City Council and Mayor

07/27/2026 Minutes – Page 1 CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP Monday, July 27, 2026 – 6:00 p.m. Franklin Elks Lodge ATTENDANCE Present: Councilor Susan Hallett-Cook, Councilor Al Warner, Councilor Ben Forge, Councilor Sam Jacobson, Councilor Ed Prive, Mayor Glenn Morrill, Councilor Tim Johnston, Councilor Justine Hoppe, and Councilor Delaney Carrier. Absent: Councilor Tom Boyce. Others Present: City Manager Mitch Kloewer; Brian Colburn - PE, Project Manager, McFarland Johnson; and members of the public. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Morrill called the City Council Workshop to order at 6:00 p.m. SALUTE TO FLAG Led by Mayor Morrill. T PUBLIC HEARING – TRESTLE BRIDGE PROJECTAF Mayor Morrill opened a public hearing to receive public input on the Trestle Bridge Project alternatives presented at the June 17, 2026 public informational meeting: • R Alternative 1: rehabilitate the existing trestle, • • D Alternative 2: replace with a new glulam timber trestle, Alternative 3: replace with a new steel truss/trestle hybrid, or • Alternative 4: demolish the trestle. Project engineer Brian Colburn, PE, of McFarland Johnson was present to answer questions. The public hearing opened at 6:02 p.m. The following members of the public addressed the Council: Name Ward Summary of Comment Robert Derochers 1 Spoke in support of the Trestle Bridge project generally, Jr. without endorsing a specific alternative; spoke to the bridge's historic significance and the risk of losing  07/27/2026 Minutes – Page 2 Name Ward Summary of Comment available grant funding if the project does not move forward. Leigh Webb 3 Raised concerns regarding reliance on a single engineering firm's opinion despite significant fees paid to date, and asked the Council to consider outside preservation expertise before committing to an option. Desiree 2 Asked which fiscal year the project's funding would fall McLaughlin into and how the City's local match would be paid; City Manager Kloewer responded that funding would fall in the FY2027–FY2028 window and that the funding source is a Council decision. Indicated support for the glulam option for longevity, and cautioned about the tax impacts on residents. Robert 2 Spoke to the history of prior cost estimates for the Desrochers Sr. project and urged the Council to act, citing rising costs T from prior delay and prior inspection findings; favored replacement in kind. Dean Laughy 3 AF Questioned whether City funding for the local match is currently available, characterized the project as a want rather than a need, and suggested alternatives including transferring the bridge to Mill City Park or to the State, or prioritizing the Sulphite Bridge instead. Annette Andreozzi 3 RIdentified as Curator of the Franklin Historical Society and a former City Councilor; stated that replacing the D trestle, even in kind, would cause it to lose its historic designation, and raised aesthetic and maintenance concerns regarding the steel truss alternative. Mayor Morrill then asked whether any Councilors had received letters or emails on the project to be read into the record. Letters Read Into the Record Councilor Warner read a letter from Black Dog Tractor Works, Stu Smith, owner- operator, Ward 3, expressing support for repairing the bridge and preserving its historic value, while raising concerns about the total project cost, cumulative tax increases, and urging the Council to select the least costly option. Councilor Johnston read a letter from Janet Johnston (Ward 1), expressing support for making the bridge safe and structurally sound while preserving its historic eligibility, and urging the Council to limit the project's scope to necessary structural repairs and stabilization to control cost.  07/27/2026 Minutes – Page 3 A copy of Janet Johnston’s letter is included in these minutes. Councilor Jacobson read a letter from Todd Nixon, Ward 3, opposing the project. Additional public comment was received: Name Ward Summary of Comment Lilly Machos 3 Spoke to the lack of ongoing maintenance historically afforded to City-owned historic structures, and favored repairing the trestle using as much original material as possible. Brian Colburn, PE — Provided technical information on the bridge's