People, Power, and Politics

Motorists would be banned from installing tinted license plate covers on their cars that distort or block key information [hasn't this always been illegal?] under a bill that secured initial approval in the House this week. Rep. Bruce Ayers of Quincy said his proposal (H 4029) aims to crack down on drivers who attempt to evade electronic tolls with tinted or "smoked" license plate covers that obscure the visibility of features, including plate numbers, registration decals and state identifiers. "This creates risk and uncertainty for toll enforcement, accident investigations, and law enforcement operations," Ayers said in written testimony to Transportation Committee co-chair Rep. James Arciero.

FRANKLIN

New Town Website Does Not Support “Cut and Paste” of calendar entries. Go to https://franklinma.gov/Calendar.aspx However, Steve Sherlock from Franklin Matters has compiled and and shared the below information. Thanks Steve!

Labor Day weekend. What does it bring? The end of summertime, schools re-open, a mostly normal slate of town meetings, and construction on the Beaver St Interceptor moves to the reduction of a lane along RT 140.

Yes, there is a lot happening in and around Franklin, MA as the outlook for the week of September 1 through September 6 fills in.

The Board of Health, Historical Commission, and Town Council are scheduled for Wednesday, Sep 3.

The Council returns to their normal 7 PM slot with a very healthy agenda so it is likely to be a long session. Recognition of the Fire Chief’s retirement comes before the announcement of the new Chief. A few appointments to continue the annual process are on tap except for the expired term of one ZBA member. Proclamation of Hunger Action Month a recognition of food security efforts by the Food Pantry includes an update from Exec Director Tina Powderly. There are also updates from Patrick McDermott, Norfolk County Sheriff as well as from our legislative delegation Senator Rausch and St Rep Roy.

The Franklin Commission on Disability and the Conservation Commission are both scheduled for regular sessions on Thursday, Sep 4.

Fasten your seatbelts for the ride from September through the end of the year. AND please drive carefully especially during the school bus hours bringing students to and from school.

*** Meeting schedule and agendas as of Town page 8/29/25, 7:30 PM

BOARD OF HEALTH MEETINGS

Wednesday, September 3 Time: 5:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09032025-1882

Historical Commission

Wednesday, September 3 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09032025-1889

Town Council Meeting

Wednesday, September 3 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09032025-1891

Franklin Commission on Disability

Thursday, September 4 Time: 4:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09042025-1887

Conservation Commission Meeting

Thursday, September 4 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/484?fileID=6052

*** Looking back at the week that was ***

Planning Board had a contention close to their regularly scheduled meeting on Monday

TV video available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-c4QGzRWRBc

The School Committee met on Tuesday, the video and audio recaps are available here. The Chalkboard Chat recap with Chair Callaghan is to be published soon https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/08/school-committee-approves-handbooks_0234276677.html

The Police Station Building Cmte met on Wednesday to hear of the site selection whittling process (from over 200 to 2), the pros and cons of those 2 (Davis Thayer & Parmenter), additional public tours were announced for the existing site on Panther Way, early estimates for the total project cost were released (approx. $48M).

Recap, with audio & video replay -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/08/police-station-building-cmte-hears-of_02009228077.html

Zoning Board of Appeals held its only August meeting also in moments of contention around the Franklin Ridge project (minor approval required), a porch extension (denied), and the ongoing 444 East Central discussion (despite a change in stance from Town Council and multiple comments from residents and abutters, the ZBA is continuing to perform due diligence on the project)

TV video available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yAgrTHFwGsc

For all the meetings and cultural events, check out the calendar at Franklin.news where each day, that day's events are posted on the top of the page, the TV and radio schedules are on the bottom, and all the other goodness falls in-between.

Town calendar -> https://www.franklinma.gov/Calendar.aspx

Community calendar -> https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar

Subscribe for the daily dose of information -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/p/welcome.html

Subscribe for the weekly dose of information -> https://www.franklinmattersweekly.org/p/subscribe-for-email.htm

MEDWAY

Medway’s
new website, likewise, does not readily support cut and paste. Go to
medwayma.gov.

