The Town Council meeting went over 3 hours long on Wednesday, Oct 5, 2022 in the process of reviewing multiple topics.
Norfolk County Commissioners provided some updates on what they do and how they do it. Some councilors appear stuck on the Federal decision to award the ARPA funds to the county and not directly to the Town but that is neither in control of the Town nor the County. The 3% management fee the County collects they are working for in managing the funds and they clearly stated the case during the evening.
The best Council move was to approve The Town Council held a pubic hearing on the right of first refusal to purchase the Schmidt Farm property with CPA funding. There was no vote on the purchase. Several Councilors acknowledged they approved but the vote will come at a future meeting. A number of residents in person and via Zoom spoke in favor of this move as it is perfectly was the CPA funds were meant to be used for. The presentation doc (shared at the CPC meeting on Tuesday is now on the Town page) (updated 10/13/22) https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/schmidt_farm_61a_presentation.pdf
A passionate discussion raised issues that are mostly still to be resolved on parking. The set of 4 bylaws did all move forward to a second reading; one only by a 5-4 vote, the others by 9-0. Open question on should the Council allow the Town Administrator to set the rate. On what the rate should be? (It should be at least equal to the MBTA parking rate, otherwise the MBTA commuters albeit less of them, will park in these spaces and save money - which won't provide the spaces for what they were provided for - to enable shoppers downtown).
A 6-3 vote approved a request to obtain the 'authority' to issue an all liquor license to replace a beer/wine license already held which would put two all liquor license establishments within .3 mile of each other and near the Keller Sullivan schools. The legislation if approved by the State would still require a formal hearing and vote by the Council to actually approve the license. Tonight is only a step in the process.
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/10/franklin-ma-town-council-meeting-agenda.html
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| The best Council move was to approve the right of first refusal to purchase the Schmidt Farm property with CPA funding |
