Hope Springs Eternal

As captured on this past weekend at the Davis Thayer sign:

Franklin, MA

"the school system has declined to come out and endorse cycling to school"

Arlington has an interesting discussion underway about cycling to school. Basically, in one community that is acknowledged as leading the cycling effort, the Arlington School Dept banned students cycling to school. There is no busing as most homes are located within one mile of their elementary school. The schools do not have bike racks. Most of the traffic the cyclists would have to navigate through is other parents dropping off kids at school.

This is an educational opportunity for better health practices (cycling vs autos) apparently being missed.


Read the full article here in the Boston Globe West edition of today's paper



Franklin, MA

United Regional Chamber in Boston Globe today

The United Regional Chamber of Commerce — so called because it united the older town chambers in Attleboro, North Attleborough, and Franklin when it was formed in 2008 — has seen a small drop. The three chambers had a combined enrollment of 1070, and membership in the United Chamber today hovers around 1,000.

“We’ve absorbed three offices, and had to find ways to coordinate everything,’’ said Jack Lank, president of the United Chamber. “But we’re very proud to have kept all of our office staff."

Though Lank estimates 30 percent of the chamber’s businesses are delinquent, he says that he has been able to provide level, if not improved, services to members, with more seminars and events.

“When times are tough, people come to the chamber talks looking to drum up business,’’ Lank said. “So it’s important we help them network."

Read the full article in the Boston Globe West edition here

Note: I did make the correction to reflect the proper name of United Regional Chamber of Commerce in the first line of the quote and add the website link. The Globe doesn't include links but someday they should.


Franklin, MA

Letter from Tina Powderly

In case you are not on Tina's distribution and would like to be, she has information on how to do so in this email.  

Hello folks-

You are receiving this email either because you signed up for periodic updates on my web page or because I have corresponded with you individually on a particular issue.   In this email, I will touch on:

1.       Proposed charter reviews

2.       Proposals under Planning Board consideration for new businesses in Franklin

3.       Waste management

4.       FY11 budget forecast

5.       Misc items

Proposed Charter Reviews-This is a very complicated process covering years of work, but I will try to briefly summarize what has happened and where we are now.   There are two methods available to municipalities to change a charter.  One method is with an elected Charter Commission (done in 1995) and one is with a citizens committee appointed by the Town Council. (done now).  The current citizens group made a series of recommendations after significant research and discussion spanning over a year.  A Town Council subcommittee was convened because the Citizens Committee made recommendations to the previous Town Council, who did not act on them.  Given that 3 new members needed to be brought up to speed, the subcommittee was formed not only to pass along the citizen recommendations but to review said recommendations, as the citizens committee had no binding authority.  At this point, there was much discussion about the process as well as each individual recommendation.  Frankly, my personal feeling is that the discussion was not always productive and communication could have been better, but we are moving forward.  The recommendations on which the Town Council has reached consensus almost exactly mirror the citizens group recommendations.  Specifically, change the Treasure/Collector position from elected to appointed and make a number of technical updates to the charter to reflect changes that have occurred in the past 15 years.  The Town Council has to formally approve the proposed changes and then send it to the Legislature for approval.  The most important point here is that no proposed charter revisions are final until it is approved by voters.  The hope is to get these changes on the November ballot.  The bottom line: although the process may seem convoluted, many people with many different perspectives have weighed in on this discussion and you and me, as voters, have the absolute final say on whether to approve the proposed revisions.

Proposals under consideration by the Planning Board for new businesses in Franklin-I know there is a concern about the Big Y’s application to the Planning Board for a new store on the abandoned lot on 140.  I have seen flyers circulated with some misinformation and would like to correct a few items.  First, the Big Y has merely come before the Planning Board.  Nothing is approved and the Planning Board has many concerns that need to be addressed.  Second, there currently are no other applications before the Planning Board despite the rumors of a Price Chopper, Bertucci’s etc.  These applications may eventually surface, but nothing is before the Board currently.  Please voice any concerns, or simply learn about the process by attending or watching on cable the Planning Board meeting on March 22^nd at 7pm in the Municipal Office Building.

