Finance Committee gets a good discussion on policies, and an update on the grant process yielding $112M over 10 years (video)

The Franklin Finance Committee met on Wednesday as scheduled March 11, 2026. 6 members were present, 2 absent (1 open position reportedly to be filled soon).

Franklin TV video is available for replay - https://www.youtube.com/live/UZl8H4Koptg?&t=476

Agenda (updated 3/11/26) - https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03112026-2189

My notes in one PDF - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oxC1JQgvl3PoNs-2qaHf9vacux3JvsZY/view?usp=drive_link

Quick recap

• a healthy and engaging discussion on the policies, to be resumed at one of the budget hearings in April before making a recommendation on changes (if any) to the Town Council
• Presentation on the grant process and the yield of $112M over 10 years, an average of $10M/year
• Future Agenda Items / Next meeting Dates:
• a. April 6, 7, 8 & 9, 2026 - Anticipated Finance Committee Budget Hearings
• b. May 28, 2026 - FY27 Budget discussion - first look at health care numbers as open enrollment would have closed Apr 30
• c. June 3, 2026 - FY27 Budget discussion and vote to recommend budget with changes (if any) for the Town Council to vote on at their June 10 session

Photo album of the grant presentation slides shared 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/kLdsxaJEHqXjYEzT7

School Committee hear the details on "level service" budget that comes in at 2.5% increase (video)

The Franklin (MA) School Committee met as scheduled on Tuesday, Feb 10, 2026. All 7 members were present for this session in Council Chambers.

Franklin TV video is available for replay - https://www.youtube.com/live/gzeG61qJFfU?&t=361

The agenda doc - https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02102026-2129 

The 4 page budget summary used for the discussion can be found - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SpeLx7Zov0jH5Q-0P8FNjaLN3g3q1hlL/view?usp=drive_link

(This was made into a PDF from the hard copy available in Council Chambers. The formal posting is supposed to happen Wednesday along with the "budget book")

Quick recap

• While level service there are 7 positions cut and 7 positions added so it washes out as no net change to head count.
• The budget comes in at a 2.5% increase over last year. The health care costs are being transferred to the Town line 910 so an apples to apples comparison can be made for all budgets.

The slides shared were captured in one photo album

https://photos.app.goo.gl/FW6xHYa4NKXhUFSx5

My notes are captured in one PDF doc

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AMbYGabU6gUDQPqK0ZnMBxTD-o77R0FI/view?usp=drive_link

Franklin, MA: School Committee agenda for Feb 10, 2026 meeting

Note: neither the budget docs, nor the meeting packet are available at this time. I'll update when they are public.

Franklin School Committee 

February 10, 2026 = 6:00 PM

Municipal Building – Council Chambers 

Call to Order Dr. Griffith

Announcements from the Chair

Pledge of Allegiance 

Moment of Silence

1. Routine Business

• Review of Agenda
• Payment of Bills Mr. Callaghan
• Payroll Dr. Griffith
• FHS Student Representative Comments
• Superintendent’s Report

2. FY27 Budget Open Hearing

3. Discussion/Action Items

1. Policy - 2nd Reading/Adoption

I recommend adoption of Policy BL - Remote Participation as discussed.

2. Chapter 70 Arts and Music Letter of Support

I recommend endorsement of the letter to the State Legislature in support of a Chapter 70 funding allocation to directly support the Arts and Music programming across all MA public schools.

4. Discussion Only Items

• Monthly Financial Report

5. Information Matters

• School Committee Sub-Committee Reports
• School Committee Liaison Reports

6. Consent Agenda

A. Approval of Minutes

I recommend approval of the minutes from your January 27, 2026, and February 3, 2026 School Committee meetings as detailed. 

B. ECDC Gift

I recommend the acceptance of $500.00 from The Special Olympics of Massachusetts, Inc. for Supplemental Supplies as detailed. 

C. FHS Gifts

I recommend the acceptance of $500.00 for FHS Mock Trial Field Trip as follows:

$200.00 Elizabeth Mullen

$100.00 Family Legal Partners

$200.00 Franklin Law Group 

D. FHS Gifts

I recommend the acceptance of $5,238.85 for FHS as follows:

$4,554.00 Franklin Music Boosters In-house enrichment

$  558.00 Soccer Boosters Field Trip

$ 126.85 Ohiopyle Supplemental Supplies 

E. Recurring RW Zoo Field Trip

I recommend approval of the request of Christine Souza (Lincoln St K-2) to take 2nd graders to Roger Williams Zoo, Providence, RI on May 8, 2026 as detailed. 

