The following is a listing of the General Laws and Special Acts accepted by the Town of Franklin:
Date Accepted
Statutory Reference
Subject
Ch. 182, Acts of 1883
Started process of buying Water Department
6-23-1903
Ch. 458, Acts of 1903
Additional water loan
5-1-1907
Ch. 345, Acts of 1907
Water loan and establishment of Board of Water and Sewer Commissioners
3-1-1909
Ch. 209, Acts of 1908
Protection of forest from fire
3-1-1909
Ch. 209, Acts of 1908
Protection of forest and sprout land from fire
3-4-1912
Ch. 367, Acts of 1911
Use of school hall for other than school purposes
7-2-1912
Ch. 613, Acts of 1912
Construction of sewer system
3-2-1914
Ch. 487, Acts of
Call firemen
3-2-1914
Ch. 807, Acts of 1913
Workmen's compensation
2-29-1916
Ch. 50
Revised laws on betterment
5-11-1920
Ch. 240, Acts of 1920
Permitting certain sports and games on Lord's day
3-18-1924
MGL c. 147, § 32-47
Boxing matches
3-18-1924
MGL c. 41, § 97
Police Department
3-18-1924
MGL c. 41, § 73
Survey Board
3-18-1924
MGL c. 143, § 4-12
Building Inspector
3-18-1924
MGL c. 40, § 25
Drawing up bylaws
3-5-1930
MGL c. 40, § 9A
Headquarters for Spanish War
10-13-1931
MGL c. 40, § 9
Quarters for veterans
3-6-1933
MGL c. 136, § 21-25
Sports on Lord's day
3-4-1937
MGL c. 31, § 48
Civil service
3-4-1937
MGL c. 31, § 49
Chief--Civil service
5-4-1938
Approving traffic regulations
3-12-1940
MGL c. 45, § 14
Recreation Commission
3-2-1941
Ch. 309, Acts of 1927; Ch. 403, Acts of 1936
Workmen's compensation
3-9-1943
Ch. 710, Acts of 1941
Registration of bicycles
2-13-1945
MGL c. 32, § 26-31H
Establishing contributory retirement system
3-21-1945
Ch. 332, Acts of 1943, Section 3
3-21-1945
Ch. 496, Acts of 1924, as amended by Ch. 332, Acts of 1943
9-11-1945
Ch. 723, Acts of 1945, Sections 1-8
Establishing Veterans' Center
10-30-1946
Ch. 207, Acts of 1946, Section 3
Operation of bowling alleys on Sunday
2- -1947
Ch. 71
Equal pay for men and women
3-27-1947
MGL c. 40, § 42A-42E
Collection of water bills
2-14-1950
Accepting civil service for officials and labor services
3-15-1951
MGL c. 149
Forty-hour workweek for Town employees
3-15-1951
Ch. 829, Acts of 1950
Increasing certain pensions
3-13-1952
Ch. 265, Acts of 1947
Closing Town offices on Saturday
6-5-1952
Ch. 613, Acts of 1952
Sewer extension; assessed 1/3 of cost
3-12-1953
Ch. 624, Acts of 1952
Increasing certain pension
3-12-1953
Ch. 781, Acts of 1951
Increasing certain pension
3-25-1953
Ch. 538, Acts of 1950
Temporary repairs of private ways
8-18-1953
Ch. 434, Acts of 1953
Rent control
2-9-1954
MGL c. 41, § 69C-69F
Public works
3-18-1954
Ch. 433, Acts of 1953
Rescinded as being no longer necessary
3-18-1954
MGL c. 40, § 6A
Municipal advertising
2-14-1956
MGL c. 32B
Group insurance; acceptance of § 11E terminated by Res. No. 06-32 adopted 5-24-2006
2-14-1956
Ch. 332, Acts of 1943, Section 120, as amended by Section 3
Slaughtering
2-12-1957
MGL c. 48, § 42, 43 and 44
Rescinded by Annual Town Meeting April 1973
3-24-1958
Ch. 667, Acts of 1954
Housing project for elderly under Franklin housing
2-10-1959
MGL c. 40, § 6C
Removal of snow and ice from unaccepted streets which are open to the public
3-22-1960
MGL c. 166, § 32
Inspector of Wire
3-21-1961
MGL c. 121, § 26QQ and 26K
Redevelopment Authority established
3-21-1961
MGL c. 40, § 8C
Conservation Commission
3-21-1961
Ch. 3, Acts of 1953
Annual rental or charges for sewer use
6-5-1962
MGL c. 40, § 8A
Industrial Development Commission
8-26-1963
MGL c. 54, § 103A
Absentee voting
8-26-1963
MGL c. 83, § 14 and 24
Sewer costs
3-23-1963
MGL c. 58, § 7A
Assessment system
8-5-1964
Ch. 56, Acts of 1964
Annual sewer rents or charges
10-24-1967
Ch. 588, Acts of 1966
Planning Council repealed
