Franklin Matters

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Live reporting: Legislation, through closing

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION

Resolution 15-57: Appropriation Water Enterprise –Prior Year Bill
bill not received until August
motion to approve, seconded, passed 8-0

Resolution 15-58: Dissolution of High School Building Committee
there still is a listing of punch items to be worked but the chair will remain to handle those issues
motion to approve, seconded, passed 8-0

Resolution 15-59: Appropriation: Insurance Recovery: Fiber Optic Network
authorizing the payment from insurance money, amounts over $20K required Town Council to vote
amount in this payment $27,000
motion to approve, seconded, passed 8-0

Resolution 15-60: Appropriation: Insurance Recovery: Police Department
authorizing the payment from insurance money, amounts over $20K required Town Council to vote
amount in this payment was about $100,000
motion to approve, seconded, passed 8-0

Resolution 15-61: Appropriation: Senior Center Renovation Project
amount requested should be $601,500
Finance Committee did not have a quorum to vote on this or the items above
had set aside $1M earlier, this is also to set aside
still go out to bid and find out how much the total work will be
elevator to the second floor, doors on 1st floor bathrooms need to open electronically
the second floor was primary, as they started they realized other things were needed to be done
Mercer quipped that he finally will be working on something that he will be able to use

motion to approve, seconded, passed 8-0

K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
Union St at the Mill St closed to work on the tracks
access to the store from the Cottage St sign
be aware of detours

parking meters coming out as they cut the sidewalks to put the conduits
parking will still be 2 hour and watched

letter from the Ashland Fire Dept
in recognition of work by one of the fire fighters

Linda Naughton retired from Fire Dept
Beth Weirling will be leaving the Planning Dept to take another position

Emmons will be paved before winter, gas line to be disconnected first

L. OLD BUSINESS
Padula - study on fish to be stocked at DelCarte, study due back next year
containers to be painted with donated paint to clean up the Recycling Center

State folks did not show up to the meeting on downtown this week, meeting next Tuesday

M. NEW BUSINESS
none

N. COUNCIL COMMENTS
Kelly - is there a way to organize the detours better?
other than the striping everything north of Emmons should be done
the poles will take some time
they should finish West Central and Emmons this year so that next year only Main St will be affected

Dean purchased East St building
deed in this case does provide for tax revenue as a normal citizen

update on solar panels at Parmenter?
3 sump pumps at Parmenter, sometimes the pumps can't keep up

O. EXECUTIVE SESSION

P. ADJOURN
motion to adjourn, seconded

Live Reporting: Town Council - Sep 23

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

A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
– September 9, 2015
motion to approve, seconded, passed 8-0

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 others.

C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
none

D. CITIZEN COMMENTS
none

E. APPOINTMENTS
none

F. HEARINGS
none

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
none

H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
– Neighbor Brigade

Proclamation read before the presentation

Linda Gagnon, Cheryl Ferri and Council Chair Bob Vallee

Linda Gagnon, Cheryl Ferry (co-leader)
over 200 volunteers

in existence for 5 years, founded by a woman from Wayland
inspired to bring this community service to Franklin
virtual network of services, 3rd of service here in Franklin
15 requests in the first year, 400 requests last year
requests are coming in
delivering meals and other help as needed

volunteers go above and beyond
cancer related, surgery
mother loses a husband and doesn't know how to start a lawn mower
mother dealing with impending surgery, no other family support, the volunteers provide that help

in contact with the hospital, Schools, Fire Dept, Police Dept
and thankful for the help that Steve Sherlock provides

Franklin Candidates Night - Oct 6

LiveARTS: Linda Bento-Rei, flute and Vytas Baksys, piano

Looking over the upcoming LiveARTS season, the realization dawns: this will be a season of friends, both old and new. Fourteen years ago when LiveARTS was just an idea in the minds of a few dreamers, a council of expert music professionals was formed to advise the dreamers of the practicability of their dream.

One of the counselors was flutist Linda Bento-Rei; officer in the Massachusetts Flute Association; leader of the Arlington Street Chamber Players; soloist; private teacher, one of whose students went on to study with James Galway. In other words, an artist and leader. Her advice was enthusiastic: go for it! So we did.

In the meantime, this longstanding friend and supporter has gone on to do wonderful work herself. Most recent is her Jongen project CD that has won exceptional notice. Linda Bento-Rei returns to LiveARTS to open the 2015-2016 season, along with her enormously talented partner--and new friend to LiveARTS--pianist Vytas Baksys, long associated with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. It is an honor to bring to the LiveARTS audience these two creative and original musicians.

LiveARTS image of Bento-Rei and Baksys

Sunday, Sep 27 - 3:30 PM

Meetinghouse of the First Universalist Society in Franklin, 262 Chestnut Street

Doors open at 3 pm. Open Seating. Handicapped accessible.

For additional information, visit http://www.liveartsma.org/

Union St closed between Cottage and East St on Saturday

The Union Street Railroad Crossing (next to The Mill Store) will be closed on Saturday September 26th from 5 AM to 8 PM so the Railroad can make repairs to the tracks. Please avoid the area.

This confirms the MBTA alert posted this past weekend:
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/09/attention-commuter-rail-alert-september.html

fresh dig safe markings on the railroad crossing at Union St

In the News: food drive, Harlem Wizards, golf tournament, improvement plans

The brief extracts from the Milford Daily News with articles of interest for Franklin.

