Final days of the campaign for the Town of Franklin Biennial Election on Tuesday, November 4, 2025

We’re in the final days of the campaign for the Town of Franklin Biennial Election on Tuesday, November 4, 2025.

The clocks turn back an hour to give us either more sleep or time to prepare to cast our vote on Tuesday. The 2025 Election Collection is chock full of links with all the current information on the candidates and Voices of Franklin entries.  Election Collection => https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/08/election-collection-2025.html 

And yes, there are town meetings this week. Monday, the hearing on propane tank storage at Tri-County is continued at 3 PM and the Planning Board meets at 7 PM. The Franklin Public Schools Horace Mann Legacy Subcommittee meets at 6 PM.

Tuesday is election day with voting from 6 AM to 8 PM available. The unofficial results for the non-write-in candidates are expected to be available between 8:30 and 9 PM. The write-in candidate unofficial tally will be sometime later. Unknown exactly when as it isn’t known how many write-in votes will be cast and have to be hand counted.

Franklin Matters will be there to record the audio of the announcement by Town Clerk Nancy Danello. The PDF of the results will be shared as soon as practical.

Wednesday, the Board of Health will meet and reorganize with their new member at 5 PM (assuming the write-in vote tally is resolved by then). The Finance Committee is scheduled to take their deep dive on Technology at their meeting at 7 PM.

The Commission on Disability is scheduled to meet Thursday at 4 PM, and the ZBA is scheduled to meet at 7:30 PM

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-1565-fm-weekly-outlook-lookback-combo-11-02-25/

*** Meeting schedule and agendas as of Town page 10/31/25, 9:30 PM   ***

License to Store Propane Public Hearing (Continued from October 29, 2025)

Monday, November 3 Time: 3:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_11032025-1987 

Franklin Public Schools Horace Mann Legacy Subcommittee Meeting

Monday, November 3 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_11032025-1988 

Planning Board Meeting

Monday, November 3 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_11032025-1984 

Biennial Local Election

Tuesday, November 4th Time: 6:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Location: All Precincts Vote @ Franklin High School

Massachusetts Strategic Health Group Meeting

Tuesday, November 4 Time: 1:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_11042025-1989 

BOARD OF HEALTH MEETINGS

Wednesday, November 5 Time: 5:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_11052025-1990 

Finance Committee Meeting

Wednesday, November 5 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_11052025-1992 

Franklin Commission on Disability Meeting

Thursday, November 6 Time: 4:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_11062025-1985 

Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) Meeting

Thursday, November 6 Time: 7:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_11062025-1975 

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

Taking a look back at the week that was in Franklin MA from Oct 26 through Nov 1, 2025

The School Committee Budget Subcommittee met on Tuesday, Oct 28 before the full school committee meeting on Tuesday. The audio is available exclusively via Franklin Matters -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/10/franklin-school-committee-budget_01481115260.html 

The full meeting was broadcast by Franklin TV -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtitdxM_a2A 

The Economic Development Subcommittee met on Wednesday at 5:45 PM and the recap and video link can be found -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/10/economic-development-subcmte-catches-up.html 

The Town Council met at 7 PM on Wednesday, the recap and video link can be found -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/10/town-council-hears-snett-and-franklin.html

The Conservation Commission met on Thursday, Oct 30. The video replay is available -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgC4W_5f_FI

From the FHS sports live streamed events we can share

• The girls varsity soccer match on Monday, Oct 27 -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aw-FYyyGr8&t  

• The football game vs Milford on Friday, Oct 31 -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o223ZsJewTU 

Other share worthy items from the week:

• Old Colony Habitat for Humanity announced the family to occupy the renovated South Meeting House -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/10/old-colony-habitat-for-humanity.html 

• The Planning Board candidates had a conversation with the BEN 4 Franklin group co-hosted by Franklin Matters -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/11/2025-biennial-election-planning-board.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 

Franklin Schools close out for the summer, June 18, District prepares for September 2025

School closes out this week with half days as Franklin prepares for redistricting starting in September. The last day to register for bus transportation is Friday, June 20. Any requests after Friday can not be guaranteed a bus seat for September.

A small slate of meetings are scheduled for this shortened week with Town and School facilities closed Thursday for Juneteenth. 

The Planning Board meets on Monday and the Town Council on Wednesday. The Council agenda includes ratification of multiple union contracts. The School Committee approved their teacher contract in their last session June 10. 

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.

