Providing accurate and timely information about what matters in Franklin, MA since 2007. * Working in collaboration with Franklin TV and Radio (wfpr.fm) since October 2019 *
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
EdTech Networks Presentation
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My notes taken during their presentation and discussion with the School Committee:
EdTech Networks presentation
Based in Wakefield, MA
Builds website platforms for school systems
No out of pocket costs
Unique fundraising platform (new money for schools)
Advanced web technology
Good examples of the proposal in action:
Medford - http://www.medford.k12.ma.us/home.aspx?categoryID=3
Smithfield, RI - http://www.smithfield-ps.org/home.aspx?categoryID=3
E Greenwich, RI - http://egsd.net/home.aspx?categoryID=3
Georgetown - http://ps.gt.ma.ednets.us/home.aspx?categoryID=3
Other school districts mentioned:
Hudson (not an EdNet site)
Marlboro (not an EdNet site)
North Reading (web site not responding)
Large pipeline in progress 30-50, about 2/month coming on line
Participating merchants, recruit local businesses
Rebate recovery
Member marketing
Franklin brings – members YOU!
Key piece of the partnership is working with Franklin, parents, PTO school boosters, etc.
Marlboro school students developed a marketing plan
Two ways to generate rebates
1 – Online mall, school website (no need to register)
2 – Shop in store at local participating merchants (register your credit, debit, loyalty cards)
National, regional, online and local
Online mall has 500 national merchants
Expedia trip at $5000 would generate 2% back to the schools
Collect only card and date for tracking purposes, does not collect any other data, can not initiate a transaction
PCI compliant, high security standards
Encrypted data, data segregation
No plan text files of any files kept, all encrypted
No information is provided to any party, period
Content management system
Control users via permission
Easy to use, no HTML coding needed
Portal, single database, cut/paste from any MS program
Instantaneous updates
Publish to multiple pages simultaneously
Archival system
Navigation design
24/7 hosted, technical support provided
Training, by group
Faster communication, lower cost
Not limited to Franklin residents, can designate a beneficiary school district
Municipal requirements
1 – Separate account
2 – Education foundation
Combo websites and email
Targeted registration campaigns, some dollar reward for each registration via incentives
Can track district, schools, via promotion codes
Shrink wrap a school bus, with logo, and participating merchants
“Better schools through smarter shopping”
Split rebates, 2/3… up to website subscription fee, after that, 100%...
Advertising split 50/50
Could do picture profile online, do PTO profile online
Capacity for electronic payments for school fees, lunches, etc.
Demo of Marlboro, East Greenwich sites
Headshot for teachers capable, CV capable
.net platform, more current
After the sale what’s the spam effect? Self directed by customer, check off, to opt out
Use of captcha to access directory online
Three components of revenue
1 – rebate 80/20 merchant split
2 – split revenue from promotions 50/50
3 - website subscription fee paid from subscribers as noted in split above
Future items:
Electronic yearbooks
Social networking amongst teachers that could be monetized
100 million Americans in K-12 world, no one marketing to this group today
Don’t have a gas vendor today
Grocery highest priority
Then casual dining, faster growing segment of personal expenditures
Then Office/school supplies
Then Apparel
Co-branded debit and co-branded credit being explored
My questions (to be asked)
What percent of Franklin population has and uses a system?
What are traffic counts for existing school pages?
Franklin in the News
Two hurt in crash
By Michael Morton/Daily News staff
FRANKLIN - A rescue helicopter rushed a man to a Worcester hospital yesterday after a head-on collision at the intersection of Rte. 140 and Grove Street, police said. |
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Store clerk stops robbery
By Michael Morton/Daily News staff
FRANKLIN - Spotting a familiar customer opening the till at the Lincoln Street Market on Monday afternoon, clerk Ryan Lomberto ran in from pumping gas and grabbed the man before he could run off with any cash. |
Franklin (continues) to wait
Franklin to wait for answer to $590,000 question
By Michael Morton/Daily News staff
FRANKLIN - A law firm investigating how an undisclosed $590,000 school budget gap ended up on the wrong set of books needs more time, Superintendent Wayne Ogden said, with a report now expected in January instead of this month. |
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
New Game at Milford Daily News (Video)
If you know where Julia Spitz shot this video, e-mail jspitz@cnc.com or call her at 508-626-3968. The first three people with the correct answer will have their names listed here and in the newspaper. All those who submit correct answers before 4 p.m. Thursday will be eligible for a monthly prize drawing.Have fun playing "Where'd She Go?
