What's happening in Franklin, MA: Monday, June 2, 2025 ???

Monday, June 2

Library & Senior Center events

** Last day absentee voting for June 3 Special Election (Town Clerk's Office) 

5:00pm What's that Splash?? (Franklin Sculpture Park)

Splash moved to June 9

For additional details on Library & Senior Center events ->   

https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar.aspx?CID=37,24&showPastEvents=false

**  Town Meetings today   **

Planning Board Meeting

Monday, June 2 Time: 7:00 PM

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

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What's happening today in Franklin? 

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 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-calendar

Special Election June 3, 2025 - Collection of info on the FY 2026 Override

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.

Town of Franklin FY 2026 override page

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/1089/Fiscal-Year-2026-Override-Information

Special Election June 3, 2025 - Collection of info on the FY 2026 Override

In addition to the trusted source of info (above) we provide the following:

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 

Voices of Franklin

Voices of Franklin: Arielle Shearer - 3 Reasons to Vote Yes https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/05/voices-of-franklin-arielle-shearer-3.html Voices of Franklin: Aaron Gouveia on keeping Franklin "safe and educated" https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/05/voices-of-franklin-aaron-gouveia-on.html Voices of Franklin: Councilor Ted Cormier-Leger advocates for voting Yes (video) https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/05/voices-of-franklin-councilor-ted.html Voices of Franklin: Councilor Melanie Hamblen encouraging civil discourse (video) https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/05/voices-of-franklin-councilor-melanie.html Voices of Franklin: Mark Minnichelli advocates for Yes on the Override https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/05/voices-of-franklin-mark-minnichelli.html Voices of Franklin: Rep Jeff Roy on voting Yes for the override (video) https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/05/voices-of-franklin-rep-jeff-roy-on.html Voices of Franklin: Cobi Frongillo for the FY 2026 Override (video) https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/05/voices-of-franklin-cobi-frongillo-for.html Voices of Franklin: Councilor Jones advocates for the Override June 3 https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/05/voices-of-franklin-councilor-jones.html Voices of Franklin: Roberta Trahan voting "Yes" for the June 3 Override https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/05/voices-of-franklin-roberta-trahan.html Voices of Franklin: KP Sompally urges a “YES” vote by June 3 https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/05/voices-of-franklin-kp-sompally-urges.html Voices of Franklin: Donna Grady outlines the reasons for voting "Yes" on or before June 3 https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/05/voices-of-franklin-donna-grady-outlines.html Voices of Franklin: One Franklin "Shared Values Lead to a Common Goal" https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/04/voices-of-franklin-one-franklin-shared.html Voices of Franklin: Watch "Franklin Together" on YouTube https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/04/voices-of-franklin-watch-franklin.html Voices of Franklin: Melanie Hamblen supporting the June 3 Override to save town services https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/04/voices-of-franklin-melanie-hamblen.html Voices of Franklin: Selena Cousin's statement at the Joint Budget Listening Session - Mar 12, 2025 https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/03/voices-of-franklin-selena-cousins.html Voices of Franklin: O'Sullivan - Why I voted 'No' Wednesday night https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/03/voices-of-franklin-osullivan-why-i.html Voices of Franklin: Time for Listening Sessions https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/03/voices-of-franklin-time-for-listening.html

MBTA issues alert on the Franklin/Foxboro Line for travel via shuttle bus on June 7 & June 8

travel via shuttle bus on June 7 & June 8

On the weekend of June 7 and 8, shuttle buses will replace service between Forge Park/495 and Readville. 

Commuter Rail service will operate between Readville and South Station. For more information visit MBTA.com/CR.

Learn more: http://mbta.com/EastStBridge

Last Updated: May 28 2025 02:03 PM

School Committee recognizes musicians, biliteracy students, and retirees May 27, 2025 (audio)

FM #1460 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1460 in the series. 

This session shares the Franklin (MA) School Committee meeting held on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. 6 members participated all in Council Chambers, 1 absent (Gallagher). 

Quick recap:

• In the Superintendent's Report, Supt Giguere used some time to recognize the FHS students who won MICCA awards

• The students who achieved the State of MA Biliteracy certificates were recognized. 13 were present

• In the Guests/Presentations segment, the school district personnel retiring this year were recognized

• Civics Presentation by Students featured Mrs Ambrose from Remington MS and Kayla who share her project on autism awareness (photos of the presentation below)

• The District Improvement Plan/School Improvement Plan Update featured a portion on MS Math which was provided earlier this year

Audio link ->  https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1460-franklin-ma-school-cmte-mtg-05-27-25/

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FHS music students who won MICCA awards

students who achieved the State of MA Biliteracy certificates

Franklin TV video is available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBa7M7YI4A4 

The agenda doc -> https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05272025-1761 

The meeting folder where other docs will be posted after the meeting ->

https://www.franklinps.net/documents/departments/school-committee/meeting-packets/2024---25-meeting-packets/may-27%2C-2025-sc-meeting-packet/806450 

Retiree recognition -> https://photos.app.goo.gl/fLJf4boDFr6S9MvE7 

Civics Project presentation -> https://photos.app.goo.gl/oAh2AdNrLoE1Exu89 

DIP/SIP presentation -> https://photos.app.goo.gl/6ipuwvmfph7khgNF8 

My full set of notes in one PDF ->  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CMp9pP040uUMF-aEHLahg3-LSN3ErBDV/view?usp=drive_link 

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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 out. 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"

Get listed in our new MetroWest Boston Visitors Bureau Guide!

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