In the News: Pond St sold, finally; d'Entremont recognized as 'digital innovator'

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin

"The Town Council approved, by a six to three vote, the $1.56 million sale of a Pond Street property for a condominium development. 

The development would call for the construction of no more than 99 units on the 33-acre, town-owned property. Sixty-nine of those units would be two-bedroom, while the remaining 30 would have three bedrooms. 

Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting spoke about the features of the proposed development. 

"There would be a 150-foot wide buffer (between the development and Pond Street)," he said Wednesday. "There would be 17 acres of open space on the perimeter."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160323/franklin-council-votes-to-sell-pond-street-land

"A Horace Mann Middle School teacher has been named a "digital innovator" by PBS Learning Media for his use of technology in the classroom, the school announced this week. 

The designation allows seventh-grade social studies teacher James d'Entremont access to a year of professional development tools to further advance his ability to enhance student achievement through technology."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160323/franklin-teacher-recognized-as-digital-innovator

Twitter profile photo for Jim d'Entremont

FHS Mr DiBona will be honored - Apr 13

Barnes and Noble is having a teacher appreciation night on April 13. 

A former student wrote an essay about Mr DiBona for a Barnes & Noble "Favorite Teacher Contest",... and he won!! 

There is a ceremony on April 13 at 6pm at the Barnes & Noble in Bellingham. All are invited. Come and support him for that honor on that occasion!

Mr DiBona teaches English at Franklin High School.

screen grab of Barnes and Nobel event page

Franklin Art Association - Marla Greenfield - Apr 6

The Franklin Art Association will meet on Wednesday, April 6. from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm at the Franklin Senior Center, 10 Daniel McCahill Street. 

Refreshments and socialization will begin at 6:30 

The program will feature a demo, from guest artist Marla Greenfield who will do a water color. 

Meetings are free and opened to the public. 

For more information please visit our web site at www.franklinart.org or www.facebook.com/FranklinArtAssoc

Screen grab of Marla Greenfield webpage

Marla Greenfield became a full time watercolor artist in 1998 after retiring from a 15 year career in the investment business. She was drawn to watercolors because of their transparency and luminosity. Painting things she finds beautiful, peaceful and calming, she strives primarily to depict the beauty of light in her art with all of its variations in value and hue, using glazing and other techniques. 

Marla is a signature member of the American Watercolor Society, and a past president and signature member of the New England Watercolor Society where she has also served on its board. She has won numerous awards, both on a national and regional level. Marla teaches watercolor classes and has conducted numerous workshops throughout New England.

Chris Zito at 3 on April 1

3 Restaurant

April 1st at 9pm

Headliner: Chris Zito. 

Tickets: $25 per person. Show begins at 9pm. 

Make reservations at 7pm for the restaurant and receive one complimentary dessert per table. Call 508-528-6333 for tickets

In the News: Eversource in trouble, Millis expected to provide water

"There were more tough words for Eversource from the Planning and Economic Development Board as the power distribution company asked the board to speed up the public hearing process and issue a decision on the company's proposed upgrade of a facility on West Street. 

At the board’s Tuesday meeting, the company discussed additional material it submitted as part of its application to build two prefabricated 15-by-64-foot control buildings. 

Mary Kate Shneeweis, an engineer with Beals and Thomas who is also working on the Exelon project to build a 200-megawatt expansion on the Summer Street property, detailed landscaping and other plans that the company had yet to file last month when it first met with the board. 

The company was issued a cease and desist in January after they began construction of a retaining wall without filing a site plan application with the town."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160323/medway-eversource-asks-for-speedy-decision

"The Drinking Water Committee is expected to recommend that the Board of Selectmen enter into negotiations with Exelon and Medway to pump 48,000 gallons of water per day into Medway’s system for Exelon’s use. 

Exelon, which proposed a 200-megawatt expansion of its existing Summer Street power plant, will require an average of 95,000 gallons of water per day to help control emissions from the two power-generating turbines proposed to the state Energy Facilities Siting Board (EFSB). 

