Board of Assessors: Agenda - Oct 3, 2019

Franklin Board Of Assessors 

meeting at 

Franklin Municipal Building, Room 106, 

355 East Central Street, Franklin, Massachusetts 

Thursday, October 3, 2019 at 9:00 AM

A. Approval Of Minutes: 
Regular & Executive Session Minutes of September 19, 2019

B. Administration, Old Business and New Business 
1. Report on FY 2020 tax file preparation, FY 2021 Chapterlands filings

C. Motor Vehicle Excise 
1. MV Abatement Denials
2. September 2019 MV List of Abatements for Comptroller

D. Personal Property 
1. Utility Valuation vs. Net Book Value

E. Boat Excise 

F. Real Estate 
1. Abatements and Appeals
2. Exemptions

G. Executive Session 

1.The Board may vote to go into Executive Session under Purpose 7 to discuss and vote on matters that are confidential in accordance with law, such as, but not limited to abatements and exemptions (MGL Ch. 59, Sec. 60), or property income & expense disclosures (MGL Ch. 59, Sec 52B). Will the Board return to Open Session?

This was shared from the Town of Franklin page
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/agendas/agenda_10-03-2019.pdf

Board of Assessors: Agenda - Oct 3, 2019

Millennials and fraud: What’s the story?

Millennials and fraud: What's the story? by Lisa Weintraub Schifferle, Attorney, FTC, Division of Consumer and Business Education Lots of people fall for scams. Is it any different for Millennials? That's what the FTC explores in its new Data Spotlight, Not what you think: Millennials and fraud. Read more https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2019/10/millennials-and-fraud-whats-story?utm_source=govdelivery  This is a free service provided by the Federal Trade Commission.

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MBTA Commuter Rail: Through Thursday - Franklin Line notice - Shuttle between Franklin/Dean and Forge Park

Weekdays, Monday - Thursday, September 16 - through October, from 8:00 AM - 3:30 PM, shuttle buses will replace Franklin Line service between Forge Park/495 and Franklin due to track maintenance. Passengers may experience delays due to shuttle bus connections.

This necessary tie job replacement project will improve service and reliability on the Commuter Rail. Additional weekdays may be added as work progresses on the Franklin Line. Please visit https://www.mbta.com/FRKwork for more details about bus shuttle schedules.

Please note the pickup/drop off locations for shuttle buses:

Franklin: Please board in the main station parking lot near the shelter.
Forge Park/495: Please board at the end of the driveway to the parking lot.


Affected trips:

703 (8:04 am from South Station)
710 (9:22 am from Forge Park/495)
705 (9:40 am from South Station)
712 (10:55 am from Forge Park/495)
707 (11:00 am from South Station)
714 (12:20 pm from Forge Park/495)
709 (12:20 pm from South Station)
716 (1:35 pm from Forge Park/495)
711 (1:35 pm from South Station)
718 (2:57 pm from Forge Park/495)

For more information: https://www.mbta.com/FRKwork

Last Updated: Oct 01 2019 01:47 PM

crews at work on Tuesday at the Union St crossing

Franklin in Focus: Candidate Query - Oct 22

Franklin in Focus, a nonpartisan organization focused on bringing information about town issues and town government to the public, is sponsoring an evening with the candidates running for office in the upcoming November 5 town election. 

The Franklin in Focus Candidate Query will be held October 22, 2019, from 6 PM to 8:30 PM at the Franklin Senior Center. The public is invited but seating is limited, so please reserve. 

Due to time constraints, only candidates in competitive races will attend: Constable, School Committee, and Town Council. 

The program will be recorded and broadcast by FranklinTV.


RESERVE YOUR TICKET (to be added)
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/franklin-in-focus-candidate-query-tickets-74766800513


WHEN: Tuesday, Oct 22, 2019 - 6 to 8:30 PM

WHERE: Franklin Senior Center

​

Franklin in Focus: Candidate Query - Oct 22

Town Council Recap -Sep 18, 2019

Due to a work commitment for a 9 PM meeting, I did 'real time' reporting for the Town Council meeting of Wednesday, Sep 18, 2019. From the comfort of my home office, I reported on the meeting capturing notes and photos from the broadcast on my laptop. Fortunately, the meeting ended just before 9 and I was able to swivel my seat to my 'work from home desk' and dial into the conference call on schedule.

