250 years behind for USA, 2 more years to go before Franklin 250th

250 years are now behind the USA, 2 more years to go before Franklin gets to celebrate its own birthday, and another light meeting week ahead.

The weather was hot and humid but the crowds enjoyed the 4th of July celebration on the Town Common.

State Rep Jeff Roy delivered the Town’s copy of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence at the opening of the festivities on July 1.

The light meeting week includes a continuation of a small cell tower proposal for Pond St, Communication Subcomte for the Franklin 250th, a Cultural District meeting as well as a ZBA meeting. The agenda for all the meetings posted so far are linked below. The couple of agenda missing are likely to be posted in advance of the session to keep with Open Meeting requirements.

You can subscribe to get notified for meetings, agenda and minutes for each of the board and committee across the Town operations.

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-1775-fm-weekly-outlook-lookback-combo-07-05-26/

*** Event & Meeting schedule (with agendas) as of Town pages 7/03/26, 4:00 PM   ***

Small Cell Wireless Antenna Petition Hearing - Pond St.

Tuesday, July 7 Time: 1:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07072026-2381 

250th Anniversary Celebration Communications Subcommittee Meeting

Tuesday, July 7 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07072026-2393 

Municipal Affordable Housing Trust Meeting

Thursday, July 9 Time: 2:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07092026-2400

Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School Meeting

Thursday, July 9 Time: 7:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/Benjamin-Franklin-Classical-Charter-Publ-40/?#_07012026-2396

Cultural District Committee Meeting

Thursday, July 9 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07092026-2395

Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) Meeting

Thursday, July 9 Time: 7:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07092026-2392

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

The light meeting week that was, resulted in only one broadcast. That of the Conservation Commission

Town/ School meetings

Conservation Commission met on Thursday, July 2

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

All-Access Programing

Aging Boldfully: Sisters United Against Cancer 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYHAWR0H9Yw 

Veterans' Call: David Hencke

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8L6LUi-3Gh4 

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    

Your Franklin news in less than 5 minutes for Memorial Day week (audio)

Memorial Day weekend is here. The traditional launch to summer time. 

For the careful readers you may have noticed a recent lack of live or real time reporting and meeting recaps. Yes, I was away and unable to spend the time on those items. I’ll have some catching up to do but we’re back in Franklin and appreciative of your reading and sharing.

The Memorial Day events schedule

9:30am Dean College - Memorial Day commemorative event

9:50am Union St Cemetery - Memorial Day commemorative event

10:10am St. Mary’s Cemetery - Memorial Day commemorative event

11:00am Memorial Day Parade Franklin Town Common

12:00pm Memorial Day Ceremony Franklin Town Common 

On Tuesday, the School Committee has a regular meeting scheduled including an executive session to discuss bargaining strategy. Also the Budget Subcommittee of the 250th Anniversary Celebration is scheduled to meet.

The Council on Aging and the Cultural Council have meetings scheduled for Wednesday. The Finance Committee meeting originally scheduled for this day was canceled. They get to view the adjusted budget including health care at their June 3 session.

The Communications Subcommittee of the Town Council has a meeting scheduled on Thursday in Council Chambers. There will be no ZBA meeting that evening.

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-1745-fm-weekly-outlook-lookback-combo-05-24-26/

*** Meeting schedule and agendas as of Town pages 5/22/26, 8:30 PM   ***

Massachusetts Strategic Health Group Meeting

Tuesday, May 26 Time: 1:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05262026-2335 

Franklin School Committee Meeting

Tuesday, May 26 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05262026-2332 

250th Anniversary Celebration Budget Subcommittee Meeting

Tuesday, May 26 Time: 8:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05262026-2330 

Council on Aging Board Meeting

Wednesday, May 27 Time: 11:00 AM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05272026-2334 

Franklin Cultural Council Meeting

Wednesday, May 27 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05272026-2331 

Communications Subcommittee Meeting

Thursday, May 28 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05282026-2333 

ZBA Meeting- NO Meeting

Thursday, May 28 Time: 7:30 PM

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

Franklin TV broadcast meetings

Town/ School meetings

Community Preservation Cmte meeting Monday

- https://www.youtube.com/live/VK4JHlQ0FPo?&t=74 

Town Council - budget hearing #1

- https://www.youtube.com/live/womMM5S5euI?&t=175 
Town Council - budget hearing #2

