Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Strawberry Stroll - Thursday - Jun 7

Longer daylight, not much school left, must mean strawberry shortcake time!

The annual Strawberry Stroll put on by the Franklin Downtown Partnership will take place on Thursday, Jun 7 from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

Strawberry Stroll - 2012

The map of the participating locations downtown can be found here:
http://www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/2012/05/strawberry-stroll-map.html

Additional details on the event can be found on the Franklin Downtown Partnership pages here and here



Free Silver Line Ride: Logan to South Station

The timing of this 'free ride' is interesting given the fare increase that kicks in soon. For Franklin area commuters, the train can deliver you to South Station and then it is a free transfer via the Silver Line to Logan Airport.


Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

via Commonwealth Conversations: Transportation by Klark Jessen on 6/5/12

Bus Dual Mode-TunnelMassport, MassDOT, and the MBTA are teaming up to raise customer awareness of public transit options to and from Logan Airport.

The transportation partners today announced a three-month "On Us" pilot program that will let Logan passengers board for free inbound Silver Line bus service to South Station.

The pilot begins on June 6 and runs through September 3, 2012. Massport is offering the service in an effort to improve high occupancy vehicle (HOV) usage and improve terminal curbside traffic flow.

"Thanks to transportation reform, MassDOT, Massport and the MBTA are working together to test an ambitious plan to reduce the growing number of passenger vehicles on-airport, and encourage the use of public transportation and other HOV alternatives," said MassDOT Secretary Richard A. Davey, who chairs the Massport Board.

The Silver Line started service in 2006 and is key to Massport's promotion of HOV ridership to and from the airport to reduce congestion at the terminal curbs and on airport roadways, as well as reduce vehicle emissions. Massport purchased eight clean-fuel Silver Line buses in 2005.

"As Logan passenger numbers grow, our footprint, roadways and terminal curbs cannot grow with them so increasing HOV usage – Logan already is a national leader in HOV usage – is critical to the airport functioning as we head north of the 30 million passenger number," said David S. Mackey, Massport's Interim CEO & Executive Director.

The "On Us" pilot is the latest effort to attract Logan customers to public transit. Earlier this year the MBTA began offering real-time arrival information of the Silver Line to South Station from each terminal and improved signage within Terminal C directing passengers to the "T." Improved signage will be rolled out in the remaining terminals this year; and an advertising campaign promoting the use of the Silver Line and Blue Line to and from the airport.

Things you can do from here:

"the signal will help alleviate that traffic"

The Milford Daily News reporting on the Big Y hiring 150 writes in part:
D’Amour-Daley said construction, which began last summer, has progressed steadily thanks to the mild winter. 
“We are proceeding right on course and all is going well,” she said. 
Heavy snow and frigid temperatures have plagued past store constructions, she said.
D’Amour-Daley said the store — across the street from the Franklin Municipal Building, on the former site of the Franklin Buffet restaurant — will open sometime in the fall, after the traffic light at the supermarket’s entrance is installed.


Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x1040016488/Big-Y-expected-to-hire-150-people-in-Franklin#ixzz1x0IZUGFB

Suspect in Franklin home invasion being held

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

via The Milford Daily News News RSS by Matt Tota/Daily News staff on 6/5/12

A Rhode Island man, who police said is a suspect in a November home invasion, is being held without bail at the Rhode Island Adult Correctional Institute awaiting trial on an unrelated charge, police said.

Things you can do from here:

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Live reporting - Finance Committee - Jun 5, 2012

Present: Feldman, Goldsmith, Dufour, Quinn, Roche, Messere, Dewsnap, Smith
Absent: Huempfner

Jeff Nutting, Susan Gagner, Jim Dacey

Approval of meeting minutes (list of meetings to be added)
Announcement and recognition of service on committee and in particular with the meeting notes by Phyllis Messere who has decided not to return after June 30, 2012

Note: the general Stabilization account has decreased by the $350,000 used in the recently approved budget and should be $4,779K not the $5,129K shown


Action items

Fire Dept
amount to be transferred not exactly known, this is the working number. If it is over, it will end up in free cash. If it is short, he'll need to comeback for more. We do know that it is needed.