STATE
HOUSE and BEYOND

More than 150,000 college students are descending on Boston this weekend, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu said Friday, and while students are back on campuses throughout the education spectrum in Massachusetts, the Legislature's summer recess will extend to other side of Labor Day. The threat of immigration raids and the possibility of National Guard troops being deployed to Boston also linger as conflicts between local, state and Trump administration officials show no signs of abating. "A quarter of our students come from all over the world," Wu said at a press conference Friday. "And while there are some right now who are targeting and threatening international students and trying to insert their own agenda of fear and division, in Boston we are a home for everyone and we're making sure that all of our students and all of our city residents live in a safe and welcoming community for all." The Trump administration's opposition to offshore wind energy was punctuated by its recent directive to shut down the Revolution Wind project off Rhode Island. This week, the New England Council will bring people together online to talk about the impacts of that decision, which is reverberating through Massachusetts given that the state is still trying to go all-in on wind power. U.S. Sen. Edward Markey's office on Friday said the Trump administration was also terminating $679 million in funding for offshore wind projects, including nearly $34 million for the Salem Wind Port Project. "In unlawfully and senselessly cutting hundreds of millions in federal funding to offshore wind projects, Trump just signed a death warrant for thousands of union jobs nationwide and guaranteed that families' energy bills will continue to skyrocket," Markey said. The office of U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy called those projects "doomed" and pointed to a need to support the shipbuilding industry and support other unspecified maritime initiatives. Gov. Maura Healey said 800 construction workers will lose their jobs and called the action a "slap in the face to the hardworking men and women who keep our nation moving and deserve better than what they're getting from their federal government."

Top House and Senate Democrats have not outlined any fall legislative plans, and voters are agitating to fill the void with their own ideas. By Wednesday, Attorney General Andrea Campbell needs to decide which of the dozens of possible 2026 initiative petitions meet constitutional requirements that determine whether measures are eligible for the ballot. Democrats have abandoned their traditional Labor Day breakfast plans in favor of a union-backed parade and march Monday from the State House to Boston City Hall, where there will be a speaking program. By week's end, the college students who are filling up dorms and apartments, and anyone else who wants to ride for free, will be able to take advantage of fare-free MBTA service after 9 p.m., part of the rollout of the T's new late-night service option.

Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025

DAVIS ON KELLER: WBZ security analyst Ed Davis joins political analyst Jon Keller's weekly "Keller at Large" talk show to discuss the deployment of National Guard troops to cities, the expansion of ICE, the crime rate in Boston and what Keller described as "the proliferation of bike/scooter mobs." (Sunday, 8:30 a.m., WBZ-TV)

WARREN ON NBC: U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren sits down with NBC 10 reporter Matt Pritchard. (Sunday, 9:30 a.m., NBC 10)

SKIPPER ON THE RECORD: Boston Public Schools Superintendent Mary Skipper joins WCVB's weekly political talk show "On the Record." (Sunday, 11 a.m., WCVB)

Monday, Sept. 1, 2025

"PRAYERS FOR LIBERTY MARCH" | Religious leaders participate in the 13-mile "Prayers for Liberty March" from Lexington to Boston, following Paul Revere's ride in reverse. The event is co-sponsored by the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization, the Massachusetts Council of Churches and the Massachusetts Board of Rabbis. Organizers say the event offers a "moral clarion call to prayer and common witness in a time when the rule of law is under threat." Participants include Rev. Laura Everett, Rev. Mariama White-Hammond and Rabbi David Lerner. At 9 a.m., participants will gather at Hancock Church across from the Lexington Battle Green. They will walk to Arlington at 9:45 a.m., and hold a prayer gathering at noon on the lawn of First Parish Unitarian Universalist in Arlington Center. They'll walk to Cambridge at 12:30 p.m., and hold a prayer gathering in Cambridge Common at 2:30 p.m. Finally, they'll walk to Boston at 3 p.m., and hold a rally and prayer gathering at 5 p.m. at The Embrace statue in Boston Common. (Monday, 9 a.m., 1912 Massachusetts Ave., Lexington | More Info)

LABOR DAY PARADE: Greater Boston Labor Council holds the city's first Labor Day Parade. Marchers will line up near the State House at Park Street and Beacon Street and make their way to Boston City Hall Plaza for a speaking program and entertainment. Speakers include Boston Mayor Wu, Attorney General Campbell, Massachusetts AFL-CIO President Chrissy Lynch and Jimmy Williams Jr., general president of the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades. (Monday, 9:30 a.m., Start at Park Street and Beacon Street | More Info)

