MA Senate announces local aid increase included in the Senate Budget

via MA Senate

"Today the Senate was proud to stand alongside municipal leaders as we announced record funding for cities and towns across our Commonwealth. The funding, known as Unrestricted General Government Aid (UGGA), is the Commonwealth’s most flexible form of municipal investment.

It allows local leaders to direct resources where their communities need them most, whether that means hiring a firefighter, keeping a library open, fixing a road, or maintaining a senior center.

Read more at: https://ow.ly/5RQu50YUHJ1"

Shared from - https://www.facebook.com/share/1GGAkC5pNL/

"The FY27 budget’s increase in Unrestricted General Government Aid will be felt in every corner of Massachusetts, from the smallest towns to larger cities. Individual UGGA funding levels for cities and towns will be made available when the Senate Committee on Ways and Means releases its full budget tomorrow—Tuesday, May 5.

Statements of Support

Adam Chapdelaine, Executive Director and CEO, Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA)

“Across the Commonwealth, communities are facing a fiscal perfect storm. The Senate’s proposal responds with strategic investments, especially through discretionary funding like UGGA. It helps provide some more breathing room to local officials, and plays a role in developing balanced budgets in our communities. On behalf of our 351 cities and towns, we’re grateful to Senate President Spilka, Chair Rodrigues, Vice Chair Comerford, Assistant Vice Chair Feeney, and the Committee for this strong action.”

Amesbury Mayor Kassandra Gove, President, Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA)

“The needs in our communities are urgent, and these strategic investments will benefit our residents and help mitigate the fiscal pressures impacting residents while better protecting essential local services. We’re grateful to the Senate for hearing the alarm bells from municipal leaders across Massachusetts, and once again providing a strong response to support our communities.”"

Full release on State budget page - https://malegislature.gov/PressRoom/Detail?pressReleaseId=1367

State Representative Jeffrey Roy Announces Passing of House Budget FY 2027

Wednesday, April 29, 2026 – State Representative Jeffrey Roy (D-Franklin) secured key funding for Franklin and Medway when the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed its Fiscal Year 2027 (FY27) budget this past week. Funded at $63.41billion, the House’s FY27 budget responds to the needs of residents, provides record support for the Commonwealth’s cities and towns, and among many critical investments, includes significant funding for education, transportation, health care, housing, and workforce development.

“I’m pleased to have been able to deliver this local aid to the district that will improve the lives of my constituents,” said Representative Roy. “As times continue to be difficult for everyone, I’m thankful to Speaker Ron Mariano, Ways and Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz and my colleagues in the House for passing this critical funding.”

House Budget FY 2027

“As a result of the Trump Administration’s sweeping federal funding cuts and reckless trade war, as well as two proposed ballot questions that seek to cut the Commonwealth’s revenues by more than $5 billion annually, this budget has come during a period of significant economic uncertainty. That’s why I’m incredibly proud of the investments that this budget makes despite those challenges, from funding for free school meals and for the final year of the Student Opportunity Act, to robust support for the MBTA, to nearly $10 billion for cities and towns across the Commonwealth,” said House Speaker Ronald J. Mariano (D-Quincy). “I want to thank Chairman Michlewitz and the Members of the House Committee on Ways and Means for all their work this budget cycle, as well as all my colleagues in the House for working to ensure that this budget delivers for every community across Massachusetts.” 

Due to responsible fiscal management, the House’s FY27 budget is balanced, and makes significant investments across several issue areas, without needing to include new taxes or tax increases. The House budget also strengthens the Stabilization Fund, which is set to reach $8.39 billion, reinforcing the state’s bond rating to keep borrowing costs down and save taxpayer money, while protecting the Commonwealth’s long-term fiscal health. 

Representative Roy’s local and statewide budget amendments include:

Franklin:

• $100,000 to the Franklin Performing Arts Company

• $100,000 to the SAFE Coalition

• $50,000 to the Franklin Food Pantry

• $25,000 to the Franklin Downtown Partnership

• $25,000 to the Franklin Creative Center for the Arts

Medway:

• $25,000 to the Medway Community Farm Agricultural Development Project

• $25,000 to the Medway Food Pantry

Statewide:

• $500,000 to the Genocide Education Trust Fund

The budget includes $10 billion in aid to cities and towns across the Commonwealth, a $477 million increase from the FY26 budget. This includes $2.7 billion for transportation and education initiatives supported through funding generated by the Fair Share ballot initiative that voters approved in November 2022, that established a surtax of 4-percent on annual income over $1 million.

