Design Review meeting scheduled to provide an initial view of the proposal to replace the Depot Plaza building

No matter the summer weather, some Town business continues. One of the busier weeks comes around this week beginning July 19 and running through July 25.

The Design Review Commission looks at signs for a new “Fresh Monkee” food oriented business which will apparently bring “Truly Healthy Shakes” according to the sign up for review.

More importantly, the Design Review also gives us an initial view of the proposal to replace the Depot Plaza building. The site plan and architectural renderings of the proposal can be found as links in the agenda document.

The Town Council has a potpourri of items on this only meeting of the month of July. Some alcohol license transactions, street acceptance, some more committee appointments, etc. 

The Board of Assessors meet briefly on Thursday (at 5:30 PM) and then join the Economic Development Subcmte (at 6:00 PM)for a discussion on “new growth”; the process and how it is calculated. This should be an informative session. Check the agenda for the supporting documents released for this meeting.

Friday closes out the week with the Farmers Market and entertainment provided by Concerts on the Common.

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-1779-fm-weekly-outlook-lookback-combo-07-19-26/

*** Event & Meeting schedule (with agendas) as of Town pages 7/17/26, 9:00 PM   ***

Housing Authority

Tuesday, July 21 Time: 4:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07212026-2418 

Design Review Meeting

Tuesday, July 21 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07212026-2419 

Council on Aging Board Meeting - No Meeting

Wednesday, July 22 Time: 11:00 AM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07222026-2397 

Charles River Pollution Control District

Wednesday, July 22 Time: 3:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07222026-2420 

Tri-County School Committee Nomination Committee Meeting

Wednesday, July 22 Time: 5:15 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07232026-2423 

Town Council Meeting

Wednesday, July 22 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07222026-2421 

Board of Assessors Regular Meeting

Thursday, July 23 Time: 5:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07232026-2417 

Economic Development Subcommittee Meeting

Thursday, July 23 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07232026-2422 

Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) Meeting - no meeting

Thursday, July 23 Time: 7:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07232026-2414 

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

The light meeting week that was, resulted in 3 broadcasts 

Town/ School meetings

Planning Board, Monday, July 13 video - https://www.youtube.com/live/xXY2UHUFMsk?&t=113 

Communications Subcmte Mtg, Wednesday, July 15 -  Recap and video link available at https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/07/communications-subcommittee-sends-email.html 

Conservation Commission Mtg, Thursday, July 16 - https://www.youtube.com/live/45PtMovVL8k?&t=172 

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    

School break, Patriots Day, marathon Monday & a relatively quiet meeting week in Franklin (audio)

School break, Patriots Day, marathon Monday…

And a relatively quiet meeting week in Franklin, MA for April 19 through April 25, 2026.  

Even with the holiday Monday, there is no scheduled delay in the trash and recycling pick up for the week.

The hydrant flushing project continues. The DPW updates their webpage daily to let folks know what streets they will be working on. The work is briefly opening a hydrant to let the water flow for a period. This clears the water (may cause some temporary discoloring) but also confirms the water pressure for fire suppression at that point.

The Board of Assessors, Franklin Housing Authority, and Design Review Committee are all scheduled for regular settings on Tuesday.

The Council on Aging, effectively the oversight board for the Senior Center, is scheduled to meet on Wednesday. 

On Thursday, GATRA conducts one of their virtual feedback sessions via the Senior Center. The Conservation Commission also meets in the evening.

The week closes out with the Annual Ladybug Trail Walk on Saturday, April 25. Multiple events and retail opportunities are being set up. Stay tuned during the week for updates.

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-1719-fm-weekly-outlook-lookback-combo-04-19-26/

*** Meeting schedule and agendas as of Town pages 4/17/26, 9:00 PM   ***

Board of Assessors Meeting

Tuesday, April 21 Time: 8:30 AM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04212026-2261 

Franklin Housing Authority Meeting

Tuesday, April 21 Time: 4:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04212026-2259 

Design Review Meeting

Tuesday, April 21 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04212026-2260 

Council on Aging Board Meeting

Wednesday, April 22 Time: 11:00 AM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04222026-2264 

GATRA Regional Public Meeting

Thursday, April 23 Time: 2:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04232026-2243 

Conservation Commission Meeting

Thursday, April 23 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/589?fileID=8914 

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

Town & School meetings

• The School Committee met on Tuesday getting a midyear update on the District and school Improvements plans. The recap and video link are available https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/04/franklin-school-committee-gets-mid-year.html 

