In the News: Fire Dept to hire 4 with grant

Grant would allow Franklin fire dept. to hire four

The Fire Department expects to hear as early as Friday whether it received a federal grant that will allow it to hire four firefighters, erasing the manpower shortage that has plagued its operations.

The Master Plan is here, the Master Plan is here!

The Master Plan Committee made its presentation to the Franklin Town Council on Wednesday evening.

Master Plan Committee

From left to right Councilor Matt Kelly, State Rep Jeff Roy (Committee Chair), Councilor Andy Bissanti, Christine Apicella, Chris Vericker, David Dobrzynski, and Nathan Carlucci. Tim Twardowski also presented a section but was not present at the time the photo was taken.

The Master Plan has been in a state of revision for the past several years with several efforts underway on sections of the full plan. The full plan was pulled together and updated over the past year with this committee. There will be a public hearing at the Franklin Library, Saturday, August 10th, 10:00 AM. Comments on the plan will be accepted through 1:00 PM on Friday August 16. The comments will be incorporated into a final draft to be presented to the Town Council at the Sep 18th meeting. There is a Planning Board meeting scheduled Sep 9th.

Franklin, MA: Master Plan draft for review by Steve Sherlock

The full Master Plan document can be found on the Franklin website here
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_Planning/masterplandoc/doc.pdf


The remainder of the Town Council meeting as captured in the notes as reported live on Weds can be found here

• Live reporting - closing
• Live reporting - Master Plan Committee Report
• Live reporting - Facilities
• Live reporting - Town Council - Jul 17, 2013
• 
  

Malcom London: High School Training Ground" (video)

From TED Education earlier this year:

Young poet, educator and activist Malcom London performs his stirring poem about life on the front lines of high school. He tells of the “oceans of adolescence” who come to school “but never learn to swim,” of “masculinity mimicked by men who grew up with no fathers.” Beautiful, lyrical, chilling.

3 minutes




For additional TED Talks you can visit their website:  http://www.ted.com/

Zentangle for Ages 11 & Up

Zentangle for Ages 11 and Up

zentangle for ages 11 and up

Franklin Public Library - 118 Main Street Franklin MA 02038 - 508.520.4940

"the roadmap on Franklin’s future"

The Master Plan draft was presented to the Town Council on Weds evening and summarized by the Milford Daily News here:

The 12-person committee introduced the draft master plan, a document used by officials to inform long-term planning, to Town Council on Wednesday, formerly beginning the public comment process. 

On Aug. 10, there will be a public hearing on the master plan, and the committee will continue accepting public comments until Aug. 16. The Planning Board and council are expected to adopt the final version of the plan in September. 

State Rep. Jeffrey Roy, D-Franklin, the chairman of the committee, asked the council to establish an implementation committee to assure that the master plan is put in place and does not sit on a shelf, unseen and unused. 

"We really want to make this a living document, take it off the shelf and show what we can do," Roy said.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x946753476/Franklins-updated-master-plan-unveiled#ixzz2ZO4PKKvk

Links to the Master Plan document and and the complete presentation used for the Town Council meeting can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/07/live-reporting-master-plan-committee.html

Live reporting - closing

I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
none

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1. Resolution 13-56: The Woodlands - Approval of Amendment to Regulatory Agreement and Transfer of Ownership
motion to waive the reading, approved
motion to move the resolution, seconded

Cerel - the developer failed, the bank took over, the issue from the town perspective is concerned with the housing association maintaining
located off Maple St, over i495 into Bellingham

regulations don't provide guidance for this, advice to approach the town
thanks to the Town Administrators office for crafting the amendment so that the development is marketable
the bank has lost money, the original developer lost money, we need someone to come in to operate the septic system and operations take place with the housing association

8 built and sold, 16 permitted, looking to move the remaining 8 units

motion approved, 7-0 (no roll required at this point as Councilor Mercer dropped off)


2. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 13-718: Changes to §185-7. Compliance Required – 1st Reading
motion to continue to Aug, passed 7-0


K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
spraying to kill the weeds is underway

the dams at DelCarte are complete, railings to be added, on schedule for playground

regional dispatch on docket at the State

Planning workshop on the 31st at 7:00 Pm

Conservation commission meeting on sidewalk for Panther Way scheduled for tomorrow night

T to repair the rook on the station in August

thanks to the 4th of July committee for a great job

Street plan for downtown now at 100% to go out for bid this fall, construction to begin next spring (2014)

Aug 19th building committee meeting also the presentation by the architect for Davis Thayer

L. OLD BUSINESS
what is time frame for removal of portables for Davis Thayer?
Next July, then Kennedy after

CSX rep to either clean it up or let the Town purchase the land at the corner of Cottage/Union
an offer had been made previously, they had refused before

possible grant coming to allow pay of four firefighters for two years
will help with staffing and reduce overtime

M. NEW BUSINESS

Pfeffer - continuing to drive the issue with the Facilities and access
Nutting - all those things existed when we left it in 2004, it has been valuable temporary space, it has met current code, it is not worth bringing up to code. We have limited staff.
Pfeffer - I give up


N. COUNCIL COMMENTS

Roy - the regional dispatch bill did pass both house and senate this week, on Governor's desk as of Monday.

Bissanti - condolences to the Colace family

Jones - looking to move the anaerobic digestion back to the forefront, the state has just released the plans to

Pfeffer - I am giving up but only for tonight

Powderly - will Lincoln be closed?
Nutting - no, one lane traffic, it will take some time, want to get much done before the school re-opens in Sep

Powderly - thanks for the 4th committee for rallying; thanks for implementing the anonymous comments


P. ADJOURN

Live reporting - Master Plan Committee Report

Councilor Jeff Roy introduced other members present this evening
public comment period on the plan opens tonight, will return Sep 18th for Town Council approval


The Master Plan document can be found here
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_Planning/masterplandoc/doc.pdf


A set of documents is coming out of this process

• goals and policies
• existing conditions
• implementation plan

Franklin, MA: Master Plan draft for review

Councilor Bissanti reviewed section "Land Use"

Councilor Kelly reviewed "Economic Development"

Christine Apicella   reviewed "Circulation" (which covers all modes of transportation)

Chris Vericker reviewed the "Housing" section

Tim Twardowski reviewed the "Natural, Cultural and Historic Resources"

David Dobrzynski reviewed the "Open Space and Recreation" section

Nathan Carlucci reviewed the "Community Services and Facilities"


Roy recommends a committee to monitor the implementation of the Master Plan

The report itself is 289 pages, and in spirit of being green, there are copies available via the website (see link above)

Public comment open through Fri, Aug 16th at 1:00 PM
will take the feedback and rework as required to bring to the Town Council for final approval in Sep.

Public Hearing at the Franklin Public Library Sat Aug 10th, 10:00 AM

Planning Board meeting date should be Sep 9th (doc shows 18th)

The school's strategic plan and goals and objectives are linked to and incorporated within the Master Plan

Powderly - thank you, commendation to all for the coordination on something that is actionable

Jones - thanks to all for stepping up to the plate on the hard work and effort to bring this to where it is today
what items are already being worked on? would be good to note that these are underway

Nutting the 1997 Master Plan while not adopted was referenced as necessary, the 2008 Open Space Plan, the Housing Plan was worked on, there was a lot more work behind the scenes by the staff that helped before the committee was appointed. It is not over yet but all the good things are the results of the good work from the employees and volunteers.

Roy - everyone who was consulted stepped up to provide as much information as required. The existing conditions report highlights what has been done. Jeff Nutting has been accomplishing great things for this community.