Town Council
Regular MeetingFranklin, MA · November 21, 2023
Minutes
1
FRANKLIN TOWN COUNCIL
MINUTES OF MEETING
November 21, 2023
A meeting of the Town Council was held on Tuesday, November 21, 2023, at the Municipal Building, 2nd
Floor, Council Chambers, 355 East Central Street, Franklin, MA. Councilors present: Brian Chandler,
Theodore Cormier-Leger, Robert Dellorco (via Zoom), Cobi Frongillo, Melanie Hamblen, Glenn Jones,
Thomas Mercer, Deborah Pellegri, Patrick Sheridan (via Zoom). Councilors absent: None. Administrative
personnel in attendance: Jamie Hellen, Town Administrator; Amy Frigulietti, Deputy Town
Administrator; Mark Cerel, Town Attorney.
CALL TO ORDER: ►Chair Mercer called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM. Chair Mercer called for a
moment of silence. All recited the Pledge of Allegiance.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: ►Chair Mercer reviewed the following as posted on the agenda. A Note to
Residents: All citizens are welcome to attend public board and committee meetings in person. Meetings
are live-streamed by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast Channel 11 and Verizon Channel 29. In an
effort to maximize citizen engagement opportunities, citizens will be able to continue to participate
remotely via phone or Zoom. He announced that this meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV; this
meeting may be recorded by others. ►Chair Mercer stated that Councilor Dellorco and Councilor
Sheridan will be participating remotely via Zoom.
CITIZEN COMMENTS: ►Mr. Steve Sherlock, 13 Magnolia Drive, citizen reporter for Franklin
Matters and Franklin Public Radio, welcomed back the Town Council members and congratulated the
voters. He reminded the Town Council members to speak into their microphones so residents can hear
them.
PUBLIC HEARINGS: 6:00 PM. ►Franklin Tax Classification Hearing (Legislation for Action
Items: 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e). ►Chair Mercer stated that he declared the public hearing open. ►Mr. Hellen
introduced Mr. Chris Feeley, Chair, Board of Assessors, and Mr. Kevin Doyle, Director of Assessing.
►Mr. Feeley and Mr. Doyle addressed the Town Council. Mr. Feeley introduced new member Ms. Cheryl
Hanly. He narrated the FY24 Tax Classification Hearing slideshow presentation which was provided in
the meeting packet. He reviewed the first slide indicating the following four items were to be discussed:
new growth, levy limit, median (middle) single-family valuation and tax, and classification options on
single versus split tax rate. He stated that there was about $58 million of new growth value which equates
to approximately $1.1 million in new tax. He reviewed the levy limit for FY22 and FY23 and how it was
calculated for FY24. He said the total levy limit in round numbers is $94.2. He reviewed the history of the
median value which means the middle value of a single-family home in Franklin with the single rate, and
the amount of tax which it would equate to for each year from 2005 to 2024. He said that for 2024, the
middle tax bill is going to go up $145. He discussed the split rate. He stated that if a split rate were use, it
would decrease the residential rate by about $1.40 and increase the commercial/industrial by about $6.00.
He said the new tax rate for this year will be $11.79. ►Chair Mercer noted that it was over $12 last year
and that we are going down in the tax rate. ►Mr. Feeley explained that the Town has the ability to raise a
certain levy, and it is based on all the properties’ fair market value. He said that this past year the fair
market value went up a lot; the levy limit can only go up by 2.5 percent. He explained that this year the
value of the property went up far more than the 2.5 percent; so, the rate goes down. ►Town Council
members asked questions and made comments. ►Councilor Chandler noted that pages two and three that
were provided answer all questions. He said he votes for the single rate. ►Councilor Jones asked for last
year’s valuation. ►Mr. Feeley said in round numbers it is up about 10 percent. ►Councilor Hamblen
thanked them for their hard work. She noted the three pages provided in the meeting packet
documentation regarding how the tax bill changes is helpful. She said people get confused about the tax
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rate and they think about industrial/commercial buildings that they could pay more. She said you cannot
separate that, and it would raise the taxes on the mom-and-pop shops also. ►Councilor Frongillo said that
he was looking for the commercial vacancy rate. ►Mr. Doyle said they develop that number annually;
vacancy and collection loss is typically the vacancy aspect and is stratified by groups, industrial, office,
small retail, larger retail. ►Mr. Feeley confirmed that is a number he can provide. ►Councilor Frongillo
said it seems that the residential vacancy rate is at an all-time low. He said his guess is that it is more
difficult to attract and obtain businesses than residents. He asked about exemptions and what is offered.
