Live reporting: Town Council - Sep 17, 2014

Present: Mercer, Kelly, Vallee, Pfeffer, Jones, Bissanti, Williams
Absent: Feldman, Padula


A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 

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. 

Harvest Festival - downtown Franklin, Oct 5th

Lisa Piana, Executive Director of Downtown Partnership
touting the new brochure for Franklin
they are available at the Municipal Building, Downtown Partnership and many business
they will also be available at the Harvest Festival

C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS

D. CITIZEN COMMENTS
new citizen addressing the train whistle problem
reference the quiet period per bylaws
newer technology available to minimize the noise
he is meeting with Norfolk to see how they

motion to go to the legislature items before getting to the appointments 
J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION

1. Resolution 14-56: Franklin Advisory Committee

motion to approve, seconded, passed 8-0 

2. Resolution 14-57: Support for House Bill 1840, Seniors and Retired Volunteers Act of 2013

motion to approve, seconded, passed 8-0 

3. Resolution 14-58: Authorization to Issue Request for Proposals – Emmons Street Property

Kelly recuses himself from consideration
motion to approve, seconded, passed 8-0 

much talked about proposal to put out and solicit proposals for the purchase of the property
reserving green space
60 days from time of advertisement to reply
responses reviewed by Economic Development and brought to the Council for decision
not a binding proposal, could re-issue if necessary with no legitimate responses

Jones - Economic Development committee approved 
maintaining an easement and green space
request the Council to move on this

Public comments

Lisa Piana, Downtown Partnership
2 questions would like to still address
1 - concerned with traffic backup if there would be a drive through
why not a clause to that effect
2 - question on the easement vs. town ownership
as to whether this would effect any grant funding for the statue
did speak with Rep Roy, should have an answer in a couple of days

Pfeffer - agrees with the EDC
with the easement and green space there are enough restrictions as to whether there would even be a response from a developer

Bissanti - EDC was left in the request proposal, hesitant about food but not against it overall
that is the meeting that I heard, there is also a committee formed to raise the funds for the statue

Nutting - at the end of the day, a P&S agreement could be worked out if the town needed to retain ownership

Mercer - I will support the measure tonight while sharing concerns about the drive through, we will have opportunity to address down the road



E. APPOINTMENTS 
Franklin Advisory Committee

Deborah L. Pellegri
Joseph F. Halligan Jr.
Paul R. Compton
Richard Ciccone

 motion to approve, seconded, passed 8-0 


F. HEARINGS

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS 

Attention: Frankin Solar Challenge volunteers

Dear Franklin Solar Challenge Volunteers,

Thank you for offering to volunteer and help out with the Franklin Solar Challenge! This is a great program for the Town to reduce our dependence on the utility, help the environment, and receive great pricing on a solar PV system through tiered pricing with SolarFlair Energy. Remember, the more people that sign-up, the better price everyone gets and the town can get free solar installations as well! 

I'd like to reach out and discuss the next steps, along with describing the type of help that's needed. To start we will have a short meeting with all volunteers and SolarFlair on Monday, September 22 at 6 pm in the Municipal Building, Room 205. This meeting will include more information on solar along with a short presentation on what makes a home or business a good fit for solar. 

To kick off the efforts, we're looking for assistance at the Harvest Festival on Sunday Oct. 5^th. This is an all-day event and we would like to have waves of volunteers so that we're not taking up your whole day and you're able to enjoy the festival also :) 

After the Harvest Festival, we will have various types of marketing initiatives to spark interest in the program. These may include door hangers for homes that have been pre-qualified as good sites for solar and additional Town events like the Harvest Festival, where we need volunteers to staff the booth for a couple of hours.

Please respond to this email if you're still able to volunteer so that we know how many to expect at the meeting. I look forward to hearing back and meeting those of you that can donate some time to the program, and once again thank you for signing up!

Regards,

Brett Feldman  (email =  feldjamin@hotmail.com)
Franklin Town Council508-346-3643

solar farm under construction at Mount St Mary's Abbey in 2013

A new edition of The Franklin Connection is available

A new edition of The Franklin Connection has been published on the Town of Franklin web site.

Click the link below to read the latest edition.

http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Senior/Oct14connection.pdf

WMRC Senior Expo - Sep 26, 2014

_______________________________________________
You are subscribed to the The Franklin Connection - Senior Newsletter mailing list.

William Lane feature as speaker at Franklin Art Association - Oct 1

The Franklin Art Association will meet Wednesday, October 1st from 6:30 to 9:00pm at the Franklin Senior Center, 10 Daniel McCahill Street. 

Refreshments and socialization will begin at 6:30. 

The program will feature William Lane, multimedia artist, who will demo a city scape in watercolor. 

Meetings are free and opened to the public. 

