The Franklin-Simpson Consolidation Study Committee voted 18 to 4 in favor of continuing discussions about a possible merger of the city and county governments. That means a charter committee will be formed to develop a plan for implementing the merger.

The Simpson County Fiscal Court and the Franklin City Commission will have a joint meeting in June to discuss the Franklin-Simpson consolidation Study Committee’s report. They will then decide if the charter committee should be formed.

If the city commission and the fiscal court approve the charter committee then the merging issue will be in the hands of the general public in the November 2006 general election.

If voters approve the merger, the governmental change would take effect in January 2010. That will give elected officials in the 2006 election time to complete their terms.

The charter committee would consist of 20 to 40 members appointed by the city and county.