Join us for this week's Ranger Walkabout

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Ranger Walkabout on Thursday, June 19 A Village Walk and Eco-Machine    Thursday, June 19  A Village Walk and Eco-Machine Grafton, MA Start time: 6:30 pm Fisherville was once home to a mighty textile mill.  Today, it is home to the Eco-Machine, a water treatment system that uses water plants and mycelium to break down the oil, chemicals and nitrates that have polluted the Blackstone Canal.  Join our partners from the Blackstone River Coalition at Mill Villages Park to learn more about the history of Fisherville and this new way of helping to protect and preserve the Blackstone Watershed.  This free program begins as 6:30 pm at Mill Villages Park, 61 Main Street (Rt. 122 A) Grafton, MA. Watch the video promo (on our Facebook page) See the full schedule Event Calendar Check out the event calendar for a more complete, detailed listing of Blackstone Corridor Events: Event Calendar  We are glad to include Corridor-related news and events, both on our web site calendar and in our monthly newsletter, Corridor Currents. Send us your stuff! About The Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor Congress established the National Heritage Corridor in 1986 to restore and preserve the nationally significant heritage of the Blackstone River Valley, where the industrialization of America began. It has become a successful program of partnerships between federal, state and local government agencies, as well as nongovernment organizations, pooling their resources and pursuing a common agenda of preservation and revitalization.  Ongoing Blackstone Corridor programs and projects include historic preservation, river cleanup, land conservation and stewardship, visitor centers, ranger walks, programs with schools, recreational programs and events, support for arts and cultural events, training for partners and volunteers and assistance to towns trying to preserve their heritage while also improving the local and regional economy. Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor One Depot Square Woonsocket, Rhode Island 02895 Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor 401-762-0250

Forward this email Privacy Policy. Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor | One Depot Square | Woonsocket | RI | 02895

herbicide spraying to begin

The Town of Franklin will initiate herbicide application activities throughout select right- of- way areas town wide on approximately June 18, 2014 through June 30, 2014 for the purposes of controlling poison ivy and other nuisance and hazard vegetation species.

The herbicides Round-Up-Pro® will be applied in compliance with 333 CMR 11.00 via hand application and/or truck; mounted sprayer.

For additional information, please contact

Mr. Carlos Rebelo
Park and Ground Superintendent
Town of Franklin
257 Fisher Street
Franklin MA
-Tel: 508-520-4910

Franklin DPW 257 Fisher St

This is re-posted from the Franklin webpage here
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_News/01DB6B23-000F8513

Live reporting: Legislation

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1. Resolution 14-43: Public Land Use Committee – Dissolution
motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0

2. Resolution 14-46: Confirmatory Order of Taking-Land at 92 Wachusett Street – 2/3 Vote
Padula recused himself
motion to approve, seconded, passed 8-0-1

3. Bylaw Amendment 14-736: Amendment to Chapter 82, Appendix A, List of Service Fee Rates – 2nd Reading
motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0

4. Bylaw Amendment 14-738: Amendment to Chapter 179-9.1, Exhibit A, Water System Map - 1st Reading
motion to move to second reading, seconded, passed 9-0


K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

working on asbestos issues at the NU-Style building

will be meeting shortly to discuss the construction of Main St

L. OLD BUSINESS
Pfeffer - report on work orders on ATC, full report
Nutting - I'll check but I thought

Pfeffer - school work tickets? can you check into the process

Pfeffer - what about the school security alarms?


M. NEW BUSINESS
There is no bylaw that exists that restricts business within Franklin
The building inspector has been to talk with the owner and the operator
it would apply to everyone if we did a bylaw

Bissanti - the store was there before a lot of the houses

Kelly - I am recalling that some places couldn't open in certain hours

Nutting- liquor establishments have operating hours
restrict hours, prohibit 24 hour operations

Williams - the issue comes in with delivery of goods in the off hours, our hands are tied

Bissanti - that store serves a population that has to be early to work

Padula - can we look at opening the Recycling Hours on Sunday?

