Downtown Project Update #10

Note the dates added in parenthesis ( ) are my interpretation of the schedule. This was posted on Wed 9/17 and by the time this gets out and around the reference points can change.

Next Wednesday they will be setting the curbs on West Central Street (they were waiting on the subcontractor).  (9/24)

Mid to late next week they will be line striping the new top that they are putting down this week.  (approx 9/24)

At the end of next week or into the following week the landscapers will be spreading loam and seeding in the area that has been paved and completed.  (approx 9/25 through 10/2)

Starting tomorrow and into next week they will be finalizing walk ways between Moore Ave and Pleasant Street.  (9/18 through 9/25)

The week after next they will be paving Emmons Street and Summer Street, possibly at night.  (approx week of 9/28)

In about two weeks they will be working in front of the Fire Station entrance. 

They are not excavating any more sidewalks on West Central Street for now.The sidewalk widening on Main Street will be done when the subcontractor gets back, in the next few weeks. 

We are waiting on National Grid to move a few telephone poles. 

If anyone has a question please feel free to reach out to the DPW Director, Brutus Cantoreggi or Town Engineer, Michael Maglio at 508-553-5500 or Jeffrey Nutting, Town Administrator at 508-520-4949.

Main St when it was closed for paving

Political signs - bylaw restriction removed

The ballot is not yet finalized yet signs are already appearing. How is that you ask? 

There used to be a bylaw restricting signs for a specific time before and after an election. However

"Federal courts have determined that the First Amendment prevents municipalities from imposing limits on the time period that political signs may be displayed.  

In response to these decisions, the Town Council amended the provisions of the Franklin Zoning Bylaw regulating signs in 2012 to remove the time limitation for political signs; this applies to both candidate signs and “public policy issue” signs.  

Political Signs subject in the Town Code can be found at Chapter 185 Section 20 D (3)."

You can find the bylaw section on the Franklin webpage here
http://ecode360.com/FR1096?needHash=true

When you find the section it reads as follows:

"Political signs shall not be subject to a time limit. Political signs shall otherwise comply with the requirements for temporary signs contained in Subsection D(1)(c) through (g)."

Franklin Town Common

FHS soccer and field hockey tops Sharon

Franklin High School sports teams had a good day versus Sharon with both soccer teams and the field hockey team recording wins. The Golf team dropped their match against Mansfield. All the results shared from Hockomock Sports.

Boys Soccer

Sharon, 1 @ Franklin, 4 – Final 

– Kevin Hall opened the scoring for the Panthers off an assist from Farley Asmath while Austin Kent scored once in the first half and also set up Nick Parent. Hatim Brahimi converted a service from Brian Czuba in the second half for the Panthers.

FHS Panthers

Girls Soccer

Franklin, 8 @ Sharon, 0 – Final

Field Hockey

Sharon, 1 @ Franklin, 7 – Final 

– Julia Jette paced the Panthers with a pair of goals an assists in the win. Franklin senior Kelsey McPhee opened the scoring on assists from senior Kenzi Pleshaw junior Caroline Lounsbury. Senior Diana Griffin, sophomore Christina Quinn, junior Caroline Lounsbury, junior Kayla Marshall each added goals and junior Alex Sullivan had two assists. Senior Kate D’Entremont earned the victory between the pipes.

Golf

Franklin, 181 @ Mansfield, 165 – Final

– Mansfield’s David Craig was the match medalist, shooting a 38. Kyle Swansburg carded a 41 while Matt Chirichiello and David Norris each shot a 43. Franklin’s Bryan Woelfel shot a team best 42 for the Panthers.

For all the results around the Hockomock League
http://www.hockomocksports.com/wednesdays-schedule-scoreboard-091615/

MassBudget: How Business Taxes in MA Compare to Other States -- and Context

MassBudget    Information.    Participation.  Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center    Democracy. How Business Taxes in MA Compare to Other States-- and Context  A wide variety of factors influence where businesses locate and whether they thrive in a given state. These factors include the quality of a state's infrastructure, the skills of its workforce, the proximity to materials and customers, and the overall quality of life available to employees. Tax policy also plays a role, though not a primary one. This is not surprising given that state and local taxes account for as little as two percent of total business costs for the average corporation operating in the U.S. There is strong evidence that the most important factor influencing the strength of a state economy is the level of education of the workforce. When comparing business taxes among the 50 states it is important to consider the entire tax system in each state. Some states collect more revenue from businesses through the property taxes (typically a local tax), while other states rely more heavily on corporate income taxes, gross receipts and excise taxes, or general sales taxes (typically state-level taxes). An apples-to-apples comparison of total business tax levels in different states therefore must account for all of the ways that state and local governments collect taxes from businesses. It should also account for the size of a state's economy. The Council on State Taxation (COST) is a nonprofit trade association consisting of more than 600 multistate corporations engaged in interstate and international business that produces an annual report examining the taxation of businesses in each state. The report accounts for all state and local taxes and finds that Massachusetts is a relatively low tax state for business: business taxes as a percent of total state economic output (Gross State Product) are lower in Massachusetts than in 38 states and higher than just 11. MassBudget's fact sheet How Do Massachusetts Business Taxes Compare to Other States? examines the findings of this report and related data. To read the full report, please click HERE. 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

Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center | 15 Court Square | Suite 700 | Boston | MA | 02108 MassBudget: How Business Taxes in MA Compare to Other States -- and Context

FSPA To Present 'How To Audition' Workshop

Franklin School for the Performing Arts (FSPA) Director Raye Lynn Mercer will lead a How to Audition Workshop on Saturday, September 26 from 3-4:30 p.m. in the school’s Recital Hall at 38 Main Street in downtown Franklin. The workshop is open to the community. 

