Audio of the 12/17/25 Town Council in 3 logical segments (audio)

FM #1612-13-14 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, numbers 1612-13-14 in the series. 

This session shares part of the Franklin (MA) Town Council meeting held on Wednesday, December 17, 2025. The Council held this session as scheduled beginning at 6 PM. All 9 Councilors participated (1 remotely) for this 4 hour session. 

 

• 1612 - covers the opening, Citizen comments, recognitions, alcohol license renewals and everything else except 

• the snow update (see 1613) 

• and the charter discussion (see 1614)  (approx. 2 hours 27 mins)

• 1613 - segment from the meeting covering the full discussion on the DPW snow update  (approx.. 58 minutes)  https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/7855/Snow-Presentation---December-17-2025 

• 1614 - segment from the meeting covering the full discussion on the charter change process  (approx. 45 mins)  https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/7848/2023-11-01-Town-Charter-Presentation 

Audio 1612 link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1612-town-council-mtg-minus-snow-charter-updates-12-17-25/

Audio 1613 link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1613-snow-update-to-town-council-12-17-25/

Audio 1614 link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1614-charter-discussion-at-town-council-mtg-12-17-25/

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Additional notes including the video link for the meeting can be found ->

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/12/town-council-closes-out-year-approving.html 

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

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"

Storm brings power outages, downed trees; Clean up and restorations continue this morning

Our household and neighborhood had power restored at 4 AM Saturday morning, an outage of approx. 17 hours. At the peak of the outages, streets were blocked with downed trees. Police and Fire units were active in responding. 

"Good morning,

I wanted to provide an update on the power outage situation from overnight into this morning.

I did not want to send emails throughout the night; however, please be assured that we were actively monitoring conditions and remained in close contact with National Grid throughout the event.

As of approximately 4:30 AM, there were about 1,600 households without power. By 6:30 AM this morning, that number had been reduced to approximately 600 locations still without power. National Grid continues to work on restoring service to the remaining customers.

I hope these updates have been helpful to you as you field questions from residents. I understand that some residents were looking for more detailed information and exact restoration timelines. I want to stress that we share all information as soon as it is provided to us by National Grid.

To recap, although there were multiple individual power lines down within our community the primary cause of the widespread outage was damage that occurred outside of town. National Grid advised that the root cause was a failure of a power transfer loop at a substation. This substation failure impacted four communities. The large-scale outage was due to the substation issue, not individual line failures.

Throughout the night, our crews kept up with demand and responded to calls for service as power was restored. There were no major incidents reported overnight.

We will continue to monitor the situation closely as the morning progresses and provide updates as necessary.

Please feel free to reach out if you need any additional information."

Fire Chief & Emergency Management Manager Charles Allen

And 

"Good morning,

The Department of Public Works has crews out this morning continuing with debris cleanup around town.

The good news is that we did not need to salt the roads, which saved municipal funds.

Have a great week!"

Robert Cantoreggi

Director, Department of Public Works

The NationalGrid outage map as of 7:30 this morning

The NationalGrid outage map as of 7:30 this morning

Trash/Recycle schedule changes for the next 2 weeks

Upcoming Holiday Schedule for the next two weeks!

Trash/Recycle schedule changes for the next 2 weeks

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/1A3QbvtQh2/

Sewer Lining Project work continues this week; Dec 15 to Dec 19

Sewer Lining Project work continues this week; Dec 15 to Dec 19

Phase 9 - Sewer Lining Project Continues on Tuesday December 16th thru Friday December 19th.

Below is the anticipated schedule for the Sewer Lining work that National Watermain will be conducting:

Tuesday, 12/16 thru Friday 12/19 - Lateral lining

Please follow posted detour signs and use caution when driving in these areas.

During this part of the lining residents that will be directly affected will be notified. If you experience any issues please call the DPW at 508-553-5500.

This work will help to improve the structural integrity of our sewer system and reduce groundwater intrusion which reduces our bill from the Charles River Pollution Control District.

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/1BVd9kYRUo/

Snow Disposal Done Right via Franklin DPW

Snow Disposal Done Right

Not all snow piles are created equal. Where you move it matters for Franklin water quality.

Plowing snow into a drain or piling it near a stream means salt, oil, and debris can flow directly into our waterways. That runoff does not get treated.

Snow Disposal Done Right via Franklin DPW

Instead, store snow where it can melt into soil and be naturally filtered. Keep piles away from storm drains, wetlands, stormwater infiltration systems, and flood-prone areas.

