Upcoming Events in Franklin, MA: FRI Dec 21 - THU Dec 27

Friday, December 21

10:00am

 Knitting Group

3:00pm

 Hot Cocoa and Coloring

7:30pm

 Neverland’s Ice Age: A Peter Panto

Saturday, December 22

10:00am

 Franklin Historical Museum (Always free)

10:30am

 Pancakes and Pajamas

12:00pm

 Wrapping Station!

2:00pm

 Neverland's Ice Age: A Peter Panto

7:30pm

 Neverland’s Ice Age: A Peter Panto

Sunday, December 23

1:00pm

 Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

Monday, December 24

 Library Closed

 Christmas Eve

Tuesday, December 25

 Library Closed

 Christmas Day

Wednesday, December 26

10:30am

 Terrific Toddlers

11:00am

 Toddler Playgroup

1:00pm

 Princess Storytime

4:00pm

 Construction Junction

Thursday, December 27

9:30am

 Baby Tummy Time

11:00am

 Walk the SNETT with FBRTC

1:00pm

 Multicultural Potluck

4:00pm

 Fandom Thursdays

6:00pm

 Volunteens

For the interactive version, please visit

http://www.franklinmatters.org/p/blog-page.html

For the Town of Franklin Public Meeting Calendar

http://www.franklinma.gov/calendar

Submit an event for the Community Calendar, please use this link

https://goo.gl/forms/7Pr1iBuAiIna7cUo2

Upcoming Events in Franklin, MA: FRI Dec 21 - THU Dec 27

Senior Center - Newsletter for January 2019

What's happening at the Senior Center? The newsletter for January, 2019 is available to reveal the programs and events scheduled. Read and download your copy

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/pages/jan19connection.pdf

Senior Center - Newsletter for January 2019

Real vs. fake - work for good can be misused

"I think these results seem very realistic and intriguing, but at the same time frightening, even to me. Our goal was to build an accurate model of a person, not to misrepresent them. But one thing that concerns me is its potential for misuse. 

People have been thinking about this problem for a long time, since the days when Photoshop first hit the market. As a researcher, I'm also working on countermeasure technology, and I'm part of an ongoing effort at AI Foundation, which uses a combination of machine learning and human moderators to detect fake images and videos, fighting against my own work. 

And one of the tools we plan to release is called Reality Defender, which is a web-browser plug-in that can flag potentially fake content automatically, right in the browser."

To sign up for Reality Defender visit  http://www.aifoundation.com/responsibility

For more about Supasorn  https://www.ted.com/speakers/supasorn_suwajanakorn?

In the News: MA fastest growing population in New England; dog leashes required for MassWildlife lands

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"Massachusetts is the fastest growing state in the Northeast — with many of its newest residents coming from other countries. 

That’s according to the latest numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau. 

Massachusetts Secretary of State William Galvin said the numbers show Massachusetts is growing twice as fast as it did in the previous decade. 

New data released on Wednesday showed that the population in Massachusetts grew by 38,903 people to 6.9 million between July 1, 2017 and July 1, 2018. The 0.6 percent growth rate equaled the population growth in the country, and ranked Massachusetts 22nd among all other states and first in New England."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20181220/massachusetts-fastest-growing-state-in-northeast

State Population Change: 2010 to 2018 [Source: U.S. Census Bureau]

"As in the past, MassWildlife will allow dogs on wildlife management areas across the state, but as of Jan. 11, regulations will require that dogs be leashed. 

Dog owners will also be required to clean up all dog fecal matter. 

Specifically, dogs must be on a physical leash or tether while on wildlife management property. 

According to MassWildlife, the leashing requirement decreases potential conflicts with people and other dogs, providing a safer and more positive experience for all."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20181220/effective-jan-11-dogs-on-masswildlife-land-must-be-leashed

For additional info visit the MassWildlife page
https://www.mass.gov/news/new-dog-regulations-take-effect-on-wmas-january-11-2019

Dogs and other domestic animals must be on a physical leash/tether (MassWildlife photo)

Volunteers Needed

The Franklin and Bellingham Rail Trail Committee (FBRTC) is looking for help to direct and coordinate rail trail events and the further development of the Southern New England Trunkline Trail (SNETT). 

Be part of our volunteer, executive leadership team and make a difference in the communities of Franklin and Bellingham. The SNETT rail trail is a great asset for all ages and abilities in our communities and beyond. We need your help, apply today!

