- Live reporting - Closing
- Live reporting - Action items, continued
- Live reporting - Action items
- Live reporting - Town Council
Franklin, MA
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Town Council - 09/08/10
The collection of posts reported live during the Town Council meeting on Wednesday, Sep 8, 2010 can be found here:
Franklin, MA
Franklin, MA
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Live reporting - Closing
K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
Eaton House open house today, a great accomplishment on affordable housing that took a long time to get here
L. OLD BUSINESS
Powderly - any data on the new trash program?
M. NEW BUSINESS
Jones - vacant and abandoned property bylaw, properties around town are in this condition and we don't have something on the books to address this.
N. COUNCIL COMMENTS
Powderly - thanks to Steve Sherlock for helping to keep the community informed
O. EXECUTIVE SESSION – Negotiations, Litigation, Real Property, as May Be Required
P. ADJOURN
Motion to adjourn, Passed 7-0
Franklin, MA
Eaton House open house today, a great accomplishment on affordable housing that took a long time to get here
Water conservation restrictions were removed
EPA has $300,000 grant to help Milford, Bellingham and Franklin to help figure out the storm water issue that you'll be hearing more of
Sep 29th, a presentation on the downtown area is also available
L. OLD BUSINESS
Powderly - any data on the new trash program?
Nutting - I think we are waiting on the first quarter to complete
Pfeffer - discussion on sewer policy
Mason - October is a good month to discuss sewers
M. NEW BUSINESS
Jones - vacant and abandoned property bylaw, properties around town are in this condition and we don't have something on the books to address this.
Nutting - several communities have adopted something like Mr Jones is suggesting, to get the title holder to take care of the property. I think it is worthy of discussion of the Council.
Jones - I also think would be good to avoid a safety issue.
Mason - let's put this on the first October meeting
Motion to put on an agenda a vacant and abandoned properties
Motion to approve, passed 7-0
N. COUNCIL COMMENTS
Powderly - thanks to Steve Sherlock for helping to keep the community informed
Kelly -schools open, please drive safely
Jones - Sep 14th primary coming up, get out an vote
Whalen - I would like to comment on the $1.29 million that the School Dept just received.
The money was our share of a $10 billion Federal Jobs bill. It was good to receive. Hard to see how it generated such diverse reception. The timing and nature is problematic. It could have come earlier to avoid the layoffs. The short term and non recurring nature requires that the funds only be used for teacher salaries and benefits. This is a short term fix, cash windfall. Relative under investment compared to our peer towns.
Mason - Florida plays inaudible buzzing noise to keep the teenagers away from parking lots, on Channel 11 we play rock music to scare the seniors away.
Thanks for all the grant writing you do, it helps a whole lot.
O. EXECUTIVE SESSION – Negotiations, Litigation, Real Property, as May Be Required
P. ADJOURN
Motion to adjourn, Passed 7-0
Franklin, MA
Live reporting - Action items, continued
8. Bylaw Amendment 10-649: Amendment to Sewer System Map, Coutu Street- 1st Reading
Bill Yadsernia, Town Engineer
Approx 400 feet for a private sewer line to connect to a public street and public portion of the sewer line
meets the bylaw criteria, a single house for a single extension, done twice before on Brook (and somewhere else)
400 feet paid for by the developer and remain a private road
Pfeffer - I am for this one, a single house is the way we should be going
Vallee - do you recommend this?
Yadsernia - yes, I do
Motion to approve, passed 7-0
Franklin, MA
Bill Yadsernia, Town Engineer
Approx 400 feet for a private sewer line to connect to a public street and public portion of the sewer line
meets the bylaw criteria, a single house for a single extension, done twice before on Brook (and somewhere else)
400 feet paid for by the developer and remain a private road
Pfeffer - I am for this one, a single house is the way we should be going
Vallee - do you recommend this?
