In the News: Nutcracker here, Nutcracker there, breakfast with Santa, Nativity sets

Franklin: Growing up in 'The Nutcracker'

When Franklin Performing Arts Company (FPAC) presents its annual production of the holiday classic “The Nutcracker” this weekend, more than 100 area dancers will grace the stage.

Becoming Clara… PEDC dancers reflect on path to ‘Nutcracker’ lead role

It all began at the age of 6 when she was cast as the “lead mouse” and a “polichenelle” and the adventure of being in Patti Eisenhauer Dance Center’s, “The Nutcracker,” was upon her.

Holiday breakfast to benefit Santa Foundation in Franklin

A Breakfast with Santa to benefit the Santa Foundation will be held at the British Beer Company, 280 Franklin Village Drive, Franklin on Saturday, Dec. 14. There will be one seating at 9:30 a.m.

Christmas Nativity Festival planned in Franklin, Dec. 14

On Saturday, Dec. 14 The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Franklin is organizing a Nativity Festival. More than 100 nativity sets from church members and area residents will be on display during the open house.

Performance this evening - A Christmas Carol Times Two

"A Christmas Carol Times Two!", a dramatic reading performance of Charles Dickens "A Christmas Carol" combined with traditional 19th century English Christmas carols will happen on Thursday, Dec. 12 at 7PM at the Franklin United Methodist Church, 82 West Central Street in Franklin, Massachusetts.

Al LePage performs "A Christmas Carol"

"Englishman Thomas Hutchinson, Traveling Thespian" portrayed by actor Al LePage, complete with English accent and Victorian-era clothing, will give his dramatic reading performance based on Dickens' very own historic script as a one-man show using only his voice, facial expressions and gestures to create some 18 characters.

Organist and local minister Rev. Dr. Dianne Carpenter will weave organ music between various scenes to set the tone for what's to come and entertain. This is a special benefit performance hosted by the Franklin United Methodist Church with all proceeds to benefit the Franklin Food Pantry.

Admission is $10 per person and the performance is best appreciated by both adults and children 7 years of age and older. Tickets are on sale and can be purchased in advance through BrownPaperTickets.com/, either on-line or by calling their 24/7 toll-free number 1-800-838-3006, and if still available, at the door the day of event. Doors for the performance open at 6:30PM, the fun begins at 6:45PM, and seating is general admission.

Tickets are also available at the Franklin Food Pantry during open hours 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM Tues, Weds and Thursday.

Franklin - Fiscal Policy Draft Update

There is a fiscal policy that Franklin operates with. This year, the policy is being consider for revision and the revisions will include input from the Finance Committee, Town Council and School Committee.

The Finance Committee reviewed and discussed the update at their meeting on Tuesday. This was also mentioned during the Town Administrators update during the Council meeting on Weds. It is scheduled for further discussion within the budget subcommittee before the Council takes it up. It is also scheduled for review by the School Committee.

Franklin Library: All In - Dec 16th

There will be a discussion and activities around the book "Divergent" lead by Horace Mann Middle School reading specialist Ms O'Leary. The discussion will focus on chapters 11-25.

Additional info can be found in this posting by the Library:

Divergent - discussion and activities

This was originally posted to the Franklin Library webpage here
http://franklinpl.blogspot.com/2013/12/all-in.html

In the News: Dean Bank, license penalties

Bellingham Police look into Dean Bank robbery

Authorities are probing a Monday robbery at the Dean Bank on Pulaski Boulevard and say they believe the suspect is the same man who robbed that bank in October.

Franklin council to review penalties for liquor license violators

Town Councilors tonight will discuss new guidelines for penalizing businesses caught selling liquor to minors.

Note: This item was posted to the MDN website at 6:08 AM on Wednesday morning. The timing of the post by MND caused it to miss my posting yesterday. Since there is not yet a post on the meeting last night, i suspect something similar is happening. Whether this timing of the posts MDN makes is deliberate or accidental, doesn't matter to me. My radar should pick it up eventually.

