Town Council spends 2 hours and takes "no action" on zoning proposal (video)

The Franklin (MA) Town Council met as scheduled Wednesday, February 28, 2024. the first 2 hours covered the earlier portions of the meeting and most of the time was spent on a healthy conversation around the proposed zoning change from residential to business for two lots on King St near the Fire station. 

The Council after spending almost 2 hours listening to the proposal (no specific business use proposed) (the real question was should the lot be residential or business?) the Council decided to take "no action". This move allows them to refer  the zoning change back to the Planning Board which while they had a quorum discuss this previously, the recommended was with only 3 votes, not the full 5 of the Board (due to the recent election).

The Franklin TV recording is available -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqa0QHtahmQ

The meeting agenda can be found ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/town_council_agenda_2.28.24.pdf

My notes captured during the session via Twitter can be read in one PDF ->   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CBubvtPzSJSvQakhmMx1X7M44cCPu7W_/view?usp=drive_link

Photos captured during the meeting can be found in one album ->   https://photos.app.goo.gl/sH38Yj6iD5yE6KPQ9

Aside from the zoning discussion:

• Brownie troop 64085 led the pledge as part of the work on the Democracy badge
• The minutes for the Jan meeting were approved
• The OPEB financial report was presented and reviewed, we are in a better position than we were previously
• FY24 Capital Improvement Plan was approved
• associated transfers to account for the funding approval were also approved
• The Council voted to support the Pending State Legislation Entitled “The Municipal Empowerment Act”
• The Revised 2024 Town Council Meeting Schedule was approved
• Gift Acceptance - Veterans’ Services Dept. ($2,900), Senior Center ($200), Police Dept. ($50)  were approved with thanks
• Designation of “Special Municipal Employee” Under State Ethics Law were approved for newly create committees not previously covered by this move (housekeeping)
• Cable Funds in Support of PEG Service and Programming per MGL Ch. 44, §53F3/4 actually 2 resolutions were approved. If the "empowerment Act noted above becomes law, this kind of approval would disappear from Council agendas
• Council entered executive session to not return to open meeting for discussion of a matter regarding a real estate purchase
• Joint Budget SubCmte meeting on March 6 will begin work on how to resolve a $10.5M budget deficit across town and school budgets. Agenda and budget details to be released Friday March 1

Tax Rate Hearing - Charts to help understand the Town of Franklin rate, tax bill, and assessed valuation relationship

DATE:  November 21, 2023 

To:  Town Council 

FROM: Board of Assessors

Kevin W. Doyle, Director of Assessing

 

RE: FY 2024 Tax Rate Hearing

Please find attached our information related to the annual Tax Rate Hearing. The hearing is required by Law and is intended primarily for the Town Council to determine whether the FY 24 Tax Rate (July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024) will be a single/uniform or a dual/split tax rate.

A single tax rate means that all property classes (residential, commercial, industrial and personal) are taxed at the same tax rate. A dual tax rate means the commercial-industrial-personal tax rate is increased while the residential rate is decreased. In other words, some of the residential tax burden is shifted towards commercial, industrial and personal properties.

PLEASE NOTE THAT A DUAL TAX RATE DOES NOT PRODUCE MORE TAX REVENUE, IT SIMPLY SHIFTS THE BURDEN.

Currently the single tax rate for FY 23 is $12.58 and the proposed tax rate for FY 24 rate is $11.79. The average single family assessment value increased from $593,800 to $650,400 or $56,600 (9.5%). For the average single family assessed at $650,400, the tax bill will increase by $198 a year. Individual homes may increase or decrease depending on numerous other factors.

Approximately 81% of property tax valuation and thus tax revenue is from residential taxes and 19% from commercial, industrial and personal property (CIP) taxes. If the council voted for a duel tax rate then then the shift from Residential to CIP would be on a 4 to 1 basis. For example if the Residential tax rate was lowered by $1 per thousand dollars valuation, the CIP tax rate would need to increase by $4 to offset the reduction in taxes collected by Residential properties.

 

Franklin has always had a single rate; we're happy to answer any questions that you may have.

Special Note: We send out quarterly tax bills. The first two (July and October) are preliminary largely based on last fiscal year's bills. The final two tax bills in January and April are based on the Actual Tax Rate and Final Assessment of each property. Accordingly the four quarterly bills are usually different. The first two are generally lower while the last two are higher.

