Irresponsible Franklin

Why read this?

There will be 4 seats open in November. The current council is 2 veterans with decades of experience and 5 newly elected (with 2 of those as appointments to fill 2 vanancies)

None of the 5 have lived in the Village for more than 5 years when they joined Council.

Only one had any committee volunteerism.

All are family friends with young children and their association revolves around PTA and sports activities but is this the best choice for governing?

This is more like an FCA volunteer group which doesn't require a history and understanding of the Village Charter and governance ....

Shouldn't our leaders have at least of minimum of experience particularly when APPOINTED FOR FILLING A VACANCY?

Proven results that speak for themselves.

Welcome to Our World

Everything here can be verified. You can visit the Franklin Village website to find every meeting on video.

Each of these events are captured and you can view them to verify.

Take the time to watch these events to avoid re-electing candidates that cannot govern effectively.

Appointing a replacement 12/24 meeting

Go to the December 2024 meeting to see the appointment process in which a 3 night marathon ensued in order to replace the vacancy left when Trustee Goldberg became President. 3 were in the camp of one candidate and were unyielding. The President and 2 other long time Trustees chosen the MOST experienced Planning Commissioner and were thwarted.

The Budget Hearing crisis

At the annual budget meeting June 2025 you'll witness the chaos that led to the slim passing 4-3 of the annual budget.

Historically, no previous budget meeting has ever been voted on with less than a 7-0 passage. It's a budget. It flexes as the year proceeds. 4-3 is so tight and had it failed who knows how the Village could have proceeded?

You'll also see and hear the emotional fallout from new Village Administrator Meg Shubert who resigned two days later followed by the entire staff.

History. We've never lost an entire staff simultaneously.

July and December 2025

In July a woman steps to the podium to alledge financial impropriety of a longtime Trustee. Specious prepared speech that led to untruths eventually being dispelled.

In December at the retirement of that same long time Trustee, his position was open. The President again has a ready willing and experienced candidate from Planning. 3 other Trustees had their choice and again made their positions known and a new person who had no previous Village position nor experience was appointed. That person it turns out is married to the woman that months before came to denigrate the man her husband replaced with the full knowledge of the 3 endorsers. Is this really how we select governors? Watch for yourself....

Video

12/9 first of 3 nights of negotiating to appoint a replacement for the vacancy of newly elected President David Goldberg

Sahli Sulaka Gates endorsed Dan Ferris and would proceed to consider only Ferris while Pres Goldberg endorsed Planning Commissioner and long time resident Al Ludwig. The next two nights saw several more candidates introduced while the 3 newest Trustees were unmoved and eventually Ferris was seated to replace Goldberg.

Night 2 of attempting to seat a Trustee

12/11 Special meeting night two of the continuing effort to replace Goldberg seat as Trustee Seltzer joins after traveling to help break a tie and once again the 3 newest Trustees will not yield

3rd night special meeting!

With no hope to sway the newest members of council to consider ANY other qualified candidate to replace Goldbergs vacant seat, Goldberg breaks the tie by voting to seat Dan Ferris.

This was historical ending a three night marathon to appoint a candidate, one who had just passed the minimum two year threshold residency requirement and was a Planning Commission volunteer but lacked the years of experience Al Ludwig had and was clearly the first choice of this President and the two other long time elected Trustees Seltzer and Hansen.

Video

June budget hearing explosion

Annual budget hearing falls into chaos when Trustee Sahli throws into question an approval and causes a visibly shaken Administrator to defend her presentation and ends with a slim approval 4-3 of an annual budget that has always passed unanimously.

Village Administrator resigns two days later citing her frustration pointing specifically to Trustees micro managing, interactions, and otherwise unmanageable intrusions.

Within a couple weeks an entire staff would have resigned and have to be replaced for the first time ever in Franklin history. Our Police Chief would wear two hats, managing the police department and serving as interim Administrator as the process of replacing three staffers would extend into the Fall.

July 2024 meeting

Note in public comments a woman following Kathy Erlich, unknown to us who comes to charge Seltzer with some specious financial gain as a Trustee.

Later Seltzer announces the sale of his home and his intent to remain on Council for the foreseeable future to help manage through the crisis.

The woman charging improprieties is later identified as married to the next appointed Trustee who replaces Seltzer and oddly Seltzer suggests in THIS July meeting that claims and denigration is rooted in people who simply want to replace him.

Stranger than fiction, that's ultimately what happened in Dec 2025 at Seltzer's retirement and replacement ...

December 2025

Here's the official retirement of Trustee Seltzer who was appointed in 2010, re-elected in 2012, 2016, 2020 and 2024 and who based upon selling his home after 30 years in the Village had planned to exit.

The process of replacement follows and for the second time in a year, the choice of the President for the most experienced candidate and a member of the Planning Commission is thwarted.

Again, three of the newest Trustees appointed a man who admitted no experience and a willingness to learn.

Geoff King replaced the longest serving Trustee and citing the July meeting in which hIs wife charged Trustee Seltzer with specious claims of profiteering --this was the choice of this council as President Goldberg did not have the votes to place his choice of Stuart Wooters on council. Pam Hansen voted against the appointment but King would be sworn in that evening

June meeting more explosive comments

Yet another example of constituents opining on the current state of government

Comments start at around 23 minutes

https://www.youtube.com/live/RGfW1xJWvYA?si=EwKRID7aQvPb7cZF

how did franklin get here to the most divisive council?

Background since Nov 24 to now

This past year and a half of one first ever after another needs to be known.

The appointments of two to fill vacancies that were NOT the most experienced nor the first choice of the President.

The June 2025 budget meeting debacle that left a wake barely passing 4-3 when in EVERY previous year the budget passed unanimously.

The bombshell dropped over a decade old budget deficit (from the sidewalk project hiatus) by a trustee and member of the legal committee that should've taken his concern to the President of the Administrator prior and privately but chose to "grandstand" instead.

Controversy after Controversy

Background since Nov 24 to now

The fallout from that meeting that caused the resignation of a new very capable very qualified Village Administrator who was so emotional, so embarrassed, so upset that she resigned just two days later citing the challenges she faced with a couple of specific new council members, followed by the entire staff.

A summer of back up coverage that required our Chief of Police to act as interim Village Administrator, wearing two hats and with the support of the Village President who had to devote significant time to interviewing and replacing an entire staff to serve. Never in history have we lost so much so quickly during a new year with 3 new untested trustees two of whom were married to each other.

Is This Real????

Background since Nov 24 to now

Is This Real????

Finally in December 2025 with the looming retirement of a longstanding 4 time re-elected Trustee, yet another appointment and while the President had a qualified experienced Planning Commissioner once again ready to serve, others on Council had their own candidate and while there were several applicants to choose from, they determined the best candidate to be someone who's resume included marching in the Round Up parade and visiting a few council meetings. Thus, the appointment of the least experienced Trustee who must run for his seat and has zero experience but was "willing to learn". And worse. Months before a Villager publicly alleged specious claims of another Trustee. It turns out,this woman is married to the newly appointed replacement for that very Trustee. Surely a questionable appointment given the sparse credentials and apparent friendships that put him in power...

WHAT IS LEADERSHIP?

WHAT IS LEADERSHIP?

Why read this?