- https://www.youtube.com/live/UVb5ngWB93Q?&t=127 
Conservation Commission meeting

- https://www.youtube.com/live/iHbZJj_FvKM?&t=364 

FHS/ Tri-County live streaming 

FHS baseball game Monday, May 18

- https://www.youtube.com/live/fThk1cEypZg?&t=149 

FHS girls lacrosse Monday, May 18

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTpmlFAHkcs 
FHS Senior Night Thursday, May 21

- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihAhtL5rnyQ 

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    

Budget, budget and in May, there is more budget (audio)

Budget, budget and in May, there is more budget before it gets finalized in June

You should recall that April (April 6 - April 9) saw the Finance Committee (FinCom) spend 16+ hours going over the budget with each department. Some of the FinCom members thought that they would be able to avoid using much of the proposed $2M in free cash to balance the budget. 

Alas, they did not. If my notes and math come close, they do propose use of $1.8M.

There is one big number outstanding, in that with May 1 behind us (and health care enrollments complete), the cost for coverage provided by the Group Insurance Commission (GIC) plans will be revealed later this month.  Maybe by the time the Town Council conducts their budget hearings (May 20 & 21), but more likely by the next FinCom meeting, May 27. 

So what will the Council budget hearings reveal? 

Will they agree with the budget as proposed, or make adjustments of their own? 

The FY 2027 budget narrative is being published, one section per day (started April 13) and it may not be completed by the time the Council hearings actually roll around. That is a whole lot of reading material. Many questions that were asked and answered during the FinCom hearings were actually detailed in the FY 2027 budget narrative. 

All this in preparation for the June 10 Town Council meeting and vote to approve whatever will be as the FY 2027 budget. Read to be informed. Follow along with the meetings as the discussions progress.

The listing of the agendas for the meetings scheduled this week are provided below.

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-1738-fm-weekly-outlook-lookback-combo-05-03-26/

*** Meeting schedule and agendas as of Town pages 5/01/26, 7:30 PM   ***

The FY 2027 budget documents can be found  https://www.franklinma.gov/Archive.aspx?ADID=577

250th Anniversary Celebration Budget Subcommittee Meeting

Sunday, May 3 Time: 7:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05032026-2290 

Franklin School Committee Contractual Negotiations Meeting (Executive Session)

Tuesday, May 5 Time: 4:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05052026-2254 

250th Anniversary Celebration Committee - Communications Subcommittee

Tuesday, May 5 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05052026-2278 

Board of Health Meeting

Wednesday, May 6 Time: 5:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05062026-2246 

Franklin Commission on Disability

Thursday, May 7 Time: 4:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05072026-2279 

Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School - Board of Trustees Meeting

Thursday, May 7 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05072026-2286 

Conservation Commission Meeting

Thursday, May 7 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/593?fileID=9052 

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

Town & School meetings

• The Town Council Communications Subcommittee met at noon on Monday, April 27. The recap and video link can be found https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/04/town-councils-communication-subcmte.html 

• The Planning Board met at 7 PM also on Monday, April 27. The video can be found  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrsNen5JHwY

FHS live streaming

• FHS girls varsity lacrosse vs. Stoughton  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWiduiFPVCk

• FHS Softball vs. Milford  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MyTvQzw9mew&t=1496s

• FHS boys lacrosse vs. Mansfield     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y69yUPnzVZA&t=1015s

 

Radio - Podcast Interviews published this week 

• FM #1730 - Testimonials at SAFE Gala - 04/17/26  https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1730-testimonials-at-safe-gala-04-17-26 

• FM #1731 - A Dance with the Cosmos - Interview with author Marc D Cohen- 04/24/26  https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1731-a-dance-with-the-cosmos-04-24-26 

• FM #1733 - Franklin Public Library May 2026 Highlights - 04/21/26  https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1733-franklin-public-library-may-2026-highlights-04-21-26 

• FM #1735 - Franklin (MA) Kevin Harn - Facilities Dept - 04/28/26  https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1735-franklin-ma-kevin-harn-facilities-dept-04-28-26 

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  

Happy Birthday Town of Franklin !!! 248 years young (audio)

Happy birthday, Town of Franklin! Yes, March 2, 1778 was the day Franklin was officially recognized by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Stop by the Historical Museum on Sunday, March 1 for a piece of cake and to view the movie from the 200th anniversary celebration.

