Agenda for the Joint Budget Subcommittee Meeting - Wedsneday, Oct 7, 2026

Joint Budget Subcommittee Meeting

(Members of the Town Council, School Committee, and Finance Committee)

Agenda & Meeting Packet

October 7, 2026, 6:00 PM

Franklin Municipal Building: Council Chambers

355 East Central Street, 2nd Floor

Agenda

1. Call the Meeting to Order

2. Approval of Minutes

a. August 13, 2026

3. Vote on Joint Budget Subcommittee Goals

4. Discussion of Franklin Finances 101 Educational Video Series

5. Kitchen Table Discussion: FY27 Financial Baseline

6. Revenue Ideation - Initial list of revenues to research

7. Future Agenda Items/Next Meeting Date

a. Revenue Ideation follow up

b. Massachusetts Municipal Association A Perfect Storm and Navigating the Storm reports

8. Adjournment

Agenda document contains remote participation info

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/11250/2026-10-07-JBSC-agenda-packet

The Franklin 250th Anniversary Celebration Cmte updates the Town Council - 09/16/26

This session shares a key segment of the Franklin (MA) Town Council meeting held on Wednesday, September 16, 2026. The Council held this session as scheduled beginning at 6 PM. 9 members participated in Chambers, 1 left not feeling well.  

The key segments of the meeting recording are divided into 4 parts

Part 1 - Franklin Food Pantry Update - Tina Powderly, Executive Director, Franklin Food Pantry; presentation slides  https://photos.app.goo.gl/2f1TjPBcXfMxVthM8  

Part 2 - State Rep Roy and Senator Rausch with a legislative update

Part 3 - Jen Levine with an update from the SAFE Coalition slides being captured to share via photo album - https://photos.app.goo.gl/1rD2MyGQg6hkdjC97g 

*** Part 4 - The 250 anniversary celebration committee, the slides captured https://photos.app.goo.gl/bN3cFQPgHFQLCWm46 

Quick Recap:

The recap and my notes can be found

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/09/town-council-approve-west-as-police.html 

Audio link - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1834-250th-anniversary-cmte-update-to-town-council-09-16-26/

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

Follow along with the agenda here

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09162026-2512

The full meeting is available via the FRANKLIN TV video 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfKg2tTQll8&

my notes in one PDF - 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WVXQJLaaFx2VZBVvIaNSlHYpN4KVt1PW/view?usp=drive_link 

Photos of the recognitions and retirements

https://photos.app.goo.gl/zj3u5xQ78VKyvEcs6 

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

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"

Jen Levine, provides an update on the SAFE Coalition to the Town Council - 09/16/26 (audio)

This session shares a key segment of the Franklin (MA) Town Council meeting held on Wednesday, September 16, 2026. The Council held this session as scheduled beginning at 6 PM. 9 members participated in Chambers, 1 left not feeling well.  

The key segments of the meeting recording are divided into 4 parts

Part 1 - Franklin Food Pantry Update - Tina Powderly, Executive Director, Franklin Food Pantry; presentation slides  https://photos.app.goo.gl/2f1TjPBcXfMxVthM8  

Part 2 - State Rep Roy and Senator Rausch with a legislative update

*** Part 3 - Jen Levine with an update from the SAFE Coalition slides being captured to share via photo album - https://photos.app.goo.gl/1rD2MyGQg6hkdjC97g 

Part 4 - The 250 anniversary celebration committee, the slides captured https://photos.app.goo.gl/bN3cFQPgHFQLCWm46 

Quick Recap:

The recap and my notes can be found

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/09/town-council-approve-west-as-police.html 

Audio link - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1833-safe-coalition-update-to-town-council-09-16-26/

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

Follow along with the agenda here

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09162026-2512

The full meeting is available via the FRANKLIN TV video 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfKg2tTQll8&

my notes in one PDF - 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WVXQJLaaFx2VZBVvIaNSlHYpN4KVt1PW/view?usp=drive_link 

Photos of the recognitions and retirements

https://photos.app.goo.gl/zj3u5xQ78VKyvEcs6 

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

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"

Senator Rausch & State Rep Roy provide an update to the Town Council - 09/16/26 (audio)

This session shares a key segment of the Franklin (MA) Town Council meeting held on Wednesday, September 16, 2026. The Council held this session as scheduled beginning at 6 PM. 9 members participated in Chambers, 1 left not feeling well.  

The key segments of the meeting recording are divided into 4 parts

Part 1 - Franklin Food Pantry Update - Tina Powderly, Executive Director, Franklin Food Pantry; presentation slides  https://photos.app.goo.gl/2f1TjPBcXfMxVthM8  

*** Part 2 - State Rep Jeff Roy and Senator Becca Rausch with a legislative update

Part 3 - Jen Levine with an update from the SAFE Coalition slides being captured to share via photo album - https://photos.app.goo.gl/1rD2MyGQg6hkdjC97g 

Part 4 - The 250 anniversary celebration committee, the slides captured https://photos.app.goo.gl/bN3cFQPgHFQLCWm46 

Quick Recap:

The recap and my notes can be found

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/09/town-council-approve-west-as-police.html 

Audio link - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1832-rep-roy-senator-rausch-update-to-town-council-09-16-26/

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

Follow along with the agenda here

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09162026-2512

The full meeting is available via the FRANKLIN TV video 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfKg2tTQll8&

my notes in one PDF - 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WVXQJLaaFx2VZBVvIaNSlHYpN4KVt1PW/view?usp=drive_link 

Photos of the recognitions and retirements

https://photos.app.goo.gl/zj3u5xQ78VKyvEcs6 

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

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"

Franklin Food Pantry Update to the Franklin (MA) Town Council - 09/16/26 (audio)

This session shares a key segment of the Franklin (MA) Town Council meeting held on Wednesday, September 16, 2026. The Council held this session as scheduled beginning at 6 PM. 9 members participated in Chambers, 1 left not feeling well.  