Small decisions on your site can make a big difference for clean water.

Learn more at https://franklinma.gov/530/Stormwater-Division

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/16QC24Jk1A/

Sewer Lining Project work continues this week; Dec 8 to Dec 12

Sewer Lining Project work continues this week; Dec 8 to Dec 12

Phase 9 - Sewer Lining Project Continues on Monday December 8th thru Friday December 12th.

Below is the anticipated schedule for the Sewer Lining work that National Watermain will be conducting:

• Monday, 12/8 - Partridge Easement & Stanwood to Beech Mainline Lining Work
• Tuesday 12/9 - Stanwood to Beech Easement Mainline Lining Work
• Wednesday, 12/10 thru Friday 12/12 - Lateral lining

Please follow posted detour signs and use caution when driving in these areas.

During this part of the lining residents that will be directly affected will be notified. If you experience any issues please call the DPW at 508-553-5500.

This work will help to improve the structural integrity of our sewer system and reduce groundwater intrusion which reduces our bill from the Charles River Pollution Control District.

#keepfranklinflowing #franklinma

https://www.facebook.com/share/1D7cSE1TqQ/

Town of Franklin, MA: "trash collection is running behind schedule"

Town of Franklin, MA (@TOFranklinMA) posted at 4:39 PM on Mon, Dec 01, 2025:

Town of Franklin, MA:
"trash collection is running
behind schedule"

Update from Waste Management (12/1/25):

"Due to increased volume, today's trash collection is running behind schedule. 

If your trash was not collected as scheduled today (Monday 12/1), it will be collected tomorrow (Tuesday 12/2). 

We apologize for the inconvenience."

Shared from -> https://x.com/TOFranklinMA/status/1995608811080429804

Beaver St. Interceptor Project: Construction Updates ~ Monday (12/1) through Friday (12/5)

Grove Street Closed Notice - Monday 12/1 thru Wednesday 12/3  -  7AM to 4PM

Beaver St. Interceptor Project

Grove Street will be closed at the MBTA train tracks on 12/1 to 12/3 between the hours of 7AMto 4PM.

Traffic turning onto Grove St from Rt. 140 will be detoured over to Beaver Street via Rt. 140. Please follow posted detour signs for directions. The area will be open to Local Traffic only to access the businesses and properties on Grove Street between Forge Hill Road and Rt. 140.

RT. 140 (West Central Street) Lane Closure Alert  -  Wednesday (12/3) thru Friday (12/5) during the day 8AM to 3PM

The Contractor will continue with the installation of the sewer force main within RT. 140 (West Central Street). The work will be contained within the southbound lane from Burger King to Beaver Street. During this time there will be evening lane closures on RT. 140. Please use caution when traveling in this area and follow all posted signs.

Beaver Street Pump Station

At the Franklin Recreation Center, the construction of the new Beaver Street Interceptor Pump Station will continue with construction of the exterior building structure, internal building component installation, and final site work. Final Paving of the parking lot is anticipated to occur on Monday 12/1.

Additional info on the project -> https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/557/Beaver-Street-Interceptor-BSI-Project

Franklin Public Radio - wfpr.fm Schedule for Wednesday, November 19, 2025

Yes, Franklin has it's own radio station -> wfpr.fm. Franklin Public Radio introduced a brand new schedule early in 2025 for the locally produced shows that fill our air waves. 

It is available anywhere, anytime at wfpr.fm or in the local Franklin, MA area at 102.9 on the FM dial.

Tune in to listen to the following:

 

Franklin Public Radio - wfpr.fm Schedule for Wednesday

8:00 AM, 1:00 PM and 6:00 PM   Franklin Matters Radio – Steve Sherlock 

Franklin and its local government, services and events  (repeats Saturday at 2 PM)  

• This segment shares my conversation with Town of Franklin’s Water/Sewer Superintendent, Doug Martin, and Assistant Superintendent, Jake Standley to get an update on DPW Water & Sewer projects  ->   https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/10/doug-jake-provide-updates-on-sewer.html

9:00 AM, 2:00 PM and 7:00 PM  The Wonderful World of Wine – Mark Lenzi, Kim Simone  All about wine, its culture, lore and finer points.    (repeats Saturday at 1 PM)  

• This segment features Kim & Mark in Episode 302 talking with "The Umami King Tim Hanni MW"  ->   https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/11/the-wonderful-world-of-wine-www-episode.html

Get this week's program guide for Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) online  http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf 

Beaver Street Interceptor (BSI) Project: Construction Updates ~ Monday (11/17) through Friday (11/21)

RT. 140 (West Central Street) Lane Closure Alert 7PM to 5AM!

