Franklin Town Council
The Town Council is the holder of all general, corporate, legislative, and appropriation powers of the Town of Franklin. 2n behalf of the Town Council, I submit our annual report for Fiscal Year 2023.
Tom Mercer, Chair
Robert Dellorco, Vice Chair
Glenn Jones, Clerk
Deborah Pellegri, Melanie Hamblen, Brian Chandler, Cobi Frongillo, Patrick Sheridan, and Ted Cormier-Leger
Budget Subcommittee & Joint Budget Subcommittee
The Budget Subcommittee is composed of four members of the Town Council; Tom Mercer, Chair, Brian Chandler, Vice Chair, Melanie Hamblen and Cobi Frongillo.
The Joint Budget Subcommittee, composed of members from the Town Council, School Committee, and Finance Committee, had one meeting in FY23 during which they reviewed their committee charge and discussed the preliminary FY24 budget.
Capital Budget Subcommittee
The Capital Budget Subcommittee is composed of four members of the Town Council; Debbie Pellegri,
Chair, Robert Dellorco, Vice Chair, Brian Chandler and Ted Cormier-Leger.
The Capital Budget Subcommittee met three times in FY23 to review department requests and capital plans. They recommended that the full Town Council appropriate:
Capital Round 1:
Free Cash Appropriations: $1,928,487
• School Department: Curriculum, Equipment & Technology - $480,000
• Facilities Department: Vehicles - $139,000
• Technology: Equipment & Technology - $20,500
• Town Administration & Building Commissioner: Equipment & Infrastructure
- $120,000
• Fire Department: Vehicles & Equipment - $379,199
• Police Department: Vehicles, Equipment & Technology - $399,788
• Department of Public Works: Vehicles - $390,000
Water Retained Earnings: $1,237,750
• Water Enterprise Fund: Infrastructure, Vehicles & Equipment - $1,237,750
Sewer Retained Earning: $935,000
• Sewer Enterprise Fund: Equipment - $935,000
Capital Round 2:
• Department of Public Works: Snow & Ice , Roads, Sidewalks & Parking Lots -
$581,782
• Town Administration: Marketing & Branding - $50,000
• School Department: SPED Van - $77,000
• Town Clerk: Vests and Gear for Election Wardens - $3,000
Economic Development Subcommittee
The Economic Development Subcommittee (EDC) is composed of four members of the Town Council; Melanie Hamblen, Chair, Cobi Frongillo, Vice Chair, Glenn Jones and Patrick Sheridan.
EDC + Steering Committee
In FY23 the members of the EDC were joined by two members of the Planning Board; Greg Rondeau and Beth Wierling, and one member of the ZBA; Bruce Hunchard, to form the Steering Committee. The primary mission of the Steering Committee was to review and analyze the findings of the "Franklin For All" Downtown Franklin and Franklin Crossing zoning diagnostics study which concluded in June of 2022, prioritize zoning recommendations, and plan the timeline and implementation for the three highest determined priority recommendations.
The EDC and the EDC + Steering Committee collectively met a total of 15 times in FY23. With the help of the Department of Planning and Community Development and Building Commissioner, they identified their priority zoning recommendations and voted to move several bylaw amendments to the Town Council for approval. Among the most notable were amendments made to inclusionary zoning, accessory dwelling units, and parking, all of which involved months of deliberation and compromise on extremely complicated subject matter, bringing a successful conclusion to the first phase of the Franklin For All zoning changes.
The EDC also voted on and moved two bylaw amendments to the Town Council to amend the Town's existing Zoning Map. These amendments are part of an ongoing effort led by the Department of Planning and Community Development to better define zoning districts townwide.
South Franklin Congregational Meeting House (“Old South Church”)
The EDC also played a critical role in the sale of the Old South Church to Old Colony Habitat for Humanity. The Town had owned the Old South Church located at 762 Washington Street since 1972 and had not used the property since 2007. In FY22 The Town put out a request for Expressions of Interest for the purchase of the property and received two viable proposals. After discussing the proposals the EDC recommended to the Town Council that the Request for Proposals (RFP) should include a condition that the property would only be used for affordable housing. At the start of FY23, the Town Council voted to accept the recommendation of the EDC and in September 2022 they authorized the Town Administration to release an RFP which would include provisions for both permanent affordable housing and historic preservation restrictions. The Town received a formal proposal from Old Colony Habitat for Humanity to construct a single family residence which met the restriction requirements for both affordable housing and historic preservation. In November of 2022 the Town Council voted unanimously to sell the property to Old Colony Habitat for Humanity, and we are eagerly anticipating the restoration of this beautiful and historic building as it transitions into a home for a family in Franklin.
