spot - (noun) 1. a small round or roundish mark. 2. a particular place or pointeleven - (noun) one more than ten
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 *
Thursday, October 19, 2023
Pour Richards Celebrates 11 years - Thank you!
Tuesday, February 7, 2023
Chair Tom Mercer and I condense the Feb 1, 2023 Town Council meeting to about 30 min (audio)
This shares my conversation with Town Council Chair Tom Mercer. This is one of a series of conversations meant to provide a recap of the prior Council meeting. Akin to one of the many sports post-game analysis broadcasts we are familiar with in New England, this would be a discussion focused on the Franklin Town Council meeting of Feb 1, 2023:
ok, what just happened?
What does it mean for Franklin residents and taxpayers?
We cover the following key topics
APPOINTMENTS
a. New Employee: Fire Department - Kristin Krauss, Firefighter
b. Promotion: Fire Department - William Blanchard, EMS Battalion Chief
LICENSE TRANSACTIONS
a. New Section 15 All Alcoholic Beverages Retail Package Store License and Approval of Scott Corvi as the Manager - MADD Deli, Inc. d/b/a Dacey’ s Market and Deli, Located at 353 Lincoln Street
b. Transfer of Section 15 Wine and Malt Beverages Package Store License and Approval of Vrushank Patel as the Manager - 660 Central, LLC d/b/a Mobil, Located at 660 West Central Street
PRESENTATIONS / DISCUSSION
a. Tri County School Building Project - Karen Maguire, Tri County Superintendent
LEGISLATION FOR ACTION
a. Bylaw Amendment 23-892: A Bylaw to Amend the Code of the Town of Franklin at Chapter 82, Fees, Municipal Service - First Reading
b. Resolution 23-14: Appropriating Funds by Borrowing to Pay Costs of Purchasing an Aerial Ladder Truck for Fire Dept.
c. Resolution 23-15: Gift Acceptance - Police Dept. ($315)
Links to the meeting agenda and associated documents released for this meeting are included in the show notes.
Our conversation runs about 30 minutes. Let’s listen to this session of Town Council Quarterbacking recorded Feb 6, 2023 Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-936-town-council-quarterbacking-02-06-23
--------------
The full agenda can be found -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/feb_1_2023_town_council_agenda.pdf
The Franklin TV video is available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/live/-AQpq8GSvi4?feature=share
My recap, notes, and audio ->
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2023/02/town-council-approves-all-alcohol_5.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
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 your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"
Sunday, February 5, 2023
Town Council approves all alcohol license, hears of Tri-County building plans, ok's purchase of Tower truck, & more (audio)
This session of the radio show shares the Town Council meeting held in Council Chambers on Wednesday, February 1, 2023. All 9 members of the Council were present in the Council Chambers.
Quick recap:
New firefighter/paramedic Kristin Krauss was sworn in. William Blanchard, was sworn in for his promotion to EMS Battalion Chief
The 'plus one' all alcohol license request approved in October to send to the Legislature did get the home rule petition passed and came back for Council approval. Confusion around a public hearing and several objections from neighbors and nearby business swayed only one Councilor as the measure passed 8-1
Tri-county Regional Voc Tec representatives told the community of the plans underway to build a new school which will require an override vote likely in October. Numbers are still being worked to get to a potential MSBA approval in August and then the vote in October. Stay tuned - from the MSBA decision date, Tri-County has 120 days to get a vote by the regional communities.