►Mr. Feeley said there are veterans, widow, and senior citizens exemptions. ►Councilor Frongillo said
he was looking for small business exemptions. ►Ms. Hanly said she was an assessor in another town that
has a split-tax rate, and she was formerly the assistant assessor in Bellingham and they had a split tax rate
and a small business exemption. She explained that if a Town does not have a split tax rate, it is not
appropriate to have a small business exemption. ►Councilor Frongillo asked about a residential
exemption. He said the idea that x-amount of everyone’s residential property would be exempted and then
it would be shifted upward beyond the first $10,000. ►Mr. Feeley explained that it is the first $100,000
of residential property that is owner occupied. He said when that is done, the rate is going to go up within
that class. ►Ms. Hanly said that most of the cities that do that are larger cities like Boston and Cambridge
that have many non-owner-occupied properties or are resort communities. ►Councilor Cormier-Leger
thanked them for their work on this. He said they have seen commercial deplete since Covid. He would
not be in favor of placing additional burden on them as he would want them to stay in Franklin. He
confirmed that everyone would see a new assessed value on their bills this year even though the rate is
going down. ►Mr. Feeley reiterated that the average would go up approximately $145 based on the
middle. He noted that it is $11.79 based on $1,000 value. ►Councilor Pellegri said that people do not
understand this, but she thinks that Mr. Feeley explained it well. ►Mr. Feeley said that all the work that is
done is from Mr. Doyle and the people in his department; the credit is due there. ►Chair Mercer thanked
the presenters for their presentation. He noted that there is a deadline to set the tax rate which is why they
had this special meeting tonight. ►Chair Mercer declared the public hearing closed.
LEGISLATION FOR ACTION:
Note: Two-Thirds Vote requires six votes; Majority Vote requires majority of members present and
voting.
a. Resolution 23-66: Tax Classification Residential Factor (Motion to Approve Resolution 23-66 -
Majority Vote). ►Councilor Jones read the resolution. ►MOTION to Approve Resolution 23-66:
Tax Classification Residential Factor that the Residential Factor will be set at 1.000000 by Hamblen.
SECOND by Cormier-Leger. Discussion: ►Mr. Feeley explained that to set at 1.0 is that it is not a
split rate. ►ROLL CALL VOTE: Chandler-YES; Cormier-Leger-YES; Dellorco-YES;
Frongillo-YES; Hamblen-YES; Jones-YES; Mercer-YES; Pellegri-YES. ►VOTE: Yes-8, No-0,
Absent-1. (Councilor Sheridan’s Zoom connection had failed).
b. Resolution 23-67: Tax Classification Open Space Exemption (Motion to Approve Resolution 23-67
- Majority Vote). ►Councilor Jones read the resolution. ►MOTION to Approve Resolution 23-67:
Tax Classification Open Space Exemption that there Not Be an exemption for open space by
Hamblen. SECOND by Cormier-Leger. No discussion. ►ROLL CALL VOTE: Chandler-YES;
Cormier-Leger-YES; Dellorco-YES; Frongillo-YES; Hamblen-YES; Jones-YES; Mercer-YES;
Pellegri-YES. ►VOTE: Yes-8, No-0, Absent-1. (Councilor Sheridan’s Zoom connection had
failed).
c. Resolution 23-68: Tax Classification Small Business Exemption (Motion to Approve Resolution
23-68 - Majority Vote). ►Councilor Jones read the resolution. ►MOTION to Approve Resolution
23-68: Tax Classification Small Business Exemption that there Not Be an exemption for small
businesses by Hamblen. SECOND by Cormier-Leger. No discussion. ►ROLL CALL VOTE:
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Chandler-YES; Cormier-Leger-YES; Dellorco-YES; Frongillo-YES; Hamblen-YES;
Jones-YES; Mercer-YES; Pellegri-YES. ►VOTE: Yes-8, No-0, Absent-1. (Councilor Sheridan’s
Zoom connection had failed).
d. Resolution 23-69: Tax Classification Residential Property Exemption (Motion to Approve
Resolution 23-69 - Majority Vote). ►Councilor Jones read the resolution. ►MOTION to Approve
Resolution 23-69: Tax Classification Residential Property Exemption that there Not Be an exemption
for residential properties by Hamblen. SECOND by Cormier-Leger. No discussion. ►ROLL
CALL VOTE: Chandler-YES; Cormier-Leger-YES; Dellorco-YES; Frongillo-YES;
Hamblen-YES; Jones-YES; Mercer-YES; Pellegri-YES. ►VOTE: Yes-8, No-0, Absent-1.
