Franklin Commission Moves to Hire Outside Attorneys for Employee Investigation

The commission unanimously voted to begin the process of selecting employment lawyers to conduct an independent review.

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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The Franklin City Commission has unanimously voted to hire an outside law firm to investigate the actions of a city employee, Planning and Zoning Administrator Carter Munday. This decision comes after last week's commission vote to seek an independent review related to Munday's hiring and emails that surfaced through an open records request. The commission wants the review handled by attorneys experienced in employment law and without personal ties to local officials.

Why it matters

This investigation highlights the commission's efforts to ensure transparency and accountability in the city's hiring and employment practices. Bringing in outside legal counsel to review the matter demonstrates the commission's commitment to addressing any potential issues in an impartial manner.

The details

During a special called meeting, the Franklin City Commission first entered executive session under Kentucky's personnel statute before returning to open session to unanimously vote to begin the process of hiring an outside law firm. The Human Resources Director has been tasked with contacting several employment law firms to assess their qualifications and interest in taking on the review. The commission wants to ensure the investigation is conducted by attorneys with the appropriate expertise and no conflicts of interest with local officials.

  • The Franklin City Commission unanimously voted on Tuesday to begin the process.
  • The Human Resources Director is expected to present recommendations for law firms at the commission's next regular meeting.

The players

Carter Munday

The Planning and Zoning Administrator whose actions are the subject of the investigation.

Dale McCreary

A Franklin City Commissioner who stated the commission wants the review handled by attorneys experienced in employment law and without personal ties to local officials.

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What they’re saying

“We just thought it's appropriate that the H.R. director contact each law firm and see what their, you know, their qualifications are and if they'd want to even take the task on. We want to make sure we're doing what's right and not only to the employee but to the public as well.”

— Dale McCreary, Franklin City Commissioner (WNKY News 40 Television)

What’s next

The Human Resources Director is expected to present recommendations for law firms at the commission's next regular meeting.

The takeaway

This investigation demonstrates the Franklin City Commission's commitment to addressing potential issues in the city's employment practices in a transparent and impartial manner by bringing in outside legal counsel with the appropriate expertise.