Live reporting - Library Building Committee

7. Resolution 14-89: Creation of a Library Building Committee
motion to accept, seconded, passed 8-0


E. APPOINTMENTS
Library Building Committee – Vote Resolution 14-89 First (voted above)

Nancy J. Rappa - 25 Queen Street
Matthew T. Kelley - 75 Crescent Street
Judith Pond Pfeffer - 37 Arlington Street
Thomas D. Mercer - 14 Mercer Lane
Christopher K. Feeley - 5 Taft Drive
Felicia Oti - Library Director
Monique Doyle - 3 Greenfield Road
Sandra Brandfonbrener - 8 Beech Street
James M. Roche - 152 Daniels Street

Joseph Mullen (added during clerk reading of motion)

Live reporting: Town Council - Dec 17, 2014

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

Swearing in - 

Robert Dellorco sworn in by Town Clerk Deborah Pellegri (photo to be added later)

newly elected Town Councilor Robert Dellorco and Town Clerk Deboroah Pellegri

A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
August 6, 2014, December 3, 2014
motion to approve, seconded, passed 8-0


B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast channel 11 and Verizon channel 29. This meeting is being recorded by Franklin Matters.


C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
Del Arnold - recognition of service to Historical Commission (photo to be added later)

Council chair Bob Vallee with proclamation recognizing Del Arnold

Marlene Oliver - recognition of service to Historical Commission


D. CITIZEN COMMENTS
Richard Griffin, resident
last ice storm, sand trucks were called out at 5:00 AM, too late to do much
DPW makes the call but he lives in Swansea and he didn't know there was ice here
school was on, kids waiting for buses, some one is going to get hurt.
those 5 truck routes are only doing the streets, not even doing the schools yet
the routes take 3 hours to ride, you can do that, there has to be better communication between the town and the schools

Economic Development Committee - Dec 17, 2014

Economic Development Committee: Andy Bissanti (Chair), Bob Vallee, Matt Kelly, Peter Padula. 


Meeting location was changed to be held in the 3rd floor training room to accommodate the larger group present. Approx 24 folks in room. I was late to the room and if there was a formal acknowledgement of the committee at the meeting opening I missed it.

Open statement by Jeff Nutting providing an overview of the status of the RFP and the one response, not legal as it came in after time and added items not part of the original request.

Discussion effectively around should the RFP be re-issued? and if re-issued should it be re-issued as is, or modified. Modified to include a re-zoning of the property to include residential in a multi-use proposal.

There would be public hearings as part of the process for the zoning change. First before the Town Council as the bylaw change would be recommended to the Planning Board. There would be the Planning Board public hearing and due process. Ultimately assuming referred back to the Town Council, there are two additional readings (and hearings) for public input before final vote.

Discussion around the benefit of the apartments vs. condominiums (from a tax base perspective).
Traffic studies would be part of the approval process of what ever proposal is brought forward by a developer.

The larger concern is revenue for Franklin. How much revenue can the property bring to the community?

Planning Board Chair, Tony Padula said that the developer for the Starbucks hired an independent traffic consultant for a study. The Town also did their own study of traffic input. Both studies agreed the traffic should not be an issue for the area.

The real issue with the site is that the location and land is really located on water and next to the Charles River. That will limit what can be done on the land.

Andy Bissanti - The land is a beautiful piece of land, it is right near i495. It is underutilized. Putting it back out is the best thing to do. The residential component should be able to help 'sell' the property.

Discussion on including or not the residential component. Suggestion on putting it out without restrictions and see what someone may propose, maybe a use we have not considered.

Sandy Verhagen - What is the rush? If the land has been unused for 30+ years, what is wrong with waiting a little longer to get input from the community and do it right.

Joe Halligan - You can't say it is not going to be built, it can be built with mitigation (wider lanes, turn signals, etc.)

Peter Padula - All the hard questions need to asked here so we can do what is in the best interests of Franklin. What will come of it? I don't know but let's get it started.

Nutting - provides an overview of the next steps in the process (as summarized above)
In addition depending upon the nature of the proposal, the Conservation Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals maybe required.

Bissnti - motion to make recommendation to the full council on the proposed zoning change. Motion accepted. (Will check on committee members later - hard to determine who they are in the mix of folks present)

Second item on the agenda

Kelly- recused himself from this discussion but remained sitting in his same position

Nutting - provides a summary of Roger Calarese the developer who made the proposal for the Emmons St property

(photo to be added of rendering of his proposal)

Roger Calarese (right) and Jeff Nutting (left)  at Economic Development Committee meeting

Joe Halligan - I think we have beaten this property to death. This is going on forever. We know his work, His is the only proposal.

Lisa Piana - Downtown Partnership Executive Director - objects to the possibility of a food drive through.

Padula - I'd like to make the recommendation to bring this before the council for a full vote.

Jane Curran - objecting also to the possibility to of a food drive through

Padula - with draws his motion as he is confused. He had not realized that the proposal as written would allow for a food drive through. He had assumed it would be a bank drive through.

Bissanti - the EDC meeting had not restricted the RFP that Mr Calarese had responded to

Nutting - that is a policy decision. You can make the change and re-do, or are you going to restrict it as it moves forward?