Apply online   https://www.facebook.com/job_opening/1588343921265377/

Volunteers Needed - Franklin & Bellingham Rail Trail Committee

Shared from Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/FranklinBellinghamSNETT/posts/2019791701446191

For more about the Rail Trail Committee visit them on the web
http://www.franklinbellinghamrailtrail.org/

FHS girls hockey posts a win at Bishop Stang 8-5

Via HockomockSports we share the results of the FHS sports action on Wednesday, Dec 19, 2018


Girls Hockey = Franklin, 8 @ Bishop Stang, 5 – Final
– Regan Paterson scored four times and Cassi Ronan scored a pair, as Franklin won a shootout in Fall River. Katelyn Brown and Amanda Lewandowski also scored for the Panthers.


Boys Hockey = Franklin, 1 @ Canton, 3 – Final
Ryan Lanigan, founder and Editor-in-Chief of HockomockSports.com, provides the hockey game recap:

"There’s 15 minutes in each period, and the Canton boys hockey team made sure to use every second of each one. 

The Bulldogs scored with less than five seconds left in each the first and second periods, both on the power play, to pick up a 3-1 win over Franklin in a non-league clash between Hockomock hockey powers. 

“It was wide open at times with a lot of chances and it was very tight at times, it was a typical Canton-Franklin game,” said Canton head coach Brian Shuman. “The first goal, that puck went off a skate, the shot was going to be wide but went off a skate and in. We lost one of our better players for 10 minutes but our guys responded. Colby Ciffolillo, first-year player, was asked to play on like three lines and three different positions and played great. It was a good response for us after a tough start.” 

Franklin took the lead less than a minute into the contest but Canton equalized less than four minutes later. Panther senior defenseman Matt D’Ericco had a puck pop out to him in the attacking zone and fired a low shot that deflected off a skate and into the net just 54 seconds in to the game."

Continue reading the game recap
https://hockomocksports.com/canton-boys-hockey-late-periods-goals-franklin/

Click here for a photo gallery from this game:
https://hockomocksports.smugmug.com/2018-2019/Winter-2018-2019/Canton-Franklin-Boys-Hockey-12-19-18/

For other results around the Hockomock League
https://hockomocksports.com/wednesdays-schedule-scoreboard-12-19-18/

Canton’s Ryan Nolte sets up for a shot in the first period that turned into the Bulldogs’ first goal.
(Ryan Lanigan/HockomockSports.com)

FHS Hockey Booster Club Gift Card Sales - Dec 23

Franklin High School Boys Hockey Booster Club will be selling discounted gift cards to Incontro and Rock n Coal at the Franklin Rink during the Boys JV Hockey game Sunday 12/23 from 6:30 to 8:30.

• $50 gift card is selling for $35
• $100 gift card is selling for $65

FHS hockey: Gift Card Sales - Rock N Coal

Cards can be used on all food and beverages, but cannot be used for tips for the servers.

The gift cards make great gifts, do not expire and proceeds from the sale support the FHS Boys Hockey Team! Cash, Check or Charge accepted.

FHS hockey: Gift Card Sales - Incontro

Rock n Coal cards can be used at the Bellingham location and new Millis location opening in February.

The FHS Boys Hockey Team thanks Incontro and Rock n Coal for their support of the organization.

FHS hockey: Gift Card Sales  12/23

In the News: MA DPU lifts moratorium on NationalGrid; relief for locked-out workers sought

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"State regulators on Wednesday lifted their moratorium on National Grid gas work, infuriating locked-out gas workers, but ordered the utility to adhere to what officials called “an unprecedentedly high standard,” including a new requirement to have work plans approved by a certified professional engineer. 

The order from the Department of Public Utilities would essentially apply the parameters of Gov. Charlie Baker’s gas safety bill and other new safety protocols to National Grid while also easing the moratorium on all non-emergency and non-compliance work across the utility’s service territory, an administration official said. 

Commercial real estate industry officials have said the moratorium was having a “huge impact” by preventing properties from obtaining needed gas hookups."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20181219/baker-decision-to-lift-moratorium-irks-national-grid-workers

"Unable since Nov. 1 to shake his popular bill out of the Senate Ways and Means Committee, Senate Rules Committee Chairman Mark Montigny on Tuesday has taken his case directly to Senate President Karen Spilka, urging her to help advance legislation ensuring benefits to workers locked out by their employers. 

