquish in a 10-3 win over Franklin in the D1 South Sectional Semifinals.

Mansfield player celebrate win. (Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)

Continue reading the article in Hockomock Sports here
http://www.hockomocksports.com/blog/nevius-dousa-guide-mansfield-to-south-sectional-finals

In the News: Strawberry Stroll, lawsuit filed

The Strawberry Stroll kicks off downtown this afternoon, with volunteers outside Dean Bank on Main Street expected to dish out more than 700 whipped-cream-topped shortcakes. 

The Franklin Downtown Partnership’s annual event runs from 4 to 7 p.m., rain or shine, and includes 25 local businesses that have planned strawberry or spring-themed specials, including food, giveaways and activities for children. 

“The Strawberry Stroll was the first event the Downtown Partnership organized to bring the community together in the heart of downtown,” said organizer Nicole Fortier. “In the past 13 years the event has grown, but our mission has stayed the same: to give people a fun way to meet up with friends, discover new downtown businesses and create more engagement.”

Continue reading the article in the Milford Daily News here
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150611/NEWS/150619118/1994/NEWS

For a map of the events at the Strawberry Stroll check here
http://www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/2015/06/2015-strawberry-stroll-map.html

A local family has filed a civil lawsuit in federal court against the town, police chief and five officers, alleging acts of misconduct and civil rights violations that stem from a violent confrontation in February 2012. 

The plaintiffs, Jeffrey and Amy DeLucia, accuse officers of making false allegations against them in a police report of a Feb. 5 traffic stop on Church Street to cover up misconduct and intimidate the pair so they would not write a complaint, according to the 35-page lawsuit, originally filed in Norfolk Superior Court, but moved to U.S. District Court in March. 

During the traffic stop, Franklin police officer Paul Guarino allegedly struck Jeffrey DeLucia in the face with a metal flashlight “without justification,” giving DeLucia a concussion and an orbital bone fracture, the lawsuit said. The lawsuit also alleged that Guarino fractured DeLucia’s hand after stomping on it.

Continue reading the article in the Milford Daily News here
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150610/NEWS/150619088/1994/NEWS

Police Alert: Low Flyer Copters for NationalGRID aerial survey

For those who have not yet subscribed to the alerts sent out by Franklin, the Police Dept issued this one on Wednesday. nationalgrid will be conducting aerial inspections of the power lines starting this week and running through mid-August.

The notice is shown below and can also be found on the Franklin website here
http://franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_News/0211C995-000F8513

National Grid will launch an aerial inspection of all high-voltage power lines beginning Monday, June 8, 2015 through mid-August, 2015. Using continuous infra-red imaging, the Aerial Inspection Program will cover all transmission lines across Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Vermont. Safety will be the #1 priority in all areas of this work. 

National Grid’s certified contractor, JBI Helicopters of New Hampshire, will perform the aerial inspection using its fleet of Bell Jet-Ranger helicopters. Jet-Ranger helicopters are primarily painted blue and yellow with occasional yellow or red striping.

nationalgrid survey copter sample

Live reporting: Closing

K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
building committee busy

Strawberry Stroll on Thursday

4th of july celebration

downtown project continuing to work on sidewalks on Main and Emmons
then W Central on sidewalks
hopefully moving along at a quicker pace


L. OLD BUSINESS
pipeline project, the project was withdrawn while Jeff was away

DelCarte playground, engineer reviewing the matter, discussions next week with the manufacturer

train noise, complaint passed along to Keolis


M. NEW BUSINESS

thanks for taking care of the train whistle, we now have a freight going down
should be using a flag man at each crossing


N. COUNCIL COMMENTS
Dellorco - went to the Coalition meeting, next one June 30th at the High School
Mr Morrissey will be sending someone who is good and will be a good help

I have connections and if you need help, call me (Dellorco)

Bissanti - should ahve come up on the Committee reports
inquiries are coming in on the Pond St RFP
anxious for the opening on July 9th

Pfeffer - new home signed for Affordable Housing

Feldman - open house last week for the Solar Challenge, series of open houses over the next several weeks, check it out


O. EXECUTIVE SESSION
– Collective Bargaining, Nine Municipal Units

P. ADJOURN
motion to adjourn, seconded, passed 9-0

Live reporting: Legislation

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1. Resolution 15-36: Salary Schedule: Full Time Elected Officials
motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0

2. Resolution 15-38: Establishment of a Fire Department Fire Rescue Training Revolving Account for FY 16
motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0

annual action to set up the annual accounts

3. Resolution 15-39: Establishment of a Council on Aging Senior Center Activities Program Revolving Account For FY 16
motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0

annual action to set up the annual accounts

4. Resolution 15-40: Establishment of a Council on Aging Supportive Day Program Revolving Account for FY 16
motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0

annual action to set up the annual accounts

5. Resolution 15-41: Establishment of a Use of Facilities Account for FY 16
motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0

annual action to set up the annual accounts
discussion on amount, which is actually the limit to be spent from the account
it was at 100K and trying to increase the amount of lighting to be changed in the School facilities to 200K
the money comes from the facilities use fees, pays for the custodian, etc. and then what is left is the town's piece to maintain the facility, i.e. lighting


6. Resolution 15-42: Authorization for Intermunicipal Agreement with County of Norfolk to Provide Veterans’ Services to Franklin
motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0

we get the same level of service for less money, Dale checked with the State veterans folks

Kelly - excited to have him as our veterans agent

Dale - handles all the veterans questions and assists with processing their education, housing, medical costs


7. Bylaw Amendment 15-747: Amendment of Service Fees - Solid Waste and Recycling- 2nd
Reading
motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0

approval of the reduction from 216 to 200 for solid waste effective July 1


8. Bylaw Amendment 15-748: Amendment to Chapter 128 Peddling and Soliciting – 1st Reading
motion to move to 2nd reading, seconded, passed 9-0

change in hours, effectively reducing the hours to 'daylight' hours only


9. Bylaw Amendment 15-749: Amendment to Chapter 139-14 Sewer System Map – 1st Reading
motion to move to 2nd reading, seconded, passed 9-0

addition of 14 Crocker Ave to sewer map
house built on ledge, originally had septic, has failed and it can;t be redone with the current process

Pfeffer - objecting to the petitioner not being here to request in person

Kelly - looking for the addition to curb to curb

Padula - there is work there?

there is work being done further down the road