School vacation ends, busy week ahead

School vacation comes to an end with another wet weekend and major meetings are on the calendar for the week ahead.

Hopefully folks are fully rested and ready to return. The Finance Committee has its 3 budget hearings set for this week. They start Monday with Education covering the Tri-County, Norfolk Aggie and Franklin Public Schools budgets. Tuesday they get into the details on Public Works (water, sewer, roads, storm water, etc.) and Public Safety (police, fire and regional dispatch). They close out the week on Thursday with General Government, health and debt accounts and the vote to recommend for the Town Council. The Town Council will conduct their 2 budget hearings in May (May 21 & MAy 22).

As mentioned earlier, if there are remaining questions on the need for the override special election coming up on June 3, these three meetings are the time to get those lingering questions answered.

As to why the override is back again? Folks should remember that the steps taken to adjust the budget last year after the override failed used $3M of one time funds to balance that budget setting up for this year. We are fortunate that the school redistricting effort did result in significant savings so we are only facing a $3.8M deficit; yes, only .8M more than we knew last June we would face this year. 

As for the remainder of the full week schedule, it is good that Franklin TV did build out the 3rd floor training room as a second broadcast spot (in addition to Council Chambers), as there will be dual live broadcasts on 3 of the 4 nights Monday through Thursday.

• Monday - Finance Committee and Planning Board
• Tuesday - Finance Committee and School Committee
• Wednesday - Town Council
• Thursday - Finance Committee and Conservation Commission

*** The agendas for the week ahead can be found here:

Finance Committee Meeting (Council Chambers)

Monday, April 28 Time:7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04282025-1700

Planning Board Meeting (3rd Floor Trng Room)

Monday, April 28 Time:7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04282025-1701 

Massachusetts Strategic Health Group (Medway)

Tuesday, April 29 Time: 1:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04292025-1708 

Finance Committee Meeting (3rd Floor Trng Room)

Tuesday, April 29 Time:7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04292025-1699 

Franklin School Committee Meeting (Council Chambers)

Tuesday, April 29 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04292025-1704 

Cultural District Committee — SUBCOMMITTEE Porchfest Meeting  

Wednesday, April 30, 2025, 6:30pm

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5329/PorchFest-Sub-Committee-Agenda_Meeting_-April-30-2025docx?bidId=  

Town Council Meeting (Council Chambers)

Wednesday, April 30 Time:7:00 PM 

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04302025-1709 

Franklin Housing Authority - Special Meeting of the Board of Commissioners (Remote Mtg)

Thursday, May 1 Time: 4:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05012025-1705 

Conservation Commission Meeting (3rd Floor Trng Room)

Thursday, May 1 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/382?fileID=4477 

Finance Committee Meeting (Council Chambers)

Thursday, May 1 Time: 7:00 PM

No agenda released at this time

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

The meetings during the school break week were generally quiet. I will bring to your attention the following recordings that if you missed as worthy of listening to:

Town Council Chair Tom Mercer and I condense the Council meeting of 4/16/25 to about 30 minutes

FM #1431 - Town Council Quarterbacking - 04/17/25

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/04/tom-mercer-and-i-condense-3-hour-town.html

Listen to the origin story of BLAST - Bringing Libraries and Schools Together. We talk with Erin O’Leary and Caleigh Keating, the collaborators who start with “Yes” and then figure it out.

FM #1434 - BLAST Fun - 04/17/25

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/04/caleigh-erin-i-had-blast-talking-about.html

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For all the meetings and cultural events, check out the calendars at Franklin.news where each day, that day's events on posted on the top of the page

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

A quiet week to start this month, however April closes with a flurry of meetings

The combination of the school April break, Easter and the budget cycle results in a relatively quiet week as we start April.  

The School Committee has an executive session this week for negotiations and then meets on the 8th and 29th. The Town Council doesn't meet until the 16th and then meets on the 30th.

The Finance Committee has its set of 3 budget hearings scheduled for April 28, 29 and May 1. If anyone has any questions about the line item details on the FY 2026 budget, these three night are the time to do so. Agendas are not yet posted but prior years indicate General government on one night, schools (Franklin, Tri-County, Norfolk Aggie) on one night and the third night covers public safety (Police, Fire & Dispatch) as well as Public Works both operational and enterprise accounts (water, sewer, solid waste, & storm water). 

