Glorious weather weekend leads to a full meeting week

Glorious fall New England weather for this weekend to kick off the full week of Town meetings and early voting in the Town Clerk’s office during office hours Monday through Friday, with Saturday early voting and last day to register to vote both available by appointment.

Monday is the busiest day with Municipal Affordable Housing Trust, Housing Authority, Board of Assessors, and Planning Board all scheduled for meetings.

Tuesday is quiet but then Wednesday the Cultural District has a meeting at Franklin TV while the Finance Committee and Town Council go with back to back sessions. FinCom at 5:30; Council rescheduled from last week at 7.

The Zoning Board of Appeals meets for the only time this month on Thursday at 7:30 PM. 

Special events for the week, a webinar on educational aspects of AI at the Franklin TV Studio, Monday at 6:00 PM. Homecoming week at the High School leading to the homecoming game Friday. The Lions hold their annual Trunk or Treat at the High School on Saturday from 4 to 6 PM.

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-1551-fm-weekly-outlook-lookback-combo-10-19-25/

*** Meeting schedule and agendas as of Town page 10/17/25, 5:00 PM   ***

Municipal Affordable Housing Trust

Monday, October 20 Time: 9:00 AM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10202025-1957 

Franklin Housing Authority Meeting

Monday, October 20 Time: 4:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10202025-1958 

Board of Assessors

Monday, October 20 Time: 5:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10202025-1960 

Planning Board Meeting

Monday, October 20 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10202025-1955

Finance Committee Meeting

Wednesday, October 22 Time: 5:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10222025-1961

Cultural District Monthly Meeting

Wednesday, October 22 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/7219/FCD_Agenda_October-2?bidId=

Town Council Meeting

Wednesday, October 22 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10222025-1962

Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) Meeting

Thursday, October 23 Time: 7:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10232025-1947

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

The School Committee meeting on Tuesday was broadcast by Franklin TV. The recap and video link is available -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/10/school-committee-gets-updates-on-after.html 

The Conservation Commission meeting on Thursday was broadcast by Franklin TV

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxXeA21lueQ

On the sports front for Franklin High School broadcast of the following are available:

Volleyball on Tuesday, Oct 14 -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OxXeA21lueQ

Girls soccer on Weds Oct 15 -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zV-LEaPRdYM

Boys soccer on Friday, Oct 17 -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zV-LEaPRdYM

Football on Friday, Oct 17 -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5M9EyN_YfzY 

The 23 Biennial Election candidate videos conducted are available in a single YouTube playlist  bit.ly/2025-ElectionCollection 

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

Use the light Town meeting schedule to take a Police Station tour Sunday and meet & greet with Candidates on Weds (audio)

A light Town meeting schedule this week provides opportunity for participation in 2 other related events.

1 - Why is Franklin exploring a new police station? You can check out the existing conditions of the station at 911 Panther Way to see why Chief TJ Lynch claims that it is not sized for appropriate police functions today. It was built in 1991 when the staffing was in the 30’s. Now the staffing is almost double that, the locker space alone doesn’t cover the female officers & staff never mind provide adequate room for the male staff and all the gear required today. 

There is an open house and tour of the facility scheduled for Sunday, Oct 5 beginning at 6:00 PM. Come, walk through the station, talk with the Chief and others about the planning process.

2 - Election season is fully underway. Candidate interviews are being made available so all the residents and voters can cast an informed ballot either by mail, early voting at the Town Clerk’s office beginning Oct 17, or at the FHS gymnasium on Tuesday, Nov 4 from 6 AM to 8 PM.

There is also a candidate meet & greet at Teddy Gallagher’s on Wednesday, Oct 8 beginning at 6:00 PM. 

