New 2-Year DOR Strategic Plan Posted

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

New 2-Year DOR Strategic Plan Posted

via Commonwealth Conversations: Revenue by Edward Peters on 2/13/13

DOR has posted its 2013-2015 Strategic Plan.  This plan outlines a comprehensive set of goals and actions which will serve as a roadmap to success for the agency.

The Strategic Plan describes how DOR will support the Executive Office of Administration and Finance's (A&F) Better Performance goal by taking a proactive approach to improve performance, effectiveness and efficiency across the agency, developing and actively measuring standards of quality for core processes, and actively working to improve the skills, processes and technologies to better support the core functions of the agency. The plan also describes how DOR supports A&F's Better Government goal by creating a customer-focused culture and processes that will support communication, collaboration and co-design with a broad range of stakeholders.

The plan is an important part of DOR's operational foundation and provides a blueprint by which its divisions can measure and report on their success.

Please take a look at our plan -- we trust that you will find it to be comprehensive, informative and useful.

Note: if you require an accessible version of the plan, please see the DOR homepage. 

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In addition to the links provided above, you can view the plan here

Curbside Chronicle: Feb - May 2013

The recent Curbside Chronicle is available here




You can also find this on the Franklin, MA webpage here
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_Recycling/index

Rep Roy: Medway Girls Scouts

Rep Jeff Roy met with a Girl Scout troop from Medway when they visited the State House recently. Sen Karen Spilka hosted the troop.

Medway Girls Scouts visit State House

The photo includes leaders: Tracey Twamley, Eileen McGonigle, Pat Davis, and Kathy MacDougall. The Girl Scouts include: Maya Twamley, Marissa Galante, Cayla McGonigle, Anita Cuff, Grace Brueckner, Andrea Hester, MaryKate MacDougall, Sophia Flotta, Maevis Fahey, Olivia Cardillo, Katelyn Piche, Lindsey Blenkhorn, Lindsay MacLeod, and Lily Ouellette.

Photo credit to Rep Jeff Roy's office

Thank you, from National Grid

To view this email as a web page, click here. Thank you, from National Grid Despite challenges such as huge snow banks, narrower-than-usual roads and limited access to some facilities, National Grid has restored power to nearly all customers affected by the blizzard that tore through the state Friday and Saturday. Winter storm Nemo was yet another historic storm to affect our region with blizzard winds, downed trees and wires and as much as 2+ feet of snow in some areas. As soon as it was safe, our crews worked around the clock to restore service.   Throughout the storm, we have been boosted by the patience and words of encouragement offered by our customers via our call centers, social media and email responses. Your kind words have not gone unnoticed. As always, we thank you for your continued support of our crews, linemen and employees. With Nemo behind us, we encourage you to stay connected now so that when the next storm hits, you'll be ready.   You can join the over 100,000 customers that have already registered for storm text alerts by texting the word STORM to NGRID (64743). You can also find us on Facebook or Twitter in order to stay connected. You can learn more about the other ways to stay connected during a storm by going to our Stay Connected webpage. If you are still without power or want to report an outage you can reach us at 1-800-465-1212. For all other questions you can reach us at 1-800-322-3223. We thank you again for your support. National Grid Here with you. Here for you. © 2013 National Grid USA Service Company, Inc. This email was sent by: National Grid One MetroTech Center, Brooklyn, NY, 11201, U.S.A.

In the News: Tech Day Camp, drunk driving, Scott Brown

Chamber to hold Tech Day Camp on March 23

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

The United Regional Chamber of Commerce will hold an all-day Tech Day Camp on Saturday, March 23, at Tri-County RVT High School, 147 Pond St.

Man faces drunken driving charge after rollover crash in Hopkinton

by Brian Benson/Daily News staff

A Franklin man was charged with drunken driving after a Main Street crash Tuesday in which his car ended up on its roof, police said.

Scott Brown takes Fox News job

Fox News Channel is hiring former Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown as a contributor, and the Republican is making his debut in prime time on Wednesday.