Waste management-I have attached a link to an article in the Globe about recycling rates in MA.  I spoke with some residents who had hoped that we could improve recycling (and both control/decrease costs and improve our environmental impact) within the current system.  I think this article objectively articulates why the Recycling Committee, DPW, and the Town Council all agreed that this new system was the best way to meet our goals.

http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/green/articles/2010/03/14/despite_environmentalists_pleas_massachusetts_recycling_rate_stalls/

FY11 budget forecast –State aid figures are not finalized, but the Governor’s proposed budget and the Senate’s proposed budget are out.  Franklin is estimated to be down $3.7M in state aid from FY09 to FY11.  In my opinion, this will have a serious impact on the level of services that Franklin can continue to provide.

Misc items

• Town Council just voted to ease restrictions that make it difficult for biotechnology companies to locate here.  We hope to attract biotech companies to vacant Industrial Park space and bring in additional revenue to the Town.

•  Roads are in tough shape and this is a priority.  Historically, road repair is funded by the state through Chapter 90.  As you can imagine, these funds have decreased.  Franklin will have to begin directing its own funds towards road upkeep, but it is exorbitantly expensive.  Please continue to give feedback while we work to address this crisis.

• And just an FYI… Dean College’s graduation in Saturday, May 8^th at noon.  Please expect high traffic and temporary road closures downtown around this time.

As always, feel free to contact me with any questions.  If you would prefer not to receive these emails, please let me know.  Finally, please forward this information along to anyone you think might be interested and encourage others to sign up for updates at www.tinapowderly.com.

Thank you.

Tina Powderly

Franklin, MA

"The town census is just as important as the federal census"

In Franklin, Town Clerk Deborah Pellegri said the town's return rates are typically at about 98 percent and have stayed that way despite it being a federal census year.

"We sent it out at the end of December," said Pellegri. "We do send out a second notice and phone calls after that, but it's very accurate."

Confusion with census forms worries some officials

from The Milford Daily News News RSS by Krista Perry/Daily News staff

Franklin, MA

Franklin, MA: Design Review Commission

The Design Review Commission (DRC) has had numerous projects come before them this year. The Commission is currently composed of Jennifer Peters, Chair; Lenley Rafuse, Vice-Chair; Richard Tobin, Jr., Jill Bedoya and James Esterbrook, as well as associate members, Mark Fitzgerald and Robin Stamp.

This past year, the Commission reviewed several Site Plans as to landscaping and lighting and Building Plans as to elevations, colors and materials, including, the Franklin Housing Authority's Plain Street facility; renovations to the 12-36 East Central Street block; Walgreen's Pharmacy; the landscaping and lighting added to the area between 12-36 East Central Street and Summer Street. Signage and awnings were reviewed and approved for many additional locations, including the above, as well as Rockland Trust, Daddario's Hardware and many more throughout the year.

Work on the Town's new sign by-law has been in progress throughout the year and hopefully will be presented to the Town Council prior to the year end.

Meetings are held at the Franklin Municipal Building, Room 205, 355 East Central Street, at 7:00 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month. Meeting times and dates are posted at the Town Clerk’s Office. Meetings are usually less than an hour and a half in length.

Respectfully submitted,
Jennifer Peters, Chair
Design Review Commission

From the 2009 Town of Franklin Annual Report. This is available in a printed version at the Municipal Building or online at the Town website here.




This post was originally made on Franklin Matters on December 30, 2009.



Franklin, MA

Franklin, MA: Planning Board

The Planning Board (Board), as established by MGL. Ch. 41 sec.70, is responsible for “…making plans for the development of the municipality, with special reference to proper housing of its inhabitants.” The Board is charged with administering the State’s Subdivision Control Law (MGL. 41 Ch.81K) and the local subdivision rules and regulations (Chapter 300). The Board makes recommendations to the Town Council on Zoning By-Law amendments and may at its own discretion adopt new subdivision regulations. The Board is also designated as the permitting authority for various site plan and special permit submittals under the local Zoning By-Laws (Ch. 185).

