MassBudget: Job Growth Unrelated to States' Tipped Minimum Wage

MassBudget    Information.    Participation.  Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center    Democracy. The Tipped Minimum Wage & Job Growth A strong minimum wage helps workers support their families, and it can bolster our economy by increasing the amount of money workers have to spend at local businesses.  In the case of workers who regularly earn tips, like waiters and hairdressers, employers are only required to pay what's called the "tipped minimum wage," which in Massachusetts is well below the regular minimum wage (it is currently $2.63). The law then requires that for any such worker, the combination of hourly pay and tips must be at least as high as the full minimum wage.     Our new factsheet, Job Growth Unrelated to States' Tipped Minimum Wage explores the impact of tipped minimum wage levels on employment in the restaurant and food service job sectors. The new factsheet finds that:   Historically, Massachusetts - with its low tipped minimum wage - has not reliably outperformed high tipped minimum states or the US average for job growth in the restaurant industry Despite Massachusetts low tipped minimum, the restaurant industry itself does not projection strong job growth in Massachusetts over the coming decade, nor meaningfully higher job growth in low tipped minimum states vs. high tipped minimum states generally Tipped workers in states with higher tipped minimum wages have higher earnings and lower poverty rates Job Growth Unrelated to States' Tipped Minimum Wage follows two other papers on the tipped minmum wage: The Minimum Wage for Tipped Workers and The Declining Value of the Tipped Minimum Wage in Massachusetts.   Read JOB GROWTH UNRELATED TO STATES' TIPPED MINIMUM WAGE See ALL OF OUR WORK ON THE MINIMUM WAGE  The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) produces policy research, analysis, and data-driven recommendations focused on improving the lives of low- and middle-income children and adults, strengthening our state's economy, and enhancing the quality of life in Massachusetts. MASSACHUSETTS BUDGET AND POLICY CENTER 15 COURT SQUARE, SUITE 700 BOSTON, MA 02108

. Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center | 15 Court Square | Suite 700 | Boston | MA | 02108

"create an ultimate map for all four towns"

The Milford Daily News catches up to the CIC grant awarded last week:

Franklin Fire Chief Gary McCarraher, who traveled to the State House last Thursday to collect the grant, said it is common for individual towns to have GIS maps. But this grant will be used to create an ultimate map for all four towns, a true innovation. 

"This would allow us to create a master map so each community can share information," McCarraher said. "Eventually that information will get piped from the dispatch center into the cab of the emergency vehicle that’s responding." 

He said the system proves helpful because there may be firefighters responding to a community they may not be familiar with. 

"The whole idea of dispatch is rapidly sending resources to the right address, so what this does is, if you call 911, regardless of where you call from, your information will show up on the map," he said. "There will be no need for the dispatcher to ask, ‘Can you give me that address again?’ Or, ‘What’s the location of the closest hydrant?’ All of that will be in front of them. And that’s powerful."

Read the full article here: http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20140212/NEWS/140218950/1994/NEWS#sthash.AjgFE7JW.dpuf

The story appeared here on Saturday
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2014/02/regional-dispatch-center-receives.html

Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School (Video)

Just in the new enrollment video created by the Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public school. The enrollment deadline is Monday, February 24th.






The online application is available HERE: http://bfccps.org/about/enrollment/enrollment-application/