The key segments of the meeting recording are divided into 4 parts

Part 1 - Franklin Food Pantry Update - Tina Powderly, Executive Director, Franklin Food Pantry; presentation slides  https://photos.app.goo.gl/2f1TjPBcXfMxVthM8  

Part 2 - State Rep Roy and Senator Rausch with a legislative update

Part 3 - Jen Levine with an update from the SAFE Coalition slides being captured to share via photo album - https://photos.app.goo.gl/1rD2MyGQg6hkdjC97g 

Part 4 - The 250 anniversary celebration committee, the slides captured https://photos.app.goo.gl/bN3cFQPgHFQLCWm46 

Quick Recap:

The recap and my notes can be found

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/09/town-council-approve-west-as-police.html 

Audio link - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1831-franklin-food-pantry-update-to-town-council-09-16-26/

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

Follow along with the agenda here

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09162026-2512

The full meeting is available via the FRANKLIN TV video 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfKg2tTQll8&

my notes in one PDF - 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WVXQJLaaFx2VZBVvIaNSlHYpN4KVt1PW/view?usp=drive_link 

Photos of the recognitions and retirements

https://photos.app.goo.gl/zj3u5xQ78VKyvEcs6 

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

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 recognizes retirees, proclaims Hunger Action Month, gets updates on legislative items, Food Pantry, Safe Coalition & 250 Annive Celebration (video)

The Franklin (MA) Town Council met on Wednesday, Sep 16 beginning at 6 PM. All 9 councilors were present to open the meeting, one left during the meeting. All votes recorded via voice vote and noted as 8 yes, 0 no, and 1 absent.

Follow along with the agenda here

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09162026-2512 

FRANKLIN TV video is available for replay in 2 parts. Zoom automatically restarted during the session and while Zoom and the cable broadcast resumed automatically, the YuTube stream needed to be restarted.

Part 1 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yU90Rl52sE

Part 2 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_v6EpsdI8dY

Quick recap

Town administrator report

• announces grant received of $6 for Fire Dept
• reminder to sign up for the Franklin First newsletter 
• Touts future sessions Oct 14, 28, and Nov 4 to help prepare for the tax rate setting later this year

Proclamation: Hunger Action Month

Town Staff Retirements i. John Rondeau, Facilities, 35 Years ii. Michael Ellsworth, Facilities, 33 Years iii. Patrick Farrell, DPW, 32 Years iv. Irene McDonough, Facilities, 29 Years v. Jon Chalk, Fire Dept, 21 Years

Franklin Elks Riders Donation to Veterans’ Services Department; $2k donation, over $10k for the past several years

Franklin Food Pantry Update - Tina Powderly, Executive Director, Franklin Food Pantry; presentation slides  https://photos.app.goo.gl/2f1TjPBcXfMxVthM8 

next up, State Rep Roy and Senator Rausch with a legislative update

next up, Jen Levine with an update from the SAFE Coalition slides being captured to share via photo album - https://photos.app.goo.gl/1rD2MyGQg6hkdjC97g

next up, the 250 anniversary celebration committee, The slides captured https://photos.app.goo.gl/bN3cFQPgHFQLCWm46 

The Council did enter Executive Session to discuss sale of town property not to return to public meeting at approx. 10:45 PM

my notes in one PDF -

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WVXQJLaaFx2VZBVvIaNSlHYpN4KVt1PW/view?usp=drive_link

Photos of the recognitions and retirements

https://photos.app.goo.gl/zj3u5xQ78VKyvEcs6

What's happening in Franklin, MA: Wednesday, September 16, 2026 ???

Wednesday, September 16

11:00am Franklin Q&A (Franklin Senior Center & remote)

1:00pm "Where's the Toast?" Memory Cafe (Franklin Senior Center)

6:00pm Once Upon A Town - Recording Session (Franklin TV & Radio)

6:15pm Free NARCAN Training (Franklin Public Library)

6:30pm Bingo night (Kings Brick Oven Pizza & Pub)

6:30pm Book Club (Franklin TV and Radio ) 

6:30pm Franklin Elks Bingo Night (Franklin Elks Lodge #2136) 

7:00pm Smarty Pants Trivia (Raillery Public House)

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

Franklin Senior Center Calendar for September

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1BDUk1yeDL0SMHUNPnqRRZIcMq3Bvyxl2/view?usp=sharing

*** Town Meetings today ***

Town Council Meeting

Wednesday, September 16 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09162026-2512 

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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

The Town meeting calendar is found https://www.franklinma.gov/Calendar.aspx

The School district calendar is found https://franklinpublicschooldistrictma.sites.thrillshare.com/o/fpsd/page/school-calendar