Live reporting - Closing

K. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
thanks to the Downtown Partnership and Dean for a wonderful Holiday Stroll

package provided to the Council as reviewed with the FinCom on Tuesday

reminder on snow event forecasted for this weekend
secondary roads have secondary priority for salting

thanks to the assessors for the recap and while it looks seemless
it is thousands of hours of work and we'll start on next year's tomorrow

estimate approx $270 for the average residence assessed at $364,000
except for market conditions, housing values rarely decrease
of the $270, approx 50 is the new high school


L. OLD BUSINESS
Padula - thanks to Mark Cerel to go over some of the questions I had at the last meeting

M. NEW BUSINESS
Jones - propose that the draft of license penalties as discussed be put on the agenda for formal adoption

Bissanti - Citizens committee to appoint Judy Pfeffer, add to next agenda
re- the flag situation,
Nutting - it is all fixed, we will work it out, we will get another set of flags for the Elks
contractually some days the DPW needs to do the flags

N. COUNCIL COMMENTS
Williams - happy and safe holiday's hug your kids
Jones - thanks Mass Development for hosting the event last week
Pfeffer - thanks for the holiday covers on the parking meters
Happy Birthday, Victor Pisani

Mercer - thanks for the Holiday Stroll, wish weather was a little better
we are building tight and roof tight for the winter
looking forward to either Jan or Feb to bring the Council up to date

Padula - happy holidays to all

Feldman - thanks for the good time at the ribbon cutting at the Abbey solar farm

P. ADJOURN
motion to adjourn,  passed

Live reporting - License renewals, Legislation

H. PRESENTATIONS/DISCUSSIONS
Guidelines and Criteria for Penalizing Alcoholic Beverage License holder Violations

discussion on guidelines
there are two scenarios (1) police stings
ABC Board doesn't like these sting operations and doesn't feel that licensee should be penalized
(2) other operational violations - where an incident or accident occurs and underage drinking was found to have occurred. These are much more case by case. Could use compliance check and then at the mitigating factors to consider.

Williams - Nice work, I see nothing inconsistent with what we have done in prior Councils. Send them out to the renewals, then there is no excuse for someone saying I wasn't aware of that. Our hands aren't tied, these are the minimums and we can do more as required

Nutting - we could send them out with the renewals and then every year thereafter

Jones - I am happy to see that we have this in writing, it is good to have.

Bissanti - I want to applaud Mark Cerel for tackling this. I think the penalties are reasonable. I think attaching this to any license is a good idea.

Williams - as a rule, there is a notice out to the establishments that a sting is forthcoming.
Cerel - there is a set of guidelines on how to conduct

this will come up for a resolution and or as a bylaw for January meeting

Motion to approve the license renewals
seconded, approved 7-0-1 (abstain - Padula)

Padula - will abstain for the whole vote to avoid conflict of interest



I. SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS


J. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
1. Resolution 13-85: Classification Tax Allocation – Residential Factor
residential factor set as 1
motion to approve, 8-0

2. Resolution 13-86: Classification Tax Allocation – Open Space Exemption
There will not be an exemption for open space
motion to approve, 8-0

by not having these exemptions, everyone is treated the same

3. Resolution 13-87: Classification Tax Allocation – Small Business Exemption
There will not be an exemption for small business
motion to approve, 8-0

4. Resolution 13-88: Classification Tax Allocation – Residential Property Exemption
There will not be an exemption for residential property
motion to approve, 8-0

5. Resolution 13-89: 2014 Schedule of Town Council Meetings
motion, seconded, approved 8-0

6. Resolution 13-90: Legal Notices
designated the Milford Daily News as the legal source
motion, seconded, approved 8-0

7. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 13-726: Amendment to Chapter 185, Attachment 9, Schedule of Lot, Area,
Frontage Yard and Height Requirements – Referral to Planning Board

Mercer, Bissanti, Padula  recused themselves from this discussion

Motion to refer to Planning Board, seconded

impervious coverage chart wasn't adjusted for the unit density calculations
looking to get the impervious change for Zone 7, not in any other zone
looking only to affect multi-family in Zone 7

Passed 5-0