Wednesday, August 7, 2013

Live reporting: DPW proposal on road repairs


H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS 
- Department of Public Works

Kate Sjoberg, Mike Maglio, Robert (Brutus)Cantoreggi, and Laurie Ruszala



(document to be added)


http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_DPW/General_Pages/2013%20Roadway%20Presentation.pdf

roads rated 69 or less analyzed

quite a few roads rated 69 or less

if depending only upon Chap 90, the road repairs would decrease
proposal with a possible override shows getting to 70 or better within 5 years


focus had been on water/sewer repairs with road repairs

60% funding from water 40% from other sources

Chap 90 funding is variable (shown in chart)


Council appropriations also vary year to year (shown in chart)


initiative '14 plan

looking for a debt override of a $1M per year (how long not answered yet)

new water study being done in 2014

Nutting

200 miles of roads and each can have an individual issue
water can continue to supply funding for the foreseeable future

dedicated override can be kept to a fund for perpetuity

a million dollar override would cost about $18 per homeowner

Q - Kelly - would the plan be to get the roads accepted before we repaired

A - Yes, we would get them accepted before work is done

Q  - would be reducing the road size?

A - yes, 
discussion on size of the road in subdivisions, they cover that size of the road

reducing the size avoids the cost of repair and future maintenance


C - Powderly - thank you for this, easy to understand, folks can see where things fall out. The Town is reliant on a zero sum game. the only thing that will fix the roads will be a dedicated override


C - Roy - The legislature did authorize more money in Chap 90. The Governor is authorized to do so, he has not released the funds. he is getting pressure from legislators everyday. With the economy going, I am not sure if this is time to do an override. You'll have a new council in place in November and it would be better for their decision.


C - Bissanti - what happened in the 80's, the DPW were not doing the core and compression tests when they were being built, which is why we ended up with the roads we have now.


C - Nutting - you had residents come in a couple of months ago, more are likely, the only thing that will fix the roads is money. Utimately, the town is going to have to take more responsibility


Q - Dellorco - where are the road ratings?

A - The road ratings are on the town website (see link to be added). If I don't fix them, they are calling you. We are up against it. We have done a lot of work in town. full reconstruction is about $100 sq ft. I am not saying Brutus wants an override. If it is adjusted, we can live with it. The facts speak for themselves. The bubble of the last 80-90's is coming and needs to be addressed.



Live reporting: Town Council - Aug 7, 2013

Present: Mercer, Dellorco, Kelly, Powderly, Vallee, Pfeffer, Jones, Bissanti, Roy
Absent:  none


A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
– May 8, 2013, May 15, 16, 2013 Budget Hearings
motion to approve, 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.

motion to add to hearing
seconded, approved 9-0

C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
none

D. CITIZEN COMMENTS
Larry Bennedetto -
Town assuming ownership of train station, Stoughton doing this, want to talk with them first
acquiring 21 acres adjanct to the Recylcing center, Rep Jeff Roy will be working

Richard Cornetta introduced
Motion to allow non-residents to speak, seconded, passed 9-0

Roy McDowell, Todd McDowell
working Legacy Farms in Hopkinton
interest in Pond Street property
looking to work with whomever to do an RFP to sell the property
not a good idea yet but wanted to see interest from Town before pursuing
have looked atr previous plans and can work within those comments

can't be discussed under citizens comments but if they stick around, it can be discussed later

E. APPOINTMENTS
Conservation Commission: Paul Harrington
motion to approve appointment, seconded, passed 9-0

Cultural Council: Rev. Bob Johnnene
motion to approve appointment, seconded, passed 9-0

Election Workers: (see listing in agenda doc)
motion to approve appointment, seconded, passed 9-0
one name to remove Jorgenson(?) as they are no longer a resident

F. HEARINGS
- Violation of M.G.L. 138 §34: Sale, Delivery of Furnishing of an Alcoholic beverage to a person under the age of 21 – Postponed to September 4, 2013- 7:10 PM (Ichigo Ichie and Village Mall Liquors)

hearing added to be continued to Sep 4th

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
none


Master Plan: Zoning

The draft Master Plan 2013 for Franklin is chock full of great information. Zoning plans an important role in how Franklin operates and grows. Look around town, there are commercial zones and residential areas. These are all by design. The design can be changed via the zoning process and the overall guidelines to the design come from the Master Plan. The full plan document runs over 90 pages but should be required summer reading for each Franklin resident and voter.

