(Editorial note: with the video replay available as of 1/16/15, as I listen to the replay I can provide corrections to names and comments that had been taken live during the meeting on 1/7/15)
G. HEARINGS
- Zoning Bylaw Amendment 15-745: Amendment to Chapter 185, Attachment 7, Part VI, Use Regulation Schedule, Residential Uses, Office Zoning District – 7:10 PM
Nutting - a single zoning district, the move would add the residential use to the area zoning
about 33 acres, about 20 is actually developable as the remainder are wetlands
looking to add multi-family housing, i.e. condominiums
not sure what kind of bids would be received, but it should improve the potential
would come back to the Council for sale agreement, and Planning Board for all the normal site implementation issues to be addressed
Paul Sager - Pond St resident
tremendous amount of traffic now on the street that been growing over time
anticipated increase in traffic and school requirements
Police are pulling folks over for speeding every night
Nutting - Once opened up to residential, the Council would make some requirements to limit the amount
Would need to add an extra access point for emergency access
Troy - how close would the building be to the drainage ditch, would there be buffer of tree, etc.
Nutting - we can't commit to that until we see what kind of proposal would come in. For a hotel, it would be minimal traffic (compared to other uses) and a greater income for the town.
What impact would it have on the neighboring land values?
if there was an industrial building that would be one thing. With additional
Glen Touhey - how many houses or condos would you allow on the site?
Vallee - it is a re-zoning issue tonight
Kelly - once re-zoned, it would go back to the Economic Development Committee and they would draft (with public input) the RFP
Glen Touhey - that is my concern, if it was Tokyo they could put a thousand...
Bissanti - I understand the gentleman's concerns, the RFP has been out a couple of times and the last time it did not meet what we needed. If the RFP comes back with a residential component, then it becomes part of the Planning Board process.
Padula - we need to balance the requirements
Glen - I am not opposed to development, I just would like to know what the limits are
Gail Ward - Question to the Council to see if anyone lives on Pond St or in the immediate area? (No councilors live in the immediate area.) I think there are ways to handle this. Make it valuable for us. We are not opposed to development but we want to make it valuable to us without making it a residential area. Why do we need more money as we did just raise taxes?
Nutting - we can increase your property taxes every year but beyond that we can do much. With costs going up, just like all your costs, the demands are much higher. Franklin doesn't like to vote for overrides, they are one for nine. Condos actually pay more money than it costs us. There were only 10% kids in the condos. Condos are less dense. It uses the space, softens the blow and bring in some income. We are looking for additional business taxpayers rather than residents.
Gail Irwin - I feel the due diligence is lacking. I heard about it from my neighbors. We have construction going on today with Starbucks and the Noodle company, what will that do to us. What will be the impact to the schools. We don't understand all the down stream implications of this decision. We want all the residents affected be informed.
Peg Helgaard - I am part of the community although far from the area. How does it affect our police and fire. I have sympathy with the folks on Pond St. If we really want to be a community, we have to be in this together.
Charles Otori -
what about the old sewer beds? how much is that going to affect the construction?
Nutting - we have had an environmental study done, the sewer beds would be removed by the developer.
Otori - the trees would be cleared and that dims the highway traffic, if you take down the trees, we will hear them louder
Nutting - we own this land so we can control what gets put out to bid. This is a zoning change for a less dense use. Some people think this would be worse than what be by right. One way or the other, it needs to be developed. We need to figure that out.
Otori - if we put in condos, we would need more grade schools. Apartments are a huge loss for Franklin.
Nutting - if you look at the stats for the other condos in Franklin
Padula - Come to the Economic Development Committee meetings, they are open so you can hear the due diligence we go through
Feldman - this is the first step, this is good input,. most of the times the seats are empty. We are not looking to develop every square inch of land.
Glen Jones - what other zones are currently available on Pond St?
Nutting - it is already zoned for office, for bio-tech. If we don't sell the land, that is the council decision. It is no cost to get vetted in the public forum
John Pazniokas - What few people received the notice, they did receive them three days before the EDC meeting. Some folks could re-arrange the schedule to make the meeting.
My major concern with a wide open RFP. Concerns of the neighbors would be outweighed by the dollars on the incoming RFP.