Highlights of statewide FY27 budget investments include:

• $1.33 billion in Unrestricted General Government Aid

• $7.65 Billion in Chapter 70 education funding

• $470 million for the MBTA

• $623.6 million for childcare for low-income families

• $15 million for Early College

• $184.1 million for the Bureau of Substance Abuse Services 

• $258.6 million for the Emergency Assistance Shelter System

Speaker Mariano and the House Committee on Ways & Means introduced their FY27 budget proposal on April 15, 2026, following a review of the Governor’s proposal and a series of public hearings. 

The budget passed the House of Representatives 149-9 and now goes to the Senate for consideration. 

The full MA House of Representatives press release announcing this budget step can be found

https://malegislature.gov/PressRoom/Detail?pressReleaseId=1364

Boston Globe: "Mass. sheriffs pitch budget fix after spending scrutiny"

via the Boston Globe:

Boston Globe: "Mass. sheriffs pitch budget
fix after spending scrutiny"

"Massachusetts’ county sheriffs are conceding what lawmakers and a state watchdog have been warning for months: The system used to fund and oversee their offices is “opaque, chaotic, and deeply flawed” — and they have their own suggestions for how to change it as the annual budget debate gets underway.

In a letter sent last week to top budget writers, the 14 sheriffs outlined a series of reforms they said would begin to address the “real problems” that Inspector General Jeffrey Shapiro flagged in the review published earlier this year of their budgeting practices.

“We recognize that the current budget process is not working for our Offices and for the Legislature. This letter is our commitment to change that,” the sheriffs wrote in the letter sent to Senate Ways and Means chair Michael Rodrigues and House Ways and Means chair Aaron Michlewitz last Thursday and obtained by the Globe."

Continue reading the article with this share link -

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/04/23/metro/mass-sheriff-spending-budget/?s_campaign=sharetool_copypaste_view

Massachusetts House Passes Fair Share Supplemental Budget

The Massachusetts House of Representatives today (3/18/26) passed a $1.8 billion supplemental budget that invests $885 million in public transportation and $417 million in public education, and funds several Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) deficiencies.

The bill includes several local investments secured through amendments by State Representative Jeffrey N. Roy (D-Franklin) for a total of $455,000 for funding in Franklin and Medway. 

The amendments consist of: 

• $250,000 for Medway Burke/Memorial School parking lot improvements to remove rear and side parking area surface and replace with new subsurface and top course to improve pedestrian safety and address increased stormwater MS4 drainage efficiency 

• $50,000 for the creation of a CTE Teacher Access & Equity fund to provide financial assistance to beginning vocational-technical instructors for fees associated with competency-based vocational-technical teacher training performance written examinations 

• $150,000 to redesign and modernize the Franklin Middle School library/STEM space into a student-centered Library and Innovation Commons to support interdisciplinary learning, collaboration, hands-on problem solving, and an accessible gathering place. 

• $5,000 for Smarter HEPA air filters for classrooms at the Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School in Franklin

“These amendments address critical support needs for the schools in the district,” Rep. Roy said. “I was proud to join my colleagues in passing a supplemental budget that delivers meaningful investments in the priorities that matter most to our communities.”

The bill passed also includes the tax conformity legislation filed by Governor Healey that delays the state’s alignment with the corporate tax changes passed by Congress in the OB3 Act last year.

The bill delays conforming to the federal corporate tax changes that were passed by Congress in the OB3 Act last year, which will represent approximately a $400 million revenue loss for the Commonwealth when fully implemented. Under the bill, the Research and Experimental expense deduction will be delayed one year, the deductions for the Modification of Business Interest, Depreciable Asset Expensing, Qualified Production Properties will be delayed two years, and the Modification of Qualified Opportunity Zone Investments program will also be delayed two years. However, should the ballot question to lower the state income tax from 5 percent to 4 percent pass in November, which would result in a $5 billion revenue loss when fully implemented, the Commonwealth would permanently decouple from these tax credits, preventing them from going into effect.