You can participate in the Public Hearing on this draft on Saturday at the Library at 10:00 AM

The overview section on zoning is shared here:

Zoning

A municipality’s authority to create zoning laws comes from Chapter 40A of the Massachusetts General Laws and Article 89 of the Amendments to the Massachusetts Constitution. Zoning plays an important role in the character of the town and the spatial distribution of land uses. This distribution of land uses has social, environmental, and economic consequences on the Town. These consequences can have positive and negative impacts. For example, increased economic development can help support the Town’s tax base and provide local jobs, but it can also lead to increased traffic congestion. Also, the ways in which development occurs impacts how stormwater is managed, and therefore affects the quality and supply of the Town’s water. Since zoning regulations affect where specific types of development are allowed, it plays a crucial role in the livability of the Town.

In the past sixty years land use theory on zoning has changed considerably. During the mid-20th century single-use zoning became the norm. The developed areas of most communities increased substantially and spread out as residential, commercial, and industrial areas were built far apart from each other. Franklin experienced this pattern of development, commonly known as sprawl, to some extent in the mid twentieth century, but by the 1980s and 1990s residential sprawl had occurred throughout Town, substantial industrial development was occurring on industrially zoned lands west of I-495, and commercial development was
increasing along Route 140.

There are both benefits and advantages, and costs and disadvantages, to this type of development. Some of the benefits and advantages include: ease of permitting; segregated residential areas are thought of as safe; and homes segregated away from commercial and industrial uses often have higher values. Some of the disadvantages and negative consequences of sprawl include increased traffic congestion and time commuting, loss of open spaces, damaged natural resources and wildlife habitat, and loss of a rural New England character. Furthermore, low-density, sprawling development tends not to pay for itself due to the higher infrastructure costs. The Town has recognized the advantages and disadvantages of single-use development and has worked to minimize these issues by amending the Town’s Zoning Bylaws.

Description of Zones

Franklin’s zoning code is documented in Chapter 185 of the Town Code for the purpose of promoting the:
“health, safety, convenience, morals and welfare of the inhabitants of the Town of Franklin, to lessen the danger from fire and congestion, to encourage the most appropriate use of land and to improve the Town under the provisions of Chapter 40A of the General Laws, and of Article 89 of the Amendments to the Constitution. For this purpose, the use, construction, repair, alteration, height, area and the location of buildings and structures and the use of premises in the Town of Franklin are regulated as hereinafter provided.”
The zoning code is regularly modified to reflect the current needs of the Town. At present, the Town Code divides Franklin into 14 Zoning Districts. It should be noted however, that while Zoning Districts have been established within Chapter 185 Section 4 for Limited Industrial and Neighborhood Commercial, no parcels have formally been designated to those zoning districts, and thus are not shown on the Town’s Zoning Map (see Map LU-1: Zoning Map).


You can view the full document online on the Franklin webpage
http://www.franklinma.gov/planning-community-development/pages/master-plan

DelCarte Property: summer time!

I was overdue for a run out by the DelCarte Property and covered that with a visit on Sunday. A gorgeous weather day for running and a wonderful time to view the repaired dam.


shadowed approach to the dam


the reconstructed dam

A brief video with a panorama view




Going back to December 2012 for a comparison view
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/12/delcarte-property-video_20.html


In the News: General Cable accident, nomination papers available

Man injured in accident at General Cable in Franklin

An  employee of General Cable in Franklin suffered serious injuries after he was caught in a piece of machinery, said Deputy Fire Chief Paul J. Sharpe Jr.


Nomination papers available for Franklin elections

Nomination papers for the fall election - in which all seats on the Town Council and School Committee will be on the ballot - were made available this week.


Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Master Plan: Mission and Vision Statements

Leading up to the public hearing Saturday, Aug 10th on the Master Plan, I'll share sections of the draft document to help foster discussion. The hearing will take place at the Franklin Public Library, 118 Main St at 10:00 AM.

From the Master Plan draft document - 

The Master Plan Committee (MPC) developed the following Master Plan Mission Statement, which it used as a guide throughout the Plan development process:
“Franklin is a community committed to high quality education and the superb delivery of public services. We strive to attract and retain businesses, both profit and non-profit, that grow our economy, create jobs, and contribute to a vibrant downtown center. We are committed to cultivating accessible open space, a sense of neighborhood, and a desire to preserve the character of our New England town. We support the safe and efficient movement of people and goods within the Town of Franklin, and across the regional transportation network, by
providing a range of integrated transportation options. We are a community dedicated to effective planning, responsible land use, balanced growth, responsive government, racial, religious and economic diversity, and care and concern for its citizens and the environment. We value our arts, cultural and natural resources, heritage, and history, in order to foster a well-balanced community.”