Padula - we don't have to sell this land
Nutting - we broadened the notification
Bryan Taberner - Planning and Community Development
there is no legal requirement for a zoning change, it could be an immense mailing effort, there were 63 letters sent out
John - I don't want to appear that we are stonewalling, we need the revenue, we need to be involved
Vallee - by law you have to be involved
Bissanti - by no means is the RFP wide open, there are three parameters in the RFP. Gauging the number of units based upon 2000 sq ft per unit. What this is doing is adding a carrot to the RFP to hopefully get better responses. This is all in keeping with the RFP that we already have. We like the hotel, we like the medical building. It is very restricted and the developer would have to be held to what is required.
Dellorco - we need to send it out for something, I am concerned about the traffic there. I don't want apartments down there. We should have workshops to get you involved, you have to be involved.
Stephanie Pazniokas - can you explain the restrictions on residential?
Nutting - multi-family can not be restricted, since we own the land, we can restrict it. If we decide we can restrict it to include condominiums
Stephanie - if we don't get something good, at what point does it become a change to get something sold? Doesn't have to be addressed here.
"If somebody buys that land, those trees are going"
Stephanie - with no environmental impact now, with the removal of the sewer beds, there is a chance of other issues with that land.
Sandy Verhagen - reiterating what neighbors said, we want what is best for our town, we need the revenue. We are asking for us to get what is best too. it was discussed at the EDC, the rezoning would also be restricted.
in the report, 2010, traffic accidents had increased due to increased traffic. That was then, what now. What about further down the line?
it is comments like Mr Halligan's that we could only widen the road to make it fit. Those kinds of comments get us scared. In discussion with a Franklin policeman, there are only 3 on duty over night. Is that part of the planning? Please take things into the consideration.
Jim Schultz - something is relevant, go to tri-county in rush hour, try to get out of the tri-county lot by making a left turn? I have to do that each morning and the thought of the impact is scary.
Elaine Murphy - abutter, I appreciate the non-abutters who are here. Good questions, good answers. I am happy to meet the Council. I almost didn't come tonight. It is America and there is hope. A mention was made about the horse and the carrot. We are the carrot, you are not the carrot that will feed the horse. EDC reports to you, the balance is being considered between the revenue to the Town and the residents with some impact.
We talked about the woods, is it wide to diminish the woods. We have seen the sound barriers to go up elsewhere. Is it wise to encroach upon the wetlands? if we need a hotel and office space? there are places elsewhere. It is one of the few parcels that we could make some money on.
Why are we in such a hurry to put this out? before we see the effect of Starbucks and Noodles. The minutes of the EDC would be nice to have to help prepare.
Also at Monday's meeting buildings could be three stories high, it could be appealed to raise to five. It appears that the town is dancing to the tune of the potential buyers rather than to the residents.
I got to trust that the Council will not let bad things happen to the rest of us.
Troy - What about the wild life?
Nutting - it will go where ever they go. The wetlands would be covered by the Conservation Commission and other restrictions.
Peg, Oxford Dr - you answer could have been done a little more sensitively
I can address the noise. When the bridge was built, we can hear much more since the trees were taken down. Due diligence, it would be good for all of you to travel the roads during peak times for a week to see what it is like.
Phil Purvis, Pond St - traffic is horrendous. I have a 5 and 7 year old, the kids are not allowed in the front yard. It needs to be looked at more closely. Why have RFPs failed in the past? is it due to the wetlands, or the sewer beds? due to the cost? if that is the reason they have failed in the past, how large of a residential area needs to be built in order to make it worthwhile? How large are you going to build it up. it doesn't make me feel any better, with what happened in 2007, you want our input now but what about then.
Pfeffer - this is not being zoned residential. I learned how to ride horses down there. It is not going to be residential. We are trying to add a small residential piece to that.
Verhangen - That last comment is bringing up our concern, if you say that is not the goal, if you write the zone without a limit we could get something else later.
Nutting - if someone builds a hotel and then in 40 years they come back and they come back to the Council, they may want to put residential there. There will be significant investment in the property. They might be separately owned.
Verhagen - for how long?
Nutting - they sign a development agreement
Cerel - it would be there are long as necessary for the purposes of developing the land.
Verhagen - If they are done building, after they have met the requirements, can they come back to look to add more? We would like some protection.
What was the response to the RFP?
