Town Council responds to budget adjustment by adding back 3rd ambulance, (video)

The Franklin, MA Town Council met at 6 PM on Wednesday, August 13, 2025 as scheduled. All 9 Councilors participated in Council Chambers. The public meeting ran just over 3 hours. The Council entered Executive Session to review another 5 topics. Once into Executive Session they did not return to open meeting.

Franklin TV video is available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-E1pOkLizKc

Agenda doc can be found -> 

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08132025-1852

My full set of notes in one PDF -> 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UPwTkHaZv3OVhfIpt5HqxFs-k7-sfa5S/view?usp=drive_link

Quick recap:

• In the first of 2 long updates, discussions, the Council ultimately approved the restoration of the 3rd ambulance by adjusting the expense budget by $114K, authorizing the hiring of 2 firefighter/paramedics, and including half of the anticipated ambulance revenue in the budget to balance for the $231,152 shortfall in State funding that came after the State finalized their budget in July
• In the 2nd, key decision, the Council voted 7-2 to NOT accept a private donation to provide funding for the health & wellness nurse at the Senior Center. There are 2 actions out of this: one for the Town Administrator to find another  way to fund and restore the position, and 2 - to draft a policy for the Town on donations and acceptable uses. As noted during the discussion, the School District has such a policy, the Town does not
• Per legal advice, the Town Council can not rescind the 40b approval vote for the 444 East Central development. Residents are encouraged to continue to participate in both the Zoning Board of Appeals and Conservation Commission meeting as the project moves through the process. There is no short cut to this long process.
• Franklin Ridge project is likely to put shovel in the ground before year end (a delay from what was announced earlier this year). In another year, the operator will begin outreach and info session for the resident application process. Federal income guidelines will be followed but 70% of the units to be prioritized for Franklin residents

Additional items will be added to the recap with the publication of the meeting audio and also covered in the Town Council Quarterbacking session when shared in a couple of days.

Franklin, MA: Town Council - agenda for Meeting August 13, 2025

Franklin Town Council

Agenda & Meeting Packet

August 13, 2025  6:00 PM

Meeting will be held at the Municipal Building

2nd floor, Council Chambers 

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 - None Scheduled

4. PROCLAMATIONS / RECOGNITIONS

Franklin, MA: Town Council - agenda for Meeting August 13, 2025

a. Proclamation: John “Jay Bird” Simons

b. Proclamation: Saumy Jani & Andrew Bairos

5. APPOINTMENTS

a. Appointments and Reappointments of Town Board and Committee Members

i. See “Committee Appointments” in packet for member names  

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/6509/5a-Appointments

6. PUBLIC HEARINGS - 7:00 PM - None Scheduled

7. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS

a. Pledge of License of a Section 12 All Alcoholic Beverages Restaurant License: Santa Fe Burrito Grill, LLC, Located at 28 West Central Street, Franklin, MA, 02038  https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/6510/7a---LICENSE-TRANSACTION---Santa-Fe-Burrito-Grill

8. PRESENTATIONS / DISCUSSION -

a. FY26 Budget Update - Jamie Hellen, Town Administrator  https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/6513/8a-Budget-Presentation---Fin-Com-Materials

9. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION

a. Resolution 25-52: FY26 Budget Amendment (Motion to Approve Resolution 25-52 - Majority Vote)   https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/6514/9a-LINK-ONLY---NOT-FOR-PDF-PACKET---Budget-Presentation---Fin-Com-Materials-1

b. Resolution 25-53: Acceptance of Gift to the Town of Franklin to Restore Part-Time Health and Wellness Nurse Position  (Motion to Approve Resolution 25-53 - Majority Vote)  https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/6512/9b-25-53---Donation-for-Senior-Center-Nurse-Salary

c. Resolution 25-54: Approval of the Installation of a Sign on Public Property in Recognition of Nello P. Bassignani (Motion to Approve Resolution 25-54 - Majority Vote)  https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/6518/9c-25-54---Approval-of-Naming-of-Public-Property-in-Recognition-of-Nello-P-Bassignani