condition, (McFarland noting an immediately loose/hanging member and the Johnson) need to reset displaced stone piers, and stated that stabilization costs vary depending on the intended service life of any interim repair. Ruth Niven 1 Asked whether the Sulphite Bridge is owned by the State of New Hampshire and stated a preference for T prioritizing replacement in kind of the Sulphite Bridge instead. AF The public hearing closed at 6:41 p.m. Council Deliberation R Councilor Jacobson asked whether the project engineer could speak to lifetime maintenance costs; Mr. Colburn stated that no additional maintenance-cost information D beyond what was previously provided was available. Councilor Johnston asked about next steps. City Manager Kloewer explained that because this was a public hearing, no motion was required tonight, but that a Council decision was needed to move the project forward; he noted the City may still withdraw from the project at this stage without owing the State any funds, but that doing so would make securing a similar 80/20 matching grant in the future unlikely, and that funding options including nonprofit fundraising could be explored once a direction is chosen. Councilor Warner referenced the federal funding process slide from the June 17 presentation, noting that the project may be withdrawn without payback obligation through the preliminary design phase, but that payback could be required if the project does not proceed after entering final design. City Manager Kloewer confirmed this and noted the current preliminary-design alternatives are before the Council tonight. Councilor Prive asked about ADA accessibility under a replacement-in-kind option and about stabilization approaches. Mr. Colburn confirmed the east-side grade is already flat and rail-accessible, while the west side would need surface improvements to be ADA- compliant, and described immediate stabilization needs including a detached hanging member and displaced stone piers.  07/27/2026 Minutes – Page 4 Alternative 1 – Rehabilitate Existing Trestle Motion: Councilor Johnston moved that the Franklin City Council choose alternative number one to rehabilitate the trestle and move forward with preliminary designs. Seconded by Councilor Hoppe. Following a point of order from City Manager Kloewer, Councilor Johnston amended the motion, by friendly amendment, to “final designs.” Discussion: Councilor Jacobson stated support for Alternative 1 and asked that the Council direct replacement of the stacked-granite river-pier foundations with concrete as part of the option, citing contractor availability; Councilor Warner reviewed the Council's prior October 10, 2023 vote for a replacement-in-kind option and February 3, 2025 vote on Resolution 15-25 continuing the project, and asked how the current alternatives relate to that history. City Manager Kloewer and Mr. Colburn clarified the technical distinctions among the three in-kind alternatives, noting Alternative 2 (glulam) uses engineered horizontal members with fewer vertical supports, and that Alternative 3 (steel truss) is only nominally “in kind” in that it remains a bridge in the same location. Councilor Warner noted the current alternatives differ from what a prior Council selected in 2023. Councilors Johnston and Hallett-Cook spoke in favor of Alternative 1 for its T historic-preservation and future grant-eligibility benefits. Councilor Prive asked whether historic-preservation review would occur before construction; Mr. Colburn explained the AF project is subject to a federal Section 106 review by the Division of Historical Resources, which oversees rather than separately approves the process. Councilor Hallett-Cook moved to call the question; seconded by Councilor Johnston. Vote: Show of hands. R Result: 7 in favor, 1 opposed, 1 absent. Motion to call the question carried. Vote: Roll call vote. Councilor D Vote Carrier Yea Hoppe Yea Johnston Yea Jacobson Yea Prive Yea Forge Yea Warner Nay Hallett-Cook Yea  07/27/2026 Minutes – Page 5 Motion Result: Motion carried, 7 yeas, 1 nay, 1 absent. Motion to choose Alternative 1, rehabilitate the existing trestle, and move forward with final designs carried. Cost-Saving Variations for Alternative 1 Motion: Councilor Carrier moved to explore cost-saving potential