For more information, please email the FAA secretary at faasecretary@gmail.com or visit the website at www.franklinart.org

Franklin Art Association

Blackstone Heritage Corridor News

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Volume 2 Issue 9/ September 2014 In This Issue Greenway Challenge Video of the Month Ranger Walkabouts Greenway Challenge Connect on Facebook Become a Corridor Keeper Quick Links Volunteer Opportunities Get on the Bike Path Enjoying the Blackstone River Enjoy the Blackstone Valley on the go with our mobile Web app.  And, it's free! Click on the image above to get the free web app Ashton Mill ANNOUNCEMENT Call for local photographers! Do you enjoy taking photos of the beautiful Blackstone River Valley?  If so, the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor, Inc. has a contest for you. The nonprofit is searching for special images that capture the spirit and beauty of the Corridor to illustrate its 2015 Calendar. Submissions are due by email no later than noon on September 30, 2014.   Read contest details   VIDEO OF THE MONTH Canalfest 2014 - How to Build a Canal Click on the image to watch the video Canalfest returned to the canal district on September 6. What draws many people is the recreation of the Blackstone Canal. Take a look to see how the canal was constructed in just 2 hours. Enjoy a self-guided tour of Worcester: Quinsigamond Village, Walking Tour (PDF) Worcester Driving Tour (PDF) NEWS Blackstone Heritage Corridor Announces Hiring of Executive Director Donna M. Williams, Chair of Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor, Inc. (Blackstone Heritage Corridor), is pleased to announce the hiring of Charlene Perkins Cutler as Executive Director, effective September 2.  In her role, Charlene will provide day-to-day guidance for thenewly formed nonprofit. The Blackstone Heritage Corridor manages operations in the Blackstone Corridor on behalf of the former federal commission; and, works with partners to preserve, protect and interpret (telling the story) the heritage of the 24 Corridor communities in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.  "I have followed the success of the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor for years and am thrilled to be part of such a great organization," says Charlene.  Read the press release   EVENT 2014 Greenway Challenge Course Has Been Revealed! The site maps are posted on the website. Make sure you practice the newly designed Mountain Bike Course this year. Thanks Team Bums for your work and continued support! Interested in volunteering? Contact Barbara Dixon at 401-762-0250, ext 5503 or barbara_dixon@partner.nps.gov. Check out the Greenway Challenge Facebook page and web site for the latest information. WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE SOCIAL MEDIA SITES? We want to share news and information with our readers using social media. What social media sites do you use? GET INVOLVED   Become a Corridor Keeper Today! The success of the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor has always been due, in large part, to public support and active participation by the people and communities of the Blackstone Valley. People like you! For more than 25 years, the people of the valley have shared in rediscovering their roots, their heritage and their common identity. They have supported the Corridor by speaking or writing to their elected officials, by showing up at public events, and by participating in numerous projects and programs. Join Today! Become a Sponsor! Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor, Inc. The Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor is a unique cultural landscape of industrial history and immigration in the interconnected system of the Blackstone River watershed. An energetic nonprofit, the Blackstone River Valley National Heritage Corridor, Inc. partners with organizations, local communities and businesses, and residents to insure the long term vitality of the Corridor. Read more

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

Franklin High School sports results - 9/16/14

From Hockomcok Sports we find the results from Tuesday's action in the Hockomock League:

Volleyball

Franklin, 3 @ Mansfield, 2 - Final - Mansfield's Alyssa Kelley had a team-high 18 kills and Sarah Mullahy added 13 kills for the Hornets.

Field Hockey

Franklin, 1 @ Mansfield, 2 - Final - Mansfield's Julia Todesco scored the tying goal and then Lexi DiPierro scored with the game winner with four minutes left. Senior Maddie Bressler scored Franklin's goal in the first half on an assist from Taylor Reutlinger. Franklin's Samantha Jones had seven saves in net for the Panthers.

FHS Panthers

Read the full listing of results here
http://www.hockomocksports.com/blog/hockomock-schedule-scoreboard-091614

New MassBudget factsheet: Balancing Work and Family

BALANCING WORK AND FAMILY: The Economic Effects of Earned Paid Sick Time To build a life of economic security for themselves and their families, people need to be productive at work and meet their responsibilities to their families. "Balancing Work and Family: The Economic Effects of Earned Paid Sick Time" examines how providing paid sick time affects working people, their families, and the broader economy. Most children now live in families where all parents work. The share of children with a nonworking parent declined from 64 percent in 1967 to 34 percent in 2009. Yet our employment policies often don't reflect the challenges faced by working parents. Earned paid sick time provides one useful support by allowing workers to earn paid time off to address a health issue or care for a family member in need. Most higher-paid employees already have this benefit. But one in three Massachusetts workers doesn't, including more than half of low wage workers.  Click HERE to read the factsheet. MASSACHUSETTS BUDGET AND POLICY CENTER 15 COURT SQUARE, SUITE 700 BOSTON, MA 02108 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 children and adults, 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

Franklin Public Forum - Sep 22

Hello Steve, 

Please add to events on Franklin Matters the following public forum. On Monday September 22nd 730 pm at Franklin H.S. lecture hall will host Concord attorney Jeffrey Clements. He is a co-founder of Free Speech for Free People a nonpartisan campaign to reverse Citizens United. He is Author of Corporations Are Not People Reclaiming Democracy from Big Money and Global Corporations. 

