2013 Master Plan - time to review

One of the items being carried on the Economic Development Subcommittee agenda and gradually moving its way up the topic listing is a discussion on the Master Plan. I would assume that the group would be looking to the current plan (see link below) to see what has been accomplished in the 5 years since the plan was approved, and what remains to be done. Of those items that remain to be done, there would likely be a discussion on what of those items to prioritize.

To help prepare for this discussion, an overview of the 2103 Master Plan is provided as well as links to the full document itself.

Happy reading!

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"What is a Master Plan?
According to Chapter 41 Section 81D of the General Laws of Massachusetts a Master Plan is:

“A statement through text, maps, illustrations or other forms of communication, that is designed to provide a basis for decision making regarding the long-term physical development of the municipality…”

A Master Plan consists of the following elements as defined by the M.G.L. Chapter 41 Section 81D.

• Land Use
• Housing
• Economic Development
• Circulation
• Open Space and Recreation
• Natural, Cultural and Historic Resources
• Community Services and Facilities
• Goals and Policies
• Implementation

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The Planning and Community Development Master Plan page

https://www.franklinma.gov/planning-community-development/pages/master-plan

The 2013 Master Plan doc and sections

https://www.franklinma.gov/planning-community-development/pages/master-plan-2013

The abridged version of the 2013 Master Plan

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/uploads/abridged.pdf

In a document dated Dec 2016, Bryan Taberner provided an updated to the Town Council on recent accomplishments for the Master Plan for the Jan 4, 2017 meeting

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/mai/files/h2_master_plan.pdf

2013 Master Plan - time to review

Electric Youth Announces 2019 Debut at THE BLACK BOX - Jan 5

Electric Youth 2019 will debut at THE BLACK BOX on January 5 with two shows at 6:30 and 8:30 PM. The 2019 group of talented young singers and dancers includes Laney Dragsbaek, Hayley Driscoll, Tatiana McAlpine, Kelly McCormick, Emma Nicholson, Hannah Rezendes, Madison Rezendes, and Lindsey Wyner of Franklin, Susauna Wickstrom of Wrentham, Griffin Wilkins and Caroline Wilkins of Walpole, and Cassidy Baratta and Kelsey Breslin of Hopkinton.

Electric Youth delivers high-energy, fully choreographed performances of classic rock, contemporary pop, Broadway, and country hits for audiences of all ages. The American touring ensemble of talented singer-dancers, ages 14-18, is backed by the eight-piece Boston Show Band — world class musicians who’ve worked with music legends Tony Bennett, Aretha Franklin, Dizzy Gillespie, B.B. King, Diana Ross, The Temptations, Van Morrison and more. Electric Youth is trained at the Franklin School for the Performing Arts. 

Electric Youth 2019

The group has toured Europe 15 times, performing in such renowned venues as Vienna’s Konzerthaus, Musikverein and Schonbrunn Palace; Sanremo’s Ariston Theatre; England’s Arundel Festival; Disneyland Paris; and professional theatres in Bristol, London and Windsor. EY has also headlined Fourth of July shows for U.S. troops stationed in Italy at Camp Ederle, Camp Darby, and Aviano Air Force Base. The ensemble has performed on Royal Caribbean’s Oasis of the Seas, on Fox-TV and WBZ Radio, and at Fenway Park, Gillette Stadium, the Smithsonian Museum Theater, the United Nations and the U.S. Embassy in Vienna. Electric Youth has released six albums, including 2014’s Power Chord, available on iTunes. This summer, they will tour France, Italy, the U.K., and Switzerland.

Collectively, the members of Electric Youth 2019 have performed with Broadway stars, sung the National Anthem for Boston sports teams, been selected to perform at “Broadway Sessions” in NYC, won national gymnastics titles, worked with choreographers from So You Think You Can Dance, performed on televised dance specials, and more. Alumni of Electric Youth have gone on to appear on Broadway, in national and international tours, television, regional theater, feature film, professional dance companies, cruise ships, and more.

