Voices of Franklin: "New Arts Equipment? That’s Music to My Ears!"

Hello Franklin Community, 

As a Franklin High School student who has been active in our town's music and theater programs since middle school, I have seen the impact that budget cuts have had on these important programs throughout my time in the Franklin Public School system. But just as consistently, I have seen my classmates resiliently rise to the occasion. 

Over the years, Franklin music and theater students have been recognised across the state with awards and certificates, often while using equipment that is in desperate need of repair, or even replacement. Just imagine what they could accomplish if we joined together as a community to help them get the equipment they deserve! 

The Franklin High School Theater Company Boosters and Franklin Music Boosters have partnered together to launch a joint Capital Campaign with a goal of raising $100,000 to upgrade Franklin Middle School and Franklin High School performing arts equipment. In a community with over 30,000 residents, even a small contribution can add up and help give our students the devices they need to create memorable theater and music productions the whole town can enjoy. 

Both the Franklin Middle School (FMS) and Franklin High School (FHS) auditoriums are high-traffic locations, used for assemblies, concerts, recitals, and even rented by outside organizations for large performances. In past years, the FMS auditorium has also been the home of the Franklin Middle School Footlighters, an after-school theater club. I have seen from first hand experience that Footlighters is about more than just performing - it offers an opportunity for kids to experience the magic of theater, connect with peers, embrace creativity in an inclusive environment, and make friends and memories that will last a lifetime. 

However, without a performance space that has functioning audio, lighting, and the basic necessities to bring a show to life, the theater programs at the Middle and High Schools face an uncertain future. 

I believe in our community. Even if someone you know is not currently involved in the music or theater departments, I believe that the residents and businesses of our great town understand the importance of these organizations - and that, if supported, they become assets that benefit the overall community. 

In fact, if just 5,000 of our friends and neighbors contributed $20 to our Capital Campaign, we would meet our goal! I encourage you to learn more about the fundraising initiative, and contribute if you are able by visiting our Give Butter donation link: https://givebutter.com/FPSCaptialCampaign2026

The current and future artists, actors, and musicians of Franklin appreciate your support!

Evangeline King, 

FHS Class of 2029

If you have something to say, you can find the guidelines here

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/03/introducing-voices-of-franklin.html

FHSTC asks your help to support the capital campaign !!!

Franklin needs YOU to help us!!

We’re on a mission to fix the lights and invest in our community facilities. Better spaces don’t just look great, they help bring more events and revenue back into our town!

Every small contribution helps, and thank you so much to everyone who has already donated!! Let’s keep our town shining and give our students the best program!

Shared from - https://www.instagram.com/p/DYAuELKGeVz/

Continue reading about the capital campaign via this link - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NNvquCDizUxJGWDUx2P2WUJcF5bU6vMR/view?usp=drive_link

Fund raising link - https://givebutter.com/FPSCaptialCampaign2026

Town Council adds to the Tier 1 capital budget and extends their 4 hour limit on Feb 11, 2026 (audio)

 

FM #1673-74-75 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, numbers 1673-74-75 in the series. 

This session shares part of the Franklin (MA) Town Council meeting held on Wednesday, January 21, 2026. The Council held this session as scheduled beginning at 6 PM. All 9 Councilors participated for this 4 hour plus session. 

• 1673 - covers the opening, Citizen comments, Council Comments, ABCC license change approval (approx. 45 mins) 

• 1674 - segment from the meeting covering the full discussion on the5 Year fiscal forecast & discussion  (approx. 1 hr. 33 mins)  

• 1675 - segment from the meeting covers the Capital Budget discussion and the remainder of the meeting  (approx. 2 hours and 3 mins)

  

Audio 1673 - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1673-town-council-mtg-02-11-26-p1-of-3/

Audio 1674 - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1674-town-council-mtg-02-11-26-p2-of-3/

Audio 1675 - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1675-town-council-mtg-02-11-26-p3-of-3/

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Additional notes on the meeting recap can be found (including link to Franklin TV video) ->

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/02/town-council-adds-to-tier-1-capital.html 

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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"

Capitalism, a story of wolves & sheep

"We can move beyond the capitalist model and save the climate – here are the first three steps" | Jason Hickel and Yanis Varoufakis

"We have an urgent responsibility. Our existing economic system is incapable of addressing the social and ecological crises we face in the 21st century. When we look around we see an extraordinary paradox. On the one hand, we have access to remarkable new technologies and a collective capacity to produce more food, more stuff than we need or that the planet can afford. Yet at the same time, millions of people suffer in conditions of severe deprivation.

