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Friday, October 5, 2012
Franklin Library: Interviewing Skills
2012 Annual St. John’s Christmas Fair
This year St. John’s Christmas Fair will be held Saturday, December 1st from 9am - 3pm in the St. John’s Parish Hall located at 237 Pleasant Street in Franklin, MA.
There will be homemade gift baskets, Cookie Walk, pastry table, as well as hot soup and coffee to enjoy.
Pictures with Santa as well as other activities for the kids! Join us for a fun day!
Thursday, October 4, 2012
"we can offer options for our citizens"
The Milford Daily News reported on the Town Council meeting in part with the following:
Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x738671634/Franklin-OKs-tax-deferral-options-for-seniors#ixzz28JwPJdfW
Deferral of taxes simply postpones the date for payment, they still must be paid. What was also approved is a program for veterans under 65 to work off a portion of their taxes. This program is similar to that already offered to the seniors 65 and over. The program will be limited to the first ten people now but can be expanded by the Council as demand for the program grows.
The Town Council especially Tina Powderly has been instrumental in expanding the senior outreach program the past couple of years.This is not to negate any of the good work done prior, just recognize that the opportunity for seniors via deferment and reductions has increased.
In other matters before the Council not referenced in this article, they did approve the rezoning of the parcels along King St and i495 from residential to business. Any project would still be required to go through the full Planning Board and associated permitting process. That process provides considerable input from the residents abutting the property.
DPW Director Brutus Cantoreggi disclosed plans to remove another 11 trees from the Town Common. This action will improve the growth options for the remaining 97 trees.
The DPW will also do some work to remove the electrical box currently under the gazebo to a normal upright electric box along the Union St side of the common. Some concrete around the gazebo will be disturbed during this process and then returned to normal.
For the complete set of posts reported live during the meeting, visit this link
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/10/town-council-100312.html
Councilors accepted incorporating a real estate tax deferral and two laws which let seniors defer water and sewer charges.
In place already for seniors is a property tax deferral program.
Town Treasurer/Collector James Dacey Jr. said currently one family is participating in that program.
“I know they are having a very difficult time,” Dacey said. “I looked into how we could help out in other ways.”
In 2010, 9.4 percent of Franklin’s 31,635 residents were age 65 and older, according to census data.
Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x738671634/Franklin-OKs-tax-deferral-options-for-seniors#ixzz28JwPJdfW
Deferral of taxes simply postpones the date for payment, they still must be paid. What was also approved is a program for veterans under 65 to work off a portion of their taxes. This program is similar to that already offered to the seniors 65 and over. The program will be limited to the first ten people now but can be expanded by the Council as demand for the program grows.
The Town Council especially Tina Powderly has been instrumental in expanding the senior outreach program the past couple of years.This is not to negate any of the good work done prior, just recognize that the opportunity for seniors via deferment and reductions has increased.
In other matters before the Council not referenced in this article, they did approve the rezoning of the parcels along King St and i495 from residential to business. Any project would still be required to go through the full Planning Board and associated permitting process. That process provides considerable input from the residents abutting the property.
DPW Director Brutus Cantoreggi disclosed plans to remove another 11 trees from the Town Common. This action will improve the growth options for the remaining 97 trees.
The DPW will also do some work to remove the electrical box currently under the gazebo to a normal upright electric box along the Union St side of the common. Some concrete around the gazebo will be disturbed during this process and then returned to normal.
For the complete set of posts reported live during the meeting, visit this link
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/10/town-council-100312.html
Town Council - 10/03/12
The collection of posts reported while in the Town Council chambers for Wednesday's meeting can be found here:
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Live reporting - closing
K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
with DaVita's Market moving to a full liquor license we will have a beer and wine license to re-assign. Likely to bring that forward after the new year
thanks to the Downtown Partnership
Condolences to Councillor Bissanti on the passing of his father
L. OLD BUSINESS
do we have a re-application of furniture within the schools and the town?
