Franklin MAtters Weekly: With the override amount & date set, how do we grow smartly?

With the key budget item decided (amount and date for override vote), the meetings this week can get us into some of the other Town business arenas.

The hot topics from the 2 question and answer sessions I held this week were focused primarily around the affordable housing issue we (and Mass overall) faces. Our zoning bylaws, as currently structured, need to be btter understood to see how we got into this situation, and more important, what we need to do to address it. That opportunity sets us up for the week ahead.

How do we grow smartly to increase revenue without increasing the costs of operations for Town and Schools?

Two development proposals are on the dockets this week; one is close to a decision, one is just getting started. How does the redistricting affect the middle school program of studies offered?

The Planning Board meeting, on Monday, continues it review of the proposed Autumn Hill development for Summer St
The School Committee meeting, on Tuesday, gets into the next level of detail on redistricting for high school and middle school schedules and course offerings
The Zoning Board of Appeals meeting, on Thursday, starts its review of the proposal for redevloping the Stobbart's property

In addition to understanding Franklin's Master Plan, there is a group of concerned residents who are educating themselves in order to advocate for smart growth. Smart growth is one measure we can use to help to ensure appropriate revenue increases to mitigate further budget issues.

Find out more about Building Equitable Neighborhoods for Franklin (BEN 4 Franklin) on the web page where you can join the mailing list and join our monthly meetings to help with this effort. https://ben4franklin.org/

*** For the week of March 24 - March 28 (as of Town site on Friday, 3/21 evening) ***

Library Board of Directors Meeting

Monday, March 24th Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/Library-Board-of-Directors-20/?#_03242025-1646

Planning Board Meeting

Monday, March 24th Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/331?fileID=4217

Design Review Meeting

Tuesday, March 25th Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/344?fileID=4249

Franklin School Committee

Tuesday, March 25th Time: 7:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03252025-1651

Zoning Board of Appeals, ZBA Meeting

Thursday, March 27th Time: 7:30 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03272025-1619

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

The Town Council took up the recommendation from the Joint Budget Subcommittee and did approve an override special election for June 3, 2025 for the amount of $3,862,672 to support both Town and School operational expenses. Now the work to get it passed can begin.

The Watch Listen Read series for the 6 Joint Budget Listening Sessions is complete

March 12 session -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/03/watch-listen-read-6th-joint-budget.html

You can find the full series -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/02/joint-budget-listening-sessions-fy-2026.html

Town Council Chair Tom Mercer and I recap the March 19 Council meeting and override decision -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/03/franklin-town-council-sets-june-3-for_22.html

The audio & video links forthe March 19 meeting can be found -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/03/franklin-town-council-sets-june-3-for_0620382669.html

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For all the meetings and cultural events, check out the calendars at Franklin.news where each day, that day's events on posted on the top of the page