Agenda for Town Council Meeting scheduled for Wednesday, Jan 21, 2026 at 6 PM

Franklin Town Council

Agenda & Meeting Packet

January 21, 2026 = 6:00 PM

Meeting will be held at the Franklin Municipal Building 355 East Central Street - 2nd Floor, Council Chambers

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.   

Agenda for Town Council Meeting scheduled for Wednesday, Jan 21, 2026 at 6 PM

3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

a. January 7, 2026   https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/8113/3a-January-7-2026-TC-Meeting-Minutes--Draft-for-Reviewdocx

4. PROCLAMATIONS / RECOGNITIONS

a. Proclamation - Scotty Smith Retirement

5. APPOINTMENTS

a. Zoning Board of Appeals

i. Isabella Carter  https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/8127/5aii-1---Isabella-Carter

ii. Jennifer Williams    https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/8126/5ai-1---Jen-Williams

6. PUBLIC HEARINGS - 6:00 PM - None Scheduled

7. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS - None Scheduled

 

8. PRESENTATIONS / DISCUSSION

a. Town Infrastructure Overview - Brutus Cantoreggi, Director of Public Works   https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/8133/Town-Council-Presentation---January-21-2026

9. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION

a. Resolution 26-06: Amendment to Cannabis licensing Local Approval Process and Cannabis Social Equity Policy Social Equity policy (Motion to Approve Resolution 26-06 - Majority Vote) https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/8129/9a-Cannabis-Social-Equity-Policy 

b. Resolution 26-07: Gift Acceptance - Franklin Public Library ($500)

(Motion to Approve Resolution 26-07 - Majority Vote)  

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/8130/9b--Gift-Acceptance---Library

10. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

a. FY27 Budget Update and Timeline  https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/8134/10a-1---MEMO---FY26-Budget-Update-and-Timeline

11. SUBCOMMITTEE & AD HOC COMMITTEE REPORTS

12. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

13. COUNCIL COMMENTS

14. EXECUTIVE SESSION - None Scheduled.

15. ADJOURN

Note: Two-Thirds Vote: requires 6 votes

Majority Vote: requires majority of members present and voting

Town Administrator Letter with ZBA Appointments - Jan 21, 2026 Town Council meeting

January 16, 2026

To: Town Council

From: Jamie Hellen, Town Administrator

RE: Appointments - Zoning Board of Appeals

I am asking the Town Council to ratify my nomination appointments of Jennifer Williams and Isabella Carter as At-Large members of the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA).

Robert “Archie” Acevedo resigned from the ZBA on January 7, 2026 with a term nearing expiration on June 30, 2026. I am nominating Isabella Carter to fill this vacancy with the expectation she will be reappointed in June 2026 for a full three year term through 2029.

Bruce Hunchard’s 3-year term expired on June 30, 2025; however his term was extended through the completion of the ZBA’s final decision on the 444 East Central St. project. The current term for this vacated seat expires on June 30, 2028. I am nominating Jennifer Williams to fill this term.

Membership on the ZBA is challenging and board members are faced with some extremely difficult and divisive decisions to make. As I have already reported, this one Board receives scarce interest to serve and we have had very few people apply to be on the ZBA. Furthermore, the board requires technical knowledge, deep interest in these issues and a deep commitment to learn on their own personal time. The ZBA oversees a complicated, dense and deep set of issues that are affected by federal, state and local laws, case law and with potential significant consequences to the community, private property owners, residents, and commercial businesses.

Bruce and Archie have served the ZBA for 34 and 22 years respectively and have done an exceptional job. Their service to the Town is greatly appreciated by all of the staff, and sadly, often goes underappreciated by the general public. While I am firmly aware of the concerns in the community surrounding members of the ZBA, at times, there is no mix or words that I could come up with to commend Bruce and Archie's combined 56 years of volunteer service to the town. It is the end of an era. They deserve far more respect and appreciation than condemnation. There is no question Bruce and Archie have helped people in Franklin at a far greater level than not. Their decisions have helped

 

small businesses, commercial businesses, and thousands of residents. They have helped generate significant tax levy and tax base over the decades. They have an intimate knowledge of federal, state and local laws. Their expertise and institutional knowledge will be missed.

