Deja vu: back to the drawing board to adjust the FY 2026 budget again

And you thought the FY 2026 budget decisions were behind us with the adjustments made at the June 4, 2025 Town Council meeting to line up with the failed override. Yet the assumptions made in the budget for the expected State revenue has now changed and will provide less funding than was budgeted for, hence the adjustment required for $231 thousand odd.

The Finance Committee gets the first crack at this on Monday, August 11. The Town Council then gets to this at their Wednesday, Aug 13 meeting. The key decision will revolve around splitting the deficit equally between Town and School budgets, or having the Town absorb the deficit and reinstate the 3rd ambulance. 

Yes, the 2 voting docs do require some explanation as one accounts for the $231 thousand odd adjustment, the other actually increases the budget by $18 thousand. How these are reconciled requires an explanation at the Finance Cmte and Town Council meetings.

The School Committee is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug 12. We’ll get an update on educational activities during the summer as well as an update on the moving activities for the redistricting for the schools to reopen in September.

*** Meeting schedule and agendas as of Town page 8/08/25, 8:00 PM

Finance Committee Meeting

Monday, August 11 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08112025-1822 

Planning Board Meeting - mtg canceled (next session 8/25/25)

Monday, August 11 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08112025-1844 

School Committee

Tuesday, August 12 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08122025-1851 

Design Review

Tuesday, August 12 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08122025-1849 

Town Council

Wednesday, August 13 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08132025-1852 

Historical Commission

Wednesday, August 13 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08132025-1853

Municipal Affordable Housing Trust - no meeting (next meeting is 9/11/25)

Thursday, August 14 Time: 2:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/466?fileID=5560 

Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School - BOT Mtg

Thursday, August 14 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08142025-1845 

Zoning Board of Appeals ZBA - no meeting (next meeting 8/28/25)

Thursday, August 14 Time: 7:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08142025-1842 

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

The Police Station Building Committee met on Wednesday, August 6 at 5 PM to tour the existing station facility. Additional opportunities for the community will be announced for Sept/Oct time frames. There is also work underway to create a video walk through of the facility for those who might not be able to participate in person. A recap of the tour is found https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/08/police-station-building-committee-tours.html 

The Commission on Disability met on Thursday, August 7 beginning at 4 PM. Mary O'Neill, was taken by surprise with the gathering of more than the Commission members and with the presentations of proclamations by State Rep Jeff Roy and Town Administrator Jamie Hellen. Among the many things Mary is known for it is her inspiration and persistence that produced the "Kindness Matters" signs seen around town. A recap of the meeting including some photos https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/08/mary-oneill-and-randy-jay-surprised.html 

The Conservation Commission met on Thursday, August 7. The Franklin TV video is available for replay on YouTube -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4kHhc-j_KE

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

"Summer's here and the time is right Talkin’ ‘bout zoning"

Calling out around the Town

Are you ready for a brand-new heat

Summer's here and the time is right

Talkin’ ‘bout zoning along the street  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HasaQvHCv4w

Or is it? 

With apologies to David Bowie & Mick Jagger for redoing the lyrics of their Live-Aid performance of “Dancin’ in the street”

The outlook for current and future meetings concern hot topics around housing developments and zoning approvals for future developments. All in an attempt to address our housing issues.

Yes, affordability is a key factor and due to both Federal and State regulations, there is little we, in Franklin, have direct control over for affordability.  

We do have control over our zoning however. We can continue to keep multiple variances required for every project to ensure local control remains in the hands of the Planning Board, ZBA and others in the approval process. 

Or we can consider crafting the regulations to enable more ‘by right’ approvals. Clearly these changes would be within reason, and should be more reasonable than we have today.

Be part of the process by watching the Planning board and ZBA meetings this week. The next Council meeting will also take up the ‘friendly 40b’ policy again. It was tabled for future discussion during last week’s lengthy and only July Council meeting.  

The Town Council August 13 meeting likely will also be lengthy as it is the only one for this summer month.

*** Meeting schedule and agendas as of Town page 7/25/25, 10:00 PM

Planning Board Meeting

Monday, July 28 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07282025-1833 

Massachusetts Strategic Health Group Meeting

Tuesday, July 29 Time: 1:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07292025-1836 

Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) Meeting

Thursday, July 31 Time: 7:30 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_07312025-1830 

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

The major meeting of the week was the single July meeting for the Town Council. It was a lengthy one consuming almost 5 hours. The recap, video and audio of the meeting is available.

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/07/town-council-spends-almost-5-hours_26.html 

The Town Council Quarterbacking session for the July meeting will be available mid-week (approx. 7/29-7/30)

There are two worthy interviews to share:

Chris Flynn talks about his Horace Mann project. He has developed a script for a 4-part video series on the life of Horace that he is ready to film and is looking for actors to fulfill the roles in Horace's life. Listen here ->   https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/07/actor-chris-could-use-your-help-in-this.html

Amy Adams talks about her "Healing with HeART" projects, the newest of them opens on the Natick Town Common. She creates a "wind phone" following the lead of a Japanese gentleman initially although there are hundreds if not thousands of "wind phones" around the world. Listen here -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/07/amy-adams-talks-about-wind-phone.html

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 

Bonus - YouTube has the audio output of these

• Outlook = https://youtu.be/BBUrqBb9OxE 
• Lookback = https://youtu.be/pNwBQS_Zvxg