Franklin Matters

Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - Jan 4, 2012

A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

B. ANNOUNCEMENTS

C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS

D. CITIZEN COMMENTS

E. APPOINTMENTS
- Master Plan Committee
David Dobrzynski
Christine Apicella
Gregory Rondeau
Norm Ristaino
amended during meeting to add Gene Grella and Nathan Carlucci
It was also noted that Steve Whalen resigned from this group

F. HEARINGS

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS

H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS

I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1. Resolution 12-01: Acceptance of Gift – Red Brick School
2. Resolution 12-02: Acceptance of Gift – Council on Aging
3. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 11-666: Amendment to Chapter 185-5, Zoning Map, Biotechnology Uses Overlay Zoning District –
2nd Reading

K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

L. OLD BUSINESS

M. NEW BUSINESS

N. COUNCIL COMMENTS

O. EXECUTIVE SESSION – Negotiations, Litigation, Real Property, as May Be Required

P. ADJOURN

Wadsworth Diary: Jan 3, 1892

Very pleasant & quite warm, ground & pond clear of frost.My cold or grip is about the same. I do my chores & not much more. E. Simonds here.

In the 1850s, on a busy working farm in the southern part of Franklin, a man named George Wadsworth started writing in a journal about everyday events. When he filled that journal, he bought another, and filled that up too. Two dozen journals, and 27 years later, he had written about almost everything that can happen in a small New England town. His words were lost to history until 1986, when town resident Gail Lembo came across some of the journals at a yard sale.

From the Franklin Historical Museum website
http://www.franklinhistoricalmuseum.com/p/wadsworth-diaries_30.html

“It’s always the money"

Vallee said he would like to see the town explore more economic development opportunities, especially on town-owned land between Interstate 495 and Pond Street.

The land is zoned for industry but Vallee said condominiums may be a more viable option. If built out with condominiums, the land could bring in $800,000 in tax revenue without adding many children to the schools, he said.

Vallee said he’s also glad to see development occurring along Rte. 140 at the former Knights of Columbus Hall and Franklin Buffet restaurant.

“A lot of little things are happening,” he said.

“Staying fit and active"

Sue Barbour, program coordinator for the Franklin Senior Center, warns seniors of the consequences of remaining immobile.

“If you don’t use it, you lose it,” she said Friday. “It’s the truth. I tell them all the time, get up and move.”

In Franklin, Barbour said line dancing and other classes have had a good turnout for years, but hopefully, even more will join in the New Year.

Healthy Eating Cooking class!!

Hey all another Healthy Eating class is coming up!! Hope to see some of you there ;)

Thursday, January 12, 2012 6:30pm until 8:00pm

New Year New You!!!

6:30-8pm, Thursday January 12th- $10 fee

Come see us at The Fitness Asylum in Shrewsbury 56 Summer Street, Shrewsbury MA for a Healthy Eating cooking class! Join Karen and Terri our Healthy Eating Specialists to learn how to prepare food following... our 4 Healthy Eating Pillars: Plant Strong™, Whole Foods, Healthy Fats and Nutrient Dense. This fun filled Cooking Class will demonstrate how to master the art of healthy cooking by preparing foods to be lighter in calories, more nutrient dense and packed with flavor! See how to prepare vegetables to peak flavor while maximizing vitamins and minerals. Get great tips on portion control. Raw-Vegan techniques will be highlighted to save time and ultimately get you to eat more vegetables! Three will be plenty of samples to go around so bring your appetite!

Please call The Fitness Asylum to sign up and reserve your spot: 617-967-0042 www.fitness-asylum.com

--
Karen M Ring
CPT / Health Coach / AADP

www.karenmring.com
karenmring@gmail.com

Monday, January 2, 2012

Franklin, MA: Historical Commission

Purpose

The Historical Commission provides for the preservation, protection, and development of the historic and archaeological assets of Franklin. Meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month at 6:30 PM in the Library Room of the Franklin Historical Museum, 80 West Central St.
The activities of the commission encompass many areas including: research on places of historical or architectural value, working with the State Archaeologist in conducting surveys and reporting on sites, supporting educational activities, establishing historic districts, providing information for genealogical searches, and operating and maintaining the Franklin Historical Museum.

Membership

The Commission consists of seven members who are appointed for three-year terms. Additionally, Associate memberships are available for anyone interested in town history by contacting the Town Clerk's office or any member of the Historical Commission.

Additional information on the Historical Commission can be found on the Franklin website
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_Historical/historical

Heralding in the New Gardening Year

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Heralding in the New Gardening Year

via Growing In Franklin by Franklin Community Gardens on 1/1/12

A visit to the King Street Garden today in short sleeves, 55 degrees and sunny!

***

Happy New Year, Gardeners!

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Are you getting your seed catalogs yet?

Making resolutions?

To-do lists?

Sketching out garden plot plans?

The real spring will be here before we know it.

***

If to-do lists are your thing, Listen Up:

The Franklin Community Garden Committee is seeking additional members.

Prove your Passion.

Get Involved!

(Once a month, sometimes twice, usually a Monday evening, 6:30, at the Town Hall.)

