1 more listening session, then a recommendation; School Coommittee to get lowdown on busing

You may fear of missing out (FOMO) but with this Franklin Matters Outlook (FMO), there is no need to fear, we provide the information on the key meetings for the week ahead.

The final listening session (in the series of 6) is scheduled for Wednesday evening, Wednesday, March 12 at the FHS Auditorium. Per Chair Mercer, the listening portion might get shortened to allow the committee to hold their discussion and come up with the recommendation for the Town Council. The Council is scheduled to review this recommendation and decide on March 19.

The School Committee meeting on Tuesday, March 11 is scheduled for an update on the redistricting transportation and busing items. We'll find out how many buses, the possible routes, timing, etc. There is also an update on facility work that would be required for redistricting. Based upon prior discussions, some would be done before September, some would be phased in (due to timing of resources and funding).

The full listing of meetings is shown here (as accurate as of the Town/School webpage on the evening of Friday, March 7, 2025)

Franklin Housing Authority Meeting

Monday, March 10th Time: 4:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/Housing-Authority-12/?#_03102025-1614

Planning Board Meeting

Monday, March 10th Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/Planning-Board-23/?#_03102025-1612

Design Review Meeting - Cancelled

Tuesday, March 11th Time: 7:00 PM

Friends of the Franklin Public Library Meeting

Tuesday, March 11th Time: 7:00 PM No agenda posted

School Committee 

Tuesday, March 11th Time: 7:00 PM

https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4780/FPSD/5388334/SCAGENDA_3-11-25.pdf

Historical Commission Meeting

Wednesday, March 12th Time: 6:00 PM No agenda posted

Joint Budget Subcommittee Meeting

Wednesday, March 12th Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/Joint-Budget-Subcommittee-6/?#_03122025-1620

Municipal Affordable Housing Trust Meetings

Thursday, March 13th Time: 2:00 PM No agenda posted

Cultural District Committee Meeting

Thursday, March 13th Time: 7:00 PM No agenda posted

Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) Meeting

Thursday, March 13th Time: 7:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/Zoning-Board-of-Appeals-31/?#_03132025-1615

*** Looking back at the week that was (March 3 throgh 8)

4th Listening Session on Tuesday, March 4 at the Senior Center. Watch, listen or read the video replay, audio or transcript of the session:

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/03/watch-listen-read-joint-budget.html

Town Council meeting on March 5 included a review of the preliminary FY 2026 budget. Deficit now $3.8 up from $3.6M. Video link and two-part audio of the meeting; part 1 for "just" the budget, part 2 for everything else.

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/03/franklin-town-council-gets-update-on-fy_01380946739.html

Town Council Chair Tom Mercer and I recap 3 meetings condensing about 5 hours down to 30 minutes. Police Station Building Cmte, Town Council Feb 26, and Town Council March 5 in this "quarterbacking" session.

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/03/3-meetings-approx-5-hours-distilled-to.html

The 5th Listening Session was held on Saturday March 8. The only one with remote comment participation for which about 10 folks joined the Zoom session.

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/03/5th-joint-budget-listening-session-held.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

School break, check. Time to listen, yup !! What's up for the week of Feb 17 - 21

2 public meetings on the Town/School calendar for this week. One of which is directly budget related, that being the Joint Budget Listening Session on Wednesday, Feb 19, 2025. The other being the Conservation Commission meeting scheduled for Thursday, Feb 20.

Yes, there is also a Town official breakfast/coffee hour at the Senior Center Thursday morning at 8:30 AM. Good breakfast at a great price and the opportunity to talk about Franklin with the Town officials gathered there.

Oh, and a slight personal plug, there is a Franklin Q&A session also scheduled for the Senior Center (or remotely) on Wednesday, Feb 19 at 11:00 AM. A quick recap of what has happened in the past month, and then we discuss your questions. If I don't have the answers, I get them. We finish by noon so you can grab a decent lunch at the Senior Center cafeteria (yes, at a great price).

Franklin Q&A

11:00 AM at the Senior Center (or via remote)

Get on the email list for remote access info ->    https://forms.gle/Nh8RxkMtG1J1DGwj9

Joint Budget Subcommittee Meeting (3rd session of 6 scheduled)

Wednesday, February 19, 2025   7:00 PM at the Senior Center

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02192025-1559 

Town officials Office hours

8:30 AM at the Senior Center 

Conservation Commission Meeting

February 20, 2025, 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02202025-1589

Looking back at the week that was

Tuesday, Feb 11 = Franklin School Committee hears concerns from teachers before vote to approve FY 2026 budget (audio)

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/02/franklin-school-committee-hears_01287051187.html

Wed, Feb 12 = 2nd Joint Budget Listening Sessions gets more questions & answers (video)

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/02/2nd-joint-budget-listening-sessions.html

Jamie leads the group on 5 hot topics in this "Talk Franklin" episode (audio)  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/02/jamie-leads-group-on-5-hot-topics-in.html

Glenn Jones shares lessons learned from the Master Plan process (audio)

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/02/glenn-jones-shares-lessons-learned-from.html

This Chalkboard Chat session condenses the School Cmte Mtg of Feb 11 (audio)  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/02/this-chalkboard-chat-condenses-school.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