This session of the radio show shares our “Town Council Quarterbacking” with Town Council Chair Tom Mercer. We had our conversation via the Zoom Conference Bridge on Monday, July 28, 2025. Our conversation condensed the Town Council meeting of July 23, 2025.

We focus on two questions:

• ok, what just happened? 
• What does it mean for Franklin residents and taxpayers?

Discussion items: 

Fire Department - Swearing In of New Firefighter / Paramedic 

• i. Jeffrey Wolcott, a backfill for an existing & funded position

Annual Reappointments and New Appointments of Boards and Committees Members 

• i. See “Committee Appointments” in packet for member names

ABCC Transactions

• New Section 12 Restaurant All Alcoholic Beverages License and Approval of Xiao Xia Zhang as the Manager - Kojo Asian Fusion LLC d/b/a Kojo, Located at 28 East Central Street, Franklin, MA 02038.
• License Modification - Change of Location of a Section 15 Wine and Malt Beverages Package Store License: The Little Shop of Olive Oils Inc. d/b/a The Little Shop of Olive Oils,, Located at 5 Main St., Franklin, MA 02038

Legislation for Action

• Resolution 25-27: FY26 Community Preservation Appropriation of Funds - Capital. 

Friendly 40b

• Resolution 25-49: Franklin Town Council Support for Proposed GL Chapter 40B Affordable Housing Project at 202 Washington Street Pursuant to DHCD’s Local Initiative Program (LIP)

Residential Commercial Kitchens

• j. Zoning Bylaw Amendment 25-938: Residential Commercial Kitchens - A Zoning Bylaw to Amend Chapter 185, Section 3 of the Code of the Town of Franklin
• Zoning Bylaw Amendment 25-939: Residential Commercial Kitchens - A Zoning Bylaw to Amend the Franklin Town Code at Chapter 185, Attachment 8, Use Regulations Schedule Part Vii: Accessory Uses - Referral to the Planning Board

New Service Fee

• Bylaw Amendment 25-940: A Bylaw to Amend the Code of the Town of Franklin at Chapter 82, Fees, Municipal Service, by Adding a New Service Fee: Residential Commercial Kitchen - First Reading. Moved to 2nd

Resolution 25-50: Adoption of Local Initiative Program “Friendly 40B” Policy, 

• Motion to Amend, fails 4-5
• Motion to table and deliberate at a future meeting, Seconded. Nondebatable - Via roll call, passes 5-4 to be tabled for later date (Yes - Sheridan, Frongillo, Pellegri, Hamblen, Mercer; No - Cormier-Leger, Chandler, Jones, Dellorco)

Crossing Neighborhood Zoning District

• Zoning Bylaw Amendment 25-929: Creation of the Crossing Neighborhood Zoning District - A Zoning Bylaw Amendment to the Code of the Town of Franklin at Chapter 185, Section 4,Districts Enumerated - Referral to the Planning Board Motion to referral, second 
• Next 6 votes all relate to this one, all 6 moved to Planning Board, to return to Council likely in September

EV Charging Stations

• Bylaw Amendment 25-936: A Bylaw to Amend the Code of the Town of Franklin at Chapter 73, Departmental Revolving Funds (EV Charging Stations) 
• Bylaw Amendment 25–937: A Bylaw to Amend the Code of the Town of Franklin at Chapter 82,Fees, Municipal Service (EV Charging Stations) 

Acceptance of Gifts

• Resolution 25-51: Acceptance of Gifts - Senior Center ($1,646), Veterans’ Services ($400), Fire Department ($1,025), Police Department ($1,000), Recreation (AED)

TOWN ADMINISTRATORS REPORT

• Research forthcoming on alcohol license handling. Options for other than the Council 
• Local aid cut $231,000 from final State budget; Further pressure next year, Aug 11 Finance Cmte
• Raeleen Gallivan has a new position elsewhere closer to her home
• Amy Frigulietti has a new position in Yarmouth

The conversation runs about 33 minutes

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

The Franklin TV video for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Dc10zX_m3k 

The agenda docs and supporting material ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07232025-1829 

My full set of notes: 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HG6gba9gs32QQmenYy89A426iD-eGNLd/view?usp=drive_link 

Audio link ->  https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1484-town-council-mtg-07-23-25/ 

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

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.  

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

• If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors
• If you don't like something here, please let me know
• And if you have interest in reporting on meetings or events, please reach. We’ll share and show you what and how we do what we do

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news/

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

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

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"