Audio for the April 10, 2024 Town Council meeting in 2 parts: P1 for opening & closing sections; P2 for the friendly 40b discussion (audio)

FM #1173 & 1174 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, numbers 1173 & 1174 in the series. 

This session shares the Town Council meeting of Wednesday, April 10, 2024 in 2 parts. All 9 councilors took part, 8 in Chambers and 1 was remote for all but the last few minutes (Frongillo).

Part 1 Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1173-franklin-ma-town-council-mtg-04-10-24-p1-of-2

This part covers the first hour of the meeting

• Citizen Comments

• Approval of Minutes - March 13, 2024

• Appointment to Design Review Commission - Priya Natarjan

• 2 ABCC license transactions

And then skips past the 40b section to include the last 30+ minutes of the meeting

• Legislation for Action

• Town Administrator’s Report

• Subcommittee reports

• Future Agenda Items

• Council Comment

• Enter Executive Session (not to return to open session)

Part 2 Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1174-franklin-ma-town-council-mtg-04-10-24-p2-of-2

This part includes the entire section around the proposed “friendly 40b” development of the Stobbarts Nursery (approx. 2.5 hours)

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The Franklin TV broadcast of the 4 hour session is available for replay on YouTube ->  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4WPC4cB_S4 

Agenda and supporting documents for this session -> 

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/april_10_2024_town_council_meeting_agenda.pdf 

My notes captured via Twitter can be found in one PDF file -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1labnvYVykW4HGk01mHIQDk7d725ikuLn/view?usp=drive_link 

Photo album with the slides as captured during the presentation on Wednesday

https://photos.app.goo.gl/WC1n843rA3AQwjTg7 

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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial. 

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/  or www.franklin.news 

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

------------------

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

Audio for the April 10, 2024 Town Council meeting in 2 parts: P1 for opening & closing sections; P2 for the friendly 40b discussion (audio)

Town Council approves 2 license transactions, listens to friendly 40b proposal & postpones vote to enable further work on proposal (video)

The Franklin Town Council met as scheduled on Wednesday, April 10, 2024. 8 members were present in Chambers, 1 participated remotely. The Council Chambers were over capacity with residents present for one or more of the topics for discussion on the agenda.

The Franklin TV broadcast of the 4 hour session is available for replay on YouTube ->  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4WPC4cB_S4

Agenda and supporting documents for this session -> 

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/april_10_2024_town_council_meeting_agenda.pdf

Quick recap:

• Approved license transaction for Table & Vine, mostly paperwork and ownership changes due to the family estate planning with no impact on the daily operations of the beer & wine license in operation at the Big Y
• Approved the all alcohol license transfer for Dacey's Market with restrictions to maintain current operation. 
• Long discussion on the proposed friendly 40b to be built in the land currently held by the Stobbart's Nursery. Multiple issues and questions were raised, many were not yet answered so in light of that the Council chose to have the administration and departments work with the developer and neighbors to work on the items in question before coming back to the Council
• As this is the second friendly 40b, and there are multiple issues raised, the process could be revised to better address some of the process issues (notification to abutters, clarification on what the Council vote really means, etc.)
• Resolution 24-17: Local Acceptance of GL Chapter 166 Section 32A was approved. Apparently this resolves a potential conflict where a part-time inspector is also prohibited from doing work in the Town. Whatever electrical work would be performed would still require inspection by another individual to avoid conflict of interest
• Another happy occasion for the Council to thank the individuals/businesses for their contribution to Resolution 24-18: Gift Acceptance - Veterans’ Services Department ($2,250), Senior Center ($1,500), Franklin Historical Museum (~$600)
• During the Town Administrator's report, Jamie revealed he was reinstating suspended Director Robert "Brutus" Cantoreggi effective Thursday, April 11. A web page would be published with all the information involved in reaching this decision

My notes captured via Twitter can be found in one PDF file -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1labnvYVykW4HGk01mHIQDk7d725ikuLn/view?usp=drive_link

