Franklin Council debates traffic flow downtown
Franklin, MA
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 *
"... for the purpose of getting YOU over the finish line at the SheROX Triathlon on Sunday, July 25, 2010. Here is our journey of some Franklin, MA-area women who learned that by having inspiration from other like-minded women, they are able to do what they thought might be unachievable. We call it "the power of the group!"
A journal of my bike rides along with photos taken during my rides via my cell phone. A cool feature is embedded GPS ride data of my rides courtesy of Motionbased.com.
General Fitness, Spinning (Indoor Cycling), Pilates, Weight Management, Lifestyle and Nutrition related articles, commentary and research. Fitness business management, marketing, and whatever else comes our way! We are located in Franklin, Massachusetts.
"Welcome to our garden! Since 2007 we have been striving to turn our lawn into something beautiful, tasty, ecologically sound, and a centerpiece of our community here in Franklin, Massachusetts. We hope you enjoy your visit! -Michelle, Chris, and Gabe Clay"
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/07/franklin-area-blogs-environment.html"A New England gardener and purveyor of all things vintage"
ruminations from the Franklin Mill Store
"First and foremost, I'm a mom to two wonderful young boys. I'm a home daycare provider by day, and at night, and on the weekends, I treat myself with lots of stamping time! Thanks for stopping by!"
"I am a professional photographer specializing in creative and fun photography. I am located in Franklin, MA, but serve all of Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Islans and New Hampshire. ~Please contact me if you are interested in portrait, engagement or wedding services~"
"a fat eccentric suburban soccer mom takes you along on all her hilarious adventures. She along with her crazy kids, and an odd cast of characters raise hell in their quiet idyllic New England town. Lydia is a brilliant satirist...She is the crazy suburban mom you wished lived next door! No need to shave your legs before you read this blog. Lydia Dustin's blog Lydia Oh Lydia Copyright © Blog All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of content, text, or image is strictly prohibited without prior written consent. The Lydia Oh Lydia Blog was launched by Lydia Dustin Kirchthurn in October, 2008."
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.History of the 4th of July (wikipedia)
We, the people of the Town of Franklin, Massachusetts, in order to form a more perfect community, reaffirm the customary and traditional liberties of the people with respect to the conduct of our local government and take fullest advantage of the Home Rule Amendment to the Constitution of the Commonwealth, do ordain and adopt this Home Rule Charter for our Town.Read more of the charter here:
Franklin Boy Scout Troop 2 will be holding a Bottle and Can Drive on July 10th from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Scouts will be accepting your donations of redeemable bottles and cans at two locations:
1) the William F. Ray Lodge of the Franklin Odd Fellows at 330 West Central Street (by the intersection of Beaver Street)
and
2) in the parking lot of the Franklin Federated Church, 171 Main Street (just across from the Common).
Please help support Franklin’s newest Scout troop, and come meet some of the members and leaders!
Municipal Calendar
July 1: Collector:Mail Annual Preliminary Tax Bills
For communities issuing annual preliminary tax bills, the preliminary quarterly or semi-annual bills should be mailed by this date.
July 15: Accountant: Certification Date for Free Cash: Anytime after Books are Closed
Two weeks after the close of a fiscal year, all accounts are closed out and the resulting balance sheet and supplemental documentation submitted to DOR. Free cash is certified any time after this date.
July 15: Accountant: Report Community Preservation Fund Balance: Anytime after Books are Closed After the close of a fiscal year, the fund balance is submitted to DOR (Form CP-2) and notice given to the Community Preservation Committee and other financial officers. The fund balance may be appropriated anytime after that report.
July 15:School Business Officials: Certification Date for Excess and Deficiency (E&D) Fund
Two weeks after the close of a fiscal year, all accounts are closed and the resulting balance sheet (a pre-closing trial balance or audited financial statements will not be accepted unless requested by the Director of Accounts) and supplemental documentation are submitted to DOR. E&D Fund is certified any time after this date.