F. Lincoln St. Gifts

I recommend the acceptance of $10,775.00 as follows: 

LK-2 PCC $2,000.00 Field Trip

L3-5 PCC $2,400.00 Field Trip L3-5 PCC $6375.00 Field Trips

6. Citizen’s Comments

7. Good of the Order

8. New Business

To discuss any future agenda items

8. Executive Session

As per M.G.L c. 30A, § 21 (3) To discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining or litigation if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining or litigating position of the public body and the chair so declares.

9. Adjournment

Agenda doc also contains remote participation info -

https://files-backend.assets.thrillshare.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4780/Fpsd/0b8f6729-c8cc-47e9-a0bc-75461e70e05c/SCAGENDA-2-10-26.pdf?disposition=inline

Town Council follows through approving the forecasted $3.8M budget cuts resulting from failed override (audio)

FM #1466  This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1466 in the series. 

This session shares the Town Council Meeting of Wednesday, June 4, 2025. The FY 2026 second budget hearing continued from May 22, was reopened to make the adjustments due to the failed override June 3, 2025. All 9 Council members participated in the Council Chambers. 

Quick recap:

• After the 5 minutes late start, the public hearing on the FY 2026 budget was resumed from the May 22 session.

• Town Administrator Jamie Hellen walked through the recap and explained the Option A & B using 3 slides (see below) as well as the Option A & B voting docs (linked below)

• Chief Lynch, Chief McLaughlin, Supt Giguere, and Library Director Oti spoke of the cut impacts to their operations but approved of them as necessary due to the failed override

• Supt Giguere confirmed the full details of their cuts would be reviewed with the School Cmte at their meeting June 10. Of the projected 10-15 personnel, he confirmed likely 12 FTE positions,  some teachers, some retirees not being backfilled and other personnel across the district as well as the fees would need to remain as they are this year

• The public then had an opportunity to comment or question the cuts as proposed. Those in Chambers went first before those on Zoom, and all were covered before the Councilors had their turn.

• The vote finally came to approve the cuts as proposed:

• 2 personnel from Police Dept (currently open slots not to be backfilled as had been planned)

• 2 personnel from Fire Dept (currently 1 open position not backfilled, and the last hired will also be leaving)

• This does take the 3rd ambulance offline increasing response times and creates a lose of revenue (for the ambulance runs if required to hospital)

• 1 admin position for Town Administrator's office

• 1 from Planning & Community Development

• 1 from Board of Assessors

• the part-time nurse at the Senior Center

• DPW cuts their summer intern program (unspecified number of positions for summer help)

• Library Sunday hours (during the winter, there are open during the summer)

• additional expenses were reduced to bring to the total required (see Option B for details)

• Personnel cuts by my tally = 8 Town side, 12 school side, plus expenses (PS - this tally was confirmed with our Town Administrator Jamie Hellen via email) 

• The meeting then went through the long series of votes to approve the final budget, the salary for the Town Clerk, the Community Preservation Act budget before closing just after 11 PM

Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1466-franklin-ma-town-council-mtg-06-04-25/

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

Franklin TV video is available for replay ->   https://www.youtube.com/live/_f72Yd8VXz0?&t=316 

The agenda doc was updated Wednesday afternoon to add the Option B and Options A & B comparisons for the discussion on the budget cuts.

Option A & B Comparison ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5883/FY26-Control-Sheet-and-Voting-Doc-COMPARISON 

Option B -> https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5882/FY26-Control-Sheet-and-Voting-Doc-OPTION-B 

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

My full set of notes as written during the meeting

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1718wLXj_U_hdqq82Jb1rVrgeomNdeHaO/view?usp=drive_link 

The 3 slides Jamie talked to in his explanation of Option B

https://photos.app.goo.gl/oxfbkEcNhB5mpjHB8 

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

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"

Tom Mercer & I condense the 4 hour Council meeting to about 20 minutes (audio)

FM #1462 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1462 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, June 5, 2025. Our conversation condensed the Town Council meeting of June 4, 2025 and the closeout of the FY 2025 budget approval in light of the failed override June 3, 2025.

