Town Council Candidate Caroline Griffith

Today’s entire posting is dedicated to the Franklin Town Council election. We contacted all 15 candidates by email and asked each of them the same questions and also asked for a response on our proposed “pledge.” [Could you also include whether you would support/agree to the Pledge we have proposed? (see: https://franklinobserver.town.news/g/franklin-town-ma/n/335372/editoria… ). Five candidates responded: Jane Callaway-Tripp, Caroline Griffith, Stephen Malloy, Joe McGann, and Max Morongiello, presented in alphabetical order, with the caveat that the platform does not always post in the order requested. Some submitted photos, other did not. A sixth candidate, Debbie Pellegri, responded only to the Pledge question, stating, “I will not accept money from any group.”We wish all candidates well and thank them for their willingness to serve the Town of Franklin.
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CAROLINE GRIFFITH

A) Briefly discuss ‘who you are’ in no more than 150 words.
I’m Caroline Griffith: Franklin resident, mom of three, wife of a School Committee member, and new candidate for Town Council. With a background in business and education, I bring practical insight and a strong commitment to community service. I’ve worked across the public, private, and non-profit sectors, giving me a broad perspective on how systems work and how they can work better for people. I care deeply about this town and the people who call it home. Whether volunteering, participating in town initiatives, or having one-on-one conversations with residents, I stay connected to the issues that matter most. I believe leadership isn’t about titles or power or partisan politics; it’s about showing up, listening well, and serving the community with integrity and heart.

B) Briefly state why you are running for TC and why someone should
vote for you (75 words max

’m running for Town Council to bring transparency, accountability, and unity to Franklin’s local government. I believe in thoughtful growth, inclusive decision-making, and clear communication that builds trust. My platform focuses on strategic planning, sound financial stewardship, and ensuring every voice is valued. I’m committed to using our town’s resources wisely and efficiently. My campaign is about service, responsibility, and working together to build a stronger, more responsive Franklin.

1. Personal Impact of Tax Increases
We’ve heard arguments for and against a tax override, including what’s needed to maintain current services and suggestions to ask for even more. My question is: How would a tax increase affect you personally and financially? Would the increase be manageable for you, a financial strain, or have no impact?

Like many Franklin residents, I’m navigating rising costs (from groceries to utilities to daycare to healthcare) while watching the job market shift and household expenses climb faster than income. It’s a challenge that mirrors what our town is facing: trying to maintain essential services while revenues fall short of growing needs. I understand the weight of these decisions and the impact they can have on families across our community. We’re all feeling the strain in different ways, and I believe it’s important to approach this conversation with empathy, transparency, and a commitment to finding solutions that best serve this town while still reflecting our shared values and priorities.

2. New Growth and Affordable Housing
A) What is your position on new growth in Franklin, in particular with regard to the town accepting of encouraging more so-called affordable housing?

B) How do you view the role of affordable housing in our town’s future—both its benefits and its challenges?

Franklin continues to be a desirable town to live in and there is always a demand for housing and commercial growth that meets the needs of new and current residents. I believe Franklin’s Master Plan, created in conjunction with residents, has taken much of this into consideration already and is a blueprint for how to thoughtfully and strategically develop our town to meet these needs and we should follow their guidelines.

The benefit of being over the required threshold for affordable housing in Franklin is that the town has a greater say over new developments that include affordable homes. I personally believe that owner-occupied homes should be prioritized over rental developments, as they are more beneficial to the town and, in the long run, more affordable to those who live in them.

3. Senior Center and Revenue Shortfalls
The Town Administrator has projected potential closures—including the Senior Center—if revenue doesn’t increase. What is your position on closing the Senior Center?

 I do not support closing the Senior Center, just as I don’t support closing the library. These are vital community spaces that serve real needs, especially for our seniors. If budget constraints require adjustments, I believe we can explore options, like shared staffing models, rather than eliminating services altogether. We need to think creatively and strategically to manage expenses, but threats to close essential services shouldn’t be used to pressure residents into supporting tax increases.

