Friday, June 18, 2021

Recap: Community Preservation Committee votes 9-0 to approve 'right of first refusal' option 1 to purchase Maple Hill

Quick Recap:
  • The Community Preservation Committee listened to the overview of the right of first refusal presentation previously provided to the Town Council and Finance Committee.
  • Clarification on the CPA funds of conservatively $1.3M per year expected of which about $200k/year would be used for this purchase. This still leaves about $1.1M for other uses and helps our commitment of 10% for open space (per CPA requirements)
  • There will be a longer term plan for the development of the property for recreation space. The Town staff had not yet put the plan together in the short time for this approval process. They are working on it and it will be presented later for discussion and approval. Where the funds come from (operations or CPA) remains to be determined
  • Public access and parking one of the key questions to be addressed. Currently, there is no access to the property from Maple St, limited access is from the neighboring areas. How much parking and where is a key question. 

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As with most meetings in this pandemic period, I took my notes via Twitter during the meeting reporting in real-time via the virtual session.
 
Photos captured during the meeting, shared via Twitter can be found in one album https://photos.app.goo.gl/faxfnWxyioZYWiVx6

The Twitter hashtag can be found online  #cpc0617
https://twitter.com/hashtag/cpc0617?src=hashtag_click

  • 3rd of the series of public hearings on the Maple Hill 'right of first refusal' coming up at 5 PM with the scheduled Community Preservation Committee meeting. They do need to recommend for the TC 2 take action. Agenda doc/Zoom info -> https://franklinma.gov/community-preservation-committee/events/330126 #cpc0617
  • Meeting opens, Minutes for approval, second, passes 9-0 Discussion on committee tour of places where requests may be applied for. #cpc0617
  • Tour with sign up sheet for Sep seems to be consensus. #cpc0617 likely to be open house for sites at same time. Next up, right of first refusal for Maple Hill property.
  • TA Jamie Hellen provides overview of the proposal doc shown to Town Council and finance committee #cpc0617 in case needed, you can find here https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/mai/files/_maple_hill_rofr_open_space_update.pdf 
  • One of the open space slides #cpc0617
  • Key slide with the three options being explained on how to buy the property. #cpc0617
  • Key summary slide of the options with recommendation for purchase option 1 #cpc0617
  • Motion to approve option 1, seconded. Discussion. Clarification on the CPA funds of 1.3m per year expected of which 200k/year would be used for this. Still leaves plenty for other uses and helps our commitment of 10% for open space. #cpc0617
  • There will be a longer term plan for the development of the property for recreation space, whether the funds also come from operations or CPA remains a question to be decided. #cpc0617
  • After discussion, roll call vote, passes 9-0. #cpc0617
  • Motion to adjourn, passes 9-0 #cpc0617 
Audio file to be available in couple of days 

votes 9-0 to approve 'right of first refusal' option 1 to purchase Maple Hill
votes 9-0 to approve 'right of first refusal' option 1 to purchase Maple Hill

FHS to perform "Bright Star - Concert Version" - June 18 & 19

Our ticket sales are LIVE for Bright Star - Concert Version! Don't miss out on this exclusive, live musical performance in June 18 & 19

Visit the link to reserve your tickets now - https://t.co/rtXoYNv23S https://t.co/JZxNSthZO4

FHS Theatre Company - Our ticket sales are LIVE for Bright Star - Concert Version!
FHS Theatre Company - Our ticket sales are LIVE for Bright Star - Concert Version!

Electric Youth and the Boston Show Band -> June 18-19

Electric Youth 2021, featuring 14 super talented singer dancers, headlines a weekend at THE BLACK BOX with two different performances to enjoy on June 18 and 19.  The show features choreography by the Electric Youth Creative Team and well as Broadway's Clay Thomson and Christopher Rice.  Backed by the world class Boston Show Band, Electric Youth shows deliver high energy fun for audiences of all ages! 


Livestream and In-Person ticketing options available. 

Electric Youth and the Boston Show Band -> June 18-19
Electric Youth and the Boston Show Band -> June 18-19





Watch "Panther News: Summer Special 2021" on YouTube

The last edition of Panther News for this school year is the "Summer Special"


Library crafts for the young at heart at the Farmers Market

Via the Franklin Farmers Market 

"We have also partnered with Franklin Public Library Official Site to offer Farmers Market Fun! Join them from 3:30 - 4:30 across from the gazebo for themed events from story time, scavenger hunts, crafts and more!"


Library crafts for the young at heart at the Farmers Market
Library crafts for the young at heart at the Farmers Market


FTC Consumer Alerts: Timeshares: Yes? No? Maybe?


