Present: Mercer, Dellorco, Kelly, Powderly, Vallee, Pfeffer, Jones, Bissanti, Roy
Absent: none
A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
– April 3, 2013 Regular and Executive Session and April 24, 2013
motion to approve minutes, seconded, passed 9-0
B. ANNOUNCEMENTS – This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast channel 11 and Verizon channel 29. This meeting may be recorded by Franklin Matters.
C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
Brittany McLoed received a proclamation wishing her luck in her quest to be appointed for the Best Job In Australia, the Chief Funster.
D. CITIZEN COMMENTS - none
E. APPOINTMENTS
looking to add a citizen to the citizens committee so they can participate in the next meeting
motion to add item to the agenda, passed.
motion to approve, passed
G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
– New All Alcoholic Beverages Hotel License – Residence Inn by Marriott-Franklin
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Anaerobic digestion - presentation document
The presentation document as used for the Planning Board meeting on Monday.
The presentation is likely similar if not the same as will be reviewed with the Town Council this evening.
The presentation is likely similar if not the same as will be reviewed with the Town Council this evening.
Important Downtown Parking Updates
Dear FDP Members:
As many of you know Parking Downtown is always a hot topic.
Jeff Nutting and I are setting up a parking sub-committee to discuss parking
in more detail and to come up with solutions prior to the Streetscape project.
Some of the discussions will include a decision on whether to keep metered parking
downtown or possibly change to "chalking". Also, we need to decide on the
length of time for the meters in different areas of the downtown.
We invite you to join the discussion. We would like to have 5-6 people on this
sub-committee and we especially would like to hear from downtown businesses.
Please contact the FDP office no later than June 14th if you are interested
in being a part of these important discussions. Thank you to those who have already contacted us.
We will be setting up a meeting in a few weeks.
Attention Downtown Business and Building Owners:
Also, Jeff Nutting will be making some limited permit parking available in
the town's West Central lot (next to 7-11) for business owners and their employees.
Please contact Jeff or the FDP office by June 14th if you think you may be interested
in reserving a space or would like more information. This is a good solution for those
building owners who have tenants with limited or no parking.
http://www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/
3: Introducing Lobster Twin Tuesdays! And join us for Italian Wednesdays!
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In the News: Elks 5K, downtown parking
Franklin's first Elks 5K a success
The inaugural Elks Care Elks Share 5K Run and Walk held on May 11 was a smashing success, organizers say, raising more than $15,000 that will go to the Franklin Food Pantry, the Wounded Warriors Project and the One Fund Boston.
Sub-committee aims to fix downtown Franklin parking problems
Ever since the town brought back a parking control officer to patrol downtown, business owners there have debated, as tickets piled up, whether the renewed enforcement has helped or hurt.
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
Live reporting: Finance Committee - June 4, 2013
Present: Goldsmith, Dufur, Quinn, Roche, Dewsnap, Aparo, Huempfner
Absent: Smith, Feldman
Susan Gagner, Jeff Nutting, Jim Dacey
motion to approve minutes from Apr 2 meeting
motion made, seconded, and voted unanimously 7-0
Action Items
Jeff talked about the first transfer item, still no agreement with the Union, so we can use the money currently set aside for that. This adjustment will cover and balance the budget for the remainder of the fiscal year.
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0
Transfering the two amounts covered together
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0
These remaining items come from free cash. The operating budget stabilization separate from the general stabilization which is kept at the 5% level (approx. 5M).
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0
These are capital budget items known to be needed sooner than later and setting aside some money now for when. Senior Center would be to complete the second floor, would need about 1M to do the work. at this rate maybe 3 more years we could start the work. A new fire truck is needed about every 6-7 years, so putting money aside every year allows the fleet rotation program to continue so the life of a truck would really go to about 25 years. Athletic fields will need turf replacements in another 3-5 years so starting now to save money aside for the replacement will make it easier when needed. Fields at Beaver St and FHS.
A study is being done at the Library for interior work, likely would come back to the FinCom and Council for decision when that is ready. Would prefer to use the debt capacity this capacity for the Library and also for Davis Thayer renovations which are also being studied. The Senior Center is not an immediate need so we can afford to save and wait for it. There is another item later to buy a house so we can expand the parking lot for when we do finish out the second floor.
three individual motions to approve, each seconded, and passed 7-0
Really would like to put 3M into the account yearly but can't do that. This number was backed into and at least helps us say we are doing somehting to meet the eventual obligation. The game plan is to put a 100,000 more into the budget and then rachet it up with free cash as available.
