The slow season of summertime lingers this week 07/14 - 07/20/25

“Another day in the park

I think it was the Fourth of July”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HjylD7esXDo

The slow season of summertime lingers this week. Only 1 ‘major’ meeting and 3 ‘minor’ meetings on tap for the week. 

The Economic Development Subcommittee meeting on Wednesday previews zoning bylaw changes proposed for the Crossing Neighborhood District located at the junction of Union and & Cottage. 

Stop by the Senior Center for breakfast and open conversation with State and Town officials on Thursday morning. A good breakfast at a very good price and usually a good conversation opportunity.

The ZBA meeting scheduled for Thursday has been rescheduled for July 31.

If you have other Town of Franklin questions, you can also take advantage of the Franklin Q&A session on Wednesday morning either remotely or in person at the Franklin Senior Center. Open to all in Franklin, you bring your questions, I’ll provide the answers either then or via follow up.

*** Meeting schedule and agendas as of Town page 7/11/25, 8:00 PM

OPEB Board of Trustees Meeting

Tuesday, July 15 Time: 11:00 AM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07152025-1813 

Economic Development Subcommittee Meeting

Wednesday, July 16 Time: 5:45 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07162025-1818 

(Note: due to equipment trouble in the Council Chamber studio, the meeting might be broadcast from the 3rd Floor Training Room.)

Coffee Hour with State & Local Officials

Thursday, July 17 Time: 8:30 AM

No agenda for this open session

Zoning Board of Appeals ZBA Meeting

Thursday, July 17 Time: 7:30 PM -> rescheduled to July 31, 2025

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07172025-1811 

Council on Aging Meeting

Friday, July 18 Time: 1:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06202025-1790 

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

The only meeting broadcast or recorded by Franklin TV was the 

Conservation Commission - July 10, 2025

Franklin TV video -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PuhuJNjwcrk 

The Memorial Day breakfast was published to YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04CztHlxZKE

The Memorial Day parade and ceremonies was published to YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79er1B_Cpd0

And from the archives of Franklin TV, the video of Poetry Day at the Senior Center held Oct 25, 2017 was published to YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4LPTfBJ_vk

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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 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.

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

Summertime, the living is easy as we ease into the 4th of July weekend

We can put “Summertime, and the living is easy”  on repeat as we ease into the long 4th of July weekend.

Less than a handful of meetings this week. The Agricultural Committee and Planning Board meets on Monday. The Municipal Affordable Housing Trust meets on Tuesday. 

While the Board of Health has a meeting scheduled for their normal first Wednesday of the month, there is no agenda posted and it may not occur. Prior meeting discussion was around whether there was a need to meet during the summer. Nothing was pressing at the time.

The 4th of July Celebration opens on Wednesday and runs through Sunday on the Town Common. Carnival rides open daily with a wrist band or ride package available. Live music is scheduled each day with the 5th Annual Mike Crandall Blues Festival on Saturday. Fireworks close out Saturday night at 10 PM from Franklin High School.

The Franklin Democratic Committee, the Rod and Gun Club, and the 4th Coalition will operate food booths during the event. Supporting these organizations are a win-win; food or refreshments for you and the family, and you help the group.

You can check out the 4th of July Coalition page for their full schedule. The Coalition is community supported so your donation can help support this event.

Each day's schedule will also be shared via the Franklin.news daily newsletter. 

*** Meeting schedule and agendas as of Town page 6/27/25, 8:00 PM

Franklin Agricultural Committee

Monday, June 30 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/Agricultural-Commission-13/?#_06302025-1797 

Planning Board Meeting

Monday, June 30 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06302025-1798 

Municipal Affordable Housing Trust Meeting

Tuesday, July 1 Time: 2:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/437?fileID=5188 

BOARD OF HEALTH MEETINGS

Wednesday, July 2 Time: 5:00 PM

no agenda at this time (not likely meeting)

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

A short week of meetings this past week.

The School Committee policy subcommittee met virtually on Tuesday at 6 PM to preview the fee discussion and decision before the full meeting at 7 PM. 

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/06/franklin-school-cmte-policy-subcmte-mtg.html

The full School Committee meeting met at 7 PM with 5 members participating for this virtual session. Franklin TV did not broadcast this session as it was virtual only. The audio for both the Policy subcommittee and full meeting is available at Franklin.news. 

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/06/school-committee-meets-virtually.html 

The Conservation Commission met on Thursday. Franklin TV video is available for replay on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glunYy20aWs 

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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 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.

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

Summertime, “Summertime, and the living is easy”

Summertime,  “Summertime, and the living is easy” 

The Fiscal Year 2025 comes to a close on June 30. Town business starts to shift gears from one fiscal year to the next as the cycles continue. FY 2026 opens July 1 and we’ll start seeing confirmation of the budget cuts due to the failed override to fund the level service budget. No level service? Correct, town delivery of services will decline in various aspects. Some will be more noticeable than others.

