Franklin council holds split tax rate workshop, no vote

Select Board · Meeting of October 28, 2026

Franklin's Town Council held a second workshop on a proposed split tax rate but took no vote, with a third session set for November 18 and a final decision expected in December. Chamber of Commerce President Jack Lank warned a dual rate "raises no additional money for essential town services, none whatsoever," while furniture store owner Jared Simon said split rates in towns like Needham eventually push costs back onto homeowners. Councilor Melanie Hamblen said the town's median commercial tax bill is about $500 a year versus $7,300 for residential.

Councilor Michael LeBlanc cited a $17 million assessment drop at Franklin Village Mall that cut its tax bill by $200,000. The council separately swore in James West as police chief and Eric Copeland as deputy chief, replacing retiring Chief Thomas Lynch, and unanimously backed a resolution supporting restoration of acute care services at the closed Norwood Hospital.

In the full story:

• Police Leadership Transition: Chief Lynch Retires, West and Copeland Sworn In
• Citizen Comments
• Split Tax Rate Workshop Number Two
• Norwood Hospital Resolution
• Election Workers, License Transaction and Gift Acceptance
• Who Was There
• Organizations And Documents Referenced
• The complete report: 2,289 words

Source: the Select Board meeting of October 28, 2026, reported from the official video recording and transcript.

Checked against the record: before publication this article was automatically compared with the meeting transcript.