The St. Vincent DePaul Society of St. Mary’s Parish, 1 Church Square, will hold its monthly food collection on Oct. 3 and 4.

The society is requests personal items for men and women, such as shampoo, tooth brushes, toothpaste, deodorant, soap and laundry detergent.

In conjunction with the feast of St. Francis of Assisi on Oct. 4, the society also requests donations of cat food and dog food.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150922/NEWS/150929370/1994/NEWS

The Harlem Wizards will be in Franklin 7 p.m. Nov. 13 at the Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical High School gymnasium, 147 Pond St., for a two-hour charity tournament.

The Harlem Wizards brand of “Trick Hoops & Alley Oops” entertainment basketball will play teachers and staff from Franklin Public Schools on Team FPS to raise funds for the Franklin Education Foundation. The show includes tricks, precision teamwork and humor.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150922/NEWS/150929288/1994/NEWS

The first annual Emma Frances Dalton Memorial Golf Tournament is planned on Oct. 9, starting at 9 a.m., at Juniper Hill Country Club, 202 Brigham St., Northborough.

The event benefits the Emma Frances Dalton Research Fund, established in 2012 by William and Nicole Dalton, of Franklin, in memory of their daughter, Emma.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150922/NEWS/150928511/1994/NEWS

Principals from across the district spoke to the School Committee Tuesday night about how they would implement district improvement plan goals in their various schools.

The principals - from the middle and elementary schools - said they would be working to increase curriculum complexity, ensure all students meet educational standards and communicate further with the community.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150922/NEWS/150928464/1994/NEWS

UNITE to Face Addiction: Additional Program Participants Announced

U.S. Surgeon General and White House Director of National Drug Control Policy to Join Over 650 Diverse Organizations in a Coalition Effort to Mark "The Day the Silence End at the UNITE to Face Addiction Rally
Additional Special Guests Just Announced Include Doctor Mehmet Oz, The Cast and Co-Creator of TV Show Mom – Allison Janney, and Chuck Lorre – and Many More
Event to Feature All-Star Musical Performances by Joe Walsh, Steven Tyler with his Nashville-based band, Loving Mary, Sheryl Crow, Jason Isbell, The Fray, and John Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls

"The Day the Silence Ends" will feature powerful remarks from celebrities, public officials and advocates, including U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, Director of National Drug Control Policy at the White House Michael Botticelli, Dr. Mehmet Oz, The Cast and Co-Creator of TV Show Mom – Allison Janney, and Chuck Lorre – Darryl Strawberry, Patrick Kennedy, Alex Newell, Chris Herren, Pat O'Brien, William Cope Moyers, Christopher Kennedy Lawford, Tara Conner, Dr. David Satcher, Governor Bill Weld, Chef Natalie Young, Councilwoman Rosie Mendez, Richie Supa, Elisa Hallerman, members of the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), and Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and several others.

Joe Walsh, Steven Tyler with his Nashville-based band, Loving Mary, Sheryl Crow, Jason Isbell, The Fray, and John Rzeznik of the Goo Goo Dolls will join these speakers on stage at UNITE for moving musical performances.

"We live in a time when addiction touches every segment of our society – our friends, loved ones, and our communities," said Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, U.S. Surgeon General. "We need to stop treating addiction as a moral failing, and start seeing it for what it is: a chronic disease that must be treated with urgency and compassion."

"Those of us who have lost loved ones and those of us in in recovery from substance use disorders must speak up and tell our stories," said Director Botticelli, who has been in recovery from a substance use disorder for more than 26 years. "By putting faces and voices to the disease of addiction and the promise of recovery, we can challenge the stereotypes and misperceptions that still keep too many people from getting the help they need."

"On behalf of myself and everyone associated with Mom I want to say how proud we are to participate in this ground-breaking event," said Chuck Lorre, co-creator and executive producer of Mom. "Since our first episode three years ago, our goal has been to highlight a simple fact - that there is laughter, joy and camaraderie in recovery from alcoholism and drug addiction. It is not a lonely and glum process."

"Addiction affects people everywhere, regardless of political viewpoints, socioeconomic status, religion, sexual orientation, race or geographic location," said Greg Williams, co-founder of Facing Addiction. "The coalition coming together for this historic event is made up of diverse groups from across the country – from church councils to LGBT support groups and youth-focused organizations to labor unions. Though all of these groups vary in scope, size and purpose, they all have one thing in common. Together we are uniting to face addiction and end the silence, once and for all."

About Facing Addiction

The UNITE to Face Addiction rally is being organized by Facing Addiction Inc., a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to finding solutions to the addiction crisis, as well as an independent coalition of national, state, and local non-profit organizations. For more information, visit FacingAddiction.org.

To donate to Facing Addiction, you can text FACING to 41444 or visit FacingAddiction.org, where you can also find more information including updates about the UNITE to Face Addiction rally. Please also visit and follow @FacingAddiction and #UNITEtoFaceAddiction on Twitter.

Unite To Face Addiction ·
The UNITE to Face Addiction rally is being organized by Facing Addiction Inc., a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to finding solutions to the addiction crisis, as well as an independent coalition of national, state, and local non-profit organizations.