The Board works together with the Department of Planning and Community Development, the Department of Public Works, and Town Administration. In addition, the Board receives recommendations from the Design Review Committee on building design, elevation, and signage for commercial site plan permits and from the Conservation Commission on wetland related issues. Two notable projects permitted this year were for a Walgreens Pharmacy, currently under construction at the former location of the “Four Corners School” at the intersection of East Central, King and Cross Streets, and a new performance center/dining hall at the Dean College campus intended to improve and expand its dance and theatre curriculum. The Franklin Center Commons project continued to move forward this year. Construction was completed on the 15 Summer Street building in the fall of 2008. Plans for the demolition and new construction of the front building (12-36 East Central Street) are currently on hold. The town is working closely with the developer to help produce the best possible result for the final phase of this important project in the downtown.

The Board has, and will continue to focus on updating the existing zoning by-laws to more accurately define the needs and goals of the town. This year, the Board reviewed and made recommendations for amending the non-conforming buildings, structures, and uses by-law, which was subsequently approved by the Town Council in December 2008. The Board will also continue to help property owners make the desired changes and improvements to their properties while fostering responsible growth and development in the Town of Franklin.

The Planning Board typically meets twice a month on Mondays at 7:00PM in the Town Hall. All Board meetings are open to the public, and are televised via Community Cable Access.

This year, the Planning Board saw a significant decrease in the number of applications presented.

Planning Board Activity
(July 2008 through June 2009)
Definitive Subdivisions and
Modifications- 1
Preliminary Subdivisions 0
81P Plans 5
Site Plans 5
Limited Site Plan Modifications 14
Special Permits 6

Planning Board Membership
The Planning Board consists of five members and one associate member. The associate member participates in all hearings but only votes on Special Permits if one of the members is unable to act. The Board members are elected and serve 4-year terms. Two seats will be up for election in November 2009.

Current Planning Board members:

Tony Padula, Chairman
Board member since November, 1999

Ron Calabrese, Vice Chairman
Board member since November, 2005

Joseph Gill, Clerk
Board member since January, 2008

Mark Denommee
Board member since November, 2007

Gregory Ballarino
Board member since November, 2007

Joseph Halligan
Associate Member since January, 2008

Please visit our website for additional information including application forms, and regularly posted agendas and meeting minutes at:

http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_Bcomm/planning

Respectfully submitted,
Anthony Padula, Chairman

In the November 2009 Town election, Padula and Halligan were elected to the full member spots. John Carroll was also elected as an associate member. Effectively, Halligan moved from associate to full member to replace Joe Gill and Carroll replaced Halligan as the associate member.

From the 2009 Town of Franklin Annual Report. This is available in a printed version at the Municipal Building or online at the Town website here.


This was originally posted on Franklin Matters on January 6, 2010. An understanding of the Planning Board process will be helpful in the next couple of weeks as the supermarket proposals get reviewed in that forum.


Franklin, MA

In the News - teens arrested

Michael J. Gabriel, 17, of 10 Concord St., was charged with possession of a Class B substance with intent to distribute, possession of a Class C substance with intent to distribute, speeding, failing to stop for police, driving to endanger, a lights violation and a marked lanes violation, police said.

Franklin teen faces charges

from The Milford Daily News News RSS by Melanie Graham/Daily News staff

------

Nicholas E. Barrows, 19, of 8 Jannie Drive, Easton, was charged with trespassing and carrying a dangerous weapon on school grounds, police said.

According to a spokesman for the college, Barrows is not a student at the school and therefore, was trespassing when Dean College public safety found him around 1:30 a.m. on Thursday.

