Let's pick a Day/Time for a weekend session of the monthly Franklin Q&A (survey)

We need to find a day and time of day that would work for the most folks to participate in a monthly Franklin Q&A session. There is one at the Senior Center on the 3rd Wednesday each month. 

There was a trial during 2025 for Monday evenings at the Franklin Library that didn't work well enough to continue.

So let's try a weekend at the Franklin TV Studio:

• Either a Saturday - late morning, early afternoon
• Or a Sunday, late afternoon, or early evening

Mark the day / time combination that you'd prefer with a 1 (top), 2 (still works) or choice of No (can't make it)

Note: whatever day/time combination is chosen, there would be a remote option (via Zoom) to participate as well.

Let's pick a Day/Time for a weekend session of the monthly Franklin Q&A (survey)

Survey form link -> https://forms.gle/qk5xKmWvH2B1KAf18

Town Council closes out year approving license renewals, hearing about the snow plowing process, recognizing 3 teams (video)

The Franklin Town Council closed out the calendar year with a meeting on Wednesday, Dec 17, 2025. All 9 members participated, 1 remotely so all votes were recorded via roll call.

Franklin TV video is available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ti39-iOe-eo

Agenda doc  -> 

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_12172025-2062 

My notes taken during the meeting in one PDF file ->

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1stKCN6LNIlCgPA_AobKLmkIsS6109ozr/view?usp=drive_link

Brief recap:

• recognition of 8th Grade Franklin Panthers Football Team, Franklin High School Cheerleading Team, and the Franklin High School Girls’ Volleyball Team was followed by a brief recess to allow for group photos
• Council on Aging - Christopher (Kit) Brady appointment approved via 9-0 roll call
• Annual License Renewals “2026 Town of Franklin Alcohol License Renewals”  were approved after brief discussion on process by the 9-0 roll call vote
  https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/7857/7a-1---MEMO---License-Renewals
• Snow Presentation - Brutus Cantoreggi, DPW Director & Carlos Rebelo, Highway/Grounds Superintendent   
  https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/7855/Snow-Presentation---December-17-2025
• Social Equity Policy Discussion was a long one and the topic will be added to a meeting already planned between Councilor Malloy and TA Hellen to review additional changes to be brought back to the Council. Maybe the State will have provided feedback on the submittal already made
  https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/7841/Local-Approval-Process-and-Social-Equity-Policy 
• Town Charter Presentation was brief (3 pages) on process, the discussion was much longer. To summarize  depending upon the change being proposed, either the charter commission process or the ad-hoc committee would be the way to go. As the changes are not yet outlined, the ad-hoc committee will be art of the goals discussion in January to at least determine what the listing of changes desired are and then determine which way to go
  https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/7848/2023-11-01-Town-Charter-Presentation 
• Citizen Satisfaction Survey: Not sure how to summarize the discussion on this  
  https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/polco.nrc/viz/TheNCSReport-FranklinMA2025/About
• Resolution 25-83: Gift Acceptance - Veterans Services Dept. ($91,072.88), Senior Center (21,275.73), Police Dept. ($710.74)  was accepted by the roll call 9-0 vote   https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/7854/9a-Gifts

Meeting adjourned after 10 PM

group photo of all 3 teams with Council

Potpourri agenda for last Town Council meeting in 2025

Franklin Town Council

Agenda & Meeting Packet

December 17, 2025 = 6:00 PM

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

a. November 12, 2025   

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/7849/November-12-2025-TC-Meeting-Minutes--Draft-for-Review

b. November 19, 2025   

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/7833/3a-November-19-2025-TC-Meeting-Minutes--Draft-for-Review

4. PROCLAMATIONS / RECOGNITIONS

a. 8th Grade Franklin Panthers Football Team

b. Franklin High School Cheerleading Team

c. Franklin High School Girls’ Volleyball Team

5. APPOINTMENTS

a. Council on Aging - Christopher (Kit) Brady   https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/7856/5a-Appointment-Kit-Brady

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

 

7. LICENSE TRANSACTIONS

a. Annual License Renewals

i. See attached “2026 Town of Franklin Alcohol License Renewals”  

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/7857/7a-1---MEMO---License-Renewals

8. PRESENTATIONS / DISCUSSION

a. Snow Presentation - Brutus Cantoreggi, DPW Director & Carlos Rebelo, Highway/Grounds Superintendent   

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/7855/Snow-Presentation---December-17-2025

b. Social Equity Policy Discussion  

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/7841/Local-Approval-Process-and-Social-Equity-Policy

c. Town Charter Presentation  

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/7848/2023-11-01-Town-Charter-Presentation

d. Citizen Satisfaction Survey: the town is headed in the wrong direction  

https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/polco.nrc/viz/TheNCSReport-FranklinMA2025/About

9. LEGISLATION FOR ACTION

a. Resolution 25-83: Gift Acceptance - Veterans Services Dept. ($91,072.88), Senior Center (21,275.73), Police Dept. ($710.74)

(Motion to Approve Resolution 25-83 - Majority Vote)  

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/7854/9a-Gifts

10. TOWN ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

11. SUBCOMMITTEE & AD HOC COMMITTEE REPORTS

slide from the snow presentation

12. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

13. COUNCIL COMMENTS

14. EXECUTIVE SESSION - None Scheduled.

15. ADJOURN

Note: Two-Thirds Vote: requires 6 votes

Majority Vote: requires majority of members present and voting

Agenda doc contains remote participation info -> 

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_12172025-2062 

Your input sought for the Out Metrowest Community Survey - closes August 25

Out Metrowest Community
Survey - closes August 25

TAKE OUR 15 MINUTE COMMUNITY SURVEY!🌈

We have begun our new strategic planning process, and we need YOUR input to shape the next 3-5 years of our LGBTQ+ programming and community engagement!

