In June, Town officials told us all very clearly that if the override failed, we’d be looking at cuts that would take away services, personnel, and some of the things that contribute to the character of our community. After much debate, voters decided those cuts were an acceptable loss and voted against the override. But now that the cuts are rearing their ugly heads, these same “no” voters are feigning shock and claiming the cuts are political and punitive.
Absolutely no one should be surprised that the reductions they were told were coming are now here. That’s why it’s ridiculous and more than a little hypocritical that some people in town—including Town Council hopeful Jane Callaway-Tripp who came in last in a field of 12 when she last ran—are trying to shirk responsibility for the cuts they voted for going into effect.
This is what “no” voters chose. These are the consequences of their votes. When people like Callaway-Tripp write that town officials need more accountability, I have to wonder why she’s not looking in the mirror. The people who voted for this need to be accountable for their decisions, not falsely playing the victim and accusing everyone else of some sort of conspiracy theory when, in reality, they’re getting exactly what they chose.
I don’t believe for a second that the officers and employees of the Franklin Police Department are using the children of Franklin as political pawns to prove a point. That Halloween party has existed for decades and I believe the department loves putting it on and giving parents and kids a beloved tradition. I’m positive it hurt them to have to cancel this year’s festivities, and they very clearly explained exactly why it happened. They wrote:
“Following the results of the proposition 2.5 override the Franklin Police Department lost $250,000 out of our operational budget. This resulted in the elimination of 2 full-time patrol officer positions. With the two openings, two officers from the Community Service Unit/School Resource Officers were reassigned to the patrol division to fill the open vacancies and low staffing. The Community Service Unit was responsible for coordinating this large yearly party. With the reduced CSU staffing, events like this are simply not possible due to staffing restrictions. CSU Officers serve as School Resource Officers and their primary responsibilities are with the Franklin Public Schools. We hope that if staffing levels increase we will be able to throw this party and other community events again.”
But, according to Callaway-Tripp, they should’ve given townspeople a chance to reach into their own pockets and fund this themselves. Except her claim ignores the fact that voters had that precise opportunity in June and decided to do the exact opposite.
I hear a lot of talk about the need for audits and accountability if certain folks are elected to the town’s top board, but apparently that accountability is reserved for everyone else who disagrees with them and not themselves. Which tells me all I need to know when casting a vote on Nov. 4.
Please choose your candidates wisely because, even though they don’t want to take responsibility for them now, votes have very real consequences.
Aaron Gouveia
Franklin resident
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Voices of Franklin: "votes have very real consequences"
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Wednesday, October 29 