Food Pantry Phone-a-thon Feb 16th

Food Pantry Phone-a-thon sign on the triangle before the storm

The snow storm, blizzard Nemo, buried the opportunity to make phone calls last weekend. Hopefully, the weather will cooperate for this Saturday. 

Volunteers are still needed. You can contact Bob Hamilton via email at bob@franklinfoodpantry.org or call the Food Pantry 508-528-3115 and use option 5 to leave your name, phone number or email address.

Thanks to Dean College we will be using their phone bank and calls from us will show up as "Dean College" for those with caller ID.

If you would like to donate via the Food Pantry website, we are enabled to take your donation securely online.  http://www.franklinfoodpantry.org/

Early Ed. in the Governor's budget + Globe Op-Ed

MassBudget    Information.    Participation.  Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center    Democracy. Early Ed. & Care in the Governor's Budget Quality Early Education & Care can help prepare children for success in school and in life, and it provides parents the flexibility they need to seek and keep jobs. MassBudget's new brief, Early Education & Care in the Governor's FY 2014 Budget, analyzes the Governor's proposals for early education and child care. These include: A 22% increase in funding for access to child care, as part of an effort to clear the current wait list An expansion of education funding for pre-K students New programs to train teachers and improve quality Early Education & Care in the Governor's FY 2014 Budget is the first in a series of briefs that will explore, in greater detail, important issues in the Governor's proposal. Read EARLY EDUCATION & CARE IN THE GOVERNOR'S FY 2014 BUDGET MassBudget Op-Ed in the Globe In an Op-Ed in Today's Boston Globe, MassBudget President Noah Berger describes how the tax cuts of 1998-2002 have limited our ability to invest in our children, our communities, and the future of our economy. "Tax policy debates are about how we pay for the things we do together for our communities, our families, and our economy. Working together through government allows us to accomplish things that are vital to us as a Commonwealth and that we can't do alone. This includes the roads, subways, and buses that help us get around and allow our economy to function; the schools that educate our children and strengthen our future workforce; the police and fire protection that keep our neighborhoods safe; the environmental safeguards that maintain our clean air and water; and the safety net that protects us when we fall on hard times. About 15 years ago, at the height of the dot-com bubble, our state made tax policy choices that have shaped state policy ever since. At the time, our economy was so strong that it seemed we could cut taxes dramatically with no consequences. The state enacted a series of cuts to the income tax that are now costing us close to $3 billion a year. We cut the tax rate on most income from 5.95 percent to 5.3 percent, costing over $1.5 billion. We cut the tax rate on dividends and interest from 12 percent to 5.3 percent, costing about $850 million. We increased the personal deduction to $4,400, costing $550 million." Read NOAH BERGER'S OP-ED IN TODAY'S BOSTON GLOBE Mass. Business Taxes MassBudget has updated our factsheet on statewide business taxes, How do Massachusetts Business Taxes Compare to Other States. When business are deciding where to locate or expand, they look at a range of factors: infrastructure, quality of the local workforce, available markets, and sometimes tax levels. Looking just at taxes, one prominent study--produced regularly by the Council on State Taxation (COST)--finds that overall state and local business taxes in Massachusetts are well below average. Read HOW DO MASSACHUSETTS BUSINESS TAXES COMPARE TO OTHER STATES 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 15 COURT SQUARE, SUITE 700 BOSTON, MA 02108

This email was sent to shersteve@gmail.com by nberger@massbudget.org |   Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy. Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center | 15 Court Square | Suite 700 | Boston | MA | 02108

Tax Tip of the Week

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Tax Tip of the Week

via Commonwealth Conversations: Revenue by Ann Dufresne-DOR Communications Director on 2/12/13

Here's a deduction you don't want to miss when filing your MA tax return--the rental deduction. You may be entitled to a tax deduction equal to one half of the rent you paid during calendar year 2012 up to $3,000 for your principal residence in MA. Rent includes the amount you paid for heat, hot water, gas, electricity, furniture or parking, if the landlord makes no separate charge for these items. In tax year 2011an estimated 818,726 taxpayers claimed the rental deduction reducing paying filers' taxes by $117.8 million.Go to the TheFilingZone for anything and everything you ever wanted to know about filing your state returns.

