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Thursday, December 3, 2009
Senior Center Newsletter - December
This month's newsletter from the Senior Center:
Note: For Franklin Matters email subscribers, you'll need to click through to the website to view the document.
Note: For Franklin Matters email subscribers, you'll need to click through to the website to view the document.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Live reporting - closing
K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
Jeff thanks for all the sponsors for the Christmas lighting on Sunday
Snow and Ice budget is coming, negotiated to reduce contractor payment by $10/hr, reduced salt and sand use with new routes, part of consortium on salt purchase to reduce cost per ton
Hearing on Achorage Road last week, reducing roadway area and storm water runoff, residents pleased with plans underway
Legislature has gone to holiday without giving the Gov approval for reductions
Approval for the architect has been granted by the State
Building Committee meeting on Dec 14th at 6:00 PM
L. OLD BUSINESS
none
M. NEW BUSINESS
none
N. COUNCIL COMMENTS
Powderly reiterate to come up with some document on rationale
Holiday Stroll downtown from 4:00 to 8:00 PM
Zollo - If the Town were to pay the State's portion of the Quinn bill, about what would that be?
Nutting - About 150,000.
Zollo - commending student athletes at FHS
Pfeffer - thanks for the Alumni Club sponsoring the breakfast before the Thanskgiving Game.
Next Tuesday, Bob Fahey and wife will have been in Franklin for 50 years.
Kelly - attended the lighting at the Common, Santa showed up and the kids were happy.
Jones - took the tour of the Police, Fire and DPW very impressed with their services.
Plug the election next Tuesday and then Jan 19th, get out and vote
congratulations to the football team!
Whalen - championships tend to be few and far between so they should soak it in.
Mason - congratulations to the Dean College football team
Pfeffer - move to go to executive sessions, not to return to open session
passed 8-0
O. EXECUTIVE SESSION – Negotiations, Litigation, Real Property, as May Be Required
P. ADJOURN
Jeff thanks for all the sponsors for the Christmas lighting on Sunday
Snow and Ice budget is coming, negotiated to reduce contractor payment by $10/hr, reduced salt and sand use with new routes, part of consortium on salt purchase to reduce cost per ton
Hearing on Achorage Road last week, reducing roadway area and storm water runoff, residents pleased with plans underway
Legislature has gone to holiday without giving the Gov approval for reductions
Approval for the architect has been granted by the State
Building Committee meeting on Dec 14th at 6:00 PM
L. OLD BUSINESS
none
M. NEW BUSINESS
none
N. COUNCIL COMMENTS
Powderly reiterate to come up with some document on rationale
Holiday Stroll downtown from 4:00 to 8:00 PM
Zollo - If the Town were to pay the State's portion of the Quinn bill, about what would that be?
Nutting - About 150,000.
Zollo - commending student athletes at FHS
Pfeffer - thanks for the Alumni Club sponsoring the breakfast before the Thanskgiving Game.
Next Tuesday, Bob Fahey and wife will have been in Franklin for 50 years.
Kelly - attended the lighting at the Common, Santa showed up and the kids were happy.
Jones - took the tour of the Police, Fire and DPW very impressed with their services.
Plug the election next Tuesday and then Jan 19th, get out and vote
congratulations to the football team!
Whalen - championships tend to be few and far between so they should soak it in.
Mason - congratulations to the Dean College football team
Pfeffer - move to go to executive sessions, not to return to open session
passed 8-0
O. EXECUTIVE SESSION – Negotiations, Litigation, Real Property, as May Be Required
P. ADJOURN
Live reporting - Action items
5. Resolution 09-78: Appropriation – Veterans’ Benefits
Thanks to Bob Fahey for providing this service to our veteran citizens
motion to approve - passed 8-0
6. Resolution 09-79: Appropriation – Employee Benefits - Unemployment
see notes from Finance Committee meeting 12/1/09 for background
With the State extension on unemployment, will that affect us?
Yes
motion to approve - passed 8-0
7. Resolution 09-80: Appropriation – Elections Budget
motion to approve - passed 8-0
8. Resolution 09-81: Grant utility easement on Oak St property
motion to approve - passed 8-0
Thanks to Bob Fahey for providing this service to our veteran citizens
motion to approve - passed 8-0
6. Resolution 09-79: Appropriation – Employee Benefits - Unemployment
see notes from Finance Committee meeting 12/1/09 for background
With the State extension on unemployment, will that affect us?
