Around Town: Lakeview Pavilion Donates Over $3K to Boyden Library, Eagle Scout Court of Honor & More

Lakeview Pavilion Charitable Foundation Corporation has donated $3,875 to the Boyden Library gift fund for renewal of the following library passes:

• Boston By Foot
• Boston’s Children Museum
• Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum
• Museum of Fine Arts
• Museum of Science
• Mystic Seaport
• New England Aquarium
• Plimoth Plantation
• Zoo New England
• Franklin Park
• Stone Zoo

Kenneth and Patti Elovitz also donated $350 to the library’s gift fund for the renewal of the Providence Children’s Museum library pass – valid from Jan. 1, 2013 to Dec. 31, 2013.

Selectmen approved both donations with gratitude at Tuesday’s meeting.

Foxborough Resident’s Eagle Scout Court of Honor is Set for June 7th

Foxborough resident William Edward Long, Jr. will receive his Eagle Scout rank on Friday, June 7th at 8 p.m. The Court of Honor will be held at Bethany Congregational Church on Rockhill Street.

Long’s Eagle Scout project was a major landscape renovation of a local elementary school playground to improve the safety of the playground and beautify the area. Long is also a swim instructor for the YMCA, has volunteered for Foxborough Never Forgets, St. Mary’s, Aid to Africa, Foxborough Food Pantry and Foxborough Citizen Corps. He is involved in lacrosse, swimming, soccer and track at Foxborough High School and plans to the University of Colorado to major in business administration with a minor in graphic design.

“Great kid in the community,” Selectmen chair Mark Sullivan said. “I know him well.”

New Manager at Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill

Selectmen approved a change of manager application for Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill at Patriot Place.

Barry J. Birks, who has worked for Toby Keith’s I Love This Bar & Grill for three years and helped with the Patriot Place opening, is now the manager of the Foxborough restaurant.

“When the opportunity came to come back home and stay home I jumped at the chance,” Birks said.

The new manager currently lives in South Boston but told selectmen he will be moving to Mansfield at the end of the month and plans to be a hands-on manager at Toby Keith’s.

“A big part of what I do in this business is to be part of the community,” Birks said. “We don’t want to be a business that keeps taking and taking and taking. We do want to give back. I’m excited to get back into Foxborough and hopefully run a successful business.”

Birks replaces James T. Taranto.

The board approved the application subject to Birks’ providing Town Hall with an employment record of at least 10 years.

Selectmen Table Building Commissioner’s Request to Dissolve Sign By-Law Review Committee

Selectmen decided to table Building Commissioner William Casbarra’s request the dissolution of the Sign By-Law Review Committee because the Master Plan has been completed.

“I recommend you don’t take any action,” Town Manager Kevin Paicos said. “I’m just seeing it [Tuesday]. I don’t know if the Sign By-Law Review Committee is appointed. I don’t know if the [selectmen] appoint them or I appoint them or who appoints them. I think dissolving them is presumptuous until we learn a little bit more.”

Paicos said he plans to get more information on the committee and Casbarra’s request and will report back to the board. Selectmen agreed to table the request. 

Casbarra made the request in writing to selectmen on April 25th, stating, “the rationale with this decision is two-fold. First, the current Sign By-Law is a General By-Law of the town of Foxborough, yet it regulates signage by zoning districts. Discussion during preliminary meetings lead the committee to conclude that to effectively regulate General By-Law, Section 15(B) – Signs, zoning had to be eliminated for the purpose of determining appropriate use of signage. This, in itself, is a monumental task. With a master plan in place, the document would give the committee direction in determining the quality and quantity of signs based on a design district or development area (Route 1 corridor, downtown and business corridors, etc.).

“Secondly, the current b-law regulates size and height of signs by speed limits and number of lanes. As the town’s infrastructure changes, so does the limitation on the size and type of signs making for a constantly changing visual appearance within districts.”

Casbarra added upon acceptance of the town’s master plan, the committee will reorganize and proceed with the Sign By-Law recodification.

Garber Appointed to Board of Registrars

Foxborough resident Ellen Garber was appointed by selectmen to the Board of Registrars for a three-year term expiring on May 7, 2016.

Garber will replace outgoing Registrar Mary Lou Casson.

“We are grateful to Mary Lou for her steadfast commitment to the Democratic process and always performing her duties with integrity and loyalty,” said Angel Davis, Foxborough Republican Town Committee chair. … “[Garber] is an upstanding citizen with a wealth of community service to her credit. Her character is without blemish."

‘Hackie’ or ‘Hackney’ License … And Where Does This Guy Live?

What appeared to be a straightforward “Hackie license” renewal for Wallace Chase of 51 Elm St., Foxborough turned into a lengthy discussion at the selectmen’s table Tuesday.

Among the topics discussed was whether the correct term of the license is “hackie” or “hackney” as selectman John Gray pointed out Foxborough appears to be the only town to be using the term “hackie.”

“You may be right, that’s interesting. I will look into that.” Town Manager Kevin Paicos said.

A more pressing issue for some board members, primarily selectman Ginny Coppola, was the address Chace included on the license.

“We’ve seen a lot of licenses come through for 51 Elm St. and I want to know if he lives there or if that’s where the business is,” Coppola said.

“What are we worried about here?” Paicos asked. “If he doesn’t live there are you not going to issue him the license? If you don’t approve his license then he’s out of business.”

Gray responded, “We are just trying to verify the address.”

After a round table discussion of Chace’s address, the board agreed to approve the license subject to the confirmation of his home address on the application.