Town Council closes out year approving license renewals, hearing about the snow plowing process, recognizing 3 teams (video)

The Franklin Town Council closed out the calendar year with a meeting on Wednesday, Dec 17, 2025. All 9 members participated, 1 remotely so all votes were recorded via roll call.

Franklin TV video is available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ti39-iOe-eo

Agenda doc  -> 

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_12172025-2062 

My notes taken during the meeting in one PDF file ->

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1stKCN6LNIlCgPA_AobKLmkIsS6109ozr/view?usp=drive_link

Brief recap:

• recognition of 8th Grade Franklin Panthers Football Team, Franklin High School Cheerleading Team, and the Franklin High School Girls’ Volleyball Team was followed by a brief recess to allow for group photos
• Council on Aging - Christopher (Kit) Brady appointment approved via 9-0 roll call
• Annual License Renewals “2026 Town of Franklin Alcohol License Renewals”  were approved after brief discussion on process by the 9-0 roll call vote
  https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/7857/7a-1---MEMO---License-Renewals
• Snow Presentation - Brutus Cantoreggi, DPW Director & Carlos Rebelo, Highway/Grounds Superintendent   
  https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/7855/Snow-Presentation---December-17-2025
• Social Equity Policy Discussion was a long one and the topic will be added to a meeting already planned between Councilor Malloy and TA Hellen to review additional changes to be brought back to the Council. Maybe the State will have provided feedback on the submittal already made
  https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/7841/Local-Approval-Process-and-Social-Equity-Policy 
• Town Charter Presentation was brief (3 pages) on process, the discussion was much longer. To summarize  depending upon the change being proposed, either the charter commission process or the ad-hoc committee would be the way to go. As the changes are not yet outlined, the ad-hoc committee will be art of the goals discussion in January to at least determine what the listing of changes desired are and then determine which way to go
  https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/7848/2023-11-01-Town-Charter-Presentation 
• Citizen Satisfaction Survey: Not sure how to summarize the discussion on this  
  https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/polco.nrc/viz/TheNCSReport-FranklinMA2025/About
• Resolution 25-83: Gift Acceptance - Veterans Services Dept. ($91,072.88), Senior Center (21,275.73), Police Dept. ($710.74)  was accepted by the roll call 9-0 vote   https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/7854/9a-Gifts

Meeting adjourned after 10 PM

group photo of all 3 teams with Council

Potpourri agenda for last Town Council meeting in 2025

Franklin Town Council

Agenda & Meeting Packet

December 17, 2025 = 6:00 PM

1. ANNOUNCEMENTS FROM THE CHAIR

a. This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast channel 9 and Verizon Channel 29. This meeting may be recorded by others.

b. Chair to identify members participating remotely.

c. Upcoming Town Sponsored Community Events.

2. CITIZEN COMMENTS

a. Citizens are welcome to express their views for up to three minutes on a matter that is not on the agenda. In compliance with G.L. Chapter 30A, Section 20 et seq, the Open Meeting Law, the Council cannot engage in a dialogue or comment on a matter raised during Citizen Comments. The Council may ask the Town Administrator to review the matter. Nothing herein shall prevent the Town Administrator from correcting a misstatement of fact.

3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

a. November 12, 2025   

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/7849/November-12-2025-TC-Meeting-Minutes--Draft-for-Review

b. November 19, 2025   

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/7833/3a-November-19-2025-TC-Meeting-Minutes--Draft-for-Review

4. PROCLAMATIONS / RECOGNITIONS

a. 8th Grade Franklin Panthers Football Team

b. Franklin High School Cheerleading Team

c. Franklin High School Girls’ Volleyball Team

5. APPOINTMENTS

a. Council on Aging - Christopher (Kit) Brady   https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/7856/5a-Appointment-Kit-Brady

6. PUBLIC HEARINGS - 6:00 PM - None Scheduled.

 

7. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS

a. Annual License Renewals

i. See attached “2026 Town of Franklin Alcohol License Renewals”  

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/7857/7a-1---MEMO---License-Renewals

8. PRESENTATIONS / DISCUSSION

a. Snow Presentation - Brutus Cantoreggi, DPW Director & Carlos Rebelo, Highway/Grounds Superintendent   

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/7855/Snow-Presentation---December-17-2025

b. Social Equity Policy Discussion  

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/7841/Local-Approval-Process-and-Social-Equity-Policy

c. Town Charter Presentation  

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/7848/2023-11-01-Town-Charter-Presentation

d. Citizen Satisfaction Survey: the town is headed in the wrong direction  

https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/polco.nrc/viz/TheNCSReport-FranklinMA2025/About

9. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION

a. Resolution 25-83: Gift Acceptance - Veterans Services Dept. ($91,072.88), Senior Center (21,275.73), Police Dept. ($710.74)

(Motion to Approve Resolution 25-83 - Majority Vote)  

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/7854/9a-Gifts

10. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

11. SUBCOMMITTEE & AD HOC COMMITTEE REPORTS

slide from the snow presentation

12. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

13. COUNCIL COMMENTS

14. EXECUTIVE SESSION - None Scheduled.

15. ADJOURN

Note: Two-Thirds Vote: requires 6 votes

Majority Vote: requires majority of members present and voting

Agenda doc contains remote participation info -> 

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_12172025-2062 

Tom Mercer condenses the Oct 29 Town Council meeting (audio)

FM #1573 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1573 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, October 30, 2025. Our conversation condensed the Town Council meeting of Wednesday, October 29, 2025.

