Present: Pellegri, Padula, Mercer, Vallee, Kelly, Pfeffer, Bissanti, Dellorco, Jones
Absent: none
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
no minutes for approval this evening
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
G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
none
H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
none
I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
none
K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
none
L. OLD BUSINESS
none
M. NEW BUSINESS
none
N. COUNCIL COMMENTS
Pfeffer - parade on Monday
all the scout troops present, and schools have their bands march
Pellegri - Veterans Breakfast in the morning at the Elks
recess until 7:10 for budget hearing to resume
Providing accurate and timely information about what matters in Franklin, MA since 2007. * Working in collaboration with Franklin TV and Radio (wfpr.fm) since October 2019 *
Thursday, May 26, 2016
Paving preparations started
The grinding up of the top level of pavement happened overnight. The section from Ruggles to the bridge has been ground down the 1-2 inches that is normally done before putting down new pavement. The utility covers are now sticking up and will be a challenge to tires until the new pavement is laid down.
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sidewalk work continues in front of the Berry Building |
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the Cottage and East Central/Main St intersection has been ground down |
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the grinding overnight ended at the bridge |
Voices of Franklin: Jim Hill - "Pipe Dreams"
Pipe Dreams
When I was a child in the 1950s my parents and grandparents bought new homes with gas heat. Since then I’ve lived in several other homes with gas. Like most of my generation natural gas has been part of our lives for a long time. So what’s wrong with that?
Well the more I learn the more it concerns me. The very word “natural” implies that it must be good for us, but arsenic is natural too. Even the commercials look beautiful and squeaky clean, so it must be good. Right?
But, if we dig deeper, the truth is revealed. The commercials are so effective that I sometimes forget that natural gas (NG) is a fossil fuel and that it’s really methane and that when leaked increases global warming. Or that most domestic gas is extracted by fracking, a method that uses high pressure chemical infused water to fracture shale polluting air, water, and linked to earthquakes.
The natural gas industry tells us that fracking is safe and that it’s producing all the gas we could possibly need. They’re excited. This could produce immense profits especially when it’s exported. But what will it cost us and is there really a NG shortage due to a lack of more pipelines? Why did we have a shortage in 2014 but not in 2015. After all 2015 was colder.
Carol Churchill at Distrigas, the company that ships liquefied natural gas into Boston, told me that her company can supply all the gas New England needs during peak demand winter days without adding pipelines. She also says the problem in 2014 was that electric utilities didn’t have enough contracts for LNG to cover peak times and in 2015 they did.
Electric companies now imply that that the sky will fall without a pipeline. Another obscure issue is that the new pipelines will be used to export fracked gas from Nova Scotia. Spectra Energy of Houston, the pipeline builder, denies this, but here’s the evidence. Fracking is really big in Pennsylvania, home of the Marcellus shale fields. To get the fracked gas to Nova Scotia it would travel through an 889 mile pipeline that runs from Dracut through Maine.
The proposed pipeline through Franklin and eight other towns would dramatically increase NG that would travel under Boston Harbor to Beverly on to Dracut. Spectra has already received permission to reverse the direction from Dracut to reach the Maritime Provinces.
The following excerpt was posted by Sutherland LNG on Feb 9, 2016.
“Bear Head LNG and Pieridae Energy each announced that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has granted them separate authority to export as LNG gas imported from the United States to each company’s proposed liquefaction and LNG export terminal in Nova Scotia, Canada. DOE’s orders authorize Bear Head LNG and Pieridae Energy to export the LNG produced from gas imported into Canada from the United States via pipeline to countries that do not have a Free Trade Agreement with the United States.”
Once the pipeline gas hits the world market where prices are much higher our costs will rise negating any implied savings. In addition, Eversource and National Grid expect electric rate payers to pay a $3 billion tariff on their electric bills to pay for the project.
Eversouce has a 40% interest in the project and National Grid has a 20% interest. Basically they want to sell their gas to themselves and have us pay for it. Sweet deal for them and their shareholders. They get the profit, we assume the risk.
