- live reporting - adult entertainment district, old...
- live reporting - Stormwater
- Live reporting - Town Council meeting 7/23/08
The three things you should know about from this meeting were collected in a podcast that you can listen to here.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Town Council Mtg Summary - 7/23/08
The collection of writing on the Town Council meeting 7/23/08
The three things you should know about from this meeting were collected in a podcast that you can listen to here.
The three things you should know about from this meeting were collected in a podcast that you can listen to here.
live reporting - adult entertainment district, old business, new business
2. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 08-616: Adult Entertainment Establishment Districts-1st Reading
approved for second reading
Old business:
Bartlett - are we going to get a presentation on the new Town website?
Nutting - I believe it is scheduled for Aug 20th.
New business:
Whalen - received a projection about home heating oil costs that this year there would be an increase of 70%, last year there was an increase of 50%. Can we do something to help?
Mason - Can we look at doing something to modify the by-law?
Doak - how pervasive is this problem?
Pfeffer - Could we add a tree to the Fire Station near Rick's?
Can we have an update on the 20/20 plan?
Nutting - part of the 5 year plan committee process
Mason - Can we settle on process for delivery of the meeting package?
Discussion on printing local versus delivery, attempting to save the delivery fee.
Bartlett - can you review the museum status?
Nutting - we are doing the work in house, what happened was we started then a few things came together at once, we took over the school facilities, July vacations, etc. We need 2-3 days with DPW to finish the columns, then they can redo the stairs and railings. The sculpture should be here in September.
approved for second reading
Old business:
Bartlett - are we going to get a presentation on the new Town website?
Nutting - I believe it is scheduled for Aug 20th.
New business:
Whalen - received a projection about home heating oil costs that this year there would be an increase of 70%, last year there was an increase of 50%. Can we do something to help?
Mason - Can we look at doing something to modify the by-law?
Doak - how pervasive is this problem?
Pfeffer - Could we add a tree to the Fire Station near Rick's?
Can we have an update on the 20/20 plan?
Nutting - part of the 5 year plan committee process
Mason - Can we settle on process for delivery of the meeting package?
Discussion on printing local versus delivery, attempting to save the delivery fee.
Bartlett - can you review the museum status?
Nutting - we are doing the work in house, what happened was we started then a few things came together at once, we took over the school facilities, July vacations, etc. We need 2-3 days with DPW to finish the columns, then they can redo the stairs and railings. The sculpture should be here in September.
live reporting - Stormwater
Robert Cantoreggi provided an update on various projects going on around town and coming up.
Stormwater: another unfunded mandate for the Town to handle
Franklin's water is all from ground water, new construction is required to handle 100% recharge within the development
Storm drains simply capture the water and route it without treatment to the nearest water source; i.e. stream or pond. Hence, whatever is captured in the storm drain can flow into the water supply.
Items for homeowners to take action on.
An Eagle Scout project placed the storm drain markers pictured earlier.
Storm water management by-law #153
Recommendation to establish a fee-based household stormwater utility.
Received $15,000 grant to examine the feasibility of a stormwater utility.
Approx. 15,800 single family units would calculate out to about $40 per single family household.
looking at next steps
- continue public information process
- refine program costs and budgets
- review options for fee abatements
- define process for billing and collection
Per Nutting, if you did not do a fee, you could do a dedicated override
Vallee - strongly for it
Bartlett - what does the yard clean up do to help this?
Denise Zambrowski - reduces the amount of yard waste that would flow to the storm drains and catch basins
DPW website can be found here
Everyone thinks the basins in the roads go to sewers.
There are three sets of pipes in the roads; water, sewer, and storm drains.
Doak - Federal and state regulations? really two or just one?
Zambrowski - yes, really one.
Doak - How do we know we're done? What are the metrics?
Zambrowski - we have to come up with how to comply with the requirement but it has to pass the "straight face" test at Beacon Hill.
Doak - are new projects sufficiently implemented with appropriate controls.
Cantoreggi - yes, all new ones are covered by the guidelines at this time.
Doak - how is a mandatory fee not a tax?
Nutting - there is an abatement process so it is not mandatory
consultant - needs to be applied broadly, needs to provide credits for proper handling, needs to provide abatement
Nutting - Town of Reading has a procedure in process that has not been resolved. No one has challenged the Newton one.
Doak - some of the commercial sites seem to have a good onsite system even though they have the most impervious area
Zambowski - yes, we have a listing and an inventory
Doak - we are doing a lot of good things to achieve compliance, do we really need another $500,000 to do so.
Zambrowski - yes, we don't have the funding to do the other things that are needed.
Pfeffer - concern about calculation, more than the $500,000 mentioned
Consultant - yes, it adds up to 640,000 but by the time to provide the abatements, you would end up with the $500,000 projected.
Vallee - still strongly for it, especially since our water supply is from ground water
Whalen - Vallee's comments are a good segway to what he is about to say. This is less a tax and more an investment in our town.