Tickets for the January 5 Debut shows are available at www.theblackboxonline.com or by calling the box office at 508-528-3370.

Conservation Commission - Meeting - Jan 3, 2018

Three new Notices of Intent (NOI) were filed recently in advance of Public Hearings scheduled for the Conservation Commission. Their next meeting is Thursday, January 3, 2019 at 7:00 PM in the Council Chambers.

The full agenda can be found online
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/agendas/jan_3_meet.pdf


The new Notice of Intent filings are as follows:

Pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Ch. 131, s.40 (The Wetlands Act) a Public Hearing will be held on Thursday, December 20, 2018, January 3, 2019 at 7:00 PM in the Council Chambers of the Franklin Municipal Building, 355 East Central Street, Franklin, MA on a Notice of Intent filed by Eversource Energy of Westwood, MA for a geotechnical boring program in the buffer zone of bordering vegetated wetlands. 

This project is located along the existing Right-of-Way.

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/agendas/eversource_-_boring_program.pdf

Pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Ch. 131, s.40 (The Wetlands Act) a Public Hearing will be held on Thursday, January 3, 2019, at 7:05 PM in the Council Chambers of the Franklin Municipal Building, 355 East Central Street, Franklin, MA on a Notice of Intent filed by Spring Street Renewables, LLC of Boston, MA for construction of a large scale ground mounted solar energy system in the buffer zone of bordering vegetated wetlands. 

This project is located on Spring Street.

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/agendas/spring_street_renewables.pdf

Pursuant to Massachusetts General Laws Ch. 131, s.40 (The Wetlands Act) a Public Hearing will be held on Thursday, January 3, 2019, at 7:10 PM in the Council Chambers of the Franklin Municipal Building, 355 East Central Street, Franklin, MA on a Notice of Intent filed by PIDC Construction of Milford, MA for construction of a new parking area with 84+/- spaces on the westerly side of the existing building in the buffer zone of bordering vegetated wetlands. 

This project is located at 27 Forge Parkway.

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/agendas/27_forge_parkway.pdf

Spruce Pond on a sunny day in November 2018

LET'S LAUGH TODAY in Franklin is on Wednesday, January 9

Trade all your holiday stress for laughter on Wednesday, January 9 from 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM at the Meetinghouse of the First Universalist Society in Franklin, 262 Chestnut Street, Franklin. 

Come and enjoy this unique exercise of guided laughter exercises combined with gentle breathing that brings more oxygen to the body's cells. This oxygen boost gives enhanced vitality, energy and a feeling of real well-being. 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. 

LET'S LAUGH TODAY

Led by Certified Laughter Yoga Teachers, Linda and Bill Hamaker. www.letslaughtoday.com.  

If you have any questions, just call them at 508-660-2223 or e-mail billandlinda@letslaughtoday.com. 

MA Senate Ends 2017-2018 Session

Senate passes initiatives to increase financial literacy, shore up pipeline safety, and provide increased funding for line of duty benefits

The Massachusetts State Senate closed out the 2017–2018 legislative session today with action on a number of bills, spanning issues such as public safety, education, and consumer data protection, among other things. The Senate also passed a supplemental budget designed to address time-sensitive funding needs.

"I am proud of the work the Senate has done this session, and its commitment to working on important issues up to very last day," stated Senate President Karen E. Spilka. "I would like to thank each and everyone in the Senate for their insight, willingness to collaborate, and dedication to the people of the Commonwealth as we continue to move Massachusetts forward."

In response to public safety concerns raised by the Merrimack Valley gas fires, the Senate enacted legislation that requires all utilities to engage a professional engineer to review utility work plans. This follows a bill, signed by the Governor yesterday, that extends unemployment insurance (UI) benefits for workers locked out by National Grid for 26 weeks, or until the lockout ends, whichever comes first.

The Senate approved final passage of a consumer data protection bill, known as the 'Equifax' bill, that helps consumers protect their private information through free security freezes, free credit monitoring when a credit reporting agency is breached, and requiring prior consent from an agency to access a consumer's report, as well an explanation for the disclosure.