variations for Alternative 1. Seconded by Councilor Hoppe. Discussion: Councilor Carrier asked whether further Council guidance was needed to authorize the project team to explore cost-saving measures. Mr. Colburn stated his understanding was that the intent was to explore options to reduce cost without jeopardizing the structure's eligibility for the historic register, which Councilor Johnston confirmed reflected his understanding as maker of the underlying motion. Councilor Carrier withdrew the motion; Councilor Hoppe withdrew the second. Online Public Comment Report Councilor Johnston reported that online public comments submitted through the City website reflected the following preferences: Alternative 1 – 5 in favor; Alternative 2 – 4 in favor; Alternative 3 – 5 in favor; Alternative 4 – 2 in favor. In combination with those T who attended in person, Alternative 1 seemed to be the most popular. City Manager Kloewer noted that public comment is accepted online beginning when a public hearing AF is set and remains open at least one week, and encouraged continued use of this feature. A copy of the online public comment has been included in these minutes. ADJOURNMENT R Motion: Councilor Johnston moved: “to adjourn.” Seconded by Councilor Hoppe. Vote: Voice vote. D Motion Result: All in favor. Motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 7:20 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Brenda Demers Executive Secretary With AI Assistance  07/27/2026 Minutes – Page 6 Submitted Documents Index Stuart Smith Letter 7 Janet Johnston Letter 7 8 Todd Nixon Letter Online Public Comment Export 10 T AF R D  07/27/2026 Minutes – Page 7 From: Black Dog Tractor Works <blackdogtractorworksllc@gmail.com> Sent: Monday, 27 July 2026 16:57:33 To: Al Warner <Awarner@Franklinnh.gov> Subject: Trestle bridge I think we should repair the bridge, And maintain its historical value. However, it's not clear how much it would actually cost, the amount money from the grant is fixed, but the overall cost to do the job is not clear. Will my taxes have to go up again because of this project? My taxes have gone up because of the opera house project, i just learned my taxes are going to go up because of the needed ambulance. Compile that with the increase in water rates, it's getting more difficult to live in Franklin. I wish to see the council choose T the cheapest option. Then, start focusing on bringing actual industry to our city. That is the city's future, it's what made franklin in the first place. Get back to our roots, think outside AF the box. I'm not necessarily for or against the following idea, but it shows an example of thinking outside the box.The city council should entertain the idea of learning the pros and cons of allowing a data center. If it's worth it, it could build our tax base significantly and save our city. Average citizens like my wife and I cannot afford to keep getting tax increases. R Thank you for reading. Ps. If the bridge truly is historical, kayak man has to go. D Stuart Smith 603-998-2293 Owner Operator Black Dog Tractor Works  07/27/2026 Minutes – Page 8 T AF R D  07/27/2026 Minutes – Page 9 T AF R D 7/28/26, 7:45 AM franklin-service-requests 07/27/2026 Minutes - Page 10 City of Franklin, NH Exported: July 28, 2026 Public Comment — Analysis Report Comment Period Closed Trestle Bridge Project Council is reviewing rehabilitation/replacement alternatives for the trestle bridge. HEARING Monday, July 27, 2026 · 6:00 PM · Franklin Elks Lodge, 125 S Main St COMMENT PERIOD OPENED Jul 16, 2026, 8:15 AM COMMENT PERIOD CLOSES Jul 27, 2026, 5:00 PM REFERENCE https://www.franklinnh.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif601/f/uploads/2026-07-27_packet_combined.pdf ANALYSIS POSITION COUNT PERCENTAGE ALT 1 — Rehabilitate Trestle 5 31% ALT 2 — Glulam Timber Trestle T 4 25% AF ALT 3 — Steel Truss/Trestle Hybrid ALT 4 — Demo Trestle 5 2 31% 13% R 16 total published comments CONCERN THEMES THEME D Tax Cap COUNT 1 PUBLIC COMMENTS Brian Mank · Ward 2 · ALT 2 — Glulam Timber Trestle · Jul 27, 2026, 4:52 PM Connecting the Winni River Trail, Mill City Park and Trestle View Park all together without having to cross Central Street would be a great benefit to the entire outdoor community. After weighing all the options,I