We focus on two questions:

• ok, what just happened? 

• What does it mean for Franklin residents and taxpayers?

We cover the following key topics

• Appointments to the Agricultural Commission - Jennifer Sweeney (Associate Seat) and to the Council on Aging - Roberta Trahan were both approved by 9-0 votes

• The Public Hearing, originally scheduled for Oct 15, and continued to this date, was opened and eventually closed with no public or Council comments on the multiple modifications of a Section 15 Package Store All Alcoholic Beverages License: Change of License Manager... Doing business as Liquor World. The measure was approved by 9-0 vote

• The Council approved a Farmer-Winery Farmers Market License - Blisspoint LLC d/b/a Blisspoint Meadery by a 9-0 vote

• Presentation: Franklin Elks Riders Donation to Veterans’ Services Department. Veterans Service Officer, Shannon Nisbett received the check for $2000 from this year's rides

• Gift acceptance, $10,000 from Adirondack Club

• Resolution 25-70: Adoption of Cannabis licensing Local Approval Process and Cannabis Social Equity Policy (Motion to Approve Resolution 25-70 - Majority Vote) Moved, second. The proposal is modeled after that of Shrewsbury as they are the only 1 approved now, 100+ communities remain to develop one and get theirs approved.  This is an example of additional revenue from cannabis, almost $.5m yearly total. NETA has done well here

• Resolution 25-67: Expenditure Limits for FY2026 on Departmental Revolving Funds Established by Franklin Town Code Chapter 73, as Provided in MGL Chapter 44, §53 E½, as Amended (Electric Vehicle Charging Stations) approved by 9-0 vote, may need to adjusted upward as time goes and action on this revenue stream increases

• From the Town Administrator's Report 

• Purchase of the SNETT extension is complete, now owned by the Town, Work remains to be funded and completed but the registry of deeds has the record of ownership

• Formally closed on Franklin Ridge, contracts going out to bid, info sessions in the spring on lottery process etc. Construction once begun is anticipated to go 18-24 months

• Approximately, the remaining 40 minutes of the meeting were Councilor Comments reflecting on accomplishments for this term, recognition of the 3 not running for re-election, etc.

The conversation runs about 28 minutes. Let’s listen in

Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1572-town-council-quarterbacking-10-30-25/

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The Franklin TV video is available for replay ->  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NIgSJh9fWjA 

The agenda and associated documents for this session ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10292025-1978 

My full set of notes in one PDF -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XVFpF-Gf2ULj1avVodFT4RXGkXMvWvg5/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!

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

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 condenses the Oct 29 Town Council meeting (audio)

Jen Knight-Levine updates Council on work of SAFE Coalition and the humane approach to dealing with migrant housing situation (audio)

FM #1082 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1082 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares a segment from the regularly scheduled Town Council meeting on Wednesday, October 18, 2023. The segment covers the guest presentation by Jen Knight-Levine of the SAFE Coalition. 

Jen,CEO and co-founder of SAFE, provides some statistics on the work being done to meet the needs of the community initially in substance abuse and mental health, and recently expanding to take a humanitarian approach to the migrant housing situation developing here in Franklin. 

The segment runs about 30 minutes including the Q&A with the Council members. Let’s listen to this segment of the Town Council meeting on Wednesday, October 18, 2023 Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1082-town-council-mtg-segment-jen-knight-levine-10-18-23

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SAFE Coalition -> https://www.safecoalitionma.org/ 

Town Council agenda doc ->  

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/10/franklin-ma-agenda-for-town-council.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

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"

Jen Knight-Levine updates Council on work of SAFE Coalition and the humane approach to dealing with migrant housing situation (audio)

Economic Development Subcommittee hears of grants for Nu-Style clean up, discusses GR 5 & cannabis overlap zoning modification (video)

The Economic Development Subcommittee met on Wednesday, June 7, 2023 (prior to the Town Council meeting) and covered three key items as follows:

Quick recap:

• Nu-Style property now has $600K to support its clean up from two sources; $100K from ARPA funds, and a new grant received for $500K. Thanks to Brian Taberner who has continued to write for grants for this brownfield project and persisted in that effort

• General residential 5 (GR 5) zoning changes initially proposed to increase the impervious coverage for the property and for the property plus parking would be increased as well as reducing the setbacks required for multi-family 

• Discussion around what percent the amounts should be, was currently, initially proposed to increase to 35, 45. 