Plans for the 250th Anniversary in 2028 are underway by that Committee. One of their subcommittees meets Sunday, and the full committee is scheduled for a special session on Tuesday to authorize the deposit for a gala to be held at Lake Pearl on November 3, 2028. 

The first measles case has appeared in MA and there might be something of a discussion touching on that at the regular monthly meeting of the Board of Health on Wednesday. 

The Town Council picks up the goals discussion again this week. Whether they will decide on goals, or defer to a future meeting, remains to be seen? The Council will need to decide on the funding recommendation to replace Engine 3 as put forward by the Town and Fire Dept. and approved by the Finance Committee. This is time sensitive, so if they don't resolve, we lose an opportunity to replace for multiple years.

The Council also gets to find out about parking meter revenue from the downtown lots as well as approve a subcommittee they requested to look at potential charter changes. Potential charter changes have come up in discussion and gone over the years and usually overtaken by other priorities. 

This Council apparently would rather attempt to tackle charter changes than to try and fix the more serious issue of the strategic budget gaps we have including important work that can’t be done because resources are lacking (i.e. the Town Administrator's office).

A helpful reminder to those frustrated by lack of this or that related to the aftermath of the blizzard. 

• Ancient proverb: "If you choose not to find joy in the snow, you will have less joy, but the same amount of snow" 

We should be grateful for 4 days moving about town that the South Coastal communities of MA didn’t have. 3 days of school for our kids that those same communities didn’t have. And while trash pickup wasn’t perfect in the blizzard aftermath, most did get picked up. Let’s be grateful for what we do have. 

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-1678-fm-weekly-outlook-lookback-combo-03-01-26/

*** Meeting schedule and agendas as of Town page 2/27/26, 6:00 PM   ***

250th Anniversary Celebration Budget and Fundraising Subcommittee Meeting

Sunday, March 1 Time: 7:30 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03012026-2160 

Library Board of Directors Regular Meeting

Monday, March 2 Time: 7:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03022026-2157 

Recreation Department Meeting

Monday, March 2 Time: 7:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03022026-2158 

250th Anniversary Celebration Committee Special Meeting

Tuesday, March 3 Time: 7:30 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03032026-2165 

Board of Health Meeting

Wednesday, March 4 Time: 5:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03042026-2164 

Town Council Meeting

Wednesday, March 4 Time: 6:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03042026-2166 

Franklin Commission on Disabilities Meeting

Thursday, March 5 Time: 4:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03052026-2163 

Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) Meeting

Thursday, March 5 Time: 7:30 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03052026-2146 

Franklin School Committee - Policy Subcommittee Meeting

Friday, March 6 Time: 8:15 AM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03062026-2169

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

For Franklin TV meeting broadcasts:

• The School committee met via remote only on Tuesday. They formally approved their FY 2027 budget proposal with a 2.5% increase over prior year. The recap and video link is available via Franklin.News  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/02/school-committee-approves-fy-2027.html 

• The Finance Committee met on Wednesday to review and approve funding options for the Engine 3 replacement . The recap and video link is available via Franklin.News https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/02/finance-committee-approves-funding.html 

• The Conservation Commission met on Thursday. The Franklin TV video is available on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWSq6V_2iZA 

For FHS live streaming:

• Boys basketball on Weds vs. Lowell https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xamybg7phjo

• Girls basketball on Thursday vs Arlington https://www.youtube.com/live/m3bvo8AS7Pw?&t=1592 

• The FHS Concert Hour on Thursday https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-USQsFy9hc 

For All Access programing:

• The newest Aging Boldfully episode is available  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8zhy3wuZ3c 

From Franklin Matters/ Franklin Public Radio

• Town Council Quarterbacking with Max Morrongiello  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3CWzcPK1nw 

• Town Council Quarterbacking with Ted Cormier-Leger  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jzsml1PYrak 

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