Franklin MAtters Weekly

Saturday, July 18, 2026

Design Review meeting scheduled to provide an initial view of the proposal to replace the Depot Plaza building

No matter the summer weather, some Town business continues. One of the busier weeks comes around this week beginning July 19 and running through July 25.

The Design Review Commission looks at signs for a new “Fresh Monkee” food oriented business which will apparently bring “Truly Healthy Shakes” according to the sign up for review.

More importantly, the Design Review also gives us an initial view of the proposal to replace the Depot Plaza building. The site plan and architectural renderings of the proposal can be found as links in the agenda document.

The Town Council has a potpourri of items on this only meeting of the month of July. Some alcohol license transactions, street acceptance, some more committee appointments, etc.

The Board of Assessors meet briefly on Thursday (at 5:30 PM) and then join the Economic Development Subcmte (at 6:00 PM)for a discussion on “new growth”; the process and how it is calculated. This should be an informative session. Check the agenda for the supporting documents released for this meeting.

Friday closes out the week with the Farmers Market and entertainment provided by Concerts on the Common.

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-1779-fm-weekly-outlook-lookback-combo-07-19-26/

*** Event & Meeting schedule (with agendas) as of Town pages 7/17/26, 9:00 PM ***

Housing Authority

Tuesday, July 21 Time: 4:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07212026-2418

Design Review Meeting

Tuesday, July 21 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07212026-2419

Council on Aging Board Meeting - No Meeting

Wednesday, July 22 Time: 11:00 AM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07222026-2397

Charles River Pollution Control District

Wednesday, July 22 Time: 3:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07222026-2420

Tri-County School Committee Nomination Committee Meeting

Wednesday, July 22 Time: 5:15 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07232026-2423

Town Council Meeting

Wednesday, July 22 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07222026-2421

Board of Assessors Regular Meeting

Thursday, July 23 Time: 5:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07232026-2417

Economic Development Subcommittee Meeting

Thursday, July 23 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07232026-2422

Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) Meeting - no meeting

Thursday, July 23 Time: 7:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07232026-2414

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

The light meeting week that was, resulted in 3 broadcasts

Town/ School meetings

Planning Board, Monday, July 13 video - https://www.youtube.com/live/xXY2UHUFMsk?&t=113

Communications Subcmte Mtg, Wednesday, July 15 - Recap and video link available at https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/07/communications-subcommittee-sends-email.html

Conservation Commission Mtg, Thursday, July 16 - https://www.youtube.com/live/45PtMovVL8k?&t=172

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, July 11, 2026

Light meeting schedule continues the week of July 12 - 18, 2026 in Franklin, MA

While it is relatively quiet, with no Council or School Committee meetings, other boards and committees are meeting this week to conduct Town and School business.

The Horace Mann Legacy subcommittee will look at a draft of the “campus” plan and plan for a table at a future Farmers Market.

The Planning Board has a review of a preliminary subdivision on Prospect St.

The 250th committee is scheduled to review/discuss their process for finding and submitting to appropriate grants.

The Communications Subcommittee will review a draft of the possible Council process for responding to resident emails as well as weigh in on an elected official policy on participation in social media.

The Conservation Commission amongst its regular business will also potentially authorize expenditure for a table cloth for use at the Farmers Market along with a rehab of three trail crossings in the Franklin Town Forest.

These items may not seem like much but in general these oversight boards and committees are in position to authorize a lot of the day to day business of the Town. By the way, according to the Town vacancies, 7 of the boards & committees have a total of 13 open positions.

You can find the listing of the current openings on the Town page and check the box to filter by “Vacancies” https://franklinmaboards.vt-s.net/boards.php.

If one of the spots seems to fit your interest, the application can be made from a tab on the same page.