Q - on policy for free cash?
A - no specific policy to set the amount, it fluctuates from year to year. Varies year to year on expense side and of course on the revenue side we do under forecast to ensure we have enough. Consistently between 2 and 3 million.

Q - questioning about the free cash as it relates to decisions tonight
A - we normally would have used much of the free cash for snow and ice but with the weather we are benefiting and using it elsewhere
A - the policy I think you are referring to, is the target for the stabilization amount

Q - we are giving guidance?
A - This is a result of folks being out injured that were not anticipated at the time the approval was made to increase the Fire Dept to be able to staff the two ambulances

Ending up voicing approval in concept but not for a specific dollar amount

Unemployment
While we have money now, let's take the opportunity to put some money aside for when we will need it. Money is appropriated annually and what is left over goes into the trust, the trust has gone down and we are trying to put some money into the trust

motion to appropriate $50K to the unemployment trust fund
Approved 8-0

Street Acceptance
putting money into this account to allow for public notices on street takings, increasing our amount of streets also increases our state aid reimbursement, do need to plow etc. but to reconstruct the street itself, we can't do it without the street ownership (i.e. public way)

Q - what would it cost to take all of them?
A - I don't know, we are trying to take the easy ones first. There might be title research required. In the newer sub-divisions the street was owned by the developer, in the older developments, the street may have been owned by each of the home owners to the middle of the street.

Q - the whole process was too expensive
A - under the home rule now, it is easier, some will be free, some will cost something depending upon the research required, maps updated, etc. I can keep track and report back as we go

Motion to appropriate $25K for street acceptance
Passed 8-0

Spreadsheet provided as handout



This shows the various projects and the sourcing of the funds associated with each. Some accounts are being closed (rolling over their amounts to the projects).

DPW storage facility needed to replace building approved to be torn down and to replace the space to be lost when the new high school comes online (existing space at the High School is used by DPW)

Davis Thayer, the modular units will be going away over the next three years, the space at the school will be needed. This is to get an estimate

DelCarte dams are to going to bid later this year, while we have some time and the money available, put it aside now.

Senior Center was built with a second floor but it was not built out. From the census, the estimate of the senior population for Franklin is shown as 2500 in 1990, about 4500 now, and 7600 in the next several years as the 'baby boomers' age.

Artificial turf fields supposed to get 15 year services, no fields have lasted that long, we are at 8 years now, let's put some money aside now so when it does come time we'll have some money to do so

Fire truck - put some money aside as we are on a rotation program replacing trucks regularly instead of all of them at once.

Just received word that the Lincoln St bridge will need to be repaired, our share could be $350K
Old museum and old municipal building could be items for the future

Roche - I applaud that we are looking ahead. We are planning, a lot of it happens in the back ground. We have talked quite a bit of these items in the budget subcommittees. There is thought and planning behind this. This is a level of planning that is thinking ahead. We are taking this moeny now and moving it ahead. Some of this is still at the beginning of the discussion.

Q - stabilization accounts, requires separate votes to go into and take out of. Any administrative issues?
A - we have 65 bank accounts so three more won't be an issue

Davis Thayer
Parmenter portables will be removed in June, you already appropriated $70K for that. The school needs some facilities work, elevator and ADA accessibility to be addressed. We'll only have the summer to do the work so it would be a several year project and want to get the estimates for it.

Q - how long?
A - if you get the study, then you get the architect, it will take some time, no later than 2014 but it may go into 2015. Once we knew what the work was, we could figure out how it would affect our bond planning. Our debt is on decline so we have some opportunity.