For more about the school visit them on the web here http://bfccps.org/

The Likable Shady Guy - February 2014 Edition

View this on the web Click here

In this issue My Services Review Me Fabric Romance Our Brochure Great Deals  My Services  The Likable Shady Guy is me: Roger Magalhaes - humbled I know. Likable by my mom and Shady Guy by clients, colleagues and some neighbors...  In case you are wonder, watch what I do and decide for yourself. Call me in case I was able to "fool" you. Review Me Houzz.com Today more than ever, people rely on online reviews to buy products and services. From hotels rooms, cars, books, movies and of course window treatments.  In case you'd like to write one too DO NOT send it to me. Instead, you must use the link below.... Thanks in advance for your cooperation. Review Roger and Shades In Place Dear Steve  In case you are still looking for the perfect gift for your Valentine this week, I may be able to help. Read on and make sure to watch the video to get you inspired! Roger Magalhaes Shades In Place Inc. Office:508-520-6700 www.shadesinplace.com Showroom Hours Tue 11-5 Thu 11-5 Sat  11-3  Fabric Romance It all started last summer while I was repairing a shade at one of the local Starbuck stores. The phone rang and the male caller asked "do you service residences too? I just saw one of your vans at Starbucks." The following week I went and met the lady of the house, she gave me a "tour" of the home and we discussed all the items on her wish list.  I sent a proposal the next day and ....nothing! Touched base again the following month and still no signs of civilization on the other side.  Fast forward to early January this year - someone just walked in my studio: "Hi! I'm the guy that saw you at Starbucks a couple months ago...But the funny (or sad) thing was that he did not bring his wife.  We discussed options and prices and then he said "do you have a brochure of your store? I want to give it to my wife on Valentine's Day and tell her to come here so she can pick anything she wants." Did I tell you how much I looove this guy? So in case you don't know what to give to your Valentine this week, I may be able to help you by creating some Romance with beautiful fabric Roman shades or an upholstered headboard for a cozy bedroom. Watch the video below for some very nice suggestions. Fabric 'Romance' Shades With all the options and styles I offer the credit card, I mean the sky is the limit and I will make sure that there is a little money left over for flowers and chocolates.  For a typical 36" wide x 55" tall window, a Roman shade will start at $267 each. For drapery side panels, they start at $ 247 (hardware excluded) and a upholstered fabric cornice starts at $231.   If you'd like to leave a comment or request, please click here Now, please excuse me because I still need to install the new shades in my own bedroom...  Our Brochure With the help of my graphic designer, I have developed a beautiful eight page brochure featuring our services and products. The brochure is rich of colorful pictures, testimonials and  tells a bit of our story and the commitment with our clients. To dowload a PDF  version please click on the link below. PDF brochure - click here I would be happy to drop a hard copy in the mail if you simply send me an email request including a mailing address. To request a hard copy brochure, click here Great Deals FREE cordless upgrade on select honeycomb shades.  10% OFF on select products. Ask for details! Offer valid until March 31st, 2014

Forward email This email was sent by roger@shadesinplace.com |    Privacy Policy. Shades IN Place | 76 Grove St | Franklin | MA | 02038

"law enforcement can’t take all of the credit"

Milford Daily News writes:

Franklin is the safest city in the country with a population of 25,000 or more people, according to a website that tracks data culled from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other law enforcement agencies. 

For the past three years, Franklin has ranked at or close to the top of NeighborhoodScout.com’s list of 100 safest cities in the country. Both this year and last, the town of 33,182 people ranked first. In 2012, Franklin was second after Bergenfield, N.J., which has a population of just over 27,000 people. 

In compiling its list, the website purports to collect raw statistics from 17,000 law enforcement agencies in the country. 

"Once we have this complete and accurate count of crimes for every city in the nation, our analysis takes the total crimes for each city with 25,000 or more people, and divides them by the population of the city, divided by 1,000," according to the website. "This establishes a total crime rate per 1,000 population that is used to compare every city."

Read the full article at: http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20140211/NEWS/140219494#sthash.v1jBCRf0.dpuf

Franklin, MA: Municipal Building

Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - Feb 12, 2014

A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
January 29, 2014- Workshop; January 22, 2014 - Executive Session

B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast channel 11 and Verizon channel 29. This meeting may be recorded by Franklin Matters.

C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS

D. CITIZEN COMMENTS

E. APPOINTMENTS

F. HEARINGS

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS

H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
Financial Forecast – Jeffrey Nutting

I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1. Resolution 14:06: Acceptance of Gift – Franklin Public Library
2. Resolution 14-07: Revoke Civil Service – Fire Department
3. Resolution 14-08: The Woodlands-Approval of Modification (Amendment) to Regulatory Agreement
4. Bylaw Amendment 14-727: Amendment to Chapter 47, Alcoholic Beverages – 2nd Reading
5. Bylaw Amendment 14-729: Amendment to Chapter 179-9.1, Exhibit A, Water System Map - 2nd Reading
6. Bylaw Amendment 14-730: Amendment to Chapter 139-14, Exhibit A, Sewer System Map – 2nd Reading

K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

L. OLD BUSINESS

M. NEW BUSINESS

N. COUNCIL COMMENTS

O. EXECUTIVE SESSION
Negotiations, Litigation, Real Property, as May Be Required

P. ADJOURN

Franklin, MA: Municipal Building

The full set of documents as released for this agenda can be found here
http://town.franklin.ma.us/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2014/021214.pdf

Random Smile - Annual Gala Event - March 1, 2014

Rhode Island Convention Center

6pm - Midnight

$85 per person

Semi-Formal/Black Tie Optional

Hot and Cold Hors D’oeuvres

Silent and Live Auctions

Dinner and Dancing

Live Music by The Grab Brothers Band

*Block of rooms at Omni Providence held until Saturday, February 15th*

Random Smile Gala - March 1, 2014

For additional information, check out the Random Smile webpage

http://randomsmile.org/events

In the News: food waste, school retention

Businesses required to change their food waste disposal methods this fall will have multiple options, including anaerobic digestion facilities. These new facilities have been met with mixed reactions from residents. 

Under the new regulations, reusable food must be donated or "repurposed", and the remaining food waste must be composted, used as animal feed, or sent to one of the half dozen anaerobic digesters planned or currently operating in Massachusetts.

