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It’s Time to Stop Blaming Residents—and for Town Officials to Own Their Choices
To the Editor:
As a lifelong Franklin resident, I care deeply about our town, our people, and our future. I’ve watched neighbors struggle, volunteers step up, and families make sacrifices—all while being told that the failed override is the reason for every lost service, every locked door, and every staff departure.
But that narrative oversimplifies a much more complex reality. And it’s time we talk about it—with honesty, compassion, and courage. When the Town Administrator says he must lock office doors due to staffing cuts in his office it implies the override is to blame. Yet only one position was lost due to budget reductions. Another employee ( our Deputy Town Administrator) left for a job closer to home. Residents deserve clarity—not misdirection or confusion.
When the police Halloween party was canceled, the announcement cited the failed override and staffing shortages. But why weren’t residents given the chance to help? Franklin is full of generous, capable people who would have gladly volunteered or donated. Instead, the cancellation was framed as a consequence—and then amplified in the media. That didn’t build bridges. It built resentment. And let me be clear: I fully support our police and fire departments. But statements like these only deepen the divide.
The DPW says they can no longer empty trash at parks due to the override. Yet $94,000 was spent on a lawnmower that couldn’t be used because there was no trailer to move it. The old mower is still in use. Was that a responsible choice? The town used a grant to fund the design of a new logo—but implementation costs fall on the town. Was this fiscally responsible given the deficit we were in, and the one we’re facing in FY27? Before the $6.8 million override vote:• $450,000 in raises were given to just 30 employees.• The following year, 12 of those 30 received another $150,000 in increases.• That’s $600,000 in raises over two years for 30 positions—while residents were told we were on a fiscal cliff. Could that money have
• Saved the $250,000 in police cuts?
• Retained the part-time senior center nurse?
• Prevented the loss of the third ambulance and its revenue?
Yes. It could have.
We also took out a $1.4 million loan for Town Hall renovations during a deficit. While the project was approved in 2020/2021, the loan wasn’t taken out until this year. Given the fiscal cliff we’re facing, maybe tabling that project—or phasing it—would have been a better move. Approval doesn’t mean obligation. Responsible timing matters.
This year, the longevity clause—once removed for being fiscally unsustainable—was reinstated during union contract negotiations. Here’s what that means: Under the new municipal union contract, all union employees will receive a 2.5% annual raise for the next three years. In addition, any employee with over 25 years of service will receive an extra 5.5% increase. That’s an 8% raise in year one for long-tenured employees—compounded annually. These increases become part of the base salary, meaning they will continue to grow year after year and contribute to future deficits.
I believe in honoring long-term service. But we can do that with a one-time bonus—not a permanent increase that compounds our deficit. Bonuses show appreciation without destabilizing the budget. Residents pay their taxes. They don’t control how those dollars are spent. Yet they’re being blamed for the consequences of decisions they didn’t make.
If a landlord collects rent that covers the mortgage but spends it elsewhere, is it fair to blame the tenant when the mortgage goes unpaid? Yes, some costs—like insurance and utilities—are beyond our control. But many choices were within our power.
Would better decisions eliminate future deficits? Maybe not. But they could minimize them. To say otherwise would be a misstatement of the facts—facts taken directly from the town’s own budget and annual reports. These are just a few examples. If we looked deeper, what else might we find?It’s time to stop blaming residents and start holding decision-makers accountable. The override—pass or fail—was never going to be a cure-all. Residents would have been hurt either way. It was a no-win situation.
Let’s stop the divide. Let’s start the healing. Let’s find a permanent solution that restores our town and our schools—and honors the dignity of every resident. Franklin would not be a viable town without our schools, but our schools would be nothing without the town. We are interdependent. The residents make the town. The children make the schools. The town administrator and other leaders make the decisions.
It is time to stop blaming the residents!
Sincerely,
Jane Callaway-Tripp
Candidate for Town Council
Franklin, MA
