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Fitchburg Public Library presents Demystifying City Government
Have you ever wondered about your City’s government, and how it works? Please join City Councilors Amy Green and Anthony Zarrella on July 10, 2019 at 6:30 PM in the Garden Room as they share what a day-in-the-life is like as an Elected Official in Fitchburg. Following brief presentations from each, a question and answer session will be held. We hope attendees will leave this panel discussion with a better understanding of how Fitchburg’s government works behind the scenes..For information about this or other Library programs call 978-829-1780 or visit our website: www.FitchburgPublicLibrary.org.
Leominster Credit Union Donates Books to Local Organizations
During the month of April LCU members and employees collected donations of 1,161 new and used children’s books. The books were distributed to Leominster Community Coalition, MOC (Child Care and Head Start Center), Sunrise Assisted Living, Fitchburg Public Schools and the Boys and Girls Club of Fitchburg and Leominster.
North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce Selected for Education and Workforce Fellowship Program
Christopher McDermott selected for prestigious national program which connects chambers with opportunities to engage on critical education and workforce issues
The North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce is one of 35 state and local chambers chosen to take part in a national program aimed at addressing critical education and workforce issues. Sponsored by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, the Business Leads Fellowship Program trains and equips participants with resources, national expertise and a network of peers to build their capacity to address the most pressing education and workforce challenges.
“Businesses in North Central Massachusetts are struggling with the same challenges their peers are throughout the country.” says Christopher McDermott, Public Affairs Manager of the North Central Massachusetts Chamber, who is participating in the third cohort of the program on behalf of North Central Massachusetts. “Recruiting, training and retaining qualified and skilled workers has grown increasingly difficult in recent years. This is a great opportunity for the Chamber to actively contribute to the national conversation while learning best practices from our counterparts in other states that can help us make an impact locally.”
“We created the Business Leads Fellowship Program in response to the needs of our state and local chamber partners,” says Cheryl Oldham, Senior Vice President of the Center for Education and Workforce. “They, better than anyone, see the critical link between education and economic development, and we are glad to be able to support them as they take on this critical leadership role in their community.”
The 35 chamber professionals included in the third cohort of Business Leads Fellowship were chosen through a competitive selection process. The four-month fellowship, which concludes in September, 2019, will cover the entire talent pipeline, including early childhood education, K-12, higher education and workforce development.
The objectives of the program align with the North Central Massachusetts Chamber’s efforts around improving the workforce, which are most recently exemplified by the publication of its recent report Build North Central: Improving the Industrial Heart of Massachusetts.
Upon completion, Business Leads Fellows will join the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s dedicated network of 200 chambers of commerce and statewide associations from around the nation who regularly engage on education and workforce initiatives.
2nd Annual North Central Massachusetts Real Estate Summit
The 2nd Annual North Central Massachusetts Real Estate Summit is scheduled for Tuesday, May 21, 2019 from 7:30 to 9:30 a.m. at Great Wolf Lodge, 150 Great Wolf Way, Fitchburg, MA. The Real Estate Summit is a collaboration between the North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce and the North Central Massachusetts Association of Realtors. The program aims to provide a in-depth look at the real estate market in North Central Massachusetts. Principal sponsor for the breakfast is Total Mortgage. Escrow sponsors include the Law Office of David R. Rocheford and Fidelity Bank. Special thanks to The Foster Company for providing a supporting sponsorship.
This year’s program features guest speakers Allan Foster, President of The Foster Company, who will provide an overview and insight into the region’s commercial and industrial market; Gary Bourque, President of Central Mass Appraisals who will provide insight into the residential real estate market; and Kurt Thompson, President-Elect of the Massachusetts Association of Realtors, who will review legislative issues that impact the real estate industry.
Allan Foster is President of the The Foster Company, which specializes in real estate appraisal and consulting. He builds on a foundation of being raised as the third generation in a real estate and insurance business. He joined the company full time in 1980 and brings a full perspective of property ownership, permitting, development, finance, appraisal, brokerage, management, insurance, and entrepreneurial skills. Communication skills have been honed through years of marketing, negotiating, management, and public speaking. .
Gary Bourque is a Certified Residential Real Estate Appraiser and President of Central Mass Appraisals, Inc., a real estate appraisal company specializing in residential valuation since 1986. He is also President of Bourque Realty, Inc., a real estate sales firm located in Leominster 30 years and a real estate instructor in multiple states. Gary currently serves as the Chair of the Professional Standards Committee of the North Central Massachusetts Association of Realtors having served as Treasurer and a member the Finance and Education Committees over the years. Gary has been a certified instructor for over 20 years teaching real estate and real estate appraisal qualifying and continuing education classes throughout New England for multiple State Realtor Associations, Boards and private educational companies.
As president-elect of the Massachusetts Association of Realtors Kurt Thompson will participate at all levels of the association’s decision-making process, represent the association at meetings and business functions, and serve as a spokesperson for the association on real estate industry-related matters. Mr. Thompson will continue to serve as a member of the MAR executive committee and board of directors as a result of this election. Prior to his election, Mr. Thompson served as the 2018 MAR treasurer and the 2017 MAR professional development vice president, and other MAR positions over the years. On the local
level, Mr. Thompson was the 2011 President of the North Central Massachusetts Association of Realtors.
