School break, check. Time to listen, yup !! What's up for the week of Feb 17 - 21

2 public meetings on the Town/School calendar for this week. One of which is directly budget related, that being the Joint Budget Listening Session on Wednesday, Feb 19, 2025. The other being the Conservation Commission meeting scheduled for Thursday, Feb 20.

Yes, there is also a Town official breakfast/coffee hour at the Senior Center Thursday morning at 8:30 AM. Good breakfast at a great price and the opportunity to talk about Franklin with the Town officials gathered there.

Oh, and a slight personal plug, there is a Franklin Q&A session also scheduled for the Senior Center (or remotely) on Wednesday, Feb 19 at 11:00 AM. A quick recap of what has happened in the past month, and then we discuss your questions. If I don't have the answers, I get them. We finish by noon so you can grab a decent lunch at the Senior Center cafeteria (yes, at a great price).

Franklin Q&A

11:00 AM at the Senior Center (or via remote)

Get on the email list for remote access info ->    https://forms.gle/Nh8RxkMtG1J1DGwj9

Joint Budget Subcommittee Meeting (3rd session of 6 scheduled)

Wednesday, February 19, 2025   7:00 PM at the Senior Center

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02192025-1559 

Town officials Office hours

8:30 AM at the Senior Center 

Conservation Commission Meeting

February 20, 2025, 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02202025-1589

Looking back at the week that was

Tuesday, Feb 11 = Franklin School Committee hears concerns from teachers before vote to approve FY 2026 budget (audio)

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/02/franklin-school-committee-hears_01287051187.html

Wed, Feb 12 = 2nd Joint Budget Listening Sessions gets more questions & answers (video)

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/02/2nd-joint-budget-listening-sessions.html

Jamie leads the group on 5 hot topics in this "Talk Franklin" episode (audio)  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/02/jamie-leads-group-on-5-hot-topics-in.html

Glenn Jones shares lessons learned from the Master Plan process (audio)

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/02/glenn-jones-shares-lessons-learned-from.html

This Chalkboard Chat session condenses the School Cmte Mtg of Feb 11 (audio)  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/02/this-chalkboard-chat-condenses-school.html

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For all the meetings and cultural events, check out the calendars, or visit Franklin Matters 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

Budget, of course! Listening, Why not? Cultural events, sure! All that & more for the week of Feb 10 - 14

Budget season is just getting started and 2 key budget related meetings are up on the calendar for this week. 

• School Committee takes a vote on the recommended Superintendent's Budget at their Tues, Feb 11 session
• The 2nd of the series of Joint Budget listening sessions is scheduled for Wed, Feb 12 at the Remington-Jefferson cafetorium

Whether the weather plays havoc with either of these events, remains to be seen.

Town meetings

Mon 10

Planning Board Meeting         7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/265?fileID=3584 

Tue 11

Franklin School Committee Policy Subcommittee Meeting         6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02112025-1569 

Design Review Meeting             7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/277?fileID=3598 

Franklin School Committee Meeting            7:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/School-Committee-35/?#_02112025-1571 

Wed 12

Joint Budget Subcommittee Meeting            7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02122025-1560 

Thu 13

Municipal Affordable Housing Trust Meetings            2:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02132025-1572 

Cultural District Committee Meeting            7:00 PM

No agenda at this time

Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) Meeting (No meeting scheduled)    7:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02132025-1538 

 

Looking back at the week that was

 

School Committee held their annual public hearing on the Superintendent’s Recommended budget for FY 2026 on Tuesday, Feb 4

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/02/franklin-ma-school-committee-conducts.html 

 

Town Council meeting on Wednesday, Feb 5 approved 

• the use of 'free cash" for the capital budget
• new victualler license 
• gives final approval to sign bylaw changes & water/sewer connections for Franklin Ridge 
• witness the promotions of 2 firefighters to leadership positions
• heard the update on ambulance call volume and approved a rate increase, 2nd approval remains for a Feb meeting 

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/02/town-council-approves-capital-budget.html

Master Plan Update Cmte met for the final time to approve some outstanding meeting minutes on Wednesday, Feb 5

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/02/master-plan-update-cmte-spends-few.html

 

The Board of Health also met on Wednesday, Feb 5

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/02/board-of-health-designates-agent-for.html

 

 

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For all the meetings and cultural events, check out the calendars, or visit Franklin Matters 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

Yes, budget, budget, budget continues this week beginning Feb 3, 2025

Still more budget as the School Committee schedules their annual public hearing on the Superintendent’s Recommended budget for FY 2026 on Tuesday, Feb 4. The details of this new budget built from the ground up due to the reorganization should be interesting to see. Significant savings will be realized with the redistricting. Enough that some cuts from last year may be reduced along with some fee modification. Both are dependent upon successful passage of an override this year. Town Council will address that possibility at a March meeting and set an amount.

