Office Hours - Sep 26

Stop by for Office Hours

As a member of the Downtown Partnership, I will have a table near the Bamboo House restaurant on Main St and hold Office Hours during the Harvest Festival on Sunday, Sep 26.

I will be coming in from PodCamp Boston 5 and should be at the table by noon time.


Franklin, MA

Franklin, MA: reflection

Another reflection photo from along Main St taken on Saturday, Sep 11.

The small unoccupied building between the Felix-Cataldo Building and Rockland Trust. The brass (?) lamp fixture with the reflection of the Post Office across the street.

Did you take any pictures around Franklin this weekend?


Franklin, MA

Native Plants of Franklin

Sorry I'm late with the native plants this week! Here is the most recent mystery plant:



This is yet another native flower doomed to obscurity by the word "weed" in its name: jewelweed. This tender annual grows abundantly in moist, shady areas, and from mid to late summer it is covered in little orange orchid-like flowers.



The name "jewelweed" comes from the way water beads up into brilliant, flashing gems on its waxy leaves.

The Latin name of jewelweed is Impatiens capensis, which gives a clue as to what common garden plant this is related to: impatiens.

Jewelweed also goes by the name "touch-me-not", because when you touch the little bean-like seed-pods, they pop open violently! That aspect makes this plant especially fun for children.

This next plant is tricky. Forget about specifically what plant it is. If you can pinpoint what type of plant it is, then you're doing well. I'll give you a hint: this is a flower.



Happy plant-sleuthing!

Michelle Clay writes about gardening here in Franklin at the Clueless Gardeners Blog.

Franklin, MA

Real time reporting - Planning Board - 9/13/10

The YMCA discussion is tied around parking and public safety. The facility has exceeded the calculation for parking by over 300 cars with their expansions and exceptions. They are looking to expand further to retain membership (which would also increase parking requirements).

Could the Fire Dept visit on a weekend and report back on the situation? Would they be able to get equipment up the hill through the parked cars?

The Planning Board is in a tough spot; they appreciate the work and services that the Y provides but the parking and safety considerations are a considerable issue.

Need to verify what the occupancy of the building is? One had 480 and another had 720. The number drives the parking requirements so the difference is significant and needs to be resolved. Complicated by the fact the entrance from National Drive is across private property where the Y has an easement and access for safety (the second entrance).

Meeting minutes accepted for June 7, June 21, July 12 (as amended), and July 26.

Application for 216 East Central withdrawn without prejudice, motion to accept, passed.

 

Franklin, MA

Franklin, MA: Planning Board - 09/13/10 - Agenda

The agenda document for the Planning Board meeting scheduled for 7:00 PM on Monday, Sep 13, 2010.

PlanningBoard_Agenda09-13-10


Note: email subscribers will need to click through to Franklin Matters to view the document.

Franklin, MA

Lincoln Street Construction - Closed Weds 9/15

RE: Lincoln Street Construction


Lincoln Street from Maple Street to Sherman Avenue in Franklin, MA, will be closed to through Traffic on Wednesday, September 15, 2010, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.


This section of Lincoln Street will be open for local traffic and emergency vehicles during this period.


From the Franklin, MA website

FM #72 - Week Ending 9/12/10

Let's take less than 10 minutes to find out what matters in Franklin, MA as the week ends Sep 12, 2010.


Time: 7 minutes, 10 seconds



MP3 File

Show Notes

Let's take less than 10 minutes to review the week ending Sep 12 here in Franklin, MA. Hurricane Earl has already faded into memory, Labor Day and 9/11 have come and gone. Importantly, the first full week of school begins this Monday.

So what should you know from the past week?

The Finance Committee met on Tuesday providing a preview of some of the topics for the Town Council meeting on Wed.

The major action item for discussion was the proposal for $140,000 to move from the debt stabilization account for the Del Carte final design and permits.

The overall presentation to the FINCOM and on Weds to the Town Council was lacking. The presentation attempted to keep it short and sweet. It was short but left too many questions to be asked. It was passed by the FINCOM but postponed by the Town Council until their meeting on 9/29.

The short story is there are seven dams and ponds on the DelCarte property that was donated to Franklin several years ago. There was originally a stream running through the property. It was dammed to create several ponds initially to try as cranberry bogs, then for a fish hatchery. The dams have breached and no longer hold back the water as they should Two of the dams are of size and concern to be registered with the State. Analysis of the work required to repair some of the dams has been reduced from over $3 million to just over $1 million. This takes care of the immediate work required. It does not include the creation of hiking trails to enable further recreational use of this splendid opportunity.

I met with Franklin's Conservation Agent Nick Alfieri and Conservation Commissioner Jeff Livingstone to walk some of the property to help my understanding of the problems and opportunities.

Prior post on the DelCarte property
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2009/12/franklin-ma-delcarte-conservation-area.html

The Conservation Commission heard the proposals for securing the dams on the DelCarte property along Pleasant St. I need to do more to understand the proposals and implications but be aware that something with dollars associated is being discussed. You can view the meeting and proposal options here
http://view.liveindexer.com/ViewIndexSessionSL.aspx?indexPointSKU=ei0gDcRTz2DPBC%2frEypYuQ%3d%3d

and here
http://view.liveindexer.com/ViewIndexSessionSL.aspx?indexPointSKU=mAIQuRUs434FliYRix1Hjg%3d%3d

My notes from the FINCOM meeting can be found here
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/09/finance-committee-090710.html

The Town Council met on Wednesday. Amongst the action items were some clean up of bond authorizations no longer needed. The major discussion took place on the DelCarte proposal which was reported on here:
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/09/live-reporting-action-items.html

The Sep 29th meeting will be a good one. The public hearing for the Downtown Improvement Project is scheduled as well as a presentation and further discussion on the DelCarte proposal.

The full set of notes from the Town Council meeting can be found here
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/09/town-council-090810.html

Worthy of note for further discussion, the proposed charter changes were approved by the Legislature and Governor in time to make the ballot for this November.

The text of the changes can be viewed here:

http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/09/charter-changes-ballot-question-text.html

http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/09/charter-changes-approved-by-governor.html

What's coming up this week?

The Planning Board meets on Monday, their agenda is available.
The School Committee meets on Tuesday, I have not seen their agenda. It is not available on their website as this gets prepared.

The Franklin Downtown Partnership general meeting is Thursday morning. The new website will be reviewed with the group. To help advertise the new site and to gather input on the Downtown Improvement Project, stay tuned for the release of a survey question on the one-way versus two-way traffic option. You'll have a chance to have your say in that matter.


As I close this session this week, let me remind you that

• If you like what I am doing here, please tell your friends and neighbors
• If you don’t like something, please tell me

Thank you for listening!

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.blogspot.com/

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark and Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission

I hope you enjoy!