Health insurance was a blip on the radar for years. If we had more money, we'd put more money into it.
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0
If you remember we had an earlier round of capital. I recommend that if we come back we'd take a look at additional items. more money for fire dept radios, had held 50,000 back from the school's request earlier. So these are not new items, these are just coming back
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0
A house immediately abutting the Senior Center, where the driveway is not used. Offer made, would like to complete the purchase, demolition the home and eventually expand the parking lot. The cost of the lot itself would come back in the future.
This covers the purchase and demolition. If the purchase doesn't go through, then the Council might have other options. If the money isn't used, then the money could be used elsewhere. The money for the parking lot could come out of free cash next year.
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0
In the final planning stages for revitalization of the downtown, with State and Federal requirements, we need to get temporary easements for the construction to be done. The vast majority of the abutters are working with us nicely and are glad the project is going forward. Ultimately, if we can get their signature and they do want compensation, this money would be for the appraiser and some of the fair value compensation.
Mostly street widening and some corner adjustments to prepare the work and eventual new ways.
If more than 1,000 sq ft, we are supposed to get an outside appraiser. The value of the individual property shouldn't be changing much. I have personally visited a dozen homes to get the signatures.
If the person did refuse, the Town Council would take it by eminent domain for the temporary period, or if necessary, for the permanent easement.
Old Business - none
New Business
Jim Roche will not be returning for another three years to the FinCom
One of the roles for the Chairman is to interview the candidates, I would like nominate Chris Quinn for Chairman pro-tem
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0
Only one vacancy for the next term
Nutting - If you think of Franklin in 2001 and again today, there has been a lot of improvement and growth and you have been a part of that. Lowest per capita cost, lowest tax bill, thanks for your volunteer time.
if interested in joining the Finance Committee, send an email to the Town Administrator
Absent: Smith, Feldman
Susan Gagner, Jeff Nutting, Jim Dacey
motion to approve minutes from Apr 2 meeting
motion made, seconded, and voted unanimously 7-0
Action Items
Jeff talked about the first transfer item, still no agreement with the Union, so we can use the money currently set aside for that. This adjustment will cover and balance the budget for the remainder of the fiscal year.
- FY 2013 Fire salaries 100,000 Emp. Benefits -Encumbrance
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0
Transfering the two amounts covered together
- OPEB Stabilization Fund 100,000 FY2013 Budget
- OPEB Stabilization Fund 298,000 FY 2014 Budget
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0
These remaining items come from free cash. The operating budget stabilization separate from the general stabilization which is kept at the 5% level (approx. 5M).
- Operating Budget Stabilization fund 225,000 free cash
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0
These are capital budget items known to be needed sooner than later and setting aside some money now for when. Senior Center would be to complete the second floor, would need about 1M to do the work. at this rate maybe 3 more years we could start the work. A new fire truck is needed about every 6-7 years, so putting money aside every year allows the fleet rotation program to continue so the life of a truck would really go to about 25 years. Athletic fields will need turf replacements in another 3-5 years so starting now to save money aside for the replacement will make it easier when needed. Fields at Beaver St and FHS.
- Senior Center Stabilization Fund 200,000 free cash
- Fire Truck Stabilization Fund 100,000 free cash
- Athletic Fields Stabilization Fund 200,000 free cash
A study is being done at the Library for interior work, likely would come back to the FinCom and Council for decision when that is ready. Would prefer to use the debt capacity this capacity for the Library and also for Davis Thayer renovations which are also being studied. The Senior Center is not an immediate need so we can afford to save and wait for it. There is another item later to buy a house so we can expand the parking lot for when we do finish out the second floor.
three individual motions to approve, each seconded, and passed 7-0
Really would like to put 3M into the account yearly but can't do that. This number was backed into and at least helps us say we are doing somehting to meet the eventual obligation. The game plan is to put a 100,000 more into the budget and then rachet it up with free cash as available.
- OPEB Stabilization Fund 150,000 free cash
Health insurance was a blip on the radar for years. If we had more money, we'd put more money into it.
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0
If you remember we had an earlier round of capital. I recommend that if we come back we'd take a look at additional items. more money for fire dept radios, had held 50,000 back from the school's request earlier. So these are not new items, these are just coming back
- FY 13 Capital Round 2 162,000 free cash
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0
A house immediately abutting the Senior Center, where the driveway is not used. Offer made, would like to complete the purchase, demolition the home and eventually expand the parking lot. The cost of the lot itself would come back in the future.