That said, the community clearly desires a new ZBA. If these nominations are approved this evening, the town will have very intelligent, thoughtful, considerate and engaged members on the Zoning Board of Appeals. I am hopeful that with new membership, our organization can steer the community toward greater understanding of the complex web of laws and case law that many times defines the final decision of the Board, enhance transparency and easier access to complicated materials and address concerns from residents. This does not mean residents will always see the decision they want. But we hope to provide a better experience to residents who choose to engage with the ZBA.

The volunteer forms and resumes for both Jen and Isabella are included in the agenda packet for the January 21st Town Council meeting.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Town Administrator Letter with ZBA Appointments - Jan 21, 2026 Town Council meeting

PDF of this memo ->

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/8131/5a--Appointments---Jen-Williams-and-Isabella-Carter---ZBA

J Williams volunteer form

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/8126/5ai-1---Jen-Williams

I Carter volunteer form

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/8127/5aii-1---Isabella-Carter

The complete Town Council agenda (including remote participation info)

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01212026-2101

Link to GoFundMe for 444 East Central appeal

Link to GoFundMe for 444 East Central appeal

In answer to a question I had last week: Was there going to be an appeal filed on the 444 East Central decision? Yes. there is. 

The group is also raising funds for their legal efforts.

You can find the GoFundMe -> https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-legal-appeal-of-444-east-central-street-40b-approval

Note: the appeal will also force the Town of Franklin to pay some legal expenses in its defense of the decision. Money that could perhaps be better used elsewhere.

The 444 East Central St decision doc is final and posted

As promised during the Dec 23, 2025 Zoning Board of Appeals meeting, the final decision doc was going to be finished and filed with the Town Clerk by year end. 

The 38 page decision is indeed marked with the Town Clerk seal and posted to the ZBA page dated 12/31/25.

Link to Town page for doc ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/8024/444-E-Central-St-Record-and-Decision-with-Clerk-Stamp

As an abutter, I also received this post card in the mail on Friday:

The 444 East Central St decision doc is final and posted 

Embedded version of doc (for ease of reading):

Link to the ZBA meeting video and associated documents ->  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/12/zba-votes-is-2-1-for-444-east-central.html

ZBA votes is 2-1 for the 444 East Central Project (video)

The Franklin Zoning Board of Appeals met on Tuesday as scheduled although the meeting opened late and then waited for  a member to arrive so didn't fully start until about 6:45 PM.

Franklin TV video is available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNstms7QVrs

The agenda doc for this session ->    https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_12232025-2057 

The draft decision document which ended up with some key edits during the meeting starts here -> https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/7947/Draft-Decision121525clean

Brief recap:

• Issue with the Attorney consulting for the Town on 40b was finally resolved with him dialing in via cell phone
• Discussion on change of parking from 1.5 to 1.6 would add 32 units to parking
• Discussion on the ConComm status, no decision at last session, next meeting Jan 15. The plans have been reviewed but they have not yet taken a stand on some of the aspects of the local zoning for conservation. Applicant hasn't paid the fi ling fee, ZBA could exempt, ConComm Requests not to exempt so the fee would be paid
• Applicant submitted an alternative analysis on State requirements not on the local requirements which are more stringent. Submitted to the ZBA, not to ConComm, not sure if it is sufficient
• Some conditions apparently cover the waivers requested. Land gift violates state law, seems to ask for the waiver still appears to be conflicting. "Relevant but not harmful to the Town" to grant the waiver; end of the day, has to apply with applicable law
• Motion to approve waivers as discussed, (long pause to second), Second, 2-1 for the listing as discussed
• The ZBA is bound by the 180 days to make a decision and then within 40 days to fi le the decision and have it cleaned up. If the LIP is questioned, the questioner can, if they have standing can challenge the State decision on the LIP, it is not material to the ZBA actions today. Hearing closed Nov 20, letter withdrew support but did not ask for withdrawal of the PEL letter.
• There is no basis other than taking the required actions. ZBA is not a party to the dispute between EOHLC and Town Council. Project did make many changes to the # of buildings, # of units, height of roofs, improved buffers, etc. etc. All done with best faith efforts
• Vote on the motion, Lang, yes; Hunchard, yes; Acevedo, no
• Passes 2-1
• However as discussed earlier, what happens from here, this may not be over yet. Will the Town Council or abutters step in to go to court?

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Tuesday, December 23, 2025 ???

