"We're growing, and that's good news"

The Milford Daily News reports on a slight reduction in the income tax rate coming Jan 1, 2014.

The Massachusetts income tax will drop slightly in the new year — to 5.20 percent from the current 5.25 percent — because of stronger-than-anticipated growth in revenues, state officials said Wednesday. 

The tax rate will automatically drop on Jan. 1, Revenue Commissioner Amy Pitter said. 

In a letter sent Wednesday to Secretary of Administration and Finance Glen Shor, Pitter said revenue growth met a number of thresholds over the past several months required to trigger the automatic reduction. Tax collections in November were 10.6 percent higher than in the same month a year ago. And through the first five months of the fiscal year, total revenue has grown $766 million, or 9.7 percent.

This is estimated to be about $39 for "a married couple filing jointly who own a home, have two children under 12 and $100,000 in income".

Read more: http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/news/x1275648373/Massachusetts-income-tax-to-be-cut-a-bit-on-Jan-1#ixzz2mgthKTiW

Holiday Stroll and News from Jane's Frames

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5th Annual Holiday Stroll Thursday, December 5th  4pm-7pm (or perhaps we'll be singing a bit longer)  Dear Steve,          Join the festivities beginning with Tree Lighting and Carolers at Dean College at 4 p.m. Then head Downtown to Jane's Frames. Come by for some treats and get some unique ideas for your Holiday gift giving. Lucy Gallagher will be offering hand massages as she shares organic skin care products from Neals Yard Remedies from 4-6pm. Also from 4-6 the kiddos are invited to create their own Holiday ornament. At 6pm Jamie Barrett will be entertaining young and old with his talented singing and guitar playing.           We are collecting for the Franklin Food Pantry beginning on December 1st until December 12th. Please come view the community mural that was created at the Strawberry Festival and Harvest Festival this year. At an event in 2014, there will be an auction for the mural with proceeds going to the Franklin Food Pantry. Thank you,        Jane                           December 5st   4:00-7:00pm (ish) (I expect we'll be celebrating til 8pm)   Treats for young and old  Cookies, Hot Cider, a relaxing hand massage by Lucy G, Create your own Holiday Ornament, Enjoy Live Entertainment by Jamie Barrett  Drop off your Donation for the Franklin Food Pantry Check out the 2013 Red Sox World Series Panoramic print    Photo Restoration is our specialty!  There is still time to get your antique photos restored and framed for that unique Holiday present. We specialize in creating beautifully restored photos printed on high quality artpaper. They will look just like the originals once did! When you frame them using our archival framing methods they will last through many generations. Your "Name In the Frame"     Professional   Baseball  Football  Hockey College Sports, Family Name, Golf, Soccer, Sports pubs and many other choices $40. each plus starting at $20 for framing a 14 x 11

Forward email Jane's Frames | 11 East Central Street | Franklin | MA | 02038

Bubbles ‘n Bark! - Saturday, Dec 7th 1-4 PM

Pour Richard's Wine and Spirits

Pour Richard’s Announces:

Bubbles ‘n Bark!

Saturday, Dec 7th 1-4 PM

Pour Richard’s 14 Grove Street Franklin, MA

To benefit Forever Home Rescue New England

Forever Home Rescue

Forever Home Rescue has saved over 900 dogs, and placed them in loving homes. Do some holiday shopping, eat delicious hot dogs, and help real live dogs, too! 

Featuring many, many delicious wines, a craft cocktail demonstration by the cocktail wizard Corey Bunnewith AND a special guest appearance of the Snappy Dog ladies, Lisa and Teresa. These are not your average hotdogs! Check out what the Boston Globe says about Snappy Dogs, below: http://www.boston.com/2013/11/04/snappy/AgoE7iI7W9nrTejGEhgh4K/story.html

$10 Suggested Donation. Pour Richard’s will also donate 20% of our profits to Forever Home Rescue

Snappy-Dogs

Hockomock Boys Soccer Awards: Kalil, d'Entermont

Joe Kalil was named to the 1st Team and given an honorable mention as Player of the Year when Hockomock Sports.com released their 2013 Boys Soccer Awards. Jesse d'Entermont was named to the 2nd Team.

Read the full article here
http://www.hockomocksports.com/1/post/2013/12/hockomocksportscom-2013-boys-soccer-awards.html

WMRC 1490 - Station of the Year Award - 2013

“I was absolutely stunned. This is the equivalent of winning the Super Bowl or the World Series back to back, so I was in complete shock when they announced we had won the Station of the Year Award again. I can’t say enough about my staff, our listeners, and all the local partners we’ve developed over the years” said Tom McAuliffe, owner of WMRC-First Class Radio, as he accepted The 2013 Massachusetts Broadcasters Association’s Station of the Year Award. “And to think we also won the Best Use of Digital Media Award for all of our work on the WMRC Local Music Awards. This certainly proves that our Multi-Media efforts over the past few years are resonating with our listeners and community partners. It’s not just radio anymore.” McAuliffe added.

WMRC Station of the Year Award - 2013

"The Station of the Year Award is the one award that every station strives to win. It's the most cherished station award the Massachusetts Broadcasters Association presents”, explained Jordan Walton, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Broadcasters Association. “WMRC truly epitomizes what LOCAL radio, and service to the community is all about, and we're proud to salute them with this honor for the second straight year.”

