Franklin MAtters Weekly: office hours

Showing posts with label office hours. Show all posts

Saturday, September 12, 2026

Full week of meetings features a packed Town Council agenda & Economic Development session exploring "Permitting 101" (audio)

We are in the middle of September and the week ahead holds a full slate of meetings.

The Ad Hoc Committee for the Town Administrator Evaluation starts to work on Monday morning.

The Planning Board meeting is canceled on Monday evening but they along with members of the Design Review, Conservation Commission, and Zoning Board of Appeal are slated for participation in a “Permitting 101” discussion on Thursday at the Economic Development Subcommittee meeting.

The Horace Mann Legacy Committee continues their work on Monday. The 250th Anniversary Celebration also meets Monday in a virtual session.

Design Review has enough business to continue to hold their session on Tuesday.

The Town Council has a full agenda with recognition of a number of Town employee retirements, legislative updates from Senator Rausch and Rep Jeff Roy, presentations from the Franklin Food Pantry, SAFE Coalition, and the 250th Anniversary Celebration

The Council holds office hours Thursday morning at the Senior Center

The 250th Events Subcommittee is scheduled to continue their work on Thursday as well as the Economic Development meeting mentioned above.

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-1820-fm-weekly-outlook-lookback-combo-09-13-26/

*** Event & Meeting schedule (with agendas) as of Town pages 9/11/26 9:00 PM ***

Town Administrator Evaluation Ad Hoc Committee Meeting

Monday, September 14 Time: 9:30 AM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09142026-2498

FPS - Horace Mann Legacy Subcommittee

Monday, September 14 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09142026-2500

Planning Board Meeting-Cancelled

Monday, September 14 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09142026-2493

250th Anniversary Celebration Committee

Monday, September 14 Time: 7:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09142026-2501

Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School Finance Committee Meeting

Tuesday, September 15 Time: 12:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09152026-2510

Design Review Meeting

Tuesday, September 15 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09152026-2499

Town Council Meeting

Wednesday, September 16 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09162026-2512

Town Council Monthly Office Hours

Thursday, September 17 Time: 8:30 AM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09172026-2506

EDC Meeting (with Planning Board, Zoning Board of Appeals, Conservation Commission & Design Review Commission)

Thursday, September 17 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09172026-2504

DR - https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09172026-2496

PB - https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09172026-2503

ZBA - https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09172026-2484

250th Anniversary Celebration Events Subcommittee Meeting

Thursday, September 17 Time: 7:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09172026-2511

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

Town/ School meetings

On Tuesday, the School Committee Policy Subcmte met. The recap and exclusive audio can be found https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/09/schcmte-policy-subcommittee-tackles.html
Also on Tuesday, the School Committee got insights into the District Improvement Plan for this school year and provided feedback. The meeting recap and video https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/09/school-committee-gets-insights-on.html
The Conservation Commission met on Thursday. Franklin TV video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2v0hjRy54lg

FHS Sports broadcasts

FHS girls varsity soccer game on Tuesday - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8HrEx4uEyk
FHS football game on Thursday shared via coverage by Wachusetts High School - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7D63b_TI3WA
FHS girls volleyball match vs Bishop Feehan on Friday https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-AipFJCMPv8

All Access programming

The Second Sunday Speaker Series in August features Scott Mason sharing the Franklin connection to the bombing of Nagaski, Japan in World War II. The video is available for replay https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGtNLXDSr-Q
An episode of Once Upon a Town, filmed with an audience at Franklin TV Studios was published to YouTube. Watch to find out about the history of the race track that used to be on the land where Shaw’s and the HOrace Mann Plaza is today. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xwWnZ06S0dw

Franklin Matters

Town Council Quarterbacking with Councilor Max Morrongiello recapping the Council’s Sep 2 meeting is available https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/09/town-council-quarterbacking-with-town.html
The audio recording of the 25th Anniversary 9/11 Memorial Services is available https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/09/franklin-fire-dept-25th-anniversary-911.html

—-----------

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 11, 2025

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

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, September 13, 2025

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