Franklin MAtters Weekly

Saturday, October 17, 2026

Early voting and election preparation move to center stage this week

Weather dynamics are upon us. The rains canceled the Farmers Market, caused other events to reschedule, and now the temperature is dropping so bundle up.

Early voting began Saturday and continues each day until Friday, October 30. All the early voting takes place in the Town Clerk’s office. Tabulator testing is scheduled for Monday at 9 AM in the Council Chambers. This is a key step in the preparation by our Town Clerk and her team before each election here in Franklin.

The Board of Assessors, and Housing Authority are scheduled for regular meetings on Monday. The Planning Board will review the traffic study for the Depot Plaza proposal at its session Monday evening.

The Norfolk County Regional Emergency Planning Committee and the 250th Anniversary Celebration Budget Subcommittee are scheduled to meet on Tuesday. The Design Review Commission has a number of items on its virtual only meeting agenda Tuesday evening.

The Finance Committee is scheduled to meet Wednesday. They will review the fiscal policies and discuss the potential for some changes for further review by the Town Council. They are also scheduled for a deep dive into the DPW enterprise funds (water, sewer, solid waste, and stormwater).

The Conservation Commission closes out the meeting week with their regular session on Thursday.

Friday is the next to last (or penultimate) Farmers Market for this season on the Town Common. Fairmount Fruit Farm has scheduled 2 Saturdays each month from November through March 2027 for the Winter Farmers Market.

For all the meetings and cultural events, check out the calendar at Franklin.news/ where each day, that day's events are posted on the top of the page, the TV and radio schedules are on the bottom, and all the other goodness falls in-between.

Audio link - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1837-fm-weekly-outlook-lookback-combo-10-18-26/

*** Event & Meeting schedule (with agendas) as of Town pages 10/16/26 6:00 PM ***

Board of Assessors Regular Meeting

Monday, October 19th Time: 9:00 AM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10192026-2565

Tabulator Testing for November 3 Election - Council Chambers Room

Monday, October 19 Time: 9:00 AM

No agenda for this observation period

Franklin Housing Authority Meeting

Monday, October 19 Time: 4:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10192026-2567

Planning Board Meeting

Monday, October 19 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10192026-2564

Norfolk County Regional Emergency Planning Committee Meeting

Tuesday, October 20 Time: 10:30 AM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10202026-2563

Design Review Meeting

Tuesday, October 20 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10202026-2566

250th Anniversary Celebration Budget Subcommittee Meeting

Tuesday, October 20 Time: 7:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10202026-2568

Finance Committee Meeting

Wednesday, October 21 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10212026-2572

Conservation Commission Meeting

Thursday, October 22nd Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10222026-2570

*** Looking back at the week that was ***

There were several video productions by Franklin TV during the past week both broadcast live and pre-recorded for publication via YouTube.

Town & School meetings

The Franklin School Committee met on Tuesday, Oct 13. The video is available here {recap will be available Sunday) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnpWxfXwZgU

The School Committee Policy Subcommittee met before the full Committee meeting on Tuesday. The audio recording should be available soon at Franklin.News.

The Franklin Town Council met on Wednesday, Oct 14 in the first of a 3 part series on the tax rate. The video is available here (recap available Sunday) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBUfX3OGpgM

The Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) met on Thursday, Oct 15. The video is available here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSrmcTr7AYs

FHS Sports

The FHS Varsity Volleyball vs Milford Tuesday October 13 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wT1W8z4UTso

The FHS girls soccer game vs Medfield also on Tuesday Oct 13 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXJEtMOohxU

The FHS Football game vs Attleboro on Thursday Oct 15 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXFjCqlHya0

The FHS Varsity Field Hockey vs Natick on Saturday, Oct 17

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1bCc9oEtvo

All Access Channel

Franklin Union St Cemetery Tour with Dean professor Rob Lawson and Scott Mason https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgAonH4qHxA

Once Upon A Town: Cataldo Block with Joe Landry and Scott Mason

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_Yjl_qVPdQ

Second Sunday Speaker Series: History of Hayward Manor https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47959PBbmHg

The October 2026 edition of FM Journal https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdtTH6U6LNc

Local historian Joe Landry visits the New England Chapel to check out the Rotary Club's 10th annual car show https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crRrDkDkHUg

-----------

Town calendar -> https://www.franklinma.gov/Calendar.aspx

Community calendar -> https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar

Subscribe for the daily dose of information -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/p/welcome.html

Subscribe for the weekly dose of information -> https://www.franklinmattersweekly.org/p/subscribe-for-email.html

Saturday, October 10, 2026

What tax rate is best for the "common good" of Franklin, MA ???