Teen charged with having knives on Dean campus

from The Milford Daily News News RSS by Melanie Graham/Daily News staff

Franklin, MA

Mailer on 2 new supermarkets coming to RT 140

Already mentioned here is the Planning Board meeting scheduled for Monday March 22, where the Big Y application for a special permit will be continued.

This flyer arrived via the mail today:

The link referenced for the Environmental Notification Form (ENF) filed with the State can be found here: http://www.env.state.ma.us/mepa/mepadocs/2010/031010em/opur/enf/14550.pdf

The MA Environmental Protection Agency home page can be found here:
http://www.env.state.ma.us/mepa/home.aspx


Franklin, MA

Charter revisions - lessons learned

We seem to be close enough to finding out what the final charter revisions will look like to reflect on what we can and should learn from this process to improve it for next time. I won't get into the nature of the changes themselves but stick to the process as observed over the past couple of years.

1 - Situation: Not everyone knows of the two methods to change the charter.

One method is with a elected Charter Commission and one is with a citizens committee appointed by the Town Council. 

Both groups effectively do a study, solicit opinions, do some fact finding, and make a recommendation on what should be changed.

The prior charter changes were performed under the elected Charter Commission process. Hence, a number of folks remember this as "the way it was done last time."

The current charter revisions were made under the appointed citizens committee process and complicated by the Town Council using a subcommittee of members to fine tune the results. 

In both cases, the voters of Franklin have the final say.

Is either process better than the other? There are pros and cons to each.

The major similarities are a group does a study, makes some recommendations, and bottom line the voters still have to accept the changes by voting in a general election.

Lesson Learned: In the beginning, the Town Administrator/Town Council should make a clear explanation of the process chosen and why, and provide periodic reminders on what is being done and why. Or at least ensure that the committee (or committees) involved have a detailed communication plan as part of their objectives.

 

2 - Situation: Different level of understanding of what was done and being done in the committee and subcommittee work process.

Given the length of time taken by the first committee and lack of periodic updates back to the Town Council to ensure that all were kept abreast of what was going on. The folks coming recently to the issue were unaware of all that had gone before. There was a stack of documents, meeting notes, research, etc. produced or obtained by the Citizens committee. The final report of recommendations from the citizens committee could have done more to bring the level of effort to the table.

The second subcommittee also could have done better with their report. Given that the first had produced such output, they chose not to go that route and should have more clearly stated their rationale for doing so in their recommendation drafts.

Lesson Learned: The detailed communication plan (referenced above) should address this.

3 - Situation: The level of detail in the report needs to be understandable by the average citizen. 

For example, the technical changes need to be spelled out why they are "technical" so that the common folk can understand. Those heavily involved in the day to day operations already know, as this is what they are dealing with, while the rest of us have no clue. It does come down to determining whose line of argument we agree with. One where we can see and fully understand the logic or one where the money line sounds great but in reality means nothing. Emotions need to be kept of out business discussions. They only create problems by clouding or distracting from the issue at hand. 

Lesson Learned:  The detailed communication plan (referenced above) should address this in two ways; one by making periodic updates and two by addressing the level of detail in the final report itself.

4 - Situation: The Citizens Committee and the Council subcommittee addressed different items. 

The citizens committee did acknowledge that technical changes were needed to be made but left that work for someone else to do. The subcommittee did get into those details. The recommendations on the Town Clerk and Treasurer/Collector were heavily debated within the Citizens committee and also within the subcommittee. The subcommittee added the Board of Assessors, Board of Health and constables into the mix where the prior committee left them alone. There should have been a better explanation of what each did and why.

Lesson Learned:  The scope and objectives of the committee should be clear to the committee and to everyone else as to what they should be addressing and why. If there are changes to the scope, the change should be acknowledged in one of the periodic reviews and either approved as an accepted change or not.

