Candy alternatives for Halloween

We have shared recipes and other good postings from Lisa Leake who writes at the 100 Days of Real Food. Here she spends about 5 minutes with a bit on her local TV morning show talking about how to avoid giving out candy for Halloween.



 For more from Lisa visit and subscribe to 100 Days of Real Food http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/

Powderly, Dellorco, Roy recognized

Wednesday night was the last Town Council meeting for Tina Powderly, Robert Dellorco and Jeffrey Roy. As State Representative, Jeff had the House prepare proclamations to recognize the work of Tina and Robert and presented these at the Council meeting.

Tina Powderly, Robert Dellorco and Rep Jeffrey Roy

The three individuals also received one of the large displays used to depict the different views of the new high school building.

Thanks to all three for their time and effort volunteering for Franklin!

If you missed what too place during the full meeting Wednesday, you can catch the summary and details here
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/10/ichigo-ichie-cooks-farm-and-bunch-of.html

In the News: Ladybug 5K, drug lab case, vehicle break-ins

Ladybug 5K, kids' fun run this weekend in Franklin

The third annual Ladybug 5K Run/Walk will be held Saturday at Franklin's Kennedy Elementary School.

 Plea to be discussed Friday in Dookhan drug lab case

Prosecutors and a lawyer for chemist Annie Dookhan of Franklin, charged in a far-reaching scandal at a state drug-testing lab,  plan to meet with a judge Friday to discuss a possible guilty plea.

Franklin police report increase in vehicle break-ins

The police say there has been a recent increase in thefts from motor vehicles and are admonishing residents to lock up.

Ichigo Ichie, Cook's Farm and a bunch of budget adjustments

Ichigo Ichie

The Town Council took up the Ichigo Ichie license suspension in a public hearing on Wednesday night's meeting. You may recall that the initial hearing on Sep 11th lead to a suspension of their license for 5 days. They appealed to the Alcohol Beverage Commission (ABC) and re-opened discussions with Franklin. According to the presentation by Franklin Attorney Mark Cerel, the town usually has an agreement with the party before the hearing. Due to some miss-communications around the consecutive days to be served (actual days in a row, not consecutive Fridays), the prior hearing had been entered into without an agreement. The miss-communication issues were resolved, an agreement was reached, and the appeal will be recinded to close the matter.

What had been a 5 days suspension with 3 days held in abeyance will now be a 4 day suspension with 4 days held in abeyance. The suspension of their liquor license will begin this Friday evening (Oct 18) and run through Monday (Oct 21).

Related posts 

August notification of pending hearing
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/08/poor-handling.html 

September hearing result
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/09/liquor-license-suspensions-to-be-served.html

Cook's Farm

What had been one of the most contentious discussions of this Town Council ultimately ended with the passage of a set of zoning bylaw amendments each by a 6-1 vote. With two councilors recusing themselves due to relations with the Cook family, and the requirement to obtain a 2/3 majority vote, the 6 votes was the minimum required for passage. The measures had been moved to the second reading by a 5-2 vote putting the measures in jeopardy.

What changed? One can observe that Councilor Roy's defense of the measure as meeting many of the goals and objectives of the recently approved "Master Plan" to be the turning point. There is still no consensus on this time as the Planning Board voted against approving the measures and the lone Council "no" vote had previously declared the same objections. On this day, enough votes were gathered and assuming the remaining steps in the process for approvals both by the town and the backers of the development make progress, then there will be a 35 unit housing development on the property.


Budget adjustments, funding approvals

With the bond sale to fund the new high school completed, the funds received were more than forecast so there were some technical adjustments to the FY 2014 budget which will result in a saving to the Franklin taxpayer. The tax bill increase for the new high school will be approx $35 less than forecasted.

With the Finance Committee endorsements, the Town Council also voted to fund the Senior Center stabilization account, the operational stabilization account, approve funds for paying the ambulance bills, and to hire a technician for the new high school.

This continues the fiscally prudent steps of putting some money aside now to be available later. The second floor of the Senior Center needs to be built out and these funds are accumulating to be able to do so in about 2016. The small house on Beaver St recently purchased by Franklin will be demolished to allow an expansion of the parking lot. This work will begin sooner as it will be required before the second floor is completed and brings additional folks to the Center.

