Wet weekend weather continues ahead of the Town Council meeting and informal Q&A sessions

Another wet weekend to dampen the spirits of the area residents. Wet enough that the Applause Gelato shop has rescheduled their re-opening until April 26 to be timed with the Ladybug Trail Walk which hopefully will bring more Spring-like weather. In the meantime, the moisture is gradually refilling the aquifers so that the State is gradually coming out of drought status so that is good. 

On the Town meeting front, the Town Council meets on Wednesday with a zoning bylaw to permit shared use kitchens, authorization for early voting for the special election June 3, and presentations on the Police Dept Mental Health Clinician work as well as the Town’s Crisis Advocacy Team.

Town and State officials hold their office hours at the Senior Center Thursday morning. Franklin Q&A has 2 sessions this week; at the Library Monday night at 6:30 PM and Wednesday at the Senior Center at 11 AM. All three sessions designated for informal question and answers on Town business.

*** Meeting schedule for the week of April 14 - April 19 

From the Town of Franklin calendar - as of 04/11/25 8 PM

Norfolk County Advisory Board Meeting Notice

Wednesday, April 16  Time: 6:30 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04162025-1657 

Town Council Meeting

Wednesday, April 16  Time: 7:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04162025-1682 

Town Council Office Hours

Thursday, April 17  Time: 8:30 AM

No agenda expected for this informal business hour 

Franklin Housing Authority Meeting

Thursday, April 17  Time: 4:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04172025-1681 

Conservation Commission Meeting

Thursday, April 17  Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/372?fileID=4420 

Council On Aging (COA) Meeting

Friday, April 18  Time: 1:30 PM

no posted agenda at this time

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

The School Committee Policy Subcommittee met on Tuesday to confirm that while Horace was never going away, due to some folks impatience with the process, there may be a Horace Mann Campus proposal for the full School Committee to vote on at their April 29 session. The audio for the meeting is available exclusively from Franklin Matters/Franklin Public Radio  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/04/school-committee-policy-subcommittee.html 

The full School Committee met also on Tuesday to get detailed updates on the redistricting efforts for the Early Childhood Development Center (ECDC) expansion as well as the elementary schools. The video is available for replay from Franklin TV.  https://www.youtube.com/live/3rgXaYFUtNA?&t=100

The Chalkboard Chat session with School Committee Chair Dave Callaghan recaps both the Policy Subcommittee meeting and the full School Committee session to condense the four hour combined meetings to about 40 minutes

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/04/this-chalkboard-chat-condenses-both.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 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

April's 2nd week brings showers & a more 'normal' slate of meetings

April's second week is scheduled to bring showers and a more 'normal' slate of Town meetings even with 2 cancellations.

 

The Cultural Council & Planning Board have regular meetings on Monday. School Committee gets an update on the elementary & ECDC redistricting efforts Tuesday, after their Policy Subcommittee meets earlier that night. Friends of the Library also meet on Tuesday

 

Wednesday has a Historical Commission meeting and Thursday has the Municipal Affordable Housing Trust as well as the Charles River Pollution Control meetings.

A friendly reminder that the 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 nights are the time to do so. 

 

Prior year experience indicate that the General government departments/line items will be on one night, the 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). Exactly which night will come out when the agendas are posted. 

One might ask why the Town is always looking to hire for one or more positions? This a normal part of business. The positions being hired for are generally backfilling for someone who has retired or moved on to another opportunity. The Town has infrequently added net new positions. These are the kinds of details that are addressed in the line by line department review of their FY 2026 budget by the Finance Committee budget hearings that close out April.