We focus on two questions:

• ok, what just happened? 

• What does it mean for Franklin residents and taxpayers?

Discussion items: 

• FY 2026 Budget adjusted for Option B and approved

• Thanks to all involved for their efforts and collaboration through the Joint Budget process and in resolving the required cuts

• What’s next, another Joint Budget series starts in the fall

• The next couple of budget years are going to be equally tough, we need to work together to figure this out

• THis weekend brings the Farmers Market opening, FHS Class of 2025 graduation, PorchFest returns on Saturday, there is a lot happening

The conversation runs about 25 minutes

Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1462-town-council-quarterbacking-06-05-25/

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

Franklin TV video is available for replay ->   https://www.youtube.com/live/_f72Yd8VXz0?&t=316 

The agenda doc was updated Wednesday afternoon to add the Option B and Options A & B comparisons for the discussion on the budget cuts.

Option A & B Comparison ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5883/FY26-Control-Sheet-and-Voting-Doc-COMPARISON 

Option B -> https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5882/FY26-Control-Sheet-and-Voting-Doc-OPTION-B 

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

My full set of notes as written during the meeting

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1718wLXj_U_hdqq82Jb1rVrgeomNdeHaO/view?usp=drive_link 

The 3 slides Jamie talked to in his explanation of Option B

https://photos.app.goo.gl/oxfbkEcNhB5mpjHB8 

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

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"

Tom Mercer & I condense the 4 hour Council meeting to about 20 minutes (audio)

Town Council follows through approving the forecasted $3.8M budget cuts resulting from failed override (video)

The Franklin (MA) Town Council met as scheduled on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. The meeting was delayed starting but all 9 councilors were present in Council Chambers with a full audience and at least another 50+ via Zoom.

Franklin TV video is available for replay ->   https://www.youtube.com/live/_f72Yd8VXz0?&t=316

The agenda doc was updated Wednesday afternoon to add the Option B and Options A & B comparisons for the discussion on the budget cuts.

Option A & B Comparison ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5883/FY26-Control-Sheet-and-Voting-Doc-COMPARISON

Option B -> https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5882/FY26-Control-Sheet-and-Voting-Doc-OPTION-B

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

Quick recap:

• After the 5 minutes late start, the public hearing on the FY 2026 budget was resumed from the May 22 session.
• Town Administrator Jamie Hellen walked through the recap and explained the Option A& B using 3 slides (see below) as well as the Option A & B voting docs (linked above)
• Chief Lynch, Chief McLaughlin, Supt Giguere, and Library Director Oti spoke of the cut impacts to their operations but approved of them as necessary due to the failed override
• Supt Giguere confirmed the full details of their cuts would be reviewed with the School Cmte at their meeting June 10. Of the projected 10-15 personnel, he confirmed likely 12 FTE positions,  some teachers, some retirees not being backfilled and other personnel across the district as well as the fees would need to remain as they are this year
• The public then had an opportunity to comment or question the cuts as proposed. Those in Chambers went first before those on Zoom, and all were covered before the Councilors had their turn.
• The vote finally came to approve the cuts as proposed:
• 2 personnel from Police Dept (currently open slots not to be backfilled as had been planned)
• 2 personnel from Fire Dept (currently 1 open position not backfilled, and the last hired will also be leaving)
• This does take the 3rd ambulance offline increasing response times and creates a lose of revenue (for the ambulance runs if required to hospital)
• 1 admin position for Town Administrators office
• 1 from Planning & Community Development
• 1 from Board of Assessors
• the part-time nurse at the Senior Center
• DPW cuts their summer intern program (unspecified number of positions for summer help)
• Library Sunday hours (during the winter, there are open during the summer)
• additional expenses were reduced to bring to the total required (see Option B for details)

• Personnel cuts by my tally = 8 Town side, 12 school side, plus expenses (PS - this tally was confirmed with our Town Administrator Jamie Hellen via email)

• The meeting then went through the long series of votes to approve the final budget, the salary for the Town Clerk, the Community Preservation Act budget before closing just after 11 PM 

My full set of notes as written during the meeting

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1718wLXj_U_hdqq82Jb1rVrgeomNdeHaO/view?usp=drive_link

The 3 slides Jamie talked to in his explanation of Option B

https://photos.app.goo.gl/oxfbkEcNhB5mpjHB8