• Amendment to change to 50, 60, second; after discussion amendment revised to be 45,55, seconded, passes 3-1 (Jones no)

• Recommendations as amended to move to the Council, passes unanimous 4-0

• Cannabis overlay district; this is literally only a house cleaning of the map itself, nothing else in the bylaw changes. As businesses changed, this allowed for other changes with restrictions removed

Franklin TV YouTube video ->  https://www.youtube.com/live/UbMxtOXP6ms?feature=share 

The agenda doc also includes remote participation info ->   

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/edc_meeting_agenda_-_june_7_2023.pdf

My notes captured via Twitter during the meeting (in 1 PDF file)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZCa5NThqjXcxviE57inxIZMM7ycfnT9B/view?usp=drive_link 

Economic Development Subcommittee - Agenda for June 7, 2023  Meeting at 5:45 PM

Economic Development Subcommittee - Agenda for June 7, 2023 Meeting at 5:45 PM

Economic Development Subcommittee

Agenda & Meeting Packet

June 7, 2023 - 5:45 PM

Meeting will be held at the Municipal Building

2nd floor, Council Chambers, 355 East Central Street

Agenda:

1. NuStyle property update

2. GRV Zoning amendment proposal

a. Staff Memo & Draft Zoning amendment

3. Marijuana Overlay District Housecleaning

a. Staff Memo & Draft Map

Agenda doc includes remote participation info ->  

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/edc_meeting_agenda_-_june_7_2023.pdf

Economic Development Subcommittee - Agenda for June 7, 2023  Meeting at 5:45 PM

MA State News Roundup: MLK monument; Wu leaves Twitter; cannabis pricing plummets

(1) Today "The Embrace" is scheduled to be unveiled on the Boston Common. Good timing for the Martin Luther King Jr holiday weekend. This will be a new excuse for a day trip into Boston on a good weather day.

Boston Globe article (subscription may be required)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/01/12/arts/embrace-is-tribute-love-justice-unsung/

Commonwealth Magazine article

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/raceracism/healey-calls-king-statue-important-given-bostons-narrative/

Artist Hank Willis Thomas, who conceived "The Embrace," is seen in his studio in Brooklyn, N.Y. JENNIFER S. ALTMAN

(2) CommonWealth Magazine runs a headline "Citing increasingly toxic climate, Michelle Wu turns away from Twitter"

A sad state of affairs for anyone using social media tools these days. You can read the full article here -> https://commonwealthmagazine.org/politics/citing-increasingly-toxic-climate-michelle-wu-turns-away-from-twitter/

(3) Common Wealth Magazine also provides some insights into the cannabis market. Why does this matter to Franklin? Given the change in the host community agreements, the Town of Franklin is still schedule to get a percentage of the revenues from cannabis sales and we have both growth facilities as well as retails facilities. With the budget cycle starting, these changes will perhaps show up in a lesser amount anticipated on the revenue sheet.

"ON A RECENT DAY, a Brockton customer looking for some marijuana could have bought one-eighth of an ounce of LA Kush Cake flower for just $20 at Commonwealth Alternative Care. Nearby, Legal Greens was advertising one-eighth of an ounce of Jet Fuel flower for $25, according to the marijuana marketing website Leafly.

The prices are way down from the $50 or $60 that a decent strain of marijuana was going for just two years ago. That’s good news for consumers tired of paying some of the highest prices for marijuana in the nation, but it’s bad news for the state’s legal marijuana industry. Just four years after cannabis shops opened, the price decline is destabilizing the industry and threatening to force companies out of business. Policy makers are being urged to consider radical action, including placing a moratorium on the granting of new cultivation licenses."

Continue reading the article ->

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/marijuana/plummeting-prices-destabilize-mass-marijuana-market/

CommonWealth Magazine: "Marijuana content labels can’t be trusted - Testing reveals inconsistencies on THC, contaminants"

"ONE OF THE main arguments in favor of legalizing recreational marijuana was that consumers would have access to tested, regulated products, and know exactly what they are buying.

But a CommonWealth investigation reveals that the potency levels listed on websites and product labels at marijuana stores are regularly inflated, sometimes by as much as a third. The investigation also found that some products in Massachusetts cannabis stores tested positive for contaminants that would have kept them off the shelves if they were detected earlier because they were potentially unsafe for human consumption.

The findings suggest that marijuana consumers cannot rely with any confidence on product labels. Labs are performing tests using different technologies and methods, and growers are gravitating to labs that report the highest THC levels or pass the most samples for contaminants, even if their testing methods are not the most scientifically accurate. That, in turn, is creating incentives for labs to generate testing results with higher THC readings."

Continue reading the article online at CommonWealth Magazine ->

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/marijuana/marijuana-content-labels-cant-be-trusted/

 

A marijuana sample is prepared for testing at Analytics Labs in Holyoke on November 30, 2022. (Photo by Shira Schoenberg)