Engineer discusses stormwater runoff mandate with towns
from The Milford Daily News News RSSFranklin, MA
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Live reporting - Closing
L. OLD BUSINESS
Zollo - what about the bylaw for parking on your front law?
M. NEW BUSINESS
none
N. COUNCIL COMMENTS
Powderly - Rose Terco's phone number
Zollo - Franklin has a record of low voter turnout in off year elections
it is possible to vote via absentee ballot up through noon time Nov 1
Whalen - Cafe Dolce is now open Mon- Sat up until 8:00 PM
Mason - sale tax repeal would reduce aid to Franklin in excess of $4 million dollars
motion to adjourn, passed 7-0
O. EXECUTIVE SESSION – Negotiations, Litigation, Real Property, as May Be Required
P. ADJOURN
Franklin, MA
Zollo - what about the bylaw for parking on your front law?
M. NEW BUSINESS
none
N. COUNCIL COMMENTS
Powderly - Rose Terco's phone number
Zollo - Franklin has a record of low voter turnout in off year elections
it is possible to vote via absentee ballot up through noon time Nov 1
Whalen - Cafe Dolce is now open Mon- Sat up until 8:00 PM
Mason - sale tax repeal would reduce aid to Franklin in excess of $4 million dollars
motion to adjourn, passed 7-0
O. EXECUTIVE SESSION – Negotiations, Litigation, Real Property, as May Be Required
P. ADJOURN
Franklin, MA
Live reporting - Legislation for Action
I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
Powderly -
1 - booklet completed by M Kinehart, to be distributed by local officials
2 - voluntary donation via checkbox, based upon experience of other towns (cost of administration versus revenue gained) cost outweighs the benefits
3 - Rose Terco (?) putting together a memorial for those killed in action in WWII, coinciding with Memorial Day - reaching out to members of the family ot have them participate
J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
(#1 was already covered earlier in the meeting)
2. Resolution 10-62: Appropriation – Library Expense Account
For the library to meet the minimum for the State funding level, a transfer between funds now on a deadline to get it done
motion to approve, passed 7-0
3. Bylaw Amendment 10-650: Chapter 168, Vacant Properties: Registration and Maintenance – 2nd Reading
motion to waive reading, passed 7-0
Nutting - this is what you saw a couple of weeks ago. For safety of the fire fighters
McGann - is there any cost?
Nutting - not to the Town
Margret Ranieri - local Realtor
on a practical level, you are unlikely to reach the owners if they are outside the community
if that has occurred, you are not likely to get them to register
consider an exemption for locally owner properties
consider an extension to 6 or 9 months
it is not unlikely for a property to go vacant for 60-90 days
should make the property requirements no greater than that required by the regular home owners
roll call - passed 7-0
K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
Nutting read letter of recommendation for service by the fire department
Oct 27th Economic Summit (posted here previously)
Voter information guide - recommend to read the guide from the Sec of the Commonwealth
anticipate a large turnout
Don't stop at question 3, let your voice be heard on questions 4 and 5
Franklin, MA
Powderly -
1 - booklet completed by M Kinehart, to be distributed by local officials
2 - voluntary donation via checkbox, based upon experience of other towns (cost of administration versus revenue gained) cost outweighs the benefits
3 - Rose Terco (?) putting together a memorial for those killed in action in WWII, coinciding with Memorial Day - reaching out to members of the family ot have them participate
J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
(#1 was already covered earlier in the meeting)
2. Resolution 10-62: Appropriation – Library Expense Account
For the library to meet the minimum for the State funding level, a transfer between funds now on a deadline to get it done
motion to approve, passed 7-0
3. Bylaw Amendment 10-650: Chapter 168, Vacant Properties: Registration and Maintenance – 2nd Reading
motion to waive reading, passed 7-0
Nutting - this is what you saw a couple of weeks ago. For safety of the fire fighters
McGann - is there any cost?
