Franklin Matters: 2025-03-02

Saturday, March 8, 2025

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Saturday, March 8, 2025 ???

Saturday, March 8

"Look Up" Gallery (Franklin Public Library during open hours)

9:00am Thrifty Threads (Franklin Federated Church)

9:00am Women's Faith Formation (St. Mary's Parish)

9:30am Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) (Franklin Public Library)

10:00am Winter Farmers Market (Fairmount Fruit Farm)

10:00am Franklin Historical Museum (always free)

10:00am Joint Budget Subcommittee Listening Session (Council Chambers)

10:00am Polar Plunge (for Special Olympics) (Beaver Pond)

10:30am Music at the Blissful (Franklin Public Library)

1:00pm Saturday Sessions with George (Pour Richard's Wine & Provisions)

1:00pm Irish Dancing Showcase (Franklin Public Library)

7:30pm Joe Crookston (live music) (Circle of Friends Coffeehouse)

8:00pm Karaoke Night (Raillery Public House)

** Town Meetings today **

10:00 AM - Joint Budget Listening Session (Council Chambers & remote)

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/Joint-Budget-Subcommittee-6/?#_03082025-1557

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Why are there multiple calendars?

What's happening today in Franklin?

Respectfully, the Library and Senior Center calendars are too full of events to include all their events so we tend to focus on the major events. Town and School meetings are also kept separate. Links for all the calendars are shared here:

Find the full Community event calendar https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication: https://bit.ly/Submit2Calendar

The Library calendar of events -> calendar link

The Senior Center calendar of events -> https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar.aspx?CID=37&showPastEvents=false

The Town meeting calendar is found https://www.franklinma.gov/Calendar.aspx
The School district calendar is found https://franklinpublicschooldistrictma.sites.thrillshare.com/o/fpsd/page/school-calendars

Professional Firefighters Of Franklin Local statement on Town of Franklin FY 2026 Budget

Professional Firefighters Of Franklin

IAFF Local 2637

P.O. Box 161

Franklin, Ma 02038

508-528-2323x1962

Professional Firefighters Of Franklin Local
Brian Hamann, President
Joshua Impey. Vice President
David Ogilvie, Treasurer
Michael Mcconaghy. Secretary

To the Residents of Franklin:

On Wednesday, March 5, 2025, a Town Council meeting was held where Town Administrator Hellen outlined the proposed FY 2026 budget for the Town of Franklin. This budget model reflects a S3.8 million structural budget deficit. In this proposed budget, a S250,000.00 cut was highlighted for the Franklin Fire Department. These budget cuts will directly result in a reduction of staffing for the Franklin Fire Department.

Over the past 6 years, the Town Administrator, Town Council, and the residents of Franklin have made great strides to improve and invest in the Fire Department so that we are able to respond to the increased demand for service in our community. These budget cuts would be detrimental to our organization and to all of the residents, businesses, and visitors to our town. These cuts mean that the Yd ambulance is no longer staffed and therefore unable to respond to emergencies in the community. These cuts could result in a delay in service and decrease the availability of the Tower Ladder to respond to incidents.

We cannot afford to go backwards. The Town's population is growing, our call volume is increasing, and the demand for Fire Department services is higher than ever. These cuts would undo years of progress and take our department back to a time where our resources were stretched far too thin. The fire department has been responsible and transparent with its budget.

We have never asked for more than what is needed to keep the community safe.

If an override does not happen and cuts move forward, public safety will suffer.

This is your town.

Your tax dollars.

Your Safety:

Professional Firefighters of Franklin

Shared from -> https://www.instagram.com/p/DG3sIc9SAzN/

For additional information on the FY 2026 Town budget visit the Town page -> https://franklinma.gov/Archive.aspx?ADID=500

3 meetings, approx 5 hours distilled to a 30 minute summary in this Quarterbacking session (audio)

FM #1397 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1397 in the series.

This session of the radio show shares our “Town Council Quarterbacking” with Town Council Chair Tom Mercer. We had our conversation via the Zoom Conference Bridge on Thursday, March 6, 2025.

Our conversation condenses the three recent meetings:

Police Station Building Cmte Mtg - 02/25/25
Town Council meeting - 2/26/25
Town Council meeting - 3/05/25

We focus on two questions:

• ok, what just happened?

• What does it mean for Franklin residents and taxpayers?