d. Bylaw Amendment 25-942: A Bylaw to Amend the Code of the Town of Franklin at Chapter 170, Vehicles and Traffic - First Reading  (Motion to Move Bylaw Amendment 25-942 to a Second Reading - Majority Vote)  https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/6520/9d---25-942---Lewis-Street-Parking-Restrictions

e. Resolution 25-55: Acceptance of Gifts - Senior Center ($1,571), Library ($970), Historical Museum ($90) (Motion to Approve Resolution 25-55 - Majority Vote)  https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/6517/9e-25-56--Gift-Acceptance---Sr-Ctr-Library

10. TOWN ADMINISTRATORS REPORT

a. Franklin Ridge Senior Housing Complex Update

b. National Grid Smart Meter Announcement

11. SUBCOMMITTEE & AD HOC COMMITTEE REPORTS

a. Capital Budget Subcommittee

b. Economic Development Subcommittee

c. Joint Budget Subcommittee

d. Police Station Building Committee

e. GATRA Advisory Board

12. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

13. COUNCIL COMMENTS

14. EXECUTIVE SESSION

a. To review and approve minutes from Town Council Executive Sessions. 

b. Exemption #3: Collective Bargaining (The Franklin Police Association) - To discuss strategy with respect to collective bargaining if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the bargaining position of the public body and the chair so declares. 

c. Exemption #6: Considering the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property, because an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the negotiating position of the Public Body: CSX Land. 

d. Exemption #6: Considering the purchase, exchange, lease or value of real property, because an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the negotiating position of the Public Body: Other Property. 

e. Exemption #2: Contract negotiations with non-union personnel: Town Administrator.

15. ADJOURN

Note: Two-Thirds Vote: requires 6 votes

Majority Vote: requires majority of members present and voting 

Agenda doc also contains remote participation info

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08132025-1852 

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

Media Nation: "Adopt A Station is an ingenious effort to help at-risk public radio outlets"

This is ingenious. On Monday, Media Nation commenter Steve Stein asked:

"The $1.1B cut to public broadcasting is less than $10 per taxpayer. (BTW, is that PER YEAR or over 10 years?) [Congress rescinded spending that had been approved over the next two years.]

I plan on upping my yearly pledge to public radio in some form. Should I up my pledge to WHYY? Would that help the situation nationally? (My guess is WHYY is doing very well compared to, say, WYSO in Yellow Springs OH) Do you think there will be a mechanism from NPR or CPB that could funnel money from the bigger stations to the rural stations that will bear the brunt of cuts?"

Later that day, Nieman Lab mentioned a tool called Adopt A Station. You call up the public radio stations in your state (or in any state), and you are shown a station in another part of the country that’s losing more than 50% of its funding from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, whose funding was eliminated by Donald Trump and the Republican Congress. Overall, local public radio stations are losing $350 million in federal funding in each of the next two years.

If you call up Pennsylvania in Adopt A Station, you’ll see that Steve’s station, Philadelphia-based WHYY, is losing just 2% of its funding. But Adopt A Station suggests that he consider supporting not just WHYY but also WRVS in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, which is losing 71% of its funding. Elizabeth City is located in the northeast corner of the state, about 45 miles south of Norfolk Virginia.

Continue to read the article ->

https://dankennedy.net/2025/07/22/adopt-a-station-is-an-ingenious-effort-to-help-at-risk-public-radio-stations/

Follow the link to chose to Adopt a Station -> https://adoptastation.org/

Note: Franklin TV does not receive Federal funding so we are not on the listing. However, we are a 501(c)3 charitable organization and can accept contributions. 

Adopt a Station -> https://adoptastation.org/

BJ's donates a refrigerated truck & 2 commercial cooling units to the Franklin Food Pantry

We have some incredible news! @bjswholesale is donating a new refrigerated truck and two commercial cooling units to The Pantry!

BJ's donates a refrigerated truck & 2 commercial cooling units

This donation is a game-changer for us - dramatically improving our efficiency and expanding our capacity to store and distribute fresh, healthy food. It means we can feed even more of our neighbors and ensure they have access to the nutritious food we all deserve.