like option #2 the best. SANDRA VASKP · Ward 3 · ALT 2 — Glulam Timber Trestle · Jul 27, 2026, 4:00 PM ALTHOUGH I AM SELECTING NUMBER 2 - COST IS IN THE MODERATE RANGE, RETAINS HISTORIC DISTRICT CONSIDERATIONS - I REMAIN CONCERNED THAT AVAILABLE CONTRACTORS MAY BE LIMITED. I AM MOST CONCERNED THAT THE CITY MAY FORFEIT THE GRANT IF A REASONABLE DECISION IS NOT REACHED SOON. B Miller · Ward 1 · ALT 4 — Demo Trestle · Jul 27, 2026, 3:22 PM I oppose the bridge rehabilitation project because I do not believe the city of Franklin can afford the long-term costs that come with restoring or replacing the trestle. Even if grant funding covers a large portion of the initial construction, the city will still be responsible for future maintenance and repairs. As a Franklin resident, I've become a regular at Benson's https://franklin-service-requests-39a5.vercel.app 1/3 7/28/26, 7:45 AM franklin-service-requests because of the poor condition of our roads. Our existing infrastructure is already falling behind, and that should be our 07/27/2026 Minutes - Page 11 priority. It is difficult to justify spending millions of dollars on a pedestrian bridge while many of the roads that residents drive on every day continue to deteriorate. The safest and most fiscally responsible option is to remove the trestle and focus our limited resources on maintaining and improving the infrastructure that serves the entire community. Franklin needs to prioritize essential needs before taking on additional long-term obligations. Gail McCarter · Ward 3 · ALT 3 — Steel Truss/Trestle Hybrid · Jul 27, 2026, 3:16 PM I don't believe we should commit to expensive maintenance. We can't raise the money to repair our roads D Vasko · Ward 3 · ALT 2 — Glulam Timber Trestle · Jul 27, 2026, 3:07 PM Cost wise I opt for Alt 2, so as not to cost the city the most and still maintain a bridge. Key words to pay attention to: Alt 1 : "Reused IF". "ASSUMING 80%", "LIMITED number contractors", "MAY BE opportunities" and "COULD be reduced". Alt 2: Work in river "DIFFICULT", "LIMITED number of contractors" I believe one of the 3 Alternatives should be selected so as NOT to forgo the Grant Money already approved. Daniel Demers · Ward 3 · ALT 4 — Demo Trestle · Jul 27, 2026, 2:51 PM What purpose does the Trestle Bridge truly serve our community today? I have heard aesthetics, nostalgia, and, if replaced, the potential for a pedestrian crossing (despite there being a existing bridge that pedestrians can use and a brand new pedestrian passage underneath said bridge). Are any of those reasons worth the future maintenance costs to the community that this will certainly entail? Is it worth the future demolition costs that will be needed if that maintenance is not kept-up-with or if it becomes damaged due to unpreventable reasons? Franklin cannot seem to figure out how to currently, adequately fund our public schools and keep our roads in good condition at the same time. If you rehabilitate, or rebuild this bridge with new materials, you will simply be kindling a future continuation of budgeting and long-term management issues. T Short-sighted decisions seem to have brought Franklin to its current state. Authorizing any alternative for the Trestle Bridge that guarantees a future cost, with little to no return to the community, is equally short-sighted. Please demolish the bridge. AF It is the least monetary cost to the taxpayers of Franklin when considering future maintenance and will impose the least overall burden on our community. Maureen D. Aube · Ward 3 · ALT 3 — Steel Truss/Trestle Hybrid · Jul 27, 2026, 2:43 PM I believe Steel Truss/Trestle Hybrid is the best option since it requires minimal maintenance. R Leanne Hamilton · Ward 1 · ALT 3 — Steel Truss/Trestle Hybrid · Jul 27, 2026, 9:08 AM I chose Alt 3 because it needs the least maintenance. I believe never doing any maintenance of the trestle brought us to D this place. If we don't decide now, we lose our grant. A decision needs to be made. Gail McCarter · Ward 3 · ALT 3 — Steel Truss/Trestle Hybrid · Jul 26, 2026, 8:05 PM I will miss the old bridge and wish we could afford to maintain it once rehabilitation completed. With the budget issues being what they are I'm not sure we should take on the expense. If we do, could some of the