• Franklin Police Department had two new hires sworn in: John Godino and David Ricci. Nick Palmieri was recognized with a promotion to Detective. Daniel McGlynn was recognized for his 27 years of service on the force. 
• Franklin Fire Department EMS Lieutenant William Blanchard was sworn in.

John Godino and David Ricci being sworn in

Nick Palmieri congratulated by Capt Lynch on promotion

 

Daniel McGlynn presented with a plaque in recognition of his 27 years of service

William Blanchard being sworn in as a new Lieutenant

The often rescheduled public hearing for the Zoning Bylaw Amendment 19-837: Zoning Map Changes From General Residential V to Single Family Residential IV an Area on or Near West Central Street was closed at this meeting.It appeared that the Council simply wanted to close the public hearing without doing anything. A couple of people did speak on the record. Including the individual with the proposal currently involved in a law suit over his proposal for this location with the Planning Board. 

One of the draw backs of being remote for the meeting was that I could not talk with anyone to really find out what was going on. So there will likely be more to come on this item.

A set of presentations on the Historical Museum (document shared) and on the DPW 'tree warden' as well as the new textile recycling program beginning in November were shared. The presentation documents are included in the links below. 

I'll create an audio file of the tree warden presentation to share soon. In the meantime, the Franklin TV recording is available for replay.
https://view.earthchannel.com/PlayerController.aspx?&PGD=franknma&eID=683


The Town of Franklin "Actions Taken" document
https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/news/town_council_actions_taken_for_september_18_2019.pdf

Additional details can be found in my notes captured during the 'real time reporting' session for this meeting

• Real-time Reporting: Legislation for action through Closing

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/09/live-reporting-legislation-for-action.html

• Real-time Reporting: DPW Presentation

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/09/live-reporting-dpw-presentation.html

• Real-time reporting: Historical Museum presentation .

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/09/live-reporting-historical-museum.html

• Real-time Reporting: Public Hearing - Zoning Bylaw...

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/09/live-reporting-public-hearing-zoning.html

• Real-time Reporting: Town Council - Sep 18, 2019

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2019/09/live-reporting-town-council-sep-18-2019.html

"The Gift of Music": Don't Forget to Save the Date - Nov 10

Give the gift of music at our gala event coming up...

Mark your calendars and join us once more for an unforgettable evening! The Encore Music Education Foundation presents "The Gift of Music", a fundraising gala this Fall on Sunday, November 10th at the Milford DoubleTree Hotel from 5:00-10:00 PM. Tickets will be on sale soon so watch your email for the purchase link! Copyright © *2019* *Encore Music Academy and Recording Studios*, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Encore Music Academy and Recording Studios 3 Bent St Franklin, MA 02038

In the News: Paychecks get smaller; wind power growth threatened

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"Paychecks are about to get a little smaller in Massachusetts.

Employer and employee contributions to the state Department of Family and Medical Leave Employment Security Trust Fund begin coming out of paychecks on Tuesday. That’s the funding source for the new paid family and medical leave benefit signed into law last year."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190930/payroll-deduction-for-mass-paid-leave-starts-oct-1

"The winds are blowing fair for America’s wind power industry, making it one of the fastest-growing U.S. energy sources.

Land-based turbines are rising by the thousands across America, from the remote Texas plains to farm towns of Iowa. And the U.S. wind boom now is expanding offshore, with big corporations planning $70 billion in investment for the country’s first utility-scale offshore wind farms.

“We have been blessed to have it,” says Polly McMahon, a 13th-generation resident of Block Island, where a pioneering offshore wind farm replaced the island’s dirty and erratic diesel-fired power plant in 2016. “I hope other people are blessed too.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20190930/presidents-windmill-hatred-is-worry-for-booming-industry