"Capitalism cares about our species’ prospects as much
as a wolf cares about a lamb’s.
But democratise our economy
and a better world is within our grasp"

What explains this paradox? Capitalism. By capitalism we do not mean markets, trade and entrepreneurship, which have been around for thousands of years before the rise of capitalism. By capitalism we mean something very odd and very specific: an economic system that boils down to a dictatorship run by the tiny minority who control capital – the big banks, the major corporations and the 1% who own the majority of investible assets. Even if we live in a democracy and have a choice in our political system, our choices never seem to change the economic system. Capitalists are the ones who determine what to produce, how to use our labour and who gets to benefit. The rest of us – the people who are actually doing the production – do not get a say.

And for capital, the purpose of production is not primarily to meet human needs or to achieve social progress, much less to deliver on any ecological goals. The purpose is to maximise and accumulate profit. That is the overriding objective. This is the capitalist law of value. And to maximise profits, capital requires perpetual growth – ever increasing aggregate production, regardless of whether it is necessary or harmful."

Continue reading the article with this 'shared' link   https://www.theguardian.com/environment/commentisfree/2026/feb/12/capitalist-model-climate-growth-capitalism-species-humanity?CMP=share_btn_url 

Town of Franklin Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Capital Improvement Plan

From the Town of Franklin  Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Capital Improvement Plan

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/8324/FY26-Capital-Improvement-Book-Updated-2326

Executive Summary

The Town of Franklin had the FY26 Free Cash and Retained Earnings certified by the Massachusetts Department of Revenue - Division of Local Services on October 24, 2025.

Pursuant to Town Charter provision 6-7, the Town Administrator establishes a five-year Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), including for the current fiscal year. We have linked the five to ten year capital plans to the website so the document is more efficient.

Town of Franklin  Fiscal Year 2026
(FY26) Capital Improvement Plan

Departments request general funding for one-time purchases with the use of Free Cash. Enterprise Fund departments request funding for one-time purchases with the use of Retained Earnings. Enterprise funds can legally only be used for the purposes of those revenues and it is illegal to transfer those funds to other causes.

In mid-October, the Finance Department began this process by distributing all departments a CIP Workbook, where departments fill out their requested purchases.

Historically, the Town Administrator and the Finance Department would compile all requests into a final CIP list, and submit that to the Finance Committee for review and recommendation to the Town Council for final approval. This year, we took the approach of creating a tiered list, which the Finance Committee will review and recommend to the Town Council for final approval.

The proposed tiers were created to first prioritize must-needed requests. In Tier 1, for example, if these requests were not approved for funding through the CIP, the purchases would have to be made through the Operating Budget, leading to an overall increase to the potential FY27 budget deficit. Tier 1 requests are items that have no other funding sources and are items that are broken or no longer usable. Also, we have prioritized Police and Fire safety gear and equipment.

Tier 2, 3, and 4 are additional requests for funding. However, given the knowledge that free cash may be needed to stabilize the operating budget or be used for any

 

employee health care deficits, or other unforeseen emergencies, it is our recommendation to hold off on these items until later this spring and summer until the budget picture becomes more clear. The Finance Committee can disagree with this recommendation and recommend to the Town Council a strategy they desire.

If the Finance Committee and Town Council approve the Town Policy Tier and the Tier 1 recommendations, the Town will then have $2.25 million free cash remaining to (1) balance any FY27 structural budget deficit (2) pay any health care deficits, or (3) provide additional capital funding in a round 2 later this spring and summer. Tier 2, 3 and 4 should be considered after the FY27 budget comes into greater focus.

This strategy will hopefully put the town in a position to not use any “Rainy Day” money in FY27. In our professional opinion, this is important given the likely future financial pressures that will be on the town due to federal and state fiscal uncertainty. Furthermore, if the town does decide to borrow money, we will want these reserves present to assure our AAA Bond Rating stays intact to have the lowest interest rate possible, which could save taxpayers millions in debt and interest costs.

