Live reporting: Legislation for Action

7. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
a. 99 Restaurants of Boston, change of Officers/Directors/LLC Managers & Change of Ownership Interest, 847 West Central Street

ABCC attempting to streamline this change for every community where a 99 Restaurant resides

motion to approve, seconded, passed 8-0


8. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
- None


9. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

a. Capital Budget Subcommittee
no meeting yet

b. Budget Subcommittee
no meeting yet

c. Economic Development Subcommittee
met earlier this evening on the "plastic waste reduction plan"
next meeting for EDC could be Jan 8 (assuming other meeting schedule approved)


10. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION 

(first four covered in earlier section of this meeting)

10e. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
Resolution 19-84: Gift Acceptance - Franklin Public Library, $10,500 (Motion to Approve Resolution 19-84 - Majority Vote (5))

thanks to the Friends of the Library for their consistent dedication and raising this for the residents

motion to approve, seconded, passed 8-0

10f. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
Resolution 19-85: Gift Acceptance - Franklin Senior Center, $250 (Motion to Approve Resolution 19-85 - Majority Vote (5))

motion to approve, seconded, passed 8-0


10g. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
Resolution 19-86: Town Council 2020 Meeting Calendar (Motion to Approve Resolution 19-86 - Majority Vote (5))

question on Nov 11 (Veterans Day, although not celebrated that day)
will pass as is and check to see if an adjustment needs to be made

motion to approve, seconded, passed 8-0


10h. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
Resolution 19-87: Appropriation of Cable Funds in Support of PEG Service and Programming per M.G.L Ch.44, §53F3/4 (Motion to Approve Resolution 19-87 - Majority Vote (5))

motion to approve, seconded, passed 8-0


10i. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
Resolution 19-88: Ad Hoc Stormwater Utility Fee Study Committee (Motion to Approve Resolution 19-88 - Majority Vote (5))

another step in the direction of pro-action in preparing for the future
question on resources to be available for the subcommittee

long discussion on this item, the motion is to start the process to resolve the issue which the Town has been working for since 2009 yet the discussion going round and round

motion to approve, seconded, passed 8-0


10j. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
Bylaw Amendment 19-846: Chapter 153 Stormwater Management - 1st Reading (Motion to Move Bylaw 19-846 to a 2nd Reading - Majority Vote (5))

motion to waive the reading, seconded, passed 8-0

essentially establishes a stormwater utility structure, shows the EPA commitment on our part towards compliance

motion to move to second reading, seconded, passed 8-0

Live reporting: Tax Classification Hearing

6. HEARINGS
Franklin Tax Classification Hearing
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/mai/files/12-4-19_memo_tax_rate_hearing.pdf


Chris Sandini, Kevin Doyle, Chris Feeley

factor of 1 = uniform rate across the property classes

no land classified as open space per State Land use 

calculated increase of approx $178 for avg residence with reduction in rate of 15 cents from prior year

new growth of $127M for this tax year
almost 2.5% growth (which helps establish the tax base)

Chandler - clarification questions on exemptions and forms
to be found on the Board of Assessors page
https://www.franklinma.gov/board-assessors

Jones - impressed with the 5B valuation of the Town
For the single tax rate

Bissanti - I don't remember addressing a dual tax rate
C Feeley - about 14 years ago there was a Councilor who did propose a dual tax rate; it was not passed

Pellegri - do we know if we have everyone who would be eligible?
Doyle - we did a mailing some years ago, that didn't urn up much; we work closely with the Senior Center and Veterans Agent to ensure we cover all we hear of; we work with Karen Alves to prepare a summary flyer

Hellen - we'll coordinate an update and social media blast to make sure folks are aware of it

Dellorco - once applied do they need to re-apply?
Feeley - re-apply yes, but once they have, we notify them of what they need to do

Mercer - I support the single tax rate, one of our strengths in attracting business

hearing closed

moving to first of the four resolutions


10a. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
Resolution 19-80: Tax Classification Residential Factor (Motion to Approve Resolution 19-80 - Majority Vote (5))

motion to approve, seconded, passed 8-0

10b. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
Resolution 19-81: Tax Classification - Open Space Exemption (Motion to Approve Resolution 19-81 - Majority Vote (5))
motion to approve, seconded, passed 8-0

10c. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
Resolution 19-82: Tax Classification Small Business Exemption (Motion to Approve Resolution 19-82 - Majority Vote (5))
motion to approve, seconded, passed 8-0

10d. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
Resolution 19-83: Tax Classification Residential Property Exemption (Motion to Approve Resolution 19-83 - Majority Vote (5))

motion to approve, seconded, passed 8-0

( 2 min recess )
short break to allow for signature of the docs as approved

Live reporting: Town Council - Dec 4, 2019

Present: Chandler, Hamblen, Pellegri, Dellorco, Mercer, Jones, Earls, Bissanti
Absent: Kelly


1. ANNOUNCEMENTS

a. This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast Channel 11 and Verizon Channel 29. This meeting may be recorded by others.

