Voices of Franklin: Cobi Frongillo for the FY 2026 Override (video)

Town Councilor and community advocate Cobi Frongillo makes his points on the FY 2026 budget override for the Town of Franklin, MA.

Video link -> https://youtu.be/9i7U5Fk-zdE

For more about the FY 2026 Override ballot question, visit the Town page ->   https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/1089/Fiscal-Year-2026-Override-Information

If you have something to say, you can find the guidelines here
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/03/introducing-voices-of-franklin.html

Join us for a Jane's Walk in Franklin on Sunday, May 4 at 10 AM

Join Cobi Frongillo & Steve Sherlock NEXT SUNDAY (5/4) for our third annual walk around Downtown Franklin to reflect on placemaking and town planning.

The event is part of an annual international series of walks to honor the social activist Jane Jacobs.

Meet at the Depot St parking lot Sunday morning. We will leave at 10:00 AM and should meander back by 11:30 AM.

Join us for a Jane's Walk in Franklin on Sunday, May 4 at 10 AM

Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AHWKwXMp5/

Find out more about Buliding Euitable Neighborhoos For Franklin (BEN 4 Franklin)  https://ben4franklin.org/

Run on Climate welcomes Cobi Frongillo as new member of the Local Climate Policy Network

Run on Climate (@ROClimate) tweeted on Fri, Jun 23, 2023:

"Welcome to the Local Climate Policy Network, @CobiFrongillo !  

With a background in policy research and a strong commitment to environmental issues, he has advanced initiatives on sustainable development and served as a fellow with Elected Officials to Protect America. https://t.co/utCaBevzJl"

Run on Climate welcomes Cobi Frongillo

Cobi Frongillo; new member of the Local Climate Policy Network

Cinema Zeotrope to present "If Beale Street Could Talk" on Tuesday at THE BLACK BOX - 7 PM

Via Cobi Frongillo: 

"Our second film screening is NEXT TUESDAY!

If Beale Street Could Talk (2018) is a moving drama from Barry Jenkins (Oscar-winning director of Moonlight) based on the acclaimed novel by James Baldwin. The film, which tells the story of a young couple in 1970s Harlem, received three Oscar nominations and earned Regina King a win for Best Supporting Actress.

As always, popcorn and other refreshments will be available for purchase. Tickets will be sold at the door, for a suggested $5 donation. All are welcome!"

Shared from -> https://www.instagram.com/p/Csoh4Leu4yB/

Cinema Zeotrope to present "If Beale Street Could Talk" on Tuesday at THE BLACK BOX - 7 PM

The Frongillo Family in the news (video)

"In the coming weeks, thousands of college students will graduate and need a place to live. 

With the high cost of housing and student loan debt, a growing number of them will trade their roommates for mom and dad. 

The trend in recent years is for young people to move home."

Watch the video clip online -> https://www.boston25news.com/news/local/more-young-people-rooming-with-mom-dad-high-cost-housing-sends-them-back-home/DAEXY6NSKVATLGRKQUHGJK5COU/ 

The Frongillo Family in the news

Rich Frongillo has two interviews worthy of listening to (if you haven't already)

• In September2020, we talked about his business growth in Franklin ->   https://www.franklinmatters.org/2020/09/fm-353-rich-frongillo-growing.html 
• In January 2023, we talked about the newest expansion of his business with a preschool opening later this year -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/01/talking-with-rich-frongillo-about.html

Walk, Bike, Roll to School Day - Wednesday, May 3, 2023

Cobi Frongillo writes: 

"Wednesday (5/3) is Walk, Bike, Roll to School Day at all of

@FranklinPSNews

' elementary and middle schools! Here are FIVE good reasons to participate tomorrow (and every day!). Thank you

@lily_9e

for putting this together!"

