Finance Committee gets insights on the enterprise funds & approves fiscal policy revision (video)

The Franklin (MA) Finance Committee met as scheduled on Wednesday, Oct 21 in Council Chambers. All 9 members participated, 1 remotely.

Franklin TV for replay - https://www.youtube.com/live/6TyCyxQt1cw?si=CGwvJ7CY9zKzCm2L&t=219

The agenda for this session - https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10212026-2572 

Quick recap

• The DPW Enterprise funds (water, sewer, solid waste, & storm water) are separate from the general fund. These are all user based funds from fees for the service, and the expenses for those services are paid from these accounts. The accounts are set to maintain a balance for emergencies, and in some cases calculated to build the balance to offset the need for a rate increase
• Slides presented captured in this photo album https://photos.app.goo.gl/9K8Hgc8HUVjg3umw5
• Review & discussion of the 1Q budget to date report
• https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/11317/5b-Local-Receipts-Enterprise-Revenues-Budget-to-Actual-Report-9-30-2026
• Review & discussion on the fee revenue generated by department
• https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/11375/5c-FY-2026-Revenue-By-Departments-ONLY
• Review & discussion on the expense analysis by Department through 1Q FY 2027
• https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/11376/5d-FY2026-Expense-Analysis-by-Departments
• Review & discussion on the FY 2027 budget tracker. Dept Management gets this report monthly, the Finance Committee gets this quarterly
• https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/11384/September-FY27-Budget-Tracker

My notes in one PDF as captured during the meeting

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OnhbqHca8MjRiJW7ysNjxepf0_wKYxGU/view?usp=drive_link

What is the Senior Expo like? Watch the recap and mark your calendar for next year (video)

Sarah Montoya, Senior Center Director

Over 40 vendors came to the Franklin Senior Center to educate the senior population on the services they offer. Everything from medical assistance to financial help and everything in between was on offer, and the house was packed!

Video link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bzdbgW0wOo

FHS volleyball & boys soccer teams post wins on Wednesday

Via Instagram, Franklin TV, and our subscription to HockomockSports.com, we share the results of the Fall sports competition for Franklin High School on Wednesday, October 21, 2026.

Boys Soccer = Mansfield, 0 @ Franklin, 1 – Final

– Senior Will McAuley scored just after the midway point of the first half and Franklin’s defense registered its seventh shutout of the season, and the Panthers secured a share of the Kelley-Rex division with a 1-0 win over Mansfield. Shortly after a timeout from head coach Nick Goldman, Franklin put the pressure on the Hornets back line, and McAuley blocked a clearance and split a pair of defenders off a miscommunication and went in alone on goal and buried a low shot past the keeper. It marked the Panthers’ fifth straight Kelley-Rex division title, this one shared with Milford.

Franklin TV video available for replay - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FdmhvY0L9Gg

Volleyball = Franklin, 3 @ Taunton, 0 – Final

– Sophomore Phoebe O’Connor recorded her 1,000th career assist while filling the stat sheet in Franklin’s sweep of Taunton. The Panthers won 3-0 (25-14, 25-19, 25-8) as O’Connor finished with 23 assists, five aces, two kills, four blocks, and five digs, junior Emerson Delleo added 10 kills, 11 digs, and three aces, and senior Gianna Laurello chipped in six kills, six aces, and 11 digs.

For other results across the Hockomock League (subscription required)

https://hockomocksports.com/wednesdays-schedule-scoreboard-10-21-26/

FHS Panther sports results shared via Twitter & subscription to HockomockSports.com

Franklin TV schedule for Thursday, Oct 22, 2026

• Franklin All Access TV - Our Public Access Channel (Comcast 6, Verizon 26) = Thursday

• Franklin Pride TV - Our Educational Channel        (Comcast 8, Verizon 28) = Thursday

• Franklin Town Hall TV - Our Government Channel (Comcast 9, Verizon 29) = Thursday

Get this week's program guide for Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) online  http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf   

Watch Listen Read all things that matter in Franklin MA

Franklin TV schedule for Wednesday, October 21, 2026

• Franklin All Access TV - Our Public Access Channel (Comcast 6, Verizon 26) = WEDNESDAY

