Labor Day brings school reopening and all the other activities falling into place

Labor Day weekend. What does it bring? The end of summertime, schools re-open, a mostly normal slate of town meetings, and construction on the Beaver St Interceptor moves to the reduction of a lane along RT 140.

 

Yes, there is a lot happening in and around Franklin, MA as the outlook for the week of September 1 through September 6 fills in.

The Board of Health, Historical Commission, and Town Council are scheduled for Wednesday, Sep 3.  

The Council returns to their normal 7 PM slot with a very healthy agenda so it is likely to be a long session. Recognition of the Fire Chief’s retirement comes before the announcement of the new Chief. A few appointments to continue the annual process are on tap except for the expired term of one ZBA member. Proclamation of Hunger Action Month a recognition of food security efforts by the Food Pantry includes an update from Exec Director Tina Powderly. There are also updates from Patrick McDermott, Norfolk County Sheriff as well as from our legislative delegation Senator Rausch and State Rep Roy.

The Franklin Commission on Disability and the Conservation Commission are both scheduled for regular sessions on Thursday, Sep 4.

Fasten your seatbelts for the ride from September through the end of the year. AND please drive carefully especially during the school bus hours bringing students to and from school.

*** Meeting schedule and agendas as of Town page 8/29/25, 7:30 PM

BOARD OF HEALTH MEETINGS

Wednesday, September 3 Time: 5:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09032025-1882 

Historical Commission

Wednesday, September 3 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09032025-1889 

Town Council Meeting

Wednesday, September 3 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09032025-1891 

Franklin Commission on Disability

Thursday, September 4 Time: 4:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09042025-1887 

Conservation Commission Meeting

Thursday, September 4 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/484?fileID=6052 

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

Planning Board had a contention close to their regularly scheduled meeting on Monday. TV video available for replay  -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-c4QGzRWRBc 

The School Committee met on Tuesday, the video and audio recaps are available here. The Chalkboard Chat recap with Chair Callaghan is to be published soon  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/08/school-committee-approves-handbooks_0234276677.html 

The Police Station Building Cmte met on Wednesday to hear of the site selection whittling process (from over 200 to 2), the pros and cons of those 2 (Davis Thayer & Parmenter), additional public tours were announced for the existing site on Panther Way, early estimates for the total project cost were released (approx. $48M). Recap, with audio & video replay ->  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/08/police-station-building-cmte-hears-of_02009228077.html 

Zoning Board of Appeals held its only August meeting also in moments of contention around the Franklin Ridge project (minor approval required), a porch extension (denied), and the ongoing 444 East Central discussion (despite a change in stance from Town Council and multiple comments from residents and abutters, the ZBA is continuing to perform due diligence on the project). TV video available for replay  ->  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAgrTHFwGsc 

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 

A midsummer dream - short meeting schedule and good weather

A midsummer dream; only a few meetings on the calendar and the weather forecast calls for mostly good (not humid) conditions. 

The Board of Assessors meets on Monday. They generally spend most of their total meeting time in executive session as they review the various abatements and exemptions requested.

The Town Council holds office hours at the Senior Center during breakfast beginning at 8:30 AM. Always a good time for discussion in an informal setting.

The Conservation Commission is scheduled to meet on Thursday with a full agenda including 444 East Central St. They also need to vote on their representative to the Community Preservation Committee. 

*** Meeting schedule and agendas as of Town page 8/15/25, 8:00 PM

Board of Assessors

Monday, August 18 Time: 5:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08182025-1857 

Town Council Office Hours

Thursday, August 21 Time: 8:30 AM

No agenda for this open discussion

Charles River Pollution Control Meeting

Thursday, August 21 Time: 3:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08212025-1859 

Conservation Commission Meeting

Thursday, August 21 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/473?fileID=5642 

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

The Finance Committee met on Monday and voted to recommend Model B to the Town Council. We all should spend some time with this meeting for the 5 Year fiscal forecast. There is more discussion here. The Town Council  took up the budget adjustment and also decided on Model B, but spent little or no time discussing the forecast. Franklin TV is working on producing the video of this FinCom meeting. 

