Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - Feb 24, 2016

A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
– January 20, 2016, February 3, 2016

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

C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS

D. CITIZEN COMMENTS
– Citizens are welcome to express their views for up to five minutes on a matter that is not on the Agenda. The Council will not engage in a dialogue or comment on a matter raised during Citizen Comments. The Town Council will give remarks appropriate consideration and may ask the Town Administrator to review the matter.

E. APPOINTMENTS

• Disability Commission
• Election Workers
• Council on Aging

F. HEARINGS

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS

H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS

1. Spectra Energy 

2. Conservation Commission

- Delcarte Property 

- Wetland Bylaw

I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS 
– Community Liaison Update

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION

1. Resolution 16-08: Appropriation: Facilities Van
2. Resolution 16-09: Rescind Borrowing Authority (Resolution 15-15, Purchase and Renovation of Improved Property for Franklin Recreation Department) Fund Through Appropriation
3. Resolution 16-10: Ratification of the Memorandum of Agreement Between the Department of Public Works, ASFME – Local 1298, Council 93 and the Town of Franklin

K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

L. OLD BUSINESS

M. NEW BUSINESS

N. COUNCIL COMMENTS

O. EXECUTIVE SESSION
- Pending or threatened litigation

1. Proposed Excelon expansion of Medway electric generating facility pending before Energy Facilities Siting Board.

P. ADJOURN

The documents released for this meeting can be found here
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2016%20Complete/02242016.pdf

DelCarte in fall color

Rotary offers fantastic Youth Leadership Conference opportunity for High School Sophomores

The Rotary Club of Franklin is actively searching for qualified candidates to attend this year’s Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) Conference! To be held from June 24 - June 26, 2016 at Fitchburg State University in Fitchburg, MA, the 24th Annual RYLA Conference will offer outstanding high school sophomores an opportunity to live, work and interact together in an atmosphere of friendly competition. 

It will be a program designed to challenge the participants to utilize and improve their skills and accept the responsibilities of leadership. Best of all, there is no charge to the students for the program! The Rotary Club of Franklin will sponsor 5 participants at this year’s conference. 

• The applications are due March 1, 2016. 

Julie Rougeau, local Committee Chairperson, said that participants would be selected from young women and men who have exhibited leadership abilities and who will be entering their Junior year of high school in the fall. The Rotary Club of Franklin has contacted local high school guidance counselors (Bellingham, Franklin, King Phillip, Medway and Tri-County Vocational), youth organizations and other sources for nominations of conference participants. 

Aimed at developing the leadership potential of young men and women, the conference will feature many thoughtprovoking events including interactive Leadership Labs, exciting guest speakers, and challenging mental and physical activities that will provide the participants with a chance to excel amongst and with their peers. Topics will include decision-making, critical thinking, communicating effectively, ethics, and public service. 

Anyone interested in obtaining further information should visit http://www.ryla7910.org/ or contact: Julie Rougeau at jrougeau@comcast.net or 508-541-4424 or any other member of the Franklin Rotary Club.

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards

FHS wrestling team finishes 8th at MIAA State D1 meet

The FHS wrestling team competed at the MIAA State meet on Saturday and finished 8th in Division 1. Thanks to Hockomock Sports for posting the results to share.

FHS Panthers

DIVISION 1

Teams
1. Chelmsford – 161
8. Franklin – 67
41. Mansfield – 6
45. Taunton – 1

PLACEMENTS (weight class then finish position)

• 106 = 6. Jordan Carlucci, Franklin
• 113 = 3. Mike Racca, Franklin
• 138 = 7. Dylan Maclean, Franklin
• 220 = 3. John Miller, Franklin

For all the Hockomock wrestling results (Div 2 and Div 3)
http://www.hockomocksports.com/hockomock-wrestling-results-from-miaa-wrestling-state-meets/

In the News: Learn to skate, homeless resources challenged, Light up the Sky for Change

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin

It was Learn to Skate Day at the Franklin arena, but it wasn't just any skate session. Members of the Boston Bruins organization and Blades, the big, brown Bruins mascot, mingled with the kids, handing out tips, high-fives and a hand after a spill. 

The Bruins organization stopped by the rink as part of Hockey Weekend Across America - a set of nationwide outreach programs to get children more interested in, and dedicated to, the sport. 

"Honestly, it takes me back. I remember when I was a kid, I did this in Medford. It's awesome to come out here with Blades and some of the Ice Girls," said Andrew Veneziano, the Boston Bruins youth hockey coordinator. 