This week starts discussion on yet another opportunity for Franklin residents and taxpayers to come to an agreement on the “common good”.

Yes, Franklin operates within the Commonwealth of Mass. A commonwealth is defined as “one founded on law and united by compact or tacit agreement of the people for the common good.”

The Town has operated with a single tax rate which means that all property owners and businesses pay the same rate. The current Town Council wants to consider a split tax rate. The split tax rate doesn't raise any additional funds. It only shifts the burden from one category (residential) to another (commercial/industrial) although it could be applied the other way; that is, shifting the burden from commercial industrial to residential.

Over the next 3 Town Council sessions, there are 3 workshops scheduled to define the terminology, present results of some studies, and set up for a robust discussion on the pros and cons of the split vs. single tax rate before the tax rate hearing is held in December.

What rate provides the best outcome, for our common good, for all of Franklin?

*** Event & Meeting schedule (with agendas) as of Town pages 10/09/26 5:00 PM ***

Franklin School Committee Policy Subcommittee Meeting

Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Time = 6:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10132026-2558

250th Anniversary Celebration Communications Subcommittee Meeting

Tuesday, October 13, 2026 Time = 6:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10132026-2553

Franklin School Committee Meeting

Tuesday, October 13, 2026 time = 7:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10132026-2559

Charles River Pollution Control Meeting

Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Time = 3:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10142026-2561

Board of Assessors Regular Meeting

Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Time = 5:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10142026-2562

Town Council Meeting

Wednesday, October 14, 2026 Time = 6:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10142026-2560

Coffee Hour with State & Local Officials

Thursday, October 15, 2026 Time = 8:30 AM

No agenda for this informal session

250th Anniversary Celebration Events Subcommittee Meeting

Thursday, October 15, 2026 Time = 7:30 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10152026-2552

Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) Meeting

Thursday, October 15, 2026 Time = 7:30 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10152026-2540

*** Looking back at the week that was ***

Town & School meetings

Joint Budget Subcmte on Wednesday

https://www.youtube.com/live/zQCeOrqhWRA?is=Df440kdXQFy2bgVB

Conservation Commission on Thursday

https://www.youtube.com/live/FxDu-rCQvyc?is=w9DDyofyUB5gcwr6

FHS Sports

FHS girls soccer on Tuesday

https://www.youtube.com/live/vQ5cJQ66bZU?is=B7_VIhH_O6Fkp0Xc

All Access Channel

Franklin Union St Cemetery tour https://youtu.be/wgAonH4qHxA?is=y0bNzIwSwLRKE-Zg

Frank Presents Diane DiZoglio

https://youtu.be/zQkaGM6rDGw?is=3UvK40M63TIaiWI-

Frank Presents Wayne Adams

https://youtu.be/t2wKrrfRGqg?is=BMAfhD39bBHX_qbm

-----------

Town calendar -> https://www.franklinma.gov/Calendar.aspx

Community calendar -> https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar

Subscribe for the daily dose of information -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/p/welcome.html

Subscribe for the weekly dose of information -> https://www.franklinmattersweekly.org/p/subscribe-for-email.html

Saturday, October 3, 2026

Major or minor, the meetings are important

9 meetings on tap this week and 1 special event being recorded for future broadcast.

I hesitate to call some meetings “major”, which means some are “minor”, when all are important to the operation of the Town and School services. And yet, some are more important than others.

School Superintendent Lucas Giguere is the representative for the District to the BICO Collaborative. Their transportation subcommittee meets on Monday.

The Recreation Advisory Board and the BFCCPS School Governance committees also have regular sessions on Monday.

The School Committee budget subcommittee meets on Tuesday to start preparing for the next budget cycle, especially in acceptance of the Joint Budget Subcommittee Meeting on Wednesday.

Town Clerk Nancy Danello has an information session on Wednesday with Liz Harkins, Franklin TV executive director. The event will be recorded for a future broadcast providing the ins and out of mail ballots, early voting, etc. to prepare us all for the multipage ballot for the November 3 state election.

The Board of Health is scheduled to meet Wednesday. Their agenda is not yet published but will likely be on Monday.

The Joint Budget Subcommittee is composed of representation from the Town Council, School Committee, and Finance Committee. They have the task to figure out how to solve our structural budget deficit.