• Franklin Pride TV - Our Educational Channel        (Comcast 8, Verizon 28) = WEDNESDAY

• Franklin Town Hall TV - Our Government Channel (Comcast 9, Verizon 29) = WEDNESDAY

Get this week's program guide for Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) online  http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf 

Watch Listen Read all things that matter in Franklin MA

The Franklin community's GREAT accomplishment with Old Colony Habitat For Humanity (video)

"A 170-year-old church transformed. A mother’s life changed forever. A New Beginning for the Marmol family. Old Colony Habitat for Humanity’s 2026 Franklin Build is chronicled in this short-form documentary, donated by Jeff Bragg of Storypulse Media (https://www.storypulsemedia.com/). This project in Franklin, MA was truly a special one, and we are so thankful to Jeff for sharing Sally’s story in such a beautiful way. 

We would also like to thank the over 50 sponsors and hundreds of other supporters who helped make Sally’s homeownership dream a reality. We give special thanks to the Town of Franklin, who donated the former South Franklin Congregational Meeting House to Old Colony Habitat for Humanity, allowing us to transform this piece of history into a forever home for Sally and her family.

Thank you to some of our biggest sponsors:

Town of Franklin, MA (https://www.franklinma.gov/)

Advanced Green Insulation (https://www.advancedgreeninsulation.com/)

Connell Roofing (https://www.connellroofing.com/)

Pinette Plumbing (https://www.pinetteplumbingandheating...)

Notturno Home Services (https://notturnohome.com/)

Camger Solutions (https://www.camger.com/)

O’Koren Electrical (https://okorenelectrical.com/)

Our project in Norton, MA will be very different from this one, but no less special. We are building a new home from the ground up on a plot of land donated to us by a Norton resident. Thank you to our donor and to the town of Norton for giving us the opportunity to provide another partner family with a safe, secure, and comfortable home. To stay up to date on or get involved with this new project, please visit us at oldcolonyhabitat.org."

Video link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLrgF-k9lNY

Interview with Jamie Hellen and Kim Thomas in October, 2025  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/10/talk-franklin-update-on-old-colony.html

Ribbon cutting June 2026  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/06/historic-old-south-church-given-new.html

Old Colony Habitat given Mary Olsson Award    https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/06/the-third-annual-presentation-of-mary-c.html

Franklin TV schedule for Tuesday, Oct 20, 2026

• Franklin All Access TV - Our Public Access Channel (Comcast 6, Verizon 26) = TUESDAY

• Franklin Pride TV - Our Educational Channel        (Comcast 8, Verizon 28) = TUESDAY

• Franklin Town Hall TV - Our Government Channel (Comcast 9, Verizon 29) = TUESDAY

Get this week's program guide for Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) online  http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf 

Watch Listen Read all things that matter in Franklin MA

Town Council hears student intern report in first of 3 tax rate workshops (video)

The Franklin Town Council met as scheduled on Wednesday, Oct 14 in Council Chambers. All 9 members were present.

Franklin TV video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBUfX3OGpgM

The agenda doc and released supporting material

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10142026-2560 

Quick recap

• need more info on how the split would work for Franklin (The calculation is actually one page in the annual tax rate hearing documentation provided by the Board of Assessors)
• aside: the tax rate is a result of a calculation and not a decision or a toss of darts to a board the authorized budgeted amount divided by the total assessed valuation results in the tax rate as the residential evaluations have increased recently (due to the increased price war for housing), the ratio of residential vs CIP has generally been in a tight range until the last couple of years

PDF version of this memo to the Council as part of the Oct 14 agenda

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/11284/11a-i---MEMO---Tax-Rate-Workshop-1 

Tax rate package for FY 2026 - https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/7790/6a-Tax

Student presentation doc 

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/11278/11a-ii-1---Franklin-Tax-Rate-Council-Presentationpptx---Google-Slides

Comparison Report (details upon which the presentation was drawn from) - https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/11277/11a-ii-2---Franklin-Tax-Rate-Study-Single-vs-Split-Rate-Analysisdocx

Complete agenda for Oct 14 session

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10142026-2560

In addition to the info brought forth by the FHS students for the tax rate discussion tonight at the Town Council meeting, I offer the following.