For additional details on Library events -> 

https://www.franklinma.gov/942/Calendar-of-Events

For additional details on Senior Center events ->   

https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar.aspx?CID=37,24&showPastEvents=false

Library & Senior Center events

** Town Meetings today   **

Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) Meeting

Tuesday, December 23 Time: 6:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_12232025-2057 

------------

Find the full Community event calendar  https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:  https://bit.ly/Submit2Calendar

The Town meeting calendar is found  https://www.franklinma.gov/Calendar.aspx
The School district calendar is found  https://franklinpublicschooldistrictma.sites.thrillshare.com/o/fpsd/page/school-calendar

Agenda for Zoning Board of Appeals meeting, Tuesday, Dec 23, 2025 at 6:30 PM

Zoning Board Of Appeals

December 23, 2025, 6:30 PM

Meeting will be held at the Franklin Municipal Building

355 East Central Street - 2nd Floor, Council Chambers

1. ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE CHAIR

a. Chair to identify members participating remotely.

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 Zoning Board

cannot engage in a dialogue or comment on a matter raised during Citizen Comments. The Zoning Board ask the Dept Director/Other to review the matter.

3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

December 18, 2025

4. TOPIC

a. 6:30PM : 444 East Central Street- TAG Central LLC

Applicant is seeking a building permit to construct a 264 unit multi-family development. The building permit is denied without a Comprehensive Permit from the ZBA.

1. Draft Decision

5. GENERAL BUSINESS:

6. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

7. ADJOURN

The agenda doc also contains remote participation info ->

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_12232025-2057

Agenda for Zoning Board of Appeals meeting, Tuesday, Dec 23, 2025 at 6:30 PM

Incident Report on Town Council (Dec 3) & ZBA (Dec 4) meetings

Incident Report on Town Council (Dec 3) & ZBA (Dec 4) meetings 

The following “incident report” was prepared by Steve Sherlock in coordination with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen and Franklin TV Executive Director Peter Fasciano.

-----------------------------

** The Dec 3, 2025 Town Council meeting issue:

Franklin TV equipment in Council Chambers took a power surge during the storm Tuesday night causing the loss of some critical equipment. Studio personnel worked Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Friday’s work seems to have brought the systems back to operational status. Additional testing will be done before the meetings next week

Action:

• The Town Council Dec 3, 2025 meeting needs to be reconstructed from the Zoom recording and Council Chamber recording. This will take time but will be shared once ready. 

• Processing underway by Franklin TV

• The studio equipment is Franklin TV responsibility; the studio location in Council Chambers is powered by the Town. Power management from the Town is optimal.  A few years ago backup power was revised to distribute to 'mission critical' service points throughout the building in an emergency.  It's referenced as red-socketing.  You see red wall sockets in hospitals and anywhere that power must be maintained under all conditions.  It answers the question:  If power goes away, what points must we maintain?  It divides the building into "must do, like to do".  The Franklin TV control room is included. The implementation was smartly accomplished. The issue that arose in this case was a failure in the Franklin TV UPS - (uninterruptible power supply) the one thing that should have protected the system.  

• The UPS is effective and necessary, but not absolutely guaranteed. Franklin TV to replace the UPS

** Thursday’s Dec 4, 2025 Zoning Board of Appeals meeting issues:

The Thursday Zoning Board of Appeals meeting had less of a technical glitch and more of a resource issue to manage the meeting. The technical glitch occurred prior to the meeting start and the check to resolve was not completed before the meeting started. The meeting was recorded, and immediately upon conclusion, made available to YouTube.

• All meetings scheduled for broadcast start on Zoom.

• The Town manages the meeting or webinar format, setting time, permissions, and managing the attendees (admitting, muting/unmuting, etc.). 

• One of the key steps is for the Town to permission the Franklin TV account to record the meeting. This recording is then fed through the Franklin TV network to feed the Comcast and Verizon cable subscribers as well as to YouTube. 

The technical glitch on Thursday was an update to the YouTube feed controller. Comcast and Verizon broadcast feeds were handled properly. The YouTube feed was fixed immediately after the meeting ended and the meeting was public at that time.

The management glitch was in Town administration of the meeting. A new person was at the controls and unaware of the lack of the feed to YouTube. Once made aware, then the general public were added to the session (beginning approx. 7:00 PM).