New Committees
In FY23 the Town Council voted to create 4 new Town committees.
The Master Plan Update Committee is composed of three members of the Town Council; Glenn Jones, Chair, Cobi Frongillo, Vice Chair, and Melanie Hamblen, Clerk; two members of the Planning
Board; Rick Power and Jen Williams; one member of the Zoning Board of Appeals, Bruce Hunchard; one member of the Conservation Commission, Meghann Hagen, and six members-at-large, Gino Carlucci, Ken Elmore, Erin Gallagher, Joe Halligan, Ginelle Lang and Eric Steltzer.
The mission of the Master Plan Update Committee is to update the 2013 town wide Master Plan. The Committee aims to accomplish the following:
• Review the current Master Plan and existing planning documents, data and achievements;
• Identify the key issues facing the community in the next ten years;
• Assist in the identification of existing conditions and conduct trends analysis;
• Recommend goals and objectives related to Franklin's future;
• Develop a clear action plan for the Town of Franklin; and
• Make a final report to the Planning Board within 18 months from the date of ratification of the Committee members, January 4, 2023
In FY23 the Master Plan Update Committee met twice and established five subcommittees consisting of its members:
• Land Use & Zoning
• Housing & Economics
• Community Services, Facilities & Circulation
• Sustainability
• Open Space & Recreation and Natural, Cultural & Historic Resources
The full committee and subcommittees will continue to meet regularly in FY24 and anticipate presenting a complete report to the Planning Board by the conclusion of FY24.
The Davis-Thayer Building Reuse Advisory Committee is composed of three members of the Town Council; Debbie Pellegri, Chair, Patrick Sheridan, Vice Chair and Ted Cormier-Leger, Clerk; one member of the Planning Board, Greg Rondeau; and five members-at-large, Megan McCarthy, Gwyneth Morss, Chris Stickney, Roberta Trahan and Sam Williams.
This committee was created after a resolution was approved by the Town Council at the start of FY23 to transfer the care, custody, management and control of the property containing the Davis Thayer Elementary School from the Franklin School Committee to the Franklin Town Council, for municipal purposes. The mission of the Davis-Thayer Building Reuse Advisory Committee is to evaluate potential strategies and future uses for the building and parcel of land the building is located on. The Committee aims to accomplish the following:
• Conduct an assessment of current conditions and possible uses;
• Conduct a market appraisal of the property;
• Engage community stakeholders and citizen input through a public listening series; and
• Evaluate potential future uses and make a final report to the Town Council by December 23, 2023
The Davis-Thayer Committee will be meeting regularly in the first half of FY24 and anticipate presenting a final report to the Town Council in December of 2023.
The Police Station Building Committee is composed of three members of the Town Council; Tom Mercer, Chair, Brian Chandler, Vice Chair, and Robert Dellorco, Clerk; Chief of Police, Thomas Lynch; Town Administrator, Jamie Hellen; Director of Facilities, Mike D'Angelo; Executive Director of Metacomet Emergency Communications Center, Gary Premo; two members of the Police Department staff, Andressa Rosa and James West; and two members-at-large, Kelsey Alexander and David Pellegri.
The mission of the Police Station Building Committee is to oversee a potential expansion and/or renovation of the current Station located at 911 Panther Way. The Committee aims to accomplish the following:
• Select a designer for the needs analysis and design;
• Evaluate all potential expansion and renovation options for the current and future needs of the Police Department;
• Present the proposals to the Town Council for approval; and
• Once approved, oversee the project until substantial completion
The Police Station Building Committee will be meeting on a regular basis beginning in FY24 until a project proposal has been approved by the Town Council and the project has achieved substantial completion.
The Subcommittee for Arts and Cultural Initiatives is composed of three members of the Town Council; Cobi Frongillo, Chair, Ted Cormier-Leger, Vice Chair; and Melanie Hamblen, Clerk.