A New Bedford Democrat, Montigny asked Spilka in a letter Tuesday to force action on a bill providing extended unemployment benefits to locked-out workers, such as the more than 1,200 gas workers who have been engaged in a labor dispute with National Grid since June. Gas workers lost their health insurance and paychecks and have turned to public insurance programs and unemployment benefits to get by during the lockout. 

Montigny said the Senate should pass a bill expanding the scope of a House bill approved Dec. 6 and correcting a portion of the House bill."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20181219/new-bedford-democrat-presses-spilka-on-lockout-bill

"The state Department of Public Utilities on Wednesday lifted a moratorium on gas work by National Grid, but a series of new regulations means it’s unlikely development projects that have been stalled for months will be able to resume any time soon. 

Quincy is one of a handful of cities and towns that imposed its own local moratorium on all non-emergency gas work by National Grid after the company locked out 1,200 workers in June when contract negotiations broke down. It’s also a city in the midst of a massive development boom that is suffering as developers wait to finish projects that require gas connections. 

The state followed suit with its own moratorium on Oct. 8 after state regulators were spooked by an incident in Woburn in which gas lines were over-pressurized. A series of explosions in the Merrimack Valley a month earlier were also blamed on excessive pressure."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20181219/state-move-on-national-grid-work-moratorium-unlikely-to-help-quincy-development

Live reporting: from Town Administrators Report to Closing

11. TOWN ADMINISTRATORS REPORT congratulate the council for making the best decision since Jan 2001 strong integrity and ethics thanks to all the town employees for the jobs they do day in and day out, with less dollars and less people, thanks thanks to the Council, people don't appreciate the work and job you do, it is great form of government, you worry about the policy happy holiday we have the best staff of all time, the amount of compliments we get all the time happy holiday and happy new year
12. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Hamblen - rethinking community preservation act? maybe we could re-open the discussion Casey - Planning Board - broad discussion on what is on the project line up? overall approach of Planning Board Earls - look at the antiques license and effort to create capacity; reuse of materials DPW talk about the water issues, with all the development, why we still have the water ban, pumping etc. Nutting - already scheduled for a water infrastructure discussion in early Jan Hellen - outreach to State House delegation to work out a date
13. COUNCIL COMMENTS Earls - merry christmas and happy new year Pellegri - ditto Padula - happy safe and healthy new year casey - ditto Dellorco - ditto Jones - proud of the students at Tri-County who dressed in blue today in recognition for the teacher who just passed on Sunday Kelly - ditto Mercer - thank all the employees and look forward to the same going forward to 2019 motion to adjourn, passed 9-0
14. EXECUTIVE SESSION	None Scheduled
15. ADJOURN

