Hot August nights winding down as the summer comes to a close

“Hot August night

And the leaves hanging down

And the grass on the ground smellin' sweet”

You can get into the spirit with this golden oldie from Neil Diamond.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K398Q4DYCW8

The summer nights are rapidly coming to a close. Labor day is around the corner. Nomination papers are still available for the Biennial Town Election coming November 4. While there are just enough candidates for most roles, the Board of Health and the Planning Board (Associate) are both lacking candidates for their open positions. 

Potential candidates are gathering signatures at the Farmers Market and elsewhere around town. Some are knocking on doors or having conversations in person, or on the social webs.

Some may be touting they will be the next savior for the Town. Listen, and listen well. What are they saying? What are they not saying? 

We’ll try and gather a set of information for the residents and voters to make their decisions. We try to get more than a sound bite. What is the candidate's story? What are they looking to do? And importantly, how do they think they’ll do it?

These are not questions with yes or no answers. Nor are they trick questions. So listen and listen well to be able to cast an informed decision on November 4. These folks are stepping up to volunteer to help our town provide services to the community. We are all in this together. 

On the meeting front, the Planning Board meets Monday, School Committee Tuesday, Police Station Building Committee and Agriculture Committee are both scheduled for Wednesday, and Zoning Board of Appeals on Thursday. Important meetings on key topics for town and school business. 

Meeting agendas where available are here to help prepare and understand what each group is doing on our behalf. Watch, listen, and listen well.

*** Meeting schedule and agendas as of Town page 8/22/25, 7:00 PM

Planning Board Meeting

Monday, August 25 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08252025-1869 

Design Review Meeting

Tuesday. August 26 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08262025-1870 

Franklin School Committee Meeting

Tuesday, August 26 Time: 7:00 PM

https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4780/FPSD/5979273/SCAGENDA_8-26-25.pdf 

Franklin Agricultural Committee Meeting

Wednesday, August 27 Time: 7:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08272025-1873 

Police Station Building Committee

Wednesday, August 27 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08272025-1881

Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) Meeting

Thursday, August 28 Time: 7:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08282025-1855 

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

The only meeting broadcast by Franklin TV in the short week of meetings was the Conservation Commission meeting on Thursday. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpuG9wRB0mg 

While there was only one meeting broadcast, a couple of videos ended up getting finished for publication recently.

More Perfect Union: Teachers Unions (video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nqlylccC5cc 

Veterans' Call: Tom Marcone (video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mnumAQnzvI 

Frank Presents: Cliff Winters (video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MNnK8vGKu4

The individual video links can be found on Franklin Matters Weekly or use the Bit.ly link to go directly to the Franklin TV All Access page -> bit.ly / FTV - AllAccess -> https://bit.ly/FTV-AllAccess

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 misunderstanding once But now we look it in the eye”

“There was a distance between you and I

A misunderstanding once

But now we look it in the eye”   *1

Oh, how I wish that were the case.  

Most problems are within our realm to correct. The problem resolution needs to start with a clear definition of the problem to be solved, a civil discussion around the proper, accurate data involved, and then the pros and cons of the choices to let the greater good prevail.

This first week of August 2025 has a light schedule of meetings. The Housing Authority has a special meeting to review a plan for the trees on their property. The Board of Health is scheduled to meet but they may not as there is not a published agenda at this time.

The Police Station Building Committee gets together on Wednesday to tour the existing facility. The public is welcome and there will be specific dates and times in September/October for the community to participate in a tour.  Work is also underway on a video tour for those who may not be able to go in person.

The Conservation Commission has the first of its 2 scheduled August meetings on Thursday to close out this week of Town meetings.

*** Meeting schedule and agendas as of Town page 8/1/25, 8:00 PM

Franklin Housing Authority Meeting

Wednesday, August 6 Time: 4:30 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08062025-1840 

BOARD OF HEALTH MEETINGS Canceled (removed from calendar)

Wednesday, August 6 Time: 5:00 PM

no agenda at this time

Police Station Building Committee Meeting

Wednesday, August 6 Time: 5:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08062025-1801 

Franklin Commission on Persons with Disabilities Meeting

Thursday, August 7 Time: 4:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08072025-1843

Conservation Commission Meeting

Thursday, August 7 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/459?fileID=5437 

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

The Planning Board met on Monday, July 28, 2025. The Franklin TV video is available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/live/esjFezYI2ls 

The Zoning Board of Appeals met on Thursday, July 31, 2025. The Franklin TV video is available for replay ->  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aomZAxoWXRw

Town Council Quarterbacking with Town Council Chair Tom Mercer was published recapping the almost 5 hour meeting of July 23, 2025 -> 

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/07/4-hour-plus-town-council-meeting-try.html

Franklin artist Amy Adams revealed her ‘wind phone’ in Natick on Sunday, the video of her remarks is available -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXkf_qo7Tiw& 

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  

*1 Video link to the song & lyrics quoted in the opening:    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3sMjm9Eloo and the lyrics -> 

https://genius.com/Tom-cochrane-life-is-a-highway-lyrics

The playlist of all the music used in the intro of these weekly summaries can be found ->  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLL2XKlvMgLAldgEtfDZo2UM9-W9pjc2qK

School vacation ends, busy week ahead

School vacation comes to an end with another wet weekend and major meetings are on the calendar for the week ahead.

Hopefully folks are fully rested and ready to return. The Finance Committee has its 3 budget hearings set for this week. They start Monday with Education covering the Tri-County, Norfolk Aggie and Franklin Public Schools budgets. Tuesday they get into the details on Public Works (water, sewer, roads, storm water, etc.) and Public Safety (police, fire and regional dispatch). They close out the week on Thursday with General Government, health and debt accounts and the vote to recommend for the Town Council. The Town Council will conduct their 2 budget hearings in May (May 21 & MAy 22).