The Subcommittee for Arts and Culture Initiatives was created in tandem with the Master Plan Update Committee as a way to create space for conversation regarding the future of Arts and Culture in Franklin.
In the Spring of 2023 the Subcommittee hosted an Arts and Culture Listening Tour which was a three- part series of listening sessions to engage the community in a discussion of ideas, thoughts and strategies to grow the economic footprint of arts and culture in Franklin. They also released an Arts and Culture Feedback Survey to ensure all voices in the community had an opportunity to be heard.
The Subcommittee will produce a report of ideas to the Master Plan Update Committee for their consideration in the Summer of 2023.
Open Space
In October of 2022 the Town Council voted to exercise its Chapter 61A, Section 14 first refusal option to purchase 113 acres of land located off of Prospect Street, owned by Schmidt's Farm, Inc.. At approximately 115 acres, Schmidt's Farm represents one of the last and largest contiguous parcels of open space in Franklin. Approximately 2 acres of this land were retained by the Seller for personal use, and the Town acquired 113 acres at a purchase price of
$3,800,000.
Later, in December of 2022, the Town Council voted to purchase another three parcels of land totaling approximately 18 acres from David and Kathleen Dalzell, who generously and in spite of other options, sold to the Town so that the land could remain as open space. These parcels are located on Bald Hill (16 acres +/-), off Grove St. (1 acre +/-) and off Pond St. (1 acre +/-) and the purchase price was $250,000.
These 131 acres acquired in FY23, combined with the 68 acres acquired in FY22 with the purchase of the land known as Maple Hill, bring the Town to an impressive total of nearly 200 acres purchased in under two years. Potential uses for all of this land will reinforce the Town's goal of protecting and providing for open space.
Red Brick School House
The Red Brick School House, located at 2 Lincoln St., is a Town owned building on the National Registry of Historic Places. In FY22 and FY23, the Town Council approved the appropriation of CPA funds to restore the exterior of the building. The restoration project, which includes lead paint remediation, brick restoration, and various cosmetic improvements to the exterior and surrounding landscaping, is due for completion in the Fall of 2023 with a ribbon cutting expected to occur in October.
Built in 1833, the Red Brick School House is one of the oldest one-room schoolhouses in the United States and a cornerstone of Franklin's history.
Other FY23 Town Council Accomplishments
Town Administrator's Contract: The Council approved the Town Administrator's Contract for the period of July 1, 2023 through December 31, 2027
CPA Funded Capital Projects: The Council voted on the Community Preservation Act appropriations and their FY24 Capital Plan. In doing so they approved the use of CPA funds for the following capital projects:
• Open Space & Recreation Reserve
o Fletcher St. Playground - ADA Accessibility - $150,00
o Beaver St. Challenge Course - $150,000
Tax Work-off Abatement Programs: The Council voted to increase both the Senior Citizens' and the Veterans' Property Tax Work-off Abatement Programs by increasing the annual individual benefit of each to $1,500.
Street Acceptances: The Council voted to accept Maple Tree Lane and Oak Tree Lane as public ways.
ARPA Spending: To date, the Council has awarded more than $6.5 million toward roads, water main and stormwater infrastructure improvements, employee compensation, and hired a second mental health clinician for the Police Department. Federal government has extended usage of these funds to December 31, 2026.
FY23 was an extraordinarily busy and successful year. In addition to what has been described above, the Council approved a balanced budget and passed a significant amount of legislation, including but not limited to license transactions for local businesses, appointment ratifications to our Town boards and committees, an exceptional amount of gift acceptances totaling more than $200,000, various appropriations, and much more. Each action by the Town Council is taken with the best interest of all Franklin stakeholders in mind, with an unwavering commitment to upholding Franklin as the wonderful community that we share.
Finally, on behalf of the entire Town Council, we extend our sincere gratitude and appreciation to all of the employees of the Town of Franklin for their dedication, innovation and work during Fiscal Year 2023. We are continually impressed with this incredible staff working diligently together to keep the organization moving forward on all of the Town's goals. Thank you!
It is a pleasure to serve my fellow citizens and to submit this annual report on behalf of the Franklin Town Council for your review.
Thomas Mercer
Chairman, Franklin Town Council
The full Town of Franklin FY 2023 Annual Report can be found online
