Franklin (MA) Matters

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 Tuesday, May 27, 2025. Our conversation condensed the Town Council meetings of May 21 & May 22, 2025. We focus on two questions:ok, what just happened? What does it mean for Franklin residents and taxpayers?FY 2026 Budget hearing process summary Wednesday, May 21Wednesday, the first night, the line item summary for each of the departments was read aloud by the Clerk of the Council. As it was read, members placed a hold on a department line item for follow-up (question, comment, etc.). A few departments were held automatically by the Chair (Police, Fire, Schools, DPW, Facilities). Another 14 departments were held by one or members of the Council.After the list of holds was confirmed, they started back at the beginning of the listing (account number order per voting document) to address the question for that item. Councilors firs