School break, Patriots Day, marathon Monday & a relatively quiet meeting week in Franklin (audio)

School break, Patriots Day, marathon Monday…

And a relatively quiet meeting week in Franklin, MA for April 19 through April 25, 2026.  

Even with the holiday Monday, there is no scheduled delay in the trash and recycling pick up for the week.

The hydrant flushing project continues. The DPW updates their webpage daily to let folks know what streets they will be working on. The work is briefly opening a hydrant to let the water flow for a period. This clears the water (may cause some temporary discoloring) but also confirms the water pressure for fire suppression at that point.

The Board of Assessors, Franklin Housing Authority, and Design Review Committee are all scheduled for regular settings on Tuesday.

The Council on Aging, effectively the oversight board for the Senior Center, is scheduled to meet on Wednesday. 

On Thursday, GATRA conducts one of their virtual feedback sessions via the Senior Center. The Conservation Commission also meets in the evening.

The week closes out with the Annual Ladybug Trail Walk on Saturday, April 25. Multiple events and retail opportunities are being set up. Stay tuned during the week for updates.

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.

*** Meeting schedule and agendas as of Town pages 4/17/26, 9:00 PM   ***

Board of Assessors Meeting

Tuesday, April 21 Time: 8:30 AM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04212026-2261 

Franklin Housing Authority Meeting

Tuesday, April 21 Time: 4:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04212026-2259 

Design Review Meeting

Tuesday, April 21 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04212026-2260 

Council on Aging Board Meeting

Wednesday, April 22 Time: 11:00 AM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04222026-2264 

GATRA Regional Public Meeting

Thursday, April 23 Time: 2:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04232026-2243 

Conservation Commission Meeting

Thursday, April 23 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/589?fileID=8914 

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

Town & School meetings

• The School Committee met on Tuesday getting a midyear update on the District and school Improvements plans. The recap and video link are available https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/04/franklin-school-committee-gets-mid-year.html 

• The Town Council met on Wednesday getting an update from NationalGrid and a deep dive into the history and budget concerns of both the Fire and Police Departments The recap and video link is available https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/04/town-council-hears-from-natinalgrid.html 

• The Joint Budget Subcommittee met for the first time in their new configuration of membership on Thursday. The video is available for replay.  The recap and audio will be available early in the coming week.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbKccD9CA3Q 

From FHS live streaming

• The Girls lacrosse match vs Canton  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOcXCMo52CA&t=169s

• The baseball game vs Attleboro https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOcXCMo52CA&t=169s 

From All Access

• The SAFE Coalition Gala celebrating their 10th Anniversary was broadcast Friday from Gillette Stadium  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A-Xby1B-lQM

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 

A full week of meetings arrive this middle of October

A short work week for some with the holiday Monday (which doesn’t change the trash and recycling pick up schedule) is a week full of meetings.

The School Committee has a policy subcommittee meeting at 6 PM and their full committee session at 7 PM. Their full meeting gets an update on after school clubs (middle and high school) as well as a presentation by the Franklin Food Pantry.

The Town Council has an Economic Development Subcommittee (EDC) meeting at 5:45 and then the full Council meeting at 7 PM. The EDC meeting picks up the discussion on the possible adjustments to the “Friendly 40b” policy. Also up for discussion is the citizen prompted move to consider a separate and more accurate Town 40b calculation. The current State calculation under represents the actual 40b units in the housing inventory.

The full Town Council meeting has a chock full agenda so it will likely be a long session. Swearing in of the Fire Dept recent promotions, a new alcohol license for King St Brick Oven Pizza, appointments of the Franklin 250 Committee, state interest in purchase of the SNETT extension the Town is buying from CSX, and the zoning second readings for residential commercial kitchens, and creation of Crossing Neighborhood District to highlight just a few.

 

Election season is fully underway. 23 candidate interviews have been completed. The videos are publicly available. The last of the audio recordings will be completed on Saturday.  The candidate interviews can be found in the 2025 Election Collection. https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/08/election-collection-2025.html

Per the Town Clerk, the ballots have been received. Mail ballots sent to those who requested them. Ballot testing is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct 15 at 9 AM. Early voting at the Town Clerk’s office begins Friday Oct 17 and runs through Friday, Oct 31. Biennial Election day is Tuesday, Nov 4 from 6 AM to 8 PM with all voting in the FHS gymnasium.

