Your Franklin (MA) news for the week of March 22, 2026 (less than 5 minutes - audio)

The snow has mostly disappeared and signs of spring are budding around us

The Planning Board is scheduled to meet on Monday. Key discussion around the minor zoning bylaw adjustments needed; 2 for the Crossing Neighborhood District and 2 for the final changes required to bring our changes into compliance with the MBTA Communities effort. 

The Town Council is anticipated to have a detailed discussion when they come back to them for their own public hearings and discussion. This would be the first time for any zoning discussions for this Council, and they indicated a willingness to get into details as these 4 measures came up initially to get referred to the Planning Board.

The School Committee returns to a 7 PM timeslot to start on Tuesday which enables their budget subcommittee to meet at 6 PM. Lifelong Community Learning is scheduled for an update to the full committee. (The Town Council just announced their subcommittee structures last week, now they’ll need to find time for their subcommittees to meet.)

The 250 Celebration subcommittee on Events & Logistics planning meets on Wednesday at 7. They have a good list of events on the agenda to open and eventually close the celebration during 2028.

The Conservation Commission is scheduled to meet on Thursday to close out this week of meetings.

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-1692-fm-weekly-outlook-lookback-combo-03-22-26/

*** Meeting schedule and agendas as of Town page 3/20/26, 8:30 PM   ***

Planning Board Meeting

Monday, March 23 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03232026-2196 

Franklin School Committee - Budget Subcommittee Meeting

Tuesday, March 24 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03242026-2200 

Franklin School Committee Meeting

Tuesday, March 24 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03242026-2201 

Council on Aging Board Meeting

Wednesday, March 25 Time: 11:00 AM (agenda added 3/23/26)

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03252026-2204

Franklin Historical Commission        (meeting & agenda added 3/23/26)

Wednesday, March 25     Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03252026-2207

250th Anniversary Celebration Committee Subcommittee on Events & Logistics Meeting

Wednesday, March 25 Time: 7:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03252026-2194 

Franklin 250th Anniversary Committee         (meeting & agenda added 3/23/26)

Thursday, March 26, 2026 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03262026-2208

Conservation Commission Meeting

Thursday, March 26 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/577?fileID=8621 

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

A light meeting week for the live broadcast crew. The Town Council and School Committee met in a joint session on Wednesday. The recap and video is available

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/03/joint-meeting-of-town-council-school.html  The audio should be available shortly.

The Board of Health added a meeting on Wednesday to have a discussion to consider banning some currently unregulated substances that are mind altering. Other communities have begun to take action. The Board next meeting will likely provide additional info and schedule a public hearing to gather input before taking action. The exclusive audio should be ready Sunday at Franklin.news 

Two All Town Showcase concerts were broadcast from FHS

The chorus and orchestra - https://www.youtube.com/live/X0fnL4c5etM?&t=865 

The band - https://www.youtube.com/live/5wgggEBn8iE?&t=204 

On the All Access front, the MetroWest Boston Visitors Bureau Symposium held on February 26, 2026 is available for viewing. Lots of good info on the planning for the World Cup included.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WDcHFPfpfU

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 

Major meeting this week: Joint Session of SchCmte & Town Council on Chapter 70 (audio)

The snow has mostly gone but the drought is still here

Yes, all that snow simply stayed above the frozen ground and the aquifer will take time to absorb. Hopefully, April showers will bring some periods of steady rain.

In the meantime, the Franklin Housing Authority meets on Monday. The School Committee Community Relations Subcommittee is also scheduled to meet.

Design Review is scheduled to review an update to another Camford Property development along West Central St.

The major meeting of the week occurs Wednesday with a joint meeting of the School Committee and Town Council. The Department of Elementary & Secondary Education (DESE) will provide an update on Chapter 70 and hold harmless. This should be a most view (if not must participate) session.

The Council and School Committee will also discuss the potential for a strategic planning initiative. We have a set of plans (Master Plan, Housing Production Plan, Open Space & Recreation Plan) but need to get to the next level of detail on what is the priority for implementation and how it is going to be funded. The structural deficit is the major problem facing Franklin and needs to be solved.

The Board of Health added a session on Wednesday at 5 PM to discuss prohibiting the sale of mind altering products. 

The School Committee has an open office hours session scheduled for Thursday evening at the Lincoln Elementary school.

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-1687-fm-weekly-outlook-lookback-combo-03-15-26/

*** Meeting schedule and agendas as of Town page 3/13/26, 6:00 PM   ***

Franklin Housing Authority

Monday, March 16 Time: 4:30 PM 

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03162026-2186 

Franklin School Committee - Community Relations Subcommittee

Monday, March 16 Time: 6:30 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03162026-2181 

Pole Petition Hearing

Tuesday, March 17 Time: 12:30 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03172026-2178 

Design Review Meeting

Tuesday, March 17 Time: 7:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03172026-2190 

Board of Health Meeting

Wednesday, March 18 Time: 5:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03182026-2191 

Franklin Public School Committee Special Meeting

Wednesday, March 18 Time: 6:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03182026-2182 

Town Council Meeting

Wednesday, March 18 Time: 6:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03182026-2193 

Franklin School Committee Meeting

Thursday, March 19 Time: 5:30 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03192026-2161 