Item 1 

For the chart the students offered in the Comparison Report, I

1 - added the total assessed valuation per community

2 - sorted by the CIP%

3 - highlighted the exceptions in both sections of the sort

The same chart in PDF format

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MhtZaxxPYhk_2o35ETje_1G-7CLsfq0M/view?usp=drive_link

The Excel workbook used for this

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/118r4s31jOLdPMBJ_FuWj3XE47vhQ6WlI/edit?usp=drive_link&ouid=101938843903614700481&rtpof=true&sd=true

Item 2

Content in context is important. While the research produced the chart with 17 communities, what is the view across the Commonwealth? The Dept of Local Services has a great data bank to provide the info. 2026 was chosen as the data for 2027 is not fully populated across the 351. 2022 was chosen simply as the first year before the housing crunch from COVID.

In 2026, 129 of the 351 communities had split tax rates

In 2026, 37 had a CIP% less than 20%  (92 had more than 20%)

In 2022, 118 of the 351 communities had split rates

In 2022, 49 had a CIP% less than 20%  (70 had more than 20%)

Why the change in 4 years? Oh, the residential valuations have increased significantly more than the commercial valuations changing the ratio between the two.

Has the residential demand (or valuations) slowed down yet? Not likely given what we are seeing in the market.

Item 3

From the FY 2026 tax rate hearing (and decision to confirm the single rate as calculated)  

While it is regularly mentioned during the tax rate hearings, the move to a split rate does not add a single dollar to our revenue. All it does is shift the burden from one property class to another.

I'd also add, no matter the single or split rate, no matter the rate rising or falling, the tax bill is always going up.

Additional charts posted in Dec 2025

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/12/annual-tax-rate-hearing-for-fy-2026.html

The full agenda doc for the Town Council meeting October 14, 2026

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10142026-2560

Franklin, MA Rotary Club Car Show (video)

Local historian, Joe Landry visits the New England Chapel to check out the Rotary Club's 10th annual car show

video link- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crRrDkDkHUg

Franklin TV schedule for Monday, Oct 19, 2026

• Franklin All Access TV - Our Public Access Channel (Comcast 6, Verizon 26) = MONDAY

7:00 am Aging Boldfully: Roberta Trahan

8:00 am Veterans' Oral History Project: Dave Cargill

9:00 am Franklin 4th: Dave Fields

10:15 am Franklin 4th: Beantown Swing Orchestra

11:30 am Cooking Thyme: Lobstah

12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin: Chicken Salad

12:30 pm Learn to Cook with Linda: Brunch Bake

1:30 pm Pizzapalooza: Healthy Pizza Crusts

2:30 pm New England Candlepins Summer 2023 Show 4

3:30 pm Candlepin New Generation: Show 4

4:00 pm Winning Ways with the MIAA: Districts

5:00 pm FM Journal October 2026

6:00 pm Aging Agenda: Arthur Vigeant

7:00 pm Frank Presents: Michael Miraglia

7:30 pm Frank Presents: Andrew Mikula

8:00 pm Franklin Matters: Cemetery Tour

9:00 pm Vera Meyer: Glass Armonica

10:00 pm Circle of Friends: Lucy Kaplansky

• Franklin Pride TV - Our Educational Channel        (Comcast 8, Verizon 28) = MONDAY

8:30 am Veterans Oral History Project: Joseph McMannus

9:30 am Winning Ways with the MIAA: Districts

10:30 am Middle School 7th & 8th Grade Chorus & Orchestra

12:30 pm Lifelong Music Spring 2025: Band and Glee

2:00 pm FHS Girls Varsity Soccer v Medfield 10-13-26

4:00 pm Franklin History: Tommaso Juglaris

9:00 pm FHSTC: Peter and the Starcatcher

• Franklin Town Hall TV - Our Government Channel (Comcast 9, Verizon 29) = MONDAY

8:00 am Planning Board 09-28-26

11:00 am Joint Budget Subcommittee 10-07-26

2:00 pm Planning Board 09-28-26

7:00 pm Planning Board 10-19-26 CHAMBERS 846 5026 1984

Get this week's program guide for Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) online  http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf 

Watch Listen Read all things that matter in Franklin MA

School Committee gets update on student recognition sign project, sets Superintendent's goals (video)

The Franklin School Committee met as scheduled on Tuesday, October 13 in Council Chambers. 5 members were present in Chambers, 2 participated remotely so all vtoes were via roll call.