Action:

• Franklin TV to confirm feed configurations are proper and operational before next week's meetings.

• As noted in the Town Council issue, Franklin TV will be conducting additional testing to confirm both the Chamber studio and feed configurations are operational

• There needs to be a backchannel for those conducting the meeting to communicate other than through the open meeting, especially when the open meeting itself is an issue. The backchannel process needs to be defined, process and communications confirmed to better manage future meeting issues. (Note: this backchannel is much more important for Remotely Only meetings, generally, folks are together in the Council Chambers or 3rd floor training room and can address the issues and determine a communication plan if needed)

• Town Administrator Jamie Hellen acknowledges and will coordinate appropriate parties

Video for the Zoning Board of Appeals meeting Thursday 12/4/25 (video)

The video for the ZBA meeting is available this morning. 

• (Still researching to find out why it wasn't visible on Thursday evening). 
• (Access to Zoom is a separate issue, research underway on that also).

Franklin TV video -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQ-BcRLC4NU

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Thursday, December 4, 2025 ???

Thursday, December 4

6:30pm Holiday Pop Up Shop (Creative Corner Art Studio)

7:00pm 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node Meeting (First Universalist Society Franklin)

7:30pm Musical Bingo (Teddy Gallagher's Irish Pub)

**  Town Meetings today   **

Franklin Commission on Disability Meeting

Thursday, December 4 Time: 4:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_12042025-2029 

Conservation Commission Meeting

Thursday, December 4 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/534?fileID=6990 

Zoning Board Of Appeals (ZBA) Meeting (Zoom Only meeting)

Thursday, December 4 Time: 6:00 PM (Note time change)

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_12042025-2034 

------------

Find the full Community event calendar  https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:  https://bit.ly/Submit2Calendar

The Town meeting calendar is found  https://www.franklinma.gov/Calendar.aspx
The School district calendar is found  https://franklinpublicschooldistrictma.sites.thrillshare.com/o/fpsd/page/school-calendar

Town Council votes to join GIC, approves FY 2026 budget adjustment, rescinds prior vote on 40b approval (video)

The Franklin Town Council met as scheduled on Wednesday, November 19, 2025 beginning at 6 PM. 8 members participated in Council Chambers. One member traveling on vacation participated remotely for portion of the session.

Franklin TV video is available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGGEiz-8dlM

The agenda for this session ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_11192025-2010 

Note: additional docs were shared during the session, one on screen only, 2 copies available in Chambers. Those will be added here as time permits

Quick recap:

• vote to join the GIC passed 9-0
• Vote to approve the budget adjustment was approved 9-0. TA Hellen to hold on posting for the Communications role pending further discussion with the Town Council
• After much discussion, the vote to rescind the vote on the approval of the "friendly 40b" for 444 East Central St was approved by 5-1 (Morrongiello no; Grella, Malloy both recused themselves; Cormier-leger was not online at the time of the final vote)

My notes for the full meeting in one PDF -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/19-3d9qq6zRWsk0GedQJ6NUm6Q425CldU/view?usp=drive_link

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Thursday, November 6, 2025 ???

Thursday, November 6

9:00am Fallen Hero: Jay Stone Davis (Veterans Walkway, Franklin Town Common)

6:00pm Ladies Night Out Wine Tasting (Pour Richard's Wine & Provisions)

6:00pm LGBTQ Alliance Meeting & Friendsgiving (Franklin TV and Radio)

7:00pm 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node Meeting (virtual ONLY)  (First Universalist Society Franklin)

7:30pm Musical Bingo (Teddy Gallagher's Irish Pub)

For additional details on Library events ->    https://www.franklinma.gov/942/Calendar-of-Events

For additional details on Senior Center events ->   

https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar.aspx?CID=37,24&showPastEvents=false

**   Town Meetings today   **

Franklin Commission on Disability Meeting

Thursday, November 6 Time: 4:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_11062025-1985 

Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) Meeting

Thursday, November 6 Time: 7:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_11062025-1975 

-----------

Find the full Community event calendar  https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:  https://bit.ly/Submit2Calendar

The Town meeting calendar is found  https://www.franklinma.gov/Calendar.aspx
The School district calendar is found  https://franklinpublicschooldistrictma.sites.thrillshare.com/o/fpsd/page/school-calendar