6 to 3 to 2 to 1, finally

One can pick and choose when it started, there are a number of key points along this budget journey for the Town of Franklin. Go back to the first successful override in 2007. Or to the failed overrides in 2008 and 2010. 

To the failed dedicated override for road repairs for $1M that folks chose not to accept in 2014.  Yes, even after hearing that the Town needed to confirm that money for the override would be spent for a specific item, the voters chose not to fund needed road repairs.  

Whether you call it the “fiscal cliff” or the “structural deficit”, it really comes down to a math problem. More money required to fund existing services than is scheduled to come in due to the 2 ½ override restrictions. You can try to ignore it but inflation is the major driver. Councilor Jones calculated the inflation impact of Prop 2 ½ since 1983 during the override discussions in the run up to the June 2024 failed attempt.

It is so much easier to blame someone else for the problem. That avoids the harsh reality of the situation our community faces. It seems there are a number of relatives of Rodney Dangerfield (“I get no respect”) who live here. They attempt to dominate or divert the conversation from facing reality. It gets a chuckle, laughed off, and the tragedy remains in front of us.

So the Town took on a massive effort with 

• 6 Joint Budget Listening Sessions 

• 3 Finance Committee budget hearings

• 2 Town Council budget hearings

In the run up to the special election Tuesday, June 3 at Franklin High School gymnasium from 6 AM to 8 PM.

Of the 25,865 registered Franklin voters, 2431 ballots have been cast by early and absentee voters (through 5/30/25 close of business) for this election per Town Clerk Nancy Danello. 

The questions that remain?

1. How many of the remaining voters will turn out on Tuesday? 

2. Will they be Rodney’s relatives? Or will they fund the current services our community needs? 

When will we get an answer?

• We’ll find out by about 9 PM Tuesday evening.

 

*** Meeting schedule and agendas as of Town page 5/30/25, 11:00 PM

Planning Board Meeting

Monday, June 2 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06022025-1763 

Massachusetts Strategic Health Group

Tuesday, June 3 Time: 1:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06032025-1766 

School Committee Superintendent's Evaluation Sub Committee

Tuesday, June 3 Time: 5:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06032025-1726 

BOARD OF HEALTH MEETINGS

Wednesday, June 4 Time: 5:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06042025-1765 

Town Council Meeting

Wednesday, June 4 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06042025-1769 

Cultural District Committee June Meeting

Thursday, June 5 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5813/CDC-Agenda_Meeting_june_2025docx?bidId= 

Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) Meeting

Thursday, June 5 Time: 7:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06052025-1744 

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

Election prep resources:

• Joint Budget Listening Session “Watch, Listen, or Read” info  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/02/joint-budget-listening-sessions-fy-2026.html  

• Finance Committee Budget Hearing “Watch, Listen, or Read” info  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/05/finance-committee-fy-2026-budget.html

• Town Council budget hearings “Watch or Listen” info  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/05/town-council-fy-2026-budget-hearing-1-2.html 

The More Perfect Union radio show has resumed with an episode on the Special Election June 3

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/05/more-perfect-union-wfpr-98-june-3rd.html 

The most recent Town Council Quarterbacking session summarizes the Council budget hearings and the all alcohol license transactions they approved in the May 22 meeting

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/05/tom-mercer-i-condense-2-budget-hearings.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 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

Memorial Day weekend, a time for reflection

Memorial Day weekend, the unofficial kick off for summer time. Really a time of reflection to honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms we enjoy today. We have all the more reason to reflect given the current administration's challenge to our Constitutional freedoms that are working their way through the courts. 

There is a revised parade route for Franklin this year. The VFW, American Legion, and other veterans organizations have made these changes to hopefully enable more veterans to participate. 

• The parade will start from the Horace Mann middle school complex. A more spacious gathering point for those marching. 

• A slightly shorter route that also avoids the last hill up to the Common. 

• The three stops for recognitions at Dean and the 2 cemeteries will be done before the parade to avoid the stop start and waiting during the parade of previous years.

The parade will begin at 11:00 AM, come out Oak St, to Union, to RT 140, to Emmons, to Main St, and back to the Town Common. You can watch the parade twice from the Common. 

At noon, the recognition ceremony for all veterans who passed during the prior year will be held among the veterans memorials on the Town Common.  Albert Johnson who passed during World War I will also be recognized. His ‘killed in action’ date during the war is not known so this day is fitting for his recognition. The other 44 individuals who have pillars along the Veterans Walkway have known dates and ceremonies are conducted throughout the year on those dates.

With the holiday on Monday, the shorter week contains less town and school meetings. In person voting for the special election for the FY 2026 budget override continues through Friday May 30. All other voting in person will be conducted at the high school on Tuesday June 3.