The MPC also developed a vision statement for Franklin:
“To be a vibrant community that supports the arts, non-profit organizations, higher education and businesses in an atmosphere that allows growth and prosperity while at the same time conserving our heritage, natural resources, and history. We will build on and celebrate our uniqueness as a community and maintain the quality of life that is a strength and competitive advantage.”


You can find the whole master plan document here
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/pages/FranklinMA_Planning/masterplandoc/doc


The presentation and notes from the Town Council meeting can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/07/the-master-plan-is-here-master-plan-is.html


Franklin Library: Pumpernickel Puppets, Aug 7 - 1:00 PM


The Library program for Wednesday, August 7th is shown in this flyer

Pumpernickel Puppets

For more about Pumpernickel Puppets you can visit their webpage
http://www.pumpernickelpuppets.com/shows.html


"6.25 percent charge on various IT activities"

Technical help is going to get a little harder to provide in MA due to a new tax law that became effective on July 31.
Cara Mulcahy, who owns the Franklin web site design firm Avenir Services, said the tax does not affect the services she currently offers. She said, though, it would discourage her from providing new services. 
"My concern is that it's so vague that it could affect me down the road," she said. "It's prohibiting me from expanding my services." 
Mulcahy, of Wrentham, said she feared that if she were to send her customers a bill with a "tax" line item, they could take their business to New Hampshire firms, which do not have to charge a tax.

Read more: http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x853699007/Local-business-owners-speak-out-against-IT-tax#ixzz2bBP2NjeB

In the News: document shredding

DCU in Franklin offer free document shredding on Aug. 10
DCU, 500 West Central St., Franklin, will offer free document shredding for the public on Saturday, Aug. 10, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.


Monday, August 5, 2013

Akin Bak Farm stand - grand opening

I have looked forward to getting Howard Crawford's honey at the Franklin Farmer's Market. Now the Akin Bak Farm has a nice new stand with fresh produce as well as the honey for sale.

Akin Bak sign on RT 140

the new farm stand

fields you can't see from RT 140

bee hives along the edge of the field

pumpkin not quite ready to harvest

If you are worried about trying to make a left turn out of Akin Bak, there is another alternative. Once on the property, there is a driveway that can take you out to Beaver St and drop you right next to the Franklin Glass. You can come out to the corner of Beaver St and RT 140 and the traffic light will make the left turn easier.

Additional photos of the farm can be found on the Akin Bak Google map page here

You can find Akin Bak on Facebook here  https://www.facebook.com/AkinBakFarm

or their webpage here  http://www.akinbakfarmllc.com/

Poor handling

Given the occasional visits the family has made to Ichigo Ichie/s, it is a good restaurant. The water bubble wall is enchanting and more importantly the food is good. Their liquor license procedures stand some significant improvement however. For a restaurant open only two years, to have failed the license compliance check each year is not good. That kind of track record is going to jeopardize their operations.

The hearing on their second suspension was initially scheduled for this Wednesday's Town Council meeting and rescheduled for Sep 4. The lawyer representing Ichigo Ichie's is out of town so they asked for the reschedule.

Ichigo Ichie - Franklin, MA
Ichigo Ichie - Franklin, MA


Tune into the meeting Sep 4th to find out when the next suspension of their liquor license will occur. The first offense usually results in a one day suspension with the second a three day suspension. Ichigo Ichie's would stand to loose a weekend of operation following the precedence of prior suspensions.


Related links
Agenda for Weds Aug 7
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/08/franklin-ma-town-council-agenda-aug-7.html

Ichigo Ichie opens
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/12/updates-ichigo-ichie-and-italian.html

Ichigo Ichie's first suspension
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/07/in-news-town-council-meeting-coverage.html

Ichigo Ichie's webpage http://www.ichigoichieus.com/franklin/index.html

Sunday, August 4, 2013

PanMass Challenge makes a water stop in Franklin

As noted the annual PanMass Challenge bike riders made their water stop in Franklin on Saturday morning. The riders left Sturbridge and began to arrive at the Remington-Jefferson School complex around 7:30 AM. I stopped by to take some photos, a couple of brief videos and managed to see a couple of the riders I had contributed to. I missed finding the other riders but as you can see in the photos, most are all wearing the same shirt. They all have their safety helmets on and when on a bike, they can be hard to pick out of the crowd.

It is heartwarming to see the welcome provided by so many of the volunteers, friends and family and equally heartwarming to see so many riders. When folks can come together like this for a good cause, it is a special time!