Topics for this session

Police Station Building Committee 2/25/25

Team together and starting work; No site chosen, no design or estimates other than rough ballparks; Site visits planned to see others recently done; Open houses planned to enable the community to see inside; Video also planned to share views/walkthrough, website with info being built; Likely at east 2 years before some firm details, estimates, sometime after a decision on building vote or not

Town Council meeting 2/26/25

ALS/BLS ambulance fee increase approved

Did get confirmation from the Commonwealth, August 31, Best Western will be closed to the emergency shelter program

Town Council last night - 3/05/25

Police swearing in, replacement for recent retiree,

String quartet and proclamation

OPEB update

Good position, funding plan, AAA related impact

FY 2026 budget update

Listening session at Senior Center ¾

Council Chambers, 3/8 & FHS auditorium on 3/12

JBSC recommendation at end of 3/12 session

Town Council to take up 3/19

$3.862 M shortage, no money to be found otherwise raise or cut

Details on Town page, opportunities for discussion, questions as mentioned

Easement for DCR, and commitment on $1M to help with rail trail extension when the federal acquisition process allows

Let’s listen to my conversation with Tom as we recap the three recent meetings

Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1397-town-council-quarterbacking-03-06-25/

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Franklin TV video is ready for replay

Police Stn 02/25/25 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWC6PbFTu0s
Town Council 02/26/25 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cbkmz3G_q6Y
Town Council 03/05/25 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAHS9BRE4cA&t=100

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We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.

This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.

How can you help?

If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors
If you don't like something here, please let me know
And if you have interest in reporting on meetings or events, please reach. We’ll share and show you what and how we do what we do

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news/

If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com

The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana" c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.

I hope you enjoy!

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You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

3 meetings, approx 5 hours distilled to a 30 minute summary in this Quarterbacking session (audio)

Franklin, MA: School Committee agenda for meeting Tuesday, Mar 11, 2025

Franklin School Committee

March 11, 2025 7:00 PM

Municipal Building – Council Chambers

Call to Order Mr. Callaghan

Pledge of Allegiance

Moment of Silence

I. Routine Business

A. Review of Agenda

B. Payment of Bills Mr. Callaghan

C. Payroll Mr. McNeill

D. FHS Student Representative Comments

E. Superintendent’s Report

II. Guests/Presentations

A. Capital Projects and Facilities Improvements Presentation

B. District Transportation Presentation

III. Discussion/Action Items

A. Competency Determination Language in FHS Program of Studies (POS)

I recommend the suggested changes in the Competency Determination Language in the FHS Program of Studies as detailed. https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4780/FPSD/5389749/Discussion_Action_A_-_Competency_Determination_Language.pdf

IV. Discussion Only Items

A. 2025-26 User Fee Discussion

V. Information Matters

A. School Committee Sub-Committee Reports

B. School Committee Liaison Reports

VI. Consent Agenda

A. Approval of Minutes

I recommend approval of the minutes from your February 4, 2025 Budget Open Hearing Meeting and February 11, 2025 School Committee Meeting as detailed.

B. JFK Gifts

I recommend the acceptance of $2,050.00 from the JFK PCC for field trips as detailed.

C. FHS Gifts

I recommend the acceptance of $2550.00 for FHS as follows:

$50.00 Clair Cox - Supplemental Supplies- Athletics (in memory of Kathy Bonney)

$2500.00 Marguerite Brackley - Jim Gray Scholarship

VII. Good of the Order

VIII. Citizen’s Comments

IX. New Business

To discuss any future agenda items

X. Adjournment

Agenda doc also contina remote participation info ->

https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4780/FPSD/5388334/SCAGENDA_3-11-25.pdf

Meeting packet contains other docs released for this meeting, additional will be added here after the meeting

https://www.franklinps.net/documents/departments/school-committee/meeting-packets/2024---25-meeting-packets/march-11%2C-2025-sc-meeting-packet/770110

Franklin, MA: School Committee agenda for meeting Tuesday, Mar 11, 2025

Faranklin School Committee newsletter for March 2025 is available

The Franklin School Committee newsletter for March 2025 is now available!

School Committee newsletter for March 2025

February was a budget-heavy month with key updates on the FPS FY26 budget, the town's structural deficit, insights from the Legislative Forum with Senator Rausch and Representative Roy, and the Town Administrator's Preliminary FY26 Budget.

