Franklin council creates Deer Management Committee to gather facts on culling, sterilization

The Village of Franklin’s council voted on Jan. 12 to create a Deer Management Committee to collect data and present options for managing the village’s deer population.

The committee will include at least one council member, one planning commission member and a minimum of three residents; the council set a goal for the group to report preliminary findings by April 15 to inform budget discussions. The council emphasized the committee’s role as a fact‑finding body rather than an advocacy panel, listing three primary options the group should investigate: sterilization programs, organized culling, and the option to take no action.

“I would hope that that body would be spending more initially focusing on gathering the facts,” the presiding officer said while describing a draft charge that called for cost estimates, effectiveness data and vendor quotes where appropriate. A trustee on the legal subcommittee reiterated that the council expects the committee to avoid taking a policy position and to return specific, itemized cost information and implementation options.

Council members suggested posting the openings publicly and giving priority to village residents for appointment. Trustees also requested at least one interim check‑in before the April date to ensure the committee can meet the council’s information needs. Staff were directed to post the position and accept applications; the motion to form the committee passed by voice vote.

Next steps: staff will post the vacancy and application instructions, the committee will begin fact‑gathering with the goal of returning preliminary cost and feasibility information by April 15, and council will consider any requested budget implications during the normal budget timetable.