House to be demolished

The full set of notes from my live reporting at the Town Council meeting can be found here

Powderly, Dellorco recognized
http://www.franklinmatters.org/2013/10/powderly-dellorco-roy-recognized.html

• Live reporting - Closing
• Live reporting - Legislation
• Live reporting: License transaction
• Live reporting: Town Council meeting - Oct 16, 210...

New sidewalk coming for Panther Way

One of the measures passed at Wednesday night's Town Council meeting was the acceptance of an easement to allow Franklin to install a sidewalk along the Vendetti property on Panther Way.

The sidewalk will improve the safety of walkers along that stretch of the road. Primary use would be for the new high school but the new Sculpture Park will also be a beneficiary.

Looking towards RT 140

Looking towards the Police Station

In the News: Cook's Farm, Ichigo Ichie

The Milford Daily News reports on the Cook's Farm zoning bylaws that passed by a 6-1 vote on Wednesday. Two councilors recused themselves from the topic (Bissanti and Mercer). The 'no' vote remained with Councilor Powderly. The one changed vote from the prior meeting was Councilor Jones.

Opponents of the project had said they believe it runs contrary to the development goals laid out in the updated master plan. However, Master Plan Committee Chairman Jeffrey Roy said that the project actually promotes many of the plan’s aims. 

"(The project) indeed falls neatly under what we laid out for the town of Franklin," Roy said. "This will provide a very wonderful economic development opportunity."

In the public hearing before the Cook's Farm vote, the Town Council heard a new proposal for the liquor violation at Ichigo Ichie and the back story on how miss-communication had contributed to the issue.

Cerel suggested a four-day suspension with four days put aside for two years unless another offense should occur. If given the lighter sentence, Brazilian said that the restaurant would withdraw its appeal. 

The council accepted the new suspension, ruling that the restaurant will not be able to serve alcohol from Friday to Monday.

Read more: http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/x825422142/Cook-s-Farm-project-will-move-ahead-in-Franklin#ixzz2hyBu381x

Live reporting - Closing

House citations for Robert Dellorco and Tina Powderly in recognition for their service to Franklin

K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
Thanks to the Fire Dept for the Open House

Ballot question is available, for Treasurer/Collector position

Mobile app - can be downloaded

Thanks for the last couple of year, whether the big legacy of the high school, DelCarte, Senior Center, you did good work, can take one of the presentation boards for the high school

L. OLD BUSINESS
Vallee - regarding Cottage St lot
Nutting - I did send email and haven't heard from them

Vallee - the problem with the fees at the recycling center
Nutting- we'll put that on a future agenda


M. NEW BUSINESS
Pfeffer - liquor violations, maybe we should adopt recommendations or a standard in practice

Bissanti - what are we doing with the abandoned properties?

Vallee - what are the contracts for construction hours for the spring,  M-F business hours, the fixed schedule will be known in Spring
Nutting - we don't have any control over the contract, we don't have control over the hours, the State can. We can invite a lot of folks to the meeting

Mercer - anything we can share with the community on the traffic flow, the traffic will be chaos mostly
Nutting - this will be on the council Nov 13th

They might be too large to post but we can share pieces of them

N. COUNCIL COMMENTS
Roy - thanks to all for the opportunity to serve, 4 superintendents, what a great opportunity to be part of such a great team. We may not have always agreed with the issue but we took on the role and worked it out.

Bissanti - fond farewell to Jeff and the others not returning. A great synergy. Hopefully I'll make it back and look forward to a great new council

Jones - thanks to Tina, Bob and Jeff. It has been wonderful to see how we have worked and accomplished together

Pfeffer - does sound something like an obituary, you can realize how much it is a bit harder than just sitting here

Vallee - thank you

Powderly - it has been an honor to work with all great folks, the staff are hardworking, schools need teachers back, some have been public some have been quite, it has been an honor

Kelly - The app is great, we'll fix the potholes in Medway just once . It has been enjoyable sitting next to them and I'll miss them.

Dellorco - thank the community for the honor, we had some arguments but we worked it out, we got alot accomplished. Fire, Police, DPW you do a great job. You better work together or I'll be back in a couple of years

Mercer - thanks for your years of service, you'll be missed


O. EXECUTIVE SESSION
– Negotiations, Litigation, Real Property, as May Be Required

P. ADJOURN
motion to adjourn, passed 9-0