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  

For the sake of an old time Franklin, we need to take time to go forward together.

“Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

And never brought to mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

And auld lang syne!”   https://poets.org/poem/auld-lang-syne 

"Auld Lang Syne" is a Scots phrase that literally translates to "old long since," but has taken on a more fluid definition along the lines of "for old time's sake" or "the olden days."   https://www.countryliving.com/life/a30201370/auld-lang-syne-meaning 

As we greet the new year, let’s use this time of no town or school meetings to build some relationships. The past is now passed into history. We can no longer go back there. 

Time and life are more river-like, go with the flow, step aside, and the flow continues on.

Step in again, and it is a new flow, the waters you left are now ahead of you, not to be caught up again.

There is an African proverb that says if you want to go quickly, you go alone. If you want to go sustainably, you go with others. Going with others takes time, lots of discussion, lots of negotiation, lots of agreement. There may be times of agreeing to disagree but let’s at least agree to go forward.

For the sake of an old time Franklin, we need to take time to go forward together.

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-1619-fm-weekly-outlook-lookback-combo-12-28-25/

*** Meeting schedule and agendas as of Town page 12/26/25, 7:00 AM   ***

There are NO Town meetings scheduled this week

Senior Center 

Closes at noon, December 31

Public Library

Closes at 2 PM December 31

All Town and School facilities closed January 1

The trash/recycle curbside pick up is one day offset due to New Year’s

• Those scheduled for Thursday will get picked up Friday

• Those scheduled for Friday will get picked up Saturday

Senior Center

Regular hours, 8:30 AM to 4 PM - January 2

Public Library

Regular hours, 9 AM to 5 PM - January 2

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

ZBA met for 4 hours on Tuesday, December 23 ultimately rendering their 2-1 decision for the 444 East Central project with a long list of conditions and some exemptions. The final document should be available for filing by the Town Clerk before December 31, 2025. The Franklin TV video is available for replay ->  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHzHv26ryV0 

High school live streamed sports:

• FHS boys basketball on Monday, 12/22 vs. King Philip  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9M3T6IpUb7M 

• FHS boys hockey on Tuesday, 12/23 vs Archbishop Williams  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5UCc8r3VzEw 

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  

'Twas the week before Christmas, in all Franklin town, Everyone was waiting for the decision to come down

'Twas the week before Christmas, in all Franklin town

Everyone was waiting for the decision to come down

ZBA public hearings were complete, now fully closed

All comments made, residents could only sit posed

The new Council had voted to change their mind

And drafted the letter to which they readily signed

Would it make a difference, the TA said no

The State said likewise, but what does the Council know

The ZBA will make their decision soon reviewing

The exemptions one by one, residents patiently stewing

The developer team will be on edge, calculator at hand

Anxiously waiting, where will the mitigations land

When will we find out, and will that be the end

Or will it be appealed with a filling quickly penned

In the meantime, let’s enjoy the seasonal glow

Have a round of cheer, the sun will still rise tomorrow

With apologies to Clement Moore, the major decision on the 444 East Central development proposal should be forthcoming from the Zoning Board of Appeals meeting at Tuesday's meeting. Note, with the public hearing closed, there may not be an opportunity for comment from the public either before or after the decision is made.

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-1610-fm-weekly-outlook-lookback-combo-12-21-25/

*** Meeting schedule and agendas as of Town page 12/19/25, 6:30 PM   ***

Charles River Pollution Control District Meeting

Monday, December 22 Time: 3:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_12222025-2067

ZBA Meeting

Tuesday, December 23 Time: 6:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_12232025-2057 

Senior Center 

Closed all day, December 246

Public Library

Closes at 2 PM December 24

All Town and School facilities closed December 25

Senior Center 

Closed all day, December 26

Public Library

Regular hours, 9 AM to 5 PM - December 26

Public Library

Regular hours, 9 AM to 5 PM - December 27

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

Planning Board met on Monday, December 15 as scheduled, the Franklin TV video is available -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DovJ17h2e0c 

Town Council met on Wednesday, December 17 for another 4 hour session to close out the calendar year. The recap and Franklin TV video can be found -> 

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/12/town-council-closes-out-year-approving.html 

ZBA met for 30 minutes on Thursday, December 18 on a different topic this time, the Franklin TV video is available for replay ->  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHzHv26ryV0 

• Franklin MIddle school band concert on Tuesday https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AP5OeVaREw

• FHS Girls basketball game on Tuesday https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AP5OeVaREw

• FHS girls hockey on Wednesday https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AP5OeVaREw

• FHS boys basketball on Friday  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_hMOXtGYgg&t=1063s

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