Note this was also posted on Steve's 2 Cents
School Committee: Health Survey - part 2 (audio)
Donovan, K-12 Director Health/Physical Education answer questions from the School Committee after their presentation on 11/27/07.
Time: 28 minutes, 56 seconds
MP3 File
Franklin School Committee: Health Survey Presentation (audio)
Time: 40 minutes, 6 seconds
MP3 File
My notes to accompany this audio file can be found here.
The presentation can be found here.
Metro West/EDC Adolescent Health Survey - Part 1
The survey results are important to understand. This is where a good deal of focus on the education of our children should be. The issues raised by this survey can put an appropriate context around budget discussions.
The presentation was rather lengthy so I have split it up into three posts.
- The first (this one) has the intro and my own notes taken during the presentation.
- The second will have the audio file for the presentation itself.
- The third will have the audio file for the question and answer discussion following the presentation.
The link to the presentation itself can be found here.
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My notes taken during the presentation on 11/27/07
Lifetime – tried it at least once in their lifetime
Trend in survey showing decline in reported usage of alcohol amongst middle school students
Alcohol most prevalent amongst high school, no difference between male/female,
10% admitted it interfered with their school work
48% high school admitted drinking within the last 30 days
This trend line was actually increasing over the study periods
Tobacco use, males more than females – middle school
Significant reduction in those admitting trying smoking (both MS and HS)
High school – 10% identified as daily smokers
Marijuana is a concern, there shows a reduction in MS
Steroids have dropped
HS – marijuana nearly as prevalent as tobacco for students as trying it
Students using marijuana using within 30 days, exceeds the smoker numbers
Biggest issue at HS bullying and fighting
Decrease from MS to HS, although increases from 2004, 2006 at HS
Electronic bullying increasing
Stress levels double from 9th to 12th grade, (i.e. college process)
Community involvement recommended to address these issues
15 components to be convened in the community involvement effort
Must celebrate trends going in the right direction
But we’re still taking about 10-20% of the population participating in risky behavior
Comparative analysis since 1999
How to provide the info to the parents, summary, call to action in some attractive but none-turning away manner
Introduction of Open Circle at kindergarten level helps
Middle school intervention programs
9th grade collaborative at the HS
Peer mentoring, peer leaders going through training now
Discussion on 1999, data, first year results seem not to be real
Chief Williams coming back to put this in perspective within the Town context
Avoid one shot assembly approach, programs work well when connected to curriculum
Have not looked at correlation with economy
Monday, December 17, 2007
Town Council Agenda 12/19/07 available
Blogs in plain English (video)
Sunday, December 16, 2007
Where in Franklin? Answer #23
Ken identified:
"This property has been before the planning board and town council several times for public hearings. I believe the property was sold at a foreclosure auction last week. If so what will the new owner do with it?"
Time will tell.
Oh, and if you had not recognized where this open pit is located, you can find it along RT 140 at the entrance to Chestnut Ridge.
Thanks, Ken! Stay tuned for the next picture.
Town trying to project its building plans
Now that Franklin has approved spending $300,000 for library and museum upgrades, some councilors want to get a better view of the big picture when it comes to future projects, and compile a new survey of the town's building woes
Read the full article here.
Brick Costs $37,600 Annually
Cost of Red Brick School: $37,600 annually
By Michael Morton/Daily News staff
FRANKLIN - After debating the contents of their financial report, task force members studying the viability of the Red Brick School agreed yesterday that the historic building costs $37,600 to run annually, with $600 currently borne by town taxpayers. |
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Where are the drains?
Union Street was newly rebuilt this year. Nice sidewalks. Curbed road. New storm drains.
Oh, where are they?
Yes, they are there. Covered under the snow. The plows just did not get that last foot or so on each side of the road to reveal the drains.
In the entire rebuilt section from the Common to Cottage, I found only one visible drain cover. (Yes, the rebuilt section extends up passed Cottage to Washington Street, but we didn't walk that way this morning.)
Library Hangover
Pretty? maybe.
