Friday, May 22, 2015

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING - Thursday, May 28, 2015 7:00pm


LEGAL NOTICE
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
ENERGY FACILITIES SITING BOARD

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TO BE HELD BY MASSACHUSETTS
ENERGY FACILITIES SITING BOARD STAFF REGARDING PROPOSED
NATURAL GAS PIPELINE CONSTRUCTION IN NORFOLK, PLYMOUTH, AND
BRISTOL COUNTRIES, MASSACHUSETTS
Algonquin Gas Transmission, L.L.C.
Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Docket No.: PF15-12-000


Notice is hereby given that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) has entered into a Pre-Filing review of Algonquin Gas Transmission, L.L.C.’s (“Algonquin”) Atlantic Bridge Project (“Project”). FERC will prepare an Environmental Assessment (“EA”) to satisfy the requirements of the National Environmental Policy Act (“NEPA”). The EA will be used by FERC to consider the environmental impacts that could result if it authorizes the Project by issuing a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity under the Natural Gas Act. The
Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board (“EFSB”) will begin its environmental review of the proposed Project and provide input to FERC in conjunction with the Pre-Filing Process.

The Project consists of the expansion of Algonquin’s natural gas facilities in New York, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. The portion of the Project to be located in Massachusetts would consist of approximately 3.5 miles of new 30-inch pipeline in Medway, Bellingham, and Franklin. In addition to the pipeline facilities, the Company would construct a new 7,700 horsepower gas-fired compressor station in Weymouth. The Company would also modify a regulator station in Needham, and rebuild three existing metering and regulating (“M&R”) stations, two in Plymouth, and one in Fall River.

Additional information about the Project is available on the FERC Internet website (http://www.ferc.gov) using the “eLibrary” link. Click on the eLibrary link, click on “General Search,” and enter the docket number excluding the last three digits in the Docket Number field (i.e., PF15-12-000). Be sure you have selected an appropriate date range. For assistance, please contact FERC Online Support at ferconlinesupport@ferc.gov. Alternatively, assistance is available by calling FERC at 1-202-502-8659 or 1-866-208-3676.

Public hearings that are designed to provide an opportunity to offer comments on the proposed Project have been scheduled in the Project area in Massachusetts. The EFSB will conduct these hearings as part of its responsibilities articulated at 980 Code of Massachusetts Regulation § 7.07(9). The two hearings will be held as follows:

Wednesday, May 27, 2015
7:00 p.m.
Abigail Adams Middle School Auditorium
89 Middle Street East
Weymouth, Massachusetts 02189

Thursday, May 28, 2015
7:00 p.m.
Town of Franklin Municipal Building
Council Chambers, 2nd Floor
355 East Central Street
Franklin, Massachusetts 02038

Interested persons are invited to attend these hearings. Written comments will be accepted at the public hearings. Written comments may also be sent by email or by mail delivery service to the EFSB at the address below; written comments must be received no later than June 5, 2015.

Robert Shea, Presiding Officer
Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board
One South Station
Boston, MA 02110
Robert.J.Shea@state.ma.us

Based on its environmental review, including public input, the EFSB will provide its comments and transmit the comments it receives from the public to the FERC.

a sign truck parked outside the information night at Keller School in March 2015
a sign truck parked outside the information night at Keller School in March 2015


Related posts on the proposed piipeline

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/03/what-is-story-about-pipeline-coming.html

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/04/10-miles-of-pipeline-through-towns-like.html

http://www.franklinmatters.org/2015/03/concerns-with-spectra-atlantic-bridge.html

FHS baseball tops Lincoln-Sudbury

From Hockomock Sports we find and share the results of Thursday's action around the Hockomock League.
FHS Panthers
FHS Panthers


baseball
Franklin, 12 vs. Lincoln-Sudbury, 5 - Final 
- Junior Nick Santucci went 2-3 and drove in five runs, including a grand slam, to spark the Panthers. Nick Burgos went 3-3, was on-base five times and scored three runs, Zane Byrne was 2-4 with a two-run home run and three RBI total, Tyler Gomes had a pair of hits with an RBI and Alex Bissanti was 1-3 with a pair of runs scored. Kyle Skidmore got the win in over five innings of work.

boys lacrosse
Franklin, 11 @ Dover-Sherborn, 12 - Final


Find all the results of Thursday's action 
http://www.hockomocksports.com/blog/hockomock-schedule-scoreboard-052115

Thursday, May 21, 2015

New videos touting Franklin previewed, more on the way to address opiate drug problem

Franklin will get to showcase itself with five new advertising videos. The five spots were viewed by the Town Council last night. The video spots run about 1:30 to 2:00 minutes each and tout the benefits of Franklin. The spots are meant to be used to advertise Franklin at conferences and such occasions. 