The $1.8 billion bill is funded in part by $1.3 billion from excess Fair Share surtax funds to invest in public transportation and education. 

Highlights include: 

• $885 million towards transportation:

o $740 million towards the MBTA

 $525 million for the Deficiency Reserve

 $125 million for the Workforce & Safety Reserve

 $60 million for physical infrastructure with a focus on the core subway system

 $20 million for low-income reduced fares

 $10 million for water transportation infrastructure 

o Other transportation items include:

 $50 million for snow and ice costs

 $25 million for Regional Transit Authorities (RTAs) workforce development

 $30 million to fund the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Credit

 $30 million for MassDOT Service Investments

• $417 million towards education:

o $150 million towards Special Education Circuit Breaker costs

o $150 million to fund Early Education Child Care costs

o $38.7 million for the EEC income eligibility waitlist

 Includes $8 million for child care for providers and $7.5 million for the loan forgiveness program for providers

o $20 million for Green SchoolWorks program to help schools with clean energy upgrades

o $18.3 million for Financial Aid Supplements 

o $20 million endowment Match for UMass and other state colleges and universities 

o $5.1 million for Tomorrow’s Teachers Loan Forgiveness program

o $5 million for ESOL Services Waitlist

The bill also allocates $507 million from the General Fund:

• $300 million for the Group Insurance Commission (GIC)

• $54.4 million for sheriffs, representing half of the deficiency

o Requires reporting on the expenses of proposed usage of the funds 

• $41.6 million for DTA caseworkers

• $10 million for FIFA Boston for World Cup related expenses

The bill also includes the following outside sections: 

• Food Donation Tax Credit: Establishes a food donation tax credit for farm businesses based on the amount of food donated to a nonprofit food distribution organization. The credit is capped at $5,000 annually per individual.

• Sustainable Aviation Fuel Credit: Allows taxpayers to take a credit against the tax imposed on fuels used for aircraft propulsion and, subject to limitation, requires the amount of credit per gallon of sustainable fuel to increase by $0.015 for each additional 1 percent reduction in life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions above 50 percent. The credit is capped at $10 million total for all cumulative tax credits over a fiscal year.

• Ratifies eight Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs)

The bill passed the House of Representatives 150-3 and now goes to the Senate for consideration. 

You can find the full text of the legislation at

https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H5264

Don't get sick, research cuts may prevent the solution from being discovered

"Think about the disease that worries you most — the one that runs in your family. Or, maybe, someone you love is living with it. Whether that’s cancer, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, or depression, odds are the US government has been funding the research to treat it.

That research is a big reason we have drugs that made fatal blood cancers survivable, treatments that turned HIV from a death sentence into something people live full lives with, and a vaccine that all but prevents cervical cancer.

But, last year, the US funded dramatically fewer grants to do medical research that can lead to breakthroughs like those. New data released by the NIH this week shows how the damage from those cuts broke down. The numbers are striking across the board."

Read the full story at the link - https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/482363/nih-medical-research-grants-cut-2025

Shared from - https://www.instagram.com/p/DV1YIPyk33O/

This Chalkboard Chat shares insights into the FY 2027 budget and implications (audio)

FM #1652 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1652 in the series. 

This session shares my conversation with School Committee Chair Paul Griffith.  We had our discussion via Zoom on Monday, February 2, 2026. We condense and get into the explanations behind the key items from the recent School Committee meeting January 27, 2026.

