Your couple of minutes view on what's coming or just happened in Franklin MA

From charter review to 250 event brainstorming to Administrator Evaluation to Tax Rate workshop and a bunch of other items in between are on tap this week.

The Ad-hoc charter review subcommittee is scheduled to meet early on Monday. Let’s hope nothing happens like the prior two causes for meeting cancellation. 

The 250 Celebration Committee holds a session at the Senior Center Monday morning to outline plans for the events in 2028 to seek feedback, additional ideas and perhaps some volunteers to help with the effort.

The Town Administrator evaluation Subcommittee, the Agricultural Committee, the Library Board of Directors,  and the 250 Subcommittee on historical significance are also scheduled to meet on Monday.

The School Committee is scheduled to meet Tuesday to get an update on the October 1 enrollment, hear about a potential new international trip for FHS, and get an update from Liz Harkins, the new Executive Director at Franklin TV.

The Franklin High School Auditorium is the setting for the 2nd of three tax rate workshops being held by the Town Council. Hopefully many folks will come out for this session. 

The Economic Development subcommittee and the Zoning Board of Appeals are scheduled to meet on Thursday to close out the week of meetings.

The last Farmers Market for the season comes around on Friday, Oct 30 at the Town Common. The Winter Farmers Market at Fairmount Fruit Farm has two dates each month from Nov to March scheduled.

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-1841-fm-weekly-outlook-lookback-combo-10-25-26/

*** Event & Meeting schedule (with agendas) as of Town pages 10/23/26 5:00 PM ***

Ad Hoc Town Charter Review Committee Meeting

Monday, October 26 Time: 10:00 AM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10262026-2534 

Franklin 250 Brainstorming

Monday, October 26 Time: 10:00 AM

No agenda for this interactive session

Town Administrator Evaluation Ad Hoc Committee Meeting

Monday, October 26 Time: 4:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10262026-2571 

Franklin Agricultural Committee Meeting

Monday, October 26 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10262026-2578

Library Board of Directors Regular Meeting

Monday, October 26 Time: 7:00 PM 

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10262026-2580 

250th Anniversary Celebration Historical Significance Subcommittee Meeting

Monday, October 26 Time: 7:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10262026-2579 

Franklin School Committee

Tuesday, October 27 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10272026-2581 

Council on Aging Board Meeting

Wednesday, October 28 Time: 11:00 AM

No agenda available at this time

Town Council Meeting @ Franklin High School Auditorim

Wednesday, October 28 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10282026-2583 

October 29, 2026 - Economic Development Subcommittee Meeting

Thursday, October 29 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10292026-2582 

Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) Meeting

Thursday, October 29 Time: 7:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10292026-2574 

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

There were several video productions by Franklin TV during the past week both broadcast live and pre-recorded for publication via YouTube.

Town & School meetings

Planning Board meeting on 10/29 Recap & video link https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/10/planning-board-reviews-traffic-parking.html 

Finance Committee on 10/21 Recap & video link

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/10/finance-committee-gets-insights-on.html 

Conservation Commission on 10/22  video link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JptqXV8ksM 

FHS Sports

FHS boys soccer vs Mansfield on 10/21

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdmhvY0L9Gg 

FHS volleyball vs Stoughton on 10/23

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0224oSody8 

All Access Channel

Franklin Senior Expo held at the Senior Center on 10/02

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bzdbgW0wOo 

Franklin Matters

MA State Senator Becca Rausch 10/14/26 - 

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/10/senator-rausch-provides-legislative.html 

Town of Franklin's Boston Post Cane Presented to Lydia Dolitka 10/22/2026

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/10/town-of-franklins-boston-post-cane.html 

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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

What tax rate is best for the "common good" of Franklin, MA ???

This week starts discussion on yet another opportunity for Franklin residents and taxpayers to come to an agreement on the “common good”.

Yes, Franklin operates within the Commonwealth of Mass. A commonwealth is defined as “one founded on law and united by compact or tacit agreement of the people for the common good.”

The Town has operated with a single tax rate which means that all property owners and businesses pay the same rate. The current Town Council wants to consider a split tax rate. The split tax rate doesn't raise any additional funds. It only shifts the burden from one category (residential) to another (commercial/industrial) although it could be applied the other way; that is, shifting the burden from commercial industrial to residential. 

Over the next 3 Town Council sessions, there are 3 workshops scheduled to define the terminology, present results of some studies, and set up for a robust discussion on the pros and cons of the split vs. single tax rate before the tax rate hearing is held in December. 

What rate provides the best outcome, for our common good, for all of Franklin? 

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. 