Pretty harmful to the insides? quite possibly, based upon what we have heard about the leaks.
youths take charity into their own hands
Franklin youths take charity into their own handsBy Michelle Laczkoski/Daily News staff
|
Friday, December 14, 2007
The Web 2.0 thing explained (video)
Franklin in the news
By Michael Morton/Daily News staff
FRANKLIN - Following a fatal rollover accident that took his life a week before he turned 17, Tobacco Road resident Matthew Blagdon is to be remembered at a wake today for his generosity and dedication to friends and family.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
climate change a top priority
The state Department of Environmental Protection is making climate change a top priority, a senior official said yesterday.
Martin Suuberg, central region director for the state agency, outlined a handful of efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. He spoke before local business and municipal officials at a breakfast forum cohosted by the United Chamber of Commerce and the Norfolk County Commissioners' Office.
"Climate change is the central environmental challenge of our times," Suuberg said, adding the state will seek solutions to reduce emissions. "We've been waiting too long for a national solution."
Read the remainder of the article here
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Superintendent's Evaluation
Time: 3 minutes, 0 seconds
MP3 File
My written notes from this portion of the meeting:
3 page summary, goals and major points
8 goals evaluated
(the evaluation) “needs to be more specific in quantitative and qualitative measures next time”
3% increase effective July 1, 2007
Brick Task Force Update
Time: 7 minutes, 43 seconds
MP3 File
For reference: the Brick Task Force charge can be seen here on the School Committee page
My written notes from this portion of the meeting:
Sue Rohrbach
Brick task force
5 of 6 tasks accomplished thus far, future use topic remains
Looking for guidance in terms of conclusion
Meeting this Saturday for three hours to complete and meet Jan 8th deadline
Roberta - Waiting for the data
Cora - Answer all the charges set forth, decision left to committee and superintendent
Matt – looking for a decision from the committee
Ed – not expecting a formal outcome, address the six issues, will expect that members are not going to be shy about saying what they think
Jeff – don’t get bogged down over any question, gather data and report back with answers to those six questions
Majority/minority report concept okay
Will get all the info, all the data, get all the backup
Franklin in the News
Senior center's glow a little too much for someBy Michael Morton/Daily News staff
|
Monday, December 10, 2007
School Committee Meeting 12/11/07
7:00 PM, Council Chambers
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Where in Franklin? #23
Not even stumps of trees are left in this pit. Where is it located in Franklin?
The guidelines to play "Where in Franklin?" are found here.
Where in Franklin? Answer #22
Picture #22 apparently was a stumper. A couple of guesses but no one had the Montessori Sunrise School located on Upper Union. The Fenway-like wall is on the right side in this view protected by the chain link fence.
As you come down Upper Union, with the Franklin Industrial Park on your left, the Montessori Sunrise School is located on the right with the Fenway wall visible.
Thanks for playing. Stay tuned for #23.
Franklin in the News
A family of performers
By Heather McCarron/Daily News staff
FRANKLIN - For the Hancock family, Franklin Performing Arts Company's holiday production of ''Tis the Season' is becoming a family tradition. But not as members of the audience. |
Tax money from new growth lacking
By Aaron Wasserman, Daily News staff
The taxes area towns are collecting from new growth have declined substantially in the past three fiscal years, creating concern among some local officials about future budgets. |
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Franklin in the news
Need for money is not an act
By Aaron Wasserman/Daily News staff
FRANKLIN - When they learned money was tight for this year's high school musical, Alexandra Lonati and a group of student theater enthusiasts decided to take matters into their own hands.
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Friday, December 7, 2007
Franklin in the News
Franklin candidates report campaign spending
By Michael Morton/Daily News staff
FRANKLIN - New Planning Board member Gregory Ballarino led all town candidates in spending for the November election, according to campaign finance forms filed with the town clerk, using his own money to buy $824.25 worth of yard signs.
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Thursday, December 6, 2007
Franklin in the News
Franklin library disrepair criticized
By Michael Morton/Daily News staff
FRANKLIN - Town Council voted to spend money on a library architect and museum renovations last night, but not before Councilor Joseph McGann questioned the cost and timing of the work at the leaking lending facility.
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Franklin taxes going up
By Michael Morton/Daily News staff
FRANKLIN - The council voted to keep a single tax rate last night with little discussion on the perception that commercial and industrial properties are not assessed as high as they should be.