Photo album with the slides as captured during the presentation on Wednesday

https://photos.app.goo.gl/WC1n843rA3AQwjTg7

listens to friendly 40b proposal & postpones vote to enable further work on proposal

Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda for meeting Wednesday, April 10, 2024

Franklin Town Council

Agenda & Meeting Packet

April 10, 2024 at 7:00 PM

Meeting will be held at the Municipal Building

2nd floor, Council Chambers 355 East Central Street 

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. Upcoming Town Sponsored Community Events

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. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

a. March 13, 2024   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/march_13_2024_tc_meeting_minutes.pdf

4. PROCLAMATIONS / RECOGNITIONS - None Scheduled

5. APPOINTMENTS

a. Design Review Commission - Priya Natarjan  

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/5a._design_review_commission_-_priya_natarjan.pdf

6. PUBLIC HEARINGS - 7:00 PM

a. License Modification - Change of Officers & Change of Stock Interest of a Section 15 Retail Package Store License: Table & Vine, Inc. Located at 348 East Central St., Franklin, MA 02038

i. License Transaction #7a.  

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/7a._1_license_transaction_-_table_vine_change_of_officers_stock_interest_-_google_docs.pdf

b. New Section 15 All Alcoholic Beverages Package Store License and Approval of Michael Gannon as the Manager - Shikshapatri Corporation d/b/a Dacey’s Market & Deli, Located at 353 Lincoln St., Franklin, MA 02038

i. License Transaction #7b.   

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/7b._1_license_transaction_-_new_section_15_all_alcohol_license_-_daceys_-_google_docs.pdf

7. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS

a. License Modification - Change of Officers & Change of Stock Interest of a Section 15 Retail Package Store License: Table & Vine, Inc. Located at 348 East Central St., Franklin, MA 02038

b. New Section 15 All Alcoholic Beverages Package Store License and Approval of Michael Gannon as the Manager - Shikshapatri Corporation d/b/a Dacey’s Market & Deli, Located at 353 Lincoln St., Franklin, MA 02038

8. PRESENTATIONS / DISCUSSION

a. Franklin Town Council Support for Proposed GL Chapter 40B Affordable Housing Project at 444 East Central Street Pursuant to DHCD’s Local Initiative Program (LIP): Friendly 40B

i. Town Administrator Memo, 40B Process Outline  

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/8a_1_-_presentation_friendly_40b_stobbarts.pdf

ii. Project Presentation  

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/8a._2_central_st_residences_tc_presentation_041024_v17_pdf_final.pdf

iii. Current Project Plans  

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/8a._3_csr_preliminary_plans_update_tc_040324.pdf

iv. Town Board/Committee and staff comment letters  

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/8a._4_letters.pdf

v. Related articles on the need for housing  

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/8a._articles.pdf

9. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION

a. Resolution 24-16: Franklin Town Council Support for Proposed GL Chapter 40B Affordable Housing Project at 444 East Central Street Pursuant to DHCD’s Local Initiative Program (LIP): Friendly 40B (Motion to Approve Resolution 24-16 - Majority Vote)   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/9a._resolution_24-16_-_444_east_central_st._friendly_40b_-_google_docs.pdf

b. Resolution 24-17: Local Acceptance of GL Chapter 166 Section 32A (Motion to Approve Resolution 24-17 - Majority Vote)   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/9b_0.pdf

c. Resolution 24-18: Gift Acceptance - Veterans’ Services Department ($2,250), Senior Center ($1,500) (Motion to Approve Resolution 24-18 - Majority Vote)  

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/9c._gift_acceptance_-_vets_dept._sr._ctr_historical_museum.pdf

10. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

11. SUBCOMMITTEE & AD HOC COMMITTEE REPORTS

a. Capital Budget Subcommittee

b. Economic Development Subcommittee

c. Budget Subcommittee

d. Master Plan Committee

e. Davis-Thayer Reuse Advisory Committee

f. Police Station Building Committee

g. GATRA Advisory Board

12. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

13. COUNCILOR COMMENTS

14. EXECUTIVE SESSION

a. To review and approve minutes from March 13, 2024 Town Council Executive Session

15. ADJOURN

Note: Two-Thirds Vote: requires 6 votes

Majority Vote: requires majority of members present and voting

Agenda doc also contains remote participation info

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/april_10_2024_town_council_meeting_agenda.pdf

Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda for meeting Wednesday, April 10, 2024

FM #581 - Dean College Alcohol License Discussion & Vote - 05/06/20 (audio)

FM #581 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 581 in the series. 