Bissanti - I wanted it open as there are lots of potential uses and wanted to get the best option we could. I don't think we can dictate what the market says can go there.

Padula - Here is my proposal, I would not be in favor of any drive through with a food establishment on it.

Calarese - the site is too small for a Burger King or McDonald's. It could be a coffee shot but there are issues with the location and how it would fit. It is not a done deal.

Verhagen - I like to go to a downtown where I can spend time and money at a shop downtown. The money doesn't only have to come from the sale of the land it can come from the sales of the goods and services

Joe Halligan - for everyone that is against the project, there are likely going to be more that would be for the project.

Beth Simon - I am here not be to against something. I am here to ensure that the integrity of the town is maintained. I change the color of my signs (Simon's Furniture) and I got calls from folks talking about the 'new' signs. The signs have been there for years. All I did was change the color so I am glad they got noticed.

Brian Kelly - let's be clear about what we are talking about. is it a drive through or sit down place?

Calarese - I don't see that as a detriment that a brand could be located on the corner, someone could in to Town to do something at Dean, see the sign, drive through, and then go to their event. Students could cross from campus almost everyday all year.

Susan Dewsnap - That is going to be an extremely busy intersection. You got a ton of traffic going through there.

Joe Halligan - all the improvements downtown are not going to increase the traffic, it is supposed to help improve the through put? The traffic will still go through the town

Lisa Piana - the streetscape is coming and that will be making changes to the traffic. Let's wait and see what will happen after that project is done.

Bissanti - this has been beat to death. He submitted an RFP with a drive through. I think we need to move this forward. We are going to get another bite at it when it comes to the Council.

Halligan - you have to give something to the developer to get something that will improve the estetics

Recommendation to go forward for discussion at the next Council meeting

move to adjourn, passed

Rebel without a Cause = FHS Drama - Dec 17, 18

This year, the FHS Drama Club will be performing Rebel Without A Cause on December 17 and 18. 

Mrs. Waters, the director of the production, is doing a great job leading the club as she does every year. 

Franklin’s production is based off the original film, which was written and directed by Nicholas Ray in 1955 and starred James Dean. The overall story involves one main character, Jim Stark, who moves to Los Angeles. From there, the angsty 17 year-old deals with typical teenage struggles from the time period, such as popularity and fitting in.

screen grab of the pantherbook webpage

The show is scheduled to start at 7:00 PM.


This was shared from: 
http://pantherbook.org/news/2014/12/08/a-look-at-the-schools-new-play/#sthash.2uI9f852.dpuf

Both FHS Basketball teams top Canton

Hockomock Sports reports on the results from action across the Hockomock League on Tuesday in part by writing:

Boys Basketball

Franklin, 67 @ Canton, 36 - Final - Marcus Giese registered a double-double for the Panthers with 12 points and 10 rebounds while Dylan Reno and Tim Prunier each chipped in with nine points apiece. Canton's Griffin Jerrier scored a team-high 14 points for the Bulldogs.

FHS Panthers

Girls Basketball

Canton, 26 @ Franklin, 70 - Final - Lexi Martin had 12 points for the Panthers. Aubrie Kutil added 10, Jillian Spolidoro had nine, Julianne Pisani had eight, and Olivia Adiletto scored seven for Franklin. Canton was led by Gabby Kenefick and Shannon Foley, each with nine points. 

For all the scores in the Hockomock League action on Tuesday, visit here
http://www.hockomocksports.com/blog/hockomock-schedule-scoreboard-121614

Franklin Library: LEGO Club - Dec 18th

The LEGO Club will meet on Thursday at the Franklin Library. Open for ages 3 to 12, this starts at 4:00 PM on Dec 18th.

LEGO Club

This was shared from the Franklin Library page here
http://franklinpl.blogspot.com/2014/12/lego-club.html

In the News: new courses at FHS, election results

Franklin High School is expanding its course offerings next year to make full use of the equipment and technology at the new school, including a forensic science class that will have students analyzing blood splatter and finger prints. 

The school will add or modify courses in art, business, English, math, physical education and science. 

"I am excited that our faculty work tirelessly to continually develop and offer new courses to meet the needs of our students," said FHS Principal Peter Light. "FHS has an incredible faculty who have developed courses which I believe are on the cutting edge of a 21st century high school curriculum."

Continue reading the article at:  (subscription may be required) http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20141217/NEWS/141217272/1994/NEWS#sthash.7ygUqe0W.dpuf

The presentation document for the Program of Studies was published here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/12/franklin-high-school-program-of-studies.html

Robert Dellorco was the sole choice Tuesday to fill the open Town Council seat, having run unopposed in a special election that saw less than 1 percent turnout. 

Town Clerk Deborah L. Pellegri is to swear Dellorco in at the start of Wednesday's council meeting. 

The resignation of councilor Glenn Jones in October triggered the election. The nine councilors, elected to two, two-year terms, form the highest municipal body, responsible for approving the budget and setting the tax rate. Even with the absence of a contested race, both state law and the town's charter stipulate that an election be held.

Continue reading the article at:  (subscription may be required)  http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20141217/NEWS/141217219/11399/NEWS#sthash.jucbP6X7.dpuf

The results of the special election were reported here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/12/special-election-results-dec-16-2014.html