Snowmageddon, or “Fern” … take your pick, either way, please be prepared

Snow, snow, snow… snowmageddon, or “Fern” … take your pick, if you wish, either way, please be prepared.

When folks ask me what I think of the coming storm, I say that I don’t do forecasts. Seriously, I am better at reporting on what is happening, or has happened. That in and of itself, is challenging enough.

There is a collection of the alerts, and reminders, all accurate information from the trusted sources, to help prepare and deal with however much we get. You can find it on the top of the page at Franklin.news for the duration of the storm event.

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/01/franklin-ma-storm-center-collection-for.html 

Assuming the storm aftermath is relatively clean (we have power, roads are clear…) then the Monday schedule for meetings may occur. If not, there’ll be updates to the storm collection. The curbside schedule for the week has already changed to a one day delay; Monday on Tuesday, etc.

Franklin Agricultural Commission, Franklin Public Library Board of Directors, Planning Board, and Recreation Advisory Board are all scheduled for 7 PM starts in their respective locations. Of note, the Planning Board has a public hearing on the 2 minor zoning changes to bring us fully into compliance with the MBTA Community guidelines. 

We were almost there when the requirements came out due to the previous “Franklin For All” project and have managed to get closer with additional changes. Assuming the Planning Board approves, then these zoning changes come back to the Town Council for their public hearing, and given recent experience, a lengthy discussion before the vote.

The School Committee meeting on Tuesday gives us the first view into the Superintendent’s Recommended FY 2027 school budget.

The Conservation Commission has its 2nd monthly normal session scheduled for Thursday.

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-1640-fm-weekly-outlook-lookback-combo-01-25-26/

*** Meeting schedule and agendas as of Town page 1/23/26, 10:00 PM   ***

11:00am 1/25/26

Town of Franklin robocall with DPW Director Brutus Cantoreggi delivering the messages https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/01/town-of-franklin-robocall-with-dpw.html

With the Town and School buildings closed on Monday, the meetings scheduled for Monday are also canceled and to be rescheduled.

Franklin Agricultural Commission Agenda

Monday, January 26 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01262026-2102 

Franklin Public Library Board of Directors Meeting

Monday, January 26 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01262026-2108 

Planning Board Meeting

Monday, January 26 Time: 7:00 PM

(Legal notice) - https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01262026-2091 

(Agenda) -  https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01262026-2106  

Recreation Advisory Board Meeting

Monday, January 26 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01262026-2097 

Massachusetts Strategic Health Group

Tuesday, January 27 Time: 1:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01272026-2100 

Franklin School Committee

Tuesday, January 27 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01272026-2111 

Conservation Commission Meeting

Thursday, January 29 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/551?fileID=7563 

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

The Town Council meeting on Wednesday was another marathon 5 hour session. Almost 2 hours alone on the Zoning Board of Appeal appointments, which after all was said, both passed unanimously. 

Brutus Cantoreggi introduced his entire DPW team before presenting an expedited update on the overall infrastructure operations provided by the DPW departments. A few of the managers had an opportunity to step up to answer specific questions. You can find the presentation doc on the Town page

Franklin TV video is available for replay. Franklin Matters Radio will shortly have the two primary audio segments of the meeting available to listen to. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pSZJNniE9Gk 

The Zoning Board of Appeals met for the first time with their new members on Thursday. The first order of business was to reorganize and the results were: Ginelle Lang was elected as Chair, Jennifer Williams as Vice-Chair, and Isabella Carter as Clerk. All votes were 3-0.

https://www.youtube.com/live/RBO9UPZIdZk?si=qbWcn1l52HJ1Oq6Z&t=275 

On the Franklin Public Schools live streaming front:

• FHS boys hockey on Monday - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmXSt0z6Fn4

• FHS girls basketball on Tuesday - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmXSt0z6Fn4 

• Lifelong Learning Strings School concert on Thursday https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmXSt0z6Fn4 

• FHS boys basketball on Friday - https://www.youtube.com/live/1h7Xo2FZIDc?si=l0fyJAY82W5fF36P&t=1634 

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.

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 

Hot August nights winding down as the summer comes to a close

“Hot August night

And the leaves hanging down

And the grass on the ground smellin' sweet”

You can get into the spirit with this golden oldie from Neil Diamond.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K398Q4DYCW8

The summer nights are rapidly coming to a close. Labor day is around the corner. Nomination papers are still available for the Biennial Town Election coming November 4. While there are just enough candidates for most roles, the Board of Health and the Planning Board (Associate) are both lacking candidates for their open positions. 

Potential candidates are gathering signatures at the Farmers Market and elsewhere around town. Some are knocking on doors or having conversations in person, or on the social webs.

Some may be touting they will be the next savior for the Town. Listen, and listen well. What are they saying? What are they not saying? 

We’ll try and gather a set of information for the residents and voters to make their decisions. We try to get more than a sound bite. What is the candidate's story? What are they looking to do? And importantly, how do they think they’ll do it?

These are not questions with yes or no answers. Nor are they trick questions. So listen and listen well to be able to cast an informed decision on November 4. These folks are stepping up to volunteer to help our town provide services to the community. We are all in this together. 

On the meeting front, the Planning Board meets Monday, School Committee Tuesday, Police Station Building Committee and Agriculture Committee are both scheduled for Wednesday, and Zoning Board of Appeals on Thursday. Important meetings on key topics for town and school business. 

Meeting agendas where available are here to help prepare and understand what each group is doing on our behalf. Watch, listen, and listen well.

*** Meeting schedule and agendas as of Town page 8/22/25, 7:00 PM

Planning Board Meeting

Monday, August 25 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08252025-1869 

Design Review Meeting

Tuesday. August 26 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08262025-1870 

Franklin School Committee Meeting

Tuesday, August 26 Time: 7:00 PM

https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4780/FPSD/5979273/SCAGENDA_8-26-25.pdf 

Franklin Agricultural Committee Meeting

Wednesday, August 27 Time: 7:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08272025-1873 

Police Station Building Committee

Wednesday, August 27 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08272025-1881

Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) Meeting

Thursday, August 28 Time: 7:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08282025-1855 

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

The only meeting broadcast by Franklin TV in the short week of meetings was the Conservation Commission meeting on Thursday. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpuG9wRB0mg 

While there was only one meeting broadcast, a couple of videos ended up getting finished for publication recently.

More Perfect Union: Teachers Unions (video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqlylccC5cc 

Veterans' Call: Tom Marcone (video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mnumAQnzvI 

Frank Presents: Cliff Winters (video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MNnK8vGKu4

The individual video links can be found on Franklin Matters Weekly or use the Bit.ly link to go directly to the Franklin TV All Access page -> bit.ly / FTV - AllAccess -> https://bit.ly/FTV-AllAccess

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.

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 

—------------

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