5 - Situation: The final report discussion ended up being this convoluted mess, with emotions and sides drawn, arguments made by tossing about sound bites without substance. It becomes really hard to make sense of the issue because of the claim that 'voters are being left out'. Wrong! As mentioned above, when all is said and done, whatever the recommendations turn out to be, the voters will get their say at the ballot box.

Lesson Learned: With a better starting point, a clear explanation of the process chosen and why, periodic updates on what is being done and why, scope changes reviewed and approved or denied before the final report, the final report should have a better reception enabling a fair and open discussion on its details. 

Franklin, MA

In the News - Garelick, Dean

According to a press release issued today by the DEP, a DEP investigation found Garelick operating its wastewater pretreatment system with improper staff coverage.

Additionally, the company discharged pollutants into the Charles River Pollution Control District, a wastewater treatment facility.

DEP fines Franklin's Garelick $15,000

from The Milford Daily News News RSS by GateHouse Media, Inc.

--------------

Q: When will it be finished?

A: Kelly: This fall. When they return (on Labor Day), we'll be feeding them in the dining room.

Work progresses on new Dean College building

from The Milford Daily News News RSS by Ashley Studley/Daily News staff

Franklin, MA

Town Council Mtg Smry 03/17/10

The collection of posts from the Town Council meeting on Wednesday, March 17th can be found here:

• Live reporting - closing
• Live reporting - charter changes
• Live reporting - Legislation
• Live reporting - Town Council

Franklin, MA

"We're streamlining the process"

Planning and Community Development Director Bryan Taberner asked the town to remove its special permit requirement and add acres of land for bio-tech use.

"If we don't have that extra layer of red tape, we're much more able to attract companies," Taberner said.

The approved bylaws add 11 parcels - 87 acres - to the Forge Hill area and eliminate one from the Franklin State Forest.

Franklin eases red tape for biotech firms moving to town

by Ashley Studley/Daily News staff


Franklin, MA

The internet of things

Maybe part of the social media craze is allowing humans to create an information flow of status data that will join the "internet of things" data and really provide a world of integrated data that can become the right information at the right time for someone!



What do you think?


Franklin, MA

Live reporting - closing

K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
Maxine - 1st time homebuyers course being held at Muncipal Bldg, a free course

Nutting - we were issued a 20 year water permit which we have filed an appeal
issued a permit before the comment period was over
issued a permit before facts will be gathered later this year

Met on Storm Water regulations, 75 businesses would be affected by this, those with more than 2 acres of impervious acreage
Municipal permit also has quite high standards
downside is an increased cost to Town and businesses
They want us to keep cutting our ability to pump water. from 3.6 to 3.1 million gallons, we have capacity of 4 million gallons, we are way ahead of the curve so why punish us
There are different standard depending upon where the community is and where their water supply is from.



Earth Day - April 17th - at Beaver Pond

Project manager approved, architect in process of being acquired
Once we sign a feasibility agreement, we have 360 days to get an approval


L. OLD BUSINESS - none

M. NEW BUSINESS
Vallee- what do we have in our budget for road repairs?
Nutting - nothing specifically in our budget, we some state money, we could do a dedicated override for road repair, could only be used for that purpose unless changed by the voters take it away.


Nutting - an issue is you can only borrow money for road repair for 5 years. We don't want to fix all the roads all at once. We have a high school vote coming up and we don't know what the state reimbursement will be.


Capital subcommittee has made a request to develop such a budget.
Vallee - I can wait until after the budget to consider this




Whalen - can you give us an update on Local Aid?
Nutting - the Senate took a 1.1 million out of our expected local revenue over the Gov proposal of $330,000

N. COUNCIL COMMENTS
Powderly - thanks to Debbie, for coming today
Franklin Food Pantry has partnered  with Tangerini Farms, a way to purchase via Tangerini to provide to the Food Pantry

Zollo - thanks to Nutting for the help to the Scout troop
working on their
O. EXECUTIVE SESSION – Negotiations, Litigation, Real Property, as May Be Required

P. ADJOURN

Franklin, MA