Sergey Yurgenson - it is a tax, a hidden tax. Residents just shut down the recent Prop 2 1/2 increase. Residents don't want a new tax. Would the town pay it's share? What about the roads? That creates impervious surface.
Doak - how is a mandatory fee not a tax?
Nutting - there is an abatement process so it is not mandatory
consultant - needs to be applied broadly, needs to provide credits for proper handling, needs to provide abatement
Nutting - Town of Reading has a procedure in process that has not been resolved. No one has challenged the Newton one.
Doak - some of the commercial sites seem to have a good onsite system even though they have the most impervious area
Zambowski - yes, we have a listing and an inventory
Doak - we are doing a lot of good things to achieve compliance, do we really need another $500,000 to do so.
Zambrowski - yes, we don't have the funding to do the other things that are needed.
Pfeffer - concern about calculation, more than the $500,000 mentioned
Consultant - yes, it adds up to 640,000 but by the time to provide the abatements, you would end up with the $500,000 projected.
Vallee - still strongly for it, especially since our water supply is from ground water
Whalen - Vallee's comments are a good segway to what he is about to say. This is less a tax and more an investment in our town.
Sergey Yurgenson - it is a tax, a hidden tax. Residents just shut down the recent Prop 2 1/2 increase. Residents don't want a new tax. Would the town pay it's share? What about the roads? That creates impervious surface.
Live reporting - Town Council meeting 7/23/08
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - June 4, 2008
approved
approved
B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
none
none
C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
none
none
D. CITIZEN COMMENTS
Joshua Phillips, 472 Maple St
raised an issue with the current by-law restricting cuts in the street after paving which restricts his and other homeowner capabilities to connect to natural gas lines and avoid increasing heating oil costs. Updated with name and address 7/27/08
Bartlett - questioned reducing the number from 2 to 1; what would be examples of the type of notifications that would be changed?
Nutting/Cerel to come back with more information on examples
Doak - questioned how much money would be saved?
Nutting to come back at second reading with more information
Joshua Phillips, 472 Maple St
raised an issue with the current by-law restricting cuts in the street after paving which restricts his and other homeowner capabilities to connect to natural gas lines and avoid increasing heating oil costs. Updated with name and address 7/27/08
J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1. Resolution 08-50: Authorization to Petition General Court for Special Legislation – Underground Utilities
approved
approved
3. Bylaw Amendment 08-627: Chapter 4, Public Notice and Advertising of Public Hearings – 1st Reading
approved for second reading
Discussion on by-law amendment 08-627 to reduce the amount and timing of notifications for municipal communications and actions.approved for second reading
Bartlett - questioned reducing the number from 2 to 1; what would be examples of the type of notifications that would be changed?
Nutting/Cerel to come back with more information on examples
Doak - questioned how much money would be saved?
Nutting to come back at second reading with more information
"Education shouldn't depend on where a child lives"
GHS
The state's system of funding public schools is inadequate, the Mendon-Upton Regional School Committee charges in a recent letter to local legislators, suggesting several changes.
Ideas include freeing school budget increases from the constraints of Proposition 2 1/2 and increasing state support for special education.
With the change in the Chapter 70 school aid formula a few years ago, Mendon and Upton were directed to make a higher contribution to the school budget than in the past. In other places, such as Milford, the state funding percentage increased.
Last year, Mendon voters narrowly approved a $265,000 Proposition 2 1/2 tax override for the schools. In 2006, Mendon voters rejected two school overrides, while Upton approved one.
Although the district School Committee did not try for an override this year, members said to expect one next year.
Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here
"It was mind-boggling, actually"
GHS
FRANKLIN —
At first, 12-year-old Erin McGinley thought Liam Galvin "was a little crazy" when he looked around and began uttering words to an invisible presence at Franklin Public Library last night, she said.
"There were 12 spirits around his head. He kept telling me things and he said, 'I don't make this stuff up - the spirits tell me,"' McGinley said.
But in the end, Galvin and Joseph Lynch, psychics and spirit mediums who claim to communicate with those on the "other side," astonished and delighted McGinley and her peers with their tarot card readings.
The library's teen advisory board chose tarot card readings as one of several events for the young adult summer reading program, "X-Pect the Un-X-Pected" - which drew 24 girls from age 10 to 18.
Read the full article in the Milford Daily News
"We are taking this action now"
FRANKLIN, MA, July 21, 2008 ---
PLC Systems Inc. (AMEX:PLC) announced today that it will defer the commencement of the U.S. pivotal trial of its RenalGuard™ System in the prevention of Contrast-Induced Nephropathy (CIN). The company continues to support the investigator-sponsored clinical trial now ongoing in Milan, Italy as well as the limited market launch of RenalGuard in Europe, which began in the first quarter of this year, both of which are focused on the CIN prevention market.PLC Systems was mentioned earlier in our Franklin Industry series
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
"people cannot park any vehicle on a sidewalk"
GHS
FRANKLIN —
It appears town leaders no longer believe they have to officially forbid throwing missiles, frightening horses, driving cattle or swine on sidewalks in Franklin.