Nutting - not to the Town
Margret Ranieri - local Realtor
on a practical level, you are unlikely to reach the owners if they are outside the community
if that has occurred, you are not likely to get them to register
consider an exemption for locally owner properties
consider an extension to 6 or 9 months
it is not unlikely for a property to go vacant for 60-90 days
should make the property requirements no greater than that required by the regular home owners
roll call - passed 7-0
K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
Nutting read letter of recommendation for service by the fire department
Oct 27th Economic Summit (posted here previously)
Voter information guide - recommend to read the guide from the Sec of the Commonwealth
anticipate a large turnout
Don't stop at question 3, let your voice be heard on questions 4 and 5
Franklin, MA
Live reporting - DPW - Sewer extensions
Sewer System Discussion
Nutting - looking for some direction on the current sewer extension bylaw, intent to not extend it
Should the council decide to change it? More of a struggle when it is a sub-division but not for a single house
Mason - how long ago was the bylaw passed?
Nutting - I'd have to look at it, it has been amended a couple of times
Mason - maybe 15 or so times have is been used?
Nutting - yes
Mason - what is the issue, do we have some latitude?
Nutting/Cerel - #6 was added in 2005 to give the Council greater discretion
Pfeffer - this was put in to control the growth, and last time we had a seven unit sub-division and I was the only one to object. Should we continue to try to do this?
Mason - I am not opposed to way to try and tighten it up. Maybe we are not seeing the growth and it is not as big an issue.
Nutting - For a Town going to spend millions of dollars on storm water, a septic system is better for us
Pfeffer - I am not looking to change this, I am looking to enforce what we already have,
Vallee - you're not going to see uncontrolled growth for a long time. All we have to do is say no.
Powderly - the issue is what is the intent? Some of the environmental concerns were not discussed before but given the storm water situation, maybe we should look at it again
Cerel - #6 was given in the sense of the Council to provide some leeway for negotiation, you could eliminate #6 and not be in danger of anything else.
three minute recess
Franklin, MA
Nutting - looking for some direction on the current sewer extension bylaw, intent to not extend it
Should the council decide to change it? More of a struggle when it is a sub-division but not for a single house
Mason - how long ago was the bylaw passed?
Nutting - I'd have to look at it, it has been amended a couple of times
Mason - maybe 15 or so times have is been used?
Nutting - yes
Mason - what is the issue, do we have some latitude?
Nutting/Cerel - #6 was added in 2005 to give the Council greater discretion
Pfeffer - this was put in to control the growth, and last time we had a seven unit sub-division and I was the only one to object. Should we continue to try to do this?
Mason - I am not opposed to way to try and tighten it up. Maybe we are not seeing the growth and it is not as big an issue.
Nutting - For a Town going to spend millions of dollars on storm water, a septic system is better for us
Pfeffer - I am not looking to change this, I am looking to enforce what we already have,
Vallee - you're not going to see uncontrolled growth for a long time. All we have to do is say no.
Powderly - the issue is what is the intent? Some of the environmental concerns were not discussed before but given the storm water situation, maybe we should look at it again
Cerel - #6 was given in the sense of the Council to provide some leeway for negotiation, you could eliminate #6 and not be in danger of anything else.
three minute recess
Franklin, MA
Live reporting - DPW - Solid Waste
Report on the new Solid Waste and Single Stream Recycling System
The presentation referenced:
Franklin, MA: DPW - Solid Waste Presentation
over 8800 regular carts
only 27 small (35 gallon) carts
There is a 2-day average for cart repair, between pick up and turn around
You do need to call Waste Management for pick up of the bulky items
287 bulk items per month
7 cart repairs to date (1 struck by a car)
estimated 90% reduction in service complaints
Trash (tonnage) going down, Recycling (tonnage) going up
Modifications to Chapter 151 to reflect changes to code
Whalen - on the slide entitled household average, is this good with the reduction of rain weight
Cantoreggi - we are cutting the outside trash, we have more paying customers in the system
Whalen - this has been a tremendous success, I think it is a home run all around
Pfeffer - it does work, it takes a knack to put the cart down so the covers come over, when it rains and snows, it should be taking the extra time to do so
Whalen - I think there is a size larger cart, do you have demands for it?
Cantoreggi - I don't think so, we can look at it. There has not been a big push for this.
