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| a full house was on hand for the Town Council meeting to see the new police chief and deputy get sworn in |
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| new 'brick' polymer crosswalk |
Comment Concerning the Danger of adding the Proposed Spectra Energy Natural Gas Pipeline, Delivered at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Scoping Meeting, May 18, 2016, Milford, MA.
If this meeting were happening in 1963 when the current old bare steel pipeline was installed who would be here? Perhaps a few farmers looking for compensation or expressing concerns about the impact on their livelihood. That was then and now is now. Today these areas are heavily populated and we know much more about the effects of gas leaks. And now Spectra Energy is proposing to build a second high pressure line as close as 20’ from the old one. I contend that this idea is irresponsible given what we know.
I’m not here tonight to talk about the environmental damage caused by fracking and gas leaks. I’m not here to talk about exporting natural gas and having us pay a tariff to do it. And I’m not here to restate that the Attorney General’s and the Conservation Law Foundation’s reports indicate that there’s no need for another pipeline that would interfere with the goals of the 2008 Global Warming Solutions Act.
I’m here to share the concerns of many residents who worry about the safety of gas pipelines. At a Spectra Energy open house in February I observed aerial pictures of the existing and proposed pipelines. I’ve been to many affected neighborhoods and observed that the current pipeline is roughly within 25’ of some homes and within 50’ of many others.
Most of these homes were built after the pipeline was installed in 1963, and before people knew the potential dangers caused by leaks. According to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, the HCAs (High Consequence Areas) are at least a 660’ radius. Hundreds of homes lie within this zone. According to a Spectra employee, the old 24-inch bare steel pipe contains about 700lbs per square inch of pressure and the proposed 30” line can handle up to 1200 lbs. So what could happen?
Given that a similar old bare steel transmission line exploded on April 29th in Pennsylvania after being inspected two years earlier is very concerning and calls into question Spectra’s ability to assess pipeline safety. Houses were destroyed and a man was badly burned. The preliminary finding was that the leak was caused by corrosion. The inspection didn’t prevent this.
On January 5th Medway had a serious gas leak where a lateral pipeline crosses Rt. 109. According to the Milford Daily News, six homes were evacuated while the leak was repaired. In addition to the Medway Fire Department, three other fire departments were on hand. Luckily, it didn’t explode.
According to Heetma.org, Massachusetts has more than 20,000 natural gas leaks, so why pump more gas into a leaky system? It just doesn’t make sense.
In my opinion, the fact that the proposed pipeline could be as close as 20 feet from the existed line would increase the incineration zone exponentially. If one pipeline explodes, the other probably could too. A leak and a spark would be devastating. This could happen anywhere in Massachusetts given the enormous number of ignored leaks.
According to the US Department of Transportation’s Pipelines and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration from 1994 through 2013, there were 110 serious incidents with interstate gas transmission pipelines. This resulted in $448,900,333 in property damages, 195 injuries and 41 deaths.
From 2002 to 2015 there were 589 resolved civil penalty cases totaling $47, 447,675. At this time there are another 637 open cases with proposed penalties of $64,856,000 Given that Massachusetts has over 20,000 natural gas leaks, why would we pump more natural gas into a leaking system? It just doesn’t make sense.
On November 30, 2015 Steve Aklquist of RI Future.org wrote an article based on an interview with two former safety inspectors who worked for Spectra in nearby Burrillville, Rhode Island. The two safety inspectors were working on a section of Spectra Energy’s AIM pipeline system and stated that the company cut corners when it came to project, worker and environmental safety.
One inspector was quoted as saying, “Right now, what they’re hoping to do, is they’re hoping to slam all this through, and then at the end ask for forgiveness,” They’ll say, “Oops, sorry about that, I didn’t know, let me write you a check. Because once this thing’s turning meter, they’re going to be making millions of dollars a day. It doesn’t matter what your problems are.”
According to the article the other inspector added , “These pipes have to last underground for at least 50 years….If there’s the smallest mistake in their cathodic protection, that’s what’s going to corrode. All of a sudden you’ve got, even at 800-900 pounds of pressure, doesn’t sound like much, but when you’ve got a 42-inch pipe, traveling that distance and it goes ka-bang, you’re not talking about taking out a block, you’re talking about taking out a large area. You’re talking about a humongous ecological impact, you’re talking about displacing hundreds of families, you’re talking about leveling homes, killing people instantly, I mean, if one of those places were to go up, it’s going to be a bad day.” End of quote.
