Saturday, July 3, 2010

Franklin, MA: 2010 Midyear Review

Let's take some time to review what matters here in Franklin, MA. July 1 is upon us, celebration of the 4th happens this weekend. Let's take a mid-year look back at what has happened in the past six months and ahead to see what we have for the remainder of the year.

January
biotech bylaw changes introduced
discussion on snow removal process for sidewalks
http://franklinmattersweekly.blogspot.com/2010/01/fm-53-week-ending-1102010.html

School Dept received results of the “fiscal review”
Best Buddies, Town Common Veterans Memorial fund raising recognized
Teenangels presentation
http://franklinmattersweekly.blogspot.com/2010/01/fm-54-week-ending-11710.html

charter revisions reviewed by subcommittee
Downtown Revitalization Project previewed
New trash/recycle process introduced
http://franklinmattersweekly.blogspot.com/2010/01/fm-55-review-of-week-ending-12410.html

Budget workshop held on Jan 25th
http://franklinmattersweekly.blogspot.com/2010/01/fm-56-week-ending-13110.html

February
Finance Committee hears the capital budget
Town Council gets into real discussion on trash/recycle process
http://franklinmattersweekly.blogspot.com/2010/02/fm-57-week-ending-2710.html

More on the trash/recycling process as the vote to reduce the fee and finance the bins occurs
http://franklinmattersweekly.blogspot.com/2010/02/fm-57-week-ending-2710.html

March
Abatements, etc for seniors
Bio-tech bylaw changes in formal hearing
Audit report for FY 2009 came up basically clean
http://franklinmattersweekly.blogspot.com/2010/03/fmw-59-week-ending-3710.html

School Committee got first look at FY 2011 budget
Bully task force formed
Franklin Arts Academy approved quietly
Charter revisions got a formal hearing
The BIG Y proposal came before the Planning Board
http://franklinmattersweekly.blogspot.com/2010/03/fm-60-week-ending-31410.html

Finance Committee was broadcast while the School Committee used the cable broadcast
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/03/franklin-ma-finance-committee-mtg.html

Parmenter solar project
Capital budget approved
http://franklinmattersweekly.blogspot.com/2010/03/fm-62-week-ending-32810.html

April
Financial Planning Committee bringing report up to date
http://franklinmattersweekly.blogspot.com/2010/04/fm-63-week-ending-4410.html

Charter changes approved by a 6-2 vote (Jones, Zollo, voted no – Vallee was absent)
Capital budget was approved
http://franklinmattersweekly.blogspot.com/2010/04/fm-64-week-ending-41110.html


Earth day, raised garden beds
Charles River cleanup
BSA Venture Crew work along Mine Brook at the VFW Post on Pond St
http://franklinmattersweekly.blogspot.com/2010/04/fm-65-week-ending-42510.html

May
Practically all budget all the time from the discussion to put forward an override vote to the ongoing discussions pro/con
http://franklinmattersweekly.blogspot.com/2010/05/fm-66-week-ending-5210.html

VanRoon Chiropractic's proposal for Jordan Road came forward
http://franklinmattersweekly.blogspot.com/2010/05/fm-67-week-ending-5910.html

Finance Committee began their series of budget hearings
Downtown Revitalization Project workshop
Historical Museum opens
EPA Storm water open forum held
http://franklinmattersweekly.blogspot.com/2010/05/fm-68-week-ending-51610.html

Scott Mason sat for a wide ranging interview to review discussion items for the override
http://franklinmattersweekly.blogspot.com/2010/05/fm-69-scott-mason-part-1-of-2.html
http://franklinmattersweekly.blogspot.com/2010/05/fm-69-b-scott-mason-part-2-of-2.html

June
The big news as we close the first half of 2010 was the override vote on June 8th. All the posts related to the override can be found here:
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/05/budget-override-collection-fy-2011.html

I refreshed the split tax versus single tax rate publication I had done in 2009
http://franklinmattersweekly.blogspot.com/2010/06/fm-50-tax-rate-and-split-tax.html

Town Council formalized the budget in their two hearings on June 9 and 10
http://franklinmattersweekly.blogspot.com/2010/06/fm-70-week-ending-62010.html

The Big Y has been approved, Van Roon Chiropractic has not been approved
The proposal for the Price Chopper gets to start all over again due to a technicality.

The new trash and recycling bins were delivered and the first pickups were scheduled for July 1

Looking ahead

July should get the kinks out of new trash/recycle process
August gets final prep on the school year with less teachers, less buses and maybe some word on the contract negotiations
Road construction on Sahlin Circle, Chestnut St and Wachusett St will be completed
September school opens

also on the calendar but not in a particular month

we should find out about the Charter revisions, are they really going to be on the ballot in November?
Plans for the Downtown Revitalization should get finalized
The annual tax rate setting exercise will be held (likely in Dec)

What else is on our plate?

