Franklin Council on Aging letter to Franklin Town Council RE: Private Donation

Date: July 11, 2025

To: Franklin Town Council

From: Franklin Council on Aging Board

RE: Private Donation

Dear Members of the Town Council,

The Franklin Council on Aging respectfully recommends that the Town Council not accept the recent private donation made to the Senior Center, which is restricted to funding the salary of a part-time nurse.

While we appreciate the generosity and intent behind this contribution, accepting such a donation raises several significant concerns:

1. Equity and Fairness: Allowing private funds to direct staffing decisions opens the door to unequal treatment and the risk that individuals with financial resources could exert disproportionate influence over municipal human resource decisions in the future.

2. Policy Consistency: Accepting this donation would create inconsistency across town governance. The Town of Franklin School Committee has an established policy prohibiting private donations from being used to fund salaries (e.g., supplanting):

Donations of Non-Budgeted Funds 

The Franklin School Committee gratefully accepts donations made by Booster Groups, Parent Communication Councils (PCCs), other private entities and Educational Foundations to support the Franklin Public School System. In an effort to ensure equity, consistency and compliance with Massachusetts General Law, any donated funds shall not supplant the operational budget voted by the School Committee. (This would include payment of salaries, instructional stipends, operating cost of buildings and curriculum programming or other recurrent budgetary items.)

3. Operational Integrity: Staffing decisions at the Senior Center should remain under the purview of its management, who are best positioned to assess and deploy resources in service of our constituents.

4. Respect for Voter Decision: In June 2025, Franklin voters chose not to pass a Proposition 2½ override, with the understanding that such a decision would necessitate reductions in staffing and services across the Town of Franklin. Accepting private funds to restore positions contradicts the democratic will expressed through that vote.

Accepting this donation could set a troubling precedent that undermines transparent governance, community equity, and proper management authority. We urge the Town Council to consider the broader implications and decline the offer.

Thank you for your attention and continued support of the Franklin Senior Center and its mission.

Sincerely,

Below Signed Members, Franklin Council on Aging 

10 Daniel McCahill Street

Franklin, MA 02038

Carolyn O'Brien, Chair

Phyllis Malcom, Vice Chair

Faith Flaherty, Secretary

Elizabeth Sawver

Kimberly Mu-Chow

Tina Powderly

Copy of the original signed letter ->  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LwnxHzW_MLw4tev6E6Ot8IYAPK98qVcn/view?usp=drive_link

Franklin School Cmte policy on non-budgeted funds (as referenced above) ->   https://www.franklinps.net/page/kcd-donations-of-non-budgeted-funds

Franklin Council on Aging letter to Franklin Town Council RE: Private Donation

Jamie and Lucas close out FY 2025, look to the summer, and what's next (audio)

FM #1478 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1478 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares our “Talk Franklin” discussion with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen and School Superintendent Lucas Giguere in the Municipal Building on Wednesday, June 25, 2025.  

Key topics

• After the FY 2026 budget discussion, what’s next

• Town business

• School’s redistricting

• Survey and engagement

• Music playlists, concerts, & time away

The recording runs about  55 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Jamie & Lucas.  Audio link -> https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/letstalkfranklin/episodes/Talk-Franklin---A-Podcast-from-the-Town-Administrators-Office-e35jgvq/a-ac26nek

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

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

Community calendar  https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar 

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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"

Jamie and Lucas close out FY 2025, look to the summer, and what's next (audio)

NY Times: "A New Era of Hunger Has Begun"

By Tracy Kidder:

NY Times: "A New Era of Hunger Has Begun"

"Parts of Easthampton, an old mill town in western Massachusetts, look like relics of industrial New England — the old workers’ rowhouses, for instance. In other parts, it seems like a place in renaissance, with converted factory buildings spruced up and reinhabited by art galleries, restaurants, shops. Pedestrians fill the sidewalks on Friday and Saturday nights, especially during monthly art walk evenings. But on Monday mornings, when the downtown feels shuttered, another sort of crowd, one in search of food, not art and entertainment, gathers on a side street outside a 19th-century brick building. A sign out front identifies it as the Easthampton Community Center and Food Pantry.

The center distributes free groceries on Mondays and Wednesdays, but Monday is usually busier, because many people it serves have run out of food by then. By 9 a.m. on a Monday in June, a line of people with shopping bags extended from the sidewalk across the parking lot to the first of the food stations alongside the old building. There, clients are greeted by volunteers with friendly faces and helpful voices, offering milk and eggs, a selection of breads and pastries, frozen meat, fruit and vegetables. Inside, another team of volunteers assembles bags of canned and packaged food, some for adults, others for children."

Gift article link -> https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/14/opinion/america-safety-net.html?unlocked_article_code=1.WU8.7Ufx.sJO5TyPQMr2k&smid=url-share

Frankie shares the memories on last day of School Resource Officer

Today was a hard day, especially for Dad.