As I said, I’m not here tonight to talk about the environmental damage caused by gas leaks and fracking. Or the fact that both the Attorney General’s and the Conservation Law Foundation’s research indicates that there are better ways to address peak winter days than adding another pipeline.
I’m here to say that given the track record of pipelines and the extreme pressure and location of the proposed pipeline, we ask that FERC consider the safety of our citizens by rejecting this proposal. Thanks for your time.
Respectfully submitted by,
James F. Hill
Franklin, MA 02038
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| No Spectra sign found on a Franklin lawn |
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| Hockomock Area YMCA Board of Directors Vice Chairman Bill Chouinard (far left) and Hockomock Area YMCA Board of Directors Chairman Brian Earley (far right) with YMCA members Aiden Cohen (second from left) and Ryan Martin (third from left) |
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| Hockomock Area YMCA members enjoy the first ceremonial bucket drop |
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| Jane Lundquist, executive vice president of Rockland Trust, and Ed Hurley, president of the Hockomock Area YMCA, with the Rockland Trust Family Splash Park dedication plaque |
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| A community group photo of representatives of Rockland Trust, the Hockomock Area YMCA and the town of Franklin |
Where Cause Meets Community. At the Hockomock Area YMCA, strengthening community is our cause. The Hockomock Area YMCA is an organization of men, women, and children sharing a commitment to nurture the potential of kids, promote healthy living, and foster a sense of social responsibility.
The Hockomock Area YMCA is committed to partnering and collaborating with others to create and deliver lasting personal and social change in the 15 communities they are privileged to serve. The Hockomock Area YMCA is a not-for-profit charitable cause-driven organization with facilities in North Attleboro, Foxboro, Franklin, and Mansfield. For more information visit hockymca.org.
"Franklin High had a perfect season this year in a county-wide competition to prevent substance abuse organized by Norfolk DA Michael W. Morrissey.
The new competition, dubbed “Team Rival,” pits local high schools against their traditional athletic rivals to encourage participation in a number of constructive events and functions that revolve around building a school culture around healthy choices. The Panthers edged the King Philip Warriors by a single challenge."
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| Franklin water tower on Upper Union St in 2013 |
FISH is an all volunteer, non profit organization that provides free transportation to Franklin residents to medical appointments. We have been providing this service for almost 43 years.
We are in need of volunteers, particularly drivers. We are looking for men and women who are able to volunteer for as little as a few hours per month. Most of our clients have appointments within about a 20 mile radius of Franklin.
If anyone is interested in helping or would like more information, they may call FISH at 508-528-2121, leave a name and # and we'll get back to them.
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| FISH of Franklin needs volunteers |
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| paving Main St #1 |
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| paving Main St #2 |
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| paving Main St #3 |
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| paving Main St #4 |
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| paving Main St #5 |
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| paving Main St #6 |
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| paving Main St #7 |
"The Planning Board reviewed on Monday night the site plan for a proposed new location for the Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School.
The board heard from project representatives on such topics as the sidewalks and fill to be used at the site - located on Financial Park, between Washington and Grove streets - before continuing the matter to a future meeting.
Project representative Andrew Truman, of Samiotes Consultants, said he believed the issues brought up at a previous board meeting had largely been addressed."Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
"The pedestrian struck and killed by an MBTA commuter rail train Saturday has been identified as a 27-year-old Sudbury man.
The MBTA Transit Police announced Monday that Eric Parker was the victim.
The incident took place at around 4:20 p.m. in the area between Fisher and Union streets. Parker was struck by the 1711 train, which departed South Station at 3:30 p.m. bound for Forge Park. Police reported that Parker was trespassing in the rail's right of way at the time."
1. How did we get here? A discussion on the history of the Opioid epidemic, nationally and locally.
2. Public Health Epidemic – Discuss current trends in substance abuse. Just how bad is the problem and how is it impacting our communities?
3. Faces of the Epidemic – Hear from a person in long term recovery into and out of active addiction.
4. What defines a substance abuse disorder? What triggers addiction? How does a person recover from his or her disease?
5. Responding to the Epidemic – How has the federal and state government responded and how are community agencies responding? What role do community coalitions play?