 

Free Cash

What is Free Cash?

Free Cash is a revenue source that results from the calculation, as of July 1, of a community’s remaining, unrestricted funds from its operations of the previous fiscal year based on the balance sheet as of June 30. Municipalities cannot expend free cash until it has been submitted to and approved by the Division of Local Services. Free Cash plays a critical role in sustaining a strong credit rating and it is important to adopt policies for its use.

What are Retained Earnings?

A community adopts an enterprise fund by a vote of town meeting or city council. The enterprise fund establishes a separate accounting and financial reporting mechanism for a municipal service for which a fee is charged in exchange for goods or services. Under enterprise accounting, the services revenues and expenditures are segregated into a separate fund with its own financial statements, rather than being commingled with the revenues and expenses of all other governmental activities.

At year-end, the enterprise funds performance is measured in terms of positive (surplus) or negative (deficit) operations. An operating surplus results from revenue collected in excess of estimates and appropriation turnbacks and translates into Retained Earnings, which are retained in the fund rather than closing to the general fund. The Division of Local Services Director of Accounts must certify enterprise fund retained earnings as an available fund based on the communities submission of a June 30 balance sheet to the Division of Local Services. Once certified, retained earnings may be appropriated only for expenditures relating to the enterprise fund.

Continue reviewing information from the Town of Franklin  Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Capital Improvement Plan  -   https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/8324/FY26-Capital-Improvement-Book-Updated-2326

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Wednesday, January 29, 2025 ???

Wednesday, January 29

• Fiber Art Installation (Franklin Public Library) 
• Last days to buy Music Booster calendar raffle for February

1:00pm Scribblers Writing Group (recording session) (Franklin TV Studio)

7:00pm FHS Jazz Concert (Franklin High School)

**   Town Meetings today   **

Capital Budget Subcommittee Meeting

January 29, 2025, 7:00 PM

https://franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01292025-1526

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Why are there multiple calendars?

What's happening today in Franklin? 

Respectfully, the Library and Senior Center calendars are too full of events to include all their events so we tend to focus on the major events. Town and School meetings are also kept separate. Links for all the calendars are shared here:

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 Library calendar of events ->    calendar link

The Senior Center calendar of events ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/calendar.aspx?CID=37&showPastEvents=false

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-calendars

Franklin, MA: Capital Budget Subcommittee - Agenda for Meeting Jan 29, at 7 PM

Capital Budget Subcommittee 

Meeting Agenda & Meeting Packet 

Wednesday, January 29, 2025 7:00 PM

1. FY25 Capital Plan & Subcommittee recommendations 

a. Town Administrator Memo  

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/4098/2025-01-29-CBSC-Agenda---1a-FY25-Capital

b. FY25 Department Summary Requests & Capital Plans  

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/4117/1b---Capital---Dept-Requests-and-5-Year-Plans

c. Quotes  

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/4116/1c-Quotes

2. Adjourn

The agenda doc also contains remote participation info ->

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01292025-1526

The capital budget proposal on the agenda for the Capital Budget Subcommittee Wednesday

The Finance Committee reviewed this capital budget among the items on its agenda at their Jan 15 meeting. The recap, audio and video links are available here ->  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/01/finance-committee-approves-recommended_0799398139.html

Finance Committee approves recommended capital budget & gets the insights on the "hold harmless" liability the Town faces (audio)

FM #1355 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1355 in the series. 

This session shares the Finance Committee meeting conducted Wednesday, January 15, 2025. 7 members of the Committee were present in Council Chambers on the 2nf floor of the Town of Franklin municipal building for this session (2 absent). 

Many of the Town department leaders were present and participating as needed. School Superintendent Lucas Giguere participated as did Interim School Business Administrator Jana Melotti along with consultant Dr Bob Dutch.

