Labor Day gives us a long weekend and a short week (audio)

Monday, September 7, is Labor Day, the latest in the month that this occurs, so we end up with a long weekend and a short week.

Note: due to the holiday, the trash and recycle curbside schedule is off by one day. Imagine DPW Director Brutus Cantoreggi talking about the Monday Collection: Moved to Tuesday; Tuesday Collection: Moved to Wednesday, etc. 

As a bonus, the recording of one of the winter announcements of the delay is available, and linked to below. 

On Tuesday, the School Committee Policy subcmte gets together at 6. They are slated to begin review of a number of fiscal policies related to the budget and operations. 

The full School Committee gets together at 7 PM also on Tuesday. The District Improvement PLan is being presented. This plan sets the stage for individual school plans as well as for the Superintendent’s goals.

On Wednesday, the Historical Commission among other items is considering offering tours on Saturdays. 

The 250th Celebration Events subcmte, also meets and among other items is a discussion on their first potential donor lunch scheduled for Oct 16.

Thursday is the busiest meeting day with meetings for the Bi-County Collaborative, Municipal Affordable Housing Trust, Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter, Conservation Commission and last but not least the Cultural District committee. 

The Cultural District meeting also lists an item to discuss cultural tours on Saturdays.

A special event is also on Thursday; new exhibits are being welcomed to the Sculpture Park at 5 PM. On Saturday to close out the week, there is a Bike Safety Event at Franklin High School beginning at 9 AM.

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-1813-fm-weekly-outlook-lookback-combo-09-06-26/

*** Event & Meeting schedule (with agendas) as of Town pages 9/04/26   7:00 PM   ***

Franklin Public Schools Policy Subcommittee Meeting

Tuesday, September 8 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09082026-2485 

Franklin School Committee Meeting

Tuesday, September 8 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09082026-2487 

Charles River Pollution Control Meeting

Wednesday, September 9 Time: 3:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09092026-2491

Franklin Historical Commission Meeting

Wednesday, September 9 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09092026-2490 

250th Anniversary Celebration Events Sub Committee

Wednesday, September 9 Time: 7:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09092026-2492 

Bi-County Collaborative - Board of Directors Mtg.

Thursday, September 10 Time: 9:00 AM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09102026-2489 

Municipal Affordable Housing Trust Meeting - canceled

Thursday, September 10 Time: 2:00 PM

Sculpture Park - new exhibits revealed Thursday, September 10  - 5:00 PM

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/09/reminder-sculpture-park-is-adding-art.html 

Cultural District Committee Meeting

Thursday, September 10 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09102026-2471 

Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School Meeting

Thursday, September 10 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09102026-2488 

Conservation Commission Meeting

Thursday, September 10 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09102026-2497

Bike Safety Event Saturday, September 12 - 9:00 AM at Franklin High School

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/09/reminder-bike-and-helmet-safety-event.html 

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

Town/ School meetings

The Town Council met on Wednesday, Sep 2, the recap and video can be found

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/09/town-council-approve-west-as-police.html

The Commission on Disability met on Thursday, the exclusive audio can be found - https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/09/commission-on-disability-meeting.html   

The Zoning Board of Appeals met on Thursday, Sep 3, the video can be found https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O93n6IQhRH4

All Access programming

A new episode of Aging Boldfully: Discussion with Julie Booth of Quinnipiac University is available https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ymehk2zxGZE 

A new episode of Once Upon a Town from Joe Landry and Scott Mason talking about the Post Office in Franklin is available https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTH6nG2ewlU 

Franklin Matters took a walk through the rescue animal farm and you can join us for that walk at the Maloney Farm and Forest - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEkAQfKLMU4 

Franklin Matters also took a walk through the kitchen cabinet custom build process process happening in the former bakery building on Ruggles St. Join us for the informative session with the Franklin KItchen Center - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cc3ss_wlgpE 

***  As a special episode of Franklin Matters Radio, we offer the voice recording of DPW Director Robert "Brutus" Cantoreggi's voice message in advance of the blizzard forecasted for Jan 29, 2022

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/01/dpw-director-brutus-cantoreggis-voice.html 

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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 

September back to school and work routines settling in

September is here, and the back to school, or work routines are getting settled.

On the Planning Board agenda are the reviews of the proposed zoning changes to create the Crossing Neighborhood District as well as to create a limited use for commercial kitchens in residential zones. The one key requirement is that the household is on septic not Town sewer.

The Design Review and School Committee meetings are on Tuesday. The School Committee will hear about the improvement plans for the district and then the ECDC, Elementary, MIddle and High School.

The Historical Commission is scheduled for Wednesday. The agenda is likely to be posted on Monday (given prior practice).

The Classical Charter School board meeting is scheduled for Thursday. THere had been a ZBA meeting also but keeping with their recent habit, there is only one meeting in September and scheduled for the 25th.

*** Meeting schedule and agendas as of Town page 9/05/25, 7:30 PM

Planning Board Meeting

Monday, September 8 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09082025-1897 

Design Review Meeting

Tuesday, September 9 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09092025-1900 

Franklin School Committee Meeting

Tuesday, September 9 Time: 7:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09092025-1902 

Friends of the Franklin Public Library Meeting

Tuesday, September 9 Time: 7:00 PM

no agenda posted

Historical Commission Meeting

Wednesday, September 10 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09102025-1906

Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public

Thursday, September 11 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09112025-1898 

Cultural District Committee Meeting

Thursday, September 11 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/6885/FY26_September_District_Com?bidId=

ZBA Meeting (no meeting)

Thursday, September 11 Time: 7:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09112025-1884 

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

The Board of Health meeting was canceled

The Town Council met for 4.5 hours, about an hour and a half just on the recognitions before getting to the presentations and then to the minor set of legislation for action.

Recap and video available -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/09/town-council-retires-fire-chief.html

The Town Council quarterbacking session with Chair Tom Mercer condensed the meeting to about 30 minutes

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/09/tom-mercer-condenses-45-hour-90325.html 

The Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) added a meeting to the schedule forThursday, September 4 at 5:00 PM via Zoom Only. Franklin TV did broadcast it, the meeting lasted only 6 minutes. You can find the video, audio, and transcript here

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/09/franklin-zba-makes-first-vote-on-28.html 

The Conservation Commission also met on Thursday. Franklin TV has the video available for replay  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNuycQojdhM 

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