To better serve the needs of our students, the Senate passed a bill that allows for the establishment of standards for students in kindergarten through grade 12 on personal financial literacy. The bill also permits educational institutions to incorporate personal financial literacy standards into existing mathematics, social science, technology, business, or other curricula. The Senate also passed an initiative that improves governance and oversight of educational collaboratives and allows them to provide services to individuals with developmental disabilities over the age of 22 in certain circumstances.

The Senate acted to end gender discrimination in disability insurance, bringing it into line with insurance provided by employers and subject to federal nondiscrimination law. It also passed a supplemental budget to provide sufficient funding to cover line of duty benefits for the year.

The end-of-session activity follows the recent passage of a new law designed to regulate and tax short-term rentals, while creating a framework in which this innovative industry segment can grow.

Bills passed by both the House and Senate will be sent to the Governor, who has ten days to sign them into law. The next legislative session begins tomorrow, January 2, 2018


The MA Senate End of Session Report
https://malegislature.gov/cc/Reports/senate-session-2017-2018.pdf

For more information on the MA Senate
https://malegislature.gov/Legislators/Senate

For more information on the MA House of Representatives
https://malegislature.gov/Legislators/House

MA Senate Ends 2017-2018 Session

Happy New Year!

Welcome to 2019! 

If you want to stay informed on what matters in Franklin, MA, you have found the right place. Franklin has a whole lot going on. 

The budget cycle is just beginning. This sets the priorities for how our tax dollars are spent. 

This is also an election year for town offices. We operate with the "strong mayor" form of city government. Yes, technically we are a city. One of several in the Commonwealth that still choose to call ourselves a town. 

The Town Council is our major governing body. They hire the Town Administrator and approve all the management level municipal appointments. Jeff Nutting will be retiring sometime before July 2019. Jamie Hellen, the current Deputy Town Administrator was just hired by the Town Council to replace Jeff.

The School Committee is the governing body for the schools and school budget. They are responsible to hire the Superintendent and approve other school appointments. The school budget is developed within town guidelines and becomes a line item for approval by the Town Council.

Other elected Board and Commission positions will also be up for election in November. More information on the election process will be shared as it is released by Town Clerk, Teresa Burr.

Stay informed so you can be part of the meetings and conversations to provide your input on what Franklin will do/should do.

1 - The best way to stay informed is to subscribe to receive a daily dose of what matters via email (yes, only one email daily. It is scheduled to arrive in your Inbox between 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM each day.)

https://www.franklinmatters.org/p/welcome.html

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• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors
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I thank you all for reading, sharing your feedback, and sending me information to share with our neighbors and friends. Let's stay informed together with what is happening in Franklin.

Welcome to 2019

Steve Sherlock

(voluntary) Community Information Director

Happy New Year! Welcome to 2019

Draft Statewide Bicycle Transportation Plan - available for public comment

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) is announcing that the Draft Statewide Bicycle Transportation Plan is now available for public comment. You can review the plan and provide feedback by clicking the link below.

2018 Statewide Bicycle Transportation Plan

https://massdot.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapJournal/index.html?appid=c80930586c474a3486d391a850007694

To realize the potential for everyday biking in Massachusetts and underscore MassDOT’s commitment to safety, MassDOT is releasing a new Statewide Bicycle Transportation Plan to make biking in Massachusetts a safe, comfortable, and convenient option for everyday travel.

As part of the Bike Plan, MassDOT developed the Municipal Resource Guide for Bikeability in recognition of the important role the 351 cities and towns in Massachusetts will play. Created for municipal staff, elected officials, community members, and anyone interested in biking, the Resource Guide introduces core concepts to enhance community bikeability and directs readers to additional resources for more detailed information. 

The public comment period for the draft Bicycle Plan is open until January 31, 2019.

https://www.mass.gov/files/documents/2018/10/31/18_08_31_MRGBiking.pdf

This was shared from the Mass.gov page
https://www.mass.gov/service-details/bicycle-plan

The bike lane markings painted as part of the Downtown Improvement
project that returned Main St to 2-way travel