Nutting - it came back with a hotel, medical building and 200 apartments; that didn't meet the requirements. The one in 2007 felt part due to the economy. We don't know what the responses to the RFP will be.
Padula - I asked that question, so you can see that we are doing the vetting to be concerned about what happens done the road
Colin Golin, Rolling Ridge Road - timeline? RFP how quickly will that be done?
Nutting - there is a public hearing, there is a second hearing, the EDC will likely take this up in Feb. That is where the discussion would take place. The RFP process could be one or two meetings (Feb/Mar)
Steve Quinlan - Pond St - what if we do nothing? what would be the impact? In terms of percentage wise or the budget?
Nutting - we would forgo the ongoing revenue of the sale and it could be about 1% of the property tax revenue ($600-700,000)
Paul Sager - we have grown from being 20 units to 50 units, to a building that might be five stories tall. If you're trying to keep it small to minimize impact, how much revenue would we get? So where do they draw the line? Without touching the residential part of it. You wouldn't lose that much income.
Troy - Why the need for office space there? With office space is available elsewhere and it is empty. I can see why a hotel would be desirable. Why not put something that would better the community?
Nutting - we don't control what the economy does with private property. We don't know what is going to be proposed. We are looking to see what they would propose? Parks don't produce revenue? If we can't afford to balance the budget, then services get cut.
Vallee - this is a conversation now, let's get get going.
Gail Irwin (again)
Shame on me for my first Council meeting, I am ashamed of your body movements, rolling of your eyes, letting us know of your expressions. I am very disappointed with you. We shouldn't have to feel we are judged by the people who are represented.
While audience was applauding, the motion was made to close the hearing. Catching the audience by surprise.
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
Live reporting: Artistry change of manager, Community Opportunity Group
G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
- Artistry Kitchen – Change of Manager
approval for private function required by Planning Board
motion to approve, seconded, passed
H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
Community Opportunity Group – Community Development Block Grant
joint application with Bellingham and Hopedale
need to adopt a community development strategy
possible funding for a food pantry or food assistance
State wants to see the doc to justify the fund request
ask for authorization for Town Administrator to work with them to develop the strategy
vote to join with the Bellingham for the application
an intra-local agreement
Nutting - the agreement itself to be on the agenda in two weeks
150 Emmons Street
Town Administrator’s Annual Update, Five Year Fiscal Forecast, Master Plan Update
Live Reporting: Town Council - Jan 7, 2015
Present: Feldman, Padula, Mercer, Kelly, Vallee, Pfeffer, Bissanti, Williams, Dellorco
Absent: none
make up vote to approve Vallee as Chair, seconded, passed 9-0
B. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
- December 17, 2014
motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0
C. 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.
D. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
E. CITIZEN COMMENTS
F. APPOINTMENTS
- Historical Commission: Phyllis Messere Malcom
motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0
Absent: none
make up vote to approve Vallee as Chair, seconded, passed 9-0
B. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
- December 17, 2014
motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0
C. 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.
D. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
E. CITIZEN COMMENTS
F. APPOINTMENTS
- Historical Commission: Phyllis Messere Malcom
motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0
Survey Says: Emmons St results
86 folks responded via the tool, two others did via comment for a total of 88 responses.
The survey question post can be found here:
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/01/options-for-150-emmons-st-decision.html
The full Town Council agenda can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/01/franklin-ma-town-council-agenda-jan-7.html
| Survey Question | Tally | Percent |
| Sell the land for $500,000 w/o restriction | 18 | 20% |
| Sell the land for $500,000 but restrict the use | 44 | 50% |
| Sign a Land Disposition agreement | 9 | 10% |
| Take no action at this time | 17 | 19% |
| Totals | 88 | 100% |
The comments left with some of the surveys are here (these are unedited)
- Would like to see a drive through option eliminated. This is not the spot for such a facility.
- Why not keep the land but use it for downtown parking? How about a little park for downtown? Sure the town common is not too far away but this could help draw more people to downtown for leisure/fun!
- What's the value of the property? Seems like it would be more than $500,000.
- There is no way a drive-thru should be on that lot. Otherwise, as long as it fits in with the look of downtown I don't have an issue what goes in there.
- There are other drive thru potentials very close by ;) Town may end up with two drive thrus
- "The property will be worth more in 2 years after the Streetscape improvements. Why is the TC so anxious to sell.
