People, Power, and Politcs

Attorney General Andrea Campbell is backing the state's controversial Springfield courthouse procurement [to replace the Robert L. Ireland courthouse, shown above], calling a legal complaint from losing bidders "nothing more than a fever dream of imagined malfeasance." Campbell's office filed her legal filing late on Wednesday in a case that rejected developers Jeb Balise and Dinesh Patel brought against the Division of Capital Assets Management and Maintenance (DCAMM) and Liberty Junction, the winning company owned in part by interim Massachusetts Convention Center Authority director John Barros and Conan Harris, U.S. Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley's husband.  Barros and Harris's involvement have raised concerns about conflict of interest, fueling the lawsuit and public outcries, and Barros divested from the project last week.

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!

The relatively quiet short list of meeting weeks are behind us now. We are faced with a week chock full of sessions. Yup, from 4 meetings last week to 13 this week.

On Monday, the Franklin Housing Authority starts off with a session at 4:30 at Central Park Terrace.

Franklin Public School Horace Mann Legacy Subcommittee meeting at 7 PM has State Rep Jeff Roy scheduled for a visit to get an update on the work of the committee. The Planning Board also meets at the same time (this session is broadcast). Note that the Depot Plaza development proposal was withdrawn and resubmitted so that item will be on the August 24th agenda.

Closing out Monday, the 250th Anniversary Committee meets virtually to continue their planning.

On Tuesday, the Franklin School Committee Policy Subcommittee meets at 6 PM to get into a bunch of potential policies for review & revision.

At 7 PM, the Franklin School Committee meets. Among the standard agenda items is the approval of the submission to the Town Annual Report, and a 2nd reading on the restraint policy reviewed at a prior meeting.

On Wednesday, the Charles River Pollution Control meets at 3:30. The Tri-County School Committee Nomination Committee is scheduled to meet at 5:15 to confirm an appointment to an open seat on the Committee.

The Town Council meets at 6 PM mostly in Executive Session negotiating the Town Administrator's contract and then in public session to vote on such an agreement.

On Thursday, the Municipal Housing Trust and Conservation Commission have regular sessions scheduled. The Joint Budget Subcommittee is also scheduled to meet either for a short session in Chambers, or a ‘normal’ session in the 3rd floor conference room. Stay tuned for an update on this.

On Saturday, the Town Council added an “Office Hours” session at the library beginning at 10 AM.

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 8/07/26 7:30 PM ***

Franklin Housing Authority Meeting

Monday, August 10 Time: 4:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08102026-2437

Franklin Public School Horace Mann Legacy Sub Committee Meeting

Monday, August 10 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08042026-2436

Planning Board Meeting

Monday, August 10 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08102026-2438

250th Anniversary Celebration Committee Meeting

Monday, August 10 Time: 7:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08102026-2439

Franklin School Committee Policy Subcommittee Meeting

Tuesday, August 11 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08112026-2442

Franklin School Committee Meeting

Tuesday, August 11 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08112026-2448

Charles River Pollution Control Meeting

Wednesday, August 12 Time: 3:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08122026-2435

Tri-County School Committee Nomination Committee Meeting

Wednesday, August 12 Time: 5:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08122026-2446

Town Council Meeting

Wednesday, August 12 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08122026-2444

Municipal Affordable Housing Trust Meeting

Thursday, August 13 Time: 2:00 PM

No agenda available at this time, usually released by Tuesday

Joint Budget Subcommittee Meeting

Thursday, August 13 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_08132026-2445

Conservation Commission Meeting

Thursday, August 13 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/632?fileID=9984

Town Council Open Office Hours

Saturday, August 15 Time: 10:00 AM

No agenda for this open discussion session

—-----------

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

Town/ School meetings

The Economic Development Subcmte met on Tuesday, Aug 4. The recap and TV link can be found https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/08/econommic-development-covers-variety-of.html

The Zoning Board of Appeals met on Thursday, Aug 6. Franklin TV video can be found on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ex5AJ_0B8Ik

The Commission on Disability met on Thursday at the Senior Center. The recap and audio of this meeting can be found https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/08/audio-recording-available-for.html

All Access Programming

A new Once Upon a Town episode on the Ray Block can be viewed on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmvrPrdW3qM