3-26-1968
Ch. 804, Acts of 1967
Authorizing Town to borrow outside debt limits for construction of surface water reservoir
3-26-1968
Ch. 772, Acts of 1967
Industrial Development Financing Authority
3-31-1970
MGL c. 41, § 108C
No elected Town official or employee to be a member of the Personnel Board
3-31-1970
MGL c. 40, § 8D
Establishment of Historical Commission
3-23-1971
MGL c. 40, § 8B
Council on Aging
3-23-1971
Ch. 667, Acts of 1954; as amended by Ch. 121, Section 26VV
Housing for the elderly
3-21-1972
MGL c. 40, § 6K
Uniforms for Public Health Nurse employed by Board of Health
3-21-1972
MGL c. 90, § 18A
Pedestrian regulations
3-21-1972
MGL c. 90, § 20C and 20D
Fines for parking violations
4-23-1974
MGL c. 41, § 55
Exempt office of Town Accountant from provisions of statute as to civil service
4-29-1975
Ch. 604, Acts of 1975
Exempting call firefighters from civil service
6-27-1979; 8-22-1979
MGL c. 40, § 13; MGL c. 40, § 13A; MGL c. 83, §§ 16A through 16F
Charge for use of sewers
3-26-1980
MGL c. 258, § 13
Indemnity of municipal officials
6-30-1980
Ch. 347, Acts of 1980
Easement over parcel of land in the Town of Franklin to Digital Equipment Co.
7-7-1980
Ch. 390, Acts of 1980
Exempting position of Town Engineer in Department of Public Works from civil service
7-8-1980
Ch. 402, Acts of 1980
Exempting position of Supervisor of Buildings and Grounds from civil service
8-20-1980
Ch. 416, Acts of 1980
Qualifications of Assessors
8-20-1980
Ch. 217, Acts of 1980
Contract invitation; authorizing increased amount from $2,000 to $4,000
1-7-1981
MGL c. 71, § 71E
Appropriations for and expenditure of receipts from adult education and continuing education programs
4-27-1981
Ch. 95, Acts of 1981
Easement to Digital Equipment Co.
7-9-1981
Ch. 315, Acts of 1981
Exempting position of Water Pumping Station Operator from civil service
9-16-1981
MGL c. 90, 20A 1/2
Parking Clerk and fines
12-7-1981
Ch. 606, Acts of 1981
Code of dress
2-3-1982
Ch. 606, Acts of 1981
Code of dress
4-8-1982
Ch. 12, Acts of 1982
Repair of Ray Memorial Library
7-9-1982
Ch. 289, Acts of 1982
Exempting certain positions from civil service: Council on Aging and Recreation Department
7-21-1982
Ch. 293, Acts of 1982
Exempting all positions at the library from civil service
12-20-1982
Ch. 504, Acts of 1982
Exempting certain positions from civil service
2-16-1983
Ch. 809, Acts of 1981
Wire Inspector
6-8-1983
Ch. 597, Acts of 1982
Prisoners of war exemption
6-8-1983
Ch. 129, Acts of 1983
Arthur Pichierri to take civil service exam for Police Department notwithstanding the maximum age requirements
9-7-1983
MGL c. 138, § 17A
Liquor licenses (100 seats) (Res. 83-47A)
9-22-1983
Ch. 597, Acts of 1983, § 1, 2 and 3
Compensation of victims of violent crimes
11-11-1983
Ch. 483, Acts of 1983
George Cody as permanent call fire fighter
11-20-1984
MGL c. 32B, § 16
Insurance
9-9-1985
Ch. 252, Acts of 1985
Permitting Town Council member in a municipality to be employed by the municipality
2-8-1984
MGL c. 138, § 33B
To permit restaurants to open at 11:00 a.m. on Sundays
10-1-1985
MGL c. 40, § 21
Allowing designated parking areas for disabled and handicapped persons in public and private off-street parking areas
11-19-1986
Ch. 550, Acts of 1986
Election of Planning Board regarding overlapping terms
6-10-1987
MGL c. 148, § 26G
Sprinkler systems in smaller buildings
11-18-1987
MGL c. 40, § 21D
Noncriminal disposition of violations of bylaws or rules
12-2-1987
MGL c. 140, § 147A
Control, keeping and licensing of dogs
6-23-1988
MGL c. 32B, § 9F, as amended by Ch. 705, Acts of 1986
Group term life insurance
11-21-1988
Ch. 321 Acts of 1988
Appropriation for payment to Bell's Roofing Co., Inc.