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*** Meeting schedule for the week of April 7 - April 13

(as of the Town web site on Friday evening, 4/4/25)  ***

Franklin Cultural Council Meeting

April 7, 2025, 7:00 PM = https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/5131/Franklin-Cultural-Council-April-Meeting?bidId= 

Planning Board Meeting

April 7, 2025, 7:00 PM = https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/365?fileID=4379 

Design Review Meeting Cancelled

April 8, 2025, 7:00 PM

Franklin School Committee - Policy Subcommittee

April 8, 2025, 6:00 PM = https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04082025-1668 

Franklin School Committee Meeting

April 8, 2025, 7:00 PM = https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04082025-1669 

Friends of the Franklin Public Library Meeting

April 8, 2025, 7:00 PM @ Friends of Franklin Library Community Room (no agenda posted)

Historical Commission Meeting

April 9, 2025, 6:00 PM = No agenda posted

Charles River Pollution Control Meeting

April 10, 2025, 3:00 PM https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04102025-1664 

Municipal Affordable Housing Trust Meetings

April 10, 2025, 2:00 PM https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/5145/April-10-2025---Agenda?bidId= 

Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) Meeting

April 10, 2025, 7:30 PM = No meeting, next meeting is April 24

 

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

The biggest news of the week didn't come from the meetings or agenda topics, it was the police report on the investigations underway regarding the 2 potential hate crimes associated with the vandalism reported.

 

The Board of Health met on Wednesday and the exclusive audio and recap of the meeting is available ->

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/04/board-of-health-meeting-april-2-2025.html

 

The Franklin TV video replay of the Conservation Commission meeting Thursday is available  -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYvAHAknjas

 

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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 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

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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 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

With the override amount & date set, how do we grow smartly?

With the key budget item decided (amount and date for override vote), the meetings this week can get us into some of the other Town business arenas. 

The hot topics from the 2 question and answer sessions I held this week were focused primarily around the affordable housing issue we (and Mass overall) faces. Our zoning bylaws, as currently structured, need to be btter understood to see how we got into this situation, and more important, what we need to do to address it. That opportunity sets us up for the week ahead.

How do we grow smartly to increase revenue without increasing the costs of operations for Town and Schools? 

Two development proposals are on the dockets this week; one is close to a decision, one is just getting started. How does the redistricting affect the middle school program of studies offered?

• The Planning Board meeting, on Monday, continues it review of the proposed Autumn Hill development for Summer St 
• The School Committee meeting, on Tuesday, gets into the next level of detail on redistricting for high school and middle school schedules and course offerings
• The Zoning Board of Appeals meeting, on Thursday, starts its review of the proposal for redevloping the Stobbart's property

In addition to understanding Franklin's Master Plan, there is a group of concerned residents who are educating themselves in order to advocate for smart growth. Smart growth is one measure we can use to help to ensure appropriate revenue increases to mitigate further budget issues. 

Find out more about Building Equitable Neighborhoods for Franklin (BEN 4 Franklin) on the web page where you can join the mailing list and join our monthly meetings to help with this effort.  https://ben4franklin.org/

*** For the week of March 24 - March 28 (as of Town site on Friday, 3/21 evening) ***

Library Board of Directors Meeting

Monday, March 24th Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/Library-Board-of-Directors-20/?#_03242025-1646 

Planning Board Meeting

Monday, March 24th  Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/331?fileID=4217 

Design Review Meeting

Tuesday, March 25th Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/344?fileID=4249 

Franklin School Committee

Tuesday, March 25th  Time: 7:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03252025-1651 

Zoning Board of Appeals, ZBA Meeting

Thursday, March 27th  Time: 7:30 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03272025-1619 

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

The Town Council took up the recommendation from the Joint Budget Subcommittee and did approve an override special election for June 3, 2025 for the amount of $3,862,672 to support both Town and School operational expenses. Now the work to get it passed can begin.

The Watch Listen Read series for the 6 Joint Budget Listening Sessions is complete

March 12 session -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/03/watch-listen-read-6th-joint-budget.html

You can find the full series -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/02/joint-budget-listening-sessions-fy-2026.html

Town Council Chair Tom Mercer and I recap the March 19 Council meeting and override decision -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/03/franklin-town-council-sets-june-3-for_22.html

The audio & video links forthe March 19 meeting can be found -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/03/franklin-town-council-sets-june-3-for_0620382669.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 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