Showing posts with label biennial election. Show all posts
Showing posts with label biennial election. Show all posts

Saturday, November 8, 2025

The winds of change have landed in Franklin

The winds of change have landed in Franklin.


Tuesday, November 4 dawned sunny but windy, and those winds may have been the portent of the change that the community saw when the Town of Franklin Biennial Election results were available just after 9 PM.


Only 2 of the Town Council incumbents were re-elected, joining 7 new members. Diane Daddario won the write-in vote for the Board of Health with a convincing margin. 1 of the School Committee incumbents did not return as 3 new members will be joining the committee. 


The first Town Council meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov 12 with a 6 PM starting time. The meeting will open with organizational votes so it will be interesting to see who ends up as Chair, Vice Chair, and Clerk for this new team.


The agenda is mainly an orientation to Council operations, open meeting law, Conflict of Interest, Ethics, and other matters that for the prior Councils with less change were covered but not likely in the depth anticipated for this session with so many newbies. 


Other Town meetings this week are scheduled around the Veterans Day holiday Tuesday. 


The Housing Authority meets on Monday. The Historical Commission and Friends of the Franklin Public Library are scheduled to meet on Wednesday. 


The Municipal Affordable Housing Trust, the Charles River Pollution Control District, the BFCCPS and the Conservation Commission are all scheduled to meet on Thursday. The agendas for all the meetings this week are listed below.


For all the cultural events and meetings, 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-1577-fm-weekly-outlook-lookback-combo-11-09-25/


*** Meeting schedule and agendas as of Town page 11/07/25, 8:30 PM   ***



Housing Authority

Monday, November 10 Time: 4:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_11102025-1994 


Veterans Day - Town offices and Schools closed

Tuesday, November 11


Historical Commission Meeting

Wednesday, November 12 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_11122025-1999 


Town Council Meeting

Wednesday, November 12 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_11122025-2001 


Friends of the Franklin Public Library Meeting

Wednesday, November 12 Time: 7:00 PM


Municipal Affordable Housing Trust Meetings

Thursday, November 13 Time: 2:00 PM

not available at this time


Charles River Pollution Control Meeting

Thursday, November 13 Time: 3:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_11132025-2000 


Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School Meeting

Thursday, November 13 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_11132025-1995 


Conservation Commission Meeting

Thursday, November 13 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/528?fileID=6820  



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


The Franklin Public Schools Horace Mann Legacy Subcommittee met on Monday, Nov 3 at 6 PM. Exclusive audio of that meeting is expected to be available by Monday, Nov 10


The Planning Board met on Monday, Nov 3. Franklin TV broadcast the meeting

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgAto6ygY8M


The Biennial Election was conducted on Tuesday, Nov 4. The official results were posted by Town Clerk after noon on Wednesday, Nov 5.  6387 voters, 24.4% of the 26,136 registered total cast ballots. Detailed results are available -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/11/town-of-franklin-official-results-of.html 


The Board of Health met on Wednesday, Nov 5 at 5 PM. Exclusive audio of that meeting is expected to be available by Monday, Nov 10. 


The Finance Committee was also scheduled to meet Wednesday but it was canceled late in the afternoon due to lack of a quorum. The Technology ‘deep dive’ will need to be rescheduled yet again, likely for the next meeting in December.


The Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) met briefly on Thursday, Nov 6. They approved the first accessory dwelling unit requiring a variance. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wc7bTwqVFg


With the MIAA playoffs underway, there was only One live steamed FHS high school sports this week. 


The boys soccer team fell to Framingham in OT by a 2-1 score. The video is available   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qNsIesLrv4


A shareworthy presentation by Joe Landy to the Senior Center on “Then & Now” is available on YouTube ->  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7EkZIrEeq4 


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 


Saturday, November 1, 2025

Final days of the campaign for the Town of Franklin Biennial Election on Tuesday, November 4, 2025

We’re in the final days of the campaign for the Town of Franklin Biennial Election on Tuesday, November 4, 2025.


The clocks turn back an hour to give us either more sleep or time to prepare to cast our vote on Tuesday. The 2025 Election Collection is chock full of links with all the current information on the candidates and Voices of Franklin entries.  Election Collection => https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/08/election-collection-2025.html 


And yes, there are town meetings this week. Monday, the hearing on propane tank storage at Tri-County is continued at 3 PM and the Planning Board meets at 7 PM. The Franklin Public Schools Horace Mann Legacy Subcommittee meets at 6 PM.


Tuesday is election day with voting from 6 AM to 8 PM available. The unofficial results for the non-write-in candidates are expected to be available between 8:30 and 9 PM. The write-in candidate unofficial tally will be sometime later. Unknown exactly when as it isn’t known how many write-in votes will be cast and have to be hand counted.


Franklin Matters will be there to record the audio of the announcement by Town Clerk Nancy Danello. The PDF of the results will be shared as soon as practical.


Wednesday, the Board of Health will meet and reorganize with their new member at 5 PM (assuming the write-in vote tally is resolved by then). The Finance Committee is scheduled to take their deep dive on Technology at their meeting at 7 PM.


