Franklin City Council adopts ceremonial resolutions, accepts donations, elects vice mayor; several items approved by unanimous voice vote

Franklin City Council on Jan. 13 adopted multiple ceremonial resolutions, accepted two charitable donations to the FY2024–25 operating budget, elected Winland Hilliard Copeland as vice mayor and approved routine appointments and a schedule change in unanimous voice votes.

The council passed resolutions honoring the late June Fleming, former mayor Robert “Bobby” Cutchens II and former councilman Ray Smith. The council also approved budget amendments to accept $77,220 from the Count Family Foundation to be split among Franklin Fire & Rescue ($57,500), Hunterdale Volunteer Fire Department ($5,720) and the Franklin Police Department ($14,000), and $10,000 from Franklin Southampton Charities to be split equally between Franklin Fire & Rescue and Hunterdale Volunteer Fire Department ($5,000 each).

Mayor Paul Kaplan presided over the session. After nominations and a motion to elect Winland Hilliard Copeland, the council voted by voice to reelect Copeland as vice mayor. Council members used a consent vote to approve boards and commissions appointments and adopted the calendar for 2025; the council also voted to adjust the regular work-session start time from 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. when those sessions are scheduled.

All recorded roll-call or voice votes on the matters above were announced in the meeting as unanimous “ayes.” The meeting record lists six members present and one absent during roll call; the council used voice votes and individual “aye” responses rather than numbered roll-call tallies for each motion presented on the floor.

A closed-session motion under the cited Virginia code provision was approved to discuss prospective candidates, and the council certified the meeting’s closure before adjourning.

Votes at a glance (motions as stated on the record): - Adopt resolution honoring June Fleming — motion passed (voice vote). - Adopt resolution honoring Robert “Bobby” Cutchens II — motion passed (voice vote). - Adopt resolution honoring Ray Smith — motion passed (voice vote). - Amend FY2024–25 operating budget to accept $77,220 from the Count Family Foundation (Franklin Fire & Rescue $57,500; Hunterdale VFD $5,720; Franklin Police $14,000) — motion passed (voice vote). - Amend FY2024–25 operating budget to accept $10,000 from Franklin Southampton Charities (Franklin Fire & Rescue $5,000; Hunterdale VFD $5,000) — motion passed (voice vote). - Nominate and elect Winland Hilliard Copeland as vice mayor — motion passed (voice vote). - Adopt boards and commissions appointments as presented — motion passed (voice vote). - Adopt 2025 meeting calendar and revise 5:30 p.m. work-session start time to 6 p.m. when used — motion passed (voice vote). - Convene closed session under the Virginia code provision cited on the record to discuss prospective candidates — motion passed (voice vote); certification read when returning to open session.

The council’s actions combined ceremonial recognitions, routine governance housekeeping and acceptance of philanthropic support for public safety services. The meeting record indicates unanimous approval for the listed items; specific recorded roll-call tallies were not read for each motion beyond individual “ayes.”