Audio link - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1777-fm-weekly-outlook-lookback-combo-07-12-26/

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*** Event & Meeting schedule (with agendas) as of Town pages 7/10/26, 7:00 PM ***

Horace Mann Legacy Subcommittee

Monday, July 13 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07132026-2401

Planning Board Meeting

Monday, July 13 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07132026-2411

250th Anniversary Celebration Committee Meeting

Monday, July 13 Time: 7:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07132026-2407

Communication Subcommittee Meeting

Wednesday, July 15 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07152026-2412

Town Council Monthly Office Hours

Thursday, July 16 Time: 8:30 AM

No agenda for this informal discussion

Conservation Commission Meeting

Thursday, July 16 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07162026-2410

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

The light meeting week that was, resulted in only one broadcast.

Town/ School meetings

Zoning Board of Appeals meeting, Thursday, July 9

https://www.youtube.com/live/YMR5fVrSDnU?&t=112

Pride TV

Winning Ways with the MIAA: Student Athletes Ep1 06-11-26

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPLMvQh3V_w

Winning Ways with the MIAA: Student Athletes Ep2 06-11-26

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TDbfSKbPf1M

All-Access Programing

Roots & Branches: History of Soccer in Massachusetts 06-14-26

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

Frank Presents: Joe Pagliarulo (Candidate for Norfolk County District Attorney)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HB1zzQerZbI

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, July 4, 2026

250 years behind for USA, 2 more years to go before Franklin 250th

250 years are now behind the USA, 2 more years to go before Franklin gets to celebrate its own birthday, and another light meeting week ahead.

The weather was hot and humid but the crowds enjoyed the 4th of July celebration on the Town Common.

State Rep Jeff Roy delivered the Town’s copy of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence at the opening of the festivities on July 1.

The light meeting week includes a continuation of a small cell tower proposal for Pond St, Communication Subcomte for the Franklin 250th, a Cultural District meeting as well as a ZBA meeting. The agenda for all the meetings posted so far are linked below. The couple of agenda missing are likely to be posted in advance of the session to keep with Open Meeting requirements.

You can subscribe to get notified for meetings, agenda and minutes for each of the board and committee across the Town operations.

Audio link - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1775-fm-weekly-outlook-lookback-combo-07-05-26/

*** Event & Meeting schedule (with agendas) as of Town pages 7/03/26, 4:00 PM ***

Small Cell Wireless Antenna Petition Hearing - Pond St.

Tuesday, July 7 Time: 1:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07072026-2381

250th Anniversary Celebration Communications Subcommittee Meeting

Tuesday, July 7 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07072026-2393

Municipal Affordable Housing Trust Meeting

Thursday, July 9 Time: 2:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07092026-2400

Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School Meeting

Thursday, July 9 Time: 7:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/Benjamin-Franklin-Classical-Charter-Publ-40/?#_07012026-2396

Cultural District Committee Meeting

Thursday, July 9 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07092026-2395

Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) Meeting

Thursday, July 9 Time: 7:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07092026-2392

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

The light meeting week that was, resulted in only one broadcast. That of the Conservation Commission

Town/ School meetings

Conservation Commission met on Thursday, July 2

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

All-Access Programing

Aging Boldfully: Sisters United Against Cancer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYHAWR0H9Yw

Veterans' Call: David Hencke

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8L6LUi-3Gh4

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, June 27, 2026

Franklin is off to a great start to the summer of 2026 (audio)

Several thousand folks had a grand time with the MetroWest Fan Zone World Cup watch parties on Wednesday & Thursday. No matter which teams won or lost, a good time was had by all.

The weather continued to cooperate for the Farmers Market on Friday and Celebrate with Pride on Saturday.

Word has it that the heat will be here for the 4th of July Celebration on the Town Common beginning Wednesday, July 1 and running through Sunday, July 5.

There is a light schedule of meetings this week, and an even lighter schedule the week of July 6.

Stay cool, stay hydrated, and be kind to one another.

Audio link - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1774-fm-weekly-outlook-lookback-combo-06-28-26/

*** Event & Meeting schedule (with agendas) as of Town pages 6/26/26, 8:00 PM ***

4th of July celebration schedule - https://www.franklin4th.com/

Franklin Agricultural Committee Meeting

Monday, June 29 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06292026-2383

Franklin School Committee (virtual only)

Monday, June 29 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06292026-2389

250th Anniversary Celebration Historical Significance Subcommittee Meeting