6. How do citizens become involved in helping communities heal and in promoting change?
7. Q and A: Engage audience members in the discussion.
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| presented by the Franklin Odd Fellows |
"The town is moving forward with a zoning law change that local officials hope will allow for more business property improvements.
At its meeting earlier this month, the Town Council voted unanimously to take the next step with a bylaw amendment that would allow additions, alterations and improvements on presently existing structures with only a limited site plan. Currently, such changes require a full site plan.
Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting explained the change, citing the placement of an Aubuchon Hardware store at the Horace Mann Plaza, as an example of the type of development that would be affected.
"The whole plaza doesn't have a site plan," he said. "It seems unfair to spend tens of thousands of dollars on a plan when you're just changing a little portion of it."
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| Aubuchon will be consolidating its Cottage St and Hometown Paints location into this one space opening soon |
"The MetroWest area is one of several across the state that has been hit hard by the gypsy moth caterpillar and local arborists say there is little homeowners can do now to protect their trees from the insect.
Throughout the past few years – and particularly this year – the gypsy moth caterpillar population has been on the rise, likely due to dry springs the past few years. The dry weather has repressed the growth of entomophaga maimaiga, a soil-based fungus that kills gypsy moth larvae.
“We’ve seen a lot more the past five to 10 years,” said Eric Taylor, consulting arborist with Lynch Plant Health Care in Sudbury."
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| tree on the Franklin Town Common whose leaves are being decimated by the gypsy moth (or something else?) |
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 | Norfolk County Registry of Deeds | | |
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| parking spots by the Bank of America building along Emmons St that are part of the easement agreement up for approval on this agenda |
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| USA Pickleball Association |
1. Streets - Generally the colored lines are as follows:
a. Red – No Parking.
b. Purple – 2 hour parking enforced Monday – Friday from 8 AM - 2 PM. This is generally the immediate down town area.
c. Blue – 2 hour parking enforced Monday –Friday from 6 AM – 10 AM. These areas are currently a mixed bag of 2 hour parking with various restrictions or residential parking. The intent is to prevent commuter parking in these spaces in the AM.
d. Green – Merchant Parking enforced Monday – Friday 6 AM – 2 PM If there are no colors than parking is allowed 24/7 except for snow and ice or other events.
2. Downtown Parking Lots -
a. Commuter Parking
–i. Currently there are 53 spaces in the Depot Street lot and 17 Spaces in the West Central Street Lot.
ii. Hours = I propose that we sell commuter spaces Monday-Friday 6 AM – Noon.
iii. If spaces are available after noon anyone can park in the space. The current fee is$480 per year ($125 per quarter) or about $2 per day.
b. Merchant Permits
–i. Currently 22 spaces – I propose to sell merchant parking.
ii. Hours = Monday – Friday 6 AM- 2PM. After 2 PM anyone can park in the spaces.
iii. The current fee is $360 per year ($180 for six months) or about $1.35 per day.Currently one business uses 16 spaces, one uses 5 spaces and 1 uses 1 space. I suggest the Council consider increasing the fee to match the Commuter space fee of $480 per year. The spaces have the same value and cost the same to maintain.
iv. Add an HP spot in the Ferrara lot.
v. Keep 5 spaces for customers and continue to sell the rest for commuter rail.
vi. Adjust the number of customer spaces as may be required by reducing commuter spaces in demand dictates a change.
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| January 10, 2016 |
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| a little further along Main St but in front of Rockland Trust, Saturday, June 18 |
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| Milford Summer Food Service Program, sponsored by the Hockomock Area YMCA |
"A contingent of volunteers walked the local portion of the Southern New England Trunkline Trail Saturday morning, picking up trash and clearing brush.
The cleanup, organized by the Franklin and Bellingham Rail Trail Committee, is part of an ongoing effort to keep the path clear of obstructions.
"We try to have a cleanup about three times a year," said Edward Barth, the committee's president. "We work to time it with when the (state Department of Conservation and Recreation) is available. Usually, our fall cleanup is the big one."Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
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| Ready for walk and work (FBRTC photo) |
"A pedestrian was struck and killed by an MBTA commuter rail train Saturday afternoon.
The incident occurred at about 4:30 p.m. between Fisher and Union streets."Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