Franklin, MA
Live reporting - DPW - Town Common Trees
Franklin Town Common Tree Report
David Anderson, certified arborist, consulted with the DPW
The presentation document:
Franklin, MA: DPW - Tree Presentation
Mostly Norway Maples on the Common,
the diameter of a tree is measured 4.5 feet off the ground
diversity of trees on Common, sugar maples,
A big beautiful tree can be gone in a day with weather or capable machinery
but it takes about 100 years to get the tree to look like it does
issues, no defined tree care maintenance budget, it has been reduced over time due to the issues with the budget
recommend hearing by public tree warden then remove 12 possibly hazardous trees ASAP
consider relocating the carnival so it saves the ground compacting issues
McGann - if we don't do the removal, the other trees will be impacted
Cantoreggi - We all love trees, some we should cut down but I don't want to do that without having done a presentation first.
Vallee - What would it cost to take down these trees?
Cantoreggi - I think we can do these in house as time permits
Pfeffer - there maybe tree person who would come in and do that work to gain the wood from it
Nutting - we should proceed with the hearing on the trees?
Mason - yes, check with the tree wardens schedule.
Franklin, MA
David Anderson, certified arborist, consulted with the DPW
The presentation document:
Franklin, MA: DPW - Tree Presentation
Mostly Norway Maples on the Common,
the diameter of a tree is measured 4.5 feet off the ground
diversity of trees on Common, sugar maples,
A big beautiful tree can be gone in a day with weather or capable machinery
but it takes about 100 years to get the tree to look like it does
issues, no defined tree care maintenance budget, it has been reduced over time due to the issues with the budget
recommend hearing by public tree warden then remove 12 possibly hazardous trees ASAP
consider relocating the carnival so it saves the ground compacting issues
McGann - if we don't do the removal, the other trees will be impacted
Cantoreggi - We all love trees, some we should cut down but I don't want to do that without having done a presentation first.
Vallee - What would it cost to take down these trees?
Cantoreggi - I think we can do these in house as time permits
Pfeffer - there maybe tree person who would come in and do that work to gain the wood from it
Nutting - we should proceed with the hearing on the trees?
Mason - yes, check with the tree wardens schedule.
Franklin, MA
Live reporting - DPW - snow
H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
Department of Public Works:
Winter Road Treatments & Snow Removal
$41,000 for sand
$326,000 for salt
$72 , 62, 47 per ton for salt , price coming down over the last three years
using less sand and more salt with mixture
issue with the catch basin cleaning
Franklin, MA: DPW - Snow Presentation
Estimated cost of a six inch storm, approx. $100,000
36 trucks and employees = $900/hour total maintenance and salary
53 pieces and $7500 per hour for the contractors to supplement the Town employees
Storm priority
Whalen - follow up on sidewalks, with the Town employees on 'rest' and sidewalks not cleared with schools open. Is there alternative staffing to be explored/
Nutting - We are not in a position to change the collective bargaining agreement. The School Dept has stated that if it is not safe, then the parents have the option to not send their children to school
Whalen - I think safety should be a priority and not that the union can get first crack at overtime.
Franklin, MA
Department of Public Works:
Winter Road Treatments & Snow Removal
$41,000 for sand
$326,000 for salt
$72 , 62, 47 per ton for salt , price coming down over the last three years
using less sand and more salt with mixture
issue with the catch basin cleaning
Franklin, MA: DPW - Snow Presentation
Estimated cost of a six inch storm, approx. $100,000
36 trucks and employees = $900/hour total maintenance and salary
53 pieces and $7500 per hour for the contractors to supplement the Town employees
Storm priority
- Public roadways
- Schools
- Sidewalks
Whalen - follow up on sidewalks, with the Town employees on 'rest' and sidewalks not cleared with schools open. Is there alternative staffing to be explored/
Nutting - We are not in a position to change the collective bargaining agreement. The School Dept has stated that if it is not safe, then the parents have the option to not send their children to school
Whalen - I think safety should be a priority and not that the union can get first crack at overtime.
Franklin, MA
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)