Our conversation covered the following topics:

Budget, and budget implications

Budget hearing Feb 10, budget vote Feb 24

Health care costs proposed to move to Town Account 910

Simplification, ensure all depts now have apples to apples budget comparison

Hold harmless, Chap 70 local contribution under re-evaluation

Special education reimbursement, cost advantages of in house programs

Policy updates

Remote participation

Middle school awareness of pathways

ECDC tuition re-voted to correct an oversight

Our conversation runs about 49 minutes. Let’s listen

Audio link - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1652-chalkboard-chat-02-02-26/

The YouTube video of our conversation -> https://youtu.be/dh4BqY7UvtI

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

School Committee page (with contact info) - https://www.franklinps.net/o/fpsd/page/school-committee 

School Committee subcommittee assignments - 

https://www.franklinps.net/o/fpsd/page/subcommittees-and-liaisons 

Franklin TV video is available for replay - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-UxhayAn6s 

The agenda can be found - https://files-backend.assets.thrillshare.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4780/Fpsd/8d6ca562-53e6-4ea4-a1af-54dc11571527/SCAGENDA-1-27-26.pdf?disposition=inline 

FY 2027 budget presentation doc -

https://files-backend.assets.thrillshare.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4780/Fpsd/f0eb6e5e-b914-4650-9811-892c46570b5f/FINAL---FY27-Superintendents-Recommended-Budget-%282%29.pdf?disposition=inline 

Released documents will be posted to the 'packet folder' - https://www.franklinps.net/documents/departments/school-committee/meeting-packets/2025---26-meeting-packets/january-27%2C-2026-sc-meeting-packet/24906664 

My notes in one PDF file -  https://drive.google.com/file/d/140kTZI5bmwVFlufRsU54cNneJ2BytZ-c/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 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"

Governor Maura Healey released her proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2027 (FY 2027)

To the people of Massachusetts,

As we begin the fourth and final year of our first term in office, the Healey-Driscoll Administration remains as focused as ever on making Massachusetts a more affordable place to work, learn and do business, while also protecting our people, our communities and our economy.

These principles have guided our decision making and informed our agenda, leading to the enactment of the first major tax cuts in Massachusetts in decades and the passage of legislation to speed housing production, improve education, strengthen businesses and upgrade our roads, bridges and public transportation.

We have filed new proposals to curb energy costs, rebuild our higher education campuses and bolster our research and innovation economy. And we look forward to partnering with the Legislature to pass these and more as we work every day to improve the lives of constituents from Boston to the Berkshires.

While our goals have not changed, the challenges confronting us have.

For the past year, it has become clear that we no longer have a partner in Washington. In fact, since President Donald J. Trump took office in January 2025, we have had an adversary in the White House working to undo and undermine our efforts to provide accessible and affordable health care, prepare our young students for the future, grow our economy, bring more energy into our state to lower costs, and keep our communities safe.

From tariffs and attacks on offshore wind to a retreat from science that continues to disrupt our higher education, life sciences and research ecosystem, President Trump and Republicans in Congress are doing more than ever before to make life harder and less affordable in Massachusetts.

Our challenges are not unique. Other states, like Massachusetts, are confronting rising health care and energy costs. Reduced federal support is putting pressure on governors and state legislatures to balance budgets while continuing to help schools prepare our young people for college and careers, care for those with mental health challenges and support cities and towns straining to deliver basic services.

But this is no time to back down. Instead, Massachusetts must lead. And that’s exactly what we are doing.

Governor Maura Healey released her proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2027 (FY 2027)

Continue reading Governor Healey's message ->

https://budget.digital.mass.gov/govbudget/fy27/governors-message/

Find all the documents for the FY 2027 State budget as released ->

https://budget.digital.mass.gov/govbudget/fy27/

MassBudget: "Preliminary Analysis of Governor Healey’s FY 2027 Budget"

Today (Jan 28, 2026), Governor Maura Healey released her proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2027 (FY 2027). 

This proposal starts the FY 2027 budget cycle and outlines the governor’s plan to spend over $62.8 billion, including $2.7 billion in Fair Share surtax spending, a nearly 4 percent increase over FY 2026. 

The governor’s FY 2027 proposal was filed alongside a supplemental budget proposal for the current fiscal year (FY 2026) with recommended uses for the $1.15 billion in additional one-time Fair Share spending.

Statement from Viviana Abreu-Hernandez, Ph.D., MassBudget President

“The Commonwealth continues to benefit greatly from the Fair Share surtax. The governor’s FY 2027 budget proposal shows that due to the Fair Share revenue, the state can continue to invest in education and transportation services, programs, and infrastructure.