The EFSB, the sole permitting authority for energy infrastructure in the state, is expected to issue a decision later this spring or early summer."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20160323/millis-committee-to-recommend-exelon-water-sale

Live reporting: Closing

K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
looking to sign agreement on 25 Kenwood Circle for temporary location of Library
likely to close Apr 8th for the move

regular meetings on the downtown project to resume

L. OLD BUSINESS
follow up on school building maint
coming with the School Dept presentation

question on the insurance costs
question on staff vs. consultants estimates, need to follow through to ensure the money is well spent, Bissanti is confused about growth statement by the Council

Pellegri - billboard?
the proposal walked away

Padula - Mr Bissanti should show us all the nooks and cranies

Vallee - Question on current free cash
Nutting - Free cash balance, $2.059,000

Dellorco, charter review commission, council doesn't have the power they need to ahve

M.NEW BUSINESS


N. COUNCIL COMMENTS
Jones - Red sox to honor hockey team Apr 13, which is also the Trivia Bee night

Dellorco - congrats to Chris Spillane and all the kids there, this was supposed to be a rebuilding year and they won it all

Pfeffer - not likely a development doesn't mean we don't like children, I find that insulting
Library architect has chosen a design, the building will be closed for a year
will all the fund raising from the Friends of the Library, and the Library association, and the community; because we are opening it up, need to bring the central units up to code
frescos were done when the library where first opened
panoramic photos of the frescos were taken

Padula - congrat for finally doing something with the Pond St property
thanks to the scouts for the pledge
congrats to the Hockey team

Kelly- congrats to the hockey team
having police officers as coaches is huge
hockey team to come for a future meeting

Mercer - congrats to the hockey team, coaches, staff, etc.
Senior Center renovations ongoing
mechanical engineer has come up with a design for the high school problem, repairs underway



P. ADJOURN
motion to adjourn, seconded, passed 9-0

LIve reporting: Legislation for Action

F. HEARINGS
none

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
none

H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
none

I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

• Budget subcommittee

will bring forward the item for sidewalks along Chestnut and Pleasant St for the Apr 6 meeting

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION

• Resolution 16-15: Authorization to Enter into Separate Intermunicipal Agreements Between Franklin and The Towns of Bellingham, Medway, Norfolk and Wrentham to Provide Public Safety Mutual Aid

motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0 (via roll call)

sensible agreement on mutual aid, the area chiefs have wanted this for some time

Chief Semerjian speaking for the mutual aid agreement

Counsel Mark Cerel also outlined the law in this case going back several years to a case

• Resolution 16-16:Authorization For Disposition (Sale) of Town-Owned Land on Pond Street

motion to waive reading, seconded, passed 7-2 (via roll call, Pfeffer, Kelly voted no)

motion to approve, seconded, passed 6-3 (via roll call)

sale agreement for $1.560,000 (details in agenda document)

discussion on the number of bedroom units and student impact

approx 14 students projected

30 units of 3 bedrooms

different numbers from different studies, Hopkinton example and Rutgers Univ were used in calculations

Mercer comment, opposed to 30 units

Jones, Mercer, Pfeffer voted no, it passed 6-3

Dellorco hesitated before voting, Kelly changed from no on the waiver of the reading to yes for the actual

• Zoning Bylaw Amendment 16-753: Zoning Map Changes From Single Family Residential IV to General Residential V in an Area on or Near West Central Street - Referral to Planning Board

Bissanti recognized as recusing himself

referral to planning board for further hearing and discussion

clarification questions on the parcels along the way subject to the zoning change

motion to refer to Planning Board, seconded, passed 8-1 (via roll call) (Bissanti abstained (recused))

• Bylaw Amendment 16-754: Chapter 47, Alcoholic Beverages - 1st Reading

this is the first reading based upon the prior meeting discussion to clarify the options to bring forward

moved to Sep 1, instead of Jan

motion to amend the effective date to July 1, instead of Sep 1

Pfeffer in favor of as soon as possible but it is only fair to give some time for the implementation

Bissanti would also like to get it early

Padula Sep 1 is very reasonable

Motion to amend to July 1, seconded,  failed 7-2

Bissanti, Jones - yes

Dellorco, Pellegri, Valle, Kelly, Mercer, Padula, Pfeffer - no

motion to move to second reading, seconded, passed 9-0 (via roll call) 

• Bylaw Amendment 16-755: Chapter 179, Water Charges-Water Department Access – 2nd Reading

up for second reading, DPW looked for this to ensure timely access to enable water meter changes inside residences

motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0 (via roll call)

• Bylaw Amendment 16-756: Chapter 170 Vehicles and Traffic Article X Winter Storm Overnight Parking – 2nd Reading

up for second reading, modification of the winter parking to include other public spaces in addition to the roads, ensures clearing of the parking lots during the storms

motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0 (via roll call)