Thursday, February 5, 2015

Economic Development Committee - meeting notes - Feb 3, 2015

Committee Present: Mr. Bissanti, Mr. Kelly, Mr. Vallee,
Committee Absent: Mr Padula

Town Representatives participating in meeting:  Mr. Nutting, Mr. Taberner, Mrs. Wierling

Also in attendance: Mr. Mercer, Mrs. Pfeffer

Notably missing: Anyone from the Planning Board

1. Mr. Nutting put together a package with information on the Pond Street background which was distributed to attendees

2. General protocol of EDC meeting was included in the packet

3. Mr. Nutting presented financial estimates based on 2014 proposal (same as presented at the Dec. 17th EDC meeting.) Estimates a hotel, business building and 50 condominiums would generate approximately $613,250 in tax revenue for the Town of Franklin

4. Comments were accepted in regards to the RFP. Comments or requests to include in RFP:
a. Limit on residential componentb. Why are we trying to sell?
  •  Answer given: Economic reason only.
c. Can we put in buffers?
  • 40 vs. 200 ft buffers
  • Fuss and O’Neill report recommend 200-foot “no cut” buffer
d. Idea of solar panels was brought up again.
  • Mr. Kelly suggested this be included as a possible use in the RFP
e. Can we include incentives for developers to build an attractive area that includes sustainable buildings, roof top gardens, open space for greater community.
5. Mr. Kelly called for a vote to table the discussion until the next ECD meeting. Meeting date TBD.


Thanks to Sandra Verhaegen for preparing these notes to share

Franklin Municipal Building
Franklin Municipal Building


The Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School: info session


Please save the date for the BFCCPS Information Morning to be held on Saturday February 7th from 10am to noon.

BFCCPS Info session Feb 7th
BFCCPS Info session Feb 7th

Please note that in the event of inclement weather, the event will be held on Sunday February 8th from 7-9pm.

Additional information on the Charter School can be found on their webpage  http://bfccps.org/

Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Live reporting: Legislation through to closing


I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
none

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1. Resolution 15-06:Approval of Extension of Intermunicipal Agreement for Regional Public Safety Communications and Dispatch Center

motion to approve, seconded, passed 8-0

need a lease on the new building in Norfolk, to go along with the agreement
the lease is from the district not the Town of Franklin

2. Resolution 15-07:Acceptance of Gift – Town of Franklin
motion to approve, seconded, passed 8-0

3. Resolution 15-08:Appropriation – Zoning Board of Appeals
motion to approve, seconded, passed 8-0

(amount of $2,000 to be added to the budget)
more requests for variances and special permits, need the money up front and then reimbursed


K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
thanks to DPW for their work on the storms

vacancy for Board of Assessors

draft of the capital budget contingent upon the snow and ice budget

issue of RFP to find space for the Recreation Dept
will save money for the expenses on maintaining the Emmons building
probably Mar or Apr to come back to the Council

next week will ask to over extend the snow/ice budget

L. OLD BUSINESS
none


M. NEW BUSINESS
Pfeffer - letter on old church

Nutting - an engineering firm looking at the structural integrity
letter removes the dead restriction that might have been applicable
we'll deal with Historical Commission on potential use
this opens up an easy way to maintain the historical value of the building


N. COUNCIL COMMENTS
none


P. ADJOURN
motion to adjourn

Live reporting: DPW update


H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
– Brutus Cantoreggi, DPW Director
Chris White, Recycling coordinator

(presentation to be added later)




Beaver St connector


update on the Beaver St connector repair conducted in Dec 2014

68% of our sewerage goes through this point


Solid Waste

delay or cancel the trash pickup, first time it was ever canceled
no way to make it up
gave out ~600 bags, (300 residents); about 10% used the bags
opened the recycling center

delayed on top of the cancellation didn't help

contamination in the recycling
it is state law to not put trash in the recycling

covering on a cardboard box of water bottles, the plastic is not recyclable
recycling rate 33% for Franklin

random week selected; collect all the recycling, weigh it, sort the trash out, weigh the trash, the net trash as a percent of the total determines the rate of return

only one around that takes Styrofoam

there is a camera on the truck so the driver can see what is in the bin as he picks it up

new pricing in effect 7/1/15
additional communications and awareness before that implementation

end of the driveway is best place for the bins
if you don't have a driveway shovel a spot for the bin
don't put on top of the snow bank

Kelly - the warning is great but it can be upsetting
I think they get confused; there is typically a letter that references the Town website

Kelly - who is monitoring that?
White - we'll be there, the DEP is really monitoring but we'll be there

Brutus - we are tough  on them asking them the same questions
we were actually getting paid for our recycling, but the economy has changed and we are being charged. Our recycling is pretty good, it is more the cities that are having problems

Padula - I am not opposed to giving a warning the first time and stick them the second time
if we don't that affects what we all get in return

it is a law to not put recycling in the trash

Dellorco - what size TV's fit in that?
White - small ones, 13" ...