With schools closed, the Recreation dept has temporarily moved to use Parmenter while construction on the Beaver St interceptor continues to work in their yard as well as disrupt traffic on Beaver St. They take this week off fortunately but are likely to be back as steel plates in the road remain.

The Design Review, School Committee and SchCmte Policy subcommittee all meet virtually on Tuesday. The Conservation Commission meets on Thursday.

For updates and reporting on the meetings and cultural events, check out the calendar and information 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.

*** Meeting schedule and agendas as of Town page 6/20/25, 6:30 PM

Franklin Public Library Board of Directors Meeting

Monday, June 23 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/Library-Board-of-Directors-20/?#_06232025-1776 

Franklin School Committee Policy Subcommittee Meeting (virtual only)

Tuesday, June 24 Time: 6:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06242025-1792 

Design Review Meeting (virtual only)

Tuesday, June 24 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/429?fileID=5164 

Franklin School Committee (Virtual only)

Tuesday, June 24 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/School-Committee-35/?#_06242025-1793 

Arts and Culture Symposium Subcommittee Meeting

Wednesday, June 25` Time: 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5979/Arts-and-Culture-Symposium_-SubCommittee-Meeting--1?bidId= 

Tri-County Regional Vocational School Committee Appointment Meeting

Thursday, June 26 Time: 2:30 PM

no agenda available at this time

Conservation Commission Meeting

Thursday, June 26 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/430?fileID=5169 

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

The groundbreaking for Habitat for Humanity to formally take title to the Old South Meeting House took place on Wednesday, June 18. The exterior will be preserved while the interior will be renovated to become a single family affordable residence.

The most significant meeting of the week was the Town Council session on Wednesday, June 18. The agenda was a typical variety of business appointments, recognitions, survey results, and a surprise. Fire Chief James McLaughlin announced his retirement effective on or before Oct 1, 2025. The video replay of the full meeting is available.

Chair Tom Mercer and I met virtually to record our Council “quarterbacking” session. We recap the meeting and condense it answering 2 key questions: 

• ok, what just happened? 

• What does it mean for Franklin residents and taxpayers?

You can also find the audio at Franklin.News

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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 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.

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

Franklin Schools close out for the summer, June 18, District prepares for September 2025

School closes out this week with half days as Franklin prepares for redistricting starting in September. The last day to register for bus transportation is Friday, June 20. Any requests after Friday can not be guaranteed a bus seat for September.

A small slate of meetings are scheduled for this shortened week with Town and School facilities closed Thursday for Juneteenth. 

The Planning Board meets on Monday and the Town Council on Wednesday. The Council agenda includes ratification of multiple union contracts. The School Committee approved their teacher contract in their last session June 10. 

For all the meetings and cultural events, check out the calendars 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.

*** Meeting schedule and agendas as of Town page 6/13/25, 10:30 PM

Planning Board Meeting

Monday, June 16, 2025 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/Planning-Board-23/?#_06162025-1786

Brownfields Cleanup Plan Review for 21 Grove Street

Tuesday, June 17 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/Legal-Notices-29/?#_06172025-1770

Town Council Meeting

Wednesday, June 18 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/Town-Council-4/?#_06182025-1788

Town officials office hours  canceled

June 19 all Town, schools closed for Juneteenth Holiday

ZBA Meeting canceled

Thursday, June 19th https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/Zoning-Board-of-Appeals-31/?#_06192025-1745 

Council on Aging Meeting

Friday, June 20th. Time: 1:30 PM

No agenda posted

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

State Representative Jeff Roy hosted an appreciation event on Monday, June 9 to recognize the collaboration to bring a single family home back into the Franklin Housing Authority (FHA) inventory. It has been stuck in a legal limbo for about 20 years and finally got unstuck, renovated, and is now occupied by a Franklin family.  The audio and video of the event can be found  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/06/audio-recording-of-fha-appreciation.html

The Franklin School Committee reluctantly approved their revised budget to account for the reduced allocation from the Town per the failed override. In addition to the 29 personnel cuts due to redistricting (saving the Town $3.1M annually), the District reduced an additional 12 personnel along with multiple sets of expenses to account for $2M less in revenue. This results in only a 1% increase over the prior year school budget the lowest annual increase since 2013. The recap and recording of the meeting -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/06/school-committee-reluctantly-approves.html

The Finance Committee held its shortest meeting on Wednesday. It struggled to gain quorum, then when it did achieve that, determined to postpone the Technology topic for presentation/discussion in the fall. 3 new members are scheduled to be appointed in July and they would benefit from such information. The very brief audio officially recording the short meeting  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/06/finance-committee-reschedules-their.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 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.

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