Yes, the DPW has a storage of items available
If they are truly excess, we do have a process to go through
If it has any value we get something for it
We should have the Purchasing Director come forward for one of the meetings, it would be a good topic
M. NEW BUSINESS
N. COUNCIL COMMENTS
Roy - Harvest Fest was well attended despite the rain
Bissanti - Thanks to the residents for the outpouring of condolences on the passing of my father
Jones- thanks for backing the zoning changes for exist 16 to offset the ever growing budget, can bring more revenue and jobs to Town
Pfeffer - sympathy to your family on your loss
Powderly - Chapter 90 public meetings, can you give us an update on what comes out of that
Kelly - condolences to your family
Mercer - project awarded to Agostini Construction, looking forward to the ground breaking, Sat Oct 13th. Met the contractor on Monday night, looking to begin work on the site. Weds Nov 14 a public update to the community on the project, hopefully here in the Council Chambers, update on plans, budget and tax implications
Nutting - three phases, one starts in three week, traffic changes due to a reduction in parking spaces. Parents should be aware of changes until June, then it will change in Phase 2 and again in Phase 3
Vallee - we lost s good citizens, condolences Andy
O. EXECUTIVE SESSION
Negotiations, Litigation, Real Property, as May Be Required
P. ADJOURN
motion to adjourn, passed 8-0
Live reporting - Action items
I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS
J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1. Resolution 12-65:Acceptance of G.L. Chapter 40, Section 42J: Deferral of Water Charges
motion to approve, passed 8-0
recommendation to approve deferral of water charges, only have one deferral, may be another way to help folks who are struggling
2. Resolution 12-66:Acceptance of G.L. Chapter 80, Section 13B: Deferral and Recovery
Agreements
motion to approve, passed 8-0
this is a formality to require folks to actually pay back on deferrals
3. Resolution 12-67:Acceptance of G.L. Chapter 83, Section 16G: Deferral of Sewer Charges
motion to approve, passed 8-0
same as the water above, this covers the sewer bill
4. Resolution 12-68:Acceptance of G.L. Chapter 59, Section 5N: Reduction of Property Tax
Obligation of Veteran in Exchange for Volunteer Services
motion to approve, passed 8-0
this is a new law that just came into effect, seniors can work to defer taxes for volunteer work. This allows veterans to do this, can't do both veterans and seniors, can only do one or the other. Currently limited to 10, can be increased as demand allows. The senior program started with 30 or so and has been increased over the years as demand required.
This is open to veterans under 65. The senior program is limited to those 65 or over
No income criteria for either program, some communities do but Franklin does not.
5. Resolution 12-69:Senior Tax Deferrals
motion to approve, passed 8-0
Did initially charge 8% and as the rates dropped realized it wasn't fair. Could charge the MMDT rate but that is too low, so it will be the rate plus 2% to allow for coverage of the expense for managing the program
6. Bylaw Amendment 12-694:Amendment to Chapter 82, Appendix A, List of Service Fee Rates – 1st Reading
motion to move to second reading; passed 8-0
kennel boarding fee raising from 20 to 25 per day, first rate increase in 9 years for this item
see list of other fees in the agenda document
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2012%20docs/100312.pdf
removing "per day" for the second reading
7. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 12-689:Changes to Chapter 185 §5. Zoning Map: Single Family III to Business Zoning District- 2nd Reading
This is a modified proposal and recognizes the objections of abutters from the original discussion a couple of weeks ago.
Removed one parcel from the proposal and defined a zone within that remaining parcel
National Grid commented on the height of the lines, the proposed development would still need to come through the normal planning process
"spot zoning" a special use of the zoning different from other
Courts in MA are restrictive in applying 'spot zoning', this would not likely be something to meet the criteria
given the locality along King St and i495, this would not likely meet the case
Are you able to split zone a single parcel? Yes
Suggestion to leave the Washington St parcels as residential due to where the properties along Taft St view
The residents of the Taft St purchased knowing that their neighbors would be residential.
Planning Board is in charge of the permitting within the zone
the Town Council would not have a say any further
Thanks for the adjustment, this is a huge win
As the trees thin the noise increases. If you can increase the buffer for eyesight and noise reduction
Bissanti - you have a lot of control and say at the Planning Board process, if an when a develop ever does step forward and purchase to proceed with development
Jones - thought process on economic development behind this proposal, this is a place where could further develop the Town and offset the residential property tax base. This area has always been a potential site for this kind of use. We did put a lot of thought into how this would be place and set off from other areas. Business zone has different requirements from other zoning options. If this gets zoned for business, the Council will be watching carefully
voted to amend the proposal, 8-0
then voted to accept the amended bylaw creating the change
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