Franklin, MA: Town Council Mtg agenda for Wednesday, Sep 17

Franklin Town Council

Agenda & Meeting Packet

September 17, 2025 = 7:00 PM

1. ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE CHAIR

a. This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast channel 9 and Verizon Channel 29. This meeting may be recorded by others.

b. Chair to identify members participating remotely.

c. Upcoming Town Sponsored Community Events.

2. CITIZEN COMMENTS

a. Citizens are welcome to express their views for up to three minutes on a matter that is not on the agenda. In compliance with G.L. Chapter 30A, Section 20 et seq, the Open Meeting Law, the Council cannot engage in a dialogue or comment on a matter raised during Citizen Comments. The Council may ask the Town Administrator to review the matter. Nothing herein shall prevent the Town Administrator from correcting a misstatement of fact.

3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES - None Scheduled.

4. PROCLAMATIONS / RECOGNITIONS

a. Police Department - Swearing in of new Police Officers

i. Patrol Officer Patrick Clark

ii. Patrol Officer Jalen Samuels

iii. Patrol Officer Kyle Vaught

Franklin, MA: Town Council Mtg agenda for Wednesday, Sep 17

5. APPOINTMENTS

a. Community Preservation Committee - Wayne Simarrian

b. Conservation Commission - Matthew Stoltz

 

6. PUBLIC HEARINGS - 7:00 PM

a. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 25-938: Residential Commercial Kitchens - A Zoning Bylaw to Amend Chapter 185, Section 3 of the Code of the Town of Franklin

i. Legislation for Action # 9h.

b. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 25-939: Residential Commercial Kitchens - A Zoning Bylaw to Amend the Franklin Town Code at Chapter 185, Attachment 8, Use Regulations Schedule Part Vii: Accessory Uses

i. Legislation for Action # 9i

c. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 25-929: Creation of the Crossing Neighborhood Zoning District - A Zoning Bylaw Amendment to the Code of the Town of Franklin at Chapter 185, Section 4,

Districts Enumerated

i. Legislation for Action # 9j

d. Zoning Bylaw 25-930: Zoning Map Changes: Crossing Neighborhood Zoning District - A Zoning Bylaw Amendment to the Code of the Town of Franklin at Chapter 185, Section 5,

Zoning Map

i. Legislation for Action # 9k

e. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 25-931: The Crossing Zoning Use Regulations - A Zoning Bylaw Amendment to the Code of the Town of Franklin at Chapter 185, Use Regulation Schedule,

Part I through Part VII

i. Legislation for Action # 9l

f. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 25-932: The Crossing Zoning District - A Zoning Bylaw Amendment to the Code of the Town of Franklin at Chapter 185, Schedule of Lot, Area,

Frontage, Yard and Height Requirements

i. Legislation for Action # 9m

g. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 25-933: Crossing Neighborhood Zoning District - A Zoning Bylaw Amendment to the Code of the Town of Franklin at Chapter 185, Section 21, Parking, Loading and Driveway Requirements

i. Legislation for Action # 9n

h. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 25-934: Crossing Neighborhood Crossing District - A Zoning Bylaw Amendment to the Code of the Town of Franklin at Chapter 185, Sections 3, 4, 20 & 31

i. Legislation for Action # 9o

7. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS - None Scheduled.

8. PRESENTATIONS / DISCUSSION

a. Solicitation Permits - Police Chief Thomas Lynch and Deputy Police Chief James West

9. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION

a. Resolution 25-58: November 4, 2025 Election Early & Mail in Voting

(Motion to Approve Resolution 25-58 - Majority Vote)

b. Resolution 25-59: Authorization for Inter-Municipal Agreement with Tri-County Regional Vocational Technical HIgh School for Franklin to provide it with a School Resource Officer (Motion to Approve Resolution 25-59 - Majority Vote)

c. Resolution 25-61: Acceptance of Easements on Property on Northwesterly Side of Raymond Avenue (Motion to Approve Resolution 25-61 - Majority Vote)

d. Resolution 25-62: Acceptance of Access Easement on Lot 1, Located on Westerly Side of Spring Street (Motion to Approve Resolution 25-62 - Majority Vote)