Parents with school age children should check out the internet safety training & awareness night scheduled for Thursday, April 3 at FHS. It is a free night with childcare and meals provided. Details in the link -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/03/attnetion-parents-check-out-interent.html

For this week, the meetings and agenda for the scheduled session are included here.

*** For the week of March 31 - April 5

(as of the Town web site on Friday evening, 3/28/25)  ***

Franklin Agricultural Committee Meeting

Monday, March 31st Time: 7:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03312025-1640 

Franklin School Committee

Tuesday, April 1st Time: 4:00 PM

Contractual Negotiations - Executive Session

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04012025-1586 

BOARD OF HEALTH MEETINGS

Wednesday, April 2   Time: 5:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04022025-1656 

Conservation Commission

Thursday, April 3 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/350?fileID=4297 

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

The Planning Board met on Monday and decided not to approve the Autumn Hill Senior Housing proposed for Summer St by a 1 (for) 4 (against) vote. You can view the video replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsXZejak9qA

The School Committee met on Tuesday and in a long session started by recognizing the boys basketball team for the State Championship & the cheerleaders for their National Championship. They got a lengthy update on course selections and trends from FHS. They also got a lengthy and valuable update on the middle school schedule as the 3 schools plan to come together as one in September. Recap & video link is available here -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/03/school-committee-recognizes-boys.html

The Zoning Board of Appeals opened the process on the proposed 40b to redevelop the Stobbarts property. Unless the committee decides to act on a "safe harbor" declaration in the next week or so, the plans will continue to be reviewed during the process with the next session scheduled for May 8. The video is available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1DzpL7GqyE

In addition to the meetings, I had the wonderful opportunity to talk with 3 key members of the Franklin High School Theatre Co. The audio is available here -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/03/listen-to-how-fhstc-performance-of.html

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For all the meetings and cultural events, check out the calendars at Franklin.news where each day, that day's events on posted on the top of the page

• 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 -> 

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6 listening sessions leads to a recommendation for the Town Council to review March 19

The last of the 6 scheduled Joint Budget Subcommittee listening sessions was held on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. After continuing to listen for about 2 hours, the subcommitte then spent another hour to discuss and decide to recommend an override in the amount of $3.86 million to be held Tuesday, June 3, 2025. The Town Council is now scheduled to take up this recommendation and decide at their scheduled session, Wednesday,March 19.

"At the final JBSC listening session on March 12th, the Committee voted, 9-1 (with one member absent) to recommend the following: 

1) That the Town Council vote to put forth a $3,862,672 override ballot question to the registered voters of the Town of Franklin with the following ballot question language - "Shall the Town of Franklin be allowed to assess an additional $3,862,672 in real estate and personal property taxes for the purpose of the municipal and school operating budgets for which monies from this assessment will be used for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025". 

2) That the Town Council vote to place the proposed override ballot question before the residents for a vote at a Special Town Election on Tuesday, June 3, 2025."

As this is the 3rd week of the month, in addition to the schedule of Town meetings outlined below, I conduct 2 Question & Answer sessions. The first, Monday at the Library at 6:30 PM and the second, Wednesday at the Senior Center at 11:00 AM. Both sessions offer a remote option. To get on that mailing listing, please contact me directly or use the form to sign up. 

You can also come to the Senior Center Thursday morning to talk with the Town & State officials coffee hour at 8:30 AM.

** For the week of March 17 - March 21 **

Franklin School Committee - Negotiations - Executive Session

Tuesday, March 18th  Time: 4:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/School-Committee-35/?#_03182025-1585

Franklin School Committee Community Relations Subcommittee Meeting

Tuesday, March 18th Time: 5:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03182025-1610 

Franklin Public Schools School Committee Special Meeting (virtual only)

Wednesday, March 19th Time: 6:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03192025-1635 

Town Council Meeting

Wednesday, March 19th Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03192025-1639 

Ballot question text -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/03/proposition-2-override-ballot-question.html

Coffee Hour with State & Local Officials

Thursday, March 20th Time: 8:30 AM

No agenda expected, open session

Conservation Commission Meeting

Thursday, March 20th Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/321?fileID=4200 

** Looking back at the week that was March 10 - March 14 **

As mentioned about, the Joint Budget Subcommittee met on Wednesday, March 12  resulted in the overrride recommendation. You can watch, listen, or read the details here ->  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/03/joint-budget-subcommittee-recommends-to_01637031613.html