Did I forget something?

Please feel free to comment and I can add it to the listing.


As I close this session this week, let me remind you that
If you like what I am doing here, please tell your friends and neighbors
If you don’t like something, please tell me

----------------

Thank you for stopping by to read!


For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.blogspot.com/

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com





Franklin, MA

Crackerbarrel Classic, Wrentham, MA

One of my favorite road race courses is nearby in Wrentham where the Crackerbarrel Classic 5K will run on Sep 18th.

If you run for fun, or exercise, or the competition, this is a good race to participate in.

Date:  Saturday, September 18, 2010

Start time: 9:00 a.m.

Where: Wrentham Developmental Center, Wrentham, MA
(Crackerbarrel Fairgrounds Bandstand)

Course: A 3.1 mile loop around scenic country roads (flat, no hills)
USATF certified MA-927021RN
Time Splits at one mile and two miles. Water stations along the course and at the finish.

Timing: Time Splits, water stations and computerized results (Spitler Race Systems)

Entry Fee: $17 pre-registration, $20 on Race Day

For more information including online registration or to printout the registration form to mail in, visit the website here: http://www.crackerbarrelclassic.com/



Franklin, MA


Friday, July 2, 2010

Trash/Recycle Facts: tips for good service

Make sure to place the right items in the right cart:

Solid waste only in the 65-gallon BLACK TOP cart


and recycling only in the 65-gallon YELLOW TOP cart.


Once service begins on July 1st, your old trash barrels will no longer be accepted for waste or recycling materials, use new DPW supplied carts. Carts should be placed curbside by 7:00 am the day of your collection.

Make sure all materials fit inside your carts with the lids closed. Always keep the lid closed to keep rain, snow and animals out.

Do not place any unacceptable materials in the cart. Use the handle provided to move the cart. Tilt the cart on its wheels to roll it. Remember that it’s easier to pull the cart uphill and push it downhill. Remove your cart as soon as possible after collection to maintain the appearance of your neighborhood.

Clean your carts periodically by rinsing them with water and letting them dry in the sun with the lid open.
Trash collection is limited to one cart per residence per week.

Make sure you recycle all you can, and use the Bulky Items and White Goods collection service for those items.

There are currently no restrictions on street parking on collection days. Since automated waste collection requires clearance for the vehicle’s lifting mechanism, any cars parked at the curb should be at least 5 feet from the cart.

Leave 3 feet between your solid waste and recycling carts when placing them curbside to allow the truck to collect both easily.

This information comes from the Franklin Solid Waste website here (PDF):
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_Recycling/FranklinAutomation2010FINAL.pdf

and here
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_Recycling/index

The collection of Franklin Matters posts on the new process can be found here:
http://franklinmatters.blogspot.com/2010/03/franklin-ma-trash-collection.html

Franklin, MA

Bottle-Can Drive - July 10th

Franklin Boy Scout Troop 2 will be holding a Bottle and Can Drive on July 10th from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Scouts will be accepting your donations of redeemable bottles and cans at two locations: 
1) the William F. Ray Lodge of the Franklin Odd Fellows at 330 West Central Street (by the intersection of Beaver Street)
and
2) in the parking lot of the Franklin Federated Church, 171 Main Street (just across from the Common).
Please help support Franklin’s newest Scout troop, and come meet some of the members and leaders!


Franklin, MA


In the News - Pulaski detour, casinos


Pulaski bridge work causes detour in Bellingham



Mass. Senate approves bill licensing three casinos



Franklin, MA


Municipal Calendar

From the MA Dept of Revenue, Division of Local Services "City & Town" Newsletter for July 2010 comes the following. I don't pretend to know this in detail. It may very well go over your head too. The point of sharing it is as many folks head into vacation time, there is much still to be done in the Municipal Building. The fiscal year just closed June 30th, which means the books need to be closed, accounts balanced, etc. The following provides some detail into the behind the scenes stuff that just happens!