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A work of faith
By Michael Morton/Daily News staff
FRANKLIN - When it comes to building a 7-foot tall menorah, it turns out there are no established instructions.
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Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Franklin in the News
Franklin officials review assessment data
By Michael Morton/Daily News staff
FRANKLIN - With lingering questions about how commercial and industrial assessments are calculated, new analyses of the town's system are expected to be unveiled at tonight's final council tax rate hearing. |
Former Franklin official's firing a surprise
By Michael Morton/Daily News staff
FRANKLIN - Ten years after controversial administrator Wolfgang Bauer resigned from running their town, current and former officials reacted with surprise yesterday to his firing from a similar job in Rhode Island. |
Where in Franklin? #22
Can you identify this location? Where do they have a Fenway style green wall overlooking a pool?
The guidelines for playing "Where in Franklin?" can be found here.
Enjoy!
Where in Franklin? Answer #21
The correct answer to picture #21 is the Municpal Building on Rt 140, or East Central St.
Thanks for playing Susan.
Stay tuned for the next one!
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Franklin in the News
White bricks in new building not everyone's favorite
By Michael Morton/Daily News staff
FRANKLIN - With the second building in the Franklin Center Commons project nearing completion, some residents are questioning why the much-anticipated project contains bricks with a whitish hue rather than the traditional red as expected. |
West Warwick fires town manager over misspent river funds
By Staff reports
WEST WARWICK, R.I. - West Warwick Town Manager Wolfgang Bauer, who worked as town manager in Franklin, Mass., in the 1990s, has been fired by the town council, which found "gross mismanagement" of a river improvement project. |
Live, from Franklin ...
By Michael Morton/Daily News staff
FRANKLIN - Unable in recent months to receive local public television channels, Verizon customers finally got a chance to watch a live town event with last night's Planning Board meeting. |
Board to seek new members
By Michael Morton/Daily News staff
FRANKLIN - Planning Board Vice Chairwoman Paige Duncan will resign next month to spend more time with her family, Chairman Anthony Padula announced last night, prompting a search for a replacement. |
Town Council Meeting Agenda 12/5/07
The tax hearing resumes at 7:10 PM.
Audio recordings from the meeting 11/28/07 can be found here.
Monday, December 3, 2007
School Deficit - Discussion and Vote
Time: 8 minutes, 40 seconds
MP3 File
Franklin Center Commons
on a dreary slushy day, a photo from the sunshine on Saturday.
This is a good idea to let folks know how much is open and operating in the new building for those heading West on 140 coming into Franklin.
The way the sign is angled it does not help those heading East.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Franklin in the news
By Aaron Wasserman/Daily News staff
Shelf space was in short supply yesterday morning in the Franklin United Methodist Church's kitchen. By 10 a.m. rows of cookies had already filled several baking sheets, their smell noticeable moments after walking in the church's side door. |
Chambers seek energy consultants to aid businesses
By Aaron Wasserman/Daily News staff
Several area chambers of commerce, concerned about volatile utility prices' impact on their members, are working with energy consultants to help local businesses control their costs. |
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'Friends' help Franklin Senior Center get underway
By Michael Morton/Daily News staff
Inside the game room of the town's new senior center, a donated pool table is already well on its way to bringing in more men to the community facility. |
Franklin artist helps reproduce historical town painting
By John Fenuccio/News Staff Writer
When the Historical Commission needed help restoring Admiral Louis Emil Denfeld’s portrait, it not only sought out a professional artist, but also a “townie.” |
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Questioning tax share for businesses
By Alexandra Perloe - Globe Correspondent / December 2, 2007
Franklin officials have again entered the perennial debate on whether to continue taxing residential and commercial properties at the same rate, or convert to a dual, or split-rate, system.
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Where in Franklin? - Answer #20
"mns-franklin" provided the correct answer. This is the building located at the corner of King/Chestnut and 140 next to DeVita's Market.
Currently owned by the town and up for sale, the Four Corners building has generated some discussion during the run up to the election.
We came to Franklin in 1995 and I recall it being office space then. I recall buying flowers from the florist whose building (now torn down) was tucked tigthly along and angled lot in back of this building.
When did the Four Corners building end being a school? Sometime in the 1980's?
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Chris Lavery gets recognized for good work
While recognizing the need for safeguards in the post-9/11 era, Lavery believes immigration law does need to be reformed.