(Councilor Sheridan’s Zoom connection had failed).
e. Resolution 23-70: Tax Classification Senior Means Tested Exemption (Motion to Approve
Resolution 23-70 - Majority Vote). ►Councilor Jones read the resolution. ►MOTION to Approve
Resolution 23-70: Tax Classification Senior Means Tested Exemption that there Not Be an exemption
for senior means tested by Hamblen. SECOND by Cormier-Leger. Discussion: ►Mr. Feeley stated
that this is tied to the circuit breaker from the state so you would have to ask people for tax returns for
circuit breaker credit they received. He said this could end up hurting them because it reduces their
taxes and reduces their circuit breaker credit as well the following year. ►ROLL CALL VOTE:
Chandler-YES; Cormier-Leger-YES; Dellorco-YES; Frongillo-YES; Hamblen-YES;
Jones-YES; Mercer-YES; Pellegri-YES. ►VOTE: Yes-8, No-0, Absent-1. (Councilor Sheridan’s
Zoom connection had failed).
ADJOURN: ►MOTION to Adjourn by Hamblen. SECOND by Jones. No discussion. ►ROLL
CALL VOTE: Chandler-YES; Cormier-Leger-YES; Dellorco-YES; Frongillo-YES; Hamblen-YES;
Jones-YES; Mercer-YES; Pellegri-YES. ►VOTE: Yes-8, No-0, Absent-1. (Councilor Sheridan’s
Zoom connection had failed).
Meeting adjourned at 6:36 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
___________________
Judith Lizardi
Recording Secretary
Agenda
FRANKLIN TOWN COUNCIL
Agenda & Meeting Packet
November 21, 2023
Meeting will be held at the Municipal Building
2nd floor, Council Chambers
355 East Central Street
6:00 PM
A NOTE TO RESIDENTS: All citizens are welcome to attend public board and committee meetings in person. Meetings
are also live-streamed (and archived) by Franklin TV on the Franklin Town Hall TV YouTube channel. Meetings are also
shown live and on repeat on Comcast Channel 9 and Verizon Channel 29. In an effort to maximize citizen engagement
opportunities, citizens can participate remotely via phone OR Zoom.
Link to access meeting via Zoom for the November 21, 2023 Town Council meeting:
● Zoom Link HERE -- Then click “Open Zoom”.
● Or copy and paste this URL into your browser: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81983571907
● Call-In Phone Number: Call 1-929-205-6099 and enter Meeting ID # 819 8357 1907 --Then press #
● Please be sure to include your name in order to be identified and let into the meeting.
● You will automatically be muted upon “entering” the meeting. In order to speak, you will need to “raise your
hand” on the Zoom platform and request to be unmuted.
1. ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE CHAIR
a. This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast channel 9 and Verizon
Channel 29. This meeting may be recorded by others.
b. Chair to identify members participating remotely.
c. Town sponsored event announcements
2. CITIZEN COMMENTS
a. Citizens are welcome to express their views for up to three minutes on a matter that is not on
the agenda. The Council will not engage in a dialogue or comment on a matter raised during
Citizen Comments. The Town Council will give remarks appropriate consideration and may ask
the Town Administrator to review the matter.
3. PUBLIC HEARINGS - 6:00 PM
a. Franklin Tax Classification Hearing
i. Legislation for Action Items: 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, 4e
4. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
a. Resolution 23-66: Tax Classification Residential Factor
(Motion to Approve Resolution 23-66 - Majority Vote)
b. Resolution 23-67: Tax Classification Open Space Exemption
(Motion to Approve Resolution 23-67 - Majority Vote)
c. Resolution 23-68: Tax Classification Small Business Exemption
(Motion to Approve Resolution 23-68 - Majority Vote)
d. Resolution 23-69: Tax Classification Residential Property Exemption
(Motion to Approve Resolution 23-69 - Majority Vote)
e. Resolution 23-70: Tax Classification Senior Means Tested Exemption
(Motion to Approve Resolution 23-70 - Majority Vote)
5. ADJOURN
Note: Two-Thirds Vote: requires 6 votes
Majority Vote: requires majority of members present and voting
Memorandum
November 17, 2023
To: Town Council
From: Jamie Hellen, Town Administrator
Amy Frigulietti, Deputy Town Administrator
Re: Annual Tax Rate Hearing for FY24
The attached information is related to the annual Tax Rate Hearing. The Hearing is required by Massachusetts
law for the Town Council to set the FY24 Tax Rate (July 1, 2023 - June 30, 2024).
Attached is a packet of information from the Assessors office on the tax rate hearing. Please note the
proposed tax rate is dropping from $12.58 in FY23 to $11.79 in FY24. Additionally, the residential single family
property assessment has increased 9.5% from $593,800 to $650,400.
Please read the materials from the Board of Assessors carefully as there is a good amount of data that is of
interest to the community. They have also provided the materials we are required to file with the state, as well
as some historical information.