Shared from Twitter -> https://twitter.com/CobiFrongillo/status/1653515223842578438 

Walk, Bike, Roll to School Day - Wednesday, May 3, 2023

"Aftersun" film opens the 3 film pilot at THE BLACK BOX, Apr 25 at 7 PM

Since the 2005 closure of the beloved Zeotrope Theatre, there has been an absence of steady programming for our local cinephiles.

With a generous Mass Cultural Council grant from the Franklin Cultural District, Town Councilor Cobi Frongilllo, in collaboration with THE BLACK BOX, is piloting a 3-film monthly series to assess the local appetite for more regular independent, arthouse, foreign, and classic film screenings! The films will show at 7 PM on the last Tuesday of April, May, and June; all three will be screened at THE BLACK BOX (15 W Central St, Franklin, MA 02038).

Our first film, Aftersun (2022), will be screened on Tuesday, April 25th. The moving coming-of-age drama from debut director Charlotte Wells explores the protagonist's memories of a childhood vacation with her father. It was named the best film of the year by The Guardian, IndieWire, and Sight & Sound, and earned Paul Mescal an Oscar nomination for Best Lead Actor.

Popcorn and other refreshments will be available for purchase. This is a pilot program, so we request some patience as we build out and improve the cinematic experience. 

Tickets will be sold at the door for a suggested $5 donation. All are welcome!

More about Aftersun can be found ->  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aftersun

"Aftersun" film opens the 3 film pilot at THE BLACK BOX, Apr 25 at 7 PM

A "Franklin For All" discussion on buildable & affordable - 04/12/23 (audio)

FM #974 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 974 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the audio recording of the housing and zoning discussion with Brad Chafee, Melanie Hamblen, Cobi Frongillo and Joe Halligan. We were all in the Franklin TV Studio on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. 

Consider this a continuation of the downtown zoning discussion from the “Franklin For All” project which is underway with review and discussion at the Economic Development Subcommittee Plus meetings that Melanie Chairs and for which Cobi is Vice-Chair.  

We were joined by Joe Halligan for this session to include his insights as a former Planning Board member, Franklin developer, and recently appointed to the Master Plan Update Committee. 

The conversation centered on the numbers Joe had walked through at a prior EDC Plus meeting (Nov 2022) on the costs of combining parcels to make a buildable project. We define ‘buildable’ from a developer’s perspective to help differentiate from the two definitions of affordable (Capital A - affordable as set by Federal HUD and State calculations, and lower case “a” affordable, what someone could afford which will still vary by situation).

The recording of our conversation on zoning runs about 63 minutes. Let’s listen in. Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-974-franklin-for-all-discusses-buildable-affordable-04-12-23

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

The collection of Franklin For All zoning discussions can be found here ->

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/02/franklin-for-all-housing-zoning-podcast.html

The November 2022 meeting at which affordable housing was discussed and Joe Halligan laid out his ‘homework’ initially ->  beginning approx 35 minutes if you want to jump to that point)   https://www.youtube.com/live/sUk0eqtUzXE?feature=share  

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

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

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"

A "Franklin For All" discussion on buildable & affordable - 04/12/23 (audio)

Applause Gelato cut their ribbon Thursday, opens Saturday, Apr 8 from noon to 4 PM

Applause, the new gelato and one of a kind gift shop, held their ribbon cutting on Thursday with a small but distinguished invitation only event. The official opening will be Saturday afternoon from noon to 4 PM.

Announced during the brief ribbon cutting the hours will be limited initially and as May/June bring more college students home from school, the hours are expected to expand.

Some photos from the ribbon cutting are shared here and additional photos are collected in an album as well.  Album ->   https://photos.app.goo.gl/hwwX825KGVgrKHy6A

Raye Lynn Mercer cut the ribbon assisted by  Marcie DiChiara and State Rep Jeff Roy

State Rep Jeff Roy presented a proclamation from the MA House

L - R: State Rep Jeff Roy, Marcie DiChara, Raye Lynn Mercer, Town Administrator Jamie Hellen, Town Council Chair Tom Mercer, Town Councilor Cobi Frongillo

The menu board lists the available gelato flavors

The gelato flavors are ready to be served on Saturday

Franklin For All housing & zoning podcast series (audio)

I had an internal debate on what order to list these episodes and decided that the chronological order was probably best. You can listen to any or all as you choose. 