We must also ensure that municipal departments aren’t prioritized at the expense of our public schools. After this summer’s failed override vote, department heads came together to make budget cuts as equitably as possible. That spirit of collaboration and unity must continue! Supporting Franklin means recognizing that we’re one community—not competing factions—and that every resident, from our youngest learners to our most senior neighbors, deserves thoughtful, balanced decisions rooted in shared values and mutual respect.

4. Rebuilding Trust and a Sense of Community
Franklin is divided. Many residents have expressed frustration with each other and mistrust in town leadership. If elected (or re-elected), how would you work to rebuild trust and help mend the divide in our community?

. If elected, I’ll work to rebuild trust by fostering healthy dialogue, listening with empathy, and leading with transparency. That means showing up consistently, communicating clearly, and making decisions that reflect our collective priorities. We’re all invested in Franklin’s future, and I’m committed to bringing people together, building bridges, and staying focused on the fact that we’re on the same team.

5. Budget Deficit and Future Overrides
We are facing a budget deficit, and two override attempts have failed.
How would you approach this challenge going forward?

 I believe the town has made it clear that an override will not be successful until something--or many things--change. I think town leadership needs to prove that they're listening and responding before Franklin residents will be willing to trust them with a voluntary increase in taxes. I think there are things the town is choosing to spend money on (or take on debt for) that are premature or unnecessary when we don't have the finances to cover current, absolutely necessary expenses. For example, all the money spent on investigating and planning for a new police station when (in my experience, at least) people are not convinced we need one and many are angry that town leadership is continuing to assume that they will pay for it. I think we have made decisions around personnel that are questionable, like paying large salaries (or even providing raises) to individuals who have publicly shown they have not earned it. I also know that we have elections in Franklin every November. We have low voter turnout already; instead of paying for a special election and experiencing lower turnout in both June and November, we should keep these questions on the regular ballot and plan budgets based on our current revenue to solve both issues.

I do believe that our necessary (and desired--we want this to be a town where people want to live, not have to live) expenses surpass our current revenue. That's why it's even more frustrating that we spend on things that are not needed or wanted right now! I think an override may eventually be an important conversation to have in order to keep this town the thriving, wonderful place we all love, but there is work to do and trust to build before we can expect the town to vote for it.

 6. What other initiatives or directions do you believe the town should undertake to address its fiscal problems?

I believe we need to think strategically about where we can bring in more revenue as a town. Yes, the obvious option is taxes, but what else? Are there spaces we can rent out for a fee? Are there partnerships with businesses we can investigate or new grants we can pursue to assist with initiatives that are already on the docket?

I'd also like to see more ways of keeping Franklin affordable for our senior citizens. While that may sound contradictory to the goal of carefully managing the town's expenses, I believe there are ways to achieve both objectives, perhaps by increasing the number of positions and types of responsibilities available to seniors and veterans through our tax work-off programs.

We need to be disciplined, creative, and intentional in how we allocate the money we have and consider how to bring in additional funds. We need to look for efficiencies, explore new solutions, and consider feedback from the residents. We also need to be willing to reallocate, reprioritize, and rethink our current spending strategies if they no longer align with our goals and budgetary constraints.

Lastly, we need to be transparent with the community on how we are using the money we receive from them. If we need to ask for debt exclusions, then each request (e.g., school roof updates, new police station, etc.) needs to be its own ballot question. If the town does end up voting on an override in the future, we need to be clear and trustworthy about how that money will be spent moving forward.

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 I agree with what I understand to be the spirit and intention of this pledge, but I feel that the wording itself is too vague and open to interpretation and I must respectfully decline to sign it on those grounds. I have not received endorsements, contributions, or support from any PAC, politician, or union, although I have had the opportunity to speak with several Franklin groups about the issues that are important to them.

I do, of course, absolutely commit to following all the current requirements and expectations of campaign funding and promotion.