Simple Example - Your last year's tax bill was $6,000 and this year it goes up $200 for a total of $6,200. Your first two bills would be $1,500 each for a total of $3,000. The last two tax bills are the final actual total less the first two preliminary tax amounts ($6,200 minus $3,000 = $3,200) divided into the two (January and April) final installments ($1,600 each).

Many folks multiply their third quarterly $1,600 amount times four and think their new bill is $6,400 for the year. They need to look at the total annual tax as indicated on the actual 3rd Quarter Tax Bill, not just at one quarterly bill. Remember that valuations typically change annually in accordance with use of the State required data. The Total Tax Levy typically increases by 2 ½%(Proposition 2 ½), by New Growth Revenue (improvements and new properties added to the tax base), and by adjustments in the Debt Exclusion amount to be raised for payments on long-term capital projects (i.e. schools).

The full tax rate hearing package can be found ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/november_21_2023_town_council_tax_hearing_agenda.pdf

Download the charts as one PDF ->   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gJvC5DdCmmeU2tQ_bycWPJETpKvVuMtw/view?usp=drive_link

cover page for FranklinMatters.org explanation

historical tax rate shown

as the assessed valuation increases, the rate decreases, and vice versa

the residential vs. commercial/industrial split has been in the 80-20 range over time

whether the rate goes up or down, the overall tax bill does increase

Landlord In Worcester Apartment Collapse based in Franklin

The Franklin radar picked up this story from Worcester: 

"The owner of a Worcester apartment building that partially collapsed earlier this month took dozens of tenants to court on Monday seeking a way to remove their possessions from the building to make way for repairs. 

More than 100 people had to evacuate the 267 Mill St. building on July 15 after the roof caved in, punching a hole in the building from the fourth floor to the basement. The collapse was likely caused by construction materials placed in one small area on the roof, according to court records. 

No one was injured in the incident, but the collapse left every resident homeless, with many now sheltering temporarily at a Worcester hotel. Meanwhile, their possessions are stuck in the damaged building, which Worcester officials ordered condemned on July 18. 

On Friday, the company that owns the building, Franklin-based 267 Mill Street LLC, sent about 30 tenants summonses to appear in court on Monday over the removal of possessions."

Continue reading the article online

https://patch.com/massachusetts/worcester/landlord-worcester-apartment-collapse-goes-court-over-belongings

 

267 Mill St. in Worcester pictured on Wednesday. Residents had to leave all their possessions during an evacuation on July 15 after a roof collapse. (Neal McNamara/Patch)

67 Degrees welcomes new resident artist Dobritte Norris

"67 Degrees Brewing is pleased to welcome our new Resident Artist 

Dobritte Norris @wesley_the_minifrenchie 

Mrs Norris is a local to Franklin and her work is displayed in our taproom. 

She specializes in canvas pours and her work is delightful and vibrant.
Link to her page -> https://www.etsy.com/shop/FlowbyDobritte  

An Art Reception is planned for the first week of March. Please stay tuned for details."

Shared from Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/CZsIDiol9Om/?utm_medium=copy_link

Visit 67 Degrees online at https://67degreesbrewing.com/  or in person on Grove St

67 Degrees welcomes new resident artist Dobritte Norris

Franklin Residents: Beech St construction June 25

Good morning Franklin,

DPW will be working with a contractor to install a pipe across Beech St this Thursday, June 25. The work will be near the brook crossing, close to house number 33. Beech St will be closed to thru traffic and the work should only take one day. 

A detour will be set up directing traffic onto Pine St and Pond St. 

Thank you!

Franklin Residents: Beech St construction June 25

Looking Forward to 2020 Strawberry Stroll

"Enjoy strawberry shortcake, great vendors, activities and lots of family fun at the Strawberry Stroll on June 12 (rain date June 13) from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. 

Vendor registration will open in April. Thank you to this year's events coordinator - Chris Peterson!"

Shared from the Franklin Downtown Partnership page
https://www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/



Consider joining as a business or resident (only $25/yr)
https://www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/p/membership-info.html

Looking Forward to 2020 Strawberry Stroll

Franklin Issue on the 2020 'Watch List': Citizen Engagement

The four issues on the watch list recently posted really boil down to two general buckets of issues: 

1 - the Town budget - facing a possible override along with increases in both water/sewer rates and trash/recycling along with intro of another fee for stormwater (with PFAS as a 'sleeper' cost to be addressed)
2 - the multiple school district issues covered in the two posts; the school budget, Davis Thayer, and the 'paused' school start time issue

The third issue I'll raise is also one of the possible solution areas.