Yadsernia - yes, I do
Motion to approve, passed 7-0
Franklin, MA
Live reporting - Action items
J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1. Resolution 10-48: Appropriation – DelCarte Open Space Design & Permitting of Repairs to Dam
Background on donation of the land to the Town, research done, proposal to repair dams now before us. Cost reduced to $1.3 million. The amount of $140,000 is for the final design and permitting for the work to take the next step. The debt stabilization account has functionally completed its use, the money can be used for other capital purposes.
There are open space and recreation grants available but on a once a year cycle, need to have the engineering work in place.
Ray Willis (Conservation Commission) - Dams 3 and 5 are being registered with the State. Due to the height and amount of water being held back. Dam 5 in the most dire condition. Not only holding back the pond behind 5 but all the water behind the others before it as well. Earthen dam with one concrete sluice-way.
If we do nothing, the worse case is the pond would revert back to a stream. It currently serves as a storm water storage system. It reduces phosphorus before it gets to the Charles River. By loosing the pond, we would loose treatment. The exact amount of phosphorus is unknown.
The pond network provides flow control. If you remove the pond it would increase the flow through to the lower areas. If an upper dam would fail, then the flows would increase downstream.
They are all earthen dams. The flow control structures maybe partially concrete. With Dams 3 and 5 the State will eventually look at them and tell us what to do.
Vallee - That was a brook, it was created once years ago to create a cranberry bog or fish pond.
Whalen - Part of the Capital Budget process is to prioritize the requests, is there a reason that this can't be included.
Nutting - This has been on the capital budget, it now has a better cost estimate to help make an analysis.
Whalen - We have so many competing needs to scare funds, I am not sure where this fits in the priority listing.
Nutting - We have to take 50% of the phosphorus out of the Charles River. This is the largest body of water that will allow us to do that. If we can get some state grants etc.
Pfeffer - Can you do what Mr DelCarte did and dump rocks, etc on it?
Willis - You need to reinforce the entire structure, fixing just one section will increase the pressure upon the other.
Pfeffer - we have lots of open space money can we use that?
Nutting - we can't use the funds that are already in the account. We can use it from future contributions to the fund.
Jones - Does it means that as soon as we register the Dams 3 and 5, the State will state looking at them and force us to fix them.
Willis - We are waiting to hear back from the State on what they will do.
Jones - do they have any funding for this?
Willis - I don't know that information.
Powderly - is there a threat to the surrounding homes if a dam we to fail?
Willis - There would be some damage to property but no loss of life as far as we can tell.
Con Commission - It is a beautiful piece of property, it is being used, it can be used even better with some investment in the upkeep of this property. Down the road we can have an amazing recreation place. The residents are locally patrolling it, keeping it good. It would not be good to let it fail.
Chamenski - It is a beautiful area, full of wildlife. As this thing dries out, it does smell. It has an impact on the abutters. We have a beautiful area. To Mr Vallee's point, there has been a change, man-made or not, there is change. There are heron, geese and other wildlife. We should restore what has been created not take it away.
Alfieri - Conservation Agent - All these dams have already failed, they are already leaking, the ability to hold back the level is already lost. These ponds have drained and filled back up. The odor that comes off from the area. Not just from the dead fish, but from the vegetation. We have signs all over the dams to warn against crossing them, they are dangerous.
Whalen - I would like tonight not to be an up and down. Is there a larger document that goes with the summary we have.
Nutting - You can table it and we can come back with the Engineering Company to answer questions.
Motion to postpone until the next meeting (9/29/10), passed 7-0
2. Resolution 10-49:Rescission of Authorization to Borrow, Municipal Parking Garage - removed from agenda, motion to approve removal, passed 7-0
3. Resolution 10-50: Rescission of Authorization to Borrow, Construction of Fire Station
Motion to approve, passed 7-0
4. Resolution 10-51: Rescission of Authorization to Borrow, Fire Ladder Truck
Motion to approve, passed 7-0
5. Resolution 10-52: Scheduling of Public Hearing to Consider Removal of Utility Poles, Overhead Wires, and Associated Overhead Structures in Downtown Area
Scheduled for Sep 29, 2010 7:10 PM
Motion to approve, passed 7-0
6. Resolution 10-53: Creation of Energy Committee
Motion to approve, passed 7-0
7. Resolution 10-54: Transfer of Tax Title Possession Parcels to Different Municipal Purposes
2/3 vote required, roll called, motion to approve, passed 7-0
---- 3 minute recess -----
Franklin, MA
1. Resolution 10-48: Appropriation – DelCarte Open Space Design & Permitting of Repairs to Dam
Background on donation of the land to the Town, research done, proposal to repair dams now before us. Cost reduced to $1.3 million. The amount of $140,000 is for the final design and permitting for the work to take the next step. The debt stabilization account has functionally completed its use, the money can be used for other capital purposes.
