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Franklin City Council voted 5-1 on Monday, Aug. 26, to approve a special use permit to accommodate a Residential Community Crisis Stabilization Unit at 204 Morton St.

The lone dissenting vote was from Ward 4 Councilman Dr. Linwood Johnson.

In a Tuesday, Aug. 27, interview, Johnson explained that he was not against the unit but was concerned about security given its proximity to other residences.

The matter of the special use permit for the unit was before the council again Monday because when it voted on it at a previous meeting following a public hearing on the matter, there were only three affirmative votes, which represented a majority but not a sufficient one.

Franklin’s city attorney noted Monday that under the city’s charter, the council needs four votes to pass any substantive motion like this one.

There was no need to repeat the public hearing, but the council needed to vote to renew the matter and then vote on the matter again to see if it would receive four votes or fail. 

Ward 5 Councilwoman and Vice Mayor Wynndolyn H. Copeland made the motion to renew the matter, which passed 4-1, with Johnson voting against and Ward 3 Councilman Gregory McLemore abstaining.

When it came time to take action on the matter, Copeland said, “I move to approve the special use permit 204 Morton St. with the imposition of conditions that the owner install security cameras in proper areas for any issues that occur, or around the facility, proper lighting both inside and out as well, and if a change is needed in electric load, a new load letter will be completed.”

As noted in a staff report on the matter from Franklin Director of Community Development Aaron Barnes, Clarence Baker was requesting a special use permit to accommodate a Residential Community Crisis Stabilization Unit at 204 Morton St. in Franklin.

Barnes noted that the Franklin Planning Commission had voted 7-0 recommending approval of the permit, and city staff recommended approval contingent upon staff comment questions being adequately answered and addressed.

Documentation in the council meeting packet featured a description of how Baker’s Home Inc. intends to use the building at 204 Morton St.

The document notes that there is a substance abuse crisis in the community, and keeping in line with the organization’s founding principle of meeting the needs of the community, Baker’s Home is attempting to do its part in combating the area’s substance abuse problem and the issues that are sometimes found when this abuse is present.

“To accomplish this, Baker’s Home wants to operate as a Residential Crisis Stabilization Unit for adults in our current headquarters located at 204 Morton St. in Franklin,” the document states. “RCSUs provide short-term, 24/7, residential psychiatric and substance-related assessment and brief intervention services.”

The document notes that the service supports the following individuals:

• Individuals experiencing changes in behavior noted by impairment or decompensation in functioning that may result in the need of a higher level of care;
• Individuals stepping down from a higher level of care that need continued monitoring, stabilization and mobilization of resources; and 
• Individuals who need a safe environment for assessment, stabilization and prevention of further escalation or decompensation.

“RCSUs may also provide medically monitored residential services for the purpose of providing psychiatric stabilization and substance withdrawal management services on a short-term basis,” the document states.

The goals of RCSU services include but are not limited to the following, according to the document:

1.) Stabilize the individual in a community-based setting and support the individual and natural support system;

2.) Reduce acute symptoms; and

3.) Identify and mobilize available resources including support networks.

“This service occurs in a non-hospital, community-based crisis stabilization residential unit with no more than 16 beds,” the document states. “The critical features or the covered services components of RCSUs include assessment (medical, psychiatric evaluation, nursing assessment, etc.); care coordination; crisis intervention; health literacy counseling; individual, group and/or family therapy; peer recovery support services; skills restoration; and treatment planning.”

The document notes that the RCSU will provide the following:

• 24-hour nursing staff;
• Licensed mental health professionals for program oversight;
• Certified substance abuse counselors;
• Qualified mental health counselors; 
• Peer recovery specialists; 
• Food services — three meals a day; and
• Laundry services.

“It should be noted that this new venture will be a multi-million-dollar operation,” the document states. “It would add to the local tax base and 20 new professional jobs in Franklin and the surrounding area, with an average annual salary of $70,000 per year. In addition, again, keeping with its founding principle of meeting the community’s needs, Baker’s Home also supports the local community through sponsorships.”

Comments from city departments on the special use permit request included the following from Franklin Municipal Power and Light: “Power & Light has no concerns as long as they are not changing the electric load. If they plan to increase the load, we will need a new load letter.”

The City of Franklin Police Department stated that from a law enforcement officer perspective, the proposed RCSU “appears to be a legalized boarding house like the multitude of others we deal with in the city. I request cameras be installed for any issues that occur in or around the facility and proper lighting both inside and out. This will undoubtedly add to our calls for mental health crisis and (Emergency Custody Order)/(Temporary Detention Order) operations.”

After the council’s 5-1 vote to approve the special use permit, applause erupted from the crowd present at Monday’s meeting.