—-----------

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

"Happy summer," top House Democrat Paul Donato declared a week ago as lawmakers capped two days of busy formal sessions and left Beacon Hill without knowing when they will be called to return for serious matters. For most legislators, it's a happy summer indeed since they are collecting their base pay and stipends, have no primary or general election challenger to be concerned about, and don't serve on any of the 12 conference committees charged with hammering out details of major bills backed by each branch but in differing forms. Lawmakers without opponents or significant near-term duties have more time to spend on various other pursuits, including vacations or helping colleagues with races. Other than the conference committee members and top House and Senate leaders, no one really knows how conference committee negotiations are progressing, if they are occurring at all. It's clear that all but a handful of legislators have left Boston and legislative events have dwindled to a trickle, for now. Gov. Maura Healey, also without a primary challenger, has been signing the bills the Legislature sent her last week, including on home care, child welfare and Norwood Hospital. Her approval is also expected on legislation affecting abortion and access to library materials and a bill-signing event appears in the works for Monday. The House and Senate continue to meet twice a week, at a minimum, and legislators with challengers have an opportunity to get local bills moving that might help their chances ahead of the Sept. 1 primaries. The pre-primary early voting period runs from Aug. 22 to Aug. 28.

Sunday, Aug. 9, 2026

FERSON ON KELLER: Boston political consultant Scott Ferson joins political analyst Jon Keller's weekly talk show "Keller at Large." Ferson will discuss his book, "How the Democrats Lost America." (Sunday, 8:30 a.m., WBZ-TV)

WU ON NBC: Boston Mayor Michelle Wu joins political reporter Matt Prichard for NBC's weekly show "@ Issue Sit Down." (Sunday, 9:30 a.m., NBC 10)

MARKEY QUINCY STOP: U.S. Sen. Markey visits Quincy small businesses with Rep. Chan as part of a weekend of campaign events. (Sunday, 10 a.m., location to be determined, Quincy)

MOULTON ON THE RECORD: Congressman and U.S. Senate candidate Seth Moulton joins WCVB's weekly political talk show "On the Record." (Sunday, 11 a.m., WCVB)

MARKEY SOUTH SHORE RALLY: U.S. Sen. Markey holds a South Shore rally, joined by Reps. Kearney, Lanatra and Meschino, former Senate President Therese Murray, and local officials. A media availability follows. (Sunday, 11:30 a.m., Levitate Backyard & Rexicana Surf Cantina, 1871 Ocean St., Marshfield)

MARKEY FALL RIVER STOP: U.S. Sen. Markey visits Al Mac's Diner with Fall River community leaders. (Sunday, 1:45 p.m., Al Mac's Diner, 135 President Ave., Fall River)

MARKEY SOUTH COAST RALLY: U.S. Sen. Markey holds a reelection rally and canvass kickoff at Buttonwood Park with New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell, Bristol County Sheriff Paul Heroux, and New Bedford City Councilor At-Large Shane Burgo. A media availability follows. (Sunday, 3 p.m., Buttonwood Park, Rockdale Ave., New Bedford)

MARKEY CAPE MEET AND GREET: U.S. Sen. Markey joins a Falmouth Democratic Town Committee meet-and-greet, along with Rep. Moakley, former Sen. Sue Moran, Barnstable County Sheriff Donna Buckley, Cape and Islands District Attorney Rob Galibois, and former Rep. Kay Kahn. (Sunday, 5 p.m., Cape Cod Winery, 4 Oxbow Road, East Falmouth)

Monday, Aug. 10, 2026

BILL SIGNING: Gov. Maura Healey's office hosts a bill signing. Her office declined to say which bill it pertains to. (Monday, 10 a.m., Nurses Hall)

NEWMARKET FARM: Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources Commissioner Ashley Randle tours the rooftop Newmarket Farm at Boston Medical Center as part of Urban Agriculture Week. (Monday, 11 a.m., 960 Mass Ave., Roxbury)

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

SENATE: Senate meets. (Monday, 12 p.m., Senate Chamber |Livestream)

WETLAND RESTORATION: Department of Environmental Protection holds a hearing on proposed regulatory changes aimed at streamlining permitting for wetland restoration, plus other projects such as invasive plant management, damaged tree removal, and "limited" maintenance and construction of unpaved paths. A second public hearing is scheduled for 6 p.m. (Monday, 1 p.m. | More Info and Zoom)