Municipal Calendar
July 1: Collector:Mail Annual Preliminary Tax Bills
For communities issuing annual preliminary tax bills, the preliminary quarterly or semi-annual bills should be mailed by this date.
July 15: Accountant: Certification Date for Free Cash: Anytime after Books are Closed
Two weeks after the close of a fiscal year, all accounts are closed out and the resulting balance sheet and supplemental documentation submitted to DOR. Free cash is certified any time after this date.
July 15: Accountant: Report Community Preservation Fund Balance: Anytime after Books are Closed After the close of a fiscal year, the fund balance is submitted to DOR (Form CP-2) and notice given to the Community Preservation Committee and other financial officers. The fund balance may be appropriated anytime after that report.
July 15:School Business Officials: Certification Date for Excess and Deficiency (E&D) Fund
Two weeks after the close of a fiscal year, all accounts are closed and the resulting balance sheet (a pre-closing trial balance or audited financial statements will not be accepted unless requested by the Director of Accounts) and supplemental documentation are submitted to DOR. E&D Fund is certified any time after this date.
July 15: Assessors: Deadline for Appealing Commissioner’s Pipeline Valuations to ATB
July 20: DOR/BLA: Notification of Changes in Proposed EQVs (even numbered years only)
July 20: DOR/BLA: Notification of Changes in Proposed SOL Valuations (every 4th year after 2005)
August 1: Taxpayer: Quarterly Tax Bills — Deadline for Paying 1st Quarterly Tax Bill Without Interest
According to M.G.L. Ch. 59, Sec. 57C, this is the deadline for receipt of the 1st Quarter preliminary tax payment without interest, unless the preliminary bills were mailed after July 1. If mailed by August 1, the 1st Quarterly payment is due August 1, or 30 days after the bills were mailed, whichever is later, and the 2nd Quarterly payment is due November 1. If mailed after August 1, the preliminary tax is due as a single installment on November 1, or 30 days after the bills were mailed, whichever is later.
August 1: Taxpayer: Annual Boat Excise Return Due
August 1: Accountant: Notification of Total Receipts of Preceding Year
The total actual local receipts (e.g., motor vehicle excise, fines, fees, water/sewer charges) of the previous fiscal year must be included on Schedule A of the Tax Rate Recapitulation Sheet (Recap) which is submitted by the Assessors to DOR. On the Recap, the Accountant certifies the previous fiscal year’s actual revenues, and the Assessors use this information to project the next fiscal year’s revenues. Any estimates of local receipts on the Recap that differ significantly from the previous year’s actual receipts must be accompanied by documentation justifying the change in order to be approved by the Commissioner of Revenue.
August 1: Assessors: Deadline for Appealing EQVs to ATB (even numbered years only)
August 1: Assessors: Deadline for Appealing SOL Valuations to ATB (every 4th year after 2005)
August 15: Assessor: Deadline to Vote to Seek Approval for Authorization to Issue Optional Preliminary Tax Bills For semi-annual communities issuing optional preliminary property tax bills, the Assessors must vote to seek authorization to issue the bills from DOR by this date. After receiving approval, Assessors must submit a Pro-forma Tax Rate Recap Sheet to DOR for review and issue the tax bills by October 1.
August 31: Taxpayer: Last Filing Day for Classified Forest Land, M.G.L. Ch. 61
August 31: DOR/BOA: Issue Instructions for Determining Local and District Tax Rates A copy of the Tax Rate Recap Sheet and its instructions are forwarded to the town.
August 31: Assessors: Begin work on Tax Rate Recapitulation Sheet (to set tax rate for semi-annual bills) Until the Tax Rate Recap Sheet is completed and certified by the Commissioner of Revenue, the community may not set a tax rate nor send out its property tax bills (unless it issues preliminary quarterly tax bills or requests from DOR the authority to send out pre liminary tax notices if DOR requirements are met). Communities should begin gathering the information in enough time for the tax rate to be set and tax bills mailed by October 1. The Tax Rate Recap Sheet provides Mayors or Selectmen with a ready-made financial management tool because the town’s most important financial management information is summarized on this form. The Mayor or Selectmen should review the Recap Sheet in preliminary form in order to understand the following financial information: Page 1 (Tax Rate Summary) — The proposed tax levy should be compared to the levy limit. If a town does not levy to its limit, the remaining levy is referred to as excess levy capacity. Excess levy capacity is lost to the community for the current fiscal year although it will always remain in the levy limit calculation. Page 2 (Amount To Be Raised) — This section includes appropriations and other local expenditures not appropriated. These include overlay deficits, revenue deficits, state and county charges, Cherry Sheet offset items, and the allowance for abatements and exemptions. By comparing this information to the prior year(s), any significant changes can be determined. Page 2 (Estimated Receipts & Revenues From Other Sources) — In particular, Sec tion C shows the amount appropriated from free cash and other available funds. By comparing the amounts appropriated to the balances in these accounts (available from the Accountant/Auditor), the Mayor or Selectmen can get a sense of how their non-property tax revenues are being used. Page 3, Schedule A (Local Receipts Not Allocated) — By comparing these figures to prior year(s), the Mayor or Selectmen can determine any changes in these revenues. Page 4, Schedule B (Certification of Appropriations and Source of Funding) — This section includes financial votes of City/Town Council or Town Meeting not previously reported on last year’s recap.



Franklin, MA