Next meeting slated for Monday, Jan 9th at 6:30

Resolve to be there!

Dig In!

It's going to be another great year.

(Just like last year, only better.)

***

Thanks in advance for your help!

***

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Sunday, January 1, 2012

Wadsworth Diary: Jan 1, 1892

Pleasant & cool. Have done but little besides the chores, but feel a little better than I did yesterday. Elmer came home to night. He rode over with Arthur Miller.

Franklin, MA: Long Range Financial Planning Committee

The Long Range Financial Planning Committee is one that has changed considerably in the last 14 months. It started as a committee with representatives from the Town Council (3), School Committee (2), and Finance Committee (2). In December 2010, it was reformed as a committee completely made up of 'citizens' - that is residents with no other direct board membership.

Vision
The Long Range Finance Committee is a citizen advisory group tasked with helping citizens and Town officials better understand Franklin’s long-term financial outlook and the various courses of action available to secure Franklin’s financial future.

Mission
The Committee will achieve this vision by (i) evaluating and reporting on the Town’s five-year financial projection, (ii) assessing the nature and potential magnitude of the Town’s significant financial risks, particularly those that give rise to a structural deficit, and (iii) recommending steps to close the gap between future expected revenues and expenditures in an effort ultimately to achieve fiscal sustainability.

Additional information and links to the reports issued by the committee can be found on the Franklin website
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_BComm/Long%20Range%20Financial%20Planning%20Committee

One of the papers made available to candidates for office in the Franklin November 2011 election was as follows:

Financial Challenges in Franklin:

Informing Public Debate in Advance of the 2011 Town Elections

Prepared by the Long Range Finance Committee

Introduction
As we approach the 2011 Town election cycle, candidates and voters alike have an opportunity to discuss the issues that matter most to residents of Franklin. Understandably, the pre-election dialogue gravitates toward timely matters that are likely to be voted upon in the near term or simple topics that can be answered in a few sentences. The downside of this dynamic, however,is that we often overlook the more complex challenges the Town of Franklin is facing. The purpose of this document is to help candidates and voters appreciate the nature and magnitude of Franklin’s growing financial challenges. We summarize the key issues and highlight resources that will help inform public debate.

Summary of Key Issues
In October 2009, the Long Range Finance Committee issued a report on Franklin’s financial outlook for the period from FY 2010 to 2014, finding that Town and School services are declining steadily because costs are rising faster than revenues (a “structural deficit”) and warning that this trend would continue indefinitely if not addressed. The Committee recommended that town leaders: (i) agree on the problem; (ii) develop a comprehensive, multi-
year plan for achieving a services neutral budget, and (iii) improve transparency and accessibility of financial information.

Over the past two years, the economic recession has compounded the problem, and the financial outlook for Franklin, along with cities and towns across the Commonwealth, has deteriorated. Preliminary estimates show that expenses for existing Town and School services are on track to outpace revenue by 8-10% of the Town’s total operating budget over the next 5 years. This projection does not include additional expenses that will be required to address the Town’s aging infrastructure and begin funding its significant OPEB (other post-employment benefit) obligation. The residents of Franklin, together with Town officials, determine when and how these complex financial issues are to be confronted. The 2011 election cycle is the ideal time to move this discussion to center stage.

How to Prepare for Discussions about Franklin’s Long Term Financial Outlook?
1. Read the “Five Year Financial Outlook” prepared by the Long Range Finance Committee in October 2009. An Executive Summary and mid year update are also available. These materials can be found on the Town of Franklin website. Reports

2. Learn about OPEB. The Town currently follows a “pay as you go” approach for its OPEB obligation, which means it pays the minimum costs incurred in that year even though this minimum is insufficient to meet the future obligation. Across the Commonwealth, municipalities are assessing whether to continue “pay as you go” or to move towards fully funding the future obligations. In Franklin, the FY 2010 funding shortfall was approximately $5M or 5% of the operating budget, based on an $80M unfunded obligation. White papers and other general information can be found on the web. We have not recommended any specific resources in order to avoid linking ourselves with any particular political point of view that may be associated with the authors or sponsoring organizations.

3. Compare Franklin with other towns. The Committee’s “Five Year Financial Outlook” compares Franklin to neighboring and peer towns across a wide range of relevant categories, including sources of revenue, municipal spending and school spending. If you prefer to do your own comparisons, considerable data is available on the web as follows:

a. Massachusetts Department of Revenue Mass DOR
b. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Department of Education

4. Follow the activities of the Long Range Finance Committee. The Committee is currently focused on four topics: (i) long-term infrastructure requirements, (ii) post-employment benefit obligations, (iii) legislative impediments to addressing the structural deficit, and (iv) benchmarking the residential tax burden. The Committee’s meeting schedule is also available on the Town’s web page and posted in Town Hall.