“The Station of the Year” award, is presented annually by the Massachusetts Broadcasters Association to the most outstanding radio station in the Commonwealth, and is open to all of the more than 180 radio stations.

The “Station of the Year” award is given to the top station in Massachusetts that exemplifies overall excellence in all phases of operation. The judges, members of the Utah Broadcasters Association, cited WMRC had experienced extraordinary growth of audience, client base, and billing, but most importantly, WMRC was providing exceptional service to their listeners, community officials, and local organizations.

To put this award into perspective, the television “Station of the Year” for 2013 was WCVB, Channel 5 Boston, considered by many to be the finest TV station in the United States. You can see the prestige that this award grants WMRC-First Class Radio. This is actually the 5th Station of the Year Award for McAuliffe and WMRC as they won it on three separate occasions back in the 1990’s.

About WMRC
WMRC-First Class Radio 1490AM has been on the air since 1956, making it one of the oldest, continually locally owned and operated radio stations in Massachusetts. Tom McAuliffe II owns and operates the station with his wife Megan. While the station’s signal reaches much farther, WMRC focuses on a 14-town area serving 250,000 people surrounding Milford, MA. WMRC is a Dial Global affiliate and carries both NBC Radio News and complete coverage of the Boston Red Sox, and Boston College Football and Basketball.

In the News: Holiday Stroll

Franklin Downtown Holiday Stroll today

The Franklin Downtown Partnership will offer a treat to revelers this evening with its annual Holiday Stoll.

Live reporting: Town Council - Dec 4, 2013

Present: Padula, Mercer, Kelly, Vallee, Pfeffer, Jones, Bissanti, Williams,
Absent:  Feldman

A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
October 16, 2013
motion to accept, seconded, 8-0

B. ANNOUNCEMENTS
none

C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS
none

D. CITIZEN COMMENTS
skipped right by me so I get to say something later

E. APPOINTMENTS
none

F. HEARINGS
none

G. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
none

J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1. Resolution 13-82 : Adoption of Town Council Procedures Manual
motion to accept, second, passed 8-0

2. Resolution 13-83: 505 West Central Street – A Private Way Acceptance of Covenant with Owner
motion to accept, second, passed 8-0

Nutting - this is an agreement to not have a public way where Wendy's is located

3. Resolution 13-84: Confirmatory Order of Taking – Land at 37 Beaver Street
motion to accept, second, passed 8-0

Nutting - bought land, house will be torn down, eventually the parking lot will be expanded for the Senior Center

4. Bylaw Amendment 13-725: Amendment to Chapter 170, Vehicles and Traffic – 1st Reading
motion to move to second reading, second, passed 8-0

putting into place the bylaw to cover the two way traffic on Main St as part of the Downtown Project

5. Bylaw Amendment 13-724: Amendment to Chapter 82, Appendix A, List of Service Fee Rates- 2nd Reading

Nutting - this is follow up
Padula - didn't we decide 2 weeks?
Kelly - doesn't really matter 10 days of 2 weeks,
Nutting - calendar days from time of purchase

motion to amend to 14 days, seconded, passed 8-0

motion to accept, second, passed 8-0 via roll call

Citizens Comment
I mentioned The Christmas Carol performance on Dec 12
tickets $10 and available at the Food Pantry and online.
Held at the Franklin United Methodist Church, the performance benefits the Franklin Food Pantry


K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT 

Holiday Stroll on Dec 5th

Item on next agenda to address bylaw regarding the impervious coverage for the Cook's Farm property, and a referral to the Planning Board


L. OLD BUSINESS 
Bissanti - flag situation, spoke to Mark Ellis, Chair of the Elks
would be contact for the flags putting them up down, etc.
Butting - just come talk with me

Pfeffer - some discussion on the lighting poles regarding the flag holder
Nutting - there is the whole parking issue with downtown, my goal was to come back in Jan/Feb
I am leaning towards keeping the meters and replace them with newer meters that take credit cards
Let me layout all the options so you can make a decision

Nutting - liquor second offence coming up on the next agenda

minutes from the workshop coming 2 weeks at the latest


M. NEW BUSINESS 
Padula - preparations on bylaws for the boards and committees
Cerel - your a legislative body, they are mostly an administrative body, their biggest business is holding and conducting public hearing

Padula - can we get copies?
Cerel - largely your talking about the Planning Board, Zoning Board, Conservation Committee

Padula - if there is protocol in place, what I'd like to see is what we have in place
Cerel - Planning Board has special permit and sub-division coding

Nutting - they are separate entities, you can direct what they do
Some of them are not subject to litigation that some other Boards are, the committee chair will call us from time to time for advice. He will be doing it with the Conservation Commission and it is being scheduled.

Padula - I'll meet with them separately rather than taking more time here. I don't want to get into areas that I shouldn't or we shouldn't

Mercer - budget subcommittee had its first meeting, Jeff got us up to speed and we started the long range plan update; OPEB is the issue that we are facing and will face for some time

N. COUNCIL COMMENTS 
Bissnati - hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving
Jones - thanks to EMC for putting on a great event for economic development, lots of info to absorb; taking the info to the EDC meeting next week

Padula - thanks to the hard work for the preparation, they are great talents and good to work with

Nutting - our doors are always open

Tree lighting ceremony at Dean at 4:00 PM


P. ADJOURN 
motion to adjourn, passed 8-0