ZBA Meeting- no meeting

Thursday, March 19

Charles River Pollution Control Meeting

Friday, March 20 Time: 3:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03202026-2192 

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

To recap the Franklin TV. Franklin Public Radio meetings that were broadcast

• The Planning Board met on Monday, March 9. The video link -   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNFX4o2eN3g

• The School Committee met on Tuesday, March 10. The recap and video can be found  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/03/school-committee-gets-insights-recipes.html  

• The Finance Committee met on Wednesday, March 11. The recap and video can be found  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/03/finance-committee-gets-good-discussion.html 

• The Conservation Commission met on Thursday, March 12. The video link -  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvxC6QpVkEw 

On the High School front, it was a quiet week as the playoff runs were complete and the new Spring season hasn’t started.

On the All Access front a new episode of Aging Boldfully is up on YouTube  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5y3e4ShaBXo 

On the Public Radio/podcast front, audio exclusive for the Commission on Disability meeting March 5 is available - https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/03/exclusive-audio-of-franklin-commission.html 

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 

Happy Birthday Town of Franklin !!! 248 years young (audio)

Happy birthday, Town of Franklin! Yes, March 2, 1778 was the day Franklin was officially recognized by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Stop by the Historical Museum on Sunday, March 1 for a piece of cake and to view the movie from the 200th anniversary celebration.

Plans for the 250th Anniversary in 2028 are underway by that Committee. One of their subcommittees meets Sunday, and the full committee is scheduled for a special session on Tuesday to authorize the deposit for a gala to be held at Lake Pearl on November 3, 2028. 

The first measles case has appeared in MA and there might be something of a discussion touching on that at the regular monthly meeting of the Board of Health on Wednesday. 

The Town Council picks up the goals discussion again this week. Whether they will decide on goals, or defer to a future meeting, remains to be seen? The Council will need to decide on the funding recommendation to replace Engine 3 as put forward by the Town and Fire Dept. and approved by the Finance Committee. This is time sensitive, so if they don't resolve, we lose an opportunity to replace for multiple years.

The Council also gets to find out about parking meter revenue from the downtown lots as well as approve a subcommittee they requested to look at potential charter changes. Potential charter changes have come up in discussion and gone over the years and usually overtaken by other priorities. 

This Council apparently would rather attempt to tackle charter changes than to try and fix the more serious issue of the strategic budget gaps we have including important work that can’t be done because resources are lacking (i.e. the Town Administrator's office).

A helpful reminder to those frustrated by lack of this or that related to the aftermath of the blizzard. 

• Ancient proverb: "If you choose not to find joy in the snow, you will have less joy, but the same amount of snow" 

We should be grateful for 4 days moving about town that the South Coastal communities of MA didn’t have. 3 days of school for our kids that those same communities didn’t have. And while trash pickup wasn’t perfect in the blizzard aftermath, most did get picked up. Let’s be grateful for what we do have. 

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-1678-fm-weekly-outlook-lookback-combo-03-01-26/

*** Meeting schedule and agendas as of Town page 2/27/26, 6:00 PM   ***

250th Anniversary Celebration Budget and Fundraising Subcommittee Meeting

Sunday, March 1 Time: 7:30 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03012026-2160 

Library Board of Directors Regular Meeting

Monday, March 2 Time: 7:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03022026-2157 

Recreation Department Meeting

Monday, March 2 Time: 7:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03022026-2158 

250th Anniversary Celebration Committee Special Meeting

Tuesday, March 3 Time: 7:30 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03032026-2165 

Board of Health Meeting

Wednesday, March 4 Time: 5:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03042026-2164 

Town Council Meeting

Wednesday, March 4 Time: 6:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03042026-2166 

Franklin Commission on Disabilities Meeting

Thursday, March 5 Time: 4:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03052026-2163 

Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) Meeting

Thursday, March 5 Time: 7:30 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03052026-2146 

Franklin School Committee - Policy Subcommittee Meeting

Friday, March 6 Time: 8:15 AM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03062026-2169

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

For Franklin TV meeting broadcasts:

• The School committee met via remote only on Tuesday. They formally approved their FY 2027 budget proposal with a 2.5% increase over prior year. The recap and video link is available via Franklin.News  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/02/school-committee-approves-fy-2027.html 

• The Finance Committee met on Wednesday to review and approve funding options for the Engine 3 replacement . The recap and video link is available via Franklin.News https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/02/finance-committee-approves-funding.html 

• The Conservation Commission met on Thursday. The Franklin TV video is available on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWSq6V_2iZA 

For FHS live streaming:

• Boys basketball on Weds vs. Lowell https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xamybg7phjo

• Girls basketball on Thursday vs Arlington https://www.youtube.com/live/m3bvo8AS7Pw?&t=1592 

• The FHS Concert Hour on Thursday https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-USQsFy9hc 

For All Access programing:

• The newest Aging Boldfully episode is available  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8zhy3wuZ3c 

From Franklin Matters/ Franklin Public Radio

• Town Council Quarterbacking with Max Morrongiello  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3CWzcPK1nw 

• Town Council Quarterbacking with Ted Cormier-Leger  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jzsml1PYrak 

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