Foxborough Official Hopes to Reopen Negotiations with the Kraft Group

Four weeks after the Kraft Group informed Foxborough’s Board of Selectmen it would no longer be pursuing negotiations regarding development along Route 1, town officials have reached out to the company in hopes of reopening talks.

“I reached out [to the Kraft Group] through [Foxborough Town Counsel Richard Gelerman] to put a line out there and see if there is an interest in talking,” said Foxborough Board of Selectmen chair James DeVellis. “At the same time [the Kraft Group was] doing [reaching out] through [Gelerman] back to me and it was nice to see that we do have some mutual interests to at least sit down and figure out the best way to move forward for everybody.”

DeVellis said there were two schools of thought when Dan Murphy, vice president of the Kraft Group’s Business Development and External Affairs, informed the board of the company’s decision at the Oct. 30 meeting.

“Some people looked at [the Kraft Group’s decision] as a good thing because there was so much stuff with billboards and casinos and [people] thought we needed a break,” DeVellis said.

“Other people thought [ending negotiations] was a bad thing because our business partners on Route 1 certainly have an economic factor in a lot of stuff that we do.”

DeVellis said the town can either continue to “stagnate and not address” issues with the Kraft Group or everyone can move forward in the best interest of everyone involved.

“What I’d like to do is reach out through our Town Counsel [Richard Gelerman] with [Town Manager] Kevin [Paicos] and have a meeting with the Kraft Group as the chairman of the Board of Selectmen and sound it out and see what their interests are and see what our interests are,” DeVellis said.

DeVellis’ suggestion was met with unanimous approval by his fellow board members.

“Absolutely, move forward,” said Board of Selectmen vice chair Mark Sullivan.

DeVellis said he’s confident through past meetings and discussions that he’ll be able to effectively relay to the Kraft Group what the town is willing to entertain in future negotiations.

“I’ve certainly heard enough [about Kraft Group negotiations] from the Water and Sewer and the Planning boards and [the Board of Selectmen] and residents that I have a sense on [what the town will] want to entertain and find out where the benefits are,” DeVellis said.

After DeVellis, Gelerman and Paicos meet with the Kraft Group DeVellis said he would report back to the Board of Selectmen. DeVellis added that the Kraft Group has already indicated they would be interested in setting up a meeting.