Franklin MAtters Weekly

Saturday, October 24, 2026

Your couple of minutes view on what's coming or just happened in Franklin MA

From charter review to 250 event brainstorming to Administrator Evaluation to Tax Rate workshop and a bunch of other items in between are on tap this week.

The Ad-hoc charter review subcommittee is scheduled to meet early on Monday. Let’s hope nothing happens like the prior two causes for meeting cancellation.

The 250 Celebration Committee holds a session at the Senior Center Monday morning to outline plans for the events in 2028 to seek feedback, additional ideas and perhaps some volunteers to help with the effort.

The Town Administrator evaluation Subcommittee, the Agricultural Committee, the Library Board of Directors, and the 250 Subcommittee on historical significance are also scheduled to meet on Monday.

The School Committee is scheduled to meet Tuesday to get an update on the October 1 enrollment, hear about a potential new international trip for FHS, and get an update from Liz Harkins, the new Executive Director at Franklin TV.

The Franklin High School Auditorium is the setting for the 2nd of three tax rate workshops being held by the Town Council. Hopefully many folks will come out for this session.

The Economic Development subcommittee and the Zoning Board of Appeals are scheduled to meet on Thursday to close out the week of meetings.

The last Farmers Market for the season comes around on Friday, Oct 30 at the Town Common. The Winter Farmers Market at Fairmount Fruit Farm has two dates each month from Nov to March scheduled.

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-1841-fm-weekly-outlook-lookback-combo-10-25-26/

*** Event & Meeting schedule (with agendas) as of Town pages 10/23/26 5:00 PM ***

Ad Hoc Town Charter Review Committee Meeting

Monday, October 26 Time: 10:00 AM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10262026-2534

Franklin 250 Brainstorming

Monday, October 26 Time: 10:00 AM

No agenda for this interactive session

Town Administrator Evaluation Ad Hoc Committee Meeting

Monday, October 26 Time: 4:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10262026-2571

Franklin Agricultural Committee Meeting

Monday, October 26 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10262026-2578

Library Board of Directors Regular Meeting

Monday, October 26 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10262026-2580

250th Anniversary Celebration Historical Significance Subcommittee Meeting

Monday, October 26 Time: 7:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10262026-2579

Franklin School Committee

Tuesday, October 27 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10272026-2581

Council on Aging Board Meeting

Wednesday, October 28 Time: 11:00 AM

No agenda available at this time

Town Council Meeting @ Franklin High School Auditorim

Wednesday, October 28 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10282026-2583

October 29, 2026 - Economic Development Subcommittee Meeting

Thursday, October 29 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10292026-2582

Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) Meeting

Thursday, October 29 Time: 7:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10292026-2574

*** 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

Planning Board meeting on 10/29 Recap & video link https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/10/planning-board-reviews-traffic-parking.html

Finance Committee on 10/21 Recap & video link

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/10/finance-committee-gets-insights-on.html

Conservation Commission on 10/22 video link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JptqXV8ksM

FHS Sports

FHS boys soccer vs Mansfield on 10/21

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdmhvY0L9Gg

FHS volleyball vs Stoughton on 10/23

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0224oSody8

All Access Channel

Franklin Senior Expo held at the Senior Center on 10/02

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bzdbgW0wOo

Franklin Matters

MA State Senator Becca Rausch 10/14/26 -

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/10/senator-rausch-provides-legislative.html

Town of Franklin's Boston Post Cane Presented to Lydia Dolitka 10/22/2026

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/10/town-of-franklins-boston-post-cane.html

-----------

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 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.

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