Franklin MAtters Weekly

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Week ending - Dec 11, 2011

Call to action.
Some will hear it.
Some will miss it.

This week there are two calls to action to pay attention to. Yes, there are many but for the purposes of this weekly summary and in determining the direction of Franklin, I'll highlight these two.

1 - The Master Plan
Some folks complain about this business coming into this plot of land and don't understand the process. If you want to help determine the process, help determine any changes to the zoning bylaws that the Planning Board adhere to? Then this is your opportunity. The Master Plan is looking for residents to work in committee for a year to 18 months and help finish the plan.

If you are interested, reach out to the Town Administrator's office to express your interest and apply
If you would like some background on what the Master Plan will do, view this clip from the recent Town Council meeting
If you would like additional info, reach out to Bryan Taberner, the Director of the Panning and Community Development department

2 - Town Council working session
The Town Council will hold a work session on Wednesday, Dec 14. The working session will take place in the 3rd Floor Training Room at the Municipal Bldg. The session will begin at 7:00 PM. The session is open to all Franklin residents. You can have direct access to the councilors to talk about your issues and concerns.

This is a great idea! The newly formed Council is attempting to foster more direct access to Franklin residents and we need to take advantage of this opportunity. During the current Town Council meetings, you only 3 minutes to say something during Citizens Comments and then you have to wait until the end of the meeting agenda where either the Town Administrator or one (or more) of the Council will have an opportunity to respond to whatever was raised. While it works to have issues raised, this 'Citizens Comment" process does not foster a conversation.

How long the session will go will depend upon how many show up to get involved in the discussion. Do you recall the listing of items up for discussion at future Town Council meetings and published as part of the workshop held in November? If you are looking for a topic, this would be one place to start.

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This is my public service effort for Franklin. I can use your help. How can you help, you ask? If you have an interest in writing about something that matters in Franklin, please let me know.

And as always:

If you like this, please tell your friends and neighbors
If you don't like this, please let me know

This feedback loop is so important. Thank you for paying attention!

Dec 11

Dec 10

Attention: Reward for lost cat

In the News - Big Y, break-ins, zoning

Dec 9

Dec 8

Dec 7

Dec 6

In the News - fire education, students suspended

Library: Holiday Sing-A-Long

Dec 5

What is Franklin's Master Plan?

The Cult of Lego

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