This is one of those “major” meetings. Don't hide behind your keyboard and walk up in a couple of months “surprised“ when the opportunity for input is now.

The Municipal Affordable Housing Trust is scheduled to meet on Thursday. Their agenda is usually posted no later than Tuesday.

The Conservation Commission and the Cultural District Committee close out the meeting week with their respective sessions Thursday.

Friendly reminder that it does take over 200 unpaid volunteers serving on these boards, committees, and commissions providing oversight and direction for the Town of Franklin authorizing the services the Town provides for all of us.

*** Event & Meeting schedule (with agendas) as of Town pages 10/02/26 8:00 PM ***

BICO Transportation Subcommittee Meeting

Monday, October 5, 2026 Time: 2:30pm

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10052026-2542

Recreation Advisory Board Meeting

Monday, October 5, 2026 Time: 7:00pm

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10052026-2515

BFCCPS School Governance Cmte

Monday, October 5, 2026 Time: 7:30pm

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10052026-2541

Franklin Public Schools Budget Subcommittee Meeting

Tuesday, October 6, 2026 Time: 6:00pm

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10062026-2545

Your Vote, Your Voice! An Information Session

Wednesday, October 7, 2026 Time: 4:00pm

No agenda posted, will be recorded for future broadcast

Board of Health Meeting

Wednesday, October 7, 2026 Time: 5:00pm

~~Agenda usually posted Monday~~

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10072026-2549

Joint Budget Subcommittee

Wednesday, October 7, 2026 Time: 6:00pm

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10072026-2551

Municipal Affordable Housing Trust Meeting

Thursday, October 8, 2026 Time: 2:00pm

Agenda usually posted Monday

Conservation Commission Meeting

Thursday, October 8, 2026 Time: 7:00pm

Updated agenda - https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10082026-2555

Cultural District Cmte Meeting

Thursday, October 8, 2026 Time: 7:00pm

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10082026-2537

*** Looking back at the week that was ***

Town & School meetings

The Planning Board met on Monday, among the key items was the opening discussion on the Depot Plaza proposal. View the replay https://www.youtube.com/live/ofxfKrbslNE?is=MOMwVA8TwQHUs5YJ

The Zoning Board of Appeals met on Thursday, view the replay here

https://www.youtube.com/live/xm10rWRaytg?is=g1bakbb8b92cAgtD

FHS Sports

FHS girls soccer on Monday

https://www.youtube.com/live/xh4QSWSx_hc?is=yLTq31XyeVryJyDj

FHS boys soccer on Wednesday

https://www.youtube.com/live/kFdaIal5xJE?is=UP37IqKBfi_Jc6Qd

FHS volleyball on Wednesday

https://www.youtube.com/live/PFsfHHjYovU?is=QLNsTlKkGx28gx9v

-----------

Town calendar -> https://www.franklinma.gov/Calendar.aspx

Community calendar -> https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar

Subscribe for the daily dose of information -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/p/welcome.html

Subscribe for the weekly dose of information -> https://www.franklinmattersweekly.org/p/subscribe-for-email.html

Saturday, September 26, 2026

September runs out, October opens

Monday is full of meetings, the rest of the week not so many.

The Town Administrator Ad-hoc evaluation continues its work with a session early Monday morning.

The Franklin Cultural Council, the Agricultural Commission, and the 250th historical significance subcommittee all meet Monday evening.

The major meeting of the week is the Planning Board session also Monday night. This is the start of the formal process for the Depot Plaza development. Should it be 4 stories, should it have additional parking, what should it look like are likely among the topics for discussion.

Given the track record with other development proposals, the process starts but won't finish in one night. It is likely to take several months to reach a conclusion.

The School Committee Community Relations Subcommittee is scheduled to meet on Tuesday.

There is a continuation of a Pole Petition hearing scheduled for Wednesday.

The Zoning Board of Appeals is scheduled to meet and review one proposal on Thursday.

The Commission on Disability has a meeting for the record to allow the membership to participate in the Senior Expo on Friday from 10 AM to 1 PM.

The Farmers Market closes out the week Friday afternoon. Having been canceled recently, folks will be looking to stock up.

*** Event & Meeting schedule (with agendas) as of Town pages 9/25/26 8:00 PM ***

Town Administrator Evaluation Ad Hoc Committee Meeting

Monday, September 28 Time: 9:30 AM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09282026-2535

Franklin Cultural Council

Monday, September 28 Time: 7:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09282026-2529