Present permitting for Residential Ground-Mounted Solar Photovoltaic System installations are issued under zoning guidelines for garden sheds?

A copy of the Citizens Comment made to the Town Council meeting on Wednesday, Oct 5 was obtained after the meeting and shared here:


Dear Council Members and Officials,

Solar Photovoltaic Systems and other sustainability based energy solution are key components of our future. However, their installation and placement needs to be carefully managed for safety and the community characteristics Franklin offers its residents.

Present permitting for Residential Ground-Mounted Solar Photovoltaic System installations are issued under zoning guidelines for garden sheds? This according to my conversations with Building Commissioner- Lloyd Brown, when discussing a 40-Solar Panel Ground Mounted installation at 42 Prospect Street. The installation is on the side lot of 42 Prospect Street, Franklin's first designated scenic road, the lot borders my property. Under the garden shed guidelines no screening from the road is required nor protective fencing is necessary for safety to shield children and others from accessing the energized electrical components.

completed installation

The 40-Solar Panel Ground Mounted installation at 42 Prospect Street was complete weeks ago and signed-off by the inspections and building department. Now all of a sudden the panels were removed, stacked neatly and modifications are being made? Possibly to add more panels? I have contacted the inspections and building department who indicated no work should be taking place but the work continues?

left: rework underway; right: before installation

I urge the council, zoning board and town officials to consider specific zoning and permitting guidelines for Residential Ground-Mounted Solar Photovoltaic Systems that include; Solar panel quantity limitations, screening and setback requirements from roads and adjoining properties along with safety measures to protect children and others from accessing the electrified components.

I also encourage each of you to visit the 42 Prospect Street installation to understand the full impact undefined Residential Ground-Mounted Solar Photovoltaic Systems permitting guidelines are having on our community.

Sincerely,

Michael Swetz

Live reporting: Legislation through to Closing

I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
none

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1. Resolution 16-58:Request for Legislation, Exempting all Positions in the Fire Dept from
Civil Service Law
motion tabled to Nov 2 meeting, seconded, passed 9-0

2. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 16-768: Districts Enumerated. Creation of Rural Business
Zoning District – Referral to Planning Board
motion to waive reading, seconded, passed 9-0
motion to refer to Planning Board, seconded, passed 9-0
proposed zoning change for Hillside Nursery area
they would like to expand to include a retail business
the set of bylaws are considered together
beer/wine sales not allowed

Any way to get joint public hearings with Planning Board and Town Council

Attorney Cerel to check on the past combined meetings that D Pellegri recalls and report back for next meeting


3. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 16-769: Definitions. Country Store – Referral to Planning
Board
motion to refer to Planning Board, seconded, passed 9-0
a country store with convenience items

4. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 16-770: Rural Business Zone Use Regulations – Referral to
Planning Board
motion to waive reading, seconded, passed 9-0
motion to refer to Planning Board, seconded, passed 9-0

5. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 16-771: Rural Business Zone Dimensional Regulations –
Referral to Planning Board
motion to waive reading, seconded, passed 9-0
motion to refer to Planning Board, seconded, passed 9-0

6. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 16-772: Rural Business Zone Sign Regulations – Referral to
Planning Board
motion to waive reading, seconded, passed 9-0
motion to refer to Planning Board, seconded, passed 9-0

7. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 16-773: Zoning Map Changes from Rural Residential 1 to
Rural Business an Area on Washington Street – Referral to Planning Board
motion to waive reading, seconded, passed 9-0
motion to refer to Planning Board, seconded, passed 9-0


K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
ribbon cutting at 4:00
aggregation was just approved this week, going out to bid, should have pricing within 2 weeks

300 Fisher St, community meetings being set up by EPA on this superfund site


L. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
would like to get discussion on a future agenda to review the ground level solar panels

adopt a resolution with the Council not in favor of a yes vote on Q4
in case it does go through, Council should re-address where they are located
the fear is that if the Q4 passes, then an agreement with a town and company would be tossed. We don't have an agreement, we have a zoning requirement
will look in to a zoning question

fire dept should have a presentation before the Town Council gets to vote

some people are moving their cars every two hours to comply, may need to address that

there are a lot of two hour signs downtown, it would be good to see it enforced to avoid the meters

complaints from some residents who now can't park in front of their house in the morning on East, Dean, and School St

do we have GATRA volume to see what stops are being used?