Stay informed on upcoming community listening sessions, the newly approved 2025-2026 school calendar, and exciting spring events.

Read it here:

https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4780/FPSD/5382574/20250306_-_Franklin_School_Committee_Newsletter_-_March_6__2025.pdf

Historic Happenings at the Franklin Historical Museum for March 2025

Sunday, March 9 -- Second Sunday Speaker Series:

Historical Commission Chair, Alan Earls, will lead a presentation and discussion about the 100+ year story of Clark Cutler, McDermott, the very successful local maker of (mostly) non-woven textiles at the Franklin Historical Museum. Originally founded in 1911 to manufacture horse blankets, Clark Cutler became a pioneering supplier of “grass” for the newly popular amusement, Miniature Golf, developed patented vibration reduction material still used in industrial processes today, and became a key supplier to the global auto industry. If you or a family member worked at the company, please bring your stories! Museum is open from1-4, program starts at 1:15. FREE

Sunday, March 16 -- “Third Sunday” Music at the Museum program => POSTPONED to SUN MAR. 30

Franklin Historical Museum

Our March Third Sunday "Music at the Museum" program has been POSTPONED to March 30. The program offers a deep (but accessible!) dive into 12-tone or serial composition -- a very influential aspect of "modern" music that emerged in Vienna about a century ago and was widely championed by composer Arnold Schoenberg. Over time, the technique increased greatly in popularity and eventually became widely influential on Mid 20th-century and later composers. Many important composers who had originally actively opposed the technique, such as Aaron Copland and Igor Stravinsky, eventually adopted it in their music and its influence even appears at times in popular music. Historical Commission Member and Music Educator Randy LaRosa will lead the discussion of the mysteries and pleasures of this musical philosophy that continues to challenge and inspire creatives. Museum open 1-4, program starts at 1:15. FREE

The Franklin Historical Museum is located at 80 West Central Street, Franklin. The museum is open Saturday mornings from 10AM-1PM (except as noted above) and Sunday afternoons from 1:00PM-4:00PM.

When visiting the museum, please consider donating a non-perishable item for the Franklin Food Pantry. Questions? Contact Alan Earls at 508 560 3786.

Visit us online at https://www.franklinmuseum1778.com

Children's Museum Update: You can help them open their doors this spring

We just left the @franklindowntownpartnership meeting and, feeling energized and excited, headed straight to the building to check in. Over the next week, this background is going to transform - sheetrock will go up and the old garage bay will be replaced with massive windows. Erin wants to go into construction; Meg says no. 😂😂

Shortly after that, exhibits will begin to arrive. Can you believe it?!

This is where it gets exciting, vibrant, and the momentum will build. This is where YOU come in. We can’t open until we meet our funding needs.

Please consider a donation and share onwards with your network or your organization.

Children's Museum Update Erin & Meg

YOU have the potential to create powerful impact in your community, to create opportunities for generations of kids and families, to establish legacy for YOUR family.

Learn more at childrensmuseumfranklin.org/open and join us to OPEN THE DOORS!

With gratitude,
Erin and Meg

Shared from -> https://www.instagram.com/p/DG3owjCRpdN/

The presentation document shared at the Downtown Partnerhsip meeting Thursday https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BQ_rjKfA1bMD54-YdW5LlKtRJdQnW2hk/view?usp=drive_link

If you missed the conversation with Erin & Meg in February, you can listen to it here -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/02/erin-meg-share-their-excitement-as.html

Lunch: Local Grass Fed Beef from Weatherlow Farms in Westport, MA served with Roasted Bok Choy, Shiitake Mushrooms, and Carrots

https://youtube.com/shorts/SRwB08bsGgU

To watch the video on how it was made click: https://youtube.com/shorts/SRwB08bsGgU

Franklin High School featured Local Grass Fed Beef from Weatherlow Farms in Westport, MA served with Roasted Bok Choy, Shiitake Mushrooms, and Carrots!

We used the top round cut to make our scratch made Beef Ramen Bar for lunch today!

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/19zNQPgdDh/

Franklin Police Leadership camp registration is now Open

Great news for parents of middle school kids, registration for the Franklin Police Leadership Camp is now open!

Camp will run from July 28th to August 1st this year.

Please follow this link https://www.franklinma.gov/FormCenter/Police-7/Franklin-Police-Leadership-Camp-2025-113? or scan the QR code on our flyer to sign your camper up.