September opens with a host of meetings and key topics, oh and the State Primary, Sep 1

September arrives Tuesday with the State Primary election taking center stage from 6 AM to 8 PM. A newly announced write-in campaign may delay the results as those write-in ballots require manual counting; so let’s be patient and allow time for the democratic voting process to work and count accurately.

The Cultural Council meets on Monday. Their agenda is rather spartan and by the way, there are still a number of vacancies for this group that administers the cultural grant process locally.

The Agricultural Commission is also scheduled to meet on Monday. A key item on this agenda is planning for the Pumpkin Festival at the Farmers Market Oct 2.

The 250th Anniversary Celebration Communications Subcommittee meets on Tuesday to work on  several items relating to their formal communications (website, press releases, guidelines for social media, etc.)

The Board of Health returns to meet on Wednesday after taking the summer months off. A bunch of health related items are on this agenda.

The Town Council has a full session of work on its agenda for Wednesday. The Police Station Building Committee formally makes their presentation/recommendation, the new Police Chief is up for approval, the Deputy Town Administrator and Administrative Assistant is introduced.

The excess sewer capacity discussion and potential decision is back again (as promised), an overview of town owned buildings is scheduled (to set up for the future police station decision and related decisions on Parmenter, Davis Thayer, etc.). The public session also closes with an Executive Session on “other town property”

The Commission on Disability has its monthly meeting on Thursday at 4:00 PM in advance of the Ad Hoc Charter Committee (6:00) and the ZBA meeting (7:30).

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-1806-fm-weekly-outlook-lookback-combo-08-30-26/

*** Event & Meeting schedule (with agendas) as of Town pages 8/28/26   7:30 PM   ***

Franklin Cultural Council Meeting

Monday, August 31 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08312026-2476 

Franklin Agricultural Committee Meeting

Monday, August 31 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08312026-2472 

250th Anniversary Celebration Communications Subcommittee Meeting

Tuesday, September 1 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09012026-2475 

Board of Health Meeting

Wednesday, September 2 Time: 5:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09022026-2480 

Police Station Building Committee Meeting

Wednesday, September 2 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09022026-2481 

Town Council Meeting

Wednesday, September 2 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09022026-2482

Franklin Commission on Disability Meeting

Thursday, September 3 Time: 4:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09032026-2474 

Town Charter Ad Hoc Committee

Thursday, September 3 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09032026-2479 

ZBA Meeting

Thursday, September 3 Time: 7:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09032026-2469 

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

Town/ School meetings

• The Planning Board met on Monday, Aug 24. The video is available on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NMZ_KePpqkM 

• The School Committee met on Tuesday, Aug 25. The recap and video link is available  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/08/school-committee-welcomes-new.html 

• The Conservation Commission met on Thursday, Aug 27. The video is available on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqZtdHye7Wg 

• The 250th Anniversary Celebration Committee also met on Thursday, Aug 27. The recap and video link can be found - https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/08/250th-anniversary-celebration-committee.html 

All Access programming

•  A new episode of the Aging Agenda is available on the All Access channel as well as YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tm6O1M5Ahz0 

Franklin Matters

• The recap and audio recording of the first “Voices of Franklin” series held at the Senior Center on August 18 is available - https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/08/voices-of-franklin-audio-recording-of.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    

We have a Wolf moon to begin the New Year

We have a wolf moon to begin the new year. Hmm, what does that mean? 

There are probably lots of possible explanations, and from a variety of view points. For me, on a clear early Saturday morning with the moon setting over a very cold Franklin, it was such a sight to behold. 

If only solutions for the issues facing us were as clearly defined and agreed to. Frankly, there are too many questions unanswered, or even well defined, to begin to see some agreements on approaching resolutions. 

So we take each day as it comes. On Tuesday, the Police Station Building Committee meets for the first time since August. Who from the current Town Council makes up this group now? 2 of the 3 prior Council members are no longer on the Council.

The Board of Health meets at 5 PM on Wednesday. The Town Council is scheduled for 6 PM the same day. A presentation on Facilities is scheduled as is the return of the possible change to the friendly 40b policy. 

Recall that the changes to this friendly 40b policy had been ‘tabled’ by the prior Council, sent to the Economic Development Subcommittee, which after their first meeting in October was canceled, the item was dropped from their rescheduled October agenda. Likely due to the approaching election. Now, this new Council gets it without a prior review of Economic Development.  Will there even be such a Subcommittee for this Council?

For my view, the proposed changes only tackle one of the multiple issues with the existing policy. It only requires future projects to be ownership based rather than rental. It neglects to address the other process issues with this policy around awareness, notifications, etc.

So how will this Council approach the potential change? The answer may come Wednesday. Some folks might be left howling no matter how the Council decides to address it.

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-1620-fm-weekly-outlook-lookback-combo-01-04-26/

*** Meeting schedule and agendas as of Town page 1/02/26, 6:30 AM   ***

Police Station Building Committee Meeting

Tuesday, January 6 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01062026-2064 

Board of Health Meeting

Wednesday, January 7 Time: 5:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01072026-2071 

Town Council Meeting

Wednesday, January 7 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01072026-2073 

Municipal Affordable Housing Trust Meeting

Thursday, January 8 Time: 2:00 PM 

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01082026-2081

Franklin Commission on Disability Meeting

Thursday, January 8 Time: 4:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01082026-2070 

Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School (updated 1/05/26)

Thursday, January 8 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01082026-2078

Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) Meeting (meeting canceled)

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

With the new year here, some of last year's items may not be fully complete. For example, the final document with the history and decision of the ZBA on the 444 East Central St project has been completed, marked with the Town Clerk seal, and posted to the ZBA page

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/8024/444-E-Central-St-Record-and-Decision-with-Clerk-Stamp 

Will this decision be appealed? Stay tuned…

On the sports live streaming front, it was relatively quiet over the holidays with only one live streamed event as we go to press

• FHS boys basketball on Friday, 1/02/26 vs.Taunton  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvwrGKKYm1o 

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