When we stared out debt plan years ago, it was many lines now it is down, only the debt excluded lines remain. If we can keep our 3-3.5% debt, it can be useful for what we would need to do

motion to appropriate $25,144 for the Davis Thayer study
passed 8-0

Senior Center Improvements Stabilization Fund
We could use more adult day care but we are doing fine now, and these others are more of a priority
If you segregate them, it is easier to track. If you have it all as one, something could come along and someone would get upset if the money was used for something else. We have done this in the past for the DPW and the Debt Stabilzation, the State also recognized the need and now allows this where before it was only one account.

At the end of the day, the Council by a 2/3 vote can change this and take the money

We are not locking ourselves into this, we are funding this a year at a time. In some years, it may be more or less. If you want to expand the Senior Center, we will need the money.

The policy is on the general stabilization account and not on these other accounts.

Motion to appropriate $150K for Senior Center
passed 8-0

Fire Truck Stabilization
motion to appropriate $75K for Fire truck
passed 8-0

Athletic Fields Capital Improvement
About a half million dollars per field at today's dollars, we're planning ahead and the amount might end up being shy but we'll be closer than not having any money set aside

motion to appropriate $150K
passed 8-0

DPW building
This is for the cheaper option but we don't want to come back if we can avoid it. If there is anything left over, it can be re-allocated. One building to replace two existing facilities. A good portion coming from the snow and ice budget that we did not need to use this year

Q - given the history on snow and ice, is this okay?
A - we have changed our process operationally and the price of salt has come down. We may not hit our peak again.

Q - I am not questioning the projects, just looking to help cover us for the snow and ice
A - we usually watch the winter carefully and use the free cash to cover us for snow and ice before we do our capital accounts

Nutting - There is no DPW space in the model school program. This was the old shop. We are not replacing half of it between what we are loosing and what we are asking for. We can get small containers for temp storage. A wood building won't last as long as a steel building but if we can get 40 years out of it, we'll be doing good.


motion to appropriate $630,000
passed 8-0

Panther Way/Streets - Roads
Our original plan was for $400K but we have changed that with these proposals

Yes, the roads are a pressing need and more money should be put there. With a 25 million exposure, $750K is not much

Q - Is there much foot traffic there now?
A - Not today but with the re-design of the school, the street will be more of a through way. If you build it they will come.

Q - re-doing the old pool?
A - yes, the sculpture and walkways will be coming, that will increase traffic also

Brutus Cantoreggi, DPW Director - every road we are looking at, we are reducing the road width, removing sidewalks, doing storm water treatments with catch basins, etc. Putting rain gardens into cul-de-sacs reduces the cost of work and ongoing maintenance as well as handling the storm water

motion to appropriate $750K
passed 8-0

DelCarte dam repairs
7 dams, one is registered which means we are legally liable for it to be repaired
earthen dams with concrete sluceways that are falling apart
if we don't fix them, we will end up with more mosquitoes
the DPW was able to make a road way into the property to help save some money

The problem with getting to dam 5 is access is almost impossible without huge cost

Q - The 1.4 million is a one time cost
A - yes, the grant would cover the recreation trails. Inspection every year could be done with our staff, no other recurring costs per se.

Q - any other federal or state opportunities for the dams?
A - we have looked, not likely

Q - could we approve and not get permission?
A - the dams are in conservation control, the recreation land is in town hands so it is in our control. We have to front the money and then get reimburse with the grant. We do have some money in the open space account that we could use but would rather use the grant

Nick Alferi - Conservation agent
We'd like to get the bid out this summer and get both dams done at the same time. We are not likely to have the same building schedule during next winter but we still should be done in a year. The playground would be done after the dams are repaired.

We would do the repairs first and then the playground so we wouldn't be running construction vehicles over the new playground. The good news is that we have the money from Four Corners (where Walgreen's is) for recreation and open space.