- The TC should follow the Town's Master Plan for the downtown. The goal is to increase pedestrian traffic, not car traffic. The Council should follow the advice of the Town's Planning Dept who have the expertise in planning. They recommend No drive-throughs in the downtown area."
- Restrict use to NOT allow a food/coffee drive-through.
- Please DO NOT allow a fast-food and/or drive-thru. This is a gateway property to downtown, and we can do better to preserve and improve pedestrian activity downtown.
- No Food drive through!
- no drive through
- I would respectfully but strongly urge the TC to restrict the use of 150 Emmons Street by NOT ALLOWING ANY VSE'S Thank you.
- I would prefer that there's a local-type establishment in that spot (ie not a chain store) that does NOT have a drive-through. Also, I would like to know what are the advantages and disadvantages of selling vs. leasing?
- I like the idea of having slightly more control over what happens in that location since it is such a high profile part of our downtown. It could be such a key part of the development of downtown Franklin. Restricting its use to something that adds character to our town would be great.
- I don't know what the town Council would find acceptable so I'm unsure on that choice I would like to see no VS Es because I wouldn't want a bank
- Have mercy…please no more fast food chains or coffee places. There are already 5 plus coffee shops in town and a ton of fast food/drive thru. Franklin is losing it's charm and fast. It's just not an attractive place to live anymore. Turning more and more cityish as the years go by.
- Has there been any discussion of this in the most recent Master Plan (not sure there has been one recently). I can think of many uses for the parcel that would NOT need a drive-thru but all will need some amount of parking.
- Great time and care should be taken in filling that location. The town has a wonderful opportunity to enhance the downtown area and should not let it slip to a (potentially) financially lucrative but less culturally impactful resolution.
- Franklin needs to move into the 21st century. The downtown is DYING. We need some new blood and new ideas.
- Franklin needs a plan. Every effort to improve the downtown has only made it worse. We can do better. A quick sale might appeal to a shortsighted council but will prevent the downtown from fully living up to its great potential (A train station, a college, a museum, banks!!!)
- Franklin desperately needs an activity center where youth and young adults can go to pass time instead of hanging out front of 7 eleven or looking for mischief.
The survey question post can be found here:
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/01/options-for-150-emmons-st-decision.html
The full Town Council agenda can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/01/franklin-ma-town-council-agenda-jan-7.html
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| the Emmons St building in the discussion |
Franklin Public Schools: Weather Questions
A message from FRANKLIN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT
Hello and Happy 2015
We have had a few inquiries about canceling school tomorrow so I wanted to offer an update. We anticipate school being open at the regular time.
We have consulted with facilities personnel and our transportation provider and we do not anticipate any concerns with the heat in schools or our busses. However, if we experience an HVAC problem or our busses are running late it may necessitate a delay.
I will be in communication with our transportation vendor at 5:00 a.m. If the busses will be running late due to the cold we will delay school- we want to avoid having any child standing at a bus stop awaiting a bus that may not arrive in a timely manner.
In the interest of safety we have directed principals to open school doors early. We do not want any students waiting outside of a school in these temperatures.
Also our bus drivers have been directed to pick up any students who may be walking. If the parent of a walker cannot drive a child to school please feel free to use the bus that runs near your home. If the situation changes we will communicate and respond as quickly as possible.
Thank you and stay warm.
Respectfully,Maureen
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| public entrance to FHS available Mon-Tue-Wed-Thu nights for community walking |
This e-mail has been sent to you by FRANKLIN PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT. To maximize their communication with you, you may be receiving this e-mail in addition to a phone call with the same message.
Yes, it is pothole season
This is a reposting of the info shared earlier this year (Feb 2014). There are so many new subscribers (Thank you!) you may have missed this, and as we get into the cold days of winter, it may come in handy!
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The changing weather is creating potholes on many roads. You can report those you find directly to Franklin with your smart phone or via the website here http://seeclickfix.com/franklin_4
You can also report a pothole directly via the Franklin website here
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_DPW/General_Pages/report_an_issue
While this is prime pothole season, the app is also useful for reporting street lights that are out, or traffic light problems.