Yes
motion to approve - passed 8-0
7. Resolution 09-80: Appropriation – Elections Budget
motion to approve - passed 8-0
8. Resolution 09-81: Grant utility easement on Oak St property
motion to approve - passed 8-0
Live reporting - License transactions
G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS – Annual Alcohol License Renewals
recommending acceptance of the listing (pending three for outstanding fees)
motion to approve - passed 8-0
H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS none
I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS none
recommending acceptance of the listing (pending three for outstanding fees)
motion to approve - passed 8-0
H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS none
I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS none
Live reporting - action items - taxes
J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1. Resolution 09-74: Classification Tax Allocation– Residential Factor
motion to accept contingent upon DOR acceptence - passed 8-0
2. Resolution 09-75: Classification Tax Allocation – Open Space Exemption
motion to accept contingent upon DOR acceptence - passed 8-0
3. Resolution 09-76: Classification Tax Allocation – Small Businesses Exemption
motion to accept contingent upon DOR acceptence - passed 8-0
4. Resolution 09-77: Classification Tax Allocation – Residential Property Exemption motion to accept contingent upon DOR acceptence - passed 8-0
1. Resolution 09-74: Classification Tax Allocation– Residential Factor
motion to accept contingent upon DOR acceptence - passed 8-0
2. Resolution 09-75: Classification Tax Allocation – Open Space Exemption
motion to accept contingent upon DOR acceptence - passed 8-0
3. Resolution 09-76: Classification Tax Allocation – Small Businesses Exemption
motion to accept contingent upon DOR acceptence - passed 8-0
4. Resolution 09-77: Classification Tax Allocation – Residential Property Exemption motion to accept contingent upon DOR acceptence - passed 8-0
Live reporting - Tax Classification hearing
F. HEARINGS - Annual Tax Classification Hearing – 7:10 PM
DeBaggis, Norman, Doyle, Feeley
Tax rate increase from 11.17 to 12.03%
When property values go down, why does the rate still go up?
Basically, the Town takes the prior tax levy and adds 2.5%, including the new growth and debt exclusions results in the total new tax levy for the Town budget.
How is the value of my house not reflected in the assessment?
Dealing with the 2008 calendar year data for this cycle. 2009 is not complete as we are only in December, so the State mandates use of the prior full year data. There is a lag in the data used.
Assessments will go online in the next couple of days and should be available on the Town Assessors website.
Q - Powderly - If we are constrained by prop 2.5% why is my bill going up more than 2.5%
A - the Prop 2.5 is applied at the Town tax levy and not at the individual residence level.
Q - Zollo - How come you don't get good assessments for commercial/industrial properties? I have heard that there is the lag effect and lack of comparable data points.
A - Those are comments I have heard about 3-4 years ago. I don't think there is an inequity now.
Q - Most citizens believe that the assessed values are close to fair market value, but there are commercial properties where there might be some differences.
A - Residential is assessed at the fair market value so it is easy to compare. Commercial property is assessed on a number of factors (cost, market, industry) only one of which is the fair market value. The full valuation process is determined by the State. There may be a perception or feeling that we might have missed something but the values have to be qualified.
Q - I am hearing these frequently. The most important thing we can do is to fight to change the perception.
Nutting - I want to reinforce Assessor Feeley's point on the commercial process being an apples to oranges approach compared to the residential process. The assessors follow all the rules and regulations and then the State validates the numbers. Could one property be out of whack, it is possible.
Q - Whalen - a theoretical example to help get to the point that Councilor Zollo is making.
A - on that, for the benefit of the public, it is the rent and not the business entity that is the difference.
Q - How do we compare in assessment valuation dropping?
A - The jury is still out as other communities are going through the same process now.
Franklin has shown a less significant decline in residential valuation based upon the housing sales over the last 18 months.
Q - Last time you didn't want to make a recommendation on split vs. single?
A - We are not in the position to do so, our role is to provide the data.
Q - Have there been recommendations for split tax before?