Motion to appropriate $1.4 million
Passed 8-0

There will be a vacancy on the Finance Committee, send your interest to Jeff Nutting

Assume next meeting in Sep


motion to adjourn
passed 8-0


Reminder: Parmenter 5K - Jun 10

This year's 4th Annual Parmenter Fun Run for All Ages will be held on Sunday, June 10th at 10am.




Visit the Parmenter 5K website for additional details and to register. The first 150 get t-shirts!


For specific questions, one can email parmenter5k@gmail.com


In the News: home invasion, housing authority, teacher contract



Police name second suspect in Franklin home invasion

MEMA prepares for hurricane season in Massachusetts

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

via Wicked Local Franklin News RSS by GateHouse Media, Inc. on 6/4/12

As hurricane season officially begins this week, the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency is launching a series of  workshops and drills for local officials and public awareness announcements for residents.

Things you can do from here:

State releases first Tax Credit Transparency Report identifying recipients o...

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

via Commonwealth Conversations: Revenue by Robert Bliss on 6/4/12

The Executive Office for Administration and Finance today released the first-ever Massachusetts Tax Credit Transparency Report compiled by the Department of Revenue based on reports received from the various state agencies that administer thirteen tax credits.

The reporting requirement was proposed by Gov. Deval Patrick and enacted by the Legislature in the FY11 budget. The report identifies receipients of the credits and the amount either received or awarded in calendar 2011.

"The Patrick-Murray Administration continues to build on its record of making government spending more transparent to the public with today's publication of the Tax Credit Report," said A&F Secretary Jay Gonzalez.

"This release, along with other transparency initiatives like the recent launch of 'Open Checkbook' on the state's website gives taxpayers access to information they need and deserve to understand how government funds are being spent and to hold those of us in government accountable for the management of their tax dollars," Gonzalez said.

The credits reported on are the Film Tax Credit, Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit, Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, Brownfields Tax Credit, Medical Device Company Tax Credit, Dairy Farmer Tax Credit, Life Sciences Tax Incentive Program (with its Investment, Research, User Fee  and Jobs Tax Credits), Economic Development Incentive Program Credit, Certified Housing Development Tax Credit, and Conservation Land Tax Credit. 

Things you can do from here:

Monday, June 4, 2012

Happy Birthday Minimum Wage



MassBudget    Information.
   Participation.
 Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center    Democracy.
The Minimum Wage: Then and Now
Today is the 100th anniversary of the nation's first minimum wage law--a law passed here in Massachusetts.
To honor that centennial, MassBudget is releasing a new report showing how many workers would be affected by an increase in the minimum wage--and examining who those workers are.
Specifically, we find that raising the minimum wage to $10 would:
Directly increase the wages of roughly 325,000 workers currently earning less than $10/hour.

Likely increase the wages of 250,000 additional workers currently earning slightly more than $10/hour.
To provide a more complete picture of the people who would be affected, the report also includes an interactive tool that lets you analyze the numbers by age, gender, work-type, education, and more.
The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) produces policy research, analysis, and data-driven recommendations focused on improving the lives of low- and middle-income people, strengthening our state's economy, and enhancing the quality of life in Massachusetts.

MASSACHUSETTS BUDGET AND POLICY CENTER
15 COURT SQUARE, SUITE 700
BOSTON, MA 02108
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This email was sent to shersteve@gmail.com by nberger@massbudget.org |  

Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center | 15 Court Square | Suite 700 | Boston | MA | 02108

DPW Construction Plans for 2012

According to the current construction plans for 2012 as posted to the DPW webpage, the following streets will see construction this year:


  • East Central Street - Water Main Replacement
  • Riverside Drive - Paving
  • Evergreen Drive - Paving
  • Overlook Drive - Paving
  • Greensfield Road - Paving
  • Greensfield Lane - Paving
  • Grove Street - Waterline Replacement
  • Intersection of Miller Street / Green Street - Roadway Realignment and Drainage
  • Wyllie Road - Waterline Replacement
  • Pyne Circle - Waterline Replacement



  • East Street, West Street, Nason Street, Walnut Avenue, Church Avenue,  Crescent Street,  Martin Avenue, Garfield Street, and Charlotte Court - Waterline and Drainage Replacement during 2012 with Pavement and Sidewalks to be completed in 2013



Check the DPW page for updates to this listing
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_DPW/Construction_Projects/construction_projects_index

Big Y: Franklin, MA

During my run along RT 140 on Sunday morning, I stopped for some photos to mark the progress on the Big Y.