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Franklin Library: Fun Club - Valentine Bingo

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Fun Club - Valentine Bingo

via Franklin Public Library by Franklin Public Library on 2/12/13

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In the News: ID bylaw, Recreation Dept

AG says voter I.D. bylaw can't apply to Bellingham town elections

by Matt Tota/Daily News staff

Attorney General Martha Coakley’s office ruled on Tuesday that part of the voter I.D. bylaw passed at the October special Town Meeting is unconstitutional.

Franklin Recreation briefs

by GateHouse Media, Inc.

News from the Franklin Recreation Department.

Where are all the kids?

Sunday afternoon. Dolores and I walked to downtown and back. We saw a couple of snowmen. We saw a few kids digging some tunnels in the snow. We did see evidence of some snow forts and a snow ball fight that had happened.



And when we walked by Fletcher Field, the snow was unbroken. Glistening in the snow light.

6,000 kids in the school system. Gorgeous Sunday afternoon. Plenty of snow...

Where are all the kids?


More photos from the walk around Franklin Saturday and Sunday can be found here
http://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_sherlock/sets/72157632725898629/with/8463737646/

TED: Kids need structure (video)

"Always be looking for that which you do well and that which you love doing, and when you find those two things together — man, you got it.” (Colin Powell)

"So, I tell young people everywhere, it ain't where you start in life, it's what you do with life that determines where you end up in life, and you are blessed to be living in a country that, no matter where you start, you have opportunities so long as you believe in yourself, you believe in the society and the country, and you believe that you can self-improve and educate yourself as you go along. And that's the key to success." Colin Powell

Franklin Library: Kindle eReader Instruction

Sent to you by Steve Sherlock via Google Reader:

Kindle eReader Instruction

via Franklin Public Library by Franklin Public Library on 2/11/13

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After Nemo (photo essay)

Walking around Franklin on Saturday afternoon and then again on Sunday provided some good photo opportunities.

Parmenter School

Parmenter School is ready to open two hours late today

Franklin Historical Museum

The Museum, in the snow, with the setting sun.... looking good!

Rockland Trust

I am not sure that the brand managers would appreciate with Mother Nature did with their sign!

Downtown view at the triangle

Looking west at the triangle

The roads are narrow, be careful moving about

The storm hid the name of this street

When walking Sunday, the street sign was able to reveal its name. The snow had cleared. (see below)

King of the hill anyone?

The corner of King St and Summer St heading into Franklin was piled high

King St empty on a Saturday afternoon?

The travel ban was still in effect and folks were abiding by it. Only a few snow plows came by during our walk on Saturday.

Tree shadow

Sunday brought bright sunshine

snow sculpted by the wind

Many yards slope and how the wind played with the snow revealed some interesting combinations

snow overhang

One of the Franklin Housing Association buildings has this nice big snow curve hanging there

snow curve, side view

The connections are made one flake at a time

Winter St

The mystery sign is appropriately Winter St.

Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - Feb 13, 2013

A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
December 5, 2012

B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast channel 11 and Verizon channel 29. This meeting may be recorded by Franklin Matters.

C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS

D. CITIZEN COMMENTS

E. APPOINTMENTS

F. HEARINGS
Acceptance of Lady Slipper Lane, Pasture Way and Symmes Road as Public Ways – Public Hearing – 7:10 PM

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS

H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
Gus Brown, Building Commissioner

I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1. Resolution 13-07: Order of Acceptance of Lady Slipper Lane, Pasture Way, and Symmes Road as Public Ways

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

The documents as published for this session can be found here
http://franklinma.virtualtownhall.net/Pages/FranklinMA_CouncilAgendas/2013/021313.pdf