Dellorco - the truck we use are only used here
White - yes, our truck are labeled and unless there is a mechanical problem, we know

White - everyday we get a listing of who put their carts out or didn't, what in them (especially after the fact)

Snow Update

Doing really good, 43" one week challenge
pretty much what we get in a year, we got in a week

the size of the snow banks is becoming a challenge
58" spent 752K so far of that $268K for salt

joint bid via a consortium for the salt

5 truck route vs. treating the whole town
$30,000 for the whole town
8,000 for the 5 truck route; done that a few times this year

there is always a concern with the police and fire to ensure that their vehicles get around
no incidents thus far with this program

all public priorities
school facilities and buildings
sidewalks identified as walking routes

mailbox claims must be submitted by May 15th to get into this years budget

pushing snow into the roadway
about 50 warnings sent with last snow storms

good listing of top 10 complaints

Franklin has more cul-de-sacs per capita than any other location

There are hydrant without markers, so the DPW will be doing better with that coming up

29" for the blizzard
14" for the last one
Franklin DPW recording

no combined sewer and drain pipes in Franklin

all the water empties into Mine Brook

Kelly - plan for the summer to paint and replace markers?
Brutus - there was a policy of putting up and taking them down, somewhere along the line we stopped putting them on; when we do the flushing and painting, we should put them on
my goal is to put one on every hydrant
if you can find one, let us know we can find them, we have them plotted

Nutting - phosphorus issue, will save MA $180M
the ban of phosphorus in fertilizers came from Brutus, it was his idea

Bissanti - kudos to a great job on the storm
Carlos and Deacon and the guys do a tremendous job

Live reporting: Town Council - Feb 4, 2015

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


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 is being recorded by Franklin Matters.

C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS

D. CITIZEN COMMENTS

E. APPOINTMENTS
- Town of Franklin Other Post-Employment Benefits (“OPEB”) Trust Trust Agreement - Pete Lounsbury; Gregory McMillen
motion to approve, seconded, passed 8-0


F. HEARINGS
none

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
none

Franklin Downtown Partnership - Meeting Agenda - Feb 5, 2015


Franklin Downtown Partnership GENERAL Meeting Agenda

Thursday, February 5, 2015

Dean College Campus Center @ 8:30 am

Golder Room


Franklin Downtown Partnership
Open Meeting
Adoption of Agenda
Introductions
Town Updates -- Jeff Nutting
Streetscape Update -- Jeff Nutting/Bryan Taberner

- Timeline
- Drawings
- Period Lighting and Planters
Report from Executive Director -- Lisa Piana
- FDP New Office -- Suite #1 in same building
- FDP FaceBook/Twitter
- 2015 Meeting Schedule
- Membership Survey
- Shop Local Campaign
New Business
Adjourn


Next General Meeting: April 2nd


This was shared from the Franklin Downtown Partnership page: http://www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/2015/02/25-general-meeting-agenda.html#sthash.L8kFf6wh.dpuf

Franklin Blog: ECDC Principal Page

Kelty Kelly, the principal at ECDC, is writing a blog. 

Welcome to the F.X. O'Regan Early Childhood Development Center (ECDC) Principal Page! Here families and community members will find updates, information and resources, as well as pictures and commentary from ECDC Principal, Kelty Kelley.

A new post highlights kindergarten registration information for ECDC families. Note that while this information is targeted for the ECDC families, those who may have children attending ECDC in a future school year could find this useful.

Kindergarten Registration:
This year we are working to simplify and streamline the Kindergarten Registration process for current ECDC families. Here at ECDC, we will be collecting and coordinating the required documentation, as well as scheduling Kindergarten Screenings (once the dates become available). By taking these new steps, we will expedite your child’s registration and eliminate the need for you to attend the district-wide registration. Within the next week all families with children entering Kindergarten will receive a packet of information with more details!
You can read Kelty's full posting here
http://ecdcprincipalpage.blogspot.com/2015/02/a-couple-of-updates.html

screen grab of ECDC principal page
screen grab of ECDC principal page

Related post:
ECDC now accepting registration for 2015-2016 school year
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/01/ecdc-is-now-accepting-applications-and.html

This page has been added to the Franklin Area blog listing found in the far right column of Franklin Matters. You can subscribe to the ECDC Principal Page to receive updates via RSS feed or email.