Showing posts with label town council. Show all posts
Showing posts with label town council. Show all posts

Thursday, May 21, 2026

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Thursday, May 21, 2026 ???

Thursday, May 21



7:00pm Rising Stars Cabaret (THE BLACK BOX)

7:00pm BEN 4 FRANKLIN (meeting canceled this month)



For Library events -> https://www.franklinma.gov/942/Calendar-of-Events
For Library events ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/942/Calendar-of-Events



For additional details on Senior Center events -> https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/9195/May-2026-Newsletter?bidId=
For additional details on Senior Center events ->   




***    Town Meetings today   ***

Town Council Monthly Office Hours
Thursday, May 21 Time: 8:30 AM
No agenda for this informal session

Pole Petition Hearing - Panther Way
Thursday, May 21 Time: 1:00 PM

Town Council Meeting (Council Chambers)
Thursday, May 21 Time: 6:00 PM

Conservation Commission (3rd Floor Trng Room)
Thursday, May 21 Time: 7:00 PM


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Find the full Community event calendar  https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:  https://bit.ly/Submit2Calendar

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Second Budget Hearing at Town Council meeting Thursday, May 21 - 6 PM

The second FY 2027 budget hearing is scheduled for the Town Council meeting tonight, May 21 at 6 PM.  

Assuming the normal format was followed on Wednesday night, the questions left over (not answered) usually are answered on Thursday. While there normally is a vote on the budget, recall that it was revealed that the current budget version would not be revised to include 
  • the latest from the Senate or House versions
  • the actual costs for the GIC health plans for FY 2027
  • the Finance Committee recommendations.
Until after Memorial Day, and hence may be ready for the Finance Committee meeting May 27. (Late breaking word says the 27th meeting is to be cancelled, the health care numbers are not yet available.)

The Finance Committee is also scheduled to meet June 3; at this session, the Finance Committee will (finally) get to vote on the revised budget.

The Town Council mets on June 10 and at that time will get to close out this portion of the FY 2027 budget with a vote. 

So settle in, the questions and answers are going to be interesting to see which way the Council will go on the budget.

Town Council budget hearing #1 agenda

Town Council budget hearing #2 agenda

Finance Committee budget hearings covered spent 16+ hours reviewing, questioning, and deliberating on the FY 2027 budget over 4 nights. The YouTube videos are available on the TV Town Hall Channel. The meeting recap for each session is available at Franklin.News
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Wednesday, May 20, 2026

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Wednesday, May 20, 2026 ???

Wednesday, May 20

7:00am Dana-Farber Mammograms Van (New England Chapel) 
12:00pm Once Upon A Town (live taping) (Franklin TV and Radio Studio) 
1:00pm "Where's the Toast?" Memory Cafe (Franklin Senior Center) 
2:00pm Women's Health Expo (New England Chapel) 
6:00pm FHS Senior Student Recital (Franklin United Methodist Curch)
6:30pm Bingo night (Kings Brick Oven Pizza & Pub) 
6:30pm Franklin Elks Bingo Night (Franklin Elks Lodge #2136) 
7:00pm Smarty Pants Trivia (Raillery Public House)



For Library events -> https://www.franklinma.gov/942/Calendar-of-Events
For Library events ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/942/Calendar-of-Events



For additional details on Senior Center events -> https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/9195/May-2026-Newsletter?bidId=
For additional details on Senior Center events ->   




***    Town Meetings today   ***

Town Council Meeting - budget hearing #1

Wednesday, May 20 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_05202026-2323

 


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Find the full Community event calendar  https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar

If you have an event to add to the calendar, you can use the form to submit it for publication:  https://bit.ly/Submit2Calendar

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Town Council FY 2027 budget hearings scheduled over 2 nights; May 20 & May 21

The Town Council meetings over the next 2 nights will give the new, and yes, since they haven't (most of them anyway), done a budget hearing before, this is all new to the Council.

The normal format is Wednesday, the first night, the line item summary for each of the departments is read aloud by the Clerk of the Council. As it is read, a member (or multiple members) placed a hold on a department line item for follow-up (question, comment, etc.). 

A few departments are generally held automatically by the Chair (Police, Fire, Schools, DPW, Facilities). 

After the list of holds is confirmed, the Council will start back at the beginning of the listing (account number order per the voting document) to address the question for that item. Councilors first, then Council Chamber community members, then Zoom participants, until all questions/comments were addressed for each item.

If any questions can't be answered (usually due to additional research required), those are carried over to the second night. After all those are done, the Council usually votes on the budget.

Not this time around.

Recall that at the end of the 4 Finance Committee hearings, it was revealed that the current budget version would not be revised to include 
  • the latest from the Senate or House versions
  • the actual costs for the GIC health plans for FY 2027
  • the Finance Committee recommendations.
Until after Memorial Day, and ready for the Finance Committee meeting May 27. The Finance Committee is also scheduled to meet June 3, at one of these 2 sessions, the Finance Committee will get to vote on the revised budget. The Town Council mets on June 10 and will at that time get to close out this portion of the FY 2027 budget. 

So settle in, the questions and answers are going to be interesting to see which way the Council will go on the budget.