This memo and packet will serve as the backup for the five tax classification resolutions included under
Legislation for Action on the 11/21/23 Town Council Meeting Agenda (4a-4e, 23-66, 67, 68, 69, 70), all of
which need to be voted on annually by state law.
If you have any additional questions please feel free to ask.
LEGAL NOTICE
FRANKLIN TAX HEARING
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
PROPERTY TAX CLASSIFICATION
The Franklin Town Council will hold a Public Hearing in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building,
355 East Central Street, Franklin, MA on Tuesday, November 21, 2023 at 6:00 P.M. on the issue of
allocating the local property tax levy among the 5 property classes for the Fiscal Year 2024. The
hearing will provide an open forum for the discussion of local property tax policy. Interested taxpayers
may present oral or written information on their views.
Prior to the setting of the tax rate, the Town Council must adopt a Residential Factor following which
the Council selects the percentage of the levy to be borne by Commercial, Industrial and Personal
Property.
Citizens are welcome to attend public meetings in person. Additionally, citizens will be able to
continue to participate remotely via phone OR Zoom. Residents can visit the Town Website
(Franklinma.gov) on and after November 17, 2023 and click on the Town Calendar for up to date
information on how to access the meeting. If you have any questions, please call the Town
Administrator’s Office at (508) 520-4949.
Submitted by,
Julie McCann
Operations Assistant to the Town Administrator
Tax Rate
Presentation
November 21, 2023
Kevin Doyle - Director of Assessing
Chris Feeley - Chairman, Board of Assessors
FY 2024 Town of Franklin
Tax Classification Hearing Presentation
1. New Growth brief on its role and where it’s coming from
2. Levy Limit brief component discussion
3. Median (middle) Single Family Valuation and Tax
4. Classification Options brief perspective on single vs. split tax rate
TOWN OF FRANKLIN
RESOLUTION 23-66
Tax Classification - Residential Factor
WHEREAS, a public hearing on the Property Tax Classification was held and closed on
November 21, 2023.
NOW THEREFORE be it resolved that the Residential Factor will be set at [1.000000].
DATED: _________________, 2023
VOTED:
UNANIMOUS: _________
A True Record Attest: YES: ______ NO: ______
ABSTAIN: _____________
ABSENT: ______________
Nancy Danello, CMC
Town Clerk _____________________________
Glenn Jones, Clerk
Franklin Town Council
TOWN OF FRANKLIN
RESOLUTION 23-67
Tax Classification - Open Space Exemption
WHEREAS, a public hearing on the Property Tax Classification was held and closed on
November 21, 2023.
NOW THEREFORE be it resolved that there [ b e ] [ not be ] an exemption for open
space.
DATED: _________________, 2023
VOTED:
UNANIMOUS: _________
A True Record Attest: YES: ______ NO: ______
ABSTAIN: _____________
ABSENT: ______________
Nancy Danello, CMC
Town Clerk _____________________________
Glenn Jones, Clerk
Franklin Town Council
TOWN OF FRANKLIN
RESOLUTION 23-68
Tax Classification - Small Business Exemption
WHEREAS, a public hearing on the Property Tax Classification was held and closed on
November 21, 2023.
NOW THEREFORE be it resolved that there [ b e ] [ not be ] an exemption for small
businesses.
DATED: _________________, 2023
VOTED:
UNANIMOUS: _________
A True Record Attest: YES: ______ NO: ______
ABSTAIN: _____________
ABSENT: ______________
Nancy Danello, CMC
Town Clerk _____________________________
Glenn Jones, Clerk
Franklin Town Council
TOWN OF FRANKLIN
RESOLUTION 23-69
Tax Classification - Residential Property Exemption
WHEREAS, a public hearing on the Property Tax Classification was held and closed on
November 21, 2023.
NOW THEREFORE be it resolved that there [ be ] [ not be ] an exemption for residential
properties.
DATED: _________________, 2023
VOTED:
UNANIMOUS: _________
A True Record Attest: YES: ______ NO: ______
ABSTAIN: _____________
ABSENT: ______________
Nancy Danello, CMC
Town Clerk _____________________________
Glenn Jones, Clerk
Franklin Town Council
TOWN OF FRANKLIN
RESOLUTION 23-70
Tax Classification - Senior Means Tested Exemption
WHEREAS, a public hearing on the Property Tax Classification was held and closed on
November 21, 2023.
NOW THEREFORE be it resolved that there [ be ] [ not be ] an exemption for senior
means tested.
DATED: _________________, 2023
VOTED:
UNANIMOUS: _________
A True Record Attest: YES: ______ NO: ______
ABSTAIN: _____________
ABSENT: ______________
Nancy Danello, CMC
Town Clerk _____________________________
Glenn Jones, Clerk
Franklin Town Council
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