"It can be incredibly draconian," Lavery said of U.S. immigration law. "There are laws in place that kind of curl your toes."
For example, he said, the law requires the detention of anyone with "even a minor offense," such as violating a visa. It can take anywhere from 12 to 18 months to resolve such cases, Lavery said, and in the meantime the aliens are kept in corrections facilities along with people who have been tried and convicted of various crimes.
If an alien in detention gives up on becoming a U.S. citizen, Lavery said, even then it can take six to eight weeks before they are released to return to their countries of origin.
"There needs to be reform. The immigrant population here is just burgeoning," Lavery said. "It's about time we give them some kind of fair avenue to legalize their status here."
Read the full article by Heather McCarron in the Milford Daily News about the recognition Chris is receiving as a recipient of the Solas Appreciation Award.
Congratulations, Chris. Keep up the good work!The drinking problem amongst our youth
This is an issue where Franklin can take control of it and put their own resources to use to make some real substantial progress. This is not just a school issue, this is a community issue.Nearly half of town high school students participating in a health survey said they had drank alcohol recently, according to results released this week, with the rate exceeding the average regional consumption.The survey, funded by the MetroWest Community Health Care Foundation and conducted last spring by the nonprofit Education Development Center, found that 48 percent of the 1,350 Franklin high school students who took part in the survey said they drank within the last month. That figure was higher than the 42 percent average for the 18 MetroWest and Milford area communities that participated, but the same as the statewide rate.
"Every community is surprised it's that high," said Michele Kingsland-Smith, Franklin's director of instructional services. "If it were 35 (percent), it'd still be too high."
The survey's topics included alcohol, drug and tobacco use; violent behavior; suicide; and sexual behavior among middle school and high school students. While regional averages were released last month, Franklin unveiled its results during a School Committee meeting Tuesday, with a number of categories showing a continued downward trend.
Read the full article here.
Note: I do have the recorded presentation from the School Committee meeting in queue to post. You will be able to hear that important information for yourself.
Historical Commission Statement
Time: 6 minutes, 30 seconds
MP3 File
Note: I did not hear the representative identify himself, nor did I catch anyone refer to him by name. If anyone can identify the individual, I will update this with his name.
Updated 12/3/07: As noted in the comment from Susan Spears, she had correctly identified Bob Percy as the representative. I did get an email from Bob to confirm as well.
Reapplication of Hotel Tax
Time: 3 minutes, 40 seconds
MP3 File
Tax Hearing Citizens Comment 7
Time: 4 minutes, 4 seconds
MP3 File
Friday, November 30, 2007
Franklin in the news
The Charter Commission recommendations are reported on here
Hotel tax revenue vote from Wednesday's Town Council meeting
From the Franklin Gazette:
The school deficit covered temporarily
Taxes to rise, no surprise since the override passed
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Michael LeBlanc's assessment analysis workbook
The papers that he handed out came from the two pages in the workbook now posted online and available here.
Michael, thank you for sharing this work!
Tax Hearing Q&A - 11
Time: 1 minute, 0 seconds
MP3 File
Tax Hearing Q&A - 5
Time: 6 minutes, 14 seconds
MP3 File
Town Council Meeting 11/28/07 Summary
Board of Assessors presentation (audio)
Questions on senior participation in deferments (Pfeffer, McGann) (audio)
Mason's question on single rate rationale (audio)
Doak's initial questions (audio)
McGann's question on split tax rate scenarios (audio)
Zollo gets to the point (audio)
This is a deceptive piece of information (Pfeffer)
This is deceptive (Pfeffer) (audio)
Chairman Feeley has his turn (audio)
Can you recast this spreadsheet? (Whalen)
Nutting's proposal on determining the assessed vs. sale valuations
Can you recast this spreadsheet? (Whalen) (audio)
Councilor Vallee clarifies the potential tax rates (audio)
Councilor Doak clarifies 2007 sales and assessment valuations (audio)
Councilor McGann asks what is the distribution of split vs. single tax rates in MA (audio)
LeBlanc's presentation on the assessed valuations
LeBlanc's handouts (two spreadsheets)
