Franklin, MA News in less than 5 mins: Middle of the new month in this new year (audio)

We are already into the middle of the new month in this new year and deep into the middle of all that is happening.

• For background music, you can listen to "Stuck in the middle with you" https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=ln7Vn_WKkWU

There is a full week of meetings across Town and School business. The Housing Authority, Planning Board, and School Committee Community Relations subcommittee are all scheduled for Monday.

Some folks learned this week that the Housing Authority is not related to the Municipal Affordable Housing Trust other than sharing ‘housing’ as their focal point. Housing Authority is a State agency operating Central Park Terrace, Winter St and other State owned low income housing in Franklin. The Municipal Affordable Housing Trust manages a few Town properties that are deeded restricted. There are other private entities that manage deed restricted units as well.

Tuesday has the 250th Anniversary Celebration, School Committee Policy Subcommittee, and then the full School Committee meeting, as well as the meeting of the Friends of Franklin Library.

Wednesday is relatively quiet but very important with the Finance Committee hearing about the “economics of development” at this session. The answer to one question “Which are more financially beneficial to the Town, rental units or ownership units?” may get some clarity.

Thursday starts with Town official coffee hour at the Senior Center, followed by meetings of the Cultural District Committee and Conservation Commission.

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-1625-fm-weekly-outlook-lookback-combo-01-11-26/

*** Meeting schedule and agendas as of Town page 1/09/26, 8:30 PM   ***

Franklin Housing Authority Meeting

Monday, January 12 Time: 4:30 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01122026-2080 

Franklin Public School Community Relations Sub Committee Meeting

Monday, January 12 Time: 6:30 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01122026-2082 

Planning Board Meeting

Monday, January 12 Time: 7:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01122026-2083 

250th Anniversary Celebration Committee Meeting

Tuesday, January 13 Time: 5:30 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01132026-2074 

Franklin School Committee -Policy Subcommittee Meeting

Tuesday, January 13 Time: 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01132026-2087 

Franklin School Committee

Tuesday, January 13 Time: 7:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01132026-2086 

Friends of the Franklin Public Library Meeting

Tuesday, January 13 Time: 7:00 PM - 7:45 PM

No agenda available at this time

Finance Committee Meeting

Wednesday, January 14 Time: 6:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01142026-2089 

Cultural District Committee Meeting

Thursday, January 15 Time: 6:30 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01152026-2088 

Conservation Commission Meeting

Thursday, January 15th Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/545?fileID=7509 

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

The Police Station Building Committee had a significant meeting on Tuesday. Significant in that they finally recommended that Parmenter should be the site for the potential new station. They also recommended to request the Town Council to authorize $64K for a ‘code review’ of the existing Parmenter facility. Such a study would detail what updates would be required to bring it into compliance with current building code. The building was initially constructed in the 1950’s and then expanded in the 80’s when it was re-opened as a school to handle the growth at that time. Video and recap of the meeting -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/01/police-station-bldg-cmte-selects_8.html 

The Franklin Board of Health met on Wednesday. The work of this group will become more important as the changes to the Federal health department continue to be made. Exclusive audio of this meeting (and a quick recap) can be found ->  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/01/franklin-ma-board-of-health-mtg-010726.html 

The Town Council met in another 4 hour plus session on Wednesday. They approved an amended Friendly 40b policy after juggling the legislative set of their agenda to get the ‘easy’ items out of the way before tackling the 40b discussion. The recap and video of the meeting is available. https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/01/town-council-approves-amended-friendly.html 

Exclusive audio of the Candlelight Vigil for Renee Nicole Good held on the Town Common on Thursday is available ->  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/01/candlelight-vigil-for-renee-nicole-good.html 

On the FHS sports live streaming front

• FHS girls basketball -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7pWLyhuW-Q 

• FHS girls hockey -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d-8FxtAbw18 

• FHS swim team -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViCnoxLMJAI 

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  

Memorial Day weekend, a time for reflection

Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial kick off for summer time. Really a time of reflection to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms we enjoy today. We have all the more reason to reflect given the current administration's challenge to our Constitutional freedoms that are working their way through the courts. 

There is a revised parade route for Franklin this year. The VFW, American Legion, and other veterans organizations have made these changes to hopefully enable more veterans to participate. 

• The parade will start from the Horace Mann middle school complex. A more spacious gathering point for those marching. 

• A slightly shorter route that also avoids the last hill up to the Common. 

• The three stops for recognitions at Dean and the 2 cemeteries will be done before the parade to avoid the stop start and waiting during the parade of previous years.

The parade will begin at 11:00 AM, come out Oak St, to Union, to RT 140, to Emmons, to Main St, and back to the Town Common. You can watch the parade twice from the Common. 

At noon, the recognition ceremony for all veterans who passed during the prior year will be held among the veterans memorials on the Town Common.  Albert Johnson who passed during World War I will also be recognized. His ‘killed in action’ date during the war is not known so this day is fitting for his recognition. The other 44 individuals who have pillars along the Veterans Walkway have known dates and ceremonies are conducted throughout the year on those dates.

With the holiday on Monday, the shorter week contains less town and school meetings. In person voting for the special election for the FY 2026 budget override continues through Friday May 30. All other voting in person will be conducted at the high school on Tuesday June 3.

*** The agendas for the week ahead can be found here: 

from the Town page, as of 8:00 PM Friday, May 23 ***

Massachusetts Strategic Health Group Meeting

Tuesday, May 27 Time: 1:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05272025-1759 

Design Review Meeting (Virtual Mtg)

Tuesday, May 27 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/405?fileID=4909 

Franklin School Committee Meeting

Tuesday, May 27 Time: 7:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05272025-1761 

Franklin School Committee Community Relations Subcommittee Meeting

Thursday, May 29 Time: 4:30 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05292025-1760 

Conservation Commission Meeting

Thursday, May 29 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/407?fileID=4912 

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

The Town Council conducted their 2 public hearings on the FY 2026 budget on Wednesday and Thursday as scheduled. The first night went 4 hours as all the questions and comments raised were answered. The second night saw the brief hearing continued to June 4. The results of the vote June 3 will be known and that will enable the Council to make their votes on the budget either 

• As proposed, if the override passes

• Or with significant cuts, if the override fails

Thursday’s agenda also included some alcohol license approvals.

• A modification to management and ownership of The Shed

• A transfer of licenses between DeVitas and Big Y. After a somewhat contentious discussion, the Council did approve the transfers by a 5-1-3 vote (5 for, 1 against (Cormier-Leger) with 3 absent (Chandler, Pellegri, and Dellorco). Dellorco had been present, left during the public hearing and did not return to the meeting.

Additional info on these meetings can be found with the Franklin.News meeting recaps here

Weds -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/05/town-council-spends-4-hours-reviewing.html 

Thurs -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/05/town-council-expresses-frustration-with.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