M. COUNCIL COMMENTS

Nov 18- Harlem Wizards at Tri-County
tickets now on sale, already half sold

This Conservation guy, we need to address this

We are not against a man doing his job, he just needs a little bedside manner

I did not get to comment, I believe by right there is some retail space available within the industrial use. Am I correct about the manufacturing space?
that is a future agenda item

The topping off ceremony was held at the Library on Tuesday, all the Councilor names were written on the girder that was hoisted with a small tree and flag

N. EXECUTIVE SESSION

O. Adjourn


You can find the full agenda and supporting documents as released on the Town webpagehttp://franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_News/024F0E17-000F8513

Live reporting: Historical Commission update

H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS -
- Historical Commission
Mary Olsson

hired two interns for part time work at the museum
Allison Anderson, BA and working on Masters

hired to assess needs of the collection and propose suggestions
more was required than simple inventory
some items were not relevent to the collection, and not enough storage for the items that should be cared for carefully

dependent upon an inventory developed in the 1970's

collection well connected to community
dusting and cleaning needed to create a safe working environment
items exposed to potential damage
permanent and safe storage needed
volunteers do not have the knowledge or expertise to do the inventory and assessment

at least 300 post cards with fully inventory
post card printing blocks are rare and a few were found, they also have post cards made with the blocks

weight of the clothing stacked potentially damaged the items on the bottom of the piles

a rare find of a child's dress from the 1880's in good condition

high quality scans of photos make the images more readily accessible

a guide developed by one of the interns will help future volunteer work

social media is a good way to build interaction with the museum
the Instagram account was linked to Facebook and volume of interactions increased

many weaknesses are highlighted, a part time curator would be worthwhile
the project set up a framework for future work to build upon

continued investment in people and supplies are vital

The historical commission has done good work getting to this point

Live Reporting: Town Council - Oct 5, 2016

Present: Pellegri, Padula, Mercer, Vallee, Kelly, Pfeffer, Dellorco, Bissanti, Jones
Absent: none


A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
– September 21, 2016
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 also be recorded by others.

C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
none

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.


Michael Swetz Jr, 3 Kara-Lyn Drive

• questions on resident solar panels installations
• a ground based 40 panel installation, on Prospect St
• there are currently no screening requirements, no safety requirements
• asking for considerations for solar panel limitations, screening setbacks, etc.

E. APPOINTMENTS
- Election workers
motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0


F. HEARINGS
none

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
none

"a great educational experience"

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"John McCarthy said he always knew he wanted to get involved in government. When he turned 18 last month and saw an opportunity, he took it. 

“I jumped right on it,” said McCarthy, a senior at Hopedale Junior-Senior High School who is now the newest - and youngest - member of the town’s Finance Committee. “I’m excited to get involved.” 

The Board of Selectmen voted to appoint McCarthy to the committee at a meeting this week and the teenager was sworn in by the town clerk on Tuesday afternoon. 

McCarthy said in an interview that he had been looking for a town board or committee to serve on when he discovered that the Finance Committee had a vacancy."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20161004/hopedale-high-school-senior-appointed-to-finance-committee

the traditional tree and flag on the topping beam hoisted for the Library expansion on Oct 4. The Library expansion was first reviewed by the Finance Committee before being approved by the Town Council

If you do have interest in getting involved in Franklin, of all the places to start the Finance Committee would be a key one. In my years of observing the various committee and boards, I have learned the most from the Finance Committee meetings. "Follow the money" is not just a catch phrase from a movie. Money is actually how things are prioritized around town, it really does matter. Without funding, there can be desire and talk but it won't go anywhere without a dollar (from somewhere).

Coincidentally, the Finance Committee did have an opening in September. It may be that no one has stepped up yet to fulfill it. Maybe this is your chance!

http://franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_News/2016-06-23%20Committee%20Vacancy%20Report%202%202.pdf

In the News: National Grid gets rate increase

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"The Department of Public Utilities has approved a rate increase that will add about 5 percent to residential electric bill in National Grid’s service territory. 

The average will increase from $139 to $146. 

The agency approved $101 million of the $132 million sought by the company in its first distribution rate increase since 2009. 

The money will help pay for improvements to its facilities and its response to storm-related power failures."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20161004/national-grid-bills-increase-7-month

cover page of presentation to Town Council on Aggregation Program

If the pending aggregation plan for Franklin goes through, this won't be an issue. The cooperative buying power of aggregation should do better than the current rate National Grid was authorized for.

Updated: Per the Town Council meeting, Wednesday, Oct 5, the aggregation plan was approved. They'll go to bid in the next two weeks and should have a decision to proceed at this time or not. The key will be what the market will offer for rates and for what period. Assuming the market rates will be lower than what NationalGrid received, this will go forward and we'll all save some money.

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/02/municipal-aggregation-program.html

In early August, it was reported the State was beginning to deliberate on the aggregation proposal

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2016/08/in-news-aggregation-plan-making.html

FHS golf tops Attleboro

From Hockomock Sports we share the golf results from Tuesday, Oct 4

*** Golf = Franklin, 164 @ Attleboro, 169 – Final

FHS Panthers

– Bryan Woelfel earned match medalist honors, shooting a low round of 37 to lead the Panthers. Matt D’ Errico and Matt Dao each shot 42 for Franklin while Ethan Johnson led Attleboro with a team-low round of 39.

For all the results around the Hockomock League on Tuesday
https://hockomocksports.com/tuesdays-schedule-scoreboard-100416/