#1 - This Franklin For All Discussion reveals insights on process and accessory dwelling units - 03/15/22 (audio)  (39 minutes)

FM #755 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 755 in the series.

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with several members of the Economic Development “Plus” Committee to talk about the Franklin For All process. We recorded this via the Zoom conference bridge Mar 15, 2022. 

Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-755-franklin-for-all-discussion-03-15-22

----------

#2 -Downtown Zoning Discussion with Councilors Hamblen & Frongillo - 12/19/22 (audio)  (45 minutes)

FM #904 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 904 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the audio recording of my conversation with Town Councilors Melanie Hamblen and Cobi Frongillo. We met in the Franklin TV Studio on Monday, Dec 19, 2022.

Audio file ->  https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-904-downtown-zoning-discussion-12-19-22

----------

#3 - Downtown Zoning Discussion with D'Errico, Frongillo & Hamblen - 01/18/23 (audio)  (60 minutes)

FM #922 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 922 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the audio recording of my conversation with Joel D’Errico, Melanie Hamblen and Cobi Frongillo. Joel, Melanie and I were in the Franklin TV Studio on Wednesday, January 18, 2023. Cobi joined us for almost all of the discussion via phone.

Audio file ->  https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-922-town-of-franklin-downtown-zoning-discussion-01-18-23

----------

#4 - Listen to this discussion on housing, zoning, and getting the process to produce what we need (audio) (107 minutes)

FM #942 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 942 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the audio recording of the housing and zoning discussion with Brad Chafee, Melanie Hamblen and Cobi Frongillo. Brad, Melanie and I were in the Franklin TV Studio on Wednesday, February 8, 2023. Cobi joined us for the discussion via Zoom.

Audio file ->  https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-942-franklin-housing-zoning-discussion-02-08-23

----------

#5 - Conversation on Franklin's walkability & insights from Worcester (audio)

FM #962 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 962 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the audio recording of the housing and zoning discussion with Brad Chafee, Melanie Hamblen, Cobi Frongillo and Dean College Chancellor Ed Augustus. 

Brad, Melanie, Ed and I were in the Franklin TV Studio on Wednesday, March 15, 2023. Cobi joined us for the discussion via Zoom.

Audio file ->  https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-962-walkability-worcester-insights-03-15-23

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

#6 -  A "Franklin For All" discussion on buildable & affordable - 04/12/23 (audio)

This session of the radio show shares the audio recording of the housing and zoning discussion with Brad Chafee, Melanie Hamblen, Cobi Frongillo and Joe Halligan. We were all in the Franklin TV Studio on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. 

Consider this a continuation of the downtown zoning discussion from the “Franklin For All” project which is underway with review and discussion at the Economic Development Subcommittee Plus meetings that Melanie Chairs and for which Cobi is Vice-Chair.  

We were joined by Joe Halligan for this session to include his insights as a former Planning Board member, Franklin developer, and recently appointed to the Master Plan Update Committee. 

Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-974-franklin-for-all-discusses-buildable-affordable-04-12-23

----------

#7 - The Franklin For All series continues with a discussion on Design Review - 05/30/23

This session of the radio show shares the audio recording of the housing and zoning discussion with Brad Chafee, Melanie Hamblen, Cobi Frongillo, and Sam Williams. Most of us were in the Franklin TV Studio on Tuesday, May 30, 2023. Cobi joined us via the Zoom conference bridge.

Consider this a continuation of the downtown zoning discussion from the “Franklin For All” project which is underway with review and discussion at the Economic Development Subcommittee Plus meetings that Melanie Chairs and for which Cobi is Vice-Chair.  

We were joined by Sam Williams for this session to include his insights as the Vice-Chair of the Design Review Commission.  