July 15: Assessors: Deadline for Appealing Commissioner’s Pipeline Valuations to ATB
July 20: DOR/BLA: Notification of Changes in Proposed EQVs (even numbered years only)
July 20: DOR/BLA: Notification of Changes in Proposed SOL Valuations (every 4th year after 2005)
August 1: Taxpayer: Quarterly Tax Bills — Deadline for Paying 1st Quarterly Tax Bill Without Interest
According to M.G.L. Ch. 59, Sec. 57C, this is the deadline for receipt of the 1st Quarter preliminary tax payment without interest, unless the preliminary bills were mailed after July 1. If mailed by August 1, the 1st Quarterly payment is due August 1, or 30 days after the bills were mailed, whichever is later, and the 2nd Quarterly payment is due November 1. If mailed after August 1, the preliminary tax is due as a single installment on November 1, or 30 days after the bills were mailed, whichever is later.
August 1: Taxpayer: Annual Boat Excise Return Due
August 1: Accountant: Notification of Total Receipts of Preceding Year
The total actual local receipts (e.g., motor vehicle excise, fines, fees, water/sewer charges) of the previous fiscal year must be included on Schedule A of the Tax Rate Recapitulation Sheet (Recap) which is submitted by the Assessors to DOR. On the Recap, the Accountant certifies the previous fiscal year’s actual revenues, and the Assessors use this information to project the next fiscal year’s revenues. Any estimates of local receipts on the Recap that differ significantly from the previous year’s actual receipts must be accompanied by documentation justifying the change in order to be approved by the Commissioner of Revenue.
August 1: Assessors: Deadline for Appealing EQVs to ATB (even numbered years only)
August 1: Assessors: Deadline for Appealing SOL Valuations to ATB (every 4th year after 2005)
August 15: Assessor: Deadline to Vote to Seek Approval for Authorization to Issue Optional Preliminary Tax Bills For semi-annual communities issuing optional preliminary property tax bills, the Assessors must vote to seek authorization to issue the bills from DOR by this date. After receiving approval, Assessors must submit a Pro-forma Tax Rate Recap Sheet to DOR for review and issue the tax bills by October 1.
August 31: Taxpayer: Last Filing Day for Classified Forest Land, M.G.L. Ch. 61
August 31: DOR/BOA: Issue Instructions for Determining Local and District Tax Rates A copy of the Tax Rate Recap Sheet and its instructions are forwarded to the town.
August 31: Assessors: Begin work on Tax Rate Recapitulation Sheet (to set tax rate for semi-annual bills) Until the Tax Rate Recap Sheet is completed and certified by the Commissioner of Revenue, the community may not set a tax rate nor send out its property tax bills (unless it issues preliminary quarterly tax bills or requests from DOR the authority to send out pre liminary tax notices if DOR requirements are met). Communities should begin gathering the information in enough time for the tax rate to be set and tax bills mailed by October 1. The Tax Rate Recap Sheet provides Mayors or Selectmen with a ready-made financial management tool because the town’s most important financial management information is summarized on this form. The Mayor or Selectmen should review the Recap Sheet in preliminary form in order to understand the following financial information: Page 1 (Tax Rate Summary) — The proposed tax levy should be compared to the levy limit. If a town does not levy to its limit, the remaining levy is referred to as excess levy capacity. Excess levy capacity is lost to the community for the current fiscal year although it will always remain in the levy limit calculation. Page 2 (Amount To Be Raised) — This section includes appropriations and other local expenditures not appropriated. These include overlay deficits, revenue deficits, state and county charges, Cherry Sheet offset items, and the allowance for abatements and exemptions. By comparing this information to the prior year(s), any significant changes can be determined. Page 2 (Estimated Receipts & Revenues From Other Sources) — In particular, Sec tion C shows the amount appropriated from free cash and other available funds. By comparing the amounts appropriated to the balances in these accounts (available from the Accountant/Auditor), the Mayor or Selectmen can get a sense of how their non-property tax revenues are being used. Page 3, Schedule A (Local Receipts Not Allocated) — By comparing these figures to prior year(s), the Mayor or Selectmen can determine any changes in these revenues. Page 4, Schedule B (Certification of Appropriations and Source of Funding) — This section includes financial votes of City/Town Council or Town Meeting not previously reported on last year’s recap.