*** Meeting schedule and agendas as of Town page 6/13/25, 10:30 PM

Planning Board Meeting

Monday, June 16, 2025 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/Planning-Board-23/?#_06162025-1786

Brownfields Cleanup Plan Review for 21 Grove Street

Tuesday, June 17 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/Legal-Notices-29/?#_06172025-1770

Town Council Meeting

Wednesday, June 18 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/Town-Council-4/?#_06182025-1788

Town officials office hours  canceled

June 19 all Town, schools closed for Juneteenth Holiday

ZBA Meeting canceled

Thursday, June 19th https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/Zoning-Board-of-Appeals-31/?#_06192025-1745 

Council on Aging Meeting

Friday, June 20th. Time: 1:30 PM

No agenda posted

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

State Representative Jeff Roy hosted an appreciation event on Monday, June 9 to recognize the collaboration to bring a single family home back into the Franklin Housing Authority (FHA) inventory. It has been stuck in a legal limbo for about 20 years and finally got unstuck, renovated, and is now occupied by a Franklin family.  The audio and video of the event can be found  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/06/audio-recording-of-fha-appreciation.html

The Franklin School Committee reluctantly approved their revised budget to account for the reduced allocation from the Town per the failed override. In addition to the 29 personnel cuts due to redistricting (saving the Town $3.1M annually), the District reduced an additional 12 personnel along with multiple sets of expenses to account for $2M less in revenue. This results in only a 1% increase over the prior year school budget the lowest annual increase since 2013. The recap and recording of the meeting -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/06/school-committee-reluctantly-approves.html

The Finance Committee held its shortest meeting on Wednesday. It struggled to gain quorum, then when it did achieve that, determined to postpone the Technology topic for presentation/discussion in the fall. 3 new members are scheduled to be appointed in July and they would benefit from such information. The very brief audio officially recording the short meeting  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/06/finance-committee-reschedules-their.html 

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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

Majority rules: Level service is not worth paying for

With the new world of less than level service approaching July 1, the Town of Franklin will continue to do business and plan for what’s next. The operational budget years for FY 2027 and FY 2028 are not rosy pictures.

The School Committee Budget Subcommittee will preview the adjustments to their budget required by the reduction in revenue authorized by the Town Council. The failed override is expected to reduce school personnel by an additional 12 while keeping fees high (at this year’s levels). “Additional” as they already had reduced by 29 as part of redistricting which will save the community $3.1M. Specific details will be available in the full School Committee meeting later Tuesday evening, June 10.

The Finance Committee on Wednesday, June 11 gets a “deep dive” on the Technology budget and capital plan. As more and more technology is utilized in delivery of services across the Town and schools, this should be insightful.

The Strawberry Stroll comes back on Friday, June 13 with a change or two. It will extend up Main St to School St to include the Library front lawn and make it easier for all to also combine with the Farmers Market at the Town Common; The Market is open from 2 to 6 PM. The stroll opens from 4 to 8 PM.

*** Meeting schedule and agendas as of Town page 6/06/25, 7:30 PM

Franklin School Committee - Budget Subcommittee

Tuesday, June 10 Time: 6:00 PM - 6:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06102025-1779

Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School - Board of Trustees Mtg

Tuesday, June 10 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06102025-1775

Design Review Meeting

Tuesday, June 10 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/417?fileID=5006

Franklin School Committee

Tuesday, June 10 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06102025-1780

Friends of the Franklin Public Library Meeting

Tuesday, June 10 Time: 7:00 PM - 7:45 PM

No agenda posted for this meeting

Charles River Pollution Control Meeting

Wednesday, June 11 Time: 3:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06112025-1778

Historical Commission Meeting

Wednesday, June 11 Time: 6:00 PM

No agenda posted at this time

Finance Committee Meeting

Wednesday, June 11 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06112025-1781

Municipal Affordable Housing Trust Meetings

Thursday, June 12 Time: 2:00 PM

No agenda posted at this time

Conservation Commission Meeting

Thursday, June 12 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/418?fileID=5134

Franklin School Committee Community Relations Subcommittee - Strawberry Stroll

Friday, June 13 Time: 4:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06132025-1767

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

With 15,451 registered voters sitting out the special election on June 3, the No’s won the democratic process by a 196 vote margin, effectively saying that the level of services provided by Town and Schools wasn’t worth funding. 

In addition to the 29 personnel the Schools cut in the redistricting effort, another dozen will go out the door effective July 1 to join 8 from the Town side of the operational budget. Road conditions will worsen, sidewalks won’t get fixed, class sizes will increase, and school fees will remain high, etc. 

The official override results can be found 

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/06/official-override-results-nos-take-it.html 

The unofficial results announced Tuesday evening

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/06/unofficial-override-results-nos-take-it.html

The Town Council quarterbacking session with Council Chair Tom Mercer condenses the 4 hour Council session as they made the required reductions to the budget following the override results

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/06/tom-mercer-i-condense-4-hour-council.html 

The override and debt exclusion history of Franklin voters was updated with these results

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AkwjbnXDBhczdDVWaFU0N2ZsTEE2TUVuWHk5NURvQWc#gid=0 

Tri-County Regional Voc Tech Class of 2025 graduation was held June 5

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/06/tri-county-class-of-2025-graduation.html 

Franklin High School’s Class of 2025 graduation was held June 6

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/06/fhs-class-of-2025-graduation-ceremony.html 

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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