Michael Leblanc's analysis of the assessment issue (audio)
Doak follow up question for LeBlanc (audio)
Zollo statement on assessment problem (audio)
Whalen statement on assessment problem (audio)
Franklin needs to be competitive with India as well as Indiana (M Doherty)
M Doherty comment (audio)
T Fleming comment (audio)
D Collier (?) comment (audio)
caution you to use the information he has provided carefully
K Norman comment (audio)
J Curran comment (audio)
Jeff Nutting reviews the proposal for the Town Council to change the allocation of the Hotel Tax
Jeff Nutting (audio)
Historical Commission representative reads statement (audio)
Whalen, Nutting, Bartlett (audio)
McGann, Nutting, Roche (audio)
Doak, Zollo, Roche (audio)
Pfeffer (audio)
Susan Spears (audio)
Dave Collier (?) (audio)
Michael LeBlanc, Lisa Piana, Carol Harpin (audio)
McGann, Nutting, Roche (audio)
Zollo (audio)
Jane Curran, Eileen Mason, Lynn Narron (audio)
Motion to allocate the Hotel/Motel Tax per Nutting recommendation to next agenda
Doak, Bartlett, Nutting, Feeley, McGann and vote (audio)
Deficit in FY 09 will be far greater than FY 08 per Nutting (audio)
Motion to balance the discovered discrepancy in the School budget for FY 07 with transfer of $590,000 from stabilization
Milford Daily News coverage
Tax Hearing Q&A - 2
Time: 4 minutes, 6 seconds
MP3 File
credibility of the town's government had once again taken a hit
Faced with a recently discovered $590,000 school funding gap, councilors voted last night to plug the hole with money from the town's savings account.
Although the Finance Committee recommended that the schools be held accountable by giving up $290,000 from their budget, and taking $300,000 from the fiscal stabilization fund, the council decided that it did not yet have enough information to assign responsibility.
Read the full article here recapping the Town Council meeting of 11/28/07.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Tax Hearing Q&A
Time: 2 minutes, 14 seconds
MP3 File
live blogging - Town Council Meeting 11/28/07
The auditors are scheduled to come to the Town Council at a future meeting to address the problem and make recommendations.
Role call -> 9-0 motion passed
Live blogging -Town Council meeting 11/28/07
Live blogging - Town Council Meeting 11/28/07
Passed 7-2.
Live blogging - Town Council Meeting 11/28/07
Michael LeBlanc
place holder for recorded comment
Live blogging - Town Council Meeting 11/28/07
Susan Spears
place holder for recorded comment on use of open space/community preservation
Live blogging - Town Council Meeting 11/28/07
Live Blogging - Town Council Meeting 11/28/07
The Town Council would need to make a vote to appropriate the money for these uses. Otherwise, the money would go into the open space fund as originally allocated.
The vote would need to take place before the tax rate is set at the meeting next week.
Live blogging - Town Council Meeting 11/28/07
Ken Norman
Michael Leblanc is an honorable man, I have worked with him, he does good analysis. I would caution you to use the information he has provided carefully... Let's get Mr Whalen and Mr LeBlanc together and see what they can come up with.
Live blogging - Town Council Meeting 11/28/07
Michael Doherty
"If there is a problem with assessments, fix that problem, do not address it with it a split tax rate... Franklin needs to be competitive with India as well as Indiana... You increase the pie by selling the properties we are trying to, get them on the tax role."
Live blogging - Town Council Meeting 11/28/07
Michael LeBlanc speaking
Commercial/Industrial properties
64 properties sold from 2004 to 2007, reduced to 54 for analysis
pre-assessed value of these properties sold $264
difference is 96 million, assessment 36% below what they were sold for
9 of the properties, had an assessed value higher than the sale price
55 were below, Franklin Village was the single biggest difference
family homes
895 properties, presale 384 million 5%
262 were assessed higher than sale
633 were valued less than sale price
From Kevin - Board of Assessors in response to questions from M LeBlanc
more than 50% of the properties provide the information on income and expenses
if they don't supply the information, the business would waive their right to appeal the tax assessment, they may jeopardize their appeal at the state level, they are also subject to a $50 penalty.
there were several properties in the Industrial Park that were assessed for 45.7 million, sold for 67.8 million; the current year assessments went down to 42 million.
Summary: The business are effectively getting a tax break of about $2.5 million that the residents are picking up.