PRIMARY CARE PICKET: Primary care physicians represented by Doctors Council SEIU at Mass General Brigham hold an informational picket with union leaders and elected officials including U.S. Sen. Ed Markey and Boston City Councilor Sharon Durkan. The physicians are picketing to "call on MGB to respect their union vote and begin contract negotiations," according to organizers. The overwhelming majority of MGB primary care physicians voted in May to unionize, though MGB has challenged the makeup of the bargaining unit to national labor headquarters. (Monday, 12:30 p.m., Mass General Hospital, Cambridge St. at Grove St., Boston)

SWAN BOATS: Monday marks the last day of the Swans Boats for the season. Rides are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Monday, Boston Public Garden | More Info)

Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2025

DCR STEWARDSHIP: DCR Stewardship Council's Conservation and Policy Committees hold a joint meeting. Agenda topics include a rodenticide use update and resource management plans. (Tuesday, 8 a.m. | Agenda and Livestream)

CHAPTER 90 BOND TERMS: Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets accepts written testimony through 5 p.m. on Gov. Healey's non-controversial bond terms bill (H 4413), tied to the enhanced Chapter 90 local road and bridge funding law she signed on Aug. 8. Municipalities are slated to receive $300 million in funding, with one-third targeted rural communities. The law also contains hundreds of millions of dollars for a road and bridge lifecycle asset management program, culverts, small bridges and congestion hotspots. The governor filed the bond terms bill on Aug. 12. (Tuesday, 9 a.m. | More Info)

HOUSE: House meets in an informal session. (Tuesday, 11 a.m., House Chamber | Livestream)

SENATE: Senate meets in an informal session. (Tuesday, 11 a.m., Senate Chamber | Livestream | Agenda)

PITTSFIELD DTA: Department of Transitional Assistance's Pittsfield Advisory Board meets. (Tuesday, 11 a.m. | Agenda and Access)

CHANDLER POND: A community celebration marks the opening of "phase 1" of Chandler Pond, which focused on the pond shoreline along Lake Shore Road. Chandler Pond is located at the nearly 19-acre Gallagher Memorial Park in Brighton. Mayor Wu attends, alongside representatives from the Boston Parks and Recreation Department and Friends of Chandler Pond. (Tuesday, 11:30 a.m., Chandler Pond, Lake Shore Road, Brighton)

COMMISSION FOR THE BLIND: Massachusetts Commission for the Blind Statutory Advisory Board meets. Agenda includes a report from Commissioner John Oliveira, program updates and public comment. (Tuesday, 12 p.m. | Agenda and Access)

EDUCATION COMMITTEE: Joint Committee on Education holds a hearing on about 20 bills focused on early education and care. Proposals from Rep. Sabadosa and Sen. DiDomenico (H 687 / S 339) would create a pre-kindergarten grant program aimed at reducing achievement gaps and improving third grade reading scores. Legislation from Rep. Decker and DiDomenico (H 542 / S 341) looks to establish a payment system for family-, friend- and neighbor-provided child care. A Sen. Gomez proposal (S 372) would establish the Disproportionate Share Childcare Provider Fund to support provider agencies that serve a disproportionately large share of high-risk children, while measures from Rep. Nguyen and Sen. Cyr (H 275 / S 113) would boost transparency of child care costs on program and center websites. (Tuesday, 1 p.m., Room A-2 | Agenda and Livestream)

ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES COMMITTEE: Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources holds a public hearing on 30 bills dealing with climate change, energy and environmental justice. A Sen. Tarr proposal (S 637) calls for state environmental officials to develop the New England Fusion Research Compact, which would work on a comprehensive plan and obtain regulatory approvals to operate at least one nuclear fusion reactor. Legislation from Rep. Hunt and Sen. Crighton (H 971 / S 558) directs the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs to launch a pilot program on nature-based solutions to climate change. Rep. Madaro wants Massport to study (H 997) the environmental risks and health impacts of Logan Airport on East Boston and Winthrop. (Tuesday, 1 p.m., Room A-1 | Agenda and Livestream)

HOLYOKE MIDDLE SCHOOL: Ribbon-cutting ceremony will celebrate the opening of the Dr. William R. Peck Middle School in Holyoke. After the ceremony, media and members of the public can tour the school starting at 5 p.m. Attendees include Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia, Interim Superintendent of Holyoke Public Schools Anthony Soto, Rep. Duffy, Sen. Velis and Massachusetts School Building Authority Director of External Affairs Maria Puopolo. Students who were finalists in redesigning the school logo will also be recognized. (Tuesday, 4:15 p.m., 1916 Northampton St., Holyoke)

