Talk Franklin starts with a summer concert recap, then budget & other Town business, before taking time to recoup (audio)

FM #1591 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1591 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares our “Talk Franklin” discussion with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen in the Municipal Building on Monday, November 25, 2025.  

Key topics

• Picked up with summer concert

• New Council, new School Committee, learning curve

• Tax rate hearing Dec 3

• Finance Committee Dec 10

• Council meeting Dec 17, a potpourri 

• January 2026 and the budget cycle brings hard choices to be made

• Cultural events this week and first couple of week of December

• Spend with with family & friends this weekend

The recording runs about  46 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Jamie.

Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1591-talk-franklin-11-24-25/

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

Talk Franklin starts with a summer concert recap,
then budget & other Town business,
before taking time to recoup (audio)

Town of Franklin page ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/ 

Franklin Public Schools page ->  https://www.franklinps.net/ 

Town budget page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/168/Town-Budgets 

School budget page -> https://www.franklinps.net/o/fpsd/page/school-district-budget 

Community calendar  https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar 

BTW - Official results of the Override election in 2024 was a difference of 236 votes. The difference narrowed to 196 in the Override vote of 2025.

• 2024 -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2024/06/official-certified-results-franklin-ma.html 
• 2025 -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/06/official-override-results-nos-take-it.html 

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

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!

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

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

Town Council votes to join GIC, approves FY 2026 budget adjustment, rescinds prior vote on 40b approval (video)

The Franklin Town Council met as scheduled on Wednesday, November 19, 2025 beginning at 6 PM. 8 members participated in Council Chambers. One member traveling on vacation participated remotely for portion of the session.

Franklin TV video is available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGGEiz-8dlM

The agenda for this session ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_11192025-2010 

Note: additional docs were shared during the session, one on screen only, 2 copies available in Chambers. Those will be added here as time permits

Quick recap:

• vote to join the GIC passed 9-0
• Vote to approve the budget adjustment was approved 9-0. TA Hellen to hold on posting for the Communications role pending further discussion with the Town Council
• After much discussion, the vote to rescind the vote on the approval of the "friendly 40b" for 444 East Central St was approved by 5-1 (Morrongiello no; Grella, Malloy both recused themselves; Cormier-leger was not online at the time of the final vote)

My notes for the full meeting in one PDF -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/19-3d9qq6zRWsk0GedQJ6NUm6Q425CldU/view?usp=drive_link

Franklin School Committee: Budget Subcmte got an update on the FY 2027 budget process (audio)

FM #1558= This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1558 in the series. 

This session shares the Franklin (MA) School Committee Budget Subcmte Meeting held on Tuesday, Oct 28, 2025. All 3 members participated in person in the 3rd Floor Training Room. Supt Lucas Giguere, Dr Tina Rogers, Paula Marano, and Jana Melotti participated. 

Quick recap:

• The meeting provided an overview of the budget process

• Timeline, budget drivers, fixed costs, etc.

The recording runs about 51 minutes, so let’s listen in.

Audio link ->  https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1558-school-cmte-budget-subcmte-mtg-10-28-25/

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

Budget Subcmte got an update on
the FY 2027 budget process (audio)

School Committee Budget Subcmte agenda -> 

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10282025-1965 

Photos of the slides presented for the discussion (when the slides themselves are available, we’ll update accordingly).

https://photos.app.goo.gl/TKsNq1tYdhGC11Jv8

My notes for the full session are captured in one PDF file ->   

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kTIpIZc47reYuvaaLK2tF8mW-G-WdtW2/view?usp=drive_link 

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

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!

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

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

Voices of Franklin: "votes have very real consequences"

In June, Town officials told us all very clearly that if the override failed, we’d be looking at cuts that would take away services, personnel, and some of the things that contribute to the character of our community. After much debate, voters decided those cuts were an acceptable loss and voted against the override. But now that the cuts are rearing their ugly heads, these same “no” voters are feigning shock and claiming the cuts are political and punitive.

Absolutely no one should be surprised that the reductions they were told were coming are now here. That’s why it’s ridiculous and more than a little hypocritical that some people in town—including Town Council hopeful Jane Callaway-Tripp who came in last in a field of 12 when she last ran—are trying to shirk responsibility for the cuts they voted for going into effect.

This is what “no” voters chose. These are the consequences of their votes. When people like Callaway-Tripp write that town officials need more accountability, I have to wonder why she’s not looking in the mirror. The people who voted for this need to be accountable for their decisions, not falsely playing the victim and accusing everyone else of some sort of conspiracy theory when, in reality, they’re getting exactly what they chose.