Live blogging - Town Council Meeting 11/28/07
Jeff Nutting proposed to pick the properties that sold around $1 million, which would be about 20 or so properties, to re-do the calculation and include that years assessed value for those properties to make a determination as to whether there is an undervaluation of business commercial properties.
Live blogging - Town Council Meeting 11/28/07
Can you re-cast this spreadsheet to show the assessed valuation at the time of the sale? Could you do that for us?from Stephen Whalen during this discussion
After some clarification, yes, they can and will do that.
Town Council Tax Hearing 1
Time: 5 minutes, 42 seconds
MP3 File
Live blogging - Town Council Meeting 11/28/07
said by Judith Pond Pfeffer in reference to the discussion around the information provided on assessed value versus sales price of local business/commercial properties since 2005.
"This is a deceptive piece of information... not apples to apples, oranges to oranges.."
Where in Franklin? #20
Let's see if you can identify this building.
The guidelines to play "Where in Franklin?" can be found here.
Enjoy!
Before setting the tax rate
With the library leaking and the museum headed for a new downtown home, the Finance Committee recommended last night that money for the projects be taken from a fund dedicated in the past to open space.
The fund currently holds $1.6 million and is drawn from the town's hotel/motel tax. While that money would remain earmarked for open space, upcoming earnings from the current fiscal year would go to the library and the museum under a plan proposed by Town Administrator Jeffrey Nutting and recommended by the Finance Committee.
...
Since the Finance Committee is an advisory group, the Town Council is expected to discuss the museum and library tonight (Wednesday 11/28/07). To use the hotel/max tax for purposes other than open space, the council must make a final decision before setting the tax rate.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Town Council Meeting - Important Agenda Items
The Finance Committee met tonight as well as the School Committee. I chose to attend the School Committee meeting. We can depend on Michael Morton of the Milford Daily News to report on the FINCOM meeting.
A brief discussion with some members of the FINCOM after their meeting seemed to indicate they propose for the shortfall to be split between the Town and the Schools. The Town piece would be covered by the not yet certified "free cash" (in the mean time from the stabilization fund) with the School piece to be absorbed with additional budget cuts.
Yes, the schools already took a 2.1 Million cut (as the override only covered 2.4 of what they requested) and will apparently need to absorb another $300K.
We'll see what the Town Council does Wednesday 11/28/07.
The scheduled agenda can be found here (PDF file).
Michael Morton's recap of the Finance Committee meeting can be found here.
Franklin School Committee Statement 11/27/07 (audio)
Time: 2 minutes, 53 seconds
MP3 File
an image version of the statement is available here
the text version of the statement is available here
School Committee Statement 11/27/07 (image)
A image of the statement as read by Chairperson Jeffrey Roy Tuesday night at the School Committee meeting regarding the financial discrepancy just discovered.
School Committee Statement 11/27/07 (text)
During the process of closing the financial books for the 2007 fiscal year, the Town Comptroller discovered irregularities in the school district’s accounts. Specifically, several 2007 expenses were charged against the 2008 budget. This practice is not allowed under Massachusetts Municipal Finance Law.
The Franklin School Committee, in conjunction with the Town Council, immediately ordered a complete legal and financial review of the circumstances surrounding these irregularities. Our effort includes an independent professional audit covering fiscal years 2005, 2006 and 2007.
In addition, the school district’s finance director has been placed on administrative leave.
Preliminary information indicates that these accounting irregularities may result in a shortfall of approximately $590,000 in the budget for the fiscal year that ended June 30, 2007.
However, the internal review and independent audit are still ongoing and the precise circumstances of the problem will not be known until both are completed. We expect the results to be presented to the School Committee and the Town Council sometime in mid to late December.
On the advice of our attorney, the School Committee and School Administration will not discuss this matter publicly or privately until such time as the review and audit are completed. Further discussion before then could create significant budget, legal and personnel issues for the schools and the town that would jeopardize efforts to understand the full circumstances of the situation.
Members of the School Committee and School Administration take this matter very seriously, which is why we have initiated a comprehensive review and audit and took the personnel action we did. We will provide a full legal and financial accounting as soon as possible after the detailed results of the investigation are completed.
Isabella's Menu - Page 2
Isabella's is also a good supporter of local groups and organizations. For a period of time one day during the week, they'll share a percent of the sales. As I go by almost every day coming from the train station, on most days there is a sign up for one group or another.
This is a win-win situation. Good food for a good cause!