The School Committee meeting on March 11 revealed 

• detailed info on what the redistricting does for busing (smooths out the ride lengths, and potentially reduces 2 buses, while handling an increase in ridership)
• the facility plans for acommodations and enhancements due to the redistricting, most of the major items would not be done before September when schools open in the new structure
• and finally, assuming the proposed override is successful, the sprts and transportation fees could be reduced

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/03/franklin-school-committee-get_13.html

Senior Center closure extends 2 days to March 19 -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/03/senior-center-closure-extends-2-days.html

Chalkboard Chat recaps the March 11 School Committee meeting and the Joint Budget Listening Sessions -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/03/this-chalkboard-chat-condenses-mtg-of.html

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For all the meetings and cultural events, check out the calendars at Franklin.news where each day, that day's events on posted on the top of the page

• 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

2 Listening Sessions, Senior Center closure, Town Council Mtg; lots happening the week or March 3, 2025

Yes, there are 2 listening sessions scheduled for this week. The first on Tuesday, March 4 at the Senior Center beginning at 9:30 AM. The second in Council Chambers on Saturday, March 8 at 10:00 AM. This session is the only one enabled for remote participation. 

At the Senior Center on Tuesday, March 4 and then the last one March 12 (FHS Auditorium), you need to be in the room to ask a question or make a comment. All sessions are broadcast and recorded for replay. A transcript is also made available. Oh, and breakfast is free on Tuesday at the Senior Center.

The Senior Center closes at 1 PM on the 4th and is currently scheduled to reopen on St Patrick's Day, March 17. Many events & activities have been rescheduled to other locations during the closure period. The Center is being closed for phase 1 of the repairs to fix the cold weather leak issue. Stay tuned for updates from the Senior Center on any changes to schedule during this time period.

A Community Conversation is scheduled for noon at THE BLACK BOX on Wednesday, March 5.  Michael Bobbitt (Mass Cultural Council) & Emily Devlin (Art Pharmacy) are featured speakers to assist us in exploring how Art Pharmacy—a nationally recognized program—will support substance use prevention, harm reduction, treatment & recovery in our community.

Wednesday continues to be busy with both the Board of Health (at 5 PM) and Town Council (7 PM) with scheduled meetings.

The Conservation Commission is scheduled to meet on Thursday, March 6 at 7 PM

The agenda and released documents for each session are linked to in this post (or show notes)

** Town meetings scheduled for the week of March 3 to 9, 2025 **

Joint Budget Subcommittee Listening Session at the Senior Center (plus breakfast)

Tuesday, March 4, 2025, 9:30 AM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03042025-1558 

Community Conversation at THE BLACK BOX

March 5, 2025, 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM

no agenda at this time

BOARD OF HEALTH MEETINGS

March 5, 2025, 5:00 PM

no agenda at this time

Town Council Meeting

March 5, 2025, 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03052025-1608 

Conservation Commission Meeting

March 6, 2025, 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/299?fileID=4146 

Joint Budget Subcommittee Listening Session - Council Chambers (& remote)

Saturday, March 8, 2025,  10:00 AM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03082025-1557 

** Looking back at the last week of February, 2025 **

Planning Board meeting on Monday got so heated, the meeting was ended. Shame on our neighbors for misbehaving in such a manner. Video link ->   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZAUfgAGFRk

Police Station Building Committee held its first meeting of 2025 and got an update from the full project team. Plans are underway to schedule open houses at the current station for the community to see the situation on why we need to upgrade. The Committee will also schedule some site visits to recently constructed police stations as examples of what has been done. Recap, audio & video links -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/02/police-station-building-commitee-gets_0807045574.html

Economic Development Subcommittee met on Wednesday and forwarded an enhancement to enable shared kitchen for operation within commercial zones. The Measure goes to the Council which will refer to the Planning Board for their review before it comes to Council for their deicsion. Recap, audio & video links -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/03/economic-development-subcmte-recommends.html

The Town Council had a short and busy session Wednesday completing work in less than an hour to enable an executive session on negotiation strategy. All the collective bargaining units are up this year (both Town and School). Recap, audio & video links -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/03/town-council-effectively-conducts.html

The Town Administrator's Adhoc Review Committee met on Thursday to discuss and get feedback from Town department managers for Jamie Hellen's review. The final version comes for the Town Council to approve at the March 5 meeting. Recap & video link -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/03/town-administrator-ad-hoc-review.html

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For all the meetings and cultural events, check out the calendars at Franklin.news where each day, that day's events on posted on the top of the page

• 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

Yes, budget, budget, budget continues this week beginning Feb 3, 2025

Still more budget as the School Committee schedules their annual public hearing on the Superintendent’s Recommended budget for FY 2026 on Tuesday, Feb 4. The details of this new budget built from the ground up due to the reorganization should be interesting to see. Significant savings will be realized with the redistricting. Enough that some cuts from last year may be reduced along with some fee modification. Both are dependent upon successful passage of an override this year. Town Council will address that possibility at a March meeting and set an amount.

