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Committee begins multi-part review of Franklin’s organizational chart; staff outlines governance manual and phased implementation
Summary
Staff introduced a comprehensive governance framework and recommended a formal organizational chart that preserves statutory offices, centralizes day-to-day administration under a director of administration, and proceeds by phased legal review and council action; staff also reported multiple vacancies and the appointment of Christina Lucchesi as city attorney.
The City of Franklin Personnel Committee on July 20 received a detailed discussion draft proposing a revised organizational chart and a multi-volume administrative governance manual aimed at clarifying reporting lines and protecting statutory offices.
The presenter said the 2005 organizational chart no longer reflects current practice and proposed a structure that preserves statutory and judicial independence for positions such as the city clerk and municipal judge while centralizing daily operational coordination under a director of administration. He framed the proposal as governance modernization, not a personnel critique: "The proposal is about governance and operations, not personalities," he said.
Key recommendations included: better distinction between policy authority (mayor and common council) and day-to-day administration; maintaining clear public-safety command under police and fire chiefs; formalizing reporting lines through ordinance or council action rather than informal practice; benchmarking with comparable Wisconsin municipalities; and a phased implementation plan that includes legal review by the city attorney before council adoption.
During the meeting staff also provided a staffing report. The presenter said the city currently has multiple open positions: three unfunded fire vacancies (recruitment underway), two unfunded patrol officer positions (due to resignations), two dispatch candidates in background checks, and an accounts-payable accountant in interviews. He announced the newly appointed and confirmed city attorney, Christina Lucchesi, and noted she brings significant bond-issuance experience and will be trained on municipal matters by the outgoing attorney.
What’s next
The personnel committee directed staff to continue refining the governance manual, run legal review with the city attorney, and return with revised materials. Staff will continue recruitment for open positions and report back with updates.