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

The agenda doc - https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10132026-2559 

Quick recap:

• Update on the student recognition sign project, project team here to present an update, slides being captured via pix and the album will be shared shortly
• recognition of donors on the back of the sign, front touting the teams and champions
• pre bid meeting soon, bids due Oct 22
• target to complete Dec 2026 or when fund raising complete no donation is too small
• Superintendent goals
• feedback around the committee, some wanting more details on student metrics (this is coming as part of the progress reporting) 
• some liking the long range planning aspect as important to continue to carry the conversation forward 
• also suggestion that this might be a time for weighting the goals 
• long term planning properly set up can in turn generate individual goals year by year
• Supt will update doc as the year progresses with links to the evidence 
• vote on the motion to approve goals as presented, via roll call (with 2 remote) passes 7-0

Sign update slides captured as pictures - https://photos.app.goo.gl/XNsdT3YEp4W9eEzEA

Superintendent's Goals

https://photos.app.goo.gl/YUU7cyLgHXLemLgJ6

My notes in one PDF - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VjCwnGIj_tWJdnufN3hZU175Sogt1ebI/view?usp=drive_link

Franklin TV: Know a musician or band that deserves to be heard? We want to hear from them!

Coffee House Concert Series: Great Music, Great Company

Franklin TV is also exploring a Coffee House Concert Series in collaboration with Raydio, bringing the warmth and intimacy of a coffeehouse performance to local audiences.

Imagine talented musicians, stripped-down acoustic sets, intimate performances, and the kind of musical experiences that make you want to sit back, relax, and discover your next favorite artist.

This collaboration aims to create another platform for local performers while giving audiences a chance to experience live music in a welcoming, community-centered setting.

Keep an eye out for more details as this exciting project develops!

Be Part of What Comes Next!

All of these projects share a common goal: to make local media more accessible, more creative, and more connected to the community it serves.

 

Franklin TV and WFPR.FM are always looking for new talent, fresh ideas, and enthusiastic people who want to help bring local creativity to life. You don't need years of experience or a professional production  background  to  get  started.  A  

willingness to learn, collaborate, and try something new is a great place to begin.

Are you a performer, musician, audio/video enthusiast, aspiring producer, freelancer, community storyteller, or simply curious about how radio and television work behind the scenes? There's room for you here!

You might discover a new creative outlet, develop valuable production skills, help tell an important community story, or become part of the team that brings local programming into homes throughout the region.

Have an idea? Want to perform? Interested in getting behind the camera or microphone? Let's make something great together!

Reach out to info@franklin.tv or stop by Franklin TV to learn more about getting involved. The next great local production could start with you.

Franklin TV and WFPR.FM - Local stories. Local talent. Local voices. Your community, on the air and on screen.

-  Liz Harkins

Executive Director, Franklin TV & WFPR-FM

Continue reading this week's programing guide

https://drive.google.com/file/d/19IQxRE2MGS3ai6WAZNk3yJrqXImdBhka/view?usp=drive_link

Second Sunday Speaker Series: History of Hayward Manor (video)

Alan Earls talks about the history of the orphanage at Hayward Manor in this episde of the Sunday Speaker Series recorded at the Franklin Historical Museum, September 13, 2026

Announcement of the topic for this episode

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/09/reminder-mercy-and-malevolence.html

Video link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47959PBbmHg

Once Upon A Town: Cataldo Block (video)

Joe Landry and Scott Mason share info about the Cataldo Block before an audicane in the Franklin TV Studio.

Video link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_Yjl_qVPdQ

FHS field hockey, golf, volleyball, and football (video) teams all post wins on Thursday

Via Instagram, Franklin TV, and our subscription to HockomockSports.com, we share the results of the Fall sports competition for Franklin High School on Thursday, October 15, 2026.

Football = Attleboro, 6 @ Franklin, 21 – Final

1st Quarter: No scoring.