There are open space and recreation grants available but on a once a year cycle, need to have the engineering work in place.
Ray Willis (Conservation Commission) - Dams 3 and 5 are being registered with the State. Due to the height and amount of water being held back. Dam 5 in the most dire condition. Not only holding back the pond behind 5 but all the water behind the others before it as well. Earthen dam with one concrete sluice-way.
If we do nothing, the worse case is the pond would revert back to a stream. It currently serves as a storm water storage system. It reduces phosphorus before it gets to the Charles River. By loosing the pond, we would loose treatment. The exact amount of phosphorus is unknown.
The pond network provides flow control. If you remove the pond it would increase the flow through to the lower areas. If an upper dam would fail, then the flows would increase downstream.
They are all earthen dams. The flow control structures maybe partially concrete. With Dams 3 and 5 the State will eventually look at them and tell us what to do.
Vallee - That was a brook, it was created once years ago to create a cranberry bog or fish pond.
Whalen - Part of the Capital Budget process is to prioritize the requests, is there a reason that this can't be included.
Nutting - This has been on the capital budget, it now has a better cost estimate to help make an analysis.
Whalen - We have so many competing needs to scare funds, I am not sure where this fits in the priority listing.
Nutting - We have to take 50% of the phosphorus out of the Charles River. This is the largest body of water that will allow us to do that. If we can get some state grants etc.
Pfeffer - Can you do what Mr DelCarte did and dump rocks, etc on it?
Willis - You need to reinforce the entire structure, fixing just one section will increase the pressure upon the other.
Pfeffer - we have lots of open space money can we use that?
Nutting - we can't use the funds that are already in the account. We can use it from future contributions to the fund.
Jones - Does it means that as soon as we register the Dams 3 and 5, the State will state looking at them and force us to fix them.
Willis - We are waiting to hear back from the State on what they will do.
Jones - do they have any funding for this?
Willis - I don't know that information.
Powderly - is there a threat to the surrounding homes if a dam we to fail?
Willis - There would be some damage to property but no loss of life as far as we can tell.
Con Commission - It is a beautiful piece of property, it is being used, it can be used even better with some investment in the upkeep of this property. Down the road we can have an amazing recreation place. The residents are locally patrolling it, keeping it good. It would not be good to let it fail.
Chamenski - It is a beautiful area, full of wildlife. As this thing dries out, it does smell. It has an impact on the abutters. We have a beautiful area. To Mr Vallee's point, there has been a change, man-made or not, there is change. There are heron, geese and other wildlife. We should restore what has been created not take it away.
Alfieri - Conservation Agent - All these dams have already failed, they are already leaking, the ability to hold back the level is already lost. These ponds have drained and filled back up. The odor that comes off from the area. Not just from the dead fish, but from the vegetation. We have signs all over the dams to warn against crossing them, they are dangerous.
Whalen - I would like tonight not to be an up and down. Is there a larger document that goes with the summary we have.
Nutting - You can table it and we can come back with the Engineering Company to answer questions.