Prior posts on the app which was introduced in the fall of 2013 can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/10/yes-franklin-has-app-for-that.html
and
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/01/pothole-season.html
Background info:
The Boston Globe has a graphic that describes the creation of a pothole (subscription required)
http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/02/22/how-pothole-formed/jxuRRk1iLfJg0hZ6zebEcP/story.html
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The changing weather is creating potholes on many roads. You can report those you find directly to Franklin with your smart phone or via the website here http://seeclickfix.com/franklin_4
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| report a Franklin pothole or street light problem |
You can also report a pothole directly via the Franklin website here
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_DPW/General_Pages/report_an_issue
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| cracks like these may eventually create a pothole |
While this is prime pothole season, the app is also useful for reporting street lights that are out, or traffic light problems.
Prior posts on the app which was introduced in the fall of 2013 can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/10/yes-franklin-has-app-for-that.html
and
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/01/pothole-season.html
Background info:
The Boston Globe has a graphic that describes the creation of a pothole (subscription required)
http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/02/22/how-pothole-formed/jxuRRk1iLfJg0hZ6zebEcP/story.html
"property taxes will continue to be a solid source of revenue"
The Milford Daily News reports on the five year financial forecast that is in the current set of documents for Wednesday's Town Council meeting. The forecast says FY 2016 should be ok but FY 2017 is another budget year where balancing the budget will present some problems.
This financial reason is the driving factor behind the moves to sell both the Pond St and Emmons St properties. The town needs to expand its taxable base to bring in additional revenue.
Details on the five year fiscal plan can be found beginning on page 43 of the released set of documents for the agenda for the Town Council meeting, They can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/01/franklin-ma-town-council-agenda-jan-7.html
This financial reason is the driving factor behind the moves to sell both the Pond St and Emmons St properties. The town needs to expand its taxable base to bring in additional revenue.
Nutting said that beginning next year, revenue increases may start to lag behind town expenses, forcing the town to stretch itself thinner in order to balance the budget.
"By FY 2017, the forecast strongly suggests we could be in a position to use some reserves, reduce the current level of services, and consider a tax increase or some combination of the above to balance the budget," he explained.
The only short-term solution to reducing costs is cutting town employees, Nutting said, an option he views as a last resort.
"This will directly affect the quality of education and public services currently provided by the town," he said.Continue reading the article here: http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150107/NEWS/150108229/1994/NEWS#sthash.0xUy51VN.dpuf
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| 150 Emmons St - one of the topics on the agenda |
Details on the five year fiscal plan can be found beginning on page 43 of the released set of documents for the agenda for the Town Council meeting, They can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/01/franklin-ma-town-council-agenda-jan-7.html
Family Concert Series - “Jazz4kidz Featuring Mark Poniatowski and Friends”
Franklin Performing Arts Company’s annual, free Family Concert Series kicks off this season with “Jazz4kidz Featuring Mark Poniatowski and Friends” on Sunday, January 11 at 1 p.m. at THE BLACK BOX, 15 West Central Street, in downtown Franklin. Joining Poniatowski are vocalist April Hall, drummer Kenny Hadley, guitarist Mark White and pianist Joe Mulholland.
Family Concert Series events are especially geared to children in length and presentation and provide young audiences with a fun introduction to the world of live music. The performances introduce audiences of all ages to music of many genres and feature talented, professional musicians in an engaging, entertaining and interactive format. Audience participation is encouraged.
Mark Poniatowski
An Associate Professor at Berklee College of Music, bassist Mark Poniatowski has performed with Sid Caesar, Floyd Dixon, Janiva Magness, Rita Moreno, and Junior Watson. His extensive performing experience includes the Manchester Jazz and Blues Festival with the Toni Lynn Washington Band, the Boston Blues Festival with Joe Bargar and the Soul Providers, and The Music of Gershwin and Porter with Rebecca Parris and the Kenny Hadley Big Band. Poniatowski’s recordings include “Mississippi Moan” with the Bruce Katz Band and “The George Carlin Show” soundtrack.
A treasured FPAC tradition for more than two decades, FPAC’s Family Concert Series continues on February 22 with My Violin Journey, featuring violinist Irina Fainkichen with piano accompaniment by Kitty Cheung Evans, and on April 12 with Alice in Wonderland, an opera for children featuring sopranos Mariko Matsumura and Shauna Martin.