A - No
Debaggis - Continue with the single tax rate as the school portion of the budget as the commercial/industrial does not benefit from the major portion of the budget.
Feeley - I concur with Mr DeBaggis for his point and I'd add two more. With the 80/20 split that we have, the commercial industrial contribute about $10M of the $50 million. The Police and Fire depts budgets along are close to this amount. Third, the split tax rate is not good for business especially when you consider the small businesses.
Whalen - Based upon the analysis I have done, Franklin has a lower single tax rate than most communities with split tax rates.
Mason - mentioned that Attleboro just passed their tax rate which is split and provided a lower rate to businesses to stem the loss of 107 businesses over the past year.
I spoke up about the single vs split is not the issue, we need to grow the pie. The economic development efforts of the community to grow the tax levy as sustain the level of services we want.
Zollo -
Powderly - I would like the argument articulated in a single pager for citizens to reference.
Motion to close the hearing
Approved - 8-0
DeBaggis, Norman, Doyle, Feeley
Tax rate increase from 11.17 to 12.03%
When property values go down, why does the rate still go up?
Basically, the Town takes the prior tax levy and adds 2.5%, including the new growth and debt exclusions results in the total new tax levy for the Town budget.
How is the value of my house not reflected in the assessment?
Dealing with the 2008 calendar year data for this cycle. 2009 is not complete as we are only in December, so the State mandates use of the prior full year data. There is a lag in the data used.
Assessments will go online in the next couple of days and should be available on the Town Assessors website.
Q - Powderly - If we are constrained by prop 2.5% why is my bill going up more than 2.5%
A - the Prop 2.5 is applied at the Town tax levy and not at the individual residence level.
Q - Zollo - How come you don't get good assessments for commercial/industrial properties? I have heard that there is the lag effect and lack of comparable data points.
A - Those are comments I have heard about 3-4 years ago. I don't think there is an inequity now.
Q - Most citizens believe that the assessed values are close to fair market value, but there are commercial properties where there might be some differences.
A - Residential is assessed at the fair market value so it is easy to compare. Commercial property is assessed on a number of factors (cost, market, industry) only one of which is the fair market value. The full valuation process is determined by the State. There may be a perception or feeling that we might have missed something but the values have to be qualified.
Q - I am hearing these frequently. The most important thing we can do is to fight to change the perception.
Nutting - I want to reinforce Assessor Feeley's point on the commercial process being an apples to oranges approach compared to the residential process. The assessors follow all the rules and regulations and then the State validates the numbers. Could one property be out of whack, it is possible.
Q - Whalen - a theoretical example to help get to the point that Councilor Zollo is making.
A - on that, for the benefit of the public, it is the rent and not the business entity that is the difference.
Q - How do we compare in assessment valuation dropping?
A - The jury is still out as other communities are going through the same process now.
Franklin has shown a less significant decline in residential valuation based upon the housing sales over the last 18 months.
Q - Last time you didn't want to make a recommendation on split vs. single?
A - We are not in the position to do so, our role is to provide the data.
Q - Have there been recommendations for split tax before?
A - No
Debaggis - Continue with the single tax rate as the school portion of the budget as the commercial/industrial does not benefit from the major portion of the budget.
Feeley - I concur with Mr DeBaggis for his point and I'd add two more. With the 80/20 split that we have, the commercial industrial contribute about $10M of the $50 million. The Police and Fire depts budgets along are close to this amount. Third, the split tax rate is not good for business especially when you consider the small businesses.
Whalen - Based upon the analysis I have done, Franklin has a lower single tax rate than most communities with split tax rates.
Mason - mentioned that Attleboro just passed their tax rate which is split and provided a lower rate to businesses to stem the loss of 107 businesses over the past year.
I spoke up about the single vs split is not the issue, we need to grow the pie. The economic development efforts of the community to grow the tax levy as sustain the level of services we want.
Zollo -
Powderly - I would like the argument articulated in a single pager for citizens to reference.
Motion to close the hearing
Approved - 8-0
Live reporting - Appointments
E. APPOINTMENTS
Liaison to the State Ethics Commission (Debbie Pellegri)motion to approve 8-0 (Whalen arrived)
Council on Aging (Mary Hick, Ken Norman)motion to approve 8-0
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