The official results of the override special election are now available. Minor changes to the counts but not to the overall percent turnout. That remains at 40%
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| Official Override Results: The NO's take it by 196 votes |
Yes = 5107 5542
No = 5303 5778
Blank = 4 5
Total = 10,414 11,325
Margin = 196 236
Percent turnout 40% 45%
Total registered voters = 25,865
FM #1462 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1462 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, June 5, 2025. Our conversation condensed the Town Council meeting of June 4, 2025 and the closeout of the FY 2025 budget approval in light of the failed override June 3, 2025.
We focus on two questions:
ok, what just happened?
What does it mean for Franklin residents and taxpayers?
Discussion items:
FY 2026 Budget adjusted for Option B and approved
Thanks to all involved for their efforts and collaboration through the Joint Budget process and in resolving the required cuts
What’s next, another Joint Budget series starts in the fall
The next couple of budget years are going to be equally tough, we need to work together to figure this out
THis weekend brings the Farmers Market opening, FHS Class of 2025 graduation, PorchFest returns on Saturday, there is a lot happening
The conversation runs about 25 minutes
Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1462-town-council-quarterbacking-06-05-25/
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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
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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"
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| Tom Mercer & I condense the 4 hour Council meeting to about 20 minutes (audio) |
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| Library & Senior Center events |
Massachusetts Strategic Health Group
Tuesday, June 3 Time: 1:00 PM
https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06032025-1766
School Committee Superintendent's Evaluation Sub Committee
Tuesday, June 3 Time: 5:30 PM
https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06032025-1726
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| What's happening today in Franklin? |
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| Voices of Franklin: Town Councilor Glenn Jones says "get out to vote June 3" (video) |
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| Early voting was held at the Town Clerk's office |
To the failed dedicated override for road repairs for $1M that folks chose not to accept in 2014. Yes, even after hearing that the Town needed to confirm that money for the override would be spent for a specific item, the voters chose not to fund needed road repairs.
Whether you call it the “fiscal cliff” or the “structural deficit”, it really comes down to a math problem. More money required to fund existing services than is scheduled to come in due to the 2 ½ override restrictions. You can try to ignore it but inflation is the major driver. Councilor Jones calculated the inflation impact of Prop 2 ½ since 1983 during the override discussions in the run up to the June 2024 failed attempt.
It is so much easier to blame someone else for the problem. That avoids the harsh reality of the situation our community faces. It seems there are a number of relatives of Rodney Dangerfield (“I get no respect”) who live here. They attempt to dominate or divert the conversation from facing reality. It gets a chuckle, laughed off, and the tragedy remains in front of us.
So the Town took on a massive effort with
6 Joint Budget Listening Sessions
3 Finance Committee budget hearings
2 Town Council budget hearings
In the run up to the special election Tuesday, June 3 at Franklin High School gymnasium from 6 AM to 8 PM.
Of the 25,865 registered Franklin voters, 2431 ballots have been cast by early and absentee voters (through 5/30/25 close of business) for this election per Town Clerk Nancy Danello.
The questions that remain?
How many of the remaining voters will turn out on Tuesday?
Will they be Rodney’s relatives? Or will they fund the current services our community needs?
When will we get an answer?
We’ll find out by about 9 PM Tuesday evening.
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| Special Election June 3, 2025 - Collection of info on the FY 2026 Override |
** Election prep resources
Joint Budget Listening Session “Watch, Listen, or Read” info https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/02/joint-budget-listening-sessions-fy-2026.html
Finance Committee Budget Hearing “Watch, Listen, or Read” info https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/05/finance-committee-fy-2026-budget.html
Town Council budget hearings “Watch or Listen” info https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/05/town-council-fy-2026-budget-hearing-1-2.html
The More Perfect Union radio show has resumed with an episode on the Special Election June 3
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/05/more-perfect-union-wfpr-98-june-3rd.html
The most recent Town Council Quarterbacking session summarizes the Council budget hearings and the all alcohol license transactions they approved in the May 22 meeting
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/05/tom-mercer-i-condense-2-budget-hearings.html
** Campaign Reports
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/06/campaign-finance-reports-for-special.html
** Voices of Franklin
Voices of Franklin: Jane Callaway-Tripp "The Cost of Silence: A Town at a Crossroads" https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/06/voices-of-franklin-jane-callaway-tripp.html Voices of Franklin: Town Councilor Glenn Jones says "get out to vote June 3" (video) https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/06/voices-of-franklin-town-councilor-glenn.html
Voices of Franklin: Arielle Shearer - 3 Reasons to Vote Yes https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/05/voices-of-franklin-arielle-shearer-3.html Voices of Franklin: Aaron Gouveia on keeping Franklin "safe and educated" https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/05/voices-of-franklin-aaron-gouveia-on.html Voices of Franklin: Councilor Ted Cormier-Leger advocates for voting Yes (video) https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/05/voices-of-franklin-councilor-ted.html Voices of Franklin: Councilor Melanie Hamblen encouraging civil discourse (video) https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/05/voices-of-franklin-councilor-melanie.html Voices of Franklin: Mark Minnichelli advocates for Yes on the Override https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/05/voices-of-franklin-mark-minnichelli.html Voices of Franklin: Rep Jeff Roy on voting Yes for the override (video) https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/05/voices-of-franklin-rep-jeff-roy-on.html Voices of Franklin: Cobi Frongillo for the FY 2026 Override (video) https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/05/voices-of-franklin-cobi-frongillo-for.html Voices of Franklin: Councilor Jones advocates for the Override June 3 https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/05/voices-of-franklin-councilor-jones.html Voices of Franklin: Roberta Trahan voting "Yes" for the June 3 Override https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/05/voices-of-franklin-roberta-trahan.html Voices of Franklin: KP Sompally urges a “YES” vote by June 3 https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/05/voices-of-franklin-kp-sompally-urges.html Voices of Franklin: Donna Grady outlines the reasons for voting "Yes" on or before June 3 https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/05/voices-of-franklin-donna-grady-outlines.html Voices of Franklin: One Franklin "Shared Values Lead to a Common Goal" https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/04/voices-of-franklin-one-franklin-shared.html Voices of Franklin: Watch "Franklin Together" on YouTube https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/04/voices-of-franklin-watch-franklin.html Voices of Franklin: Melanie Hamblen supporting the June 3 Override to save town services https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/04/voices-of-franklin-melanie-hamblen.html Voices of Franklin: Selena Cousin's statement at the Joint Budget Listening Session - Mar 12, 2025 https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/03/voices-of-franklin-selena-cousins.html Voices of Franklin: O'Sullivan - Why I voted 'No' Wednesday night https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/03/voices-of-franklin-osullivan-why-i.html Voices of Franklin: Time for Listening Sessions https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/03/voices-of-franklin-time-for-listening.html
