Mackenna Trudel grew up on the stage of the Franklin Opera House to choruses of applause as the curtain closed on theater performances. 

Now the high school freshman is applauding the Franklin City Council after they voted in favor of a $6.8 million bond to repair the historic building, which has been shuttered for over a year due to fire safety concerns. 

“I have been doing theater in that opera house since kindergarten and for as long as I can remember that historical building has been a second home,” said Trudel. “I don’t know what I would do without it.”

At a marathon city council meeting dozens of residents requested city leaders approve a bond to move the restoration process forward, cementing the theater as an integral piece of the Franklin community. 

The decision to bond, though, which will be paid over the next 30 years, did face pushback – notably from Mayor Desiree McLaughlin, who vetoed the 6-2 vote, which was then overridden by the council.

After the vote, McLaughlin took to Facebook to express her dismay with the outcome – saying that she was proud of the students who spoke during public comment, but apologizing for the actions of members.

“Unfortunately, they did not witness any concrete version of democracy. There were no recusals from the vote (there should have been two) and there was no representation of anyone who was not in that room or didn’t write a letter,” she wrote in a comment. “I cannot pick my city council. But the voters can… I pray for an ethical council in October.”

For over a year, Franklin city leaders have discussed improvements to Soldiers’ Memorial Hall, the city’s opera house and town hall, as deferred maintenance caught up to the 19th-century building and the fire chief shuttered the doors in August.

A proposal for a $20 million bond – which was discussed among the city’s economic development team before public outcry nixed the idea – included $5 million in improvements to the opera house.

Last year, the city council voted to hire an architect to present preliminary designs for improvements to the building. The firm, ARCove Architects based in Portsmouth, came back with four options – a full renovation of the building in phases; a complete renovation all at once; a partial renovation to city hall with code improvements; 0r basic maintenance to meet code requirements.

Councilors voted to fix the entire building in one go, with a final bond of $6.8 million – which was amended from an initial proposal of $7.3 million.

The vote now authorizes the city to bond the money but does not cement a final design for the renovations, which will follow in council conversations with the architects.

Councilors hoped that the Franklin Opera House, a nonprofit volunteer organization that supports performing arts in the city, would raise money to match half the cost.

Without a full financial report from the organization, McLaughlin wasn’t convinced though. Just because organization leaders hope to do so, doesn’t guarantee they’ll follow through – something that many Franklin residents can relate to with the cost of living, she said.

“There’s a lot of tenants in this city or even property owners that have the will but not the ability to make their payments on their homes,” she said. “I don’t doubt that they have the passion and the desire but that doesn’t always equal the ability.”

Last year, Ward 3 Councilor Leigh Webb served as the president of the opera house’s board, according to tax filings. The organization took in nearly $120,000 in revenue.

Webb did not recuse himself from the vote, ultimately supporting the project stating that it was “one of the toughest things this council will probably ever have to decide.”

Despite the tax impact of the bond – at the original $7.3 million proposal, homes would see a 38-cent impact per year – residents like Charlie Chapple asked the council to invest in the project.

In his 10 years of teaching at Franklin High School, Chapple said he’s watched how participating in theater programs has enabled students to find confidence and self-worth. Despite budget challenges, the school has persevered.

“Through our creativity we still manage to offer a lot of opportunity,” he said. “The theater is more than just a stop-gap for education or a place to see a live performance. It is a safe place where people can reach potentials they didn’t know they had.”

He called on his young daughter to help him out with the message, as well.

“I really, really, really, really, really wish the opera house was open,” she told the council.

Libby Femenella, a recent Franklin High School graduate, told the council participating in theater was the one point of respect among other students across the state.

“There’s only one time ever that being from Franklin hasn’t gotten me a comment or a sad look,” she said.

It wasn’t her first time asking the council to support the repairs either – the last time she spoke she said her message was muddled by tears. This time around, the request was more direct.

“It’s been over a year of discussions on this project,” she said. “It’s time for action.”

Ward 1 Councilor George Dzjuna, whose wife Christine is currently on the Opera House board, said that supporting the project would continue revitalization in the city.

“We’re looking to make Franklin go forward,” he said.

McLaughlin disagreed.

“It’s not. That is a fabrication for the moment and an opinion of a councilor personally,” she said. “Your constituents wrote in and said that they do not want this.”

And although that sentiment was largely amiss from public comment, which McLaughlin acknowledged, she said her opposition was in line with constituents’ concerns.

“They trust that I am going to get up here and say this, that is why they didn’t come in,” she said.