Please take 15 minutes to complete our community survey today! We are hoping to collect at least 100 responses from youth, parents and caregivers, community members, and organizational partners by August 25th at 5pm. This survey is completely anonymous. If you choose to share your email with us, you will be entered into a gift basket drawing!

Take our survey -> https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeRbG8iQJSzdBZ1DVFYaRsRB5umqASksVxBOhF913ZnN53rEQ/viewform

Town Council meeting audio split into 2 parts: Survey Says discussion & Everything but the survey (audio)

FM #1473-1474  This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1473-1474 in the series. 

This session (1473) shares “everything but” the Polco Community Survey results discussion of the Franklin (MA) Town Council on Wednesday, June 18, 2025. 8 of the members started the meeting in Council Chambers (1 arrived before the Executive Session started).  

• The meeting opens 

• Chief McLaughlin’s retirement announcement

• Citizen comments

• Electric Youth performance & proclamation

• Appointments, Farmers license for La Cantina Winery

• Legislation for action

• Council Comments

• Executive Session

• Approval of contracts

This session (1474) shares the Polco Community Survey results discussion during the Town Council Meeting of Wednesday, June 18, 2025.

#1473 = The “everything but” survey discussion recording runs about 1.5 hours  

Audio link => https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1473-town-council-mtg-everything-but-survey-06-18-25/

#1474 = The survey discussion recording runs about 1 hour and 10 minutes

Audio link =>  https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1474-town-council-mtg-survey-says-06-18-25/

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

The Franklin TV video is available for replay ->  https://www.youtube.com/live/RpRNbG1tXVw?&t=188 

Agenda doc ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06182025-1788

Community Survey Report ->  https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/5956/8a-Polco-Survey-Final-Report

Presentation doc ->   https://franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5945/Polco---The-NCS-Presentation-Franklin-MA-2025 

Town presentation doc by Town Administrator Jamie Hellen ->   https://franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5946/Town-of-Franklin---The-NCSPresentation 

All the details in the survey are posted on one Town page ->   https://franklinma.gov/974/National-Community-Survey

My complete set of notes captured during the meeting

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bUOaCgv7a1pv5MHGIqweTwmKy2MkAEjW/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"

Town Council meeting audio split into 2 parts: Survey Says discussion & Everything but the survey (audio)

Tom & I recap the Town Council Mtg of June 18 in this "quarterbacking" session (audio)

FM #1472 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1472 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 Friday, June 20, 2025. Our conversation condensed the Town Council meeting of June 18, 2025.

We focus on two questions:

• ok, what just happened? 

• What does it mean for Franklin residents and taxpayers?

Discussion items: 

• Fire Chief McLaughlin reads his statement announcing his retirement on or before Oct 1, 2025. 

• Electric Youth made their annual 'bon voyage' appearance to perform an a cappella number fittingly "Time of my Life" from the Dirty Dancing movie

• Appointment to the Council on Aging: Elizabeth Sawyer, approved

• Appointment to the Disability Commission: Cheryl Fisher, approved

• Motion made and approved to create the Franklin 250 Celebration Committee

• La Cantina was approved for their Farmers Market license

• The Community Survey results were released and explained. Results can be compared with over 500 communities. Good response rate, among the best at 20%, effectively a better representation of the sense of the community with the random sample selection. Paid via Federal grant money as a pilot program. No definitive timeline for a next survey. Likely a discussion later this year on what the results can be used for

• Resolution 25-39: FY25 Budget Transfers. Balancing the books better before they close out June 30. Out of $150m budget balancing on $40k is amazing

• Council enters Executive Session shortly after to discuss contract negotiation.  They returned approx. 15 minutes later to approve 7 motions certifying the contract with Town side bargaining units. All received the same 2.5% COLA that the School teachers agreed to, for a 3 year term

The conversation runs about 30 minutes

Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1472-town-council-quarterbacking-06-18-25/

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

The Franklin TV video is available for replay ->  https://www.youtube.com/live/RpRNbG1tXVw?&t=188 

Agenda doc ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_06182025-1788 

Community Survey results

Report ->  https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/5956/8a-Polco-Survey-Final-Report 

Presentation doc ->   https://franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5945/Polco---The-NCS-Presentation-Franklin-MA-2025

Tom & I recap the Town Council Mtg of June 1
8 in this "quarterbacking" session (audio)

Town presentation doc by Town Administrator Jamie Hellen ->   https://franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5946/Town-of-Franklin---The-NCSPresentation

All the details in the survey are posted on one Town page ->   https://franklinma.gov/974/National-Community-Survey

My complete set of notes captured during the meeting

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1bUOaCgv7a1pv5MHGIqweTwmKy2MkAEjW/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"