Marching forward to Spring day by day (audio)

Daylight is continuing to expand each day, now daylight savings has returned, and we have a full week of meetings for the Town of Franklin, MA.

School Committee negotiations are scheduled for Executive sessions on Monday. The Planning board has their regular meeting also on Monday.

The communications subcommittee for the Franklin 250 Celebration, the School Committee and Friends of Franklin Library all have scheduled sessions for Tuesday. The Friends is deliberately more of a social event than a meeting to attract potential members to find out more about what they do and consider joining.

The Norfolk County Commissioners hold a public hearing on Wednesday for their budget. The shared document shows a $2M deficit with no narrative on alternatives for balancing so that in and of itself is an incentive to participate to find out what’s up on the County front.

The Finance Committee gets to review the Town fiscal policies as well as take a deep dive into the grant process and what opportunities those have presented on Wednesday. The Cultural Council is also scheduled for a meeting that night with the recent Wreath of Franklin results and planning for the next one.

The Municipal Housing Affordable Trust is scheduled to meet Thursday afternoon. The agenda will likely be posted Monday for this session. The Conservation Commission has a full and verified set of items on their agenda for Thursday evening.

The Cultural District Committee gets updates on World Cup planning & MetroWest Boston Visitors Bureau annual meeting among the several items on the agenda also for Thursday evening.

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-1683-fm-weekly-outlook-lookback-combo-03-08-26/

*** Meeting schedule and agendas as of Town page 3/6/26, 7:30 PM   ***

Franklin School Committee Negotiations Sub Committee Meeting

Monday, March 9 Time: 4:30 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03092026-2162 

Planning Board Meeting

Monday, March 9 Time: 7:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03092026-2171 

250th Franklin Anniversary Communications Subcommittee Meeting

Tuesday, March 10 Time: 5:30 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03102026-2121 

Franklin School Committee Meeting

Tuesday, March 10 Time: 6:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03102026-2175 

Friends of the Franklin Public Library Meeting

Tuesday, March 10 Time: 6:00 PM - 7:45 PM

Social event, no agenda posted

Norfolk County Commissioners Public Hearing Notice

Wednesday, March 11 Time: 1:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03112026-2159

Public view budget for Norfolk County - https://cms5.revize.com/revize/norfolkcountyma/FY27%20BUDGET%20PUBLIC%20VIEWING%20COPY%203%205%2026.pdf?t=202603060812320&t=202603060812320 

Finance Committee Meeting

Wednesday, March 11 Time: 6:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03112026-2176

Franklin Cultural Council Meeting

Wednesday, March 11 Time: 7:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03112026-2167

Municipal Affordable Housing Trust Meeting

Thursday, March 12 Time: 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

No agenda posted at this time

Conservation Commission Meeting

Thursday, March 12 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/571?fileID=8589

Cultural District Committee Meeting

Thursday, March 12 Time: 7:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03122026-2170

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

To recap the Franklin TV. Franklin Public Radio meetings broadcast

• The Board of Health met for their monthly session on Wednesday at 5:00 PM. Exclusive audio and recap of the meeting can be found https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/03/exclusive-audio-franklin-ma-board-of.html 

• The Town Council met for their first of the month session and managed to stay exactly within their time allocation closing out at 9:59 PM. The recap, and video link can be found. The audio will be ready shortly https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/03/town-council-authorizes-fire-truck.html 

• The Zoning Board of Appeals met on Thursday evening. The video is available https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMbRoIJCjn0 

On the High School front

• The only game broadcast with the end of the playoff run by the FHS girls basketball team vs Bishop Feehan on Tuesday https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQDTIhHkSms

On the All Access front

• The most recent Aging Boldfully episode is available via YouTube in addition to being on the cable broadcast schedule https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8zhy3wuZ3c

On the Public Radio/podcast front

• The first episode for 2026 of “Talk Franklin” with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen is available https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/03/in-this-talk-franklin-episode-jamie-i.html

• The Party for The Pantry is the topic for this audio discussion https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/03/have-you-got-your-tickets-were-talking.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  

"A misunderstanding once But now we look it in the eye”

“There was a distance between you and I

A misunderstanding once

But now we look it in the eye”   *1

Oh, how I wish that were the case.  

Most problems are within our realm to correct. The problem resolution needs to start with a clear definition of the problem to be solved, a civil discussion around the proper, accurate data involved, and then the pros and cons of the choices to let the greater good prevail.

This first week of August 2025 has a light schedule of meetings. The Housing Authority has a special meeting to review a plan for the trees on their property. The Board of Health is scheduled to meet but they may not as there is not a published agenda at this time.

The Police Station Building Committee gets together on Wednesday to tour the existing facility. The public is welcome and there will be specific dates and times in September/October for the community to participate in a tour.  Work is also underway on a video tour for those who may not be able to go in person.

The Conservation Commission has the first of its 2 scheduled August meetings on Thursday to close out this week of Town meetings.

