Thursday, November 29, 2012

Town Council - 11/28/12

The collection of posts reported live during the Town Council meeting on Wednesday, Nov 28, 2012 can be found here:



Related posts
The tax rate information and analysis was updated and posted here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/11/tax-rate-info-for-fy-2013-updated.html

The full agenda for the meeting is here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/11/franklin-ma-town-council-agenda-nov-28.html

"Nutcracker" - Dec 15, Dec 16


Rehearsing for their debut performances in the "Nutcracker" as Clara are Celine Santorsola, left and Caroline Lounsbury, right, at the Patti Eisenhauer Dance Center in Franklin, MA.


The show performances are Saturday, December 15 at 5:30pm and Sunday, December 16 at 1pm. Tickets are available by calling 508-520-7873.

In the News: committee openings, tax rate, commuter rail


Franklin seeks members for committees





Franklin taxes to rise





Mobile ticketing option available on Framingham, Franklin rail lines



Mingle, Jingle, & Shop - Sunday 12/2 @ Dean College

To benefit the Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter School 8th grade class trip to Washington DC in the spring


Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Live reporting: closing


L. OLD BUSINESS
none

M. NEW BUSINESS
Q - Mercer: question, changed policy on plowing cul-de-sacs?
some folks have heard it was once in and once out
A - Nutting - no, but I'll look into it

Q - Kelly - can we have a session with Brutus on what residents can do when they see potholes?
A - Nutting - yes, we'll set something up

Q - Vallee - can we look at waiving the meter fees for Dec shopping?
A - we could but you'd have commuters using them

Q - Bissanti, I don't see we have a parking problem
A - Nutting - Maybe try it the last couple of weeks; let me spend the week talking with the Police Dept and come back

N. COUNCIL COMMENTS
Dellorco - shout out to the Girls Soccer Team for state championship
Kelly - thanks for the work on the Town Common, it looks really good
Powderly - thanks also to girls Soccer team, it was a great performance and they conducted themselves well
Pfeffer - thanks to the two firemen who went to NYC to help with the Sandy aftermath
Jones - I think the Town Common looks really good now, the lights make the
Bissanti - condolences to the P Brunelli and their family for a lose of a family member; thanks to J Nutting for helping to bring a resolution
Roy - echo sentiments for the Girls Soccer Team, recognize the High School for getting on the AP Honor, MA had the highest number of schools on it

Dec 5 to honor Stella, also former Rep Jim Vallee


O. EXECUTIVE SESSION
Negotiations, Litigation, Real Property, as May Be Required
none tonight

P. ADJOURN
motion to adjourn, passed 9-0


Live reporting: Legislation



J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION

3. Resolution 12-78: Classification Tax Allocation – Residential Factor
keep single tax rate, hence factor =1
motion to make factor = 1, seconded, passed 9-0

4. Resolution 12-79: Classification Tax Allocation – Open Space Exemption
no exemption for open space
motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0

5. Resolution 12-80: Classification Tax Allocation – Small Business Exemption
no exemption for small business, would have to be picked up by some other group (i.e. home owners)
motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0

6. Resolution 12-81: Classification Tax Allocation – Residential Property Exemption
no exemption for residential properties, would have to be picked up by some other group (i.e. home owners)
motion to approve, seconded, passed 9-0


Live reporting: Tax Hearing

F. HEARINGS 
Tax Classification Hearing – 7:10 PM

Kevin Doyle, Director of Assessing
Ken Norman, Chair Board of Assessors
Chris Feeley and John Neas - members of the Board

Review of the information package 

The full set of documents for the meeting can be found on the Franklin web page here
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2012%20docs/112812.pdf

$844,102 is the amount of new growth added to the tax levy for FY 2013
the 'automatic' 2.5% amounts to $1,319,490 added to the tax levy (anything more than this amount requires a vote)

$14.34 is calculated to be the new tax rate for FY 2013
Mean avg of single family homes calculated at $348,000.
Median avg of single family home calculated at $316,000

no question from audience or Council
hearing closed