Today was his last day as an SRO for the Town of Franklin. Due to recent budget cuts he and I, along with Officer Ayer and Ben Franklin have been taken out of the schools and reassigned to the patrol division. After 8 years of supporting the students, staff and families of FPS as an SRO, we got to see students graduate from 8th grade this week that Dad welcomed into the FPS system on their very first day of Kindergarten.

He had been there almost every day of their school career to welcome them, listen to them and make them feel safe 💙 we spoke with a mom of 2 middle schoolers who thanked us for giving her the reassurance everyday that her kids would be safe while at school!

Frankie shares the memories on
last day of School Resource Officer

She then told Dad she is from NewTown CT. It brought Dad to tears to hear this💙💙. The students that came up to Dad and I today to thank us, hug us and cry with us was overwhelming.

To hear students and staff/administration talk about us during their speeches was amazing. Thank you to all the students/staff/parents that came up to us, gave me a pat, a hug or shook Dads hand, hugged him and cried with him, we THANK YOU for all of your support over the years and we look forward to seeing you about the town.

You can view additional photos here -> https://www.instagram.com/p/DLD8BmgP7IB/

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/

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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"

School Committee reluctantly approves personnel & funding cuts to FY 2026 budget (video)

The Franklin (MA) School Committee met as scheduled on Tuesday, June 10, 2025. 6 members participated, 1 remotely, 1 did not (although has participated in the prior Budget subcommittee meeting).

Franklin TV video for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYQVNOKqqR8

The agenda doc also contains remote participation info ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06102025-1780

The meeting packet folder (all the docs released before or after the meeting)

https://franklinpublicschooldistrictma.sites.thrillshare.com/documents/departments/school-committee/meeting-packets/2024---25-meeting-packets/june-10%2C-2025-sc-meeting-packet/814634

Quick recap:

• A brief executive session was held before approving the new teacher contract for a 3 year term. Details of the amount approved were not shared, however, members of the negotiation subcommittee spoke highly of the collaboration and cooperation that resulted in a good deal for the district and the Town. The vote was unanimous and included Town Administrator Jamie Hellen (7-0-1) (1 absent)
• The budget adjustment reducing the proposed budget by $2M was previewed in a subcommittee meeting before the full committee meeting. 12 personnel are added to the 29 that were reduced by redistricting. Additional expenses were cut to bring the budget into balance per revised Town funding due to the failed override
• Bus fee will remain at $387, Sports fees will remain high at this year's levels for next year. A full analysis of the fees and participation will be conducted next year as part of the FY 2027 budget to see what can be done given the lower funding from the Town
• The Superintendent evaluation was approved as "Exemplary". A fair results given the multiple threads of work, budget, override, redistricting and oh, conducting school for the district at the same time

My full set of notes ->   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Rqv1NSxrFjWZdzwpeo2WJwq3H7FIwujA/view?usp=drive_link

Pictures of the budget revisions can be viewed here ->    https://photos.app.goo.gl/YnKXoUH5NncMo2Wk6

The presentation doc will be posted to the packet folder (see link above sometime Wednesday).

School Committee reluctantly approves personnel & funding cuts to FY 2026 budget (video)

Voices of Franklin: Jane Callaway-Tripp "Where do we go from here?"

Franklin residents have spoken—twice. The second attempt at passing an override has failed, leaving our town facing significant financial cuts. The question now is not what happened, but where do we go from here?

Do we take the opportunity to bridge the divide, listening and learning from one another? Or do we succumb to finger-pointing, playing the blame game between YES and NO voters?

Less than 24 hours after the results were announced, frustration spilled onto social media. Comments emerged—“I hope you're happy! You caused over $4 million in cuts!” “You hurt our children. I hope you're proud.” Even at the polls, tensions ran high. One voter walked by and told opponents they should be embarrassed. At last night’s council meeting, department heads outlined the necessary cuts—yet even as that happened, YES voters took to Facebook, claiming that town officials were "reaming NO voters.”

Cuts were inevitable. Franklin’s financial challenges are not new, nor are they the fault of those who voted against the override. Some decisions, however, raise questions. For example, the town has stressed the need for more revenue—yet one of the cuts includes removing the third ambulance, a service that actually generates income. If revenue is the concern, why eliminate a funding source? That decision feels less like fiscal responsibility and more like a statement—one that many, YES and NO voters alike, perceive as a punishment.

Blaming voters—on either side—oversimplifies a complex issue. YES voters argue that NO voters caused harm to services. But had the override passed, struggling families would have faced rising costs, possibly forcing them out of Franklin altogether. Does that mean YES voters would have been responsible for that hardship? The truth is, this was a lose-lose vote, with consequences no matter the outcome.

Franklin’s financial struggles stem from more than inflation alone. Past decisions have played a role, and while some missteps are irreversible, acknowledging them is vital. Respect must remain at the core of this conversation—disagreeing does not mean dishonoring the dedication of town leaders or the sacrifices of residents.

At this moment, we as a town have a choice. We can cling to division—YES vs. NO, red vs. blue, town vs. schools—or we can rise above it. We can reject name-calling and vote-shaming, choosing instead to work together toward solutions.