BROWNSBERGER-LANDER DEBATE: Incumbent Sen. Brownsberger debates his Democratic primary challenger, Daniel Lander, hosted by the Charles River Regional Chamber of Commerce. The chamber said the debate will focus on economic development, housing, workforce and nonprofit issues, but that more general topics may also be discussed. Brownsberger is the highest-ranked incumbent in the Legislature facing a primary challenge this cycle, and the race has drawn a lot of attention, in part because Boston Mayor Michelle Wu is backing Lander. The race is seen as a referendum on whether voters in the Suffolk and Middlesex District share the mayor's frustration with the Legislature's status quo. (Monday, 1 p.m. | Zoom Registration)

CANNABIS SOCIAL EQUITY: Cannabis Social Equity Advisory Board meets. (Monday, 3 p.m. | More Info and Zoom)

DEATON TOWN HALL: Republican U.S. Senate candidate John Deaton holds a town hall forum, as part of a statewide listening tour. (Monday, 5 p.m., Plymouth Senior Center, 44 Nook Rd., Plymouth)

GREENWAY LIGHTING: MassDOT officials, including interim Transportation Secretary Eng, hold a ceremonial lighting of the Rose Kennedy Greenway to celebrate the completion of the project to improve the park's lighting and pathways. The improvements include new permeable, accessible pathways; interior parcel lighting; and newly illuminated public art. For the first time since the Greenway opened in 2008, these pathways will remain open and accessible year-round, including in the winter. There will be a speaking program. (Monday, 6:30 p.m., The Rose Kennedy Greenway, Between Pearl St. and Seaport Blvd., Boston)

Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026

BEHIND THE HARVEST: Green City Growers hosts an event called "Behind the Harvest" as part of Urban Agriculture Week. Agricultural Resources Commissioner Ashley Randle attends. (Tuesday, 9 a.m., 600 Windsor Place, Somerville)

VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION: Secretary of State William Galvin hosts a State House tours volunteer appreciation event. (Tuesday, 10 a.m., Great Hall)

DATA CENTER POLICY EVENT: State Affairs hosts a virtual event about data centers called "Public Opinion and the Future of Data Center Policy," convening experts "to examine what the polling actually shows, why opposition collapsed so quickly, and what it means for the legislation now advancing state by state." The event features Marquette Law School Poll Director and professor of law and public policy Charles Franklin, Apolo.us CEO Bill Kleyman, Virginia House of Delegates District 8 member Irene Shin, and General Manager of Enterprise News at Pluribus News/State Affairs Reid Wilson. It's the inaugural "State Affairs Insider" event, which will be a monthly series on state policy issues. (Tuesday, 12 p.m. | Register)

DEATON CAMPAIGN UPDATE: Republican candidate for U.S. Senate John Deaton hosts a virtual campaign update. (Tuesday, 12 p.m. | Zoom Link)

PCA WORKFORCE: Personal Care Attendant Workforce Council meets. Health and Human Services Undersecretary Amy Rosenthal discusses "organizational matters." Agenda also includes a recruiting update and an executive session focused on a bargaining update. (Tuesday, 3 p.m. | Agenda and Zoom)

Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2026

MICAH JONES EVENT: Republican candidate for the 6th Congressional District Micah Jones joins the North Shore Chamber of Commerce's "Emerging Leaders" young professionals group for a "meet the candidate" conversation. The event will include an "interactive discussion on issues important to young professionals in the regional business community, including the evolving role of artificial intelligence" after a brief introduction, according to the chamber. (Wednesday, 8 a.m., North Shore Chamber of Commerce, 500 Cummings Center, Suite 1700, Beverly | Register)

NEW BEDFORD TRASH FACILITY: Conservation Law Foundation attorneys deliver oral arguments on behalf of New Bedford residents who are looking to uphold the Board of Health's decision last September to reject a proposed waste transfer facility. South Coast Renewables, which had proposed the facility to handle up to 1,500 tons of waste daily, is asking the court to overturn the board's decision. New Bedford residents, organizers and CLF leaders will hold a press conference outside the courthouse after the hearing, around 10:30 a.m. (Wednesday, 9 a.m., Suffolk County Courthouse, 3 Pemberton Square, Courtroom 314, Boston)

