People, Power, and Politcs

Negotiators opened talks Friday on a bill that would give thousands of teachers a second chance to opt into an enhanced retirement benefit program. Above, Sens. Patrick O'Connor, Joan Lovely and Michael Rodrigues, and Reps. Daniel Ryan and Carlos Gonzalez sit around atable in the Senate Ways and Means office for the first conference  committee meeting for the Retirement Plus bill on Friday, July 31, 2026. Sen. Joan Lovely said lawmakers "all heard from our teachers from all over our districts, and I'm really pleased that we're here at this moment to be able to make things right."  Teachers who were working in 2001 but did not enroll in Retirement Plus would gain a new window to opt into the program that would allow them to retire earlier.

FRANKLIN

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

Yet another short set of meetings on the schedule for this week, August 2 through August 8, 2026.

The Economic Development Subcommittee meeting on Tuesday reviews a plan for a Downtown study to be done with UMass Boston students along with a proposal for a revision to the Friendly 40b policy.

The Commission on Disability meets on Thursday at the Senior Center discusses multiple topics including consideration for adding a virtual option to the meetings to improve accessibility.

The Charter School Board meets to among other things set objects & goals for the Executive Director as well as the Board.

Finally, the Zoning Board of Appeals gets to take up the proposal for the 39 unit condo development on Washington St.

The complete agenda for each of these meetings are listed below.

For all the meetings and cultural events, check out 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.

*** Event & Meeting schedule (with agendas) as of Town pages 7/31/26 8:30 PM ***

Economic Development Subcommittee Meeting

Tuesday, August 4 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08042026-2434

Franklin Commission on Disability Meeting

Thursday, August 6 Time: 4:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08062026-2427

Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School Meeting

Thursday, August 6 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08062026-2431

ZBA Meeting

Thursday, August 6 Time: 7:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08062026-2429

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

Town/ School meetings

The only meeting broadcast this week was the Conservation Commission session on Thursday - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXCJw2kre3Y

The Planning & Community Development shared the Zoom copy of the Design Review session held July 21 which introduced the Depot Plaza project. The video is available

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/07/design-review-commission-meeting-july.html

All Access Programming

Frank Falvey interviewed Norfolk County District Attorney candidate Bob Jubenville https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bg8KlpKhxl0

There is a new episode of the Aging Agenda https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXTYChTbE-c

A new episode of Aging Boldfully

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

Jason Poulos, candidate for the MA 4th District was interviewed for Franklin Matters

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/07/jason-poulos-explains-his-stand-on-key.html

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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.html

MEDWAY

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

STATE HOUSE and BEYOND

The
Legislature this week wrapped up final details of several major bills
but couldn't reach agreement on many others before gaveling out late
Friday night and shifting their attention to campaign season and their
reelection bids. In 2024, legislators bent their rules to continue
conducting major business beyond July 31, a date enshrined as the
deadline to complete controversial bills and avoid the blending of
politicking and legislating, as well as high impact lame duck sessions
after the election. In 2025, the Legislature simply relaxed the July 31
deadline that they struggled to meet the year before by adopting Joint
Rule 12A. The new rule still "requires all formal business of the second
annual session to conclude by the last day of July" but lawmakers
carved out four new exemptions. The new rule allows the House and Senate
to convene for formal business after July 31 but only to consider
reports of conference committees formed on or before July 31,
appropriation bills filed after July 31, veto override votes and the
reenactment of certain legislation. It's a big carveout that means the
Legislature, which always meets twice a week due to constitutional
requirements, will be busier than usual in the weeks and months ahead.
Rules also remain in play that enable the House and Senate to pass bills
with unanimous consent during informal sessions. That means that as
long as no lawmaker objects, bills can keep moving forward at sessions
that are often attended by only a couple of legislators in the 160-seat
House and 40-seat Senate. Democrats who run the Legislature have often
been able to get Republicans on board with some of their plans, or at
least convince them not to serve as obstacles. With its new rules, the
Legislature is returning to a format that was in place more than 30
years ago, before reforms drew a brighter line between the legislative
and election seasons. The Legislature won't be alone in making major new
laws over the final five months of 2026. Voters and interest groups are
placing nine ballot questions before voters on Nov. 3 and the campaigns
for and against those measures are about to accelerate.

Bills on the Governor's Desk

She
didn't get everything she wanted but Gov. Maura Healey, who has rarely
disagreed with the Legislature on bills it chooses to send her, has
before her an election year opportunity to sign off on the flurry of
bills sent her way during the late-July rush of legislating. That
includes legislation (H 5620) designed to enshrine new protections into
law to protect immigrants from the ongoing federal deportation efforts.
Also on her desk are bills addressing home care industry standards (H
5627), child welfare laws (H 5629), the future of Norwood Hospital (H
5553), access to library materials (S 2726), and a changed standard for
terminating pregnancies after 24 weeks (H 5595).

