What's the outlook this week? Not enough rain, not enough revenue!

Ironic that the first day it rains in a while, the State announcement on moving to a new level of drought status arrives.

Yes, the outlook for Franklin includes a dry period continuation and potential for a further restriction in outdoor water use as the next couple of months roll towards us. Fortunately, the major growing season is behind us so there should be minimal impact.

On the budget front another shortfall of approx. $271,000 was revealed for the new growth number. How does that happen? There is a quarterly review of incomes and expenses as each budget year progresses. The work of the Board of Assessors showed the shortfall in new growth which may force a further reduction in the current year budget before the tax rate hearing arrives at the end of November, early December.

What does this new reduction mean? The recent trend in new growth coming in lower than previous years is a major concern. New growth is a reflection of the economic development (new housing and commercial buildings, or enhancements, renovations to existing buildings), the downward trend means that the future budget discussions will be that much more important. 

The Town needs to seriously consider how to fund necessary services. If it can’t be done with new growth (the downward trend), and we don’t pass an override (only 1 was ever successful), then the definition of ‘necessary’ services will need to be redefined.

The Planning Board is scheduled to meet on Monday with some development proposals on its agenda. The second of the series of tours for the community to view the existing conditions of the Police Station is scheduled for Tuesday at 6:00 PM. The Zoning Board of Appeal (ZBA) continues their one meeting a month routine with a session on Thursday. 

The Harvest Festival closes out the week on Saturday, Sep 27. Main St will be closed from the triangle through to the Library (at School St) and filled with booths for fun, information, and hopefully very civil conversations on all that is happening in and around Franklin.

*** Meeting schedule and agendas as of Town page 9/19/25, 7:30 PM

Franklin Housing Authority

Monday, September 22 Time: 4:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09222025-1914 

Planning Board Meeting

Monday, September 22 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09222025-1913

Police Station Open House

Tuesday, September 23 Time: 6:00 PM

No agenda needed for Open House

Design Review Meeting

Tuesday, September 23 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09232025-1916 

Town Council - Executive Session Only (added 9/22/25 AM)

Wednesday, September 24    Time: 5:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09242025-1921

Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) Meeting

Thursday, September 25 Time: 7:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09252025-1892 

Franklin School Committee - Comm. Relations Sub Committee

Saturday, September 27 Time: 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09272025-1915 

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

The Town Council met on Wednesday, Sep 17. The video and recap is available for replay. The Town Council Quarterbacking session with Council Chair Tom Mercer will be available this weekend at Franklin.News

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/09/town-council-welcomed-2-new-police.html 

The Conservation Commission met on Thursday. The Franklin TV video is available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQ7geg28FlA 

The big event of the week was the ribbon cutting on Wednesday and opening Thursday of the Children's Museum ->   https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/09/childrens-museum-of-franklin-ribbon.html

Franklin High School sports were covered with 4 live streamed broadcasts during the past week.

• Volleyball match on Monday -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wL9yaax5idw 

• Boys soccer on Tuesday -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jk2IKFBsN-w

• Girls soccer on Thursday -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmYnyB5hIpA

• Football game away at Brockton on Friday -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyPvQ7krFqA

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

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Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1515-fm-weekly-outlook-lookback-combo-09-21-25/

Leaves turning color already

It seems like school just started and yet, the end of September is upon us already.  The leaves are beginning to change colors.

The modular units at Parmenter School which were supposed to be taken down before school  started have indeed been removed. The last one left earlier this week. The DPW is working on landscaping the area where they were once located.

The construction bids for the new high school get opened on Tuesday of the coming week. how close will they be to the estimates? Will the competitive construction climate bring the cost in under the estimates? We'll find out Tuesday.

Also on Tuesday, the School Committee will hear from Principal Peter Light on this years Improvement Plan. A copy of the plan was published and can be review in advance of the meeting.  http://www.franklinmatters.org/2012/09/franklin-high-school-improvement-plan.html

What caught my eye in the Executive Summary was the following:

Based on March 2012 SIMS data, the ethnic makeup of our school is: 1486-Caucasian, 13-Black/African American, 60-Asian, 4-American Indian, 3-Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander, 24-Hispanic or Latino. The current inclusion model has 277 members of the student body classified as special needs students. Less than 1% of the student body comes from homes where their first language is not English. In March of 2009, 52 students were provided with free/ reduced price lunches and as of June 2012, 137 Students qualified for free/reduced price lunches (62% increase over three years).

Assuming the high school is a fair representation of the community as a whole, a 62% increase in the number of students qualifying for free/reduced lunch shows what effect the economy is having upon Franklin. This is also reflected in the increase in business that the Franklin Food Pantry is seeing. While Franklin is fortunate in so many ways, the economy has not left us untouched.

Friendly reminder that there will be no school on Wednesday, Sep 26th

Let us all hope for continued good weather next weekend. The annual Harvest Festival will be held in and around downtown Franklin. It will be a good time to meet and greet your neighbors. To reconnect in some cases with those who moved from your neighborhood to another. To see the business displays, to find out how they can help you. 

I am sure there will be a politician or two around. Be prepared to ask them a good question. See if their answer is what would help you decide as Nov 6th approaches.

And one more friendly reminder:

• If you like this, please tell your friends and neighbors
• If you don't like this, please tell me

This feedback loop is so important. Thank you for reading and sharing!


9/23

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• Franklin, MA: School Committee - Agenda - Sep 25
• Franklin High School: Improvement Plan 2012-13
• "remote participation is not widespread"
• 'They delivered what our community needed'

9/22

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• "people with disabilities can actually use it"
• news and subscription options
• Franklin Elks hope Family Day will spark more giving
• In the News: Preschool fair, Yankee Quilters
• WANTED: ANTIQUE VEHICLES

9/21

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• Franklin SEPAC: Fund raising events
• a national embarrassment or high performing?
• Franklin Library: Resume Writing Review
• MassBudget: New Data on Income, Poverty, Health Coverage in MA
• In the News: Harvest Festival, medical marijuana, unemployment rate

9/20

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• Real time reporting: Town Council highlights
• Real time reporting: from food inspections to beavers
• Mixed results in region on latest MCAS
• Tri-County students offer services to the public
• Do you know Franklin's muscle man?

9/19

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• Town Council meeting - Sep 19, 2012, 7:00 PM
• "I want to use those resources to help Jeff."
• In the News: Meals on Wheels, girls softball, 'woman of year'
• State Rail Network Progress

9/18

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• Who eats the crusts of bread?
• Parmenter modulars: 3 down, 1 to go!
• "Foreclosure deeds statewide dropped"
• MassBudget: Analyzing the FY 2013 Budget

9/17

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• No School - Sep 17th
• Life changing on Washington St
• In the News: Young Women of the Year, dance cabaret
• Saddle Up and Walk 5K - October 7th