Selectmen Notes: Town Ready to Negotiate with Kraft Group, Officials Support Building New Town Hall and More

At the end of a 52-minute discussion Tuesday, the Foxborough Board of Selectmen agreed to meet The Kraft Group at the negotiating table to discuss possible expansion at Patriot Place and development along Route 1.

Selectmen – by vote of 5-0 – elected the following to represent the town in negotiations with The Kraft Group.

• Mark Sullivan, Board of Selectmen vice chair
• Kevin Paicos, Foxborough Town Manager
• Richard Gelerman, Foxborough Town Counsel

Selectmen also voted to include a seat at the table for special town counsel if negotiations require those services.

The Kraft Group said it would pay the cost of Foxborough’s counsel during negotiations.

Selectmen did not include a member from the Planning Board or Water and Sewer Commissioners on the negotiating committee because Gelerman believes a smaller team will be more effective but added that both boards will be involved and well-represented in negotiations.

Selectmen Agree it's Not Financially Responsible to Repair Town Hall

The town of Foxborough took the first step towards building a new Town Hall Tuesday following a presentation of repairs needed at the current building.

Repairs to the current Town Hall – just to make it compliant - would exceed $2 million and does not cover the cost for renovating or expanding the current space. Selectmen agreed that figure was too high for a “band aid” approach to repair what was described by several town officials as a “bad building.”

Selectmen voted unanimously to support a Town Meeting Warrant article to appropriate funds from the town’s Capital Stabilization account to move forward in the process of constructing a new Town Hall on the same site as the current building.

“It’s not a building you can renovate,” said Sullivan. “I do this for a living. It’s not going to work out.”

The other board members agreed.

“I don’t think anyone is talking about renovating,” said Foxborough Board of Selectmen chair James DeVellis.

The amount of money needed to move forward with final design of a new Town Hall was estimated at $500,000 by Sullivan and Paicos, referring to an estimate done last spring.

“That would need to be updated,” Paicos said.

Public Comment on Phase III Report of Neponset Reservoir Cleanup is Open

Rhys Bowen, president of NRCC – a volunteer group charged with overseeing the cleanup of the reservoir, updated selectmen on the status of the Neponset Reservoir cleanup, calling the Phase III Remedial Action Plan inadequate and encouraging the public to submit comments on the Phase III report before the Oct. 15 deadline.

“In [the Phase III report] the Foxboro Company and their consultants concluded that there’s no technically feasible and cost-effective remediation alternative that could clean up the [pollution],” Bowen said. “The Department of Environmental Protection, which oversees that process, signed off on that Phase III report and then at that point the Foxboro Company was required to submit a Response Action Plan. They did that earlier this year and that was released in July, which is now available for public comment.”

The Phase III RAP assesses any and all alternatives to be used to cleanup the pollution in the reservoir.

Foxboro Company, now Invensys, discharged phosphates and several heavy metals into the reservoir, according to Bowen.

“Those discharges were done under permit from both state and federal authorities,” Bowen said.

NRCC “rejects strongly to Response Action Plan," according to Bowen.

“This report asserts that everything is fine out at the reservoir and we disagree. … We believe [their conclusion] that pollution is not getting any worse has not been proven. Heavy metals could continuously be discharged into the reservoir.”

NRRC asks residents to review the Foxboro Company’s Response Action Plan for the Neponset Reservoir and provide public comments before the Oct. 15.

“There’s a copy at the Boyden Library,” Bowen said. “We can also make it available in electronic format.”

Tavolino Restaurant to Begin Alcohol Service at 11 a.m. During Patriots’ Home Games

 Selectmen approved Tavolino Restaurant’s request to begin serving alcohol at 11 a.m. during Patriots’ home games beginning at 1 p.m.

Foxboro Cable Access Talk Show Host Charlie Masison Retires

Charlie Masison, the popular local talk show host for Foxboro Cable Access’ “Behind the Scenes,” recently retired after filming his last episode last week.

“He did over 600 shows in a span of 11 years,” said DeVellis. “It’s an unbelievable piece of documentation for the town and we are thankful for Charlie and Foxboro Cable Access TV.”

Masison, according to Foxboro Cable Access’ blog, recorded his last episode of “Behind the Scenes” at Foxborough’s Public Safety Building. During the segment, Masison speaks with Deputy Fire Chief Steve Bagley, firefighter paramedic Jim Grenier, Dave Clifton and Paul Gookin on the importance of CPR training and their personal experiences in life-saving situations, according to FCA.

“Behind the Scenes” began in 2001 and has produces roughly 600 episodes.  

“The programs provide an excellent collection of community history featuring guests from town government, community organizations and many other walks of life speaking about events and issues of interest to community residents,” said FCA.

To read more from FCA’s blog, click here.

Authelet Meets Great-Granddaughter for First Time Tuesday

Town Historian Jack Authelet informed selectmen that just prior to Tuesday’s meeting he met his four-month-old great granddaughter [Los Angeles] for the first time.

“They were just standing there at [my door] and it’s [very] dangerous to try and surprise somebody my age,” Authelet said with a laugh.

State Senate Candidate Jeff Bailey Attended Tuesday’s Meeting

State Senate candidate Jeff Bailey (R-Attleboro), who is currently running against Foxborough’s State Senator James Timilty (D-Walpole) attended Tuesday’s selectmen meeting to “just sit and watch.”

“I’m trying to get around to all the communities I’d be representing and see what types of issues the towns are facing,” Bailey said.

The State Senate candidate said he was interested in the Neponset Reservoir issue discussed during the selectmen meeting because it will eventually “involve the state” and the town’s effort to address veterans’ pay in Foxborough because that, too, would be something Bailey would be working on if elected.

Selectmen Approve Transfer of 99 Restaurant Liquor License

Selectmen reviewed and unanimously approved the application for a new officer/director issuance of stock at the 99 Restaurant in Foxborough. The restaurant requested a transfer of stock and new stockholder of an annual all alcohol restaurant license at 99 Restaurant, 4 Fisher St.

99 Restaurant’s lawyer said the transfer will not affect any restaurants, including the one in Foxborough.

Other Town Business:

• Selectmen approved the Aug. 21 meeting minutes
• Selectmen acknowledged the notification of a liquor violation hearing between Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission and The Country Store at 212 North St.