Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Live reporting: Town Council meeting - Oct 16, 2103

Present: Mercer, Dellorco, Kelly, Powderly, Vallee, Pfeffer, Jones, Bissanti, Roy
Absent: none

A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
– August 7, 2013
motion to approve, passed 9-0

B. ANNOUNCEMENTS – This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast channel 11 and Verizon channel 29. This meeting may be recorded by Franklin Matters.

C. PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS

D. CITIZEN COMMENTS
Susan Dewsnap, new Chair of the Finance Committee
thanks to Jim Roche outgoing Chair
looking to be a very active committee, looking to partner
Committee recommends to vote for the appointed position of Treasurer
considered the qualifications, skill level certification, etc. Debt management, is a lot more complex over the years

E. APPOINTMENTS

F. HEARINGS
- Ichigo Ichie – Reconsideration of Penalty for Violation of M.G.L. 138 §34:
Sale, Delivery of, Furnishing of an Alcoholic Beverage to a person under the age of 21

Jeff Roy recused himself

Mark Cerel recaps on some mis-communications that lead to a challenge
appeal filed with the ABC
further discussion to attempt to resolve
prepared to accept what would have been the initial recommendation
4 days server, four held in abeyance
we haven't have three offenses, two have not been common

John Brasilian
thanks to Cerel and Nutting for openness to discuss this, mis-communication on my part
if it had been understood at the beginning we would have accepted.
we will withdraw the appeal to the ABC
the recertifications that have taken place will go a long way to helping this re-occurring in the future
I would ask an adoption of this recommendation

Pfeffer
so this would be 4 days in a row starting Friday

motion to close hearing
approved, 8-0

motion to have penalty as four days served, four days held in abeyance
amending our original decision
upon passage will withdraw the appeal
passed 8-0

Solar Farm (update)

The solar farm installed at Mount St Mary's Abbey is still being worked on. While many of the solar panels have been placed, there is more to do.

solar panels

The chain link fence has been completed since I visited last time. A row of juniper bushes (I think?) have been added as a green wall to shield the solar farm from view

fencing completed, juniper bushes added

There are still sections of panels to install to complete the solar farm.

more solar panels to install

Franklin TV - Annual Meeting - Nov 14th

Franklin TV will hold its annual meeting on Thursday, Nov 14th at the Senior Center beginning at 6:30 PM.

Additional info about the meeting can be found in the following PDF notification:

You can also find out more about Franklin TV by visiting their webpage http://franklin.tv/

Set your calendar: HMEA is a Finalist in Nationwide Contest to win new Toyota

HMEA has made the news again!!!

Now you can help!!

Please save this Saturday October 19^th to vote for HMEA at www.100carsforgood.com so we can win a new Toyota to support our Meals on wheels program. This is our program where supported individuals with disabilities and staff deliver meals to home – bound seniors and veterans here in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.

Read about it here

http://www.milforddailynews.com/newsnow/x1868850520/Franklin-based-HMEA-named-finalist-in-Toyota-100-Cars-For-Good-program

This is the only day that you can vote for HMEA sp please be sure to do so and to share with your family and friends who have Facebook pages so they can vote for us too.

There are only 5 charities selected for that day and the top two receiving the most votes get the Toyota vehicle of their choice!!

In fact you can log in right now and set a reminder to be sent to you!!

Thank you for your support.

Take care,

Doug MacPherson

Vice President, Development and Public Relations

HMEA, 8 Forge Park East

Franklin, MA 02038

(508) 298-1105

Help us win a Toyota Sienna!

On October 19, search for Horace Mann and vote at www.100carsforgood.com

For more about HMEA and the work they do, please visit their webpage http://www.hmea.org/

Franklin Education Foundation - Casino Night - Nov 2, 2013

Details on the Franklin Education Foundation - Casino Night - Nov 2, 2013 can be found in this PDF:

"concerns regarding a proposed development for Cook’s Farm"

The Town Council meeting will be an interesting one tonight given the reporting in the Milford Daily News today on a pre-meeting between the Citizens Committee and at least one member of the Planning Board..

Both the council and Citizens Committee believe the proposed development offers aesthetic and financial benefits to the town.

However, Planning Board Chairman Anthony Padula opposes the project, saying it does not suit that area and could burden the town with increased traffic and costs if it results in more school-aged children.

Padula said a smaller project — nine homes at most — would be a better fit for the parcel.
But Citizens Committee Chairman Larry Benedetto said the Cook’s Farm proposal presents several opportunities that the town cannot ignore.

That area, he said, is viewed as a "gateway to Franklin," and Roux’s development, with its high-end condos, serves as a better welcome sign than a farm dotted with dilapidated buildings.

In the News: mattress fundraiser, Cars for Good

FHS music boosters plan mattress fundraiser, Oct. 19

Part of Franklin High School will be transformed into a mattress showroom on Saturday, Oct. 19 as the Franklin Music Boosters sponsor a unique fundraiser that has been very successful with other music and sports programs locally.

Franklin-based HMEA named finalist in Toyota 100 Cars For Good program

In a nationwide contest, Franklin-based organization Horace Mann Educational Associates (HMEA) was selected as one of 250 finalists in Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good program, which will award vehicles to 100 nonprofit organizations based on votes from the public.