"It gets kids on the ice, helps build a love for the sport."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160220/youth-skate-day-gets-kids-ont-ice-with-bruins-mascot-in-franklin

Advocates for the homeless are calling for additional resources to help people break a cycle of poverty. 

“I often feel like I’m offering people a treadmill to nowhere because it’s so difficult to help get them to a better place,” said Jim Stewart, director of First Church Shelter in Cambridge. 

The high cost of housing, access to regular medical care and discrimination are among the challenges the homeless face in Massachusetts.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160220/homeless-advocates-call-for-change

As the last glimmers of sunset faded into night, people trickled on to Fino Field Saturday, all with the same idea in mind: honor those who've lost battles to addiction. The intent was to launch Chinese lanterns, but the windy night quashed that idea. Instead, they gathered in a circle with candles and said the name of a loved one lost to addiction. 

Matt. Jimmy. Kelly. Ken. Gabe. Meghan. Rachel. Scott. Jenn. Amy... 

More than 100 people attended the Missin' Matt Foundation's Light Up The Sky for Change event. After a moment of silence, event organizers were able to light off three lanterns as the crowd watched on from the Fino Field parking lot.

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160220/big-turnout-at-milford-event-to-honor-lives-lost-to-addiction

REALLY URGENT: Towns can apply for Intervenor Status for Eversource's petition to DPU (15-181) for pipeline tax!

Dear Greater Franklin Node members and friends,

If you want your town to apply for intervenor status and make comments in DPU's consideration of Eversource's application of a "pipeline tax," you need to urge your town officials to submit written comments by this Thursday, February 25. 

FORWARD THIS WHOLE EMAIL TO YOUR TOWN OFFICIALS RIGHT AWAY. 

Carolyn Barthel

Greater Franklin Node, 350 Mass

*************************

Below is a letter from Karina Wilkinson of Food and Water Watch in Massachusetts:

Do Weymouth or any of the other towns on the Access Northeast route want to try to intervene in Eversource's petition to the DPU? Do any of your groups want to ask for an extension to the February 25th deadline to give more groups and towns time to consider it?  You can send comments to the docket until February 25th at this point. See the link below.

It would be very helpful if municipalities on the Access Northeast project line would intervene in Eversource's petition to the DPU to be allowed to contract for the gas with Spectra/Algonquin and to impose a tariff on ratepayers to pay for the project.  Intervene and oppose it. 

The Notice from the DPU is here and it includes information on how to comment or intervene.  The deadline is very close, Feb. 25th, though there will be a second hearing in Walpole on May 23rd.
http://web1.env.state.ma.us/DPU/FileRoomAPI/api/Attachments/Get/?path=15-181/Notice_of_Filing.pdf

Karina Wilkinson

Food and Water Watch Local Coordinator MA

No Spectra Pipeline sign on Franklin lawn

Senior Center: A new edition of The Franklin Connection is available

A new edition of The Franklin Connection has been published on the Town of Franklin web site.

Click the link below to read the latest edition.

http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Senior/Mar16connection.pdf

Franklin Senior Center in winter rain

Catholic Memorial tops FHS boys basketball team 87-64

Boys Basketball

• Franklin, 64 @ Catholic Memorial, 87 – Final 

– Senior Tim Prunier and freshman Jay Dieterle each had nine points for the Panthers.

http://www.hockomocksports.com/fridays-schedule-scoreboard-021916/

FHS Panthers

ESPN provides the detailed write up on this game

"With a full arsenal of offensive weapons and the ability to implement their patented defensive pressure all over the court, the Catholic Memorial Knights had no issues enacting some revenge on the visiting Franklin Panthers. 

The Knights suffered their first loss of the season when they fell at Franklin, 92-87, last December and Friday’s rematch with the Panthers started in troublesome fashion, as Franklin jumped out to a 9-4 lead in the opening minutes. 

Yet the defending Division 1 State Champions were able to respond with a quick 8-0 run, cement their lead with a 14-0 run to make it 44-22 in the middle of the second quarter, and squash any hope for the opposition by opening up a 41-point lead towards the end of the third quarter. 

Despite a late run from Franklin’s reserves in the fourth quarter, Catholic Memorial (17-2) coasted to an 87-64 win, which marks their 31st consecutive victory at the school’s Ronald Perry Gymnasium."

Continue reading the article online
http://espn.go.com/blog/boston/high-school/post/_/id/40835/boys-hoop-recap-no-1-catholic-memorial-87-no-20-franklin-64