Storylines in Progress

...
Congressman Seth Moulton and Sen. Ed Markey are set to clash Monday in a
debate that comes with less than a month before the Sept. 1 primary
elections ... Moulton is trying to knock off the incumbent and a gaggle
of Democrats have flooded their field to compete for the 6th
Congressional seat that the Salem Democrat is giving up to challenge his
delegation mate ... With Republicans again sitting out scores of
elections this year, Democrats in August are focused on primary threats.
Challenges to Rep. Marjorie Decker of Cambridge, Sen. Will Brownsberger
of Belmont and Sen. Nick Collins of South Boston are being closely
watched by insiders since the contests are serving to some extent as
referendums on how Democrats feel about the issues and the way Beacon
Hill operates ... Two Senate races also worth monitoring in adjacent
districts: the contests to fill the seats held by departing Sens. Jason
Lewis of Winchester and Patricia Jehlen of Somerville ... The annual
sales tax holiday weekend arrives on Aug. 8 and Aug. 9, giving consumers
a chance to make purchases without paying the 6.25% tax ... Gov.
Healey's new pick for a Parole Board seat gets a confirmation hearing
after her last choice was rejected by the all-Democrat Governor's
Council and as she faces criticism for board decisions from her GOP
political opponents ...

Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026

MCGOVERN
ON KELLER: Democrat Congressman Jim McGovern joins political analyst
Jon Keller's weekly talk show "Keller at Large." McGovern will talk
about his party's ideological divisions, their prospects for the
midterms and the flow of federal funding to Massachusetts, per Keller.
(Sunday, 8:30 a.m., WBZ-TV)

LYNCH
ON NBC: Democrat Congressman Stephen Lynch joins political reporter
Matt Prichard for NBC's weekly show "@ Issue Sit Down." (Sunday, 9:30
a.m., NBC 10)

CARNEVALE
ON THE RECORD: MassGOP Chair Amy Carnevale joins WCVB's weekly
political talk show "On the Record." (Sunday, 11 a.m., WCVB)

Monday, Aug. 3, 2026

ENERGY EFFICIENCY: Energy Efficiency Advisory Council's Equity Working Group meets. (Monday, 11 a.m. | Register)

MARKEY/MOULTON
DEBATE: U.S. Senate Democratic primary contenders Sen. Ed Markey and
U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton debate live at Boston 25 studios in Dedham.
Boston 25 News Anchor Kerry Kavanaugh and GBH reporter Adam Reilly will
moderate. The debate is a joint production of Boston 25 News and GBH
News, in collaboration with El Planeta and the Bay State Banner. It will
air live on Boston 25 News and Boston25News.com, GBHNews.org,
New England Public Media, the Cape and Islands NPR station, GBH 2, GBH
89.7 FM, CAI. Livestreams will also be available in Spanish on El
Planeta's YouTube channel. (Monday, 7 p.m., Boston 25 News | More Info)

Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026

PRIM
INVESTMENT COMMITTEE: Massachusetts Pension Reserve Investment
Management's Investment Committee meets. The agenda includes reports
from the executive director and chief investment officer. (Tuesday, 9:30
a.m., for access email investmentmeeting@MAPENSION.COM)

DDS GRADUATION
CEREMONY: Department of Developmental Services holds a graduation
ceremony for 240 students who completed summer internships through the
Urban Youth Collaborative Program, which introduces high school and
college-age students to human services careers. Interns were placed in
provider agencies, state-operated programs and developmental centers,
where they delivered direct care. They also earned CPR and first aid
certifications. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., Great Hall)

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

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

HEALTH
CENTER WEEK: Rep. Dan Ryan joins North End Waterfront Health staff for a
free community event marking National Health Center Week at the
nonprofit's Charlestown site, Charlestown's first full-service health
center, which serves more than 5,000 patients. Part of the annual
observance backed by the National Association of Community Health
Centers, the event features free produce and hygiene-product
distributions, department tables with information on the center's newly
expanded adult and pediatric primary care, an ice cream truck, a balloon
artist, and games. (Tuesday, 11 a.m., NEW Health Charlestown, 15 Tufts
St., Charlestown | More Info)

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

EARLY
ED, CARE: Data Advisory Commission on Early Education and Care meets.
Agenda include updates on fiscal 2026 progress, including expanding
public access to EEC research, data and analysis, plus improving data
quality. (Tuesday, 1 p.m. | Agenda and Access)

Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026

PRIM
REAL ESTATE AND TIMBERLAND COMMITTEE: Massachusetts Pension Reserve
Investment Management's Real Estate and Timberland Committee meets.
(Wednesday, 9:30 a.m. |More Info)