We step back into the audio archives. This session shares the segment from the Franklin, MA Town Council meeting held on Wednesday, May 6, 2020 that covers the discussion and vote to deny the all alcohol license requested by Dean College. 

The meeting was conducted in a remote format: all of the Town Council, Town Administration personnel, meeting guests, and the public participated remotely via the Zoom conference bridge, during this pandemic period.

The recording shares only the license discussion and vote from this meeting and runs about 56 minutes:

The show notes contain links to the meeting agenda including documents released for the 2020  meeting as well as for the July 21, 2021 meeting where the license is back before the Council. 

Let’s listen to this segment of the Town Council meeting of May 6, 2020

Audio file = https://player.captivate.fm/episode/a27e3737-d890-4624-b6b9-3e1ef4d8dbc4

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July 21, 2021 Agenda https://www.franklinma.gov/town-council/agenda/july-21-town-council-agenda 

Specific item for Dean College

Dean College: New Section 12 All Alcoholic Beverages License, Located at 135 Emmons Street, Franklin, MA. Town Administrator Memo Summary; Dean College Section 12 All Alcoholic Beverages license application;  Town Council meeting minutes April 15, 2020, May 6, 2020; Town Council Statement of Reason of denial;  Dean College appeal to the ABCC; ABCC Appeal decision.

May 6, 2020  Agenda folder ->  

https://www.franklinma.gov/town-council/agenda/may-6-town-council-agenda-remote-meeting 

 

7. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS

Dean College: New Section 12 All Alcoholic Beverages License, Located at 135 Emmons Street, Franklin, MA.  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/franklinma/files/mai/files/7a._dean_college_license_application_web.pdf

 

My notes from the meeting   May 6, 2020  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/05/town-council-denies-dean-college-liquor.html 

My notes from the meeting   April 15, 2020  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/04/town-council-twitter-notes-recap-april.html 

--------------

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial. 

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

 

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

• If you don't like something here, please let me know

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

 

For additional information, please visit www.Franklinmatters.org   or www.franklin.news 

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

------------------

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

 

FM #581 - Dean College Alcohol License Discussion & Vote - 05/06/20 (audio)

In the News: “remain open to a negotiated resolution"

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

"A proposed question to allow more stores to sell beer and wine will not appear on the ballot this fall and its backers will instead work to put the question before voters in 2022.

Cumberland Farms, the Westborough-based convenience store giant that was leading the ballot initiative campaign, said Friday night that it is dropping its effort due to the COVID-19 pandemic’s impacts on the retail sector and the company’s corresponding need to focus more on the health and safety of its workers and customers.

“They deserve our undivided attention as we fulfill our ongoing commitment to safely providing essential services in cities and towns across Massachusetts. To that end, it’s become clear that leading an eight-figure ballot measure campaign is not a prudent course of action at this particular moment in history,” said Matt Durand, chairman of the ballot question committee and head of public policy at Cumberland Farms. “Make no mistake: The issue of safe and fair competition in the beverage alcohol marketplace remains a top legislative priority for Cumberland Farms and other food stores, just as it remains an important question of public policy for this commonwealth. As we’ve said from the beginning, we’re prepared to take this effort all the way to the voters if necessary. That position has not changed, and I look forward to the next biennial election cycle.”

The proposed question, according to the attorney general’s summary, would “create a license allowing food stores to sell wine and beer for off-premises consumption, progressively increase and then eliminate the limit on the number of licenses for the sale of alcoholic beverages consumed off-premises that any one retailer could own or control.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20200627/cumberland-farms-drops-beer-and-wine-ballot-question