Town Council welcomed 2 new Police hires, moved zoning bylaws to 2nd reading, hears of solicitation process, and personnel updates (video)

The Franklin Town Council met as scheduled on Wednesday, Sept 17, 2025. 7 of the Councilors were present in Chambers for this session (2 absent due to illness).

The discussion on the Crossing Neighborhood District causes Council Frongillo to recuse himself. His father's business operates in the proposed zoning change.

Franklin TV video available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQsgBfKN8cY

The agenda and docs released for this session can be found

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09172025-1911

My notes in a single PDF can be found ->   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MNwWCGlCOgPnqbmMecTz5TqaesbmSt4z/view?usp=drive_link

Quick recap:

• Town Clerk Nancy Danello provides update on biennial election status
• School Cmte Chair Dave Callaghan provides an update on school opening and traffic issues being worked
• 2 new hires effectively back filling for positions authorized within the reduced Police Dept staffing were sworn in and pinned by family members
• 2 public hearings were opened separately; one for the 2 commercial kitchen bylaws to enable the operation of a commercial kitchen within a residence if on septic (not on town sewer); and second, a set of 6 bylaws to create the Crossing Neighborhood zoning district. It would be similar to the Downtown zoning with a couple of exemptions. Councilor Frongillo recused himself from these discussions and votes as his father's business operates in the proposed zoning area
• In legislation for action 
• all 8 of the zoning changes moved to a second reading
• The Council voted to formalize the early in person voting schedule for the November election as announced
• A couple of water & sewer extensions were approved
• A definition of a collection container was accepted and authorized to extend the current use by religious organizations to non-profits, in particular the American Legion and VFW
• A presentation on Solicitation Permits by Police Chief Thomas Lynch and Deputy Police Chief James West was made to provide some info on the process in response to an incident earlier this year. 
• In the Town Administrator's Report 2 key items were covered; 
• one a series of personnel moves; B Taberner's replacement was announced, M Kinhart and M D'Angelo are retiring, Breeka Li Goodlander to return from pregnancy leave in mid-Oct; 
• second, the Assessors revealed new growth will be about $271,000 shorter than projected earlier this year. This will need to be adjusted somehow before the tax rate hearing in Nov/Dec. It seems to be reflecting the slowdown in growth due to interest rates, uncertainty, and the 'nimby-factor', etc.
• The Council entered into executive session not to return to public meeting

Jalen Samuels & Kyle Vaught

Jalen Samuels & Kyle Vaught getting pinned

Franklin Police Dept shares what to know on soliciting in Franklin - part 1

Via Franklin Police Dept:

"Let’s talk solicitors…

Over the past several days we’ve fielded several calls for solicitors around Franklin for various companies. When done so in accordance with Franklin By-Laws, soliciting is legal and there is little the police department can do when everything is above board.

All solicitors are registered with the Town of Franklin and granted permits by the Chief of Police.

Solicitors are allowed to solicit between the hours of 9 am and 7 pm or a half hour before sunset (which is late this time if the year).

Solicitors are allowed to walk to your front door and ring your doorbell. They are not allowed to enter on private property. An example of this would be a yard with a clear no-trespass sign. Residents often have no solicitation signs, but these signs are merely suggestions to solicitors. They might still try and sell their services.

Legitimate solicitors carry identification with their relationship to their organizations and should and are expected to show it if requested. They are not required to wear company clothing, yellow vests, or drive company cars.

Typically, some solicitors contact the police department and the MECC ahead of going door to door as they know they may expect calls to the police. When responding to solicitation calls, officers check our active solicitation permits to make sure companies are permitted. If they are, they are free to continue their work as long as they are following the town by-laws. If they are not permitted, they are provided information on how to obtain a solicitation permit, close up shop, and are subject to being fined.

Soliciting without a permit is not an arrestable offense. Individuals or companies are fined with a town by-law citation of not more than $200.

We understand that answering the door to solicitors can be unsettling. If you’re not comfortable opening the door for someone, don’t. You could get a no solicitation sign for your house or yard. If you ask a solicitor to leave and they don’t, give us a call! If solicitors are knocking on your door after the approved solicitation hours, give us a call! What we don't recommend is becoming confrontational or physical with solicitors. Simply be polite and ask them to leave if you are not interested in their services. If they don't leave your property, again call us.

Franklin Police Dept shares what
to know on soliciting in Franklin - part 1

We appreciate the concern and calls for service surrounding suspicious activity in our town. We hope this level of community interaction continues. This post is to simply educate people about the legitimacy of solicitors within the Town of Franklin.

All Town By-Laws regarding solicitation and other By-Laws can be found here: https://ecode360.com/10433859"

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/p/15xikM1zEc/

Franklin Police Dept: solicitors issued violation - part 2

Terminix Solicitors

July 22, 2025

"On July 17, 2025 through July 21, 2025 the Franklin Police Department received several calls regarding aggressive Terminix employees who were soliciting their service in Franklin neighborhoods. The Franklin Police was also made aware of videos being circulated on social media showing these solicitors using inappropriate language.

All companies that wish to solicit in Franklin must apply for a permit through the police department (Franklin bylaw Chapter 128 Peddling and Soliciting). There were no solicitation permits issued for Terminix.

Franklin Police Dept: solicitors
issued violation - part 2

The Franklin Police Department launched an investigation to ensure that these were solicitors for Terminix and not potential scammers. We were able to locate and identify the solicitors and we confirmed through Terminix that they hire a third-party company, Hawks, to do solicitation for them.

This company, Hawx, was issued a bylaw violation for soliciting without a permit and instructed to discontinue soliciting in Franklin without the proper permit.

The Franklin Police Department would like to thank the community for reporting these incidents. In today’s day of increasing threats of scams, we take these matters seriously.

​The information contained in this press release does not imply listed individuals have been convicted in a court of valid jurisdiction of the crimes for which they were arrested. All individuals are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty by a court with proper jurisdiction over the matter(s) for which they were arrested."

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/1C1swyZQQw/