Franklin MAtters Weekly

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.

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-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

Monday, June 29 Time: 7:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06292026-2379

Board of Health Meeting

Wednesday, July 1 Time: 5:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07012026-2387

Franklin Commission on Disability

Thursday, July 2 Time: 4:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07022026-2386

Conservation Commission Meeting

Thursday, July 2 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07022026-2388

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

Town/ School meetings

School committee meeting on Tuesday, June 23 - recap and video link - https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/06/franklin-school-committee-approves.html

The Ad-hoc Charter Review committee meeting scheduled for Wednesday was canceled and will be rescheduled

The Zoning Board of Appeals met on Thursday, June 25, the video can be found https://www.youtube.com/live/GHhLAzuXP4c?si=fD5cGzAHj0QLPZAk&t=98

New All-Access Programing

Lincoln St 5th Grade https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwwzwNpbvp0

World Cup Watch Party entertainment day 1 - https://www.youtube.com/live/N3SefP0AyZ4?&t=472

World Cup Watch Party entertainment day 2 -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBeo1QqI4iM

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 20, 2026

The budget is behind us, summer is officially here, let’s start taking part in all the fun stuff in Franklin

The FY 2027 budget is finally behind us, summer is officially here, let’s start really taking part in all the fun stuff in Franklin.

The Farmers Market is operating weekly on Friday from 2 to 6 PM. Concerts on the Common extends musical entertainment for 6 weeks from July 10 to August 14. The Community calendar has the listing of performers each week.

The World Cup is happening and Franklin has its own Fan Zone Wednesday June 24 and Thursday June 25. Two games will be shown each day on a large screen at Hayward Manor. Food trucks, and activities will happen on the Town Common.

Main St will be closed from High St to Pleasant St to enable placement of the food trucks and easy access from the Common to the Manor, etc. Be aware of the traffic implications!

The Franklin 4th of July Celebration opens July 1. The fireworks are scheduled for July 2 and the celebration, rides, food, & entertainment run through Sunday, July 5.

And yes, there are a few town & school meetings this week, the schedule and agendas are listed here.

Audio link - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1770-fm-weekly-outlook-lookback-combo-06-21-26/

*** Event & Meeting schedule (with agendas) as of Town pages 6/19/26, 8:00 PM ***

Library Board of Directors Regular Meeting

Monday, June 22 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06222026-2372

Planning Board Meeting

Monday, June 22 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06222026-2373

Franklin School Committee Meeting

Tuesday, June 23 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06232026-2374

Council on Aging Board Meeting

Wednesday, June 24 Time: 11:00 AM

no agenda available

Petition Hearing - Grant of Location for Small Cell Antenna

Wednesday, June 24 Time: 12:15 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06242026-2376

Ad-hoc Charter Review

Wednesday, June 24 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06242026-2382

Franklin School Committee Meeting

Wednesday, June 24 Time: 7:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06242026-2375

Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) Meeting

Thursday, June 25 Time: 7:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06252026-2359

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

Town/ School meetings

Town Council meeting on June 17 - recap and video https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/06/town-council-witnesses-backfill-new.html
Conservation Commission - June 18 - video = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVMvhMmsQMc&t=299s

FHS/ Tri-County live streaming

Washington St 5th grade graduation - video - https://www.youtube.com/live/ImRUHEebybQ&t=560

New All-Access Programing

Memorial Day Breakfast 2026 is available for viewing https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6e3-D_DO_xs
Memorial Day ceremonies - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WILTuEWRF1g

Franklin Matters Video

State Representative Jeff Roy explains the audit issue and House legislation - https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/06/whats-up-with-audit-state-rep-jeff-roy.html
Come along for a tour inside the Beaver St Interceptor Lift Station - https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/06/come-along-with-us-as-we-go-inside-lift.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, June 13, 2026

The Town of Franklin has an FY 2027 budget with only minor changes to what was proposed

The FY 2027 budget has been approved, what remains is to close out the FY 2026 budget by June 30.

The Town Council spent 8.5 hours over 2 nights in May for their FY 2027 budget hearing and then almost another 5 hours to get through the 40 plus budget votes and ancillary matters at their June 10 meeting.

One take away that should be remembered: While some members of both the Finance Committee and Town Council expressed interest in not using free cash and finding ways to cut the budget to balance, the votes were not where to do so.