The Horace Mann statue committee was created and the following members named to it: Debbie Pellegri, Charles Oteri, Jeff Roy, Mary Olsson, Lisa Piana, and Robert Dellorco. Tom Mercer was added to the previously published listing of committee members.

Three citizens spoke up about the proposed gas pipeline that is slated to be brought through Franklin. There is a Massachusetts Energy Facilities Siting Board hearing scheduled for Thursday, May 28th at the Council Chambers.


Considerable time and discussion was spent on the opiate drug problem that Franklin is affected by along with many other communities in the Commonwealth. Police Chief Stephan Semerjian, Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrissey, Representative Jeff Roy spoke of their efforts collaborating to address the growing issue. Among the new efforts to address this will be the formation of a coalition to bring together the many organizations that are affected by the problem. The students at Panther TV will be working with the Police Chief to develop some public service video announcements.


Police Chief Semerjian and his team address the Town Council
Police Chief Semerjian and his team address the Town Council


The Council approved of the purchase of 20 acres of land along Lincoln St to add to existing property already owned by Franklin and marked for open space. The purchase of this land by the open space funds would prevent the land from being re-purposed for a fire substation which caused Councilor Kelly to cast the only no vote. The measure passed 8-1.

My notes reported live during the meeting can be found here:


Open Mic Night at The Cake Bar

The 3rd Thursday of the month has rolled around again. 

Thursday, May 21st is the THIRD THURSDAY of the month and that means it's Open Mic Night at the cake bar! Come show off your musical talent in a fun and intimate setting. 
Sign up in advance for a guaranteed spot or walk in that night and check availability. Open Mic night is FREE and last month we had a variety of talented teen and adult performers. 
Come and join us this Thursday from 6:30 to 8:30 at THE CAKE BAR in Franklin.


Open Mic Night - The Cake Bar
Open Mic Night - The Cake Bar

This was shared from The Cake Bar's Facebook page


LEGO Club returns at 4:00 PM today

The LEGO Club returns at 4:00 PM today. For ages, 3 to 12. The Library will be the place to help satisfy your LEGO mania.



This was shared from the Franklin Library page here
http://franklinpl.blogspot.com/2015/05/lego-club.html

time to “get up to speed”



With the current town clerk not seeking re-election this November, town officials will likely reduce the salary for the position by about $10,000. 
Longtime town clerk Deborah Pellegri announced early last month that she would not be taking nomination papers for the biennial town election. 
Last year, Pellegri received about a $10,000 raise, bringing her salary to more than $80,000. Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting said at the time that Pellegri’s pay was roughly 13 percent less than the state average.
Continue reading the article here
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150521/NEWS/150529210/1994/NEWS

For other items of note in the FY 2016 budget you can refer to the reporting on the budget hearings here


Since taking office in 2010, Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrissey each year has noted a rise in deaths resulting from overdoses of heroin and other opioids. 
Two years ago there were 63 deaths, he said; in 2014, there were 94. And before he left his Canton office Wednesday, the count for this year stood, already, at 58, including one during the day. 
“It’s the single largest problem I have as a district attorney,” Morrissey said, referring to the state’s opioid epidemic. “It’s the largest killer of young people.”
Conitnue reading the article here
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150521/NEWS/150529106/1994/NEWS

FHS baseball and girls lacrosse top Foxboro

In the Franklin vs. Foxboro competitions on Wednesday, the FHS baseball and girls lacrosse teams won, the boys tennis team lost. Thanks to Hockomock Sports for providing the results to share here


Baseball
Foxboro, 2 @ Franklin, 6 - Final 
- Anthony Chaiton struck out 10 in over five innings of work to pick up the win for the Panthers. Chaiton helped his cause at the plate, going 2-3 with a walk and a pair of runs scored. Nick Santucci was a perfect 3-3 with three runs scored and Kyle Wardrop picked up the save in relief, going 1.2 innings with a pair of strikeouts.
FHS Panthers
FHS Panthers


Girls Lacrosse
Franklin, 13 @ Foxboro, 2 - Final 
- Franklin jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the first half and never looked back. Emily Jeffries led all scorers with four goals and two assists, Kenzie Pleshaw had three goals and Dani Lonati made five saves in net. Head coach Kristin Igoe said Grace McDermott played well defensively for the Panthers.


Boys Tennis
Franklin, 1 @ Foxboro, 4 - Final 
- Foxboro's Wes Young won 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 at first singles, Liam Riess won 1-6, 6-3, 6-1 at second singles, Andre Jaberi won 6-0, 6-3 at third singles and Brian Bortolotti and Jack Marino won 6-3, 6-3 at first doubles. Franklin's James Johnston and Eli Brooks won 6-4, 6-4 at second doubles.

For all the results from Wednesday around the Hockomock League
http://www.hockomocksports.com/blog/hockomock-schedule-scoreboard-052015