Questions for All candidates
What is your ‘Franklin story’? Tell us briefly about your road to or life within Franklin & your involvement in the community here.
Civil discourse is a key component of our democratic republic form of government. The political party divide unfortunately is wider now than ever, as an individual what can and will you do to help bridge the divide?
What experience or background will help you to serve in this particular role? Or what do you bring to the table that helps to set you apart from the others competing for this role?
Questions for candidates for each of these specific roles:
Town Council
One of the key responsibilities of the Council is to hire and provide oversight for the Town Administrator and his/her team. For example, while you can serve as an escalation point for the Town’s folk, this does not include micromanaging a particular department or operation. Do you agree or disagree? Please explain.
The Town Council approves the annual budget which sets the priorities for how Franklin operates. Faced with the fiscal challenges for the next several years, what are the financial priorities you think we need to address?
How do you explain what needs to be done to the voters and residents?
What would you do to help the community understand the separation of roles between the Council and School Committee?
Do you support the goals and recommendations of the 2025 Franklin Master Plan?
If so, what would you do as a Town Councilor to help implement them?
If not, why not?
Planning Board
Do you support the goals and recommendations of the 2025 Franklin Master Plan?
If so, how would you work as a Planning Board member to help implement them?
If not, why not?
What is your vision for responsible, sustainable growth in Franklin?
School Committee
With redistricting behind us, what do you see as the key priority for the district?
With the School District responsible for the largest portion of Town of Franklin's budget, what are your ideas to help resolve the structural deficit in the operating budget?
Board of Assessors
Your role provides oversight for the real estate and personal property assessment process. While those assessment processes are governed by MA General Law, it has also been described as the cashbox for the Town. What can you say about this process that might help folks understand more about it?
Board of Health
The Health Dept came to the frontline during the COVID-19 pandemic. With the pandemic mostly behind us, in your role as oversight for the Dept, what do you see as next steps for the Dept and community to maintain good health?
Town Clerk
As one of the key contact points for residents, the Town Clerk’s office manages vital records (birth, death, marriages), dog licenses, annual census, voting records and elections, compiles Department reports to produce the Town’s Annual Report; there are likely other items that I haven’t mentioned.
Can you name a few and elaborate on those?
As the lead election official for the Town, you have a unique role in that you report to the Secretary of the Commonwealth on election matters and to the Town Administrator on local Franklin items (census, dog licenses, etc.) do you have trouble navigating those roles?
Please elaborate
What certifications are required for this role?
What certifications are helpful but might be optional?
As a closing question for ALL candidates
While we have covered a variety of topics, is there something we have not discussed that you would like to leave with the voters & residents?