Live reporting: Legislation for Action

10. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
10a. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION	Resolution 18-73: Designate Milford Daily News (Motion to approve Resolution 18-73- Majority Vote (5)) Milford Daily News is declining with coverage. We're not getting the representation we should MDN reporter is present tonight motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0
10b. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION	Resolution 18-75: Acceptance of Private Road Covenant with Owner-Developer of O'Brien Estates, A Two-Lot Subdivision (Motion to Approve Resolution 18-75- Majority Vote (5)) motion to waive reading, seconded, passed 9-0 motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0
10c. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION	Zoning Bylaw Amendment 18-821: Zoning Map Changes On Or Near Plain Street, Pond Street, and Palomino Drive - 2nd Reading (Motion to adopt Zoning Bylaw Amendment 18-821- Two Thirds Majority Roll Call Vote (6)) motion to waive reading, seconded, passed 9-0 motion to amend to remove specific parcel, seconded, passed 9-0 motion to approve as amended, seconded, passed 9-0 via roll
10d. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION	Bylaw Amendment 18-825: Chapter 47, Alcoholic Beverages- 2nd Reading (Motion to adopt Bylaw Amendment 18-825 - Majority Roll Call Vote (5)) Mercer recuses himself Kelly takes Chair motion to waive reading, seconded, passed 9-0 motion to approve, seconded, passed 8-0 (Mercer recused)
10e. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION	Bylaw Amendment 18-828: Fees Bylaw Changes - 2nd Reading (Motion to adopt Bylaw Amendment 18-828 - Majority Roll Call Vote (5)) minor changes, tweaks to the fee schedule implemented a couple of years ago; based upon feedback and assessment as implemented motion to waive reading, seconded, passed 9-0 motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0 via roll call
10f. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION	Zoning Bylaw Amendment 19-829: District Enumerated-Creation of Mixed Business Innovation Zoning District-Referral to the Planning Board ( Motion to Refer Zoning Bylaw Amendment 19-829 to the Planning Board- Majority Vote (5)) one of a series of 6 for the creation of the Mixed Business Innovation district enhance district, remove the heavy manufacturing and hazmat issues currently available in the zone today adds three new use types: craft, maker space, business incubator looking to reuse the buildings rather than to allow them to be razed and more a strip mall type building approached Kelly - would prefer to have some residential aspect for Planning Board consideration in this as well Dellorco - agrees with Kelly, does limit it Earls - good as is, we could come back and add a residential component Padula - what was objection to inclusion of residential? Taberner - Fire Chief asked to not include residential; residential in this current building is not a good idea; we can deal with it if someone comes in with it. It is allowing multiple options for the current plan; some of the adjourning owners are aligned with this, some less so but will be part of the open hearing process with the Planning Board Jones - arguing for inclusion of the residential aspect Hellen - taking the zone from what it is to a better spot, maybe it is not residential;  Nutting - if you include residential, it will come in as condos; we already have 1,000 units on the plans, we don't need more Kelly - I am not at all saying I want housing on that site, it can go via special permit; we need to create some kind of affordable housing in Franklin Padula - I think it is a good use of the property Paul DiBaggis - in general, my reaction was this is what town planners should be doing. Maybe residential aspect, not a killing point, getting more there is the way to go; there are over 100 uses and except for 2-3 of them I agree Beth Wirling, 164 Main St work is well done put forward, residential doesn't make sense; would be wonderful to have artist space but maybe not in this space Kit Brady - Cultural District Committee, this is adjacent to the Cultural District, it could help support the district as it is proposed, no need for residential; we support this proposal as a Cultural District Committee motion to waive reading, seconded, passed 9-0 motion to referral to Planning Board, seconded, passed 9-0
10g. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION	Zoning Bylaw Amendment 19-830: Use Regulations- Mixed Business Innovation Zoning District - Referral to the Planning Board (Motion to Refer Zoning Bylaw Amendment 19-830 to the Planning Board- Majority Vote (5)) Paul DiBaggis - only exception is one, quite well done, page 4 of the 11 pages; MBI - already are in the R5 district, GR5, three uses added in - don't want to see these three added to the R5 Taberner - Planning Board special permit, new uses to be added need to be added to the table; one other individual had similar concerns; in comparison to the other allowed uses, it is not a stretch for these three Hellen - R5 is a small section, we are fine with N in those propose amendment a change on p4 of 11, zoning use schedule 2.24 etc from PB to letter N for no seconded, passed 9-0 motion to waive reading, seconded, passed 9-0 motion to referral as amended to Planning Board, seconded, passed 8-1
10h. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION	Zoning Bylaw Amendment 19-831: Mixed Business Innovation Zone Dimensional Regulations - Referral to the Planning Board (Motion to Refer Zoning Bylaw Amendment 19-831 to the Planning Board - Majority Vote (5)) motion to waive reading, seconded, passed 9-0 motion to referral to Planning Board, seconded, passed 9-0
10i. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION	Zoning Bylaw Amendment 19-832: Changes to §185-20. Signs, Mixed Business Innovation Zoning District - Referral to the Planning Board ( Motion to Refer Zoning Bylaw Amendment 19-832 to the Planning Board - Majority Vote (5)) motion to waive reading, seconded, passed 9-0 motion to referral to Planning Board, seconded, passed 9-0
10j. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION	Zoning Bylaw Amendment 19-833: Zoning Map Changes from Industrial to Mixed Business Innovation on Area on or near Fisher and Hayward Streets - Referral to the Planning Board (Motion to Refer Zoning Bylaw Amendment 19-833 to the Planning Board - Majority Vote (5)) motion to waive reading, seconded, passed 9-0 motion to referral to Planning Board, seconded, passed 9-0
10k. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION	Zoning Bylaw Amendment 19-834: Changes to Sign District Overlay Map, Mixed Business Innovation Zoning District -Referral to the Planning Board (Motion to Refer Zoning Bylaw Amendment 19-834 to the Planning Board - Majority Vote (5)) motion to waive reading, seconded, passed 9-0 motion to referral to Planning Board, seconded, passed 9-0