A quiet week to start this month, however April closes with a flurry of meetings

The combination of the school April break, Easter and the budget cycle results in a relatively quiet week as we start April.  

The School Committee has an executive session this week for negotiations and then meets on the 8th and 29th. The Town Council doesn't meet until the 16th and then meets on the 30th.

The Finance Committee has its set of 3 budget hearings scheduled for April 28, 29 and May 1. If anyone has any questions about the line item details on the FY 2026 budget, these three night are the time to do so. Agendas are not yet posted but prior years indicate General government on one night, schools (Franklin, Tri-County, Norfolk Aggie) on one night and the third night covers public safety (Police, Fire & Dispatch) as well as Public Works both operational and enterprise accounts (water, sewer, solid waste, & storm water). 

Parents with school age children should check out the internet safety training & awareness night scheduled for Thursday, April 3 at FHS. It is a free night with childcare and meals provided. Details in the link -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/03/attnetion-parents-check-out-interent.html

For this week, the meetings and agenda for the scheduled session are included here.

*** For the week of March 31 - April 5

(as of the Town web site on Friday evening, 3/28/25)  ***

Franklin Agricultural Committee Meeting

Monday, March 31st Time: 7:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03312025-1640 

Franklin School Committee

Tuesday, April 1st Time: 4:00 PM

Contractual Negotiations - Executive Session

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04012025-1586 

BOARD OF HEALTH MEETINGS

Wednesday, April 2   Time: 5:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04022025-1656 

Conservation Commission

Thursday, April 3 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/350?fileID=4297 

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

The Planning Board met on Monday and decided not to approve the Autumn Hill Senior Housing proposed for Summer St by a 1 (for) 4 (against) vote. You can view the video replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsXZejak9qA

The School Committee met on Tuesday and in a long session started by recognizing the boys basketball team for the State Championship & the cheerleaders for their National Championship. They got a lengthy update on course selections and trends from FHS. They also got a lengthy and valuable update on the middle school schedule as the 3 schools plan to come together as one in September. Recap & video link is available here -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/03/school-committee-recognizes-boys.html

The Zoning Board of Appeals opened the process on the proposed 40b to redevelop the Stobbarts property. Unless the committee decides to act on a "safe harbor" declaration in the next week or so, the plans will continue to be reviewed during the process with the next session scheduled for May 8. The video is available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1DzpL7GqyE

In addition to the meetings, I had the wonderful opportunity to talk with 3 key members of the Franklin High School Theatre Co. The audio is available here -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/03/listen-to-how-fhstc-performance-of.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

• 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

2 Listening Sessions, Senior Center closure, Town Council Mtg; lots happening the week or March 3, 2025

Yes, there are 2 listening sessions scheduled for this week. The first on Tuesday, March 4 at the Senior Center beginning at 9:30 AM. The second in Council Chambers on Saturday, March 8 at 10:00 AM. This session is the only one enabled for remote participation. 

At the Senior Center on Tuesday, March 4 and then the last one March 12 (FHS Auditorium), you need to be in the room to ask a question or make a comment. All sessions are broadcast and recorded for replay. A transcript is also made available. Oh, and breakfast is free on Tuesday at the Senior Center.

The Senior Center closes at 1 PM on the 4th and is currently scheduled to reopen on St Patrick's Day, March 17. Many events & activities have been rescheduled to other locations during the closure period. The Center is being closed for phase 1 of the repairs to fix the cold weather leak issue. Stay tuned for updates from the Senior Center on any changes to schedule during this time period.

A Community Conversation is scheduled for noon at THE BLACK BOX on Wednesday, March 5.  Michael Bobbitt (Mass Cultural Council) & Emily Devlin (Art Pharmacy) are featured speakers to assist us in exploring how Art Pharmacy—a nationally recognized program—will support substance use prevention, harm reduction, treatment & recovery in our community.

Wednesday continues to be busy with both the Board of Health (at 5 PM) and Town Council (7 PM) with scheduled meetings.

The Conservation Commission is scheduled to meet on Thursday, March 6 at 7 PM

The agenda and released documents for each session are linked to in this post (or show notes)

** Town meetings scheduled for the week of March 3 to 9, 2025 **

Joint Budget Subcommittee Listening Session at the Senior Center (plus breakfast)

Tuesday, March 4, 2025, 9:30 AM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03042025-1558 

Community Conversation at THE BLACK BOX

March 5, 2025, 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM

no agenda at this time

BOARD OF HEALTH MEETINGS

March 5, 2025, 5:00 PM

no agenda at this time

Town Council Meeting

March 5, 2025, 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03052025-1608 

Conservation Commission Meeting

March 6, 2025, 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/299?fileID=4146 

Joint Budget Subcommittee Listening Session - Council Chambers (& remote)

Saturday, March 8, 2025,  10:00 AM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03082025-1557 

** Looking back at the last week of February, 2025 **

Planning Board meeting on Monday got so heated, the meeting was ended. Shame on our neighbors for misbehaving in such a manner. Video link ->   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZAUfgAGFRk

Police Station Building Committee held its first meeting of 2025 and got an update from the full project team. Plans are underway to schedule open houses at the current station for the community to see the situation on why we need to upgrade. The Committee will also schedule some site visits to recently constructed police stations as examples of what has been done. Recap, audio & video links -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/02/police-station-building-commitee-gets_0807045574.html

Economic Development Subcommittee met on Wednesday and forwarded an enhancement to enable shared kitchen for operation within commercial zones. The Measure goes to the Council which will refer to the Planning Board for their review before it comes to Council for their deicsion. Recap, audio & video links -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/03/economic-development-subcmte-recommends.html

The Town Council had a short and busy session Wednesday completing work in less than an hour to enable an executive session on negotiation strategy. All the collective bargaining units are up this year (both Town and School). Recap, audio & video links -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/03/town-council-effectively-conducts.html

The Town Administrator's Adhoc Review Committee met on Thursday to discuss and get feedback from Town department managers for Jamie Hellen's review. The final version comes for the Town Council to approve at the March 5 meeting. Recap & video link -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/03/town-administrator-ad-hoc-review.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

• 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

Budget, of course! Listening, Why not? Cultural events, sure! All that & more for the week of Feb 10 - 14

Budget season is just getting started and 2 key budget related meetings are up on the calendar for this week. 