e. Bylaw Amendment 25-943: A Bylaw to Amend the Code of the Town of Franklin at Chapter 139, Section 139-14, Sewer System Map (Symphony Dr.) - First Reading (Motion to Move Bylaw Amendment 25-943 to a Second Reading - Majority Vote)

f. Bylaw Amendment 25-944: A Bylaw to Amend the Code of the Town of Franklin at Chapter 179, Section 179-9.1, Water System Map (Symphony Dr.) - First Reading (Motion to Move Bylaw Amendment 25-944 to a Second Reading - Majority Vote)

g. Bylaw Amendment 25-945 - A Bylaw to Amend the Code of the Town of Franklin at Chapter 65, Collection Containers - First Reading (Motion to Move Bylaw Amendment 25-945 to a Second Reading)

h. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 25-938: Residential Commercial Kitchens - A Zoning Bylaw to Amend Chapter 185, Section 3 of the Code of the Town of Franklin - First Reading (Motion to Move Zoning Bylaw Amendment 25-938 to a Second Reading - Majority Vote)

i. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 25-939: Residential Commercial Kitchens - A Zoning Bylaw to Amend the Franklin Town Code at Chapter 185, Attachment 8, Use Regulations Schedule Part Vii: Accessory Uses - First Reading (Motion to Move Zoning Bylaw Amendment 25-939 to a Second Reading - Majority Vote)

j. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 25-929: Creation of the Crossing Neighborhood Zoning District - A Zoning Bylaw Amendment to the Code of the Town of Franklin at Chapter 185, Section 4, Districts Enumerated - First Reading (Motion to Move Zoning Bylaw Amendment 25-929 to a Second Reading - Majority Vote)

k. Zoning Bylaw 25-930: Zoning Map Changes: Crossing Neighborhood Zoning District - A Zoning Bylaw Amendment to the Code of the Town of Franklin at Chapter 185, Section 5, Zoning Map - First Reading (Motion to Move Zoning Bylaw Amendment 25-930 to a Second Reading - Majority Vote)

l. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 25-931: The Crossing Zoning Use Regulations - A Zoning Bylaw Amendment to the Code of the Town of Franklin at Chapter 185, Use Regulation Schedule, Part I through Part VII - First Reading (Motion to Move Zoning Bylaw Amendment 25-931 to a Second Reading - Majority Vote)

m. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 25-932: The Crossing Zoning District - A Zoning Bylaw Amendment to the Code of the Town of Franklin at Chapter 185, Schedule of Lot, Area, Frontage, Yard and Height Requirements - First Reading (Motion to Move Zoning Bylaw Amendment 25-932 to a Second Reading - Majority Vote)

n. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 25-933: Crossing Neighborhood Zoning District - A Zoning Bylaw Amendment to the Code of the Town of Franklin at Chapter 185, Section 21, Parking, Loading and Driveway Requirements - First Reading (Motion to Move Zoning Bylaw Amendment 25-933 to a Second Reading - Majority Vote)

o. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 25-934: Crossing Neighborhood Crossing District - A Zoning Bylaw Amendment to the Code of the Town of Franklin at Chapter 185, Sections 3, 4, 20 & 31 - First Reading (Motion to Move Zoning Bylaw Amendment 25-934 to a Second Reading - Majority Vote)

p. Resolution 25-60: Acceptance of Gifts - Senior Center ($150)

(Motion to Approve Resolution 25-60 - Majority Vote)

10. TOWN ADMINISTRATORS REPORT

a. Personnel Update

b. FY26 Budget Update

11. SUBCOMMITTEE & AD HOC COMMITTEE REPORTS

a. Capital Budget Subcommittee

b. Economic Development Subcommittee

c. Joint Budget Subcommittee

d. Police Station Building Committee

e. GATRA Advisory Board

12. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

13. COUNCIL COMMENTS

14. EXECUTIVE SESSION

a. Exemption #2: Contract negotiations with non-union personnel: Town Administrator.

15. ADJOURN

Note: Two-Thirds Vote: requires 6 votes

Majority Vote: requires majority of members present and voting

Agenda & docs released for this session ->    https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09172025-1911