The Council authorized the purchase of a new Tower truck for the Fire Dept. The loan won't start until the truck arrives which could be 2-3 years from now. Due to that timing, it was urgent to get the order in now to avoid further costs, and to ensure we have support for the existing unit, which is a critical piece of equipment for the Departments emergency response
The recording runs 2 and 38 minutes. Let’s listen to the Town Council meeting on February 1, 2023. Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-934-franklin-ma-town-council-mtg-02-01-23
--------------
The full agenda can be found -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/feb_1_2023_town_council_agenda.pdf
The Franklin TV video is available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/live/-AQpq8GSvi4?feature=share
My notes taken during the meeting can be found -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MLzZ-p3wLBMFVmnHUHuxzl3xdT0jWQO6/view?usp=share_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
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"
Thursday, February 2, 2023
Town Council approves all alcohol license, purchase of Tower truck, hears of Tri-County building plans, & more (video)
- New firefighter/paramedic Kristin Krauss was sworn in. William Blanchard, was sworn in for his promotion to EMS Battalion Chief
- The 'plus one' all alcohol license request approved in October to send to the Legislature did get the home rule petition passed and came back for Council approval. Confusion around a public hearing and several objections from neighbors and nearby business swayed only one Councilor as the measure passed 8-1
- Tri-county Regional Voc Tec representatives told the community of the plans underway to build a new school which will require an override vote likely in October. Numbers are still being worked to get to a potential MSBA approval in August and then the vote in October. Stay tuned.
- The Council authorized the purchase of a new Tower truck for the Fire Dept. The loan won't start until the truck arrives which could be 2-3 years from now. Due to that timing, it was urgent to get the order in now to avoid further costs, and to ensure we have support for the existing unit which is a critical piece of equipment for the Departments emergency response
![]() |
the cost options for the Tri-County building proposal |
Wednesday, January 18, 2023
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING FRANKLIN, MA: NEW ALL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES RETAIL PACKAGE STORE LICENSE MADD Deli, Inc. d/b/a Dacey’s Market and Deli
![]() |
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING FRANKLIN, MA: NEW ALL ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES RETAIL PACKAGE STORE LICENSE MADD Deli, Inc. d/b/a Dacey’s Market and Deli |
Sunday, December 11, 2022
Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda & Documents for Dec 14, 2022 7:00 PM
a. This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast channel 11 and Verizon Channel 29. This meeting may be recorded by others.b. Chair to identify members participating remotely.
a. Citizens are welcome to express their views for up to three minutes on a matter that is not on the agenda. The Council will not engage in a dialogue or comment on a matter raised during Citizen Comments. The Town Council will give remarks appropriate consideration and may ask the Town Administrator to review the matter.
a. November 2, 2022b. November 16, 2022
a. Mark LePage - Conservation Commissionb. Alison Rheaume - Disability Commissionc. Francesca Ricci - Disability Commissiond. Lloyd (Gus) Brown - Sealer of Weights and Measures
a. 2023 Annual Alcohol License Renewals - See attached 2023 Town of Franklin Alcohol Licenses Renewals https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/7a_licenses.pdf
a. Franklin Library Association Presentation of Gift - Scott Nolan, President, FLAb. Snow Removal Presentation: Robert “Brutus” Cantoreggi, Director of Public Workshttps://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/uploads/8b._snow_presentation.pdf
a. Capital Budget Subcommitteeb. Economic Development Subcommitteec. Budget Subcommitteed. GATRA Advisory Board
a. Exception #2: Contract negotiations with non-union personnel, namely: Town Administratorb. Exception #3: Strategy with respect to collective bargaining: Police Patrol, Police Sergeants and Fire Department unions
a. Vote on approving Administrator contract, subject to Executive Session outcomei. Legislation for action:
1. Resolution 22-93: Approval of Town Administrator’s Contract (Motion to Approve Resolution 22-93 Majority Vote)b. Resolution 22-94: Salary Schedule: Full-Time Elected Official - Town Clerk (Motion to Approve Resolution 22-94 - Majority Roll Call Vote)
Monday, October 24, 2022
Voices of Franklin: Mark and Mike Lenzi on the proposed Transfer of an all alcoholic license to Table & Vine (Big Y)
Sunday, August 14, 2022
Franklin, MA: Town Council - Agenda - Aug 17, 2022
a. This meeting is being recorded by Franklin TV and shown on Comcast channel 11 and Verizon Channel 29. This meeting may be recorded by others.b. Chair to identify members participating remotely.
a. Citizens are welcome to express their views for up to three minutes on a matter that is not on the agenda. The Council will not engage in a dialogue or comment on a matter raised during Citizen Comments. The Town Council will give remarks appropriate consideration and may ask the Town Administrator to review the matter.