No single person has all the answers. But one truth is clear: if Franklin continues to fight itself, we will never heal. We will never find lasting solutions. And we will watch our town falter.

Kindness does not belong only to those who share our views. It belongs to everyone. It is the foundation upon which Franklin must rebuild—not in spite of disagreement, but through it.

The future of Franklin depends on it.

Jane Callaway-Tripp 

Franklin Voter

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: Jane Callaway-Tripp  "Where do we go from here?"

Franklin Public Schools: FY 2026 Budget Book - “Laying a Foundation for Success” - Executive Summary

Dear Franklin Community,

I am honored to serve the Town of Franklin as Superintendent of Schools. Together with the leadership team, I am responsible for overseeing the daily operations of our district, which serves 4,589 students and employs over 1,200 dedicated professionals, including educators, support staff, and administrators. Our collective mission is to foster academic excellence, social and emotional well-being, and equitable opportunities for all students in safe, healthy, and welcoming environments.

The Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Superintendent’s Recommended Budget, totaling $80,395,338, represents a 3.78% increase over FY25 and is structured to balance rising costs with strategic resource allocation. This year’s budget cycle is framed by our guiding principle: “Laying a Foundation for Success.” This tagline underscores the critical connection between a well-structured, sustainable budget and the long-term prosperity of our students and community.

Strategic Priorities and Fiscal Responsibility

Our approach to budget development is mission-driven and informed by Franklin’s Portrait of a Graduate, which defines the essential skills each student will develop throughout their PreK-12+ experience. We remain steadfast in our commitment to:

❖ Optimizing Resources – Allocating staffing and financial resources to maximize student impact.

❖ Supporting Reorganization – Ensuring a smooth transition for students, staff, and families following significant structural changes.

❖ Stability and Sustainability – Building a future-ready system that meets current and evolving needs.

In FY26, we continue to right-size our operations by aligning staffing and expenditures with student needs. This budget reflects savings from our district reorganization, which includes:

❖ The unification of Franklin Middle School, consolidating all grades 6-8 students into one building at Oak Street.

❖ The restructuring of elementary schools into two K-5 complexes at Washington Street and Lincoln Street.

❖ The expansion of the Early Childhood Development Center (ECDC) at Pond Street will increase early childhood capacity and generate additional revenue.

❖ These bold decisions allow us to preserve recommended class sizes, maintain a high-quality educational experience, and create efficiencies without increasing full-time staff. The reorganization achieves economies of scale, ensuring we maximize impact while maintaining financial sustainability.

Budget Drivers and Investments in Student Success

Several key financial drivers shape the FY26 budget:

❖ Staffing Adjustments – Reallocating existing staff to maintain class sizes and meet student needs without increasing overall FTEs.

❖ Student Support – Continued investment in behavioral, mental health, and academic interventions.

❖ Compliance & Costs – Rising expenses in transportation, special education, and health insurance.

While staffing costs account for most of the budget, we have strategically reallocated personnel to support student success. We are also maintaining Franklin’s commitment to academic and co-curricular opportunities, ensuring all students have access to:

❖ Rigorous and engaging curriculum

❖ Special education and intervention services

❖ Extracurricular activities, including clubs, arts, and athletics

❖ Essential student support, including counseling and wellness resources

 

Additionally, our focus on financial stewardship includes:

❖ Classroom-Level Analysis – Ensuring optimal teacher FTEs and class sizes.

❖ Historical Spending Review – Reducing or eliminating non-essential expenditures.

❖ Technology and Equipment Review – Prioritizing essential tools and minimizing inefficiencies.

❖ Special Education Forecasting – Accurately projecting out-of-district tuition and transportation needs.

❖ Transportation Evaluation – Optimizing bus routes to mitigate cost increases.

❖ Franklin in Context: Comparisons and Challenges

Despite fiscal constraints in recent years, Franklin Public Schools has made a series of bold decisions to maintain the success of a high-quality public education.

Looking Ahead

As Superintendent, I remain dedicated to working collaboratively with the Franklin School Committee, Town Administrator Jamie Hellen, the Town Council, and municipal leaders to ensure fiscal stability and educational excellence. This budget reflects our shared vision for the future—one that prioritizes student success, supports educators, and strengthens our schools while maintaining fiscal responsibility.

We are grateful for your continued partnership and investment in Franklin’s students and for your unwavering commitment to our schools, families, and community.

Sincerely,

Lucas Giguere                           Janaina Melotti

Superintendent of Schools           Interim School Business Administrator

The full School District "Budget Book" for FY 2026 can be found ->

https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4780/FPSD/5269967/-FY26_Franklin_Budget_Book_.docx_-_Google_Docs_1_.pdf

Additional Budget documents can be found in their FY 2026 Budget page ->

https://www.franklinps.net/documents/about-us/school-district-budget/fy2026-budget/728831

Franklin Public Schools: FY 2026 Budget Book - “Laying a Foundation for Success” - Executive Summary