He will be speaking about the need for campaign finance reform. Eighteen districts will be voting on this issue in November including Franklin.  

Thank you,  

Christine Manns

 

corporations are not people

For more about the Jeff Clements visit his page here

http://corporationsarenotpeople.com/jeff-clements/

For more about the 2014 edition of the book

http://corporationsarenotpeople.com/

For more about "Free Speech for Free People" 

http://freespeechforpeople.org/

Water Conservation Measures are still in effect

From the Franklin website:

Please be advised that the Water Conservation Measures are still in effect until further notice due to the dry weather conditions.

yes, the election has come and gone but the water conservation measures remain

Online course available through Brown University

Interested in neuroscience and/or computer programming? This might be up your alley!

Hi Steve, 

I am a Franklin resident, a lecturer at Brown University, and an avid reader of Franklin Matters :-) 

I was wondering if you might be interested in promoting a course I am teaching online starting at the end of the month.  The course, Exploring Neural Data, is offered for free to anyone, on the Coursera platform.  Brown University did a write-up about it today: https://news.brown.edu/articles/2014/09/mooc 

I thought it might be fun for members of the community to participate in the course, so I was hoping that Franklin Matters might be a way for them to become aware of it.  The course has no prerequisites, and would even be appropriate for advanced high schoolers with an interest in neuroscience and/or computer programming.  Here is the link to the course: https://www.coursera.org/course/neuraldata 

Please let me know what you think and if you need any more info! 

Thanks,
Monica 

--
Monica Linden, Ph.D.
Lecturer
Dept. of Neuroscience
Brown University
Box GL-N
Providence, RI 02912
401-863-5192

neuroscience online course through Brown

Emmon's Street RFP Vote-Wednesday-Sept 17th

Town Council Meeting

Wednesday, September 17th

7:00 pm at Town Hall

Town Council will vote on the specifics of the the RFP for the downtown Emmon's Street Property. 

They will decide on if they will allow a drive-through option on this site. The Council would like to hear from residents and business owners on what their views are regarding this downtown gateway property.

150 Emmons St

The FRP details can be found in the posted agenda for this meeting

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/09/franklin-ma-town-council-agenda-sep-17.html

FHS Soccer teams win and tie; Golf wins

From Hockomock Sports we find the results of the Hockomock League action on Monday:

Girls Soccer

Franklin, 6 @ Attleboro, 0 - Final - Bailey Knous, Alexis Stowell, Victoria Stowell and Taylor Cogliano scored for the Panthers.

Boys Soccer

FHS Panthers

Attleboro, 0 @ Franklin, 0 - Final

Golf

Franklin, 152 @ Attleboro, 198 - Final - Evan Vaughan carded a match best 36 for the Panthers. Attleboro's Eric Carey shot a 46 for the Bombardiers.

For all the Hockomock results you can visit
http://www.hockomocksports.com/blog/hockomock-schedule-scoreboard-091514

In the News: Annual Run, Walk and Score! Road Race - Sep 21

The Franklin High School girls ice hockey team booster club will hold its Annual Run, Walk and Score! Road Race on Sunday, Sept. 21, at 9 a.m., at Jefferson Remington Middle School, 628 Washington St., Franklin. 

With tremendous turnouts in 2012 and 2013, the boosters offer both 2k and 5k courses, which appeal to enthusiasts of any fitness level and age. Both courses have been measured and certified by USATF and all participants will receive an official time once they have completed the course. 

This course is quite flat, which makes it favorable not only for experienced runners but also for those entering a running event for the first time. Prizes will be awarded to the top finisher, man and woman, in six age categories in both races.

Continue reading the article in the Milford Daily News (subscription maybe required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20140915/NEWS/140917761/1994/NEWS


The registration and race information was posted here previously
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/08/3rd-annual-run-walk-and-score-road-race.html

2K, 5K Road Race

What will we do with the money?

The RFP for the former sewer plant on Pond St is out as well as the proposal to sell 150 Emmons St. With two RFP's on the street to sell town property, it might be time to start the discussion on what are we going to do with the money?

The money from either or both sales would qualify as capital funds and hence would have to be used for similar purposes according to what I recall the discussion on the sale of the Four Corners Building (now Walgreens). The funds can not be used for annual operational expenses.

The renovation and expansion of the Library I think would qualify. The buildout of the second floor of the Senior Center should also qualify.

What else would?

Is there a current plan to use the money or to just set it aside in the bank for future use?

Four Corners Building - June 2009 (just before demolition)

Milford Daily News article on the Pond St RFP
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20140913/NEWS/140918125/1994/NEWS

The agenda for Wednesday's Town Council meeting includes the details of the 150 Emmons St RFP
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/09/franklin-ma-town-council-agenda-sep-17.html

Audio from the Town Council meeting January 19, 2008 on the Four Corners RFP
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2008/01/four-corners-rfp-discussion.html