FPAC’s 2015 Family Concert Series is sponsored by Berry Insurance. A distinctive, non-profit arts organization founded in 1991, FPAC presents quality performances with a focus on youth development and live music, while offering opportunities for professional artists, community performers and students of the arts to work together in a collaborative and creative environment. For more information, call (508) 528-3370 or visit www.fpaconline.com and www.theblackboxonline.com
FHS Sports: boys go to 4 OTs to win in basketball
From Hockomock Sports we find that both the boys and girls basketball teams beat Taunton. The girls team won in the game's regulation time while the boys went to 4 overtimes to finally pull it out.
Additional write-up on the boys game can be found here
http://www.hockomocksports.com/blog/franklin-outlasts-taunton-in-quadruple-overtime
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| FHS Panthers |
Boys Basketball
Franklin, 105 @ Taunton, 98 - Final (4OT) - Franklin senior Marcus Giese had a monster game, scoring a career-high 34 points and adding 13 rebounds, 6 assists and three blocks. Shawn Hanley added 18 points and Dylan Reno finished with a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Jessy Machado lad Taunton with 28 points and six rebounds, EJ Dambreville added 19 points and six rebounds, Jose Mercado had 19 points, Tommy MacLean added 17 points and Corey Green had 15 points and six assists.
Additional write-up on the boys game can be found here
http://www.hockomocksports.com/blog/franklin-outlasts-taunton-in-quadruple-overtime
Girls Basketball
Taunton, 34 @ Franklin, 57 - Final
BFCCPS 8th grade Annual Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser - Jan 24th
Please join the 8th Grade Students at BFCCPS for their annual Pancake Breakfast to be held at the Franklin Elks on January 24th from 8am to noon.
The event will be $5 per person with a $20 per family maximum.
Proceeds will benefit the students' upcoming trip to Washington DC.
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| BFCCPS 8th grade Annual Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser |
For additional information about the Charter School, please visit their webpage here http://bfccps.org/
Mass Poetry: Common Threads 2015 is here!
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Tuesday, January 6, 2015
Questions should be raised, answers sought, opinions stated
The Franklin Downtown Partnership has issued a call for action:
The Town Council agenda has a couple of key items regarding the town property.
The full agenda for the meeting can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/01/franklin-ma-town-council-agenda-jan-7.html
The options can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/01/options-for-150-emmons-st-decision.html
A quick survey/poll on the options can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/01/survey-says-which-option-on-150-emmons.html
The Downtown Partnership call to action can be found here
http://www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/2015/01/make-your-voice-heard-wednesday.html
Additional info on the Pond St property can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/01/public-hearing-pond-st-zoning-bylaw.html
Please attend the Town Council meeting this Wednesday.
We encourage the public to come to the Town Council meeting on Wednesday, January 7th, at Town Hall at 7:00 pm if you have concerns about a food drive-through at the 150 Emmons Street downtown location.
Our hope is to convince the Council to change the wording in the RFP so a food drive-through is not an option at this busy intersection.
This will be the final discussion before the Council votes on the RFP. Come make a difference and have your voice heard.
The Town Council agenda has a couple of key items regarding the town property.
- Sale of 150 Emmons St
- Rezoning of 44 Pond St
You can let your voice and interests be heard by showing up to the meeting.
The Town Council has four options on the Emmons St property. The options were published as
1. Sell the land for $500,000 and allow the developer to construct anything on the property allowed by zoning.
2. Sell the land for $500,000, but restrict the use. (The discussion at the Economic Development Committee was whether to allow for VSEs (Vehicle Service Establishments) for any use or not allow VSEs for fast food/coffee uses?
3. Sign a Land Disposition agreement and allow the developer 180 days to find a tenant (s) acceptable to the Council.
The Town Council also has a public hearing scheduled for 7:10 PM on the rezoning of the Pond St property. Questions should be raised, answers asked for, opinions stated.4. Take no action at this time.
The full agenda for the meeting can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/01/franklin-ma-town-council-agenda-jan-7.html
The options can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/01/options-for-150-emmons-st-decision.html
A quick survey/poll on the options can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/01/survey-says-which-option-on-150-emmons.html
The Downtown Partnership call to action can be found here
http://www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/2015/01/make-your-voice-heard-wednesday.html
Additional info on the Pond St property can be found here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/01/public-hearing-pond-st-zoning-bylaw.html
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| 150 Emmons St |
Friends of Franklin Library - next meeting March 4
The Friends of Franklin Library will not hold regular monthly meetings in January or February. Instead, members will meet in subcommittees to plan for 2015 and beyond.