The conversation centered on design aspects of the ongoing Franklin For All discussion. Design Review had come up in a couple of the prior sessions so we decided to spend some time on it here with Sam. 

Audio file ->   https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1005-franklin-for-all-7-talks-about-design-review-05-30-23

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

#8 - Franklin For All discusses 'new growth' and the relationship of zoning to the budget
 

This session of the radio show shares the audio recording of the housing and zoning discussion with Brad Chafee, Melanie Hamblen, and Cobi Frongillo. We were joined by Town Administrator Jamie Hellen and Town Council Chair Tom Mercer for this discussion on new growth. Most of us were in the Franklin TV Studio on Tuesday, May 30, 2023. Tom joined us via the Zoom conference bridge.

Consider this a continuation of the downtown zoning discussion from the “Franklin For All” project which is underway with review and discussion at the Economic Development Subcommittee Plus meetings that Melanie Chairs and for which Cobi is Vice-Chair.  

The conversation centered on new growth and how the zoning decisions have a relationship with the budget. 

Audio file ->  https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1014-franklin-for-all-8-new-growth-06-05-23

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

Cobi's Corner - newsletter recaps 2022

Town Councilor Cobi Frongillo recapped the 2022 year in his recent newsletter. If you did not receive your own copy, you can review a PDF of my copy.

Read the current newsletter (PDF format) ->  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QXT7jHUOnihwRKM2wgR6NidgUjrPioLA/view?usp=share_link

You can also subscribe to receive the next one from Cobi at ->    https://www.cobifrongillo.com/

Cobi's Corner - newsletter recaps 2022

Elected Officials to Protect America advocate for offshore wind power (video)

Elected Officials to Protect America (@EOPAmerica) tweeted on Fri, Oct 14, 2022:

"We're doing our part here locally, and we're here really to call on the Federal Government to join us" regarding offshore wind.
- @CobiFrongillo, Councilmember Franklin, Massachusetts

Please watch the entire press conference on this YouTube link: https://t.co/VyMqDi0yj3

Shared from Twitter -> https://twitter.com/EOPAmerica/status/1581042188124704768

"We're doing our part here locally, and we're here really to call on the Federal Government to join us" regarding offshore wind.
- @CobiFrongillo, Councilmember Franklin, Massachusetts

Please watch the entire press conference on this YouTube link: https://t.co/VyMqDi0yj3 pic.twitter.com/dmCRCp3Qv2

— Elected Officials to Protect America (@EOPAmerica) October 14, 2022

Conversation with Town Councilor Cobi Frongillo - 05/02/22 (audio)

FM #787 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 787 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Town Councilor Cobi Frongillo conducted in the Franklin TV/Franklin Public Radio Studio on May 2, 2022. 

We talk about Cobi’s recent conference trip and recent bike ride around Franklin. 

The recording runs about 53 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Cobi as we discuss the conference takeaways, housing, transportation, zoning, and how it applies to Franklin.

Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-787-conversation-with-cobi-frongillo-05-02-22

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

Conference website -> https://yimby.town/ 

Session streaming links -> https://yimby.town/streaming/ 

Day 1 conference thread - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wHt5Bl16d_q-ZwnBJ57VTI8dpIYIPHQP/view?usp=sharing 

Day 2 conference thread - 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Gson071ISyJ8NzmdYmigBeheJvDMjCRV/view?usp=sharing 

Day 3 conference thread -

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lXmGwa7roYyLZ96LN33H-fycFGCgEY4I/view?usp=sharing 

Mass Housing Partnership’s “DataTown” highlights for Franklin

https://drive.google.com/file/d/12huqmolj_QI3GK1jOqQZGC4wQswTci2x/view?usp=sharing

Bike ride thread -> 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DG0iuZH0MmITC6GVDqL_zsZSV--9eq4s/view?usp=sharing 

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

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

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"

 

one of the data points from the Mass Housing Partnership’s “DataTown” highlights for Franklin