Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - Oct 21, 2015

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 may be recorded by others.

C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS- Town Clerk

D. CITIZEN COMMENTS

E. APPOINTMENTS

F. HEARINGS
15-52: Whether public safety, necessity and convenience requires laying out and acceptance of a portion of Lewis Street currently private, as a public way. 7:10 PM- 2nd Reading

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS

H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS

I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION

1. Resolution 15-52:Order of Layout, Acceptance, and Taking of a Portion of Lewis Street, Currently a Private Way -2/3 vote
2. Resolution 15-66: Reconstructing, Adding to, Equipping and Furnishing the Franklin Public Library-2/3 vote
3. Resolution 15-67: Appropriation of Police Salaries
4. Resolution 15-68: Appropriation of Fire Salaries
5. Resolution 15-69: Amendment to the Town Administrators Contract
6. Resolution 15-70: Authorizing Tax Increment Financing, Cole Chain Technologies, Inc. And Knickerbocker Properties, Inc. XLIII
7. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 15-752:Nonconforming Buildings, Structures, and Uses – 2nd Reading-2/3 vote

K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

L. OLD BUSINESS

M. NEW BUSINESS

N. COUNCIL COMMENTS

O. EXECUTIVE SESSION

P. ADJOURN

rendering of new addition to the Franklin Public Library

For the documents released for this agenda check here
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2015%20Complete%20With%20Documents/10212015.pdf

News and updates from the Franklin Historical Museum

LOOKING FOR MUSEUM HOST VOLUNTEERS

The Franklin Historical Museum is looking for volunteers to host at the Museum during regular business hours. 

Are you looking for a volunteer opportunity in your community?  Are you interested in Franklin History? 

This could be what you're looking for.  Responsibilities would include opening and closing the museum, greeting guests, answering questions and accepting any donations that might be brought to the museum.  We are looking for volunteers willing to host 1 day a month.  If you would like to volunteer, or would like more information, please call Mary Olsson @ 508-520-9187. 

The museum is open Saturday mornings, Sunday afternoons and Thursday evenings (except during winter months).

Franklin Historical Museum, 80 West Central St 

WINTER OPERATING HOURS FOR THE MUSEUM

The Franklin Historical Commission has found that visitor numbers to the museum on Thursday nights during the cold winter months, drops dramatically. 

For the second year, the commission has voted to close the museum Thursday evenings during the months of December, January and February.  

We will be open for the Downtown Partnership Holiday Stroll on Thursday December 3rd and will close Thursday nights starting the following week, December 10.  We will resume our regular operating hours in March.

MASS MUSEUM DAY AT THE STATE HOUSE

The Franklin Historical Museum recently participated in the 1st Annual Mass Museum Day, hosted by NEMA, (New England Museum Association).  The event took place on Wednesday October 7th in the Grand Hall at the State House.  Senator Stanley Rosenberg, President of the State Senate along with Senator Eric Lesser, Chair of the joint committee on Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development welcomed the 30 museums from across the State.  

Participants were invited to showcase their museum and show their legislators why it is important to continue to fund the local arts and cultural organizations within our communities.  The Franklin Historical Museum fittingly featured favorite son Horace Mann, who served in the Massachusetts State legislature, Served as President of the Senate in 1836-1827, and was the first Secretary of Education.  

State Rep Jeffrey Roy and Senator Richard Ross both supported and participated in the day by visiting the table and promoting Franklin and the museum.  The Historical Museum was proud to help sponsor the event and was recognized by having our logo displayed on the NEMA event banner.  

If you haven't already had the chance, visit the museum, located downtown at 80 West Central Street.  The museum is open Saturdays 10:00AM - 1:00PM; Sundays 1:00PM - 4:00PM and Thursday evenings 5:00PM - 8:00PM (except Dec, Jan, and Feb).  

Handicap access is available at the back of the building.  Come by and discover Franklin's history, where our story began.

You can also visit the Historical Museum on the web at
http://franklinhistoricalmuseum.org/   

or on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/FHM02038?

Retirement Open House: 10:00am --- 6:30pm - Franklin Municipal Building

Open House

Everyone Is Invited!