Franklin, MA: Health Department

Mission Statement:

The Franklin Health Department is charged with protecting the public health and well-being of the community, in accordance with federal, state and local public health laws and regulations. The Franklin Health Department's responsibilities include inspecting and permitting new and repaired/upgraded individual septic systems, witnessing percolation testing, biannual inspections of all food service and retail food establishments, investigating complaints of public health nuisances, enforcement of the state sanitary code relative to housing, licensing of children's recreational camps, inspection of semi-public swimming pools and spas, tanning salon and manicure/pedicure establishment inspections. The Health Department also issues permits for individual private drinking water and irrigation wells.

Additional information on the Health Dept and the Board of Health can be found on the Franklin website
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_Health/index

Saturday, December 31, 2011

Franklin, MA: Finance Committee

The Finance Committee shall be concerned with all matters involving the finances and financial procedures of the Town of Franklin, as required by Massachusetts General Laws and the Town Charter. The Committee makes recommendations to the Town Council on all financial matters.

Its goals are to:
1. Understand department responsibilities and performance.
2. Analyze department budgets and look toward future needs.
3. Simplify the budget process.
4. Recommend a balanced budget for the delivery of town services to the Town Council.

Additional information on the Finance Committee (or FinCom) can be found on the Franklin website
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_Finance/index

Page 134 (printed version) or Page 140 (or the following PDF version) also have info on the Finance Committee
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_Clerk/annual/Desktop/FRANKLIN%202001%20TR-WEB%20COPY.pdf

Franklin, MA: Design Review Commission

As Franklin continues to grow, many signs, buildings and new developments are constantly being constructed. But, do all of them add to the beauty and charm of our town? Sometimes the initial designs are not what the town needs.

How does the town help guide people to a better solution for the town? The Design Review Commission advises applicants on their submissions, encouraging applicants to revise their designs to enhance the New England character of our Town, in addition to approving signage.

Additional information on the Design Review Commission and it role can be found on the Franklin website here
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_Planning/design

The 2011 Annual Report also provides some info on page 132 (of the printed version or Page 138 for the PDF)
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_Clerk/annual/Desktop/FRANKLIN%202001%20TR-WEB%20COPY.pdf

Corporate tax rate drops to 8.0 percent effective January 1

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Corporate tax rate drops to 8.0 percent effective January 1

via Commonwealth Conversations: Revenue by Robert Bliss on 12/30/11

DOR announced earlier this month a drop in the personal income tax rate effective for tax years beginning on or after Jan. 1 from 5.3 percent to 5.25. This reduction extends to gains from investments held for more than a year (gains on investments held for less than a year are still taxable at 12 percent).

A second tax reduction also kicks in on Jan. 1, when the corporate tax rate drops from 8.25 percent to 8.0 percent.

And, as was the case with the personal income tax reduction, there is a backstory to the drop in the corporate tax rate.

Gov. Deval Patrick in his first year in office, in 2007, proposed to change the way the Commonwealth levies the corporate income tax with the introduction of a proposal to adopt combined reporting, a system that is now in place in about half the states. The idea was to come up with a corporate tax system that made it harder for corporations to shift taxable profits earned in Massachusetts to low-tax or no-tax states.

The Legislature rebuffed the governor's initial effort, but agreed to the appointment of a special commission to look at corporate taxation. In December 2007, the commission issued its report, and on the basis of recommendations in the report, the governor filed legislation to implement combined reporting.

In July of 2008, the governor and legislative leadership signed into law combined reporting. Importantly, the law included a gradual reduction in the corporate tax rate, which at the time was 9.5 percent. The rate was to be gradually lowered, to 8.75 percent effective for tax years beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2010; to 8.25 percent effective for tax years beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2011, and to 8.0 percent effective for tax years beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2012.

Combined reporting, in tandem with the rate cut, meant that the big multi-state or multi-national corporations would often pay more, while the in-state corporations in would in certain cases pay less, with the net effect producing a fairer corporate tax system.

In a press release issued yesterday, the Patrick Administration noted that the 2008 tax reform law meant that "Massachusetts-based businesses are paying a lower corporate tax rate while several thousand multi-state or multi-national companies are also paying at a lower rate, but reporting more in taxable income because they can no longer shift taxable profits to low-tax or no-tax jurisdictions."

The corporate tax reform law of 2008 also gradually reduced the financial institution tax rate from 10.5 in FY08 percent down to 9.0 percent effective Jan. 1, 2012.

The rate for S corporations with more than $9 million in annual receipts was modified so that the corporate rate (for a business corporation or financial institution as applicable) for the year minus the personal income tax rate for the year equalled the rate for the large S corporations.
The rate for S corporations with between $6 and $9 million in annual receipts was modified to 2/3 of the rate applicable to larger S corporations.

Corporate and business tax collections have risen and fallen with the economy since enactment of the law. In FY07, before the law took effect, corporate tax collection was $2.476 billion. In FY08, corporate tax collection hit $2.549 billion, but dropped to $2.099 billion in FY09 as revenues overall crashed. Since then, corporate revenues have recovered modestly, in line with the overall economy, to $2.119 billion in FY10 and $2.228 billion in FY11.

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In the News - Crime Updates

Home invasion

Police Chief Stephan Semerjian said his department has solid leads and is close to an arrest in the case of a November home invasion.
Authorities say two young men zip-tied an elderly woman to her bed before taking her credit card and other valuables.