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| wfpr.fm Schedule for Monday - Franklin Public Radio |
Providing accurate and timely information about what matters in Franklin, MA since 2007. * Working in collaboration with Franklin TV and Radio (wfpr.fm) since October 2019 *
Monday, February 2, 2026
Franklin Public Radio - wfpr.fm Schedule for Monday, February 2, 2026
Sunday, February 1, 2026
School Committee get preview of FY 2027 school budget with 2.5% increase, assuming health costs transfer to Town account (audio)
FM #1650 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1650 in the series.
This session shares the Franklin (MA) School Committee meeting held on Tuesday, January 27, 2026. All 7 members of the committee were present.
Quick recap:
The committee and community got a preview of the FY 2027 school budget. Excluding the health care costs ($8.8M), they presented a 'level service' budget that stays within a 2.5% increase
The discussions with the Town to transfer the health care costs to the Town account 910 are in process. A Memo of Agreement (MOA) is being prepared to cover the details of the transfer. The Committee will schedule a special meeting to vote to approve the transfer next week
The recording runs about 3 hours and 49 minutes
Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1650-franklin-ma-school-cmte-mtg-01-27-26/--------------
Additional links to the meeting recap, Franklin TV video, and key documents for this session https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/01/school-committee-get-preview-of-fy-2027.html
Superintendent’s Recommended budget for FY 2027 https://files-backend.assets.thrillshare.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4780/Fpsd/f0eb6e5e-b914-4650-9811-892c46570b5f/FINAL---FY27-Superintendents-Recommended-Budget-%282%29.pdf?disposition=inline
Memo on the health care account transfer
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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!
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You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"
Franklin Public Radio - wfpr.fm schedule for Sunday, February 1, 2026
Saturday, January 31, 2026
Franklin Public Radio - wfpr.fm schedule for Saturday, January 31, 2026
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.
Friday, January 30, 2026
Franklin Public Radio - wfpr.fm schedule for Friday, January 30, 2026
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| 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
- Steve goes exploring the Wonderful World of Wine & podcasting with Mark & Kim 12/18/25 -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/01/exploring-wonderful-world-of-wine.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
Thursday, January 29, 2026
Franklin Public Radio wfpr.fm schedule for Thursday, January 29, 2026
8:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 6:00 PM - Franklin Matters Radio – Steve Sherlock covering Franklin, its local government, services, and events (Repeats Saturday at 3:00 PM)
- The Maloney's tell how "More Farm Than Fancy" came about
-> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/01/mike-rescue-pig-was-1st-on-journey.html
- "The Turntable Show Album Hour" features Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit's "The Nashville Sound" record released June 16, 2017.
- "The Vibe Playlist Hour" includes an amazing mix of new studio and live hits from this award winning band.
Wednesday, January 28, 2026
Franklin Public Radio - wfpr.fm Schedule for Wednesday, January 28, 2026
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.
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| Franklin Public Radio - wfpr.fm Schedule for Wednesday |
- This segment shares my conversation with Scott Mason who thinks spring and talks baseball 1/12/26 -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/01/get-that-spring-feeling-with-scott.html
- This segment features Kim & Mark in Episode 307 - Wine Social Media Star Kelly Axelrad https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/01/the-wonderful-world-of-wine-www-episode_0602953869.html
Tuesday, January 27, 2026
Franklin Public Radio - wfpr.fm Schedule for Tuesday, January 27, 2026
Tuesday
SAFE Radio – Jim Derick and Dr. Anne Bergen Addressing issues of Drug Abuse Disorder
Jazz Journey – with Pamela Hines - An insightful tour of Jazz Greats in a golden era
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| Franklin Public Radio wfpr.fm Schedule for Tuesday |
Monday, January 26, 2026
4 hour Finance Meeting recording in 2 parts for convenience: P1 - economics of development, P2 - capital budget (audio)
FM #1643-44 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1643-44 in the series.
This session shares the Finance Committee meeting conducted Wednesday, January 14, 2026. 8 members of the Committee participated, 1 absent.
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| 4 hour Finance Meeting recording in 2 parts for convenience |
The recording is in 2 parts:
P1 for the economics of development
P2 for the capital budget
Quick recap ->
Board of Assessors and Town Staff: The Economics of Development, residential valuations are based upon residential property sales and comparables. Commercial Industrial valuations are more complicated in that there is a revenue factor for how much money the operations is actually making (confidentially reported to the Assessors) along with several other factors. The repeated phrase was "it's complicated"
We did hear that there is NO issue with water supply or sewer capacity. Police and Fire are understaffed (but managing as best they can for the volume), Schools built extra capacity as part of the redistricting effort. The per pupil amount talked of is not what each net new student would cost. There are existing capacities to handle some number of students without adding a teacher
Part of the agenda included an update on the abatement process which was not covered and seems to be deferred to a future meeting (TBD)
The capital budget first pass was approved after a lengthy discussion. Town policy calls for funding multiple stabilization accounts, this year only the OPEB account was proposed for funding due to the budget shortfall and that it had not been funded last year.
The OPEB fund resolution passed 8-0-1 (1 absent)
The first pass at the tier 1 capital requests accounted for $1.8M and was proposed to amend to remove the sprinkler system work required at the Senior Center. The amendment was meant to reserve the additional $750K for the potential budget deficit. The motion to amend after a lengthy discussion failed by a 1-7-1 (1 for, 1 absent, 7 against removal for the item). The vote on the original resolution passed 7-1-1 (7 for, 1 against, 1 absent)
The recording for Part 1 - Economics of development runs just over 2 hours
The recording for Part 2 - the capital budget runs just under 2 hours
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Franklin TV video for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaC9XFahY1M
The agenda and released documents for this meeting -> https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01142026-2089
My notes collected in one PDF -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qRDOyvDbYn1A5DqogXU-4DpgjpwYvRNH/view?usp=drive_link
-------------
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. 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"