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

from the Town page, as of 8:00 PM Friday, May 23 ***

Massachusetts Strategic Health Group Meeting

Tuesday, May 27 Time: 1:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05272025-1759 

Design Review Meeting (Virtual Mtg)

Tuesday, May 27 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/405?fileID=4909 

Franklin School Committee Meeting

Tuesday, May 27 Time: 7:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05272025-1761 

Franklin School Committee Community Relations Subcommittee Meeting

Thursday, May 29 Time: 4:30 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05292025-1760 

Conservation Commission Meeting

Thursday, May 29 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/407?fileID=4912 

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

The Town Council conducted their 2 public hearings on the FY 2026 budget on Wednesday and Thursday as scheduled. The first night went 4 hours as all the questions and comments raised were answered. The second night saw the brief hearing continued to June 4. The results of the vote June 3 will be known and that will enable the Council to make their votes on the budget either 

• As proposed, if the override passes

• Or with significant cuts, if the override fails

Thursday’s agenda also included some alcohol license approvals.

• A modification to management and ownership of The Shed

• A transfer of licenses between DeVitas and Big Y. After a somewhat contentious discussion, the Council did approve the transfers by a 5-1-3 vote (5 for, 1 against (Cormier-Leger) with 3 absent (Chandler, Pellegri, and Dellorco). Dellorco had been present, left during the public hearing and did not return to the meeting.

Additional info on these meetings can be found with the Franklin.News meeting recaps here

Weds -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/05/town-council-spends-4-hours-reviewing.html 

Thurs -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/05/town-council-expresses-frustration-with.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 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 

Early voting is underway with the Town Council picking up their Budget Hearing duties Weds/Thur

Early voting opened on Friday with a steady stream of folks coming to the Town Clerk's Office to mark their ballot for the Special Election on the override question. Town Clerk Nancy Danello reported 214 voters on the first day.

Early voting continues at the Town Clerk's office during office hours and then on Saturday, May 24 until 3 PM. Registration to vote closes out also in the office that Saturday at 5 PM.

The Town Council gets to their public hearing on the FY 2026 budget. Wednesday night is usually the long night as the major questions are asked of each department. Thursday will be somewhat different in that while questions left unanswered Weds, should be answered Thursday, the multiple votes on the budget will be continued to the Council's June 4 meeting.

With the results from June 3 available, the Town Council June 4 meeting will either approve the budget as proposed or make the significant cuts outlined should the override fail to pass.

The Town and School Dept have prepared all the info needed to cast an informed vote. If you still have a question, please raise it Wednesday. 

*** The agendas for the week ahead can be found here: as of 7:00 PM Friday, May 16 ***

BOARD OF HEALTH MEETING

Monday, May 19, 2025 9:00 am

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05192025-1743

Library Board of Directors Regular Meeting

Monday, May 19, 2025 7:00 pm

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/Library-Board-of-Directors-20/? 

Franklin Agricultural Committee Agenda

May 19, 2025 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05192025-1734

Recreation Advisory Board Meeting

Monday, May 19, 2025 7:00 pm

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05192025-1750

Norfolk County Regional Emergency Planning Committee

May 20, 2025, 10:30 AM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05202025-1739 

Economic Development Subcommittee Meeting

Wednesday, May 21, 2025, 5:45 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05212025-1754 

Town Council Meeting

Wednesday, May 21, 2025 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05212025-1752 

Town Council Meeting

Thursday, May 22, 2025, 7:00 PM 

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05222025-1753 

Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) Meeting (CANCELED)

Thursday,  May 22, 2025, 7:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05222025-1723 

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

Monday saw the Franklin Housing Authority rename the Community Center at Central Park Terrace for the late & long time board member Peter L Brunelli. Recap of the event including video of the exterior unveiling ->

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/05/franklin-housing-authority-renamed.html

The Franklin Housing Authority held its regular monthly meeting on Tuesday. The recap and audio recording (an exclusive) is available here ->

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/05/franklin-housing-authority-meets-in.html

The School Committee met for the first of their regular monthly meetings and heard about the traffic study results, plans for capital funding perhaps later this year. There will be no significant dollars spent to prepare for September, 2025. Any projects would be scoped and funded later this year for Sept 2026. In the meantime, consider having the kiddos ride the bus or expect car queue lengths to double for elementary school drop-offs. Recap & video -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/05/school-committee-gets-update-on-traffic.html

The newest volume of "Franklin First" the updated Town of Franklin newsletter was posted on Friday -> https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/5671/Newsletter-3 

Share-worthy interviews to be aware of:

• We have a labyrinth in town at the First Universalist Society of Franklin (FUSF). Find out about the recent renovation of it and how to approach waking it. It can be a tool to help deal with all that is going on -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/05/talking-about-labyrinths-with-bobbi.html
• Tuhina Pal, a junior at FHS, wrote a book of poetry to help her navigate life post COVID -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/05/tuhina-pal-talks-about-her-book-they.html

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

 

For all the meetings and cultural events, check out the calendars 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