After 31 Years, Our Town Clerk, Deborah L. Pellegri, Cmc, Will Be Retiring On November 11th. Stop By To Wish Debbie Good Luck In Her Retirement And Thank Her For All Her Years Of  Service. We Are Planning The Retirement Open House:

Place: Franklin Municipal Building
Date: Wednesday, October 21st
Time: 10:00am --- 6:30pm

Ceremony/Presentations To Follow In The Council Chambers @7.00pm At The Regular Town Council Meeting.

All Are Invited

Desserts Will Be Available Throughout The Day.

Franklin Municipal Building, 355 East Central St

What can Franklin do about the Medway power plant expansion?

1 - There is a "Public Forum" on Wednesday at 7PM, Medway High School 88 Summer Street.   

Franklin neighbors are encouraged to attend. If opposed to the plant, folks are asks to wear a red shirt.

2 - There was a Fox News report on Thursday (10/15/15):

Boston News, Weather, Sports | FOX 25 | MyFoxBoston


http://www.myfoxboston.com/story/30274284/power-plant-expansion-causes-controversy-in-medway

3 - "Stop Medway Peaker" recently released a statement: 

This power plant threatens the health and safety of our children and our communities by polluting our air and wasting our precious natural resources. Please plan to attend the public forum Oct. 21 to have your voices heard. Let the Board of Selectmen know how you feel and tell them to voice their strong opposition to this project and do everything in their power to stop the expansion.

4 - What can Franklin Residents do?

WRITE THE STATE SITING BOARD: Go to the web page http://www.stopmedwaypeaker.com/ Click on "contact officials" where you can find sample letters and who to email.

Twitter image

Follow and share the group's activities via social media

• facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nopowerplantmedway
• twitter: @stopmedwaypeak
• email: stopmedwaypeaker@gmail.com
• website: http://www.stopmedwaypeaker.com/

St Mary's: First Grade Religious Education Registration

Religious Education for First Communion is a two-year program. The first year the students complete the book at home with their parents following our schedule. The second year, the students attend classes at the Parish Center (across from the church) and then receive the Sacraments of Penance and First Eucharist. A student must complete the First Grade Program before they enter the Grade Two Program.

We will be having registration (in the Religious Education Office inside the Charter School) for this program at the following times: 

• Tuesday, October 20th—5:15 p.m.—6:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, October 27th—5:15 p.m.—6:30 p.m.
• Thursday, October 29th—1:00 p.m.—3:30 p.m.

The Registration Fee for First Grade is $50.00. If your child was NOT baptized at St. Mary's in Franklin, you must provide a copy of his/her Baptismal Certificate. NO REGISTRATIONS WILL BE TAKEN WITHOUT A BAPTISMAL CERTIFICATE. 

If your child was baptized here, we have that on record so you do not need a Baptismal Certificate. You will receive a book and the schedule to follow as you complete the program with your child.

St Mary's Franklin

If you have any questions, please feel free to call the Religious Education Office at 508-528-1450.


Karen Ackles
Director Grades 1-8
St. Mary's Franklin
508 528-1450

LET'S LAUGH TODAY in Franklin is on Monday, October 26th

Experience the health benefits of joyful laughter every fourth Monday at the Meetinghouse of the First Universalist Society in Franklin, 262 Chestnut Street, Franklin from 7:30pm to 8:30pm.  

Laughter Yoga is a fun and healthy combination of laughter exercises, yoga breathing and gentle stretching. It's a great stress buster with real health benefits. Join in the laughs, fun and finish with a restful cool down meditation.Wear a funny hat for Halloween if you like! "Monster Mash" will be played afterwards!  

Any age and any level of physical ability can participate in this uplifting experience! New laughers are always welcomed! $5 donation to the church, $10 maximum per family.  Please bring your water bottle because laughing can be dehydrating. 

Led by Certified Laughter Yoga Teachers, Linda and Bill Hamaker. See www.letslaughtoday.com for additional information.  If you have any questions, just call them at 508-660-2223 or e-mail billandlinda@letslaughtoday.com   

Also ask for the information on the week-end workshop/certification on how to bring more laughter into your life on November 14th and 15th!

Linda and BIll Hamaker

Senior Center: A new edition of The Franklin Connection is available

A new edition of The Franklin Connection has been published on the Town of Franklin web site.

Click the link below to read the latest edition.

http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Senior/Nov15connection.pdf

Franklin Senior Center

You can find out more about the Senior Center on their official Franklin webpage
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_Senior/index