The Town Administration and School District can proceed working with the Town Council, School Committee, Finance Committee and other departments in the Franklin government on our behalf, as we elected them to do, or we, the residents and voters, can step away from Facebook, and truly get involved to do something.

As part of the Town Council goals and objectives, there are proposals for Civic Engagement efforts. 

Civic Engagement (NEW) 

● Research the potential for a “Citizen’s Academy” course for citizens
● Research the ICMA Citizen Satisfaction Survey through the National Citizen Survey and National Research Council
● Continue to update and reinvent the Town website, social media accounts, consider implementing a TOF podcast (Soundcloud/ Anchor) and develop consistent best practices organization-wide
● Expand E-Permitting and online payment options

Some of these are more 'service' related than 'engagement' related and hence while this is good, I do not think it goes far enough. I also understand, and fully respect, that the Town as a government entity can only do so much. We, as residents and voters, need to step up to make this "government of the people, by the people, for the people" work for us.

I also will not claim to have all the answers. I have learned and continue to learn more about Franklin and its government every day. How we can successfully reach the voters to get them to take action on their civic duties (i.e. vote for one, but that is only one duty) is an answer I am still looking for.

If you have ideas, I am open to listen. My contact info is available; reach out, let me know you want to talk, and I'll make time to do so.

In the Town Council goals and objective doc is a listing of key presentations scheduled or being scheduled for future Town Council meetings. If one or more of these topics interests you, put a mark on your calendar accordingly.

Presentations/Discussions (tentatively/confirmed scheduled dates) 

● Community Preservation Act - February 5 (scheduled)
● Housing Authority w/ Lisa Audette - February 12th (confirmed)
● Transitional Assistance - February 12th (confirmed)
● Economic Profile Study -- March/April (pending delivery of final report)
● MECC Regional Dispatch -- May 6th 2020 (confirmed)
● Department Presentations: Land Use & Permitting Departments -- June 2020
● Master Plan midway Update -- June/July 2020
● Charter Review Discussion - Late 2020

What can you do in the meantime? 

Action

• Get to a meeting, or watch via Comcast/Verizon, or the streaming feed via Franklin TV
• Talk with our Town Council, School Committee, Finance Committee, School Superintendent Sara Ahern, and Town Administrator Jamie Hellen
• Have a civil conversation about one or more of these issues; together we can, and must, find a solution that works for us

The full goals and objectives doc can be found on the Town of Franklin page
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/mai/files/8b._town_council_2020-2021_goals_memo.pdf

Franklin Issues on the 2020 'Watch List'

• School District Issues

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/01/franklin-issue-on-2020-watch-list_7.html

• Multiple Fiscal Challenges

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/01/franklin-issue-on-2020-watch-list_6.html

• School Start Time

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/01/franklin-issue-on-2020-watch-list.html

• New PFAS Regulations Proposed

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/01/franklin-issue-on-2020-watch-list-new.html

the future of Franklin remains with the Franklin voters who can become active or remain passive

Franklin Economic Development Survey - your chance to provide input

The Town of Franklin, in conjunction with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) are conducting a community survey regarding economic development in our town. 

Please click on this link to access the survey form:
https://forms.gle/6SJpXeWPvg2H37A96 

This survey will be available until December 13. 

There are hard copies available in the Town Administrator's office if needed. Thank you in advance for your input, ideas and feedback!

Franklin Economic Development Survey - Provide your input!

Franklin Economic Development Survey - Provide your input!

The Town of Franklin, in conjunction with the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) are conducting a community survey regarding economic development in our town. 

Please click on this link to access the survey form:
https://forms.gle/6SJpXeWPvg2H37A96 

This survey will be available until December 13. 

There are hard copies available in the Town Administrator's office if needed. Thank you in advance for your input, ideas and feedback!

Franklin Economic Development Survey - Provide your input!

Franklin 2018 Boston Marathon Results

A search of the BAA Marathon Results for Franklin residents returns the following two screen shots. Congratulations to all who persevered in the weather on Monday.

You can use this link to find additional results or more information about the race:  
http://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon/results-commentary/2018-boston-marathon/2018-results-search.aspx

Franklin residents 2018 Boston Marathon Results - page 1

Franklin residents 2018 Boston Marathon Results - page 2