We are filled with gratitude for BJ's commitment to our community!

Shared from -> https://www.instagram.com/p/DLScJsQR5oc/

Franklin Newcomers & Friends donate $10,000 to several area non-profits

Franklin Newcomers & Friends has donated $10,000 to local charities with proceeds from our 49th annual Craft Fair at Tri-County last fall. All of the organizations mentioned received donations; amounts were determined based on membership ranked voting.

Club members nominated the following charities:

- Franklin Food Pantry

Franklin Newcomers & Friends donate $10,000 

- Santa Foundation

- Random Smile Project

- Franklin & Bellingham Rail Trail Committee

- Friends of Franklin Public Library Official Site

- SAFE Coalition

- Bernon Family YMCA

- Franklin Performing Arts Company

- Energize Franklin

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BLQGszdjU/

Have an older laptop or device to donate?

Have an older laptop or device to donate?

"Do you have an old laptop, tablet, or phone collecting dust? Donate them to SAFE!

SAFE will redistribute these devices to those without  online access. By providing this tech to those in need, we open access to education, job opportunities, and vital resources!

Devices should be in working order and include the power adapter.

Donations can be dropped off at our office in Franklin: 31 Hayward St. Suite 2C (Mosely Mill building) or you can contact us to arrange pickup: info@safecoalitionma.org or (508) 488-8105"

Shared from -> https://www.instagram.com/p/DF6GkSJNUct/

FYBO gear swap - Donation Phase through Sunday, Feb 23

FYBO gear swap - Donation Phase through Sunday, Feb 23

"Our 1st FYBO Gear Swap officially starts TODAY!

Our DONATION ONLY phase is today through Sunday - gear can be dropped off at 30 Old Grove St in clearly marked bins. Gear will then be organized for our next phase…

On March 1st (9am - 1pm) and March 2nd (9am - 11:30am) you can go to Next9Up (40 Kenwood Circle) to either 1) Grab & Go, 2) Donate Only, or 3) Donate and Grab.

Help us save the world, one mitt at a time!"

Shared from -> https://www.instagram.com/p/DGTFoXcRZZh/

Franklin Food Pantry and Weymouth Food Pantry’s "SOUPer Bowl" Results in 4,967 Cans of Donated Soup

The Franklin Food Pantry and the Weymouth Food Pantry participated in a friendly "SOUPer Bowl" competition, collecting nearly 5,000 cans of soup to help fight food insecurity in their communities.  From January 9 to February 9, 2025, residents, local businesses, and even state senators rallied behind their local pantries, resulting in a combined total of 4,967 cans of soup. The final tally was Franklin 2,586 cans, Weymouth 2,381 cans.

“The SOUPer Bowl's success exceeded our expectations, and we are incredibly grateful to everyone in Franklin and Weymouth who came together to support their local pantry. Thanks to their generosity, we collected nearly 5,000 cans of soup but also raised awareness and brought communities together to take action against hunger," said Tina Powderly, Executive Director of the Franklin Food Pantry. "The winter months can be especially tough for donations, and this fun, football-themed competition filled shelves at our pantries and sparked important conversations about individuals and families experiencing food insecurity in our communities."

Franklin resident Wesley Hallion (age 6)

The Greater Boston Food Bank reports that nearly 2 million adults in Massachusetts are food insecure, and 1 in 3 households with children in the state experienced child-level food insecurity in 2023. This means a child went hungry, skipped a meal, or didn't eat for an entire day due to lack of resources.

“The way our communities rallied was so heartening,” said Pam Denholm, Executive Director of the Weymouth Food Pantry. “Weymouth may have been ‘edged out’ of a win, but we are better positioned to support neighbors coming to us for help as winter endures and that still feels like winning to us.”

While the SOUPer Bowl competition has concluded, the fight against food insecurity continues.  

Individuals and groups can still make a difference by:

• Donating food
• Donating funds
• Organizing a food drive
• Volunteering at a local food pantry

If you or someone you know is experiencing food insecurity, local food pantries are available to help.  

