Infrastructure & Facilities
Capital Planning Process
Identify and prioritize all of the Town's capital improvement requirements and capital funding opportunities for a minimum of six years; annually budget capital projects consistent with this plan.
Organize a standing committee with the responsibility of projecting the Town's future facility needs for all Town Departments for programming in the Capital Improvements Plan.
Revise the town's Capital Improvement Plan to extract and report on items related specifically to the implementation of the master plan.
Studies & Reports
Change the capital improvement process to budget annually for phased studies and reports on project feasibility, site evaluation, concept plans, designs and cost estimates for construction and operation for major capital projects scheduled within a three year window.
Identify the resources required for site evaluation, concept plans, design and construction of the new fire sub-station.
Identify the resources required for site evaluation, concept plans, design and construction of the next school building.
Resource Allocation
Commit sufficient Town and regional resources to properly plan, maintain, rehabilitate and expand the Town's infrastructure and facilities to satisfy the demands of the Town in future.
Utilize and further develop the town's Geographic Information System in planning the town's infrastructure.
Road & Sidewalk Management
Maintain an accurate and complete inventory of roads and sidewalks in the Town and the condition of pavement to support the road rehabilitation program.
- Ensure that all roads and sidewalks in Franklin and their status are kept current in the Massachusetts Highway Department Inventory of Roads and the Town's pavement management system-
- Include sidewalk and drainage improvements in all road rehabilitation projects to increase pedestrian safety and extend pavement life.
- Continue to increase the level of annual roadway maintenance.
Water System
As required, update the Water Distribution Study and use it to plan the expansion and improvement of the Town's water system.
- Update the Water Distribution Study and expand it to include all aspects of the Town's water system and keep it current to support Franklin's Master Plan and Capital improvements Plans.
- Continue to identify and bring on line additional water sources needed to supply the Town.
- Increase the volume of active water storage as the requirement for fire fighting increases.
- Continue to rehabilitate and replace aging components of the water system as the opportunities present themselves.
- Ensure that water rates continue to generate sufficient income to pay for operating and capital improvement expenses.
Sewer System
Complete the ongoing sewer system master plan, update it as necessary, and use it for planning the expansion and improvement of the Town's sewer system
- Complete the Sewer System Master Plan and keep it current to support Franklin's Master Plan and Capital Improvements Plans.
- Continue to rehabilitate and replace aging components of, improve efficiency and effectiveness of and extend the sewer system as the opportunities present themselves.
- Work with Charles River Pollution Control District to ensure that the capacity exists at their plant to handle Franklin's current and future sewage treatment requirements.
- Increase sewer rates to ensure that they generate sufficient income to pay for operating and capital improvement expenses.
Growth Management
Manage growth in a way that ensures that infrastructure service demands remain within Town and regional infrastructure capabilities.
- Adopt a By-law that establishes the requirement that all new subdivisions have ready access to a water supply for fire suppression, establishes standards for alternative systems as well as procedures to run water mains for offsite connections to the municipal water system, and addresses the funding of offsite improvements.
- Utilize the provisions of the subdivision rules and regulations requiring a community impact analysis to collect updated information on current conditions and projected demands on the town's infrastructure and facilities.
- Identify improvements that can be undertaken by developers to make sufficient infrastructure and facilities available to permit approval of developments.
Cost and Revenue Allocation
Allocate the costs of maintaining and expanding the Town's infrastructure and facilities to the appropriate users of the systems.
Revise the town's user fee allocation model to incorporate all related capital improvements.