Monday night, November 17, the Contractor will continue with the installation of the sewer force main within RT. 140 (West Central Street). The work will be contained within the southbound lane from Burger King to Beaver Street. During this time there will be evening lane closures on RT. 140 from 7PM to 5AM. Please use caution when traveling in this area and follow all posted signs.

Beaver Street Road Closed Notice - Monday 11/17  - Wednesday 11/19 7AM to 4PM

Starting Monday (11/17) through Wednesday (11/19) Beaver Street  at the MBTA train tracks will be closed. The road closure will be from 7am to 4pm Monday thru Wednesday.   

Those needing to access 242 to 290 Beaver Street will be able to use Rt. 140 only.  This includes access to Franklin Glass, Panera Fresh Dough Facility and Franklin Recreation.  Access to all other locations on Beaver Street, including the Town of Franklin Recycling Center, Beaver Street Recreation Area, and the businesses on Master Drive will be accessed from Grove St. 

Grove Street Closed Notice - Wednesday 11/19 - Friday 11/21 - 7AM to 4PM

Starting either Wednesday (11/19) or Thursday (11/20) Grove Street will be closed at the MBTA train tracks between the hours of 7am and 4pm.  The work on Grove Street will continue into the week of 11/24, stay tuned for further updates next week.

Beaver Street Interceptor (BSI) Project

Traffic turning onto Grove St from Rt. 140 will be detoured over to Beaver Street via Rt. 140. Please follow posted detour signs for directions. The area will be open to Local Traffic only to access the businesses and properties on Grove Street between Forge Hill Road and Rt. 140.

Beaver Street Pump Station

At the Franklin Recreation Center, the construction of the new Beaver Street Interceptor Pump Station will continue with construction of the exterior building structure, internal building component installation, and final site work.

For more details on the project:

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/557/Beaver-Street-Interceptor-BSI-Project

Town of Franklin, MA: Curbside pickup continues & Recycling Center open on Veterans Day

Town of Franklin, MA: Curbside pickup & Recycling Center open on Veterans Day

Note: this is also yard waster pick up this week 

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/11/curbside-yard-waste-pickup-scheduled_10.html

Shared from -> https://t.co/1zuvfIlwBx

Curbside yard waste pickup scheduled for week of November 10, 2025, no scheduled delay due to Veterans Day

Tw0 key items for this week per the DPW Recycling and Solid Waste

1 - Curbside yard waste collection scheduled for the week of November 10

Curbside yard waste pickup scheduled for week of November 10, 2025

2 - no scheduled delay in pickup due to the Veterans Day holiday on Tuesday. Your day pickup schedule remains the same.

If you misplaced and need another copy of the curbside schedule, you can download the PDF https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1279/Waste-Management-Trash-and-Recycling-Collection-Services-2025-to-2026-PDF

Beaver Street Interceptor (BSI) Project: Construction Updates ~ Monday Night (11/3) through Friday Morning (11/7)

RT. 140 (West Central Street) Lane Closure Alert 7PM to 5AM!

Beaver Street Interceptor (BSI) Project

Monday night, November 3, the Contractor will continue with the installation of the sewer force main within RT. 140 (West Central Street). The work will be contained within the southbound lane from Burger King to Beaver Street. During this time there will be evening lane closures on RT. 140 from 7PM to 5AM. Please use caution when traveling in this area and follow all posted signs.

Also, on  Wednesday between the hours of 9AM to 3PM the contractor will be within the sidewalk on RT. 140 to connect sewer pipe sections together.  Please use caution when traveling in this area and follow all posted signs.

Beaver Street Pump Station:

At the Franklin Recreation Center, the construction of the new Beaver Street Interceptor Pump Station will continue with construction of the exterior building structure and internal building component installation. In addition, the contractor will be performing final site work

Shared from -> https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/557/Beaver-Street-Interceptor-BSI-Project

Curbside yard waste pickup scheduled for week of November 10, 2025

Per the Franklin DPW: Curbside yard waste collection scheduled for the week of November 10

Curbside yard waste pickup scheduled for week of November 10, 2025

shared from ->   https://www.facebook.com/100064487150311/posts/pfbid0ckMcSViuqX2kDFKeccizoUNfRXWv3vE9aVfbrAm2VsVetXv47PWXTGs27a89zu3Ul/

DPW looking for snow shovelers

DPW looking for snow shovelers

"The Franklin DPW is seeking dedicated and hardworking snow shovelers to join our team during the winter season.

