Biennial election ballots gets complete, Town Council has a full agenda for the week of Sep 14, 2025

The middle of September is here already. 

The Biennial Election ballot gets close to final this week as all the nomination papers are due Monday, Sep 15. Candidates can still change their mind by Sep 22 to withdraw. After the 22nd, the ballots will get sent out for printing and be back in time for the in person early voting scheduled to begin Oct 17. 

The in person early voting schedule has been posted by the Town Clerk and added to the Community Calendar.

The Town Council agenda is full. Among the key items are: 

• Some Police Dept personnel are sworn in as back fill for retirees

• There are zoning bylaws in a couple of categories; a set of six to create the Crossing Neighborhood District, and a couple of others for commercial kitchens in residential areas as long as the unit is on septic (not Town sewer)

• There is also a presentation on the solicitation permit process by Chief Lynch and Deputy Chief West

• Town Administrator Jamie Hellen is also scheduled to provide a personnel update; i.e word has it the replacement for Bryan Taberner has been hired

2 additional options for getting your questions answered occur this week. Steve Sherlock holds his Franklin Q&A at the Senior Center, Wednesday, Sep 17 at 11 AM. The Town and Local official also hold their coffee hour at the Senior Center on Thursday at 8:30 AM.

Buckle those seat belts, driving safely now that school is settling into their schedule. The Biennial Election campaign period is about to get real active over the next several weeks.

*** Meeting schedule and agendas as of Town page 9/12/25, 9:30 PM

Library Board of Directors Regular meeting

Monday, September 15 Time: 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/Library-Board-of-Directors-20/?#_09152025-1904 

Recreation Advisory Board Meeting

Monday, September 15 Time: 7:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09152025-1867 

Town Council Meeting

Wednesday, September 17  Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09172025-1911 

Town Council Office Hours

Thursday, September 18 Time: 8:30 AM

no agenda for this open discussion

Conservation Commission Meeting

Thursday, September 18 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/497?fileID=6384 

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

Franklin TV broadcast two meetings during the week that are available for replay

1 - Planning Board Meeting Monday, September 8

Franklin TV video for replay ->  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSttQT8spbE 

The agenda can be found -> 

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

2 - Franklin School Committee Meeting - Tuesday, September 9

Franklin TV video for replay ->  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38uXznSNhM8 

The agenda can be found ->

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

The Franklin TV studio was also busy with school sports broadcasting 4 competitions during the week

FHS girls soccer 9/8/25 -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jb_52WSHUpw

FHS volleyball 9/8/25 -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bVwmEEaQ4U 

FHS boys soccer 9/10/25 -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2U5xsFYOM3k

FHS football 9/12/25 -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5uLubdGr2c 

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

Labor Day brings school reopening and all the other activities falling into place

Labor Day weekend. What does it bring? The end of summertime, schools re-open, a mostly normal slate of town meetings, and construction on the Beaver St Interceptor moves to the reduction of a lane along RT 140.

 

Yes, there is a lot happening in and around Franklin, MA as the outlook for the week of September 1 through September 6 fills in.

The Board of Health, Historical Commission, and Town Council are scheduled for Wednesday, Sep 3.  

The Council returns to their normal 7 PM slot with a very healthy agenda so it is likely to be a long session. Recognition of the Fire Chief’s retirement comes before the announcement of the new Chief. A few appointments to continue the annual process are on tap except for the expired term of one ZBA member. Proclamation of Hunger Action Month a recognition of food security efforts by the Food Pantry includes an update from Exec Director Tina Powderly. There are also updates from Patrick McDermott, Norfolk County Sheriff as well as from our legislative delegation Senator Rausch and State Rep Roy.

The Franklin Commission on Disability and the Conservation Commission are both scheduled for regular sessions on Thursday, Sep 4.

Fasten your seatbelts for the ride from September through the end of the year. AND please drive carefully especially during the school bus hours bringing students to and from school.

