With the Biennial Election coming up November 4, 2025, the nomination papers are available beginning Aug 4, 2025 for candidates to take, obtain the appropriate number of signations to get on the ballot.
We are sharing the section of the Annual Report for the Town of Franklin 2024 to help explain what each role entails. The first up is that of the Town Council.
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The Town Council is the holder of all general, corporate, legislative, and appropriation powers of the Town of Franklin. On behalf of the Town Council, I submit our annual report for Fiscal Year 2024.
Tom Mercer, Chair
Robert Dellorco, Vice Chair; Glenn Jones, Clerk;
Deborah Pellegri, Melanie Hamblen, Brian Chandler, Cobi Frongillo, Patrick Sheridan, Ted Cormier-Leger
Budget Subcommittee & Joint Budget Subcommittee
The Budget Subcommittee is composed of four members of the Town Council; Tom Mercer, Chair; Brian Chandler, Vice Chair; Melanie Hamblen and Cobi Frongillo.
The Joint Budget Subcommittee (JBSC) is an advisory committee composed of the four Budget Subcommittee members, three members of the School Committee and four members of the Finance Committee. The purpose of the JBSC is to promote communication and collaboration during the Town’s annual operating budget process.
In FY24, the JBSC met three times to provide FY24 budget updates, and discuss the preliminary FY25 budget model and the five year forecast. The primary focus of their discussions, led by Town Administrator Jamie Hellen and Franklin Public Schools Superintendent Lucas Giguere, was the 2024 override vote, which ultimately did not pass.
Capital Budget Subcommittee
The Capital Budget Subcommittee is composed of four members of the Town Council; Deborah Pellegri, Chair; Robert Dellorco, Vice Chair; Brian Chandler and Ted Cormier-Leger.
The Capital Budget Subcommittee met twice in FY24 to review departmental requests and capital plans.
They recommended that the full Town Council appropriate the following:
Capital Round 1:
Free Cash Appropriations: $2,567,616
● School Department: Vehicles, Curriculum, Equipment, Technology & Buildings - $950,387
● Facilities Department: Equipment - $300,000
● Technology: Technology - $36,000
● Town Administration: Technology & Human Services - $100,000
● Fire Department: Vehicles & Equipment - $337,854
● Police Department: Vehicles, Equipment & Technology - $373,375
● Department of Public Works: Equipment - $470,000
Water Retained Earnings: $1,942,450
● Water Enterprise Fund: Infrastructure & Equipment - $1,942,450
Sewer Retained Earning: $350,000
● Sewer Enterprise Fund: Equipment - $350,000
Capital Round 2:
● The $1,500,000 for Capital Round 2 was used to cover the FY25 Operating Budget shortfall.
Economic Development Subcommittee
The Economic Development Subcommittee (EDC) is composed of four members of the Town Council; Melanie Hamblen Chair, Cobi Frongillo, Vice Chair, Patrick Sheridan and Brian Chandler.
In FY24 the EDC met a total of 11 times. They discussed and recommended several bylaw amendments and zoning bylaw amendments to the Town Council, with the help of extensive research performed by Bryan Taberner and the Department of Planning and Community Development. Of the amendments that were voted on by Council, all but one passed. Notably, a zoning bylaw was passed which will authorize the rezoning of the 5+ acre industrial property located at 305 Union Street from Business to Commercial I, allowing for a promising redevelopment project which has the potential to revitalize and modernize the Franklin Crossing neighborhood. Also of note, important legislation was passed to bring the Town into compliance with MBTA Communities multifamily zoning requirements, as well as legislation relative to Accessory Dwelling Units. Other legislation passed by the Town Council on the recommendation of the EDC includes bylaws relative to snow removal, grease traps, and the Marijuana Overlay District.
Next on the horizon for the EDC, in addition to their ongoing work in collaboration with the Department of Planning and Community Development, is a Marketing & Branding project led by Deputy Town Administrator Amy Frigulietti. The Town received a State earmark to fund this exciting project, and the EDC will play a key role in building the brand and developing a new logo to represent Franklin's unique strengths and assets as well as the community's vision for the future.
TL:DR
or dig into the full annual report here ->
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| Annual Town Report of the Town Council - FY 2024 |