Town Council budget hearing #1 agenda

Town Council budget hearing #2 agenda

Finance Committee budget hearings covered spent 16+ hours reviewing, questioning, and deliberating on the FY 2027 budget over 4 nights. The YouTube videos are available on the TV Town Hall Channel. The meeting recap for each session is available at Franklin.News
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Wednesday, May 13, 2026

Reminder 2nd Town Council meeting of the week, Wednesday, May 13

Attend or watch the upcoming Franklin Town Council Meeting !!!
  • Wednesday, May 13 - 6:00 PM
  • Council Chambers at the Franklin Municipal Building

Residents are welcome to attend in person or participate remotely via Zoom 💻

Watch live on Franklin Town Hall TV: https://buff.ly/PBWYAZF

View the agenda and webinar link here: https://buff.ly/XX3OpAH





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Monday, May 11, 2026

Franklin, MA: Agenda for the Town Council meeting May 13 at 6 PM

The Town Council on Wednesday gets the annual update on the funding requirements and progress made for the Other Post Employment Benefits (OPEB) as well as votes on the second readings for the zoning changes to the MBTA Compliance code and the Crossing Neighborhood District, along with an adjustment to the Council meeting schedule for October.

The agenda doc also contains remote participation info

Franklin, MA: Agenda for the Town Council meeting May 13 at 6 PM
Franklin, MA: Agenda for the Town Council meeting May 13 at 6 PM


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Friday, May 8, 2026

Franklin, MA: Agenda for joint Town Council & School Committee meeting on Tuesday, May 12

Franklin Town Council
Agenda & Meeting Packet
May 12, 2026 = 7:00 PM


This is a joint meeting of the Franklin Town Council and Franklin School Committee.

Meeting will take place at the Franklin Municipal Building: 
355 East Central Street - 2nd Floor, Council Chambers


1. PRESENTATIONS / DISCUSSION

a. Discussion and potential selection of bidders from the Request for Statements of Interest issued by the Franklin Town Council and School Committee for a strategic plan.

i. Request for Statement of Interest for Development of a Strategic Plan   https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/9423/2026-04-17--Req-for-Information-Strategic-Plan

ii. Presentations (via Zoom) 
7:00 - 7:30: Raftelis  

7:35 - 8:05: Capital Strategic Solutions 

8:10 - 8:40: BME Strategies 


2. ADJOURN


Note: Two-Thirds Vote: requires 6 votes
Majority Vote: requires majority of members present and voting

The agenda doc also contains remote participation info
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Monday, May 4, 2026

Town Council's Communication Subcmte meets for the first time Monday, April 27 (audio)

This session shares the Town Council Communications Subcommittee Meeting. The meeting was held in the 3rd floor training room at the Municipal Building on Monday, April 27, 2026.


Subcommittee Chair Caroline Griffith, members Jane Callaway-Tripp, Max Morrongiello, and Gene Grella (remote) also participated. Operations Manager Julie McCann and Director of Communications & Community Engagement Liz Kalaijian participated.


The recording runs about 1 hour & 20 minutes, so let’s listen in.

Audio link - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1740-town-council-communications-subcmte-mtg-04-27-26/

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Franklin TV video = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouZWNXNKTd8 


Meeting agenda - https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04272026-2270  


My set of notes from the meeting in one PDF - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JiB0YpZXFHfWRnnMBQM7u26r8qx6cOiJ/view?usp=drive_link


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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!

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


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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Friday, May 1, 2026

Listen to the first session of the Joint Budget Subcommittee Thursday, April 16, 2026 (audio)

FM #1736 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1736 in the series. 


This session shares the Joint Budget Subcommittee Meeting held on Thursday, April 16, 2026. 


The recording runs about 1 hour & 55 minutes, so let’s listen in.


Audio link -  https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1736-joint-budget-subcmte-mtg-04-16-26/

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


Franklin TV video is available for replay

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbKccD9CA3Q 


The agenda for this session

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04162026-2252  


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

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"


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Tuesday, April 28, 2026

Town Council's Communication Subcmte meets for the first time Monday, April 27 (video)

The Town Council's Communication Subcmte met for the first time on Monday, April 27, 2026 as scheduled at noon. All four members participated, 3 in the 3rd floor training room, 1 remote (Grella).

Chair Caroline Griffith opened the session. She opened for comments from the committee members on what their ideas were. Councilor Max Morrongiello, then Councilor Jane Callaway-Tripp and Councilor Gene Grella shared their ideas before Chair Griffith completed the round.

Liz Kalaijian, Director of Communications & Community Engagement as well as Julie McCann, Operations Manager participated.






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Friday, April 24, 2026

Town Council Communications Subcmte Meeting - Monday, April 27 at noon

Town Council Communications Subcmte Meeting - Monday, April 27 at noon
Town Council Communications Subcmte
Meeting - Monday, April 27 at noon
Upcoming Communications Subcommittee Meeting Next Week

Monday, April 27, 2026 = 12:00 PM

Franklin Municipal Building, 3rd Floor Training Room

View the agenda: https://buff.ly/xMpUB3V

Residents are welcome to attend in person, or participate remotely:



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