Early voting and election preparation move to center stage this week

Weather dynamics are upon us. The rains canceled the Farmers Market, caused other events to reschedule, and now the temperature is dropping so bundle up.

Early voting began Saturday and continues each day until Friday, October 30. All the early voting takes place in the Town Clerk’s office. Tabulator testing is scheduled for Monday at 9 AM in the Council Chambers. This is a key step in the preparation by our Town Clerk and her team before each election here in Franklin.

The Board of Assessors, and Housing Authority are scheduled for regular meetings on Monday. The Planning Board will review the traffic study for the Depot Plaza proposal at its session Monday evening.

The Norfolk County Regional Emergency Planning Committee and the 250th Anniversary Celebration Budget Subcommittee are scheduled to meet on Tuesday. The Design Review Commission has a number of items on its virtual only meeting agenda Tuesday evening.

The Finance Committee is scheduled to meet Wednesday. They will review the fiscal policies and discuss the potential for some changes for further review by the Town Council. They are also scheduled for a deep dive into the DPW enterprise funds (water, sewer, solid waste, and stormwater). 

The Conservation Commission closes out the meeting week with their regular session on Thursday.

Friday is the next to last (or penultimate) Farmers Market for this season on the Town Common. Fairmount Fruit Farm has scheduled 2 Saturdays each month from November through March 2027 for the Winter Farmers Market.

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-1837-fm-weekly-outlook-lookback-combo-10-18-26/

*** Event & Meeting schedule (with agendas) as of Town pages 10/16/26 6:00 PM ***

Board of Assessors Regular Meeting

Monday, October 19th Time: 9:00 AM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10192026-2565 

Tabulator Testing for November 3 Election - Council Chambers Room

Monday, October 19 Time: 9:00 AM

No agenda for this observation period

Franklin Housing Authority Meeting

Monday, October 19 Time: 4:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10192026-2567 

Planning Board Meeting

Monday, October 19 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10192026-2564 

Norfolk County Regional Emergency Planning Committee Meeting

Tuesday, October 20 Time: 10:30 AM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10202026-2563 

Design Review Meeting

Tuesday, October 20 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10202026-2566 

250th Anniversary Celebration Budget Subcommittee Meeting

Tuesday, October 20 Time: 7:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10202026-2568 

Finance Committee Meeting

Wednesday, October 21 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10212026-2572 

Conservation Commission Meeting

Thursday, October 22nd Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10222026-2570 

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

There were several video productions by Franklin TV during the past week both broadcast live and pre-recorded for publication via YouTube.

Town & School meetings

The Franklin School Committee met on Tuesday, Oct 13. The video is available here {recap will be available Sunday) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnpWxfXwZgU

The School Committee Policy Subcommittee met before the full Committee meeting on Tuesday. The audio recording should be available soon at Franklin.News. 

. 

The Franklin Town Council met on Wednesday, Oct 14 in the first of a 3 part series on the tax rate. The video is available here (recap available Sunday)  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBUfX3OGpgM 

The Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) met on Thursday, Oct 15. The video is available here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSrmcTr7AYs 

FHS Sports

The FHS Varsity Volleyball vs Milford Tuesday October 13 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wT1W8z4UTso 

The FHS girls soccer game vs Medfield also on Tuesday Oct 13 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXJEtMOohxU

The FHS Football game vs Attleboro on Thursday Oct 15 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXFjCqlHya0

The FHS Varsity Field Hockey vs Natick on Saturday, Oct 17 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1bCc9oEtvo 

All Access Channel

Franklin Union St Cemetery Tour with Dean professor Rob Lawson and Scott Mason https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgAonH4qHxA

Once Upon A Town: Cataldo Block with Joe Landry and Scott Mason

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

Second Sunday Speaker Series: History of Hayward Manor https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47959PBbmHg

The October 2026 edition of FM Journal https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdtTH6U6LNc 

Local historian Joe Landry visits the New England Chapel to check out the Rotary Club's 10th annual car show https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crRrDkDkHUg 

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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 

“Where have all the showers gone?” vs. “Come Monday…”

We’ll start with competing themes for this week: 

“Where have all the showers gone?” vs. “Come Monday…”

Franklin averages 4.5” of rain during April and thus far, we have only 1.6.” So it doesn’t seem like April showers will bring lots of May flowers.

When I retired in 2019, I sent my colleagues a playlist* that started with the Jimmy Buffett tune “Come Monday…”  ‘cuz on that next Monday, I would be elsewhere.

In Franklin, this week of April 26 and following, after Monday which sees 6 meetings, there is only 1 public session and 1 executive session both on Tuesday, for the remainder of the week.

You can start the week with some Jazz at the Historical Museum on Sunday at 3 PM, and also close the week on Saturday celebrating Horace Mann’s birthday also at the Museum from 10 AM to 1 PM.  

You can also close the week by joining Jane's Walk on Saturday. It starts at the TV Studio on Hutchinson St at 10 AM, finishes there about 1.5 miles later (approx. 11:30 AM). In between, conversation on the look and feel of the neighborhoods, and what zoning does or doesn’t do. An informative and casual learning opportunity followed by lunch and networking at the Studio.

The listing of the agendas for the meetings scheduled this week are provided below.