The Second Annual Real Estate Summit is a great opportunity to connect with real estate professionals and gain insight into the current and future real estate market in North Central Massachusetts. This event is of interest to anyone involved in real estate, including developers, residential and commercial realtors, lenders, property owners and professional service providers.
The cost is just $25 for members/$40 non-members and includes breakfast. Pre-registration is required. For more information or to register, please contact Kathleen Deal at 978.353.7600 ext. 235, or register here.
Canadian Sales Mission
Last month, Marketing & Communications Manager, David Ginisi, participated in a Sales Mission representing our tourism affiliate Visit North Central Massachusetts. The Media Mission took place in Toronto and Montreal and was sponsored by the Massachusetts Office of Travel and Tourism and included meetings and presentations to tour operators, travel media and other trade contacts. Visit North Central Massachusetts participated to help generate positive coverage for our region and establish meaningful media relationships. Canada is a strong drive market for the region.
For more information on our tourism affiliate visit www.visitnorthcentral.com
Ginisi pictured with fellow Regional Tourism Councils of Massachusetts
Update on Recent Legislation Expanding Room Occupancy Excise
CHANGES TO ROOM OCCUPANCY EXCISE
The new law expands the room occupancy excise to include short-term rentals. Aside from taxing short-term rentals, there are some aspects of the law that impact traditional lodging establishments already charging room occupancy excise, like bed and breakfast establishments, hotels, lodging houses and motels.
The following lists are meant only to highlight a few of the changes for short-term rentals and traditional lodging accommodations. We recommend reviewing the frequently asked questions and the technical information release (TIR), on the Department of Revenue website, for detailed information on the new law.
Impact on short-term rentals
- Rent from short-term rentals will now be subject to room occupancy excise for any agreements made on January 1, 2019 or after for occupancies beginning July 1, 2019 or after.
- “Rent” includes, insurance, linen fees, cleaning fees and booking fees.
- A short-term rental is an occupied property where at least one room or unit is rented using advance reservations – this might include an apartment, house, cottage or condominium.
- Operators of short-term rentals must register with MassTaxConnect on or after July 1, 2019 when registration will be available.
- Operators who rent more than 14 days in a year must collect the excise.
- An exemption is made for single occupancies of more than 31 consecutive days.
- Intermediaries who collect rent on behalf of short-term rental operators are required to collect all excises and fees and remit to the Department of Revenue.
There are other important aspects of the room occupancy excise worth noting as described in the frequently asked questions and TIR.
Impact on traditional lodging accommodations
- There is an expansion of “occupancy” to include any and all furnishings, services, accommodations, like breakfast at a B&B, whether the occupant chooses to avail themselves of the services or not.
- There is an expansion of “rent” to include insurance, linen fees, cleaning fees and booking fees.
- Intermediaries who collect rent on behalf of the operator of the lodging establishment will be required to collect and remit tax to the Department of Revenue.
The effective date for those currently collecting room occupancy excises (and new establishments) to begin collecting the room occupancy excise, based on the new definitions of rent and occupancy, is July 1, 2019. This would include any applicable local excises. Any price quotes, or collection of rents for occupancies after July 1, 2019 should include the excise.
More Information
Stay tuned, whether you are in the short-term rental or traditional lodging accommodations industries, for more information about tax reporting under the new law. Registration for short-term rental operators or intermediaries will be available through MassTaxConnect as of July 1, 2019. We will also continue to update the guidance on our website with any changes that take place.
After reviewing the frequently asked questions and technical information release, please contact the Trustee Tax Contact Center at 617-887-6367 (choose #4 for both prompts) with any additional questions.
Paid Family & Medical Leave Act Updates
Here are updates to the Paid Family and Medical Leave Act:
Private Plan Exemption Process Now Available at: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/exemptions-from-paid-family-and-medical-leave-for-private-plans
The Department of Family and Medical Leave’s private plan exemption process is now available for businesses in the Commonwealth with Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) plans offering benefits that meet or exceed those provided by the Commonwealth’s PFML law.
The updated exemption web page includes:
- Information on required documentation
- Information on how to calculate the required surety bond
- Links to details from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue on how to file for an exemption from making family or medical leave contributions to the Department of Family and Medical Leave with MassTaxConnect
Applications for exemptions for private plans must be submitted to the Massachusetts Department of Revenue’s web-based application MassTaxConnect by June 30, 2019. Contributions to the program for those not receiving an exemption will begin on July 1, 2019.
Workforce Notifications, all languages now posted at: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/informing-your-workforce-about-paid-family-and-medical-leave
The Department of Family and Medical Leave has posted an additional six language options to the notice required to be provided by employers and covered business entities to their current workforce of PFML benefits, contribution rates, and other provisions as outlined in M.G.L. c. 175M sec. 4 on or before May 31, 2019.
The notice, which may be provided electronically, must include the opportunity for an employee or self-employed individual to acknowledge receipt or decline to acknowledge receipt of the information.
Please note! Federal Employer Identification Number
The identification number assigned by the Department of Family and Medical Leave will be the employer’s Federal Employer Identification Number (“FEIN”). Please use your FEIN as your Employer ID Number on the “Employer Notice to Employee” and the “Employer Notice to Self-Employed Individual” Forms.