For those looking for work, the Big Y is hiring!
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/06/big-y-plans-to-hire-150-plus.html

Sunday, June 3, 2012

Franklin, MA: Finance Committee - agenda - Jun 5, 2012

The Finance Committee will get the preview for all the financial approvals that the Town Council has on their agenda for Wednesday, Jun 6. If you really want to get a head start on the details about each of the proposals, this is the place to be.



The full agenda for the Town Council meeting can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/06/franklin-ma-town-council-agenda-jun-6.html

Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - Jun 6, 2012



A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
May 2, 2012, May 16, 2012

B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
This meeting is being recorded by Verizon, Comcast, and Franklin Matters

C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
Franklin School for the Performing Arts

D. CITIZEN COMMENTS

E. APPOINTMENTS
Franklin Disability Commission - Deborah Bean

Joint Appointment of Planning Board Member - Brian Lyra, Jeffrey T. Harris, Douglas Hartnett

Joint Appointment of Member of the Board of Assessors - John Neas

F. HEARINGS

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS

H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
Senators Spilka and Ross – Budget Update

I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1. Resolution 12-25: Order of Layout, Acceptance, and Taking of Beaver Court, Mark’s Way and J.R.’S Lane and Order of Taking (Extinguishment) of Related Right-of-Way Over Abutting Town-Owned-Land
2. Resolution 12-41: Appropriation:Roads/Sidewalks/Drainage/Stormwater/Infrastructure
3. Resolution 12-42: Authorization for DPW Garage/Storage Building
4. Resolution 12-43: Authorization to Transfer Funds – Davis Thayer Study
5. Resolution 12-44: Authorization to Transfer Funds – Dam Repairs
6. Resolution 12-45: Establishment of a Senior Center Capital Improvement Stabilization Fund
7. Resolution 12-46: Appropriation Senior Center Capital Improvement Stabilization Fund
8. Resolution 12-47: Establishment of an Athletic Fields Capital Improvement Stabilization Fund
9. Resolution 12-48: Appropriation Athletic Fields Capital Improvement Stabilization Fund
10. Resolution 12-49: Establishment of a Fire Truck Stabilization Fund
11. Resolution 12-50: Appropriation Fire Truck Stabilization Fund
12. Bylaw Amendment 12-683: Amendment to Chapter 170, Vehicles and Traffic-Parking- 2nd Reading
13. Bylaw Amendment 12-684: Amendment to Chapter 82, Appendix A, List of Service Fee Rates – 2nd Reading
14. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 12-685: Amendment to Chapter 185, §24. Floodplain District – Referral to Planning Board
15. Bylaw Amendment 12-687: Amendment to Chapter 25, Personnel Regulations, Appendix A - Classification Plan and Appendix B – Pay Schedules- 1st Reading

K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

L. OLD BUSINESS

M. NEW BUSINESS

N. COUNCIL COMMENTS

O. EXECUTIVE SESSION
Negotiations, Litigation, Real Property, as May Be Required

P. ADJOURN

The full set of documents to accompany this agenda can be found on the Franklin website
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2012%20docs/060612.pdf

Franklin, MA: Recycling - what, where, how

The DPW has updated the following document on what, where and how to recycle in Franklin, MA.

On a related note, the Recycling Center at Beaver St will no longer accept cash payments as of July 1, 2012. Payments can be made by check, credit or debit card (Visa or Mastercard).





You can also find this document on the Franklin website
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_Recycling/index