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-1729-fm-weekly-outlook-lookback-combo-04-26-26/

* Playlist that I sent out to my corporate colleagues upon retirement can be found https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKGw_hrlaOY&list=PLL2XKlvMgLAnv_Y2MOsekFSPEpxXeyEn4

*** Meeting schedule and agendas as of Town pages 4/24/26, 7:00 PM   ***

Music at the Museum: Jazz

Sunday, April 26 Time: 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

At the Historical Museum

Communications Subcommittee Meeting

Monday, April 27 Time: 12:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04272026-2270 

Franklin Agricultural Committee Meeting

Monday, April 27 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04272026-2266 

Franklin School Committee Horace Mann Legacy Sub Committee Meeting

Monday, April 27 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04272026-2263

Library Board of Directors Regular Meeting

Monday, April 27 Time: 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04272026-2272 

Planning Board Meeting

Monday, April 27 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04272026-2271 

250th Anniversary Celebration Committee Historical Importance Subcommittee

Monday, April 27 Time: 7:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04272026-2273

Massachusetts Strategic Health Group Meeting

Tuesday, April 28 Time: 1:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04282026-2274 

Franklin School Committee Contractual Negotiations Meeting

Tuesday, April 28 Time: 4:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04282026-2198 

ZBA Meeting-NO MEETING

Thursday, April 30 Time: 7:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04302026-2269 

Happy Birthday Horace Mann!

Saturday, May 2 Time: 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM

At the Historical Museum 

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

Town & School meetings

• Conservation Commission meeting https://www.youtube.com/live/I1JVCaT9-qk?&t=79 

From FHS live streaming

• 45th Anniversary Lions All-Star Band  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cry-f-oTMuA 

• FHS Baseball vs Catholic Memorial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oSOLLBjbdZs&t=440s 

• FHS girls lacrosse vs. Needham https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6tjqDMrNK-A 

• FHS softball vs. Hopkinton https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ec6wuiN4Q2M

From All Access

• Franklin Falvey interviews Djuna Perkins, candidate for Norfolk County District Attorney  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDK373-Fv58 

• A “Once Upon A Town” episode from Joe Landry & Scott Mason https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShTSMbPVsB0 

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  

Thanksgiving leaves, the countdown to Christmas & year end arrives

Hopefully you and most Franklin folks enjoyed the holiday week. It went by quickly. The Turkey Trot set a record with the largest registrations and the FHS football team lost to KP. No significant Town meetings happened last week with the short holiday week.

However, this first week of December has a couple of key meetings. The Town Council gets to set the tax rate, approving a drop in the rate from $11.62/$1000 to $11.42/$1000. This is due to the continued significant rise in assessed real estate valuations. The average residential single family property assessment has increased from $679,400 to $731,400.

The charts will be updated to show the inverse relationship between the tax rate and property valuations. When they go up, as they have for the past many years, the rate goes down. When the valuation decreased (think recession 2008), the rate increased.

The Council also gets the inside scoop on the revenue forecast for the next 5 years. This was shared in August 2025 and with the new Council on board, is intended to bring them up to speed with this info so they can understand what room for decisions they may have.

For those who thought that the Council vote to rescind their approval of the 444 East Central project would suddenly end the project, sorry that didn’t happen. They should note that the ZBA did close the public hearing at their Nov 20 meeting. The ZBA also recommended for their attorney to draft the summary letter as ‘for approval’. Don’t get too alarmed, logically it makes more sense for a “No” vote against the recommendation to approve than it does for a “Yes” for to deny.

The ZBA will review and discuss the ‘draft’ letter at their remote only session this Thursday, Dec 4. Their next session (Dec 18) should have the formal vote on the decision and on the variances requested. The Conservation Commission also meets remote only on Thursday, and will continue to work on the 444 East Central project.

The decision on the 444 East Central project is on schedule to be filed with the appropriate authorities by year end. At which time, appeals may start. When those will end is open to speculation.

The HO scale train town exhibit of Franklin circa 1932 gets expanded to include the Mill Store and Franklin Paint with the official opening scheduled for Saturday, Dec 6. It is scheduled for display through January 2026.

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-1594-fm-weekly-outlook-lookback-combo-11-30-25/

*** Meeting schedule and agendas as of Town page 11/28/25, 8:30 PM   ***

Planning Board Meeting - meeting Cancelled

Monday, December 1 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_12012025-2016 

Massachusetts Strategic Health Group

Tuesday, December 2 Time: 1:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_12022025-2023 

Franklin Cultural Council

Tuesday, December 2 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_12022025-2027 

BOARD OF HEALTH MEETINGS

Wednesday, December 3 Time:  5:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_12032025-2030 

Town Council Meeting / Tax Rate Hearing

Wednesday, December 3 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_12032025-2031 

Franklin Commission on Disability Meeting

Thursday, December 4 Time: 4:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_12042025-2029 

Conservation Commission Meeting

Thursday, December 4 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/534?fileID=6990 

Zoning Board Of Appeals (ZBA) Meeting (Zoom Only meeting)

Thursday, December 4 Time: 6:00 PM (Note time change)

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_12042025-2034 

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

No significant Town meetings happened last week with the short holiday week.

The Turkey Trot set a record with the largest registrations. https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/11/over-1000-registrations-for-franklin.html 

The FHS football team lost to King Philip:

• Video for replay ->  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/11/kp-tops-fhs-football-on-thanksgiving.html 

• Rivalry history ->  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/11/fhs-vs-kp-football-history.html 

Podcast episodes you may have missed

• Town Administrator Jamie Hellen’s most recent Talk Franklin episode https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/11/talk-franklin-starts-with-summer.html 

• Scott Mason talks of the Train Town exhibit https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/11/scott-mason-talks-about-train-town-3.html 

• Pantry Elves & Year end appeal by Franklin Food Pantry https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/11/pantry-elves-play-important-role-in.html 

• A discussion on the intersection of Franklin Matters meeting Toward a More Perfect Union https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/11/toward-more-perfect-union-with-franklin.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