According to Representative Roy, if 17% of the worst of the 20,000+ Massachusetts leaks were repaired we could save 40% of escaped gas reducing our bills and decreasing global warming. Isn’t this a better idea?
But these companies have no motivation to fix leaks because consumers pay for the escaped gas. Yes, demand for electricity will increase, but fortunately offshore wind, solar and Quebec hydroelectricity are renewable options that will easily satisfy our future needs.
According to the Attorney General’s independent study there’s no need for additional pipelines if we increase conservation efforts and improve demand response. Yes, we can save money and the planet without more NG. So why would we want to pay for the pipeline and more for fracked gas? This gas may be natural but so is arsenic.
James F Hill, Franklin
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No Spectra gas pipeline sign on a Franklin lawn |
FHS girls lacrosse tops Milford
Girls Lacrosse
- Milford, 3 @ Franklin, 21 – Final
Boys Lacrosse
- Franklin, 7 vs. Dover-Sherborn, 8 – Final
For all the results around the Hockomock League on Wednesday
Franklin School for the Performing Arts - Open House - May 31
The Franklin School for the Performing Arts (FSPA) will hold an Open House from 4-8 p.m. at 38 Main Street in Franklin. The community is invited to meet FSPA faculty and staff, observe classes and rehearsals, tour the facility and learn about the school’s programs in music, dance and drama.
Whether for recreational interest or serious study, prospective students and families will have the opportunity to hear about performing arts classes for all ages and experience levels. Registration is ongoing for all summer and fall programs. Beginners are welcome and encouraged.
For more information, call FSPA at (508) 528-8668. Visit online at www.fspaonline.com.
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Franklin School for the Performing Arts |
In the News: firefighters graduate, HMMS update to School Committee
From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160525/franklin-firefighters-graduate
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160526/franklin-school-committee-hears-horace-mann-highlights
"Chief Gary McCarraher is pleased to announce that three Franklin firefighters graduated from the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy recently.
Nicholas Garland, 34, of Franklin; Christian Mills, 30, of Taunton; and Keith Schnabel, age 40, of Wrentham were three out of 24 graduates from the 243th class of the Massachusetts Firefighting Academy’s 45-day Career Recruit Firefighting Training Program. A ceremony was held at the Department of Fire Services in Stow on May 20.
All three firefighters have been with the Franklin Fire Department since March 7. They completed a two-week orientation at the department before their class began at the academy on March 21."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160525/franklin-firefighters-graduate
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Franklin Fire Dept |
"Educators from Horace Mann Middle School spoke at this week's School Committee meeting about preparing their students for change and grooming them to be leaders.
Principal Rebecca Motte, Assistant Principal Mary Cotillo, reading specialist Erin O'Leary and a number of Horace Mann students gave a presentation to the committee about their efforts over the past school year.
The talk included a video - intended to prepare fifth-grade students for their transition to middle school - in which a student asked his peers about common sources of anxiety the shift engenders. The hope, the presenters said, is to create a welcoming environment for new students."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160526/franklin-school-committee-hears-horace-mann-highlights
Wednesday, May 25, 2016
Team O'Neil Fundraiser for Chris B O'Neil Children's Fund - Jun 17
TO BENEFIT THE CHRIS B. O’NEIL CHILDREN’S FUND
JUNE 17, 2016 = 7PM TO MIDNIGHT
FRANKLIN ELKS LODGE
1077 Pond St, Franklin
$50 donation/ticket Register Online Only!
Only 200 Tickets available!
To donate visit website https://trooperchrisboneilchildrensfund.org/
or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/trooperchrisboneil
JUNE 17, 2016 = 7PM TO MIDNIGHT
- Silent Auction
- 50/50, Squares, etc.
- Photo Booth
- Dancing and more ...
FRANKLIN ELKS LODGE
1077 Pond St, Franklin
$50 donation/ticket Register Online Only!
Only 200 Tickets available!
To donate visit website https://trooperchrisboneilchildrensfund.org/
or Facebook https://www.facebook.com/trooperchrisboneil
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TO BENEFIT THE CHRIS B. O’NEIL CHILDREN’S FUND |
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