2. CITIZEN COMMENTS

a. Citizens are welcome to express their views for up to five minutes on a matter that is not on the agenda. The Council will not engage in a dialogue or comment on a matter raised during Citizen Comments. The Town Council will give remarks appropriate consideration and may ask the Town Administrator to review the matter.

Harry Cochran, 30 Spring St
last 900 feet still dirt, trying to get pavement after 47 years
street needs finishing, 16 space parking lot apparently being put in for trail use


3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
- None

4. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
- None

5. APPOINTMENTS
- None

Franklin Public Schools: Annual Winter Art Showcase opens Dec 4 at 4:30 PM

The Franklin Public Schools (FPS) Annual Winter Art Showcase is set to open Wednesday evening, Dec 4! Selected works for across the District will be on view in the FHS Community Lobby from 4:30 to 6:30 PM. 

Work will remain up through Dec. 10

FPS Annual Winter Art Showcase opens Dec 4 at 4:30 PM

This was shared from the Franklin Public Schools Art Dept Twitter account
https://twitter.com/FranklinPSart/status/1202020745301430273

Dean College's annual Holiday Tree Lighting - Dec 5

Celebrate the season at Dean College's annual Holiday Tree Lighting on Thursday, Dec. 5 from 4 PM to 5 PM! 

Enjoy free hot chocolate and special appearances by Santa and Boomer.

Dean College's annual Holiday Tree Lighting - Dec 5

This was shared from the Franklin Downtown Partnership twitter account
https://twitter.com/FranklinDowntwn/status/1201890148952223745 
 
For more holiday happenings, check the listing
https://www.franklindowntownpartnership.org/2019/11/holiday-happenings-in-franklin.html

#DeanCollege
#treelighting
#fdp
#tofranklinma

FHS' Lewandowski, Rondeau, Ledwith, Bell named as 2019 Hockomock League Field Hockey All Stars

HockomockSports.com has announced the official 2019 Hockomock League Field Hockey All Stars, selected by the coaches in the league.

Hockomock League MVP

• Anna Beck, Attleboro

Hockomock League All Stars

• Amanda Lewandowski, Franklin
• Olivia Rondeau, Franklin
• Maeve Ledwith, Franklin
• Stephanie Bell, Franklin

For the complete listing
https://hockomocksports.com/2019-hockomock-league-field-hockey-all-stars/ 

FHS' Lewandowski, Rondeau, Ledwith, Bell named as 2019 Hockomock League Field Hockey All Stars

  

MassBudget: Businesses Avoid $1.4 Billion in 2019 Tax Amid Decades-Long Decline in Corporate Income Tax Share

New MassBudget Report Analyzes the State of Corporate Taxes in the Commonwealth

Businesses Avoid $1.4 Billion in 2019 Tax Amid Decades-Long Decline in Corporate Income Tax Share Despite rising corporate profits, taxes on those profits deliver smaller share of MA tax total Over the past 40 years, revenue collected from corporate excise and related taxes has dropped by a third as a percentage of total state tax revenue in Massachusetts, according to the latest report from the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget). At the same time, the report finds, corporations across the nation are claiming an ever-growing share of all the income generated in the U.S. According to the report, Rising Profits, Falling Tax Shares: Fixing What's Broken, multiple factors have contributed to the long-term decline in the share of state taxes provided by corporate income taxes. The tax rate on most corporate income in Massachusetts was reduced from 9.5 percent to 8 percent between 2009 and 2012. Growth in the number and cost of state special business tax breaks also has played a role, as have increasingly aggressive tax avoidance efforts by corporations. Key report findings include:  During the last decade, Massachusetts corporate income and related taxes delivered an average of 10.6 percent of total state tax collections, compared to an average of 16 percent in the 1980s; Businesses would have contributed another $1.4 billion in taxes to the Commonwealth in FY 2019 had Massachusetts' corporate excise tax collections remained at the share of total taxes they provided throughout the 1980s (about 16 percent of the total); Massachusetts corporations are seeing a reduction in their annual federal tax bills of around $4 billion due to the 2017 Tax Cut and Jobs Act;  Massachusetts is in the bottom fifth of all states in terms of the share of total state and local taxes paid by businesses "At a time when profits are soaring, taxes on those profits should not be delivering a smaller slice of our total tax pie. Kids, commuters and communities across the state need profitable corporations doing business here in Massachusetts to step up and do more, not less," said Marie-Frances Rivera, President of MassBudget. Interested in learning about state-level policy options that would help restore the share of state taxes collected through taxing corporate income? Read the full Rising Profits, Falling Tax Shares report, click here.   http://massbudget.org/report_window.php?loc=Rising%20Profits%20Falling%20Tax%20Shares.html Other reports from our series on corporate taxes have been flagged on our website here.  http://massbudget.org/taxes.php 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 1 STATE STREET, SUITE 1250 BOSTON, MA 02109

Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, 1 State Street, Suite 1250, Boston, MA 02109 Sent by kwise@massbudget.org in collaboration with Try email marketing for free today!