On Wednesday, among the items on the Town Council agenda is a presentation on fire call volume and proposed ambulance rate change. The fire call volume has been increasing and at some point the Town will need to fully fund the 3rd ambulance. Creativity to date enables a 3rd ambulance unit for about 40 hours during some daytime hours. Putting it on full time would require additional personnel (about 6 according to my notes).

The Capital Budget, funded from ‘free cash’, is up for approval at this session as well as a victualer’s all alcohol license for Mirchi.

Town meetings

Franklin Public Schools Contractual Negotiations (executive session)

Tuesday, February 4, 2025 - 4:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02042025-1537

Franklin School Committee Meeting

February 4, 2025, 7:00 PM

https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4780/FPSD/5247243/SCAGENDA_2-4-25_Budget_Open_Hearing.pdf

BOARD OF HEALTH MEETING

February 5, 2025, 5:00 PM

https://franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02052025-1543

Master Plan Committee

February 5, 2025, 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

https://franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02052025-1544

Town Council Meeting

February 5, 2025, 7:00 PM

https://franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02052025-1546

Conservation Commission Meeting

February 6, 2025, 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/257?fileID=3158

Looking back at the week that was

School Committee Chair Dave Callaghan and ViceChair David McNeill held the first of  “State of the Schools” session at the Franklin TV Studio on Monday. More of these are coming, there are no dates published at this time.  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/01/listen-in-to-state-o-schools.html 

School Committee got a presentation on Middle School Math Curriculum changes to bring in the program into compliance with State standards as well as their review of the Superintendent’s Recommended budget on Tuesday

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/02/3-options-to-listen-to-school-cmte-mtg.html 

The Capital Budget Subcmte spent 3 hours reviewing the capital plan which the Finance Committee had previously reviewed and recommended.

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/01/capital-budget-subcmte-reviews-capital.html

The first of 6 Joint Budget Listening Sessions was held at the Elks Lodge on Thursday.  Less than 50 were in the audience that did ask a bunch of questions, and get answers, so there was a lot of listening being done.

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/01/joint-budget-subcmte-listening-session.html 

Yes, budget, budget, budget continues this week beginning Feb 3, 2025

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For all the meetings and cultural events, check out the calendars, or visit Franklin Matters where each day, that day's events on posted on the top of the page

• 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

Watch out Franklin; with a break for the holiday Monday, here comes the week of January 20 !!!

Looking ahead to the week beginning January 20

Monday, the Martin Luther King Jr holiday shortens the week but not the work. Note, there is no scheduled delay in the pick up of trash/recycling for this week.

School Committee has a total of 3 sessions scheduled, one for negotiation, one Subcommittee for community relations (planning for the Legislative forum Feb 24), and a budget workshop Wednesday to work through the FY 2026 budget

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/01/school-committee-has-2-meetings-1.html

Town Council meets on Wednesday to discuss a victualers alcohol license for Mirchi, get an update on Maple Hill & Schmidt’s farm, a public hearing on electric signs, and an executive session on contract negotiating strategy

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/01/franklin-ma-town-council-agenda-for.html

Cultural Council is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, Conservation Commission meets on Thursday. Agenda for these can be found on the Town calendar https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar

Board of Assessors meet on Tuesday at a new date/time. Their meetings are 95% in executive session so not worth the effort to try and attend in person.

Looking back at the week that was

Planning Board met on Monday - video replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3V5ziNTztWM

School Committee met on Tuesday - recap, audio & video links -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/01/school-committee-recognizes-fhs_17.html

Finance & Master Plan Update committees both met on Weds

FinCom recap, audio & video links -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/01/finance-committee-approves-recommended_0799398139.html

Master Plan meeting video -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98wFbUo0ugE

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Town calendar -> https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar

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

Watch out Franklin; with a break for the holiday Monday, here comes the week of January 20 !!!