We are pleased to see that the budget proposal, with support from the Fair Share, continues to fund operational grants for child care providers, free buses through the Regional Transit Authorities (RTAs) across the state, and free school meals for all Massachusetts children to name a few. The proposal also supports the final year of the Student Opportunity Act. We are also glad to see funding to support new vouchers through the state’s rental voucher program. 

While the governor’s proposed budget calls for critical investments in education and transportation, there are areas where it falls short. The proposal does not adequately fund upstream housing programs that prevent displacement of residents at risk of eviction or foreclosure.  Keeping families and individuals stably housed and having a solid commitment to housing affordability should always be a state priority, both in terms of spending and revenues.

MassBudget: "Preliminary Analysis of Governor Healey’s FY 2027 Budget"

Continue reading the statement -> https://massbudget.org/2026/01/28/massbudget-statement-on-governor-healeys-fy-2027-budget-proposal/

For additional analysis of the FY 2027 state budget as released ->

https://massbudget.org/2026/01/28/massbudgets-preliminary-analysis-of-governor-healeys-fy-2027-budget-and-fy-2026-supplemental-budget-proposals/

MMA Podcast: Building Trust and Resilience in Local Leadership (audio)

What are the real pressures facing local leaders in Massachusetts in 2026? 

"We are not built to go out of business but we are funded to go out of business."

In this episode, we speak with the outgoing president and incoming president of the MMA — Franklin Town Administrator Jaime Hellen and Amesbury Mayor Kassandra Gove, respectively — as they go in-depth about how local leaders are often torn in multiple directions and work to achieve success for their communities under the constraints of time, staffing and budgets. 

They share how fortunate they feel to do the work they do, despite the challenges, and how the MMA is the “glue” that brings local leaders together to solve mutual problems. They also discuss tackling funding shortfalls, and what they’ve learned from their mutual love of hiking.

For Further Reading:

• More on Jaime and Kassandra’s leadership: https://www.mma.org/jamie-hellen-is-new-mma-president-kassandra-gove-is-vp/
• To learn more about the MMA: www.mma.org

Listen On Spotify ->  https://open.spotify.com/episode/3sJHSmaKU2ZC71rVSiRGtH 

CommonWealth Beacon: "Municipalities seek big batch of state cash to navigate financial crunch "

"AFTER WARNING ABOUT the “perfect storm” on the horizon, the organization representing Bay State cities and towns has ideas on how to chart a course through the fiscal rains and winds. 

CommonWealth Beacon: "Municipalities
seek big batch of state cash
to navigate financial crunch "

The Massachusetts Municipal Association on Thursday (12/11/25) offered up a package of steps it wants Beacon Hill to take in support of strained city and town hall finances, including a gargantuan increase in local aid and reforms to loosen — but not eliminate — the property tax cap law known as Proposition 2½.  

The 10-page report formalizes a major request for action on behalf of all 351 cities and towns, adding more pressure on the Legislature to come to the rescue of their municipal counterparts and constituents. "

Continue reading the CommonWealth Beacon article ->

https://commonwealthbeacon.org/government/local-government/municipalities-seek-big-batch-of-state-cash-to-navigate-financial-crunch/

MMA report on perfect storm -> https://www.mma.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/MMA-APerfectStorm-HistoricFiscalPressures-report-10.9.25.pdf

New 10 page report -> https://www.mma.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/MMA-Navigating_the_Storm_report-12.11.25.pdf

"Progressive reforms often include concessions such as hold harmless clauses for political feasibility" (video)

Tracy O'Connell Novick (@TracyNovick) posted Mon, Sep 15, 2025:

"Progressive reforms often include concessions such as hold harmless clauses for political feasibility, which can limit their potential equalizing effects."

#amreading

Shared from -> https://t.co/PMOzfQoyKK 

You can also go directly to the article Tracy references ->   https://www.aera.net/Newsroom/Slow-Progress-School-Finance-Reforms-and-Racial-Disparities-in-Funding

Video brief from article co-author -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDz2cse0WnU

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 

Federal funding by state (chart)

Who really depends on Washington?

Source: Visual Capitalist

https://www.voronoiapp.com/economy/Visualized-Which-US-States-Need-the-Federal-Government-the-Most-5485