Students and parents are invited to learn about the audition process in an entertaining and interactive format, with demonstrations and time for questions. The workshop will explore what to expect, ways to prepare, and how to make a positive impression at any audition. Recommended for all beginner and intermediate performers, the session is beneficial at many stages of the process, whether students are preparing for a first audition or seeking to raise the level of their audition presentation.

Franklin School for the Performing Arts (FSPA)

Founded by Mercer in 1985, the Franklin School for the Performing Arts celebrates 30 years of quality arts education in music, dance and drama. The school’s alumni credits include Broadway, national Broadway tours, American Idol, cruise line casts, film, television and regional theater. Broadway In Boston has cast FSPA students in the Boston run of national tours of Evita, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Showboat.

Mercer and her FSPA staff annually prepare high school seniors for college and conservatory auditions, with placement at such prestigious programs as Baldwin Wallace University, Berklee College of Music, Boston Conservatory, Boston University, Carnegie Mellon University, Eastman School of Music, Elon University, Emerson College, Hartt School of Music, Ithaca College, Manhattan School of Music, New England Conservatory, NYU-Tisch School of the Arts, Oberlin Conservatory, Oklahoma City University, Pace University, Pennsylvania State University, Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (London), Syracuse University, and University of Miami (Frost School of Music).

The workshop fee is $20 per person or $30 for student and parent, with a cost of $5 for each additional child or family member. To register, call FSPA at (508) 528-8668 or visit the main office at 38 Main Street.

In the News: GMO food labeling law, Tri-County kids group, cub scouting registration, Solar Challenge extended

Before eating an ear of sweet corn on the cob or opening a package of cookies from the grocery store, do you want to know if it contains genetically modified organisms? 

With science now allowing for crops to be genetically manipulated to better tolerate herbicides and produce their own insecticides, a growing group of advocates and legislators want to let consumers know if there are GMOs in their food. 

The group Citizens for GMO Labeling is gearing up for a big hearing at the Statehouse next Tuesday on a bill that 75 percent of the Legislature is co-sponsoring.

Continue to read the article online here (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150916/NEWS/150917086/1994/NEWS

The Tri-County Regional Children’s Center, 147 Pond St., seeks to fill openings in its weekly toddler playgroup. 

The Toddler Program is open to children who are between 18 months and 30 months by Oct. 1. 

Sessions are held on Mondays from 9:15 to 10:45 a.m. Parents or caregivers are required to stay during the toddler session. The cost of the Toddler Program is $8 per week.

Continue to read the article online here (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150916/NEWS/150916839/1994/NEWS

Franklin Cub Scouts are now accepting registration for the 2015-2016 school year. Cub Scouts is for boys grades 1-5. 

A registration event to learn more about scouting and join in on some scouting activities is set for Saturday, Sept. 19, 2-4 p.m., at the King Street baseball field in Franklin. 

At 2 p.m. there will be a live entertainment event.

Continue to read the article online here (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150915/NEWS/150917474/1994/NEWS

Officials announced this week that the Franklin Solar Challenge had been extended for a month to encourage as many residents as possible to sign up for solar systems. 

The challenge's original deadline was Tuesday, but it has been extended until Oct. 15. 

Town Councilor Brett Feldman, who coordinates the challenge, said he felt it was appropriate to extend the program given the interest. 

"We still have people thinking over existing proposals, so we wanted to give them more time," he said. "Also, when you're near a deadline, you start to get new interest, so we wanted to accommodate that."

Continue to read the article online here (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20150916/NEWS/150916685/1994/NEWS

Franklin Solar Challenge: Program Extension!

Program Extended! You now have until Oct. 15th to receive the lowest tiered pricing in the Franklin Solar Challenge 47 Franklin residents are already saving approximately $2,350* off of the cost of their system at Tier 5 pricing. That means we have already contracted 381 kW. Let's keep it going and make it to Tier 6 (400 kW) Only 19 kW to go! *based on an average 5 kW system SolarFlair will donate a 5 kW system in Franklin when we reach Tier 6! Take advantage of tiered pricing while you still can! If you have already signed a contract remind your friends and neighbors of the deadline.  If you've already had a site assessment and are still considering solar energy, please contact your sales representative to get your questions answered and a contract signed by October 15! Residents in Franklin are already taking advantage and saving on prices 25-35% below market value! click here to sign up for a FREE site assessment SolarFlair Energy Inc 190 Pleasant Street Ashland, Massachusetts 01721 franklinsolar@solarflair.com 508-293-4293

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