Read the full article here: http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20140210/NEWS/140219890/1994/NEWS#sthash.XizQ4AEr.dpuf

The state is taking public input over the next few weeks as it crafts guidelines aimed at keeping students in school by reducing suspensions and expulsions. 

The guidelines are part of a law passed in 2012 that requires public and charter school principals to keep students out of school only as a last resort. The proposed guidelines would require school officials to notify parents of suspensions, allow students to appeal and let those suspended complete assignments.

Read the full article here: http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20140209/NEWS/140206423/1994/NEWS#sthash.0sJyW2fG.dpuf

Walking Franklin (photo essay)

It was a bright sunny day on Saturday so I enjoyed my long walk stopping to take photos along the way.

There is a reason they call this a baseball diamond

The monster tree on Main St at Dean College

Flag in the breeze on the Town Common

Many feet have played in this snow

No train uses these tracks

A rabbit made these tracks

Rockland Trust sign caught extra snow

white snow, white fence with shadows playing

snow for lunch anyone?

Anyone need their snow plowed?

Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda - Feb 11, 2014

Note: The School Committee meeting will be in the 3rd Floor Training room instead of the Council Chambers for this session due to the budget workshop on the agenda.

Vision Statement

The Franklin Public Schools will foster within its students the knowledge and skills to find and achieve satisfaction in life as productive global citizens.

AGENDA

"The listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law."

1. Routine Business
Citizen’s Comments
Review of Agenda
Minutes: I recommend approval of the minutes from the January 28, 2014 School Committee Meeting.
Payment of Bills Mr. Clement
Payroll Mrs. Douglas
Correspondence:
1. Budget to Actual – Miriam Goodman
2. Community Reading Day Invitation – Evemarie McNeil

2. Discussion
Policy – Second Reading – KCDA

3. Action Items
a. I recommend acceptance of a check for $6,000.00 from the Jefferson PCC for supplies.
b. I recommend acceptance of a check for $3,288.00 from the Jefferson PCC for field trips.
c. I recommend acceptance of the donation of 10 laptops, valued at approximately $1,000.00, from Ziopharm Oncology, Inc. for the Franklin School District.
d. I recommend acceptance of a check for $558.00 from the Parmenter PCC for a Field trip.
e. I recommend approval of the request of the HMMS Ski Club to travel to Pats Peak in Henniker, NH on March 1, 2014 as detailed.
f. I recommend acceptance of several checks from the Oak Street PCC totaling $2,512.00 for field trips.
g. I recommend approval of the request to take Oak Street 2nd & 3rd graders to Roger Williams Planetarium on May 8th and May 29th as detailed.
h. I recommend approval of the request of Brad Sidwell for the Boys Ice Hockey Team travel to Barnstable, MA for a competition on Feb. 19-20, 2014 as detailed.
i. I recommend adoption of Policy KCDA –Memorial Commemorations as discussed.

4. Worksession
FY15 Budget Worksession

5. Adjourn

Franklin, MA: Municipal Building 

"support the Munroe family"

The Milford Daily News writes of the fund raising event for the Monroe family:

Starting at 10 a.m. today, Delgado and a small group of others will be hosting a yard and bake sale at the VFW Post 3402 at 1034 Pond St. in Franklin. 

Delgado said an email to her Facebook friends and to a yard sale website of which she is a member received more than 200 responses within an hour. 

"It really is a group effort," she said. 

Delgado said the group of organizers has received "tons" of donations from the entire local community, including raffle items from local businesses like Pinz, Pepperoncini’s, Bellingham Town Pizza and Noelle Day Spa and Salon.

Read the full article here: http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20140209/NEWS/140206628#sthash.qsCSGCpi.dpuf

Candlelight celebration for Lexi and Sam at the Town Common

"Why the 'Baby Line'?"

The Milford Daily News has a nice write up on the boys Franklin High School hockey team.

The Franklin boys hockey team was having one of its pasta parties as a player's house last year when a video — probably a DVD rather than VHS, considering their age — was unearthed. 

"One of the dads found it from when we were squirts," senior Troy Donahue said. "It was really fun to see what we were like back then. They actually were doing interviews with all of us. It was pretty funny, I think in my interview they asked me for my name and I couldn't get it out. I stumbled over my own name. 

"I'm definitely a lot better at wording things now." 

Most of the Panthers have been playing together since they were babes, so perhaps it's fitting it's been the 'Baby Line' that's been making the difference now.