Motion to postpone until the next meeting (9/29/10), passed 7-0
2. Resolution 10-49:Rescission of Authorization to Borrow, Municipal Parking Garage - removed from agenda, motion to approve removal, passed 7-0
3. Resolution 10-50: Rescission of Authorization to Borrow, Construction of Fire Station
Motion to approve, passed 7-0
4. Resolution 10-51: Rescission of Authorization to Borrow, Fire Ladder Truck
Motion to approve, passed 7-0
5. Resolution 10-52: Scheduling of Public Hearing to Consider Removal of Utility Poles, Overhead Wires, and Associated Overhead Structures in Downtown Area
Scheduled for Sep 29, 2010 7:10 PM
Motion to approve, passed 7-0
6. Resolution 10-53: Creation of Energy Committee
Motion to approve, passed 7-0
7. Resolution 10-54: Transfer of Tax Title Possession Parcels to Different Municipal Purposes
2/3 vote required, roll called, motion to approve, passed 7-0
---- 3 minute recess -----
Franklin, MA
Live reporting - Town Council
Present: Kelly, Jones, Vallee, Whalen, Mason, Pfeffer, Powderly
Absent: McGann, Zollo
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – August 4, 2010 and August 18, 2010
Motion to approve as amended (Whalen correctly absent but noted as seconding the motion to adjourn), passed 7-0
B. ANNOUNCEMENTS -Meetings of the Town Council are Recorded
Meeting also being recorded by Steve Sherlock for Franklin Matters
C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
D. CITIZEN COMMENTS
Ken Norman
1 - representing former Veterans Memorial Committee, requesting removal of sign recognizing the businesses who did contribute to the memorial, temporary was okay but it diminishes the integrity of the site
2 - representing the Council on Aging, requesting the removal of the hard rock music being played while the announcements are scrolling on Channel 11
3 - won't be able to attend the hearing on the underground utilities, involving about six utility poles at the cost over $1 million dollars.
E. APPOINTMENTS
Cultural Council - C Kai Olsson
motion to approve, passed 7-0
Historical Commission - Mary O'Neill, Mary Morrissey Olsson
motion to approve, passed 7-0
Zoning Board of Appeals - Timothy C Twardowski
motion to approve, passed 7-0
F. HEARINGS - none
G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS - none
H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS - none
I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS - none
Franklin, MA
Absent: McGann, Zollo
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES – August 4, 2010 and August 18, 2010
Motion to approve as amended (Whalen correctly absent but noted as seconding the motion to adjourn), passed 7-0
B. ANNOUNCEMENTS -Meetings of the Town Council are Recorded
Meeting also being recorded by Steve Sherlock for Franklin Matters
C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
D. CITIZEN COMMENTS
Ken Norman
1 - representing former Veterans Memorial Committee, requesting removal of sign recognizing the businesses who did contribute to the memorial, temporary was okay but it diminishes the integrity of the site
2 - representing the Council on Aging, requesting the removal of the hard rock music being played while the announcements are scrolling on Channel 11
3 - won't be able to attend the hearing on the underground utilities, involving about six utility poles at the cost over $1 million dollars.
E. APPOINTMENTS
Cultural Council - C Kai Olsson
motion to approve, passed 7-0
Historical Commission - Mary O'Neill, Mary Morrissey Olsson
motion to approve, passed 7-0
Zoning Board of Appeals - Timothy C Twardowski
motion to approve, passed 7-0
F. HEARINGS - none
G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS - none
H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS - none
I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS - none
Franklin, MA
"The earthquake is over, the disaster is not"
Glenn Jones is returning to Haiti to help with the recovery efforts from the earthquake. He will be
Glenn Jones Letter on 'Going to HAITI'
A video summary of the work of MissionE4:
This is a great example of a "good news" that I'd like to share more often. If you have a good news story, please let me know.
Note: email subscribers will need to click through to Franklin Matters to view the document and video.
Franklin, MA
"continuing to contribute my electrical skills to a small village called Leogane. Leogane was in the epicenter of the Earthquake that shook Haiti in January."Glenn wrote this letter to explain his contribution and seek your help:
Glenn Jones Letter on 'Going to HAITI'
A video summary of the work of MissionE4:
This is a great example of a "good news" that I'd like to share more often. If you have a good news story, please let me know.
Note: email subscribers will need to click through to Franklin Matters to view the document and video.
Franklin, MA
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