9-27-1989
Ch. 377, Acts of 1989
Exempting certain clerical positions from the provisions of the Civil Service Law
12-6-1989
MGL c. 148, § 26H
Sprinkler systems in boardinghouses
1-2-1990
Ch. 705, Acts of 1989
Town Charter revisions
2-12-1990
Ch. 1, Acts of 1990
Amends Ch. 705, Acts of 1989, Town Charter revisions
2-21-1990
MGL c. 148, § 26L
Sprinkler systems in new construction of not less than 4 dwelling units
7-3-1990
Ch. 94, Acts of 1990
Exempting School Department Director of Administrative Services from Civil Service Law
8-22-1990
MGL c. 40, §§ 42G, 42H and 42I
Assessments for water system improvements
2-6-1991
Ch. 291, Acts of 1991
Enhanced 911 service
1-8-1992
Ch. 464, Acts of 1991
Land sale/exchange: J. Vendetti
3-4-1992
Ch. 494, Acts of 1991
Membership in deferred compensation plan
4-1-1992
MGL c. 59, § 5, clause 41C
Property tax exemption
6-3-1992
MGL c. 111, § 26G
Septic system installers
6-3-1992
MGL c. 32, § 85H
Disability retirement of reserve and call policemen and fire fighters
5-5-1993
MGL c. 32, § 22D
Adoption of a retirement funding schedule
7-7-1993
MGL c. 40, § 22F
Option to exceed state-imposed maximum fee levels for certain services
9-8-1993
MGL c. 59, § 57C
Quarterly tax payments
11-18-1993
MGL c. 148, § 26I
Sprinkler systems in dwellings with four or more units
3-16-1994
MGL c. 40, § 57
Option to revoke, suspend or deny a local license or permit to persons conducting activities
4-20-1994
Ch. 481, Acts of 1993
Permits to sell liqueurs or cordials
6-1-1994
MGL c. 32B, § 18
Medicare extension health plan
2-15-1995
MGL c. 148, § 26E
Installation of smoke detectors in residential buildings or structures
11-15-1995
Ch. 249, Acts of 1995
Conveyance of land; Rondeau/Nichols Estates
12-21-1995
MGL c. 44, § 64
Unpaid bills
2-7-1996
MGL c. 40, § 8G
Police mutual aid
2-28-1996
MGL c. 59, § 2A(a), third sentence
Assessment date
5-15-1996
Ch. 71, Acts of 1996
Authorizing certain public employees creditable retirement service time for active service in the armed forces
9-4-1996
MGL c. 59, § 5, clause 17D
Real estate exemption
9-4-1996
MGL c. 59, § 5, clause 41A
Real estate tax deferral
9-18-1996
Ch. 181, Acts of 1995
Real estate exemption
10-16-1996
Ch. 288, Acts of 1996 [MGL c. 32B, § 15(a)]
Group insurance coverage
1-21-1998
MGL c. 31
School nurses hired after 9-1-1997 to be exempt from Civil Service law
6-17-1998
MGL c. 41, § 108L
Quinn Bill
3-24-1999
MGL c. 64G, § 3A
Local excise tax on motels, hotels, etc.
1-19-2000
MGL c. 176
Establishment of position of Deputy Chief of Police
10-4-2000
MGL c. 44, § 65
Advance vacation pay by employees
10-4-2000
MGL c. 41, § 41B
Direct deposit by employees
10-23-2001
Ch. 117, Acts of 2001
Voting precincts to be used as of 12-31-2001
6-4-2002
Ch. 129, Acts of 2002
Open Space Real Property Acquisition Fund
10-16-2002
Ch. 116, Acts of 2002
Early retirement
5-21-2003
MGL c. 32B, § 9E
Payment of insurance premiums for retired employees in an amount in excess of 50% of the monthly premium
9-15-2004
Ch. 137, Acts of 2003
Payment by the Town the difference in salary between what an employee would make working for the Town and pay they receive while serving in the armed forces
4-6-2005
Ch. 44, § 53F 1/2
Sewer enterprise fund
4-6-2005
Ch. 44, § 53F 1/2
Water enterprise fund
4-27-2005
Ch. 491, Acts of 2004
Municipal Affordable Housing Trust Fund
Approved by General Court 4-24-2008
Ch. 96, Acts of 2008
Exempting all positions in the Department of Public Works from the Civil Service Law
6-4-2008
MGL c. 71, § 37M
Consolidation of School Committee and administrative functions, including maintenance, with municipality
11-19-2008
MGL c. 43D
Expedited permitting
6-10-2009
MGL c. 39, § 23D
Member of board missing a single hearing permitted to participate; applicable to all adjudicatory hearings of Town Council and every other Town board, commission and committee
7-15-2009
Ch. 27, Acts of 2009
Increase in local excise tax on motel, hotels, etc. (See entry for 3-24-1999.)