• The Town Council met on Wednesday getting an update from NationalGrid and a deep dive into the history and budget concerns of both the Fire and Police Departments The recap and video link is available https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/04/town-council-hears-from-natinalgrid.html 

• The Joint Budget Subcommittee met for the first time in their new configuration of membership on Thursday. The video is available for replay.  The recap and audio will be available early in the coming week.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbKccD9CA3Q 

From FHS live streaming

• The Girls lacrosse match vs Canton  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOcXCMo52CA&t=169s

• The baseball game vs Attleboro https://www.youtube.com/live/IPHWCvzaJV0?&t=548

From All Access

• The SAFE Coalition Gala celebrating their 10th Anniversary was broadcast Friday from Gillette Stadium  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-Xby1B-lQM

From Franklin Matters Radio

• The audio of the Hometown Hero event recognizing Town of Franklin Police Chief TJ Lynch is available to listen to  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/04/wellpoint-honors-franklin-police-chief.html
• Chalkboard Chat catching up to recap the School Committee's March 24 meeting is available  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/04/catching-up-to-chalkboard-chat-for.html

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 

Be wary of foolishness, April 1 arrives Wednesday

Be wary pranksters may be around this week as April Fool’s day arrives on Wednesday.

“There are two ways to be fooled. One is to believe what isn't true; the other is to refuse to believe what is true.”   ― Soren Kierkegaard

The FY 2027 budget is now published so there really is no time to fool around. The Board of Assessors met early Monday morning. The Agriculture Commission, Horace Mann Legacy Subcommittee and the Library Board of Directors all meet later Monday.

The Mass Strategic Health Group meets Tuesday afternoon, and the Design Review meets Tuesday night.

Wednesday the Board of Health is scheduled for 5 PM with the Town Council scheduled for 6. The Board of Health continues the discussion started last meeting on a potential ban of mind altering products. The Council gets into their first public hearings on zoning bylaws. Minor and technical changes to the Crossing Neighborhood District and to complete the MBTA compliance requirements are covered in 2 bylaws each (total 4 bylaws for hearings and first readings).

The Commission on Disability meets Thursday afternoon and the newly appointed Economic Development Subcommittee of the Town Council gets its first session in the Thursday evening broadcast time slot not being used this time by the Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA). The ZBA are scheduled for a non-public, executive session meeting.

The agendas for these individual meetings are provided below.

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-1702-fm-weekly-outlook-lookback-combo-03-29-26/

*** Meeting schedule and agendas as of Town page 3/27/26, 8:00 PM   ***

Board of Assessors

Monday, March 30 Time: 8:30 AM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03302026-2212 

Franklin Agricultural Committee

Monday, March 30 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03302026-2215 

Franklin School Committee - Horace Mann Legacy Subcommittee

Monday, March 30 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03302026-2211 

Library Board of Directors Regular Meeting

Monday, March 30 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03302026-2216 

Massachusetts Strategic Health Group Meeting Notice

Tuesday, March 31 Time: 1:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03312026-2225 

Design Review Meeting

Tuesday, March 31 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03312026-2217 

Board of Health Meeting

Wednesday, April 1 Time: 5:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04012026-2218 

Town Council Meeting

Wednesday, April 1 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04012026-2229 

Franklin Commission on Disability

Thursday, April 2 Time: 4:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04022026-2209 

Economic Development Subcommittee Meeting

Thursday, April 2 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04022026-2223 

ZBA Meeting- NO Meeting

Thursday, April 2 Time: 7:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04022026-2213 

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04022026-2228 

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

The Planning Board met as scheduled on Monday, March 23. The video is available https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNdEd3y7QdY

The School Committee Budget subcommittee met on Tuesday at 6 PM before the full Committee met at 7 PM. The exclusive audio and recap of the Budget meeting can be found https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/03/school-committee-budget-subcmte-reviews.html 

The video and recap for the full School Committee meeting can be found

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/03/school-committee-gets-update-on.html 

The Conservation Commission met as scheduled on Thursday March 26. The video is available   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=56oBa37n5j4 

Nothing was happening on the school's front this week. On the All Access front, a video “Rockin’ the Boroughs” a concert of senior singers recorded in October 2025 in now available for viewing  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwRuJZfpgrQ 

The audio recording of the No Kings Rally on the Town Common on Saturday is available. The video should be available in a few days. So if you missed this event, you can listen and catch up on what you missed.

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