2nd Quarter: (F) Owen Essam 4-yard rush, Owen Webster XP good.

3rd Quarter: (F) Christian Primpas 5-yard rush, XP failed.

4th Quarter: (F) O. Essam 4-yard rush, O. Essam two-point rush; (A) Jaxson Maynard 5-yard rush, two-point failed.

Franklin TV video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kXFjCqlHya0

Field Hockey = Attleboro, 0 @ Franklin, 3 – Final

– Franklin struck twice in the opening quarter and never let Attleboro get into the game, with the Panthers’ defense holding the Bombardiers without a shot on goal. Junior Penelope Brady opened the scoring with a chip from the edge of the circle before senior Ella Marzullo tapped in a feed from sophomore Lila Reardon to double the lead. Senior Jossie Camp helped create the third in the final seconds of the third quarter, stepping up after a half-cleared corner and sending the ball back toward goal for sophomore Amelia Manning to redirect inside the far post.

Volleyball = Franklin, 3 @ Barnstable, 0 – Final

– Franklin snapped Barnstable’s seven-match winning streak with an impressive 3-0 (25-18, 25-13, 25-18) sweep down the Cape. Junior Emerson Delleo led the attack with 15 kills, four aces, and 10 digs, while senior Gianna Laurello added eight kills, seven aces, and 12 digs. Freshman Marley Lindenmeyer chipped in six kills, two aces, and 12 digs, junior Charlotte Yeulenski had five kills, and sophomore Phoebe O’Connor handed out 30 assists to go with five aces and seven digs. Senior Katelynn Crosby added 11 digs as the Panthers picked up their 14th win of the season.

Boys Cross Country = Franklin @ Taunton, 3:45

Girls Cross Country = Franklin @ Taunton, 3:45

Golf = Franklin, 149 @ Milford, 167 – Final

– Franklin capped an unbeaten run through Kelley-Rex matches with a win over Milford at Hopedale Country Club. Senior Ben Burgess fired a one-under 34 to earn match medalist honors, senior Tyler Perlman followed with a 37, and junior Bryce Botelho and sophomore Luke Swahn each shot 39. Sophomore Ben Richard led Milford with a 40, while senior Lucas Richard and sophomore Jeff Corbin each added 42s and sophomore Hank Richards finished at 43.

For other results across the Hockomock League (subscription required)

https://hockomocksports.com/thursdays-schedule-scoreboard-10-15-26/

FHS Panther sports results shared via Twitter & subscription to HockomockSports.com

Franklin TV schedule for Friday, Oct 16, 2026

• Franklin All Access TV - Our Public Access Channel         (Comcast 6, Verizon 26) = FRIDAY

8:30 am Frank Presents: Diana DiZoglio

9:00 am Frank Presents: Wayne Adams

10:00 am Aging Boldfully: Roberta Trahan

11:00 am Senior Connection: Kitchen Gadgets Pt. 3

12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin: Scones

12:30 pm Learn to Cook with Linda: Brunch Bake

1:30 pm Pizzapalooza: White Pizza

2:00 pm New England Candlepins Summer 2023 Show 3

3:00 pm Candlepin New Generation: Show 4

3:30 pm Winning Ways with the MIAA: Referee Shortage 2

5:30 pm Second Sunday Speaker Series: Hayward Manor

9:00 pm Circle of Friends - Lucy Kaplansky

• Franklin Pride TV - Our Educational Channel        (Comcast 8, Verizon 28) = FRIDAY

9:30 am Middle School Winter Music: 2025: Band

11:00 am ArtWeek: Theater in the Open

1:00 pm FHS Winter Music: Band and Wind Ensemble

2:30 pm Lifelong Winter Music 2026

4:30 pm Battleship Cove: Inside The History: Pt. 3

9:30 pm FHSTC: Curious Case of the Cottingley Fairies

• Franklin Town Hall TV - Our Government Channel (Comcast 9, Verizon 29) =  FRIDAY

8:00 am Zoning Board of Appeals 10-01-26

2:00 pm Zoning Board of Appeals 10-01-26

Get this week's program guide for Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) online  http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf   

Watch Listen Read all things that matter in Franklin MA