CONVERSATION WITH AN ASTRONAUT: USS Constitution Museum hosts an event featuring NASA astronaut and retired U.S. Navy Captain Sunita Williams in conversation with WBUR’s Meghna Chakrabarti as part of its Leadership Forum series. Media RSVP to ssones@usscm.org. (Tuesday, 6:15 p.m., Charlestown Navy Yard, Charlestown)

BOSTON MAYORAL CANDIDATES FORUM: Mayor Michelle Wu and mayoral candidates Josh Kraft, Robert Capucci and Domingos DaRosa participate in a candidates forum held by the Greater Boston Interfaith Organization and Boston Ministerial Alliance TenPoint Coalition, Inc. Organizers say that community leaders "will be seeking feedback from the candidates on particular issues shared through the lens of stories told by Boston voters representing the Black faith community." Expected topics of discussion include housing, immigration and education. The forum occurs one week before the Sept. 9 preliminary election. Early voting begins Saturday, Aug. 30, which is the final day Boston residents are able to register to vote in the preliminary contest. (Tuesday, 7 p.m., Bethel AME Church, 100 Wachusett St., Jamaica Plain)

Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025

ENERGY EFFICIENCY ADVISORY COUNCIL: Energy Efficiency Advisory Council Executive Committee meets. (Wednesday, 10 a.m. | Agenda and Livestream)

HEALTH CONNECTOR WEBINAR: Massachusetts Health Connector holds a webinar about preliminary eligibility as part of the annual renewal process. Health Connector staff must ensure members' information is correct before renewing coverage. Attendees will learn about how to review their eligibility notice, about upcoming deadlines and how to renew or change plans for next year. (Wednesday, 12 p.m. | Register)

SAME-DAY VOTER REGISTRATION: MassVOTE and the Election Modernization Coalition hold a press conference urging the Legislature to allow same-day voter registration. Organizers say the issue "uniquely impacts Boston voters," noting the city accounted for 34% of rejected provisional ballots in the November 2024 election. Secretary of State Galvin has filed an initiative petition to allow voters to register and cast their ballots on Election Day, in response to the policy repeatedly failing to gain traction on Beacon Hill. Organizers will also highlight priority legislation to decouple the municipal census from voter registration rolls and to increase disability access at polls. (Wednesday, 12:30 p.m., Boston City Hall Plaza)

COMMISSION FOR THE BLIND REHAB: Massachusetts Commission for the Blind's Rehabilitation Council meets. Agenda includes updates on the budget, programs and services, as well as an internship panel discussion. (Wednesday, 1 p.m. | Agenda and Access)

HEALEY AT BLOOMBERG: Bloomberg hosts Gov. Healey for a discussion moderated by Bloomberg News Head of the Americas Caroline Gage. The event begins with a networking reception at 12:45 p.m. (Wednesday, 1:30 p.m., Bloomberg, Second Floor, 100 Summer St., Boston | RSVP)

INTEROPERABILITY EXEC COMMITTEE: State Interoperability Executive Committee-Executive Management Committee meets. Agenda includes a discussion on newly submitted projects, and reports from standing committees and other state and federal agencies. (Wednesday, 1:30 p.m., | Agenda and Livestream)

REVOLUTION WIND ORDER IMPACTS: New England Council holds a webinar on the impacts of the Trump administration's order to halt work on the nearly-complete Revolution Wind offshore wind project. Power generators and the regional grid operator have said there could be reliability issues if the project does not come online. The project was expected to start delivering power to Connecticut and Rhode Island in 2026. (Wednesday, 2 p.m., Register)

BLIND VENDORS: Massachusetts Elected Committee of Blind Vendors meets. New business includes the upcoming board election. (Wednesday, 5 p.m. | Agenda and Zoom)

GOLDBERG AT THE MIC: As the Boston Red Sox take on the Cleveland Guardians amid a push to lock up a playoff spot, Treasurer Deborah Goldberg will be in the radio broadcast booth for an interview about the Mass. Lottery. Sales and profits were down at the Lottery last year, and the agency is preparing to launch online sales at some point next summer. When she was in the WEEI booth in August for the Jimmy Fund radiotelethon, Goldberg said she has been going to Red Sox games since she was born and referred to her late father as the "Shaman of Red Sox Nation." (Wednesday, 6:45 p.m., 93.7 FM WEEI)