7-15-2009
MGL c. 64L, § 2
Local excise tax on restaurant meals
8-5-2009
MGL c. 59, § 5, Clause 17E
Annual increase in asset limit for exemptions granted to senior citizens, surviving spouses and surviving minors by the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for the previous year
8-5-2009
MGL c. 59, § 5, Clause 41D
Annual increase in the income and asset limits for exemptions granted to senior citizens by the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for the previous year
3-3-2010
MGL c. 59, § 5, Clause 37A
Property tax exemption for the blind
3-17-2010
Ch. 479 of the Acts of 2008
Establishment of other post-employment benefits liability trust funds
7-7-2010
Section 114 of Ch. 159 of the Acts of 2000
Exemption from taxation of personal property accounts with a fair cash value of less than $1,000
11-17-2010
Amendment to MGL c. 138, § 33B
Addition of additional hour for the sale of alcohol for all Section 12 licensees
7-13-2011
Section 65 of Ch. 188 of the Municipal Relief Act of 2010
Alternative procedure for disposing of abandoned funds
10-3-2012
MGL c. 40, § 42J
Deferral of water charges of eligible property owners aged 65 or older
10-3-2012
MGL c. 80, § 13B
Real estate tax deferral and recovery agreement with eligible property owners aged 65 or older
10-3-2012
MGL c. 80, § 16G
Deferral of sewer charges of eligible property owners aged 65 or older
10-3-2012
MGL c. 59, § 5N
Reduction of property tax obligation of veterans in exchange for volunteer services
11-8-2011
Ch. 163 of the Acts of 2011
Simplified procedure for municipal acceptance of subdivision roads
7-8-2012
MGL c. 31
Exemption of all positions in the Police Department from the Civil Service Law
Approved 7-22-2013
Ch. 39 of the Acts of 2013
Regional Public Safety Communications and Dispatch Center
9-11-2013
MGL c. 60A, § 1, Paragraph 8
Exemption from excise tax of the motor vehicle of a qualifying active and full-time military member
9-11-2013
MGL c. 60A, § 9
Deferral of excise tax for a member of the Massachusetts National Guard or the military reserve or his/her dependent while the military person is on active service outside the commonwealth and for up to 180 days after completion of that service
12-21-2016
MGL c. 59, § 5, c. 41C
Increase in property tax exemption for fiscal year beginning July 1, 2016
12-21-2016
MGL c. 64N, § 3
Adoption of local sales tax on sale or transfer of marijuana or marijuana products by a marijuana retailer
5-10-2017
MGL c. 44, § 53D
Revolving fund for self-supporting recreational and park services
Approved 12-13-2017
Ch. 148 of the Acts of 2017
An Act authorizing the City to establish a local agricultural commission
1-24-2018
MGL c. 64N, § 3
Local tax on marijuana retail sales
6-6-2018
M.G.L. c. 44, § 53F3/4
Establishment of a special revenue fund known as the PEG Access and Cable Related Fund, to reserve cable franchise fees and other cable-related revenues for appropriation to support PEG access services and oversight and renewal of the cable franchise agreement
8-9-2018
Chapter 193 of the Acts of 2018
Authorization of the Commissioner of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance to convey certain land to the city known as the Town of Franklin
9-5-2018
M.G.L. c. 59, § 5K
Allows senior citizens of the Town of Franklin to volunteer their services to the Town in exchange for a reduction in their property tax bills for their domiciles
5-6-2020
M.G.L. c. 60 § 15B
Establishment of a Tax Title Collection Revolving Fund for Treasurer-Collector
11-3-2020
M.G.L. c 44B §§ 3 to 7
Approving a surcharge on real property for the purposes permitted by the Massachusetts Community Preservation Act, including the acquisition, creation and preservation of open space, the acquisition, preservation, rehabilitation, and restoration of historic resources, the acquisition, creation, preservation and rehabilitation and restoration of land for recreational use, the acquisition, creation, preservation and support of community housing and the rehabilitation and restoration of such open space and community housing that is acquired or created as provided under said Act
10-20-2021
M.G.L. c. 59, § 5C 1/2
Additional real estate exemption for taxpayers who are granted personal exemptions on their domiciles under M.G.L. c. 59, § 5, including certain blind persons, veterans, surviving spouses and seniors, and, pursuant to said acceptance, provides an additional exemption of 100% of the personal exemption, to be effective for exemptions granted for any fiscal year beginning on or after July 1, 2021
The following is a listing of the General Laws and Special Acts rejected by the Town of Franklin:
Date Rejected
Statutory Reference
Subject
11-19-2003
MGL c. 59, § 2D
Imposition of supplemental property tax assessments on certain improvements to real estate constructed after January 1 once an occupancy permit is issued, for fiscal years that begin on or after July 1, 2003