• School Committee takes a vote on the recommended Superintendent's Budget at their Tues, Feb 11 session
• The 2nd of the series of Joint Budget listening sessions is scheduled for Wed, Feb 12 at the Remington-Jefferson cafetorium

Whether the weather plays havoc with either of these events, remains to be seen.

Town meetings

Mon 10

Planning Board Meeting         7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/265?fileID=3584 

Tue 11

Franklin School Committee Policy Subcommittee Meeting         6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02112025-1569 

Design Review Meeting             7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/277?fileID=3598 

Franklin School Committee Meeting            7:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/School-Committee-35/?#_02112025-1571 

Wed 12

Joint Budget Subcommittee Meeting            7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02122025-1560 

Thu 13

Municipal Affordable Housing Trust Meetings            2:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02132025-1572 

Cultural District Committee Meeting            7:00 PM

No agenda at this time

Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) Meeting (No meeting scheduled)    7:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02132025-1538 

 

Looking back at the week that was

 

School Committee held their annual public hearing on the Superintendent’s Recommended budget for FY 2026 on Tuesday, Feb 4

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/02/franklin-ma-school-committee-conducts.html 

 

Town Council meeting on Wednesday, Feb 5 approved 

• the use of 'free cash" for the capital budget
• new victualler license 
• gives final approval to sign bylaw changes & water/sewer connections for Franklin Ridge 
• witness the promotions of 2 firefighters to leadership positions
• heard the update on ambulance call volume and approved a rate increase, 2nd approval remains for a Feb meeting 

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/02/town-council-approves-capital-budget.html

Master Plan Update Cmte met for the final time to approve some outstanding meeting minutes on Wednesday, Feb 5

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/02/master-plan-update-cmte-spends-few.html

 

The Board of Health also met on Wednesday, Feb 5

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/02/board-of-health-designates-agent-for.html

 

 

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For all the meetings and cultural events, check out the calendars, or visit Franklin Matters where each day, that day's events on posted on the top of the page

• 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

Yes, budget, budget, budget continues this week beginning Feb 3, 2025

Still more budget as the School Committee schedules their annual public hearing on the Superintendent’s Recommended budget for FY 2026 on Tuesday, Feb 4. The details of this new budget built from the ground up due to the reorganization should be interesting to see. Significant savings will be realized with the redistricting. Enough that some cuts from last year may be reduced along with some fee modification. Both are dependent upon successful passage of an override this year. Town Council will address that possibility at a March meeting and set an amount.

On Wednesday, among the items on the Town Council agenda is a presentation on fire call volume and proposed ambulance rate change. The fire call volume has been increasing and at some point the Town will need to fully fund the 3rd ambulance. Creativity to date enables a 3rd ambulance unit for about 40 hours during some daytime hours. Putting it on full time would require additional personnel (about 6 according to my notes).

The Capital Budget, funded from ‘free cash’, is up for approval at this session as well as a victualer’s all alcohol license for Mirchi.

Town meetings

Franklin Public Schools Contractual Negotiations (executive session)

Tuesday, February 4, 2025 - 4:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02042025-1537

Franklin School Committee Meeting

February 4, 2025, 7:00 PM

https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4780/FPSD/5247243/SCAGENDA_2-4-25_Budget_Open_Hearing.pdf

BOARD OF HEALTH MEETING

February 5, 2025, 5:00 PM

https://franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02052025-1543

Master Plan Committee

February 5, 2025, 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

https://franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02052025-1544

Town Council Meeting

February 5, 2025, 7:00 PM

https://franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02052025-1546

Conservation Commission Meeting

February 6, 2025, 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/257?fileID=3158

Looking back at the week that was

School Committee Chair Dave Callaghan and ViceChair David McNeill held the first of  “State of the Schools” session at the Franklin TV Studio on Monday. More of these are coming, there are no dates published at this time.  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/01/listen-in-to-state-o-schools.html 

School Committee got a presentation on Middle School Math Curriculum changes to bring in the program into compliance with State standards as well as their review of the Superintendent’s Recommended budget on Tuesday

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/02/3-options-to-listen-to-school-cmte-mtg.html 

The Capital Budget Subcmte spent 3 hours reviewing the capital plan which the Finance Committee had previously reviewed and recommended.

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/01/capital-budget-subcmte-reviews-capital.html

The first of 6 Joint Budget Listening Sessions was held at the Elks Lodge on Thursday.  Less than 50 were in the audience that did ask a bunch of questions, and get answers, so there was a lot of listening being done.

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/01/joint-budget-subcmte-listening-session.html 

Yes, budget, budget, budget continues this week beginning Feb 3, 2025

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For all the meetings and cultural events, check out the calendars, or visit Franklin Matters where each day, that day's events on posted on the top of the page

• 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