The candidate interviews can be found in the 2025 Election Collection. As more are conducted and released, they will be added to the page.  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/08/election-collection-2025.html

Audio version -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1530-fm-weekly-outlook-lookback-combo-10-05-25/

*** Meeting schedule and agendas as of Town page 10/03/25, 7:00 PM   ***

Police Station Open House

Sunday, October 5 Time: 6:00 PM

no agenda for this open house & tour opportunity

Planning Board Meeting

Monday, October 6 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10062025-1936 

Historical Commission Meeting

Wednesday, October 8 Time: 6:00 PM

Not yet available 

Municipal Affordable Housing Trust Meetings

Thursday, October 9 Time: 2:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/513?fileID=6640 

Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School Meeting

Thursday, October 9 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10092025-1941 

Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) Meeting

Thursday, October 9 Time: 7:30 PM - no meeting today, next session scheduled for Oct 23  https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10092025-1918 

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

The School Committee conducted its shortest meeting of the calendar year on Tuesday. There were updates on transportation, the Franklin Education Legacy fund process, and thanks to Senator Rausch and State Rep Roy for their earmarks in the recent State budget which we confirmed received by the School District.

The School Committee meeting recap with audio & video links ->

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/10/school-committee-conducts-shortest_0363846285.html 

The Conservation Commission meeting on Thursday is available for replay by Franklin TV ->    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IajMFl4dSrU

On the FHS sports front, Franklin TV live streamed the following competitions this week:

• FHS volleyball, Monday 9/29 -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGmK8XEAkeg

• FHS boys soccer Tuesday, 9/30 -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PspN8s1E-TU

• FHS football Friday, 10/3 -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzOXFI7LF0c

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 summer day in September? Yup, it can happen (audio)

A summer day in September? 

Yup, it can happen, and it brought out the crowds to the Annual Harvest Festival in downtown Franklin, on Saturday, Sep 27. From the triangle to School St, Main St was chockfull of families, vendors, organizations, sprinkled with games and live music. It was clear a good time was had by all!

This week brings the formal transition from September to October. 

• The Pumpkin Patch opens Sunday the 28th at St John’s

• Franklin Cultural Council and Agricultural Committee are scheduled to meet on Monday, Sep 29

• Franklin Housing Authority and Franklin School Committee meet on Tuesday, Sep 30

• The Board of Health meets on Wednesday, Oct 1

• The Franklin Commission on Disability and Conservation Commission are scheduled to meet on Thursday, Oct 2

• The Farmers Market returns to the Town Common on Friday with only a few more times remaining before closing down for the season

• The Fire Dept holds an Open House on Saturday, Oct 4 to close out the week

No matter the weather, we are also into our biennial election season. Let’s keep the conversations going in a civil and respectful manner.

Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1516-franklin-matters-weekly-outlook-lookback-combo-09-28-to-10-04-2025/

*** Meeting schedule and agendas as of Town page 9/36/25, 7:30 PM

Franklin Cultural Council Meeting

Monday, September 29 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09292025-1930 

Franklin Agricultural Committee Meeting

Monday, September 29 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09292025-1926 

Franklin Housing Authority Meeting

Tuesday, September 30 Time: 4:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09302025-1932 

Franklin School Committee Meeting

Tuesday, September 30 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09302025-1934 

BOARD OF HEALTH MEETING

Wednesday, October 1, 2025 Time: 5:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10012025-1917 

Franklin Commission of Disability

Thursday, October 2, 2025 Time: 4:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10022025-1931 

Conservation Commission Meeting

Thursday, October 2, 2025 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/506?fileID=6550 

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

The Planning Board met on Monday, Sep 22. The Franklin TV video can be found -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nrUCN7h3ohU 

The 2nd of the 3 opportunities to tour the current Police Station and view the existing conditions was poorly attended on Tuesday, Sep 23. One more is currently scheduled for Sunday, Oct 5 at 6:00 PM

The Town Council held an Executive Session on Wednesday. We are likely to find out what it entails at a future meeting. This session was a hold over from the one at the end of their Sep 17 meeting which apparently ran out of time to complete the required business.

The Zoning Board of Appeals met on Thursday, Sep 25. The Franklin TV video can be found -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbZgtnLczFc 

On the sports front:

Franklin TV broadcast the FHS boys soccer game on Sep 25

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cy4L94gJnpc 

And the FHS volleyball game on Sep 26 -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quKasBaj3jM

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 summer day in September?  Yup, it can happen