• For assistance in Franklin, please visit www.franklinfoodpantry.org. 
• For Weymouth residents, visit www.weymouthfoodpantry.org.  
• You can also find additional resources through the Greater Boston Food Bank’s Partner Agency Locator at www.gbfb.org/need-food.

About the Franklin Food Pantry, Inc.

The Franklin Food Pantry, Inc. offers supplemental food assistance, household necessities, and resource referrals to more than 1,800 individuals per year. The Pantry relies on donations and grants to purchase items and pay for daily operations, and partnerships with The Greater Boston Food Bank, Spoonfuls, and local grocery stores to achieve greater buying power and lower costs. Programs include In-person Shopping, Curbside Pick-up, Emergency Food Bags, Mobile Pantries, Home Delivery, Kids’ Snack Bags, Weekend Backpacks, Holiday Meals, and the SNAP match at Franklin Farmers Market. 

The Pantry is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization in good standing in Massachusetts, recognized by Charity Navigator as a Four-Star Charity, and awarded GuideStar’s Platinum Transparency ranking. The Pantry is located at 341 W Central St. in Franklin, MA on Route 140. Please visit www.franklinfoodpantry.org for more information.

About the Weymouth Food Pantry

The Weymouth Food Pantry is an independent 501(c)(3) charity providing free groceries to over 4,000 neighbors in Weymouth at any given time. The Weymouth Food Pantry serves between 100 and 250 families per service day, 600 and 800 families each month, and distributes about 840,000 pounds of food per year. The Weymouth Food Pantry offers food assistance and education through a variety of food access, food equity, and health focused programs, including pop-up pantries, grocery delivery to homebound elders and people with disabilities, a dollar-match at the farmers’ market, weekend food bags for students in school, an open access community garden, and “made with love” meals freshly prepared and frozen for easy reheating by neighbors for whom meal prep is a barrier to food security. 

The Weymouth Food Pantry was founded in 1987 by a small group of concerned citizens. Its executive office is located at 40E Reservoir Park Drive, Rockland, MA

02370. For more information, please visit www.weymouthfoodpantry.org, email

info@weymouthfoodpantry.org, or call 781-331-7682.

The Thrifty Threads Thrift Store can help you declutter

The Thrifty Threads Thrift Store can help you declutter

Just a reminder as you are decluttering, The Thrifty Threads Thrift Store at the Franklin Federated Church, 171 Main St., will gladly accept your clean, in good condition clothing ( men's, women's and children's), shoes, purses and jewelry.  

You can drop off at the Thrift Store during our open hours, Fridays 1-4, Saturdays 9-1.

Shared from ->   https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14mR67UfYvH/

Children's Museum of Franklin adds Corporate Sponsors

via the Children's Museum of Franklin: 

"Joyfully announcing our newest corporate partners: @cesar.barbershop, a true Franklin destination , and @bostonnetworks, opening its newest location in Franklin next month!  

Thank you for your support and commitment to this community!"

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1B5jCPNpzf/

You can add your contribution too! https://www.childrensmuseumfranklin.org/donate

Children's Museum of Franklin adds Corporate Sponsors

Remington Middle School students conduct "Socksgiving Drive" for Heading Home

In a heartwarming display of compassion and community spirit, students from Remington Middle School organized a wildly successful SocksGiving Drive during November. 

"Socksgiving Drive" for Heading Home

Students collected and donated more than 1,400 pairs of socks to Heading Home, one of the state’s leading providers of shelter and services for homeless families with children.

 

“This clothing will go a long way in helping so many families forced to rely on help,” said Heading Home COO Heather Martin, a Franklin resident. “We’re grateful the school chose our organization. There’s an added sense of pride knowing that these are students in my town rallying to make such a compassionate and caring gesture.”

 

Students turned their enthusiasm and dedication for cause into a tangible act of kindness, making a meaningful difference in the lives of those in need.

donated more than 1,400 pairs of socks to Heading Home