Franklin City Council facing vacancy at June 2 meeting

FRANKLIN — After nine years of service, City Councilor Olivia Zink (Ward 2) has said she will resign from her position at the June 2 meeting, since she is moving out of the city.

Zink will participate in the meeting, held at 6 p.m. at the Franklin Elks Lodge, before the council is scheduled to accept her resignation toward the end of the agenda, before voting on an appointment to fill the rest of the term.

Zink is moving to Keene with her fiancé. The couple is set to be married this fall.

Zink looked back on her time serving on the council, describing the decision as "bittersweet." As someone born and raised in the city, she hopes residents have seen her as a fair representative of voters.

“I do value listening to every different opinion, and I hope that the residents of Franklin acknowledged that I've done that through my public service career of listening to all sides of an issue, and really reflecting and trying to make the best decision for the city of Franklin."

Zink was popular among her councilor peers.

“We are losing one of the most valuable city counselors we've had for a long time," Councilor Leigh Webb (Ward 3) said. “She is someone who truly cares about the responsibilities of her position, and always came prepared, always did her homework.”

Councilor Ed Prive (Ward 3) also had positive things to say.

“She always had the city in mind, because she lived here all her life,” he said.

Mayor Desiree McLaughlin also praised Zink, affirming the sentiments of Webb and Prive said. She added, “it helps that she's a really nice human being.”

Zink was elected as a councilor in 2016, served until 2019, when she tied Karen Testerman, then lost in a draw. She was then reelected to another seat in her ward in 2020, and had served since. She had a brief stint as interim mayor in 2021. Her other experience in politics was as the student representative on the Franklin School Board in high school.

When she won her first term in 2016, Zink was the only woman on the council at the time. She was also 35 years old then, the youngest on the council. At 44, she still is the youngest councilor.

“It is a lot to balance, you know, family and a full-time job, but I think it's important that younger voices are represented in our governing body,” Zink said.

Over her almost decade run as a councilor, Zink has regretted few decisions. One thing she wished she could have gotten done was creating a municipal compost program that aims to divert food waste. She claims a third of the trash is food scraps or waste, and the city spends $300,000 a year “burning people’s carrot peels.”

She said this idea never gained enough traction to become a reality.

“Especially knowing that the cost per tonnage of our trash is going up, maybe if we diverted a third of our trash into compostable areas, we might be able to put that $300,000 toward making some road improvements,” she said.

Zink has received recognition recently for stepping up as chair of the Capital Improvement Plan Committee. The CIP prioritizes city needs, and was inactive due to budget constraints, before Zink took over. Or at least Webb thinks so.

“Under her tutelage, the CIP committee did more work this past year than they've done probably in the five years prior,” he said.

With Zink leaving, the council will need to fill her spot. Zink shared her intention to resign in March, and since some residents have considered throwing their hat into the ring. The city posted a councilor profile for the position on May 20. In the packet for the June 2 meeting, councilors will consider three applicants: Robert Desroches Sr., Glen Feener and Samuel Jacobson.

Feener served on the city council in the past for 21 total years. Desroches has prior city council experience, serving for 12 years. Jacobson, however, ran for city council against current City Councilor Tom Boyce (Ward 2) in 2024, losing by 6 votes. Jacobson believes his experience as a geologist working on complex site investigations gives him experience in developing scopes, schedules and budgets over $100,000.

The appointed councilor will serve the rest of Zink's term, and if interested in continued service, would run for reelection in the municipal election on Tuesday, Oct. 7.

During budget season, McLaughlin said the ideal replacement would be someone who could hit the ground running to work on the budget.

“We have a budget meeting the next day, on [June] 3rd, so we're going to need whoever it is,” she said. “We normally would probably wait until the next meeting, like council meeting or workshop, but we're going right into budget season.”

Zink may be leaving the city, but her roots remain there. Monday will not be the last time the people of Franklin will see her.

“My mom and my sister still live here. I grew up here. I have a lot of friends and family in this area,” she said. “I'm sure I will be back for holidays and to celebrate friends marching in the Class Day Parade and coming to see community theater. Franklin has always been my home and will still always have a big place in my heart.”