I don’t believe for a second that the officers and employees of the Franklin Police Department are using the children of Franklin as political pawns to prove a point. That Halloween party has existed for decades and I believe the department loves putting it on and giving parents and kids a beloved tradition. I’m positive it hurt them to have to cancel this year’s festivities, and they very clearly explained exactly why it happened. They wrote:

“Following the results of the proposition 2.5 override the Franklin Police Department lost $250,000 out of our operational budget. This resulted in the elimination of 2 full-time patrol officer positions. With the two openings, two officers from the Community Service Unit/School Resource Officers were reassigned to the patrol division to fill the open vacancies and low staffing. The Community Service Unit was responsible for coordinating this large yearly party. With the reduced CSU staffing, events like this are simply not possible due to staffing restrictions. CSU Officers serve as School Resource Officers and their primary responsibilities are with the Franklin Public Schools. We hope that if staffing levels increase we will be able to throw this party and other community events again.”

But, according to Callaway-Tripp, they should’ve given townspeople a chance to reach into their own pockets and fund this themselves. Except her claim ignores the fact that voters had that precise opportunity in June and decided to do the exact opposite.

I hear a lot of talk about the need for audits and accountability if certain folks are elected to the town’s top board, but apparently that accountability is reserved for everyone else who disagrees with them and not themselves. Which tells me all I need to know when casting a vote on Nov. 4.

Please choose your candidates wisely because, even though they don’t want to take responsibility for them now, votes have very real consequences.

 

Aaron Gouveia
Franklin resident

If you have something to say, you can find the guidelines here
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/03/introducing-voices-of-franklin.html

Voices of Franklin: "votes have very real consequences"

Finance Committee has gets a fiscal discussion but runs out of time to get into the Technology deep dive (audio)

FM #1555 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1555 in the series. 

This session shares the Finance Committee meeting conducted Wednesday, October 22, 2025. The Committee opened with 3 new members getting sworn in. The Committee also formally organized itself with votes to select George Conley as Chair, Natalie Riley as Vice-Chair and Lauren Nagel as Clerk

Quick recap:

• The agenda could not be completed in the time allotted before the Town Council meeting at 7:00 PM. The planned 'deep dive' on Technology was the major item as it will be rescheduled to their Nov 5 meeting.

• During Citizen Comments, M Minnechelli spoke on the economics of development proposals, i.e. 444 E Central, and the need for some body, perhaps FinCom to weigh in to help clarify the numbers that are being mentioned which are conflicting and perhaps erroneous. 

• The Town Administrator advised not weighing in on the specifics of 444 East Central as the public hearing is underway. However an understanding of the overall economics of development would be a good topic for a future meeting

• Much of the discussion revolved around the fiscal issues currently being faced not just by Franklin but by most communities in the State. The "perfect storm" report by the MMA was referenced. The work underway at the State level to take a new look at local contributions for Chap 70 could affect our "hold harmless" situation. The Federal cuts will affect Mass revenues, and some of that will also affect our State funding.

The MMA "perfect storm" report -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/19iUBj6jDGQuWo8XDCfhwefqnK9WlALK1/view?usp=drive_link 

The Town Administrator memo of Aug 7 was refreshed as many appear to have not read it, or understood the implications -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UnddsW97syeHkkVjNOgRlOkKgHgOGiS0/view?usp=drive_link 

The recording runs just about 68 minutes, let’s listen

Audio link ->   https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1555-franklin-ma-finance-cmte-mtg-10-22-25/

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

Franklin TV broadcast is available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMhCNMRndj0 

The agenda doc ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10222025-1961 

My notes in one PDF file -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/11PCj1OfVixPiPgZ8jrk5-HD7VjH3vuEu/view?usp=drive_link 

Explore the MMA’s new report,
"A Perfect Storm: Cities and Towns Face
Historic Fiscal Pressures", to understand why

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

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!

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

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

Franklin School Committee: Budget Subcommittee - Tuesday, Oct 28 at 6 PM

Franklin Public Schools

Franklin School Committee

Budget Subcommittee

October 28, 2025 = 6:00 - 7:00 PM

Municipal Building - 3rd Floor Training Room

A G E N D A

"The listing of matters are those reasonably anticipated by the Chair which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law."

● FY27 Budget Preview and Planning

Agenda doc -> https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10282025-1965

The School Budget page will get a new tab as the FY 2027 budget begins

FPS Police Station Halloween Event not happening this year

FPS Police Station Halloween Event not happening this year

FPD HALLOWEEN PARTY

We’ve received several inquiries regarding our annual Halloween Party at the station. Unfortunately, this will be the first time in over two decades that we will not be able to host this party.

Following the results of the proposition 2.5% override the Franklin Police Department lost $250,000 out of our operational budget. This resulted in the elimination of 2 full-time patrol officer positions. With the two openings, two officers from the Community Service Unit/School Resource Officers were reassigned to the patrol division to fill the open vacancies and low staffing. The Community Service Unit was responsible for coordinating this large yearly party. With the reduced CSU staffing, events like this are simply not possible due to staffing restrictions. CSU Officers serve as School Resource Officers and their primary responsibilities are with the Franklin Public Schools. We hope that if staffing levels increase we will be able to throw this party and other community events again.

If you are looking for some festive Halloween activities this weekend. Make sure to check out the Franklin Lions Trunk or Treat this Saturday 4 PM - 6 PM at the Franklin High School.

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/17as4UP4Vy/