Nutting - I am not against it, it needs to follow the process, put it on for the agenda for a future meeting

Padula - how much time will it take to implement?
Nutting - I'd have to talk with the DPW, you also need to fund it

N. COUNCIL COMMENTS
Bissanti - what is happening with the Conservation Commission? Do we have enough to vote?
Nutting - yes

Jones - on Board of MetroWest Partnership
collaboration of environment for regional and sustainable growth
conf Friday morning at 8:00 AM
all five governor candidates scheduled to speak

Pfeffer - congrats to Karen Alves for award received on care giver program

Kelly - 63 people over 90 at the lunch this week, congratulations

Mercer - high school project continues on-time, remain on or a little under budget
demolition to begin, 3rd or 4th week of July
field house and shop wing will be the first to go
invite 6:30pm 6/30/14 building committee to tour the new facility

Padula - get involved with your school, make us proud make your parents proud

Cerel - I have worked hard behind the scenes to work on the decisions
They have had a history of confusing the closing of a hearing with voting on a project without due deliberation, the Planning Board has not hard experience with this type of project, I don't know of the developer has had experience with this type of project. The projects he show cased he did not develop. The project has been re-designed with input of the Town.


P. ADJOURN
motion to adjourn, seconded, passed 9-0

Live reporting - Citizens Committee

Larry Benedetto
Citizens Committee

we'll be back in July (July 9th) to do some house keeping
I am going to have the whole the committee here
the citizens committee seems to be defined to represent the whole community
we don't want to slight anyone

recent debate about whether we should be related to the Council or not
complaining about the open meeting laws and meeting notifications
also consideration of associate members, to help maintain the quorum

would like to involved in the 'fast tracking' zoning initiative

we'd like to get involved in the Davis Thayer removal of the modular units
we'd like to get into the Downtown train station

hopefully have an update on the land swap with the State about the land next to the recycling center

we are on the cusp of some good things
our experience is this, when Mr Nutting is involved in the project, it moves smoothly

Jones - can you see if the Committee would be interested in addressing parking downtown
Nutting - I have spent the past 6 months working with the Downtown Partnership on parking, and will be coming before the Council with an update

Live reporting - Dept of Planning and Community Development

H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS

Director Bryan Taberner

(presentation copy to be added later)

summary of department operation and staffing
12 zoning bylaw amendments approved during 2014 thus far

working on re-consideration of requirements for special permits

Projects currently underway

• Solarize Franklin (about 14 families interested thus far, looking for more)
• 150 Emmons St (requests due at end of July)
• Pond St property (appraisal being done)
• Nu-Style property (building #2 demolition and ongoing environmental assessment)

Business attraction and retainage

• looking to attract the 'right' business mix

recent press release on Platinum level for BioTech
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/05/franklin-is-bioreadyr-franklin-now.html

Downtown revitalization
multiple efforts underway
150 Emmons St, proposed Cultural District, downtown project (road construction)

Pfeffer - question on goal for creating economic development
Taberner - we are working quickly and effectively, we have developed the bylaws and changes in record time. The decisions are in the Planning Board hands, it was always known that there would be a special permit required.

Kelly - You're good as you are meeting the criteria. If it doesn't then it drags on and on
Taberner - I have one senior and no interns at the moment

No submissions of interest at this time

Padula - question on the possible push back from Town Council on the Cook's Farm issue

Nutting - this is a very complex project, it is always the Town's fault and that is not the case

Vallee - Mr Nutting is following the project, the developer is not aware of how to request demolition of building on site, that is another problem

Bissanti - if you were more sympatheic, you would direct your people to be more helpful
I don't care what you and Jeff say, developers are vilified in this town
Would you say that there is an anti-growth rhetoric in this town?
Taberner - absolutely not

In other communities, there is more madness than what happens here
If the project is thought out and well designed, meeting all the requirements, regulations and laws, you will get through very quickly

Live Reporting - opening of meeting

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
none

D. CITIZEN COMMENTS
two
one about the opening hours of the Lincoln St market
second - a member of the Cook family concerned about the delays in processing for permits and approvals for Cooks Farm development

E. APPOINTMENTS
– Annual Committee Re-appointments
See listing of appointees in published agenda

http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2014/061814.pdf


F. HEARINGS
none

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
none

Live Reporting: Town Council - June 18, 2014

Present: Feldman, Padula, Mercer, Kelly, Vallee, Pfeffer, Jones, Bissanti, Williams
Absent:  none

Skipping ahead in the agenda to the Electric Youth performance


H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
– Franklin School for the Performing Arts

Rae Lynn Mercer introduces Electric Youth

Electric Youth performing before the Town Council