PUBLIC HEALTH COUNCIL: Public Health Council meets. (Wednesday, 9 a.m. | More Info)

HEALTH CONNECTOR: Massachusetts Health Connector holds a webinar about its annual renewal process. Attendees will learn about their eligibility notice, how to update their online application, and get help with keeping or changing their coverage for 2027. (Wednesday, 12 p.m. | Register)

HUNGER-FOCUSED SENATE CANDIDATE FORUM: Project Bread and the Make Hunger History Coalition host a U.S. Senate candidate forum on food insecurity, SNAP cuts and federal nutrition policy. Democrat Sen. Ed Markey, Democrat Congressman Seth Moulton and Party for Socialism and Liberation candidate Joe Tache will join, per the food security nonprofit. The forum's purpose is voter education, the hosts said, "aimed at putting food security on the record as an issue candidates have to engage with directly." At 1 p.m. Project Bread CEO Erin McAleer will give opening remarks, and at 1:05 p.m. the candidate forum begins. There will be an attendee Q&A at 2:10 p.m. with pre-approved in-person questions. Closing remarks are slated for 2:25 p.m. (Wednesday, 1 p.m., Project Bread, 145 Border Street, 2nd Floor, East Boston | Zoom Registration | Live Facebook Stream)

LIFE SCIENCES: Massachusetts Life Sciences Board of Directors meets. Agenda includes an update from CEO Kirk Taylor and an overview of the center's program portfolio for fiscal 2027. (Wednesday, 2 p.m., MGB, 399 Revolution Drive, Suite 999, Somerville | Agenda)

STURBRIDGE-CHARLTON IMPROVEMENTS: MassDOT hosts a virtual design public hearing on a proposed project in Sturbridge and Charlton. The project was initiated as part of the Intersection Improvement Program due to the presence of a Top 200 Statewide Crash Location at Route 49 and Putnam Road, per MassDOT, and two other "crash clusters" were identified along the same corridor and are included in this project. Intersection safety improvement locations include Putnam Road at Route 49, Walker Pond Road and Route 20. (Wednesday, 7 p.m. | More Info and Zoom Registration)

Thursday, Aug. 13, 2026

SPRINKLER APPEALS BOARD: Department of Fire Services' Automatic Sprinkler Appeals Board meets virtually. (Thursday, 10 a.m. | More Info and Access)

EVERETT COMMUNITY GROWERS: Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley and Agricultural Resources Commissioner Ashley Randle participate in a discussion at Everett Community Growers as part of Urban Agriculture Week. (Thursday, 10 a.m., 80 Tremont St., Everett)

CCC MEETING: Cannabis Control Commission holds a public meeting. (Thursday, 10 a.m., 2 Washington Square, Worcester | Access and More Info)

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

LIKELY SENATE SESSION: Senate is likely to meet. During extended stretches of informal sessions, the House and Senate generally hold sessions Mondays and Thursdays to satisfy the constitutional requirement they convene every 72 hours. (Thursday, Time TBD, Senate Chamber)

8TH CONGRESSIONAL PRIMARY FORUM: Congressman Stephen Lynch and challenger Patrick Roath participate in a candidate forum hosted by the League of Women's Voters of Hingham. Roath is challenging Lynch, who has been in Congress since 2001, in the Sept. 1 Democratic primary election. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. (Thursday, 7 p.m., Chapman Middle School Auditorium, 1051 Commercial Street, Weymouth | More Info)

Friday, Aug. 14, 2026

INVESTOR BUDGET "WALKTHROUGH": The state hosts an investor conference call to "walk through" the fiscal year 2027 budget and "reflect" on the state's Aug. 5 information statement. Administration and Finance Assistant Budget Secretary Chris Marino will join for the budget walkthrough and Deputy Treasurer for Debt Management in the State Treasurer's Office Sue Perez will give a brief overview of the state's capital financing activities and upcoming financial plans. (Friday, 10 a.m., | Presentation Live View for Investors)

POST COMMISSION: Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training Commission holds a pre-conference hearing concerning Marie Sylvain. (Friday, 10 a.m. | More Info and Zoom)