*** Meeting schedule and agendas as of Town page 8/29/25, 7:30 PM (1 update added 9/2/25)

BOARD OF HEALTH MEETINGS

Wednesday, September 3 Time: 5:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09032025-1882 

Historical Commission

Wednesday, September 3 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09032025-1889 

Town Council Meeting

Wednesday, September 3 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09032025-1891 

Franklin Commission on Disability

Thursday, September 4 Time: 4:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09042025-1887 

Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) (added 9/2/25)

Thursday, September 4 Time: 5:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09042025-1895

Conservation Commission Meeting

Thursday, September 4 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/484?fileID=6052 

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

Planning Board had a contention close to their regularly scheduled meeting on Monday. TV video available for replay  -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-c4QGzRWRBc 

The School Committee met on Tuesday, the video and audio recaps are available here. The Chalkboard Chat recap with Chair Callaghan is to be published soon  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/08/school-committee-approves-handbooks_0234276677.html 

The Police Station Building Cmte met on Wednesday to hear of the site selection whittling process (from over 200 to 2), the pros and cons of those 2 (Davis Thayer & Parmenter), additional public tours were announced for the existing site on Panther Way, early estimates for the total project cost were released (approx. $48M). Recap, with audio & video replay ->  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/08/police-station-building-cmte-hears-of_02009228077.html 

Zoning Board of Appeals held its only August meeting also in moments of contention around the Franklin Ridge project (minor approval required), a porch extension (denied), and the ongoing 444 East Central discussion (despite a change in stance from Town Council and multiple comments from residents and abutters, the ZBA is continuing to perform due diligence on the project). TV video available for replay  ->  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAgrTHFwGsc 

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 

Deja vu: back to the drawing board to adjust the FY 2026 budget again

And you thought the FY 2026 budget decisions were behind us with the adjustments made at the June 4, 2025 Town Council meeting to line up with the failed override. Yet the assumptions made in the budget for the expected State revenue has now changed and will provide less funding than was budgeted for, hence the adjustment required for $231 thousand odd.

The Finance Committee gets the first crack at this on Monday, August 11. The Town Council then gets to this at their Wednesday, Aug 13 meeting. The key decision will revolve around splitting the deficit equally between Town and School budgets, or having the Town absorb the deficit and reinstate the 3rd ambulance. 

Yes, the 2 voting docs do require some explanation as one accounts for the $231 thousand odd adjustment, the other actually increases the budget by $18 thousand. How these are reconciled requires an explanation at the Finance Cmte and Town Council meetings.

The School Committee is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug 12. We’ll get an update on educational activities during the summer as well as an update on the moving activities for the redistricting for the schools to reopen in September.

*** Meeting schedule and agendas as of Town page 8/08/25, 8:00 PM

Finance Committee Meeting

Monday, August 11 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08112025-1822 

Planning Board Meeting - mtg canceled (next session 8/25/25)

Monday, August 11 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08112025-1844 

School Committee

Tuesday, August 12 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08122025-1851 

Design Review

Tuesday, August 12 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08122025-1849 

Town Council

Wednesday, August 13 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08132025-1852 

Historical Commission

Wednesday, August 13 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08132025-1853

Municipal Affordable Housing Trust - no meeting (next meeting is 9/11/25)

Thursday, August 14 Time: 2:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/466?fileID=5560 

Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School - BOT Mtg

Thursday, August 14 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08142025-1845 

Zoning Board of Appeals ZBA - no meeting (next meeting 8/28/25)

Thursday, August 14 Time: 7:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08142025-1842 

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

The Police Station Building Committee met on Wednesday, August 6 at 5 PM to tour the existing station facility. Additional opportunities for the community will be announced for Sept/Oct time frames. There is also work underway to create a video walk through of the facility for those who might not be able to participate in person. A recap of the tour is found https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/08/police-station-building-committee-tours.html 

The Commission on Disability met on Thursday, August 7 beginning at 4 PM. Mary O'Neill, was taken by surprise with the gathering of more than the Commission members and with the presentations of proclamations by State Rep Jeff Roy and Town Administrator Jamie Hellen. Among the many things Mary is known for it is her inspiration and persistence that produced the "Kindness Matters" signs seen around town. A recap of the meeting including some photos https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/08/mary-oneill-and-randy-jay-surprised.html 

The Conservation Commission met on Thursday, August 7. The Franklin TV video is available for replay on YouTube -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4kHhc-j_KE

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