The group's next full meeting will be Wednesday, March 4, at 7 p.m., in the library's community room.
As always, the Friends' board appreciates hearing from members and library patrons. Reach the group by email at fofl02038@gmail.com or check in via Facebook and Twitter.
On Twitter you can find them at https://twitter.com/FriendsFranklin
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| screen grab of the Friends of Franklin Library twitter profile |
On Facebook you can find them at
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Friends-of-Franklin-Library/700089496685566
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| screen grab of Friends of Franklin Library Facebook page |
Artistry Kitchen Closes
I had picked up through the grapevine that Artistry Kitchen had closed as of Saturday night, Jan 3rd. I walked by Sunday morning to see if there was a sign posted about this. There wasn't. Looking through the windows on the corner what was noticable was the tables instead of being set as they impeccably were for business, were bare.
The photo looks like it was created with a special effect and was only the reflection of the background on the glass window as I looked in to the empty tables.
An email from the recent owners of Artistry Kitchen was shared by a Franklin Matters reader:
If you do have a gift card, there is a process for redemption/refund.
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| photo of Artistry Kitchen Sunday morning, Jan 4 |
The photo looks like it was created with a special effect and was only the reflection of the background on the glass window as I looked in to the empty tables.
An email from the recent owners of Artistry Kitchen was shared by a Franklin Matters reader:
It is with sadness, but much pride that Elissa and I announce that we have left Artistry Kitchen. We have been out of the Bistro since October and fulfilled our last catering responsibilities as of December 31st.
The CEO of the company has decided to take the company in a different direction than the one we originally signed on for and therefore we have decided to pursue other opportunities.
We are immensely proud of the work we, along with the rest of the Franklin team have done to create what we believed was a wonderful place to experience great food, in a great atmosphere with top notch culinary and hospitality talent.
We will always be so grateful to our friends, family and the community for embracing our ideas with open arms and for supporting us every step of the way. This journey would not have been the same without your constant words of encouragement and the many visits you paid to us over the last few months.
It has been a very difficult decision to walk away from Artistry after putting so much love, sweat and tears into the project. However, when faced with the prospect of changes that WE believe would compromise the integrity of what was built, we knew it was the right choice.
We are looking forward to our next adventure and hope to share the next chapter with you very soon!
If you do have a gift card, there is a process for redemption/refund.
For anyone who has Artistry Kitchen gift cards, call Spencer at the restaurant between 9 and 4pm at 508-530-7440 and he will refund your gift card. If he does not answer the phone just leave a message and he will return your call.
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| Artistry Kitchen - Dec 2013 |
Trial Attorneys Bring End Distracted Driving Programs To Local High Schools
Trial Attorneys Bring End Distracted Driving
Programs To Local High Schools
Programs To Local High Schools
The Massachusetts Academy of Trial Attorneys (MATA) will bring its "End Distracted Driving" (EDD) program to
- Brockton High School on Tuesday, January 6, 2015 at 9:52am and 12:53 pm
- Medford High School on Wednesday, January 7, 2015 at 8:30 am
- Norwood High School on Thursday, January 7, 2015 at 9:54 am
The program will be headed by MATA President Charlotte E. Glinka and Philadelphia Attorney Joel Feldman, who created the EDD program after losing his 21-year old daughter Casey in 2009 as a result of the actions of a distracted driver.
Attorney Glinka remarked, "MATA is proud to continue to support the efforts of Attorney Joel Feldman in bringing the End Distracted Driving program to high schools throughout the state. Over the past few years we have reached out and engaged in a dialog with thousands of teens about the dangers of distracted driving. There couldn't be a more important message about driving safely and saving lives".
MATA Past Presidents Timothy C. Kelleher III and C. Michael Conley, as well as MATA Executive Committee Member Saba Hashem have volunteered in the last few years to bring the EDD presentation, created by Attorney Joel Feldman, to as many schools as possible and will continue to do so going forward.
MATA has made this ongoing volunteer program a priority as an organization and the EDD events are a prominent part of MATA's public service projects statewide. As trial lawyers, MATA members believe in safety on every level and this important program is educating those most at risk – young and inexperienced drivers.
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