Date: July 11, 2025
To: Franklin Town Council
From: Franklin Council on Aging Board
RE: Private Donation
Dear Members of the Town Council,
The Franklin Council on Aging respectfully recommends that the Town Council not accept the recent private donation made to the Senior Center, which is restricted to funding the salary of a part-time nurse.
While we appreciate the generosity and intent behind this contribution, accepting such a donation raises several significant concerns:
1. Equity and Fairness: Allowing private funds to direct staffing decisions opens the door to unequal treatment and the risk that individuals with financial resources could exert disproportionate influence over municipal human resource decisions in the future.
2. Policy Consistency: Accepting this donation would create inconsistency across town governance. The Town of Franklin School Committee has an established policy prohibiting private donations from being used to fund salaries (e.g., supplanting):
The Franklin School Committee gratefully accepts donations made by Booster Groups, Parent Communication Councils (PCCs), other private entities and Educational Foundations to support the Franklin Public School System. In an effort to ensure equity, consistency and compliance with Massachusetts General Law, any donated funds shall not supplant the operational budget voted by the School Committee. (This would include payment of salaries, instructional stipends, operating cost of buildings and curriculum programming or other recurrent budgetary items.)
3. Operational Integrity: Staffing decisions at the Senior Center should remain under the purview of its management, who are best positioned to assess and deploy resources in service of our constituents.
4. Respect for Voter Decision: In June 2025, Franklin voters chose not to pass a Proposition 2½ override, with the understanding that such a decision would necessitate reductions in staffing and services across the Town of Franklin. Accepting private funds to restore positions contradicts the democratic will expressed through that vote.
Accepting this donation could set a troubling precedent that undermines transparent governance, community equity, and proper management authority. We urge the Town Council to consider the broader implications and decline the offer.
Thank you for your attention and continued support of the Franklin Senior Center and its mission.
Sincerely,
Below Signed Members, Franklin Council on Aging
10 Daniel McCahill Street
Franklin, MA 02038
Carolyn O'Brien, Chair
Phyllis Malcom, Vice Chair
Faith Flaherty, Secretary
Elizabeth Sawver
Kimberly Mu-Chow
Tina Powderly
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| Franklin Council on Aging letter to Franklin Town Council RE: Private Donation |