Read the full article: http://www.milforddailynews.com/article/20140208/SPORTS/140206612/1020/SPORTS#sthash.zEZJoL8O.dpuf



The Saturday night game against Milford was reported on by HockomockSports.com

Franklin, 7 @ Milford, 1 - Final - Ryan Spillane recorded a hat trick, Troy Donahue added two goals, Mason Saunders and Vincent Geromini each scored once and Kyle Powers added two assists. Mike Donadio made 17 saves in net for Franklin. Drew Wilde scored Milford's lone goal. 

Appraisal Day - March 9

One of the busy days at the Franklin Historical Museum was the prior Appraisal Day. Lots of folks waited in line to have their antiques appraised. Some found big value, some found little value, all found many stories associated with the items.

Franklin Historical Museum, 80 West Central St, Franklin, MA

You can find more about the Historical Museum on their webpage
http://www.franklinhistoricalmuseum.com/

and follow them on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/FHM02038

FHS Basketball results vs. North Attleboro

From HockomockSports.com we get the Friday night results:

This was the type of game that would be expected from the top two teams in the division and with the division lead at stake. North Attleboro and Franklin went back and forth tossing haymakers, but in the end it was the Rocketeers that were able to toss the knockout blow. 

“This is our house and it’s our last home Hockomock league game for us seniors, so we just said that we’ve worked too hard not to come out and avenge ourselves,” said senior captain Ali McHugh about North’s attitude coming into the game. “We didn’t play well the first time, but we just wanted to come out and punch them in the mouth…metaphorically of course.” 

North got revenge for a loss in the Field House back in January by holding on for a 66-60 victory that puts the Rocketeers 1/2-game ahead of the Panthers in the race for the Hockomock League title. Senior guard Jill Costello and junior Danielle Perron each finished with 15 points and junior Melissa Beaupre had 14 for the Rocketeers.

Read the full article here
http://www.hockomocksports.com/1/post/2014/02/north-gets-revenge-on-franklin-and-takes-division-lead.html


The FHS boys basketball team did better against North Attleboro

North Attleboro, 54 @ Franklin, 80 - Final - Marcus Giese led Franklin with 22 points and 16 rebounds, Chris Rodgers chipped in with 13 points and sophomore Tim Prunier added 11 points and four assists. North captain Jake Lang and freshman Tommy Reynolds led the Rocketeers with eight points each.

The full Friday night scoreboard of results across the Hockomock League can be found here
http://www.hockomocksports.com/1/post/2014/02/hockomock-schedule-scoreboard-020714.html

Regional Dispatch Center receives a Community Innovation Challenge (CIC) grant

Representatives Jeffrey Roy, Shawn Dooley, along with Senators Richard Ross and Karen Spilka today announced the Regional Dispatch Center for Franklin, Wrentham, Norfolk and Plainville is one of 37 projects slated to receive funding from the $4 million Community Innovation Challenge (CIC) grant program. The program incentivizes and supports regionalization and other cost saving initiatives that will change the way local governments do business to maintain service delivery and stretch every tax payer dollar as far as possible. 

The grant provides $20,000 to fund the 4-town GIS Mapping Project to assist with the Regional Dispatch Center established by the Legislature in July of last year. Known as of House No. 2189, the law allows Franklin, Wrentham, Norfolk and Plainville to construct, equip, operate and maintain a consolidated regional public safety communications and dispatch center. 

Left to right, Ross, Roy, McCarragher, Dooley

“The CIC Grant is essentially the foundation for the Regional Dispatch Center,” said Franklin Fire Chief Gary McCarraher, who was at the State House on Thursday to collect the grant. “It will create a model for better, faster response times, enhanced efficiency and it will allow towns to share resources across borders.” 

"This grant comes on the heels of the passage of the bill establishing a regional dispatch center in our communities, and will supply the necessary mapping technology to make it successful," said Representative Jeffrey Roy (D-Franklin). "Combining the dispatches for all of the towns will improve the response times, save taxpayer dollars, and make the citizens of the region safer. And this grant provides some of the state-of-the-art tools and latest technology that will enhance public safety." 

“I am pleased that Franklin’s innovative GIS mapping project is receiving this critical funding. The project is a terrific example of communities collaborating on creative, more efficient ways to provide local services and use information technology effectively,” said Senator Karen Spilka (D-Ashland). 

“I am so pleased to see the towns awarded this grant, which will be an important step towards developing the Regional Dispatch Center,” said Senator Richard Ross (R-Wrentham). “This innovative plan will go great lengths toward providing high quality and efficient emergency response in the communities.” 

“As a citizen, an on-call firefighter/EMT, and a State Representative of this community, I am extremely proud that we have been awarded the Community Innovation Challenge (CIC) Grant. This will help fund our Regional Public Safety Dispatch Center which will provide enhanced services to our towns, resulting in more rapid emergency response while providing the cost benefit of shared services,” said Representative Shawn Dooley (R-Norfolk)

Photo courtesy of Rep Jeff Roy