Quick recap 

• Town Administrator Jamie Hellen walking the committee thru the memo on the capital budget https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/04a._fy25_capital_improvement_plan_memo.pdf 

• Many clarification questions on what for when, as well as possible reallocation of the recommendation. Chart on free cash is for information purposes

• First resolution on use of free cash for the capital budget resulted in a discussion around amending the amount and creating a technology stabilization fund but ultimately that did not get amended and it was approved as proposed by a 7-0-2 (7 for, 2 absent) vote

• Second resolution on funding from the enterprise accounts was approved as recommended with the same 7-0-2 vote

• Now to the Opioid settlement funds. Memo  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/5a._opioid_settlement_funds.pdf   and the Resolution for approval https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/5b._1_-_resolution_25-02_-_opioid_funding.pdf 

• After explanation of the current funding and a look at future funds coming (approx. $1.2M) the vote to approve the resolution passed 7-0-2

• Now to the "hold harmless" topic for Chapter 70 school funding. State house news article references a commission to look at school funding https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/6b._with_new_term_dawning_spilka_eyes_k-12_funding_reform_primary_care_overhaul_senate_statehousenews.com_.pdf 

• We are currently getting $12m over what the school funding formula calls for. We are the 2nd largest hold harmless (Boston #1) A change to the formula takes time. Jamie has been warning of this for some years. 

• Approximately 18-20m of town costs for school functions go to the net school spending. accounting to determine the per pupil spending calculation. ** $27m for FY 2024 fiscal year is actual. Confirmed that 24, 25 and 27 for last 3 years

• Long and complex discussion around the possible review of the formula

• Folks see the buildings going up but the population has been flat. Great quote from Jamie (to clip later) on the wealth growth and the hold harmless getting worse unless we choose to pay more

The recording runs almost 2 hours and 30 minutes, so let’s listen in.

Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1355-franklin-ma-finance-cmte-mtg-01-15-25/

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Franklin TV video available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/live/yzii8AGsv7k?&t=234 

Agenda and supporting documents for this session ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/finance_committee_meeting_agenda_-_january_15_2025.pdf 

My notes in one PDF -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ArVXe5jDOAsetxonq0voW2eKTSe_XWN3/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"

School Committee recognizes FHS Cheerleaders, approves temporary naming for redistricting, gets update from Franklin TV (audio)

FM #1354 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1354 in the series. 

This session shares the Franklin (MA) School Committee meeting held on Tuesday, Jan 14, 2024. 6 of the 7 members participated (6 in Chambers,  1 absent - Sompally).

Quick recap

• FHS Cheerleaders recognized for winning multiple championships, approved for travel to the National Championship

• Superintendent's report included multiple updates on redistricting efforts underway

• FHS school update provided insights in the school year thus far

• FHS Program of Studies update raised some clarification questions and at least one surprise that the community service hours added to the graduation requirements are not being monitored this year due to the budget cut that removed the individual who would have done that tracking. Community hours were being done by students, no one single person was tracking to ensure all the students were doing so this school year

• Franklin TV provided an update on the programming provided to the community including the live broadcast of this meeting (across town, 2 school concerts were also broadcast and the FHS girls basketball game was also broadcast). revenue is dropping due to cable cutting, proposal at State Legislature on potential alternate revenue for cable operations, new Federal administration may attempt to dismantle the Federal authorization for cable broadcasting

• Discussion action items

• approved after much discussion as amended the notification on the temporary names for the schools as part of the redistricting

• Capital budget modified from initial preview and approved

• 3 policies for first reading approved to move to second reading

• Update on educational expenses for the student from the emergency shelter. Quarterly reimbursement from DESE only used to offset the costs of educating these students. Reimbursement at rate of $104/per day/per student. The override had nothing to do with the education of these students. FPS does not use the operational budget to educate the student from the emergency shelter

• Grants to the amount of $1.6 M were preview by the committee (document not part of the public set released prior to the meeting). Over what period these grants covered was not mentioned out loud.

• Round of subcommittee updates

• Motion to enter executive session, not to return to public meeting, passed 6-0-1 (1 absent)

The recording runs about 3 hours & 24 minutes, so let’s listen in. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1354-franklin-ma-school-cmte-mtg-01-14-25/

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

The agenda doc -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/events/fsc.pdf 

Meeting packet (other docs as they are released after the meeting will get posted here) -> https://www.franklinps.net/documents/departments/school-committee/meeting-packets/2024---25-meeting-packets/january-14%2C-2025-sc-meeting-packet/742564

My full set of notes in one PDF ->   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JdupV2TntAObJjwWAik_BBpoPfpLPHVH/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"

 

School Committee recognizes FHS Cheerleaders, approves temporary naming for redistricting, gets update from Franklin TV (audio)