GOVERNOR'S
COUNCIL: Governor's Council holds a hearing on Gov. Healey's nomination
of Keith Nicholson as a Boston Municipal Court judge. He founded the
Law Office of Keith J. Nicholson in Quincy in 1996, and has represented
indigent defendants in Boston Municipal Court since 1998. (Wednesday, 10
a.m., Council Chamber | Livestream)

BOSTON
BLUE: Boston Blue, a police drama TV show starring Donnie Wahlberg,
films at the State House, according to Gov. Healey's office. Healey's
office has reserved Ashburton Park from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to a
schedule from the Bureau of the State House. (Wednesday, 11 a.m.,
Ashburton Park)

GOVERNOR'S
COUNCIL: Governor's Council holds a hearing on Gov. Healey's nomination
of Lynn Feigenbaum as a Superior Court judge. For over two decades,
Feigenbaum has been an assistant district attorney in the Suffolk County
and most recently was chief of the Major Felony Bureau. (Wednesday, 11
a.m., Council Chamber | Livestream)

FALL
RIVER COMMUNITY RESOURCE DAY: Fall River Public Library and community
partners hold a resource day. Organizations will be available to provide
information and help on matters such as healthcare, immigration,
homelessness, mental health, and food insecurity. (Wednesday, 1 p.m.,
Fall River Public Library at 104 North Main St., Fall River)

SOLAR
ENERGY: Department of Energy Resources holds a public hearing on Solar
Massachusetts Renewable Target (SMART) Program 3.0. Officials say the
program is meant to "increase the pace of solar deployment" by adjusting
incentive rates and other parameters. DOER is looking to update its
process for allocating program capacity across electric distribution
companies, modify eligibility criteria and refine the process for site
visits. (Wednesday, 1 p.m. | More Info and Zoom)

GOVERNOR'S
COUNCIL: Governor's Council holds a hearing on Gov. Healey's nomination
of Kaitlyn O'Leary to the Parole Board. She's currently deputy general
counsel and interstate compact administrator at the Parole Board.
(Wednesday, 1:15 p.m., Council Chamber | | Livestream)

MASSACHUSETTS
CLEAN WATER TRUST: Massachusetts Clean Water Trust Board of Trustees
meets. The agenda includes an executive director's report as well as
votes on several grants, loans and financing agreements. (Wednesday,
1:30 p.m., for access email masswatertrust@tre.state.ma.us | More Info)

BROCKTON
BRIDGE REPLACEMENT: MassDOT holds a virtual design public hearing on
the proposed project to replace the Grove Street bridge over the
Salisbury Plain River and reconstruct the Lyman Street, Summer Street
and Grove Street intersection in Brockton. (Wednesday, 6 p.m. | Register and More Info)

Thursday, Aug. 6, 2026

PRIM
ADMIN AND AUDIT COMMITTEE: Massachusetts Pension Reserve Investment
Management'S Administration and Audit Committee meets. (Thursday, 10
a.m. | More Info)

DCAMM STAFF MEETING: Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance holds a staff meeting. (Thursday, 10 a.m., Great Hall)

SENATE: Senate meets in an informal session. (Thursday, 11 a.m., Senate Chamber)

COMMUNITY BEHAVIORAL HEALTH: Community Behavioral Health Promotion and Prevention Commission meets. (Thursday, 3 p.m. | Agenda and Access)

DCR
STEWARDSHIP: DCR Stewardship Council's Policy Committee meets. Agenda
items include a resource management plan update and rodenticide use on
DCR land. (Thursday, 4 p.m. | Agenda and Access)

CAMBRIDGE
BRIDGE REPLACEMENT: MassDOT holds a public informational meeting to
discuss removing the existing William Reid Overpass in Cambridge,
"which, though safe for all users, has reached the end of its useful
lifespan and should be replaced," according to the department. They're
considering either a constructed intersection of Memorial Drive and
Brookline Street and a new overpass, or a reconstructed intersection in
which Memorial Drive and Brookline Street would cross each other
at-grade. (Thursday, 6:30 p.m., Morse School, Auditorium, 40 Granite
St., Cambridge | More Info)

Friday, Aug. 7, 2026

DCR STEWARDSHIP: DCR Stewardship Council's Stakeholders Committee meets. (Friday, 8:30 a.m. | Agenda and Access)

MASSABILITY
INFO SESSION: Members of MassAbility hold an information session about
the organization's services. MassAbility offers programs and services
meant to help people of all abilities advance in their career, home and
community life. (Friday, 10 a.m., Greenfield Public Library at 412 Main
St., Greenfield)

DENTAL
SERVICES: Executive Office of Health and Human Services holds a public
hearing on establishing bundled rates for certain orthodontic treatment
services. Officials also want to update frequency limitations for
preventative and diagnostic services. The annual fiscal impact from the
changes is $233,000. (Friday, 3 p.m. | More Info and Access)

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