As mentioned earlier, if there are remaining questions on the need for the override special election coming up on June 3, these three meetings are the time to get those lingering questions answered.

As to why the override is back again? Folks should remember that the steps taken to adjust the budget last year after the override failed used $3M of one time funds to balance that budget setting up for this year. We are fortunate that the school redistricting effort did result in significant savings so we are only facing a $3.8M deficit; yes, only .8M more than we knew last June we would face this year. 

As for the remainder of the full week schedule, it is good that Franklin TV did build out the 3rd floor training room as a second broadcast spot (in addition to Council Chambers), as there will be dual live broadcasts on 3 of the 4 nights Monday through Thursday.

• Monday - Finance Committee and Planning Board
• Tuesday - Finance Committee and School Committee
• Wednesday - Town Council
• Thursday - Finance Committee and Conservation Commission

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

Finance Committee Meeting (Council Chambers)

Monday, April 28 Time:7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04282025-1700

Planning Board Meeting (3rd Floor Trng Room)

Monday, April 28 Time:7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04282025-1701 

Massachusetts Strategic Health Group (Medway)

Tuesday, April 29 Time: 1:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04292025-1708 

Finance Committee Meeting (3rd Floor Trng Room)

Tuesday, April 29 Time:7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04292025-1699 

Franklin School Committee Meeting (Council Chambers)

Tuesday, April 29 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04292025-1704 

Cultural District Committee — SUBCOMMITTEE Porchfest Meeting  

Wednesday, April 30, 2025, 6:30pm

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5329/PorchFest-Sub-Committee-Agenda_Meeting_-April-30-2025docx?bidId=  

Town Council Meeting (Council Chambers)

Wednesday, April 30 Time:7:00 PM 

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04302025-1709 

Franklin Housing Authority - Special Meeting of the Board of Commissioners (Remote Mtg)

Thursday, May 1 Time: 4:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05012025-1705 

Conservation Commission Meeting (3rd Floor Trng Room)

Thursday, May 1 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/382?fileID=4477 

Finance Committee Meeting (Council Chambers)

Thursday, May 1 Time: 7:00 PM

No agenda released at this time

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

The meetings during the school break week were generally quiet. I will bring to your attention the following recordings that if you missed as worthy of listening to:

Town Council Chair Tom Mercer and I condense the Council meeting of 4/16/25 to about 30 minutes

FM #1431 - Town Council Quarterbacking - 04/17/25

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/04/tom-mercer-and-i-condense-3-hour-town.html

Listen to the origin story of BLAST - Bringing Libraries and Schools Together. We talk with Erin O’Leary and Caleigh Keating, the collaborators who start with “Yes” and then figure it out.

FM #1434 - BLAST Fun - 04/17/25

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/04/caleigh-erin-i-had-blast-talking-about.html

--------------

 

For all the meetings and cultural events, check out the calendars at Franklin.news where each day, that day's events on posted on the top of the page

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 quiet week to start this month, however April closes with a flurry of meetings

The combination of the school April break, Easter and the budget cycle results in a relatively quiet week as we start April.  

The School Committee has an executive session this week for negotiations and then meets on the 8th and 29th. The Town Council doesn't meet until the 16th and then meets on the 30th.

The Finance Committee has its set of 3 budget hearings scheduled for April 28, 29 and May 1. If anyone has any questions about the line item details on the FY 2026 budget, these three night are the time to do so. Agendas are not yet posted but prior years indicate General government on one night, schools (Franklin, Tri-County, Norfolk Aggie) on one night and the third night covers public safety (Police, Fire & Dispatch) as well as Public Works both operational and enterprise accounts (water, sewer, solid waste, & storm water). 

Parents with school age children should check out the internet safety training & awareness night scheduled for Thursday, April 3 at FHS. It is a free night with childcare and meals provided. Details in the link -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/03/attnetion-parents-check-out-interent.html

For this week, the meetings and agenda for the scheduled session are included here.

*** For the week of March 31 - April 5

(as of the Town web site on Friday evening, 3/28/25)  ***

Franklin Agricultural Committee Meeting

Monday, March 31st Time: 7:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03312025-1640 

Franklin School Committee

Tuesday, April 1st Time: 4:00 PM

Contractual Negotiations - Executive Session

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04012025-1586 

BOARD OF HEALTH MEETINGS

Wednesday, April 2   Time: 5:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04022025-1656 

Conservation Commission

Thursday, April 3 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/350?fileID=4297 

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

The Planning Board met on Monday and decided not to approve the Autumn Hill Senior Housing proposed for Summer St by a 1 (for) 4 (against) vote. You can view the video replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsXZejak9qA

The School Committee met on Tuesday and in a long session started by recognizing the boys basketball team for the State Championship & the cheerleaders for their National Championship. They got a lengthy update on course selections and trends from FHS. They also got a lengthy and valuable update on the middle school schedule as the 3 schools plan to come together as one in September. Recap & video link is available here -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/03/school-committee-recognizes-boys.html

The Zoning Board of Appeals opened the process on the proposed 40b to redevelop the Stobbarts property. Unless the committee decides to act on a "safe harbor" declaration in the next week or so, the plans will continue to be reviewed during the process with the next session scheduled for May 8. The video is available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1DzpL7GqyE

In addition to the meetings, I had the wonderful opportunity to talk with 3 key members of the Franklin High School Theatre Co. The audio is available here -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/03/listen-to-how-fhstc-performance-of.html

-----------------

For all the meetings and cultural events, check out the calendars at Franklin.news where each day, that day's events on posted on the top of the page

• 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