foundation stones be put towards a memorial. Kenneth Duguay · Ward 3 · ALT 1 — Rehabilitate Trestle · Jul 26, 2026, 12:20 PM I believe the City should choose option #1. The uniqueness of this bridge is a draw not only to the bridge but also to the white water park. I've witnessed multiple times, a passerby stops to take pictures of the bridge and also finds the river and park. If the bridge were not there or not of such a structure that warrants interest, I'm certain that many would just pass by. Andrew Duguay · Ward 2 · ALT 1 — Rehabilitate Trestle · Jul 25, 2026, 10:40 AM As a frequent user and caretaker of the Winni River Trail, I strongly support accepting federal funds to rebuild the trestle bridge. The crumbling state of the current bridge forced us to reroute the trailhead, and that fix is only temporary—crossing under the trestle remains the only way to access the trail. Rebuilding it isn't just about preserving an iconic, historic landmark; it restores real function to the riverfront, connecting the Winni River Trail directly to the new trails at Mill City Park. Leveraging 80% federal funding to turn a historic train trestle into a pedestrian and bike connection is a massive win that will benefit Franklin for generations. Jim Jones · Ward 2 · ALT 1 — Rehabilitate Trestle · Jul 24, 2026, 7:54 AM https://franklin-service-requests-39a5.vercel.app 2/3 7/28/26, 7:45 AM franklin-service-requests Lack of Maintenance has got us in this position. Although option 1 will require the most Maintenance, it is the option most 07/27/2026 Minutes - Page 12 closely representing what the citizens and prior council have chosen and voted for. The delay in adopting and moving forward has cost the taxpayer over $400,000. Let’s move forward and address this issue. No more talk, it’s time to act! Marilyn Ward Nixon · Ward 3 · ALT 1 — Rehabilitate Trestle · Jul 23, 2026, 1:28 PM Dear Members of the city council. I'm writing this letter to let people know my thoughts and feelings in the "city vote" to take down the "trestle bridge". This is a beautiful, historical trestle! Most of us have loved looking at and something "Franklin" has kept intact for many years! Millions of dollars to destroy it and build a "walkway" viewing bridge. This is an unnecessary destruction of our history and it isn't for the good Franklin. All the people that believe this is progress will be destroying something we've grown to love and cherish. Please do not destroy the trestle. Thank you. Sincerely, Marilyn Ward Nixon I'm a native of Franklin NH and a resident of Ward 3. I'm 80 years old and not a newcomer. Please give this your "great thought". M Katharine Fuller · Ward 3 · ALT 1 — Rehabilitate Trestle · Jul 22, 2026, 10:39 AM As a 7th Generation Franklinite , I , as my Family before me treasure the iconic Historical Trestle and would like to see it restored for all . Safety issues must be addressed . I believe it has been damaged by construction taking place in the water park features. Piles of concrete, rock and fill have been left to slide in the water during storms . Storage of stuff has been left piling up against the piling out of the water putting structure pressure on the old timber. 20 + years ago I assisted my daughter as she posed her kids and others for family photos against the iconic structure. Would not do it today. It is an eyesore.please consider moving Kayak man to a local park . I personally do not think it needs to abut this iconic treasure. linda holstein stronge · Ward 1 · ALT 3 — Steel Truss/Trestle Hybrid · Jul 19, 2026, 10:27 AM I love the trestle, I would like option one but have concerns with the maintenance required. Franklin does not have a good T record with maintenance. Option 3 is the least amount of maintenance. I hope we can take a small portion of it, make a memorial with photos and history AF Jennifer Ball · Ward 3 · ALT 2 — Glulam Timber Trestle · Jul 16, 2026, 11:29 AM I think this would be the best option for the residents of Franklin. QUESTIONS R If the previous city council voted to replace the trestle bridge "in kind". How is considering Alt 4 - Demo Trestle congruent with the prior vote? D City of Franklin, NH — Public Comment Module Asked by Andrew Duguay Trestle Bridge Project https://franklin-service-requests-39a5.vercel.app 3/3