• The audio and transcript is already ready for your review  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/08/finance-committee-aug-11-2025.html 

• video link -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVIWsqxNQsQ

The School Committee met on Tuesday to get an update on Summer Learning and the work preparing the schools for implementing redistricting this September. You can watch or listen to the meeting. You can also get the Chalkboard Chat condensed version of the meeting in conversation with Chair Dave Callaghan

• Video link -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/08/school-committee-catches-up-on-summer.html 

• Chalkboard Chat -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/08/dave-condenses-school-committee-meeting.html 

The Town Council met on Wednesday with a full and varied agenda. The key decision aside from the Model B mentioned above, was the vote to not accept the private donation to fund the health and wellness nurse for the Senior Center. The good from the decision was the action to find a way to restore the position and to develop a Town policy for such circumstances in the future. The School have a policy the Town does not. 

• You can watch the video of the 3 hour session -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/08/town-council-responds-to-budget.html 

• You can get the condensed version in conversation with Chair Tom Mercer https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/08/town-council-chair-tom-mercer-condenses.html 

Other shareworthy news of note:

• The Franklin Food Pantry received a new refrigerated truck via donation from BJs and donated their existing truck to the Natick Service Council. A real helpful collaborative effort of neighbors helping neighbors  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/08/one-truck-arrives-one-truck-leaves.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

Deja vu: back to the drawing board to adjust the FY 2026 budget again

And you thought the FY 2026 budget decisions were behind us with the adjustments made at the June 4, 2025 Town Council meeting to line up with the failed override. Yet the assumptions made in the budget for the expected State revenue has now changed and will provide less funding than was budgeted for, hence the adjustment required for $231 thousand odd.

The Finance Committee gets the first crack at this on Monday, August 11. The Town Council then gets to this at their Wednesday, Aug 13 meeting. The key decision will revolve around splitting the deficit equally between Town and School budgets, or having the Town absorb the deficit and reinstate the 3rd ambulance. 

Yes, the 2 voting docs do require some explanation as one accounts for the $231 thousand odd adjustment, the other actually increases the budget by $18 thousand. How these are reconciled requires an explanation at the Finance Cmte and Town Council meetings.

The School Committee is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug 12. We’ll get an update on educational activities during the summer as well as an update on the moving activities for the redistricting for the schools to reopen in September.

*** Meeting schedule and agendas as of Town page 8/08/25, 8:00 PM

Finance Committee Meeting

Monday, August 11 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08112025-1822 

Planning Board Meeting - mtg canceled (next session 8/25/25)

Monday, August 11 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08112025-1844 

School Committee

Tuesday, August 12 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08122025-1851 

Design Review

Tuesday, August 12 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08122025-1849 

Town Council

Wednesday, August 13 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08132025-1852 

Historical Commission

Wednesday, August 13 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08132025-1853

Municipal Affordable Housing Trust - no meeting (next meeting is 9/11/25)

Thursday, August 14 Time: 2:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/466?fileID=5560 

Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School - BOT Mtg

Thursday, August 14 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08142025-1845 

Zoning Board of Appeals ZBA - no meeting (next meeting 8/28/25)

Thursday, August 14 Time: 7:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08142025-1842 

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

The Police Station Building Committee met on Wednesday, August 6 at 5 PM to tour the existing station facility. Additional opportunities for the community will be announced for Sept/Oct time frames. There is also work underway to create a video walk through of the facility for those who might not be able to participate in person. A recap of the tour is found https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/08/police-station-building-committee-tours.html 

The Commission on Disability met on Thursday, August 7 beginning at 4 PM. Mary O'Neill, was taken by surprise with the gathering of more than the Commission members and with the presentations of proclamations by State Rep Jeff Roy and Town Administrator Jamie Hellen. Among the many things Mary is known for it is her inspiration and persistence that produced the "Kindness Matters" signs seen around town. A recap of the meeting including some photos https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/08/mary-oneill-and-randy-jay-surprised.html 

The Conservation Commission met on Thursday, August 7. The Franklin TV video is available for replay on YouTube -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4kHhc-j_KE

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