On Wednesday, among the items on the Town Council agenda is a presentation on fire call volume and proposed ambulance rate change. The fire call volume has been increasing and at some point the Town will need to fully fund the 3rd ambulance. Creativity to date enables a 3rd ambulance unit for about 40 hours during some daytime hours. Putting it on full time would require additional personnel (about 6 according to my notes).

The Capital Budget, funded from ‘free cash’, is up for approval at this session as well as a victualer’s all alcohol license for Mirchi.

Town meetings

Franklin Public Schools Contractual Negotiations (executive session)

Tuesday, February 4, 2025 - 4:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02042025-1537

Franklin School Committee Meeting

February 4, 2025, 7:00 PM

https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4780/FPSD/5247243/SCAGENDA_2-4-25_Budget_Open_Hearing.pdf

BOARD OF HEALTH MEETING

February 5, 2025, 5:00 PM

https://franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02052025-1543

Master Plan Committee

February 5, 2025, 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

https://franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02052025-1544

Town Council Meeting

February 5, 2025, 7:00 PM

https://franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02052025-1546

Conservation Commission Meeting

February 6, 2025, 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/257?fileID=3158

Looking back at the week that was

School Committee Chair Dave Callaghan and ViceChair David McNeill held the first of  “State of the Schools” session at the Franklin TV Studio on Monday. More of these are coming, there are no dates published at this time.  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/01/listen-in-to-state-o-schools.html 

School Committee got a presentation on Middle School Math Curriculum changes to bring in the program into compliance with State standards as well as their review of the Superintendent’s Recommended budget on Tuesday

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/02/3-options-to-listen-to-school-cmte-mtg.html 

The Capital Budget Subcmte spent 3 hours reviewing the capital plan which the Finance Committee had previously reviewed and recommended.

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/01/capital-budget-subcmte-reviews-capital.html

The first of 6 Joint Budget Listening Sessions was held at the Elks Lodge on Thursday.  Less than 50 were in the audience that did ask a bunch of questions, and get answers, so there was a lot of listening being done.

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/01/joint-budget-subcmte-listening-session.html 

Yes, budget, budget, budget continues this week beginning Feb 3, 2025

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For all the meetings and cultural events, check out the calendars, or visit Franklin Matters 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

Budget, budget, budget - oh, and the 'Master Plan' are key topics for the week beginning January 27

Looking ahead to the week beginning January 27, 2025

Yes, the FY 2026 budget and "Master Plan" takes center stage this week. 

Monday begins with a couple of key sessions: 

• School Committee Chair Dave Callaghan amd Vice Chair David McNeill hold a "State of the Schools" session at the Franklin TV studio at 7 PM. https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/01/reminder-state-of-franklin-schools-jan.html
• The Master Plan Update committee mets at 6:00 PM to finalize their doc and presentation of the "Master Plan" to the Planning Board meeting at 7 PM the same night.  https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01272025-1476

The School District brings the "Superintendent Recommended Budget" forward at the School Committee meeting on Tuesday, Jan 28.  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/01/franklin-ma-school-committee-agenda-for_01254023424.html

The Town Council Capital Budget subcommittee gets their view on the capital budget approved last week by the Finance Committee  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/01/franklin-ma-capital-budget-subcommittee.html

The first of six Listening Sessions begins Thursday, January 30 at the Elks Lodge. https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/01/all-of-us-are-worthy-of-welcome-video.html

Note: only the March 8 session at the Council Chambers is scheduled to enable remote participation. All six sessions will be broadcast to Comcast, Verizon, & YouTube. 

ONLY, the March 8 session will include Zoom to enable a question or comment. If you want to ask a question, make a comment, or suggestion, you need to be there for the other 5 sessions.

https://www.franklinma.gov/Calendar.aspx

Looking back at the week that was 

(January 20 - 26, 2025)

The Town of Franklin updated its webpage (breaking all prior links). If you set up an account, you can enable more notifications for specific topics (i.e meeting agendas, etc.) than previously. I did so and they are working well.

The School Committe and the Town Council both met at the same time on Wednesday, Jan 22. While Chris broadcast and recorded the Council meeting, I was upstairs in the training room recording the audio for the School's budget workshop. 

School Committee budget workshop recap & audio (exclusive) ->   https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/01/school-committee-gets-preview-in.html

Town Council Quarterbacking session condenses the meeting ->   https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/01/tom-mercer-condenses-jan-22-2025-town.html

Town Council video & audio links ->  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/01/town-council-meeting-of-jan-22-2025.html

Budget, budget, budget - oh, and the 'Master Plan' are key topics for the week beginning January 27

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For all the meetings and cultural eventss, check out the calendars, or visit Franklin Matters 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