Instead, Town Council is considering adding a few new provisions to the Peace and Good Order Bylaw, such as the prohibition of window-peeping, intentionally exposing one's naked body, publicly urinating, spitting, or expelling bodily waste upon a public street, sidewalk, building or place. Nuisance pets which bite, bark, claw, howl, scratch, cry or otherwise disturb the peace or destroy property, would also be forbidden.
The council is taking a "proactive approach" by updating Franklin's bylaws, said Town Attorney Mark G. Cerel, who is recommending removing antiquated provisions and language and appending others to address current issues
Read the full story in the Milford Daily News
Where in Franklin? Answer #48 (better photo)
Another one of my phone camera photos; this is an office view of Bullukian Oil which was the subject of Where in Franklin? #48.
Water tagged drains
I am finally getting to some photos taken with my new camera enabled phone. It was easy to take the photos. It was another thing to figure out how to get them off in bulk. Took a little time to think about it but then it dawned on me to try to put the card in the printer and see if it came up as a removable drive; it did. yahoo!
Anyway, the photo was taken back in May as Dolores and I walked one Saturday and found these stickers on the drain curbs all around the downtown area. Some are since gone, the glue apparently not enough to hold them.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Town Council Meeting 7/23/08 - Agenda
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - June 4, 2008 B. ANNOUNCEMENTS C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS D. CITIZEN COMMENTS E. APPOINTMENTS F. HEARINGS - 1. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 08-616: Adult Entertainment Establishment Districts – 7:10 PM 2. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 08-625: Chapter 185-5, Town Code: Zoning Map - Business to Commercial II – 7:10 PM (To be opened and continued to August 20) G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS q Stormwater Management I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION 1. Resolution 08-50: Authorization to Petition General Court for Special Legislation – Underground Utilities 2. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 08-616: Adult Entertainment Establishment Districts-1st Reading 3. Bylaw Amendment 08-627: Chapter 4, Public Notice and Advertising of Public Hearings – 1st Reading K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT L. OLD BUSINESS M. NEW BUSINESS N. COUNCIL COMMENTS O. EXECUTIVE SESSION – Negotiations, Litigation, Real Property, as May Be Required P. ADJOURN | ||
Link to agenda on new Town website
school choice update
GHS
FRANKLIN —
The Franklin School Department is not accepting any new School Choice applications this year, or at least until administrators get "absolute clarity" on class sizes.
The School Committee made the decision to stop accepting applications at the recommendation of Superintendent Wayne Ogden on July 15.
The program allows students from Massachusetts towns outside of Franklin to attend public schools within the district.
As required by law, Franklin, like all districts, accepts School Choice students at random by lottery, though a district can choose to accept all applicants.
Read the full article in the Milford Daily News here.
The headline is deceiving. New applications are not being accepted. 39 students were accepted into the program for the 2007-2008 school year (that just ended) to being the total to 76 (as of October 1 2007). As I recall 10-12 left the program this year, 5 through graduation and the others for various reasons. There are still 60+ students to be served by this program which will still bring in revenue to the School Department. Due to failed override and the reduction of 42 teachers, the analysis on if and where some students could be added to the program remains to be completed. Pending that analysis, new applications may be considered.
This topic was posted here the night of the School Committee meeting.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Where in Franklin? #51
Continuing a blue theme, can you identify where you would find this building in Franklin?
The guidelines to play Where in Franklin? can be found here .
originally posted 7/9/08 at 9:53 PM
"we're more interested in feeding people"
GHS
FRANKLIN —
As he grabbed a handmade deli sandwich at Anne's Market and reflected on the return of Anne Brunelli's clan, faithful customer Scott Resley had just one question: "Are you guys doing porketta again?"
Yes, Anne's porketta is back - as are the homemade meatballs, manicotti, hand-stuffed cannoli, and other Italian fare Franklin has been missing since she sold her locally famous store in 2003.
"It's excellent - the best porketta ever," pronounced Resley, who has missed Anne's recipes.
"I'm psyched. I'm really happy they're putting (the store) back in the family," said Resley, who estimated he has been a customer for up to 15 years.
Anne's Market will once again reflect the Brunellis' love of food - Italian in particular, said Mark Brunelli, patting his belly.
You can read the full story in the Milford Daily News here
School Committee Meeting 7/15/08
The collected postings for the School Committee meeting of Tuesday 7/15/08
The meeting was also summarized in a podcast:
5 Things You Need to Know from this meeting
- live update - subcomittee reports
- live update - Supt Report
- Live update - action items
- live update - superintendent review process
- live update - building use policy
- live update - pay to ride/late bus
- live update - audit update
- school committee - Live update
- School Committee meeting - live update
- School Committee - Live update
The meeting was also summarized in a podcast:
5 Things You Need to Know from this meeting
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)