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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 *
2008 | 2009 | Diff | |
Elementary | 3091 | 2998 | -93 |
Middle School | 1524 | 1478 | -46 |
High School | 1622 | 1640 | 18 |
Totals | 6237 | 6116 | -121 |
I | Ideation |
S | Substance Abuse |
P | Purposelessness |
A | Anxiety |
T | Trapped |
H | Hopelessness |
W | Withdrawal |
A | Anger |
R | Recklessness |
M | Mood Changes |
Currently, the Department of Public Works is responsible for the upkeep and maintenance of all town parks, recreation areas and School grounds. The Recreation Department is responsible for scheduling the use of the Town of Franklin athletic fields and facilities. Recreation Department Director, Ryan Jette indicated that it is a difficult challenge to maintain all the open space and recreation areas in Town and there is not adequate staffing for the upkeep.
The Conservation Department maintains a list of open space and conservation sites in Franklin. The current level of staffing for the management and maintenance of open space is not satisfactory, there is insufficient staff and resources to complete routine property inspections and maintenance. Issues such as hiring a forester to oversee the cutting of the Town Forest have proven challenging for the Conservation Commission due to a lack of funding.
If the Town continues to obtain additional open space and recreation areas, there will likely be issues providing sufficient upkeep due to a lack of funds and staffing available to provide upkeep of the sites.
Name | # of Openings | Candidates | Term of Office |
Board of Assessors | 1 Position (For 4 years) | Robert Avakian* | 2009 to 2013 |
Board of Health | 1 Position (For 4 years) | Bruce Hunchard* Koren Kanadanian-new | 2009 to 2013 |
Planning Board | 2 Position (For 4 years) | Anthony Padula* | 2009 to 2013 |
* 1Vacant | Joseph Halligan-new | 2009 to 2013 | |
Planning Board (Associate) | * 1 vacant position (For 4 Years) | 2009 to 2013 | |
Town Council | 9 Positions (For 2 Years) | Joseph McGann | 2009 to 2011 |
Deborah Bartlett - not running again | |||
R. Scott Mason* | |||
Christopher Feeley | |||
Judith Pond Pfeffer* | |||
Thomas Doak - not running again | |||
Shannon Zollo* | |||
Robert Vallee* | |||
Stephen Whalen | |||
Glenn Jones- new Daniel Ballinger-new Bryce Kuchs - new Robert Avakian - new Matthew Kelly (switch from School Committee) | |||
School Committee | 7 Positions (For 2 Years) | Cora Armenio | 2009 to 2011 |
Susan Rohrbach* | |||
Paula Mullen* | |||
Edward Cafasso* | |||
Roberta Trahan* | |||
Matthew Kelly - switch to Town Council | |||
Jeffrey Roy* William Glynn - new |
Results of the Citizen Participation Questionnaire were very helpful in identifying what Franklin residents believe to be the Town’s biggest recreation and open space needs. When asked what recreation and open space facilities the Town needed most, Bike Trails, Conservation Areas, and Hiking Trails were the three most popular responses. The survey data shows there appears to be a desire for additional passive recreation facilities. Franklin residents’ desire for improvement and expansion of passive recreation activities and facilities is consistent with regional and national trends.Analysis of survey data show that a respondent’s opinion of which facilities the Town needs may be directly related to the age of individuals in their households. For example, of the respondents that claim to have children in their household, 35.9% chose Youth Center as one of the Town’s more important facilities needed, compared to only 15.0 percent of households with individuals 60 years and over, and 28.2 percent of all respondents. Likewise 52.2 percent of respondents with children in their household chose Bike Trails as a needed facility, compared to 22.5 percent of households with individuals 60 years and over, and 41.9 percent of all respondents. The most popular response from respondents with individuals 60 years and over in their households was conservation areas, with hiking trails and dog park coming in close behind.
A major environmental concern in Franklin is both the quality and quantity of its water supply. Franklin is completely dependant upon wells for its water supply, therefore, it is imperative that both the quality and quantity of the water sources be maintained. Franklin has implemented a Water Resource District23 to protect, preserve and maintain the existing and potential ground and surface water resources that provide water supply to Franklin. The State’s efforts to encourage keeping wastewater local and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Phase II stormwater management regulations also ensure that more water is returned to the ground to recharge aquifers in a way that maintains quality. Preservation of open space and education efforts regarding the use of fertilizers and pesticides are a key component in addressing water quality in Franklin.
Name | # of Openings | Candidates | Term of Office |
Board of Assessors | 1 Position (For 4 years) | Robert Avakian* | 2009 to 2013 |
Board of Health | 1 Position (For 4 years) | Bruce Hunchard* Koren Kanadanian-new | 2009 to 2013 |
Planning Board | 2 Position (For 4 years) | Anthony Padula* | 2009 to 2013 |
* 1Vacant | Joseph Halligan-new | 2009 to 2013 | |
Planning Board (Associate) | * 1 vacant position (For 4 Years) | 2009 to 2013 | |
Town Council | 9 Positions (For 2 Years) | Joseph McGann | 2009 to 2011 |
Deborah Bartlett - not running again | |||
R. Scott Mason* | |||
Christopher Feeley | |||
Judith Pond Pfeffer* | |||
Thomas Doak - not running again | |||
Shannon Zollo* | |||
Robert Vallee* | |||
Stephen Whalen | |||
Glenn Jones- new Daniel Ballinger-new | |||
School Committee | 7 Positions (For 2 Years) | Cora Armenio | 2009 to 2011 |
Susan Rohrbach* | |||
Paula Mullen* | |||
Edward Cafasso* | |||
Roberta Trahan | |||
Matthew Kelly | |||
Jeffrey Roy* |
The Town of Franklin has four National Heritage & Endangered Species Program(NHESP) delineated priority habitats of rare species and also estimated habitats ofrare wild life. The locations are described as follows:
- The area around Beaver Pond and Mine Brook from the railroad tracks just south of Route 140 across Interstate 495 to and including, Spring Pond on Washington Street.
- Located primarily within the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer Charles River Natural Valley Storage area.
- The area encompassing Wampanoag Drive up to Concetta Way located eastern part of Franklin on the border of Norfolk and Wrentham.
- The area surrounding Miscoe Brook on the southwestern portion of town within proximity of Washington and South Street.
According to National Heritage and Endangered Species (NHES), Franklin provides ahabitat for several endangered, threatened and species of special concern.
There are a significant number of residents under 18 years old living in Franklin. Between 1990 and 2003, Franklin’s total population increased by 33.8%; during the same time, the number of residents under 18 increased by 58.3%9....In 2007, nearly 970 students enrolled in the Franklin Public Schools had a disability, of which, nearly 7% had physical disabilities.11 Franklin recognized the need to provide accessible areas to individuals of all ability levels and over the past several years, has been successful in upgrading all the Public School playgrounds to meet ADA compliancy requirements....Another population of interest in Franklin is its elderly residents. Census 2000 indicates 8.2% of Franklins 2000 population was age 65 years or older. As Franklin’s population ages, it is important for the Town to ensure the needs of priority populations are met. In 2008 the Town opened the newly constructed Senior Center. The Center provides Franklin’s seniors with a location to gather and programs geared towards this population’s recreation needs.