*** Event & Meeting schedule (with agendas) as of Town pages 10/09/26 5:00 PM ***

Franklin School Committee Policy Subcommittee Meeting

Tuesday, October 13, 2026  Time = 6:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10132026-2558 

250th Anniversary Celebration Communications Subcommittee Meeting

Tuesday, October 13, 2026  Time = 6:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10132026-2553 

Franklin School Committee Meeting

Tuesday, October 13, 2026  time = 7:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10132026-2559 

Charles River Pollution Control Meeting

Wednesday, October 14, 2026   Time = 3:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10142026-2561 

Board of Assessors Regular Meeting

Wednesday, October 14, 2026  Time = 5:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10142026-2562 

Town Council Meeting

Wednesday, October 14, 2026  Time = 6:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10142026-2560 

Coffee Hour with State & Local Officials

Thursday, October 15, 2026  Time = 8:30 AM

No agenda for this informal session

250th Anniversary Celebration Events Subcommittee Meeting

Thursday, October 15, 2026  Time = 7:30 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10152026-2552 

Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) Meeting

Thursday, October 15, 2026  Time = 7:30 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10152026-2540 

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

Town & School meetings

Joint Budget Subcmte on Wednesday

https://www.youtube.com/live/zQCeOrqhWRA?is=Df440kdXQFy2bgVB 

Conservation Commission on Thursday

https://www.youtube.com/live/FxDu-rCQvyc?is=w9DDyofyUB5gcwr6 

FHS Sports

FHS girls soccer on Tuesday 

https://www.youtube.com/live/vQ5cJQ66bZU?is=B7_VIhH_O6Fkp0Xc

All Access Channel

Franklin Union St Cemetery tour https://youtu.be/wgAonH4qHxA?is=y0bNzIwSwLRKE-Zg

Frank Presents Diane DiZoglio 

https://youtu.be/zQkaGM6rDGw?is=3UvK40M63TIaiWI- 

Frank Presents Wayne Adams 

https://youtu.be/t2wKrrfRGqg?is=BMAfhD39bBHX_qbm

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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 

Thanksgiving leaves, the countdown to Christmas & year end arrives

Hopefully you and most Franklin folks enjoyed the holiday week. It went by quickly. The Turkey Trot set a record with the largest registrations and the FHS football team lost to KP. No significant Town meetings happened last week with the short holiday week.

However, this first week of December has a couple of key meetings. The Town Council gets to set the tax rate, approving a drop in the rate from $11.62/$1000 to $11.42/$1000. This is due to the continued significant rise in assessed real estate valuations. The average residential single family property assessment has increased from $679,400 to $731,400.

The charts will be updated to show the inverse relationship between the tax rate and property valuations. When they go up, as they have for the past many years, the rate goes down. When the valuation decreased (think recession 2008), the rate increased.

The Council also gets the inside scoop on the revenue forecast for the next 5 years. This was shared in August 2025 and with the new Council on board, is intended to bring them up to speed with this info so they can understand what room for decisions they may have.

For those who thought that the Council vote to rescind their approval of the 444 East Central project would suddenly end the project, sorry that didn’t happen. They should note that the ZBA did close the public hearing at their Nov 20 meeting. The ZBA also recommended for their attorney to draft the summary letter as ‘for approval’. Don’t get too alarmed, logically it makes more sense for a “No” vote against the recommendation to approve than it does for a “Yes” for to deny.

The ZBA will review and discuss the ‘draft’ letter at their remote only session this Thursday, Dec 4. Their next session (Dec 18) should have the formal vote on the decision and on the variances requested. The Conservation Commission also meets remote only on Thursday, and will continue to work on the 444 East Central project.

The decision on the 444 East Central project is on schedule to be filed with the appropriate authorities by year end. At which time, appeals may start. When those will end is open to speculation.

The HO scale train town exhibit of Franklin circa 1932 gets expanded to include the Mill Store and Franklin Paint with the official opening scheduled for Saturday, Dec 6. It is scheduled for display through January 2026.

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-1594-fm-weekly-outlook-lookback-combo-11-30-25/

*** Meeting schedule and agendas as of Town page 11/28/25, 8:30 PM   ***

Planning Board Meeting - meeting Cancelled

Monday, December 1 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_12012025-2016 

Massachusetts Strategic Health Group

Tuesday, December 2 Time: 1:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_12022025-2023 

Franklin Cultural Council

Tuesday, December 2 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_12022025-2027 

BOARD OF HEALTH MEETINGS

Wednesday, December 3 Time:  5:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_12032025-2030 

Town Council Meeting / Tax Rate Hearing

Wednesday, December 3 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_12032025-2031 

Franklin Commission on Disability Meeting

Thursday, December 4 Time: 4:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_12042025-2029 

Conservation Commission Meeting

Thursday, December 4 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/534?fileID=6990 

Zoning Board Of Appeals (ZBA) Meeting (Zoom Only meeting)

Thursday, December 4 Time: 6:00 PM (Note time change)

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_12042025-2034 

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

No significant Town meetings happened last week with the short holiday week.

The Turkey Trot set a record with the largest registrations. https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/11/over-1000-registrations-for-franklin.html 

The FHS football team lost to King Philip:

• Video for replay ->  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/11/kp-tops-fhs-football-on-thanksgiving.html 

• Rivalry history ->  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/11/fhs-vs-kp-football-history.html 

Podcast episodes you may have missed

• Town Administrator Jamie Hellen’s most recent Talk Franklin episode https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/11/talk-franklin-starts-with-summer.html 

• Scott Mason talks of the Train Town exhibit https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/11/scott-mason-talks-about-train-town-3.html 

• Pantry Elves & Year end appeal by Franklin Food Pantry https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/11/pantry-elves-play-important-role-in.html 

• A discussion on the intersection of Franklin Matters meeting Toward a More Perfect Union https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/11/toward-more-perfect-union-with-franklin.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