EDITORIAL: Residency Realities

Town Councilor Melanie Hamblen’s letter to the editor (reproduced above) expresses frustration with the transmission of rumors, especially the unfounded kind. Sadly, rumors sometimes turn out to be true and, more to the point, the fact that untrue rumors are also believed is a reflection of mistrust.

We should point out that, like former Town Councilor Judy Pfeffer, we had heard rumors, plausible ones, and in the case of one of them – the rumor that Councilor Cobi Frongillo, who works in Boston and sometimes participates in Town Council sessions remotely or arrives conspicuously late, might actually reside somewhere other than Franklin despite continuing to list his parents’ home as his address, -- we did ask, via email. Frongillo, responded with a vehement denial that he is anything other than a true Franklin resident. 

But the question of residency won't go away, complicated by perceptions of part-time versus full-time residency.  A number of elected and appointed officials own properties in multiple jurisdictions. The problem is common enough that an otherwise well-informed reader told me with great certainty that the Planning Board is stuffed with non-residents. This, we think, is completely untrue. However, it is not hard to see why some people might suspect otherwise.

So we asked Town Clerk Nancy Danello to clarify the matter of residency and holding elective office in town. As you might imagine, it turns out the question is very complex and, indeed, as Melanie Hamblen asserts, there is nothing in town law that defines what percentage of the year you need to be a resident in order to hold office. That remarkable lack of definition certainly makes it easy and legal to be a resident, even if you only visit your “home” a few days a year.

But doubtless, this is just a theoretical and, in fact, our officials are likely ,by the letter of the law and common sense definitions, all proper residents of the town.

Town Clerk Danello also noted that when a person comes in to register to vote or if they are registered through any agency it is incumbent upon her office to verify address by requesting to see the following acceptable forms of identification

A driver's license

A state ID card

A recent utility bill

A rent receipt or lease.

A copy of a voter registration affidavit

A letter from a school dormitory or housing office

Any other printed identification which contains your name and address

In addition, the signature line for the individual voter (and candidates are also voters!) clearly states you are signing the voter registration card under the penalties of perjury. Penalties are also spelled out on the form as well. "The penalty for illegal registration is a fine of not more than $10,000 or imprisonment for not more than 5 years.

When a potential candidate comes in to pull papers to be elected to a Board/Committee they also sign a "Statement of Candidate" declaring, on oath, that they reside at their address in Franklin. If an elected official should move out of town they must notify the Clerk as soon as possible, Danello noted.