Another way of putting it is that both the Finance Committee and Town Council "validated the budget.” The amount and areas of change from the original proposal to the approved version were minimal.

Now let’s see that effort put toward the strategic plan to really get a fix to the structural issues we have. Significant savings have occurred to the budget over the past several years due to the reorganizations by the Fire Dept, Police Dept, Finance Dept/Human Resources (Town and Schools) and the major savings from the Schools redistricting. Those savings have helped but that can’t be repeated. Time to focus on the revenue side.

The Town Council meeting Wednesday, June 17 has a few measures to help ready the book of accounts to get closed out for FY 2026 as of June 30.

Also of note on the agenda are the appointments for the expiring terms across multiple boards and committees. While the majority of volunteers are renewing, there are about 20 positions on 8 boards/committees that remain open. Check out the listing of those and see if one might be something you could take up.

Audio link - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1763-fm-weekly-outlook-lookback-combo-06-14-26/

*** Event & Meeting schedule (with agendas) as of Town pages 6/12/26, 9:00 PM ***

Franklin Housing Authority Meeting

Monday, June 15 Time: 4:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06152026-2351

Community Preservation Committee - CANCELED

Monday, June 15 Time:

Massachusetts Strategic Health Group Meeting

Tuesday, June 16 Time: 1:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06162026-2367

Design Review Meeting

Tuesday, June 16 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06162026-2366

Town Council Meeting

Wednesday, June 17 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06172026-2368

250th Anniversary Celebration Committee (added 6/15/26)

Wednesday, June 17, 2026 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06172026-2369

Town Council Monthly Office Hours

Thursday, June 18 Time: 8:30 AM

No agenda for this informal session

Conservation Commission Meeting

Thursday, June 18 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/610?fileID=9301

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

Town/ School meetings

Franklin School Cmte Mtg 06/09/26 recap & video - https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/06/school-committee-gets-updates-on.html
Town Council meeting 6/10/26 - recap & video - https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/06/town-council-takes-almost-5-hours-to.html Vote tally for 6/10/26 meeting - https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/06/vote-tally-of-more-than-40-votes-taken.html

FHS/ Tri-County live streaming

Franklin Youth Softball broadcast on Thursday, June 11 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=31i5GyLaKG8

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 6, 2026

PorchFest, budget, Strawberry Stoll, budget ...

PorchFest, budget, Strawberry Stoll, budget… and then we’re done until the tax rate hearing this fall.

Yes, the final stretch on the evolution of the FY 2027 budget. As noted here last week, Town Administrator Jamie Hellen released an updated and ‘final’ version of the budget. The Finance Committee voted to approve it after reviewing and confirming the changes since they had seen the budget in April for their series of 4 budget hearings.

The recommendations they made were incorporated in this version along with updated numbers on new growth, health care (the last piece to the puzzle the Town was waiting for) and to the State funding expected via the Senate budget.

The House and Senate version of the State budget still need conference committee agreement to send it to the Governor for final decision. It is anticipated to not be changed much as this is an election year. The increases to local aid and Chapter 70 are needed here and elsewhere across the Commonwealth.

The School Committee is scheduled to meet on Tuesday at 7 PM. Their Policy subcommittee is scheduled to meet before that at 6 PM.

The Town Council will get their review and discussion on the updated FY 2027 budget at their session on Wednesday. The reduction in use of Free Cash (an accounting term that is neither ‘free’ nor ‘cash’) should help but some had previously indicated not wanting to use any. How and where they would provide the balance to the budget remains to be seen.

The Strawberry Stroll closes out the week on Friday overlapping in time schedule (4 to 8 PM) with the Farmers Market (2 to 6 PM) at the Town Common also on Friday.

Audio link - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1758-fm-weekly-outlook-lookback-combo-06-07-26/

*** Event & Meeting schedule (with agendas) as of Town pages 6/05/26, 10:00 PM ***

Franklin Public School Horace Mann Sub Committee Meeting - Cancelled

Monday, June 8 Time: 7:00 PM

250th Anniversary Celebration Committee Meeting

Monday, June 8 Time: 8:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06082026-2352

Franklin School Committee Policy Subcommittee Meeting

Tuesday, June 9 Time: 6:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06092026-2355

Franklin School Committee Meeting

Tuesday, June 9 Time: 7:00 PM