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-1549-fm-weekly-outlook-lookback-combo-10-12-25/

*** Meeting schedule and agendas as of Town page 10/10/25, 7:00 PM   ***

Monday, October 13

Town & School buildings closed for Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples Day

Franklin School Committee Policy Subcommittee

Tuesday, October 14 Time: 6:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10142025-1949 

Design Review Meeting - Cancelled

Tuesday, October 14 Time: 7:00 PM

Franklin School Committee Meeting

Tuesday, October 14 Time: 7:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10142025-1948 

Friends of the Franklin Public Library Meeting

Tuesday, October 14 Time: 7:00 PM

No posted agenda for this session

Franklin Q&A

Wednesday, October 15 Time: 11:00 AM

No posted agenda for this information sharing session, to participate remotely contact the Senior Center or use the form -> https://forms.gle/Q3i9SUGXzsDHoBvy7 

Economic Development Subcommittee Meeting

Wednesday, October 15 Time: 5:45 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10152025-1954 

Town Council Meeting

Wednesday, October 15 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10152025-1953 

Town Council Office Hours

Thursday, October 16 Time: 8:30 AM

No posted agenda for this social gathering

Charles River Pollution Control District

Thursday, October 16 Time: 3:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10162025-1952 

Conservation Commission Meeting

Thursday, October 16 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/514?fileID=6655 

Council on Aging Meeting

Friday, October 17 Time: 1:30 PM

no posted agenda for this session

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

The Police Station open house and tour generated a disappointing amount of interest. In two of the 3 sessions that I participated in, only a dozen folk attended. All were informed on the lack of sufficient space in the current facility and appreciated the frank discussion by Chief TJ Lynch. Video tours of the individual rooms of the station have been posted to the Police Station Building Committee project page -> https://www.franklinmapoliceproject.com/existing-conditions 

The Planning Board meeting was broadcast by Franklin TV. The video is available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehDt5Ueh08Y 

Franklin TV live streamed 3 high school sporting events during the week

• Volleyball on Tuesday, Oct 7 -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sZJ3ZtbBpY

• Girls soccer on Weds, Oct 8 -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4vjigi3e5k 

• Football game on Fri, Oct 10 -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAiKO3k0R90 

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 

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

--------------

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 !!!

Martin and Ben in Franklin

Martin Luther King Day today and a holiday for most. School is out here in Franklin and elsewhere. 

Benjamin Franklin's birthday was celebrated with a party at the Historical Museum on Sunday. A good crowd gathered to hear Vera Meyer's play the glass harmonica, one of Ben's many inventions.

The Town Council meets on Wednesday. Among the items on the agenda:
1 - Treasurer/Collector, Jim Dacey apparently will talk about a section of the Home Rule process
2 - DPW Director, Brutus Cantoreggi will provide an update on the DPW snow plowing process.

In the action items, one key piece is the first part of the capital budget is scheduled for approval.


TOTAL REQUESTED:   $ 1,598,000
PURPOSE:  To transfer/appropriate funds for the 2013 Capital Improvement Plan:

Dept                          Type                             Amount
Fire                          Equipment                       $215,000
Police                       Equipment                       $  92,000
Police                       Vehicles                           $  71,000
Town Technology     Equipment                        $  97,500
School                      Vehicles                           $  63,000
School                      Technology                      $233,000
DPW                        Vehicles & Equipment      $193,500
DPW                    Street/Sidewalk/Drainage     $500,000
Facilities – School      Equipment                       $133,000



If you missed anything from the past week, these links can help you catch up!


Jan 20

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• Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - Jan 23, 2012
• Change to Beaver St Recycling Center sitckers
• Friendly Reminder - Curbside collection delayed this week
• Livy's Hope - The Cake Bar

Jan 19

---

• Food Pantry: Volunteers needed for Phone-a-thon
• MassBudget: Analyzing the Governor's Proposals on Education, Transportation, and Revenue
• In the News: Lt Gov Murray, head on crash, right to repair, stove rebates

Jan 18

---

• Downtown triangle signs
• Andy Puddicombe: All it takes is 10 mindful minutes (video)
• Governor Patrick calls for income tax hike, sales tax cut
• Discover Dean College (video)
• Two hurt in head-on crash on Rte. 140 in Franklin

Jan 17

---

• Annual Report 2012: Franklin Library
• Mass Poetry Festival - May 3 - 5, 2013 (video)
• February Programs at the Franklin Library - for children and adults
• In the News: Library, Train station, casino, drug lab

Jan 16

---

• In the News: SPED Vans, education spending
• MassDOR: Tax Preparation Video for 2013
• MassBudget: the benefits of Early Ed & Care....and the funding cuts
• Upcoming Event: Solar Anniversary Celebration
• In the news: food collection, Democratic caucus, softball registration
• 2012 FOOTBALL ACCOLADES INCLUDE 4 SIGNED TO DIVISION-1 TEAMS

Jan 15

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• Kaitlyn B. Schlegel
• "What is clear is that we can’t afford the system we have today"
• Massachusetts Bar Association's 28th annual Mock Trial Program
• Franklin Library: Digital Photographs
• iPhone Photography Workshop

Jan 14

---

• Talking about the 'edge city'
• Annual Report 2012: Planning Board
• Franklin State Forest