- Beaver St Land Purchase/Demo 150,000 free cash
This covers the purchase and demolition. If the purchase doesn't go through, then the Council might have other options. If the money isn't used, then the money could be used elsewhere. The money for the parking lot could come out of free cash next year.
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0
In the final planning stages for revitalization of the downtown, with State and Federal requirements, we need to get temporary easements for the construction to be done. The vast majority of the abutters are working with us nicely and are glad the project is going forward. Ultimately, if we can get their signature and they do want compensation, this money would be for the appraiser and some of the fair value compensation.
- Downtown HPP Project-appraisal/easement 75,000 free cash
Mostly street widening and some corner adjustments to prepare the work and eventual new ways.
If more than 1,000 sq ft, we are supposed to get an outside appraiser. The value of the individual property shouldn't be changing much. I have personally visited a dozen homes to get the signatures.
If the person did refuse, the Town Council would take it by eminent domain for the temporary period, or if necessary, for the permanent easement.
Old Business - none
New Business
Jim Roche will not be returning for another three years to the FinCom
One of the roles for the Chairman is to interview the candidates, I would like nominate Chris Quinn for Chairman pro-tem
motion to approve, seconded, passed 7-0
Only one vacancy for the next term
Nutting - If you think of Franklin in 2001 and again today, there has been a lot of improvement and growth and you have been a part of that. Lowest per capita cost, lowest tax bill, thanks for your volunteer time.
if interested in joining the Finance Committee, send an email to the Town Administrator
Anaerobic digestion is 'not recommended' by the Planning Board
The Planning Board heard the joint presentation by Jeff Nutting, Town Administrator and MassDEP representatives, had questions and still wants to learn more about the proposal for the anaerobic digestion plant. They did move the two zoning bylaws to the Town Council with votes of "not to recommend".
The Town Council will have a public hearing on Wednesday for the zoning bylaw changes. The presentation will likely be repeated in whole or at least in part for the audience at that meeting. The zoning bylaw change is the first step to this proposal.
With the change in zoning accepted, the Town could open a Request for a Proposal (RFP) to see what companies would step up to offer to lease the land and operate the anaerobic digestion plant. If the RFP brought in sufficient dollars for the Town Council to accept, then the contract negotiations would commence along with the permitting process.
The permitting process would be multi-level with permits required from MassDEP. The Planning Board would come back into action when the company and/or developer would cone with their site plan.
Handling the truck traffic through the interchange at Franklin Village to get to Pond St would be just one of many issues to be addressed. Adding 50-80 trips through the interchange doesn't sound like much but these trips would be trucks, rather large tankers the likes of which we see going to Garelick Farms. Add one or two of those to the line of cars heading east on RT 140 attempting the left turn onto Pond St and see how far the traffic extends its back up. The traffic already backs up sufficiently that the cars in the left turn lane prevent the through traffic from making further progress east on RT 140.
The collection of posts reported live from the Planning Board meeting Monday, June 3 can be found here
 |
| Bryan Taberner, Beth Dahlstrom, Mike Magilo, Jeff Nutting, James Doucett, Martin Souberg |
The Town Council will have a public hearing on Wednesday for the zoning bylaw changes. The presentation will likely be repeated in whole or at least in part for the audience at that meeting. The zoning bylaw change is the first step to this proposal.
With the change in zoning accepted, the Town could open a Request for a Proposal (RFP) to see what companies would step up to offer to lease the land and operate the anaerobic digestion plant. If the RFP brought in sufficient dollars for the Town Council to accept, then the contract negotiations would commence along with the permitting process.
 |
| one driver for anaerobic digestion is to remove food waste from solid waste |
The permitting process would be multi-level with permits required from MassDEP. The Planning Board would come back into action when the company and/or developer would cone with their site plan.
Handling the truck traffic through the interchange at Franklin Village to get to Pond St would be just one of many issues to be addressed. Adding 50-80 trips through the interchange doesn't sound like much but these trips would be trucks, rather large tankers the likes of which we see going to Garelick Farms. Add one or two of those to the line of cars heading east on RT 140 attempting the left turn onto Pond St and see how far the traffic extends its back up. The traffic already backs up sufficiently that the cars in the left turn lane prevent the through traffic from making further progress east on RT 140.
The collection of posts reported live from the Planning Board meeting Monday, June 3 can be found here
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