Showing posts with label policy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label policy. Show all posts

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.




*** 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


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 


Saturday, June 28, 2025

Summertime, the living is easy as we ease into the 4th of July weekend

We can put “Summertime, and the living is easy”  on repeat as we ease into the long 4th of July weekend.


Less than a handful of meetings this week. The Agricultural Committee and Planning Board meets on Monday. The Municipal Affordable Housing Trust meets on Tuesday. 


While the Board of Health has a meeting scheduled for their normal first Wednesday of the month, there is no agenda posted and it may not occur. Prior meeting discussion was around whether there was a need to meet during the summer. Nothing was pressing at the time.


The 4th of July Celebration opens on Wednesday and runs through Sunday on the Town Common. Carnival rides open daily with a wrist band or ride package available. Live music is scheduled each day with the 5th Annual Mike Crandall Blues Festival on Saturday. Fireworks close out Saturday night at 10 PM from Franklin High School.


The Franklin Democratic Committee, the Rod and Gun Club, and the 4th Coalition will operate food booths during the event. Supporting these organizations are a win-win; food or refreshments for you and the family, and you help the group.


You can check out the 4th of July Coalition page for their full schedule. The Coalition is community supported so your donation can help support this event.


Each day's schedule will also be shared via the Franklin.news daily newsletter. 



*** Meeting schedule and agendas as of Town page 6/27/25, 8:00 PM



Franklin Agricultural Committee

Monday, June 30 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/Agricultural-Commission-13/?#_06302025-1797 


Planning Board Meeting

Monday, June 30 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06302025-1798 


Municipal Affordable Housing Trust Meeting

Tuesday, July 1 Time: 2:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/437?fileID=5188 


BOARD OF HEALTH MEETINGS

Wednesday, July 2 Time: 5:00 PM

no agenda at this time (not likely meeting)



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


A short week of meetings this past week.


The School Committee policy subcommittee met virtually on Tuesday at 6 PM to preview the fee discussion and decision before the full meeting at 7 PM. 

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/06/franklin-school-cmte-policy-subcmte-mtg.html


The full School Committee meeting met at 7 PM with 5 members participating for this virtual session. Franklin TV did not broadcast this session as it was virtual only. The audio for both the Policy subcommittee and full meeting is available at Franklin.news. 

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/06/school-committee-meets-virtually.html 


The Conservation Commission met on Thursday. Franklin TV video is available for replay on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glunYy20aWs 


—------------

For all the meetings and cultural events, check out the calendars 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

Saturday, June 21, 2025

Summertime, “Summertime, and the living is easy”

Summertime,  “Summertime, and the living is easy” 


The Fiscal Year 2025 comes to a close on June 30. Town business starts to shift gears from one fiscal year to the next as the cycles continue. FY 2026 opens July 1 and we’ll start seeing confirmation of the budget cuts due to the failed override to fund the level service budget. No level service? Correct, town delivery of services will decline in various aspects. Some will be more noticeable than others.


With schools closed, the Recreation dept has temporarily moved to use Parmenter while construction on the Beaver St interceptor continues to work in their yard as well as disrupt traffic on Beaver St. They take this week off fortunately but are likely to be back as steel plates in the road remain.


The Design Review, School Committee and SchCmte Policy subcommittee all meet virtually on Tuesday. The Conservation Commission meets on Thursday.


For updates and reporting on the meetings and cultural events, check out the calendar and information 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 page 6/20/25, 6:30 PM


Franklin Public Library Board of Directors Meeting

Monday, June 23 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/Library-Board-of-Directors-20/?#_06232025-1776 


Franklin School Committee Policy Subcommittee Meeting (virtual only)

Tuesday, June 24 Time: 6:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06242025-1792 


Design Review Meeting (virtual only)

Tuesday, June 24 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/429?fileID=5164 


Franklin School Committee (Virtual only)

Tuesday, June 24 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/School-Committee-35/?#_06242025-1793 


Arts and Culture Symposium Subcommittee Meeting

Wednesday, June 25` Time: 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5979/Arts-and-Culture-Symposium_-SubCommittee-Meeting--1?bidId= 


Tri-County Regional Vocational School Committee Appointment Meeting

Thursday, June 26 Time: 2:30 PM

no agenda available at this time


Conservation Commission Meeting

Thursday, June 26 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/430?fileID=5169 


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



The groundbreaking for Habitat for Humanity to formally take title to the Old South Meeting House took place on Wednesday, June 18. The exterior will be preserved while the interior will be renovated to become a single family affordable residence.


The most significant meeting of the week was the Town Council session on Wednesday, June 18. The agenda was a typical variety of business appointments, recognitions, survey results, and a surprise. Fire Chief James McLaughlin announced his retirement effective on or before Oct 1, 2025. The video replay of the full meeting is available.


Chair Tom Mercer and I met virtually to record our Council “quarterbacking” session. We recap the meeting and condense it answering 2 key questions: 

  • ok, what just happened? 

  • What does it mean for Franklin residents and taxpayers?


You can also find the audio at Franklin.News


—------------

For all the meetings and cultural events, check out the calendars 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