This role is essential for maintaining safe and accessible outdoor spaces by efficiently removing snow from various areas throughout the Town of Franklin. 

Ideal candidates will be at least 18 years old, possess a valid drivers license, strong work ethic, and a passion for the outdoors. 

Contact Tony or Roseanne  508-553-5500"

TBRUNETTA@FRANKLINMA.GOV   or  ROSEANNES@FRANKLINMA.GOV

Shared from ->  https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14Q4P2FoVnV/

Franklin Public Radio - wfpr.fm schedule for Friday, October 31, 2025

Yes, Franklin has it's own radio station -> wfpr.fm. Franklin Public Radio has a brand new schedule for the locally produced shows that fill our air waves. 

It is available anywhere, anytime at wfpr.fm or in the local Franklin, MA area at 102.9 on the FM dial.

Tune in to listen to the following:

Franklin Public Radio - wfpr.fm schedule for Friday

8:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 6:00 PM - Franklin Matters Radio – Steve Sherlock covering Franklin, its local government, services, and events 

• This segment shares my conversation my conversation with Doug Martin, Franklin’s Water and Sewer Superintendent and Jake Standly, the Assistant Water/Sewer Superintendent. We get an update on the sewer & water projects underway or planned ->  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/10/doug-jake-provide-updates-on-sewer.html

9:00 AM, 2:00 PM, and 7:00 PM

10:00 AM, 3:00 PM, and 8:00 PM - Talkin’ the Blues – Jim Derick & Nick Remissong. 2 hours of awesome blues music, info, interviews  Showcasing the "Blues" as a basis for and influence of Country, Jazz and Rock and Roll, here and worldwide.

11:00 AM, 4:00 PM, and 9:00 PM - “The Vibe” show plays music for everyone searching for some enjoyment, some dance, a happy or thinking mood, and most importantly, having fun.  Tune in to wfpr.fm and listen to “DJ Vibe” spin music across many genres and join this new vibing experience

Get this week's program guide for Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) online  http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf 

Doug & Jake provide updates on the sewer & water projects underway (audio)

FM #1557 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, numbers 1557 in the series

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Doug Martin, Franklin’s Water and Sewer Superintendent and Jake Standly, the Assistant Water/Sewer Superintendent. 

We had our conversation in the Franklin Public Radio studios on Hutchinson St on Tuesday, October 21, 2025. Our conversation covered updates on Water & Sewer projects previously discussed in each their own three-part series. 

The show notes include links to the Franklin water & sewer division page 

Let’s listen to this part of my conversation with Doug and Jake and learn about the updates to Franklin’s sewer and water projects. 

Audio link ->  https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1557-dpw-water-sewer-project-updates-10-21-25/

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monitor your water usage

Water Sewer Division - https://www.franklinma.gov/water-sewer-division

The main page contains links to the both of the 3-part series on water and sewer.

Beaver Street interceptor project -> https://www.franklinma.gov/557/Beaver-Street-Interceptor-BSI-Project

Charles River Pollution Control (sewerage processor) https://www.franklinma.gov/charles-river-pollution-control   and https://www.charlesriverpcd.org/ 

Leak or Blockage diagram of lines of responsibility between Town and property owners for water and sewer service  https://www.franklinma.gov/water-sewer-division/pages/have-leak-or-blockage

Water service line inventory page (looking for lead pipes and connections) -> https://www.franklinma.gov/637/Water-Service-Line-Inventory 

Water Smart program ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/1221/WaterSmart

Consumer Confidence Reports (on water quality)  ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/water-sewer-division/pages/consumer-confidence-reports

The Energy and Environmental Affairs Drinking Water Data Portal.

https://eeaonline.eea.state.ma.us/portal#!/search/drinking-water/results?PWSId=2101000

We did forget to cover the wholesale water program. It was suspended once the drought alerts from the State were issued. When not in drought, it does generate some additional revenue (more per gallon than residents pay)  https://www.franklinma.gov/1109/Wholesale-Water 

-----------

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm). 

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

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"