Franklin MAtters Weekly

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Week ending - Dec 4, 2011

While the week that passed is captured here, more important are what will happen on Monday and the days ahead of us.

Monday morning, 9:00 AM the School Building Committee meets and is reported to find out the proposed dollar figures for the model school. Assuming that happens, and is approved, then the proposal will go to the MSBA for their decision in January. All this at least according to the timeline reviewed in the Forum held Nov 17th. The audio recording is available here for you to listen to at your leisure.

Finance Committee meets Tuesday evening and they get an early look at the plan for the FY 2013 budget.

The Town Council meets Wednesday and they get an update on the Master Plan. Franklin's Master Plan was last finalized in 1997 and overdue for an update. The Planning and Community Development documents talk of a schedule for updating the plan during 2009 and 2010. That schedule did not happen. Which is not to say that nothing was done. There is a whole lot of work required and several components did have progress. The details of these components are what should be covered in the meeting Wednesday.

How does the Master Plan matter?
The Master Plan determines the overall development of the land within Franklin's boundary. What is permitted to go where. What should be kept open space? What kind of mix of commercial and industrial development should we have? It is too late to complain at a Planning Board hearing that the Big Y shouldn't be coming in to RT 140. The time to determine what can use that space is with the Master Plan.

There will be community involvement with the Master Plan. This is our time to have our say.

For example, also on the agenda for the Town Council meeting Weds are changes to the zoning bylaws to expand the area for biotechnology within the current commercial and industrial areas. If you are a neighboring property owner, now is the time to raise your concerns.

Dec 4

Dec 3

Dec 2

Dec 1

Nov 30

Nov 29

Nov 28

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Week ending - Nov 27, 2011

Thanksgiving is behind us, Christmas is on its way which means Santa arrives on the Town Common soon (Sunday, Nov 27th at 4:00 PM). The Holiday Stroll takes place all around downtown Franklin on Thursday, Dec 1. This event put together by the Downtown Partnership is a good time to visit the downtown businesses. The Historical Museum is open and the Franklin Food Pantry will be holding an open house.

The Town Council sets the tax rate for FY 2012 on Wednesday. The assessed valuation of properties continues to decline although less this year than last so there is some good news in that point. The decline in values means that the rate will increase. This year the rate is projected to be 13.73. I'll update my analysis of the tax rate process and have that ready for your review on Monday (Nov 28) to help prepare for the tax hearing on Wednesday.

Nov 27

Nov 26

Nov 25

Nov 24

Nov 23

Nov 22

Nov 21

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Week ending - Nov 20, 2011

The new Town Council is formed and operating. The first information session on the new high school project was held. The audio recordings from that night are being posted as they are being completed. You'll be able to hear all that was said that evening.

This week we also pause to give thanks for what we have.

Nov 20

Nov 19

Nov 18

Nov 17

Nov 16

Nov 15

Nov 14

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Week ending - Nov 13, 2011

The election is behind us, there are plenty of links with the results as well as a chart showing the recent historical turnout performance of the Franklin voters.

The School Committee has re-organized. Paula Mullen is the Chair with Sue Rohrbach as Vice-chair.

The Town Council will set up their organization at the start of the meeting this Wednesday. Who will lead this group? Hmm, it will be interesting to see.

The major item coming up this week: the School Building Committee is scheduled to conduct an informational forum on Thursday, Nov 17 at the Horace Mann Auditorium to discuss the high school project. Have you reviewed the "Frequently Asked Questions" yet?

What else is coming up? The workshop for the new Town Council on Weds provided some insights on the calendar of events. Be sure to review that here

Sun - Nov 13

Sat - Nov 12

Fri - Nov 11