The Commission on Disability is scheduled to meet Thursday at 4 PM, and the ZBA is scheduled to meet at 7:30 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-1565-fm-weekly-outlook-lookback-combo-11-02-25/



*** Meeting schedule and agendas as of Town page 10/31/25, 9:30 PM   ***



License to Store Propane Public Hearing (Continued from October 29, 2025)

Monday, November 3 Time: 3:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_11032025-1987 


Franklin Public Schools Horace Mann Legacy Subcommittee Meeting

Monday, November 3 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_11032025-1988 


Planning Board Meeting

Monday, November 3 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_11032025-1984 


Biennial Local Election

Tuesday, November 4th Time: 6:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Location: All Precincts Vote @ Franklin High School


Massachusetts Strategic Health Group Meeting

Tuesday, November 4 Time: 1:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_11042025-1989 


BOARD OF HEALTH MEETINGS

Wednesday, November 5 Time: 5:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_11052025-1990 


Finance Committee Meeting

Wednesday, November 5 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_11052025-1992 


Franklin Commission on Disability Meeting

Thursday, November 6 Time: 4:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_11062025-1985 


Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) Meeting

Thursday, November 6 Time: 7:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_11062025-1975 




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


Taking a look back at the week that was in Franklin MA from Oct 26 through Nov 1, 2025


The School Committee Budget Subcommittee met on Tuesday, Oct 28 before the full school committee meeting on Tuesday. The audio is available exclusively via Franklin Matters -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/10/franklin-school-committee-budget_01481115260.html 

The full meeting was broadcast by Franklin TV -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtitdxM_a2A 


The Economic Development Subcommittee met on Wednesday at 5:45 PM and the recap and video link can be found -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/10/economic-development-subcmte-catches-up.html 


The Town Council met at 7 PM on Wednesday, the recap and video link can be found -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/10/town-council-hears-snett-and-franklin.html


The Conservation Commission met on Thursday, Oct 30. The video replay is available -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgC4W_5f_FI


From the FHS sports live streamed events we can share


Other share worthy items from the week:


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 


Saturday, October 25, 2025

80% of the Franklin (MA) registered voters don’t care

Yes, 80% of the Franklin registered voters don’t care that this is the final week of early voting before the Biennial Town Election on November 4. 


A very sad statistic but the numbers show that even during a Presidential election with major amounts of nauseating advertising, about 20% of the voters don’t vote. The State election doesn’t do any better with 40% of the voters not bothering to cast their ballot. Even when it comes down to specific dollar votes for Franklin, whether for school buildings or to fund the operational budget, 55% of the voters ignore the issue and don’t bother to vote.


Voting is easier now than ever before. Absentee ballot, vote by mail, early voting have all been added. While the numbers show a statistical shift away from in person voting on the Day, the percent of voters actively voting overall is NOT increasing. Sadly, 80% of the Franklin voters will do anything but vote on or before November 4, 2025.


You can do something about this sad state of affairs by talking with ALL your Franklin neighbors and friends. Ask them if they are planning to vote? If they are, thank them and remind them that information is available to make an informed decision.


If they are not planning to vote, please ask them why? It is a civic duty, an honorable right, to vote and help determine who governs for us on the local level. Our Town and School services are directly dependent upon these local elected volunteers to provide oversight on the entire Town and School operation.


If they don’t, or won’t vote, then I would have to assume that Franklin doesn’t matter.


Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1554-fm-weekly-outlook-lookback-combo-10-26-25/


*** Meeting schedule and agendas as of Town page 10/24/25, 8:00 PM   ***


CANCELED: Police Station Building Committee - to be rescheduled

Monday, October 27 Time: 6:00 PM


Franklin Cultural Council

Monday, October 27 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10272025-1969 


Franklin Agricultural Commission

Monday, October 27 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10272025-1970 


Library Board of Directors Regular meeting

Monday, October 27 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/Search/?term=&CIDs=all&startDate=10/27/2025&endDate=10/31/2025&dateRange=&dateSelector= 


Hennep Community Outreach Meeting Notice

Tuesday, October 28 Time: 5:30 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10282025-1946 


Franklin School Committee Budget Sub Committee Meeting

Tuesday, October 28 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10282025-1965 


Design Review Meeting

Tuesday, October 28 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10282025-1976 


Franklin School Committee Meeting

Tuesday, October 28 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10282025-1977 


License to Store Propane Public Hearing

Wednesday, October 29 Time: 11:30 AM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10292025-1979 


Economic Development Subcommittee Meeting

Wednesday, October 29 Time: 5:45 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10292025-1964 


Town Council Meeting

Wednesday, October 29 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10292025-1978 


Historical Commission (Executive Session only) (updated 10/28/25)
Thursday, October 30 Time: 6:30 PM
https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10302025-1981

Conservation Commission Meeting

Thursday, October 30 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/519?fileID=6730 



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


This is Steve Sherlock with a lookback at the week that was in Franklin MA from Oct 19 through Oct 25, 2025


The Planning Board Meeting was broadcast by Franklin TV on Monday, Oct 20 -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgakMhebcRk 


The Finance Committee had some good discussion on financial issues but didn’t get into the ‘deep dive’ on Technology in their session on Wednesday. Franklin TV video is available for replay ->  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMhCNMRndj0 


The Franklin Town Council met for their next to last time in this term on Wednesday in a 4 hour plus session to complete a bunch of the items on their goals list. Franklin TV video is available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SdsqXbknGQ 


The Zoning Board of Appeals met as scheduled on Thursday. The proposed cell tower was denied by ZBA but it likely will still go forward in a legal challenge and Federal process seems to indicate the courts will approve. No decision yet as the 444 East Central proposal continues its public hearing. Franklin TV video is available for replay ->

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=td5Ggg5fwCk 


FHS live streamed sports

Boys soccer on Tuesday, Oct 21 -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUhz8K7k7IA

Football homecoming game on Oct 24 ->  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sn_Bra400IU 


The 24 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

80% of the Franklin (MA) registered voters don’t care
80% of the Franklin (MA) registered voters don’t care