The entrance:


In the middle of the water stop:



The entrance on Washington St
PMC_entrance1


coming in to the water stop
PMC_entrance2


the helmet decorations helped to find riders
PMC_entrance3


Team Kermit
PMC_entrance7


coming around the bend
PMC_entrance8


food, refreshments, medical assistance and a DJ playing up beat music
PMC_entrance6


once the riders arrived, they had some fun to find who they were looking for!
PMC_entrance4


Town Administrator Jeff Nutting
PMC_entrance9


Marty Middelman and his family
PMC_entrance5

Proposed Ballot Question: Treasurer/Collector appointed or elected?

Proposed ballot question text:
Shall the city known as the Town of Franklin approve the charter amendment proposed by the Franklin Town Council in Resolution 13-30 summarized below?
The proposed amendment eliminates the provision for election of the Town Treasurer-Collector and adds a provision for appointment of the Town Treasurer-Collector by the Town Administrator, with input from a selection committee and ratification by the Town Council; the amendment takes effect if and when approved by the voters, except that the incumbent Treasurer-Collector shall serve the remainder of his current term.

This seems like a good one to do a poll or survey question on. If you are reading this via email, please come to the Franklin Matters webpage:  http://www.franklinmatters.org/  You should find the survey question in the top right corner and submit your choice!

The survey will stay open for 2 weeks to allow sufficient time for folks to have their say given summer vacation time, etc.

If you have any comments on the topic, please feel free to leave them here or on the Franklin Matters Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/franklinmatters

Franklin Ma: Town Council - Agenda - Aug 7


A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
– May 8, 2013, May 15, 16, 2013 Budget Hearings

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

D. CITIZEN COMMENTS

E. APPOINTMENTS
- Conservation Commission: Paul Harrington
Cultural Council: Rev. Bob Johnnene
Election Workers: (see listing in agenda doc)

F. HEARINGS
- Violation of M.G.L. 138 §34: Sale, Delivery of Furnishing of an Alcoholic beverage to a person under the age of 21 – Postponed to September 4, 2013- 7:10 PM (Ichigo Ichie and Village Mall Liquors)

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS

H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
- Department of Public Works

I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1. Resolution 13-57: Submittal to Town Clerk of Final Form of Ballot Question, RE: Proposed Charter Amendment Changing Treasurer-Collector From Elected to Appointed Position
2. Resolution 13-58: Intermunicipal Agreement For Regional Public Safety Communications and Dispatch Center
3. Resolution 13-59: Authorization to Sign Amended Regulatory Agreement
4. Resolution 13-60: Acceptance of Gift – Town of Franklin
5. Bylaw Amendment 13-718:Amendment to Chapter 185§7-Compliance Required – 2nd Reading

K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

L. OLD BUSINESS

M. NEW BUSINESS

N. COUNCIL COMMENTS

O.EXECUTIVE SESSION
– Town Administrator’s Contract

P. ADJOURN

The full set of documents as published for this meeting can be found on the Franklin webpage
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2013/080713.pdf

Franklin News: hydrant flow testing, public health advisory

Hydrant Flow Testing

The Franklin Department of Public Works, Water Division will be conducting hydrant flow testing during the overnight hours on Monday August 5 through Wednesday August 7. Flow testing will take place between the hours of 9:00 PM and 5:00 AM each night. Residents may experience temporary water loss or discolored water while hydrants are being tested in their area. Even though the water may be discolored, it is still safe for human consumption. For more information please visit the DPW homepage at:
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_DPW/index


Public Health Notice

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has announced the first case of Eastern Equine Encephalitis in a horse from Belchertown in west-central Massachusetts. So far this year there have been no human cases of either West Nile Virus or Eastern Equine Encephalitis in humans in Massachusetts.

It is prudent however for all individuals in Massachusetts to take personal precautions to avoid mosquito bites no matter where they live.

Apply Insect Repellent When Outdoors: Use a repellent with DEET, Permethrin, picardin or oil of lemon eucalyptus according to the instructions on the product labels. Remember not to use products with DEET on infants under two months of age. DEET products in concentrations above 30% should not be used on older children. Oil of eucalyptus should not be used on children under three years of age.

Be Aware of Peak Mosquito Hours: Mosquitos are most active between the hours from dusk to dawn. Limit your exposure out of doors during this peak biting time if possible. If you must be outside, wearing long-sleeves, long pants and socks will help keep mosquitos away from your skin.

Drain Standing Water on Your Property: Mosquitos lay their eggs in standing or stagnant water. Drain birdbaths, flower pots, buckets and children’s wading pools frequently.

Additional public health advisories/alerts regarding WNV and EEE will be provided by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the Franklin Health Department as the situation warrants.

More information on mosquito-borne viruses can be found at the MADPH Arbovirus Surveillance Information web page at www.mass.gov/dph/mosquito.


Note: These notices were originally posted to the official Town of Franklin webpage
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net