Consumer Alerts from the Federal Trade Commission

by Rosario Méndez, Attorney, Division of Consumer and Business Education, FTC

If you're considering getting a timeshare this vacation season, read on. Maybe you got a flyer in the mail with pictures of sunny beaches and beautiful resort suites. Sounds great, right? But before you sign a timeshare contract, make sure you understand what you're getting into — and how to get out of it.

Read more ->   https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2021/06/timeshares-yes-no-maybe?utm_source=govdelivery




FTC Consumer Alerts: Timeshares: Yes? No? Maybe?
FTC Consumer Alerts: Timeshares: Yes? No? Maybe?


Recap: Economic Development Subcommittee - discussion on housing plan and requirements for home based businesses

Quick Recap:
  • The housing production plan was reviewed and discussed. Key among the actions is to further obtain any and all citizen input/comment by June 25 and update this draft. The revised plan would then be approved by Planning Board and Town Council before being submitted to the State for acceptance.
  • Key to specific items to address the housing would be the zoning assessment. This analysis would provide an objective 3rd party view on what we have and what we could do to allow for appropriate and affordable housing
  • Discussion on home based businesses. Good to boot strap a concept, Health Dept is ok with food production as long as the ServeSafe and other related food prep requirements are adhered to. The wrinkle comes with handling the sewer waste and implementation of a grease trap which can be expensive.
  • The Town is not prepared for how to address this opportunity. More research is required which they will conduct during the next couple of months and bring back to Subcommittee for further discussion.
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As with most meetings in this pandemic period, I took my notes via Twitter during the meeting reporting in real-time via the virtual session.
 
The Twitter hashtag can be found online  #edc0616
https://twitter.com/search?q=%23Edc0616&src=typed_query 

Photos captured during the meeting can be found in one album
https://photos.app.goo.gl/AayFgpTfmSzB3Y2w9

  • EDC meeting to begin soon, awaiting quorum #edc0616
  • Without quorum, may at least open meeting and have a discussion. #fincom0616
  • Quorum achieved (with virtual participation of Frongillo and Bissanti), EDC meeting opens at 7:09 PM. #edc0616
  • Chair Hamblen opens meeting, reads protocol statement, #fincom0616 First item, housing production plan for discussion if needed, plan can be found https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/franklin_housing_production_plan_-_may_2021_public_draft.pdf 
  • Feedback sought as part of the draft review process. #fincom0616
  • Cool to be back in Municipal Bldg, Planner Amy Love provides an overview of the plan, similar to what was presented earlier in Housing Trust meeting #edc0616
  • My notes from that (Municipal Affordable Housing Trust) meeting, for the record, can be found https://franklinmatters.org/2021/06/recap-municipal-affordable-housing.html?m=1 #edc0616
  • Difference in accounting between apartment and residential units, all apartments count if only a smaller # are affordable; for owned residential units only the # affordable apply to the housing rate (i.e. 6 of 30, only the 6 - if apartments, 6 of 30 all 30 count) condos ->
  • Condos count as owned units so only the # would count (like other owned residential, not like apartments). #edc0616 What is considered affordable for Franklin? Major issue
  • Development costs are hire, art zoning would need to have incentives to allow the developers to make the money back that they give up making some of the units affordable. #edc0616
  • Multiple discussion points on affordable and how to tackle it, the new housing behind Eaton Place will help but it won't be online soon (still needs funding) #edc0616
  • Motion to move housing plan forward to planning board and to Council for approval incorporating the changes and comments #edc0616 passes 4-0 via roll call.
  • Moving to home occupied businesses for next part of discussion. #edc0616
  • How do you permit a bootstrap business from a home, some i.e. kitchens can pose health concerns, others may have traffic/delivery issues for neighbors. #edc0616 permit some level of production up to which they're good, beyond that next level up. ZBA may be an option
  • In commercial areas, need to protect the sewer system, with grease traps, when blockages occur it stops things and that is not good. Title 5 systems are built for 3 or 4 bedrooms not commercial industry business. #edc0616 who acts the agent for volume?
  • We can't use the ZBA or planning board and their temporary benevolence, if something is good, let's make it right. #edc0616 strict guidelines on food prep, zoning is the issue in the case of chocolate bars (as the talking point example)
  • let's provide some time to research, see what others are doing, Boston is a whole different system. #edc0616 what might work, what would be some controls, there is no capacity at Charles River. we do need to consider the big picture of affordability
  • Motion to adjourn, second, passes 4-0 via roll call #fincom0616 

Audio file to be available in a couple of days

discussion on housing plan and requirements for home based businesses
discussion on housing plan and requirements for home based businesses