GREEN LINE D BRANCH SUSPENDED: Green Line D Branch service is suspended between Riverside and Kenmore from Sept. 3 through Sept. 9, as MBTA workers install Green Line Train Protection System infrastructure. The system aims to avoid train-on-train collisions, provide alerts and control speeds. "The MBTA will also continue to rebuild the D Branch and ensure that additional sections of track are improved to the same state of good repair standards that support reliable and robust service," the agency said. Express shuttle buses will operate directly between Riverside, Woodland, Waban, Eliot, Newton Highlands and Copley. Local shuttle buses will also make all stops between Riverside and Kenmore, except at Beaconsfield. Riders who typically board or get off at Reservoir are encouraged to instead use the Cleveland Circle stop on the C branch, which is a two-minute walk away. (Wednesday through Sept. 11 | More Info)

BALLOT QUESTION CERTIFICATION DECISIONS: Attorney General Campbell's office faces an end-of-day deadline to issue certification decisions on the dozens of proposed ballot questions this cycle. Proponents filed 42 proposed laws and 5 proposed Constitutional amendments by the early-August deadline, and Campbell's team must review each by the first Wednesday in September to determine whether it fulfills constitutional requirements. Questions cannot combine disparate topics, and some topics are ineligible to be tackled with an initiative petition, such as religion, court operations and direct appropriation from the state's treasury. The AG's office also cannot certify questions that conflict with constitutional rights such as due process. The certification process typically whittles down the field, after which campaigns will need to collect nearly 75,000 voter signatures, another major hurdle. (Wednesday)

Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025

EMPLOYEE OWNERSHIP: Employee Ownership Advisory Board meets. Agenda includes election of a chair and secretary, and reviewing activities planned for fiscal 2026. (Thursday, 9:30 a.m. | Agenda and Livestream)

POST COMMISSION: POST Commission holds a hearing on Omar Connor. (Thursday, 10 a.m., Civil Service Commission Hearing Room, 100 Cambridge St., Suite 200, Boston | Zoom)

HOUSE: House is expected to meet in an informal session. (Thursday, 11 a.m., House Chamber)

SENATE: Senate is expected to meet in an informal session. (Thursday, 11 a.m., Senate Chamber)

EARLY ED, CARE: Combined meeting of the Early Education and Care Advisory and Workforce Councils. (Thursday, 1 p.m. | Agenda and Zoom)

AUGUST REVENUES: Department of Revenue is due to report on tax collections for the month of August. Because neither individual nor business taxpayers make significant estimated payments during August, it is one of the lower revenue-collection months. DOR said August typically generates 6.4% of annual state tax revenue. By mid-August, DOR had collected $1.189 billion, which it said was $140 million or 13.3% more than it took in during the same period of August 2024. The state collected nearly $2.7 billion in taxes during July to start fiscal year 2026, an increase of $7 million or 0.3% compared to July 2024. (Thursday)

Friday, Sept. 5, 2025

DCR STEWARDSHIP: DCR Stewardship Council's Stakeholders Committee meets. Agenda includes partnership presentations. (Friday, 8 a.m. | Agenda and Livestream)

AUCHINCLOSS TALKS PFAS: New England Council hosts an event with Congressman Auchincloss titled "Protecting New England Communities from Forever Chemicals." Other speakers include Northeastern University Social Science Environmental Health Research Institute Director Phil Brown, CMBG3 Law Co-owner John Gardella, and Battelle Human Health Risk Assessor Jon Petali. Event is open only to New England Council members and invited guests. (Friday, 8:30 a.m., University of Massachusetts Club, One Beacon St., Boston | More Info)

JUSTICE-INVOLVED WOMEN: Panel on Justice-Involved Women meets. Agenda includes a presentation from the Department of Children and Families, and a review of the 2025 report and draft recommendations. (Friday, 1 p.m., Agenda and Access)

FREE T: MBTA service across all modes will be free from 9 p.m. until the end of service on Friday and Saturday. This week marks the first in five straight weeks with the free late-night offering, part of a T initiative encouraging riders to take advantage of newly expanded service hours on weekends. (Friday, 9 p.m.)

HOUSING ASSESSMENTS: Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities accepts written through 11:59 p.m. on a proposed regulation for life cycle assessments of state-funding housing. The 2024 clean energy law called for EOHLC to implement "cradle-to-grave life cycle assessments," with the aim of reducing environmental impacts of projects. (Friday, 11:59 p.m. | More Info)