*** Meeting schedule and agendas as of Town page 8/1/25, 8:00 PM

Franklin Housing Authority Meeting

Wednesday, August 6 Time: 4:30 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08062025-1840 

BOARD OF HEALTH MEETINGS Canceled (removed from calendar)

Wednesday, August 6 Time: 5:00 PM

no agenda at this time

Police Station Building Committee Meeting

Wednesday, August 6 Time: 5:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08062025-1801 

Franklin Commission on Persons with Disabilities Meeting

Thursday, August 7 Time: 4:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08072025-1843

Conservation Commission Meeting

Thursday, August 7 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/459?fileID=5437 

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

The Planning Board met on Monday, July 28, 2025. The Franklin TV video is available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/live/esjFezYI2ls 

The Zoning Board of Appeals met on Thursday, July 31, 2025. The Franklin TV video is available for replay ->  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aomZAxoWXRw

Town Council Quarterbacking with Town Council Chair Tom Mercer was published recapping the almost 5 hour meeting of July 23, 2025 -> 

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/07/4-hour-plus-town-council-meeting-try.html

Franklin artist Amy Adams revealed her ‘wind phone’ in Natick on Sunday, the video of her remarks is available -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXkf_qo7Tiw& 

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  

*1 Video link to the song & lyrics quoted in the opening:    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3sMjm9Eloo and the lyrics -> 

https://genius.com/Tom-cochrane-life-is-a-highway-lyrics

The playlist of all the music used in the intro of these weekly summaries can be found ->  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLL2XKlvMgLAldgEtfDZo2UM9-W9pjc2qK

6 to 3 to 2 to 1, finally

One can pick and choose when it started, there are a number of key points along this budget journey for the Town of Franklin. Go back to the first successful override in 2007. Or to the failed overrides in 2008 and 2010. 

To the failed dedicated override for road repairs for $1M that folks chose not to accept in 2014.  Yes, even after hearing that the Town needed to confirm that money for the override would be spent for a specific item, the voters chose not to fund needed road repairs.  

Whether you call it the “fiscal cliff” or the “structural deficit”, it really comes down to a math problem. More money required to fund existing services than is scheduled to come in due to the 2 ½ override restrictions. You can try to ignore it but inflation is the major driver. Councilor Jones calculated the inflation impact of Prop 2 ½ since 1983 during the override discussions in the run up to the June 2024 failed attempt.

It is so much easier to blame someone else for the problem. That avoids the harsh reality of the situation our community faces. It seems there are a number of relatives of Rodney Dangerfield (“I get no respect”) who live here. They attempt to dominate or divert the conversation from facing reality. It gets a chuckle, laughed off, and the tragedy remains in front of us.

So the Town took on a massive effort with 

• 6 Joint Budget Listening Sessions 

• 3 Finance Committee budget hearings

• 2 Town Council budget hearings

In the run up to the special election Tuesday, June 3 at Franklin High School gymnasium from 6 AM to 8 PM.

Of the 25,865 registered Franklin voters, 2431 ballots have been cast by early and absentee voters (through 5/30/25 close of business) for this election per Town Clerk Nancy Danello. 

The questions that remain?

1. How many of the remaining voters will turn out on Tuesday? 

2. Will they be Rodney’s relatives? Or will they fund the current services our community needs? 

When will we get an answer?

• We’ll find out by about 9 PM Tuesday evening.

 

*** Meeting schedule and agendas as of Town page 5/30/25, 11:00 PM

Planning Board Meeting

Monday, June 2 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06022025-1763 

Massachusetts Strategic Health Group

Tuesday, June 3 Time: 1:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06032025-1766 

School Committee Superintendent's Evaluation Sub Committee

Tuesday, June 3 Time: 5:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06032025-1726 

BOARD OF HEALTH MEETINGS

Wednesday, June 4 Time: 5:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06042025-1765 

Town Council Meeting

Wednesday, June 4 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06042025-1769 

Cultural District Committee June Meeting

Thursday, June 5 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5813/CDC-Agenda_Meeting_june_2025docx?bidId= 

Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) Meeting

Thursday, June 5 Time: 7:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06052025-1744 

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

Election prep resources:

• Joint Budget Listening Session “Watch, Listen, or Read” info  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/02/joint-budget-listening-sessions-fy-2026.html  

• Finance Committee Budget Hearing “Watch, Listen, or Read” info  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/05/finance-committee-fy-2026-budget.html

• Town Council budget hearings “Watch or Listen” info  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/05/town-council-fy-2026-budget-hearing-1-2.html 

The More Perfect Union radio show has resumed with an episode on the Special Election June 3

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/05/more-perfect-union-wfpr-98-june-3rd.html 

The most recent Town Council Quarterbacking session summarizes the Council budget hearings and the all alcohol license transactions they approved in the May 22 meeting

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/05/tom-mercer-i-condense-2-budget-hearings.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