School Committee Community Relations Subcommittee meeting audio for March 16, 2026 session (audio)

FM #1691 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1691 in the series. 

This session shares the Franklin, MA School Committee Community Relations Subcommittee meeting held on Monday, March 16, 2026. 

The meeting agenda had placed the session in the 3rd floor conf room so I was there. Subcommittee Chair Al Charles, member Nadia Mausolf and Operations Director Colin Boisvert were remote. Member Stephen Karunakaran was caught in another meeting and didn’t make it. Future meetings are intended to be virtual unless otherwise noted. 

The agenda topics:

● Website Usage Metrics

● Quarterly Community Engagement Update

● Senior Center Visit / Monthly Q&A Session

● Strawberry Stroll Planning

● Newsletter Planning

The recording runs about 44 minutes, so let’s listen to the Community Relations Subcommittee meeting of March 16, 2026.

Audio link - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1691-schcmte-community-relations-subcmte-mtg-03-16-26/

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School Committee Subcommittee assignments

https://www.franklinps.net/o/fpsd/page/subcommittees-and-liaisons 

Subcommittee agenda

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03162026-2181 

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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 www.franklin.news or  Franklinmatters.org/

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"

Councilor Morrongiello provides some quarterbacking insights to the March 4, 2026 meeting (audio)

FM #1689 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1689 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares our “Town Council Quarterbacking” with Town Councilor Max Morrongiello. We had our conversation in person at the Franklin TV & Radio Studios on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. Our conversation condensed the Town Council meeting of Wednesday, March 4, 2026.

We focus on two questions:

• ok, what just happened? 

• What does it mean for Franklin residents and taxpayers?

We cover the following key topics

• Snow and Ice total at $2.1M which doesn't include the $65K from last night's double coat of salt to counter the ice. This amount will eat into the operations budget as it has already wiped out the snow/Ice stabilization amount

• Ad-hoc subcommittee with 3 Council members will report back with community input on potential charter changes was approved by 9-0 vote

• Appropriating Funds by Borrowing to Pay Costs of Purchasing a Fire Truck for the Fire Department was approved by 9-0 vote.

• $20,000 from special fund for paid parking fees was authorized to pay for the system (2 years worth) and some repairs to one of the kiosks by a 9-0 vote

• 2 zoning bylaws (Zoning Bylaw Amendment 26-948 & Zoning Bylaw Amendment 26-949) were approved to refer to the Planning Board. They will conduct their public hearing and send them back as is, or with comments for adjustments. The Council will then hold their public hearing (possibly in April) before voting on the measures. The new Planning Director Morena Zelaya made the presentation for her first appearance before the Council

• Then they got to the goals discussion. After a lengthy discussion with some tweaks, some cuts, but mostly approval of the goals as presented the Council was able to move to accept the goals as revised at approx. 9:58, approved to waive the reading, voted to approved, and then with seconds to spare, voted to adjourn before 10:00 PM

• Max shared his goals tracking to provide details on the survey and feedback received vs. how that played into the set of goals agreed to by the full Council 

The conversation runs about 34 minutes. Let’s listen in

Audio link -  https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1689-town-council-quarterbacking-with-councilor-morrongiello-03-11-26/

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Add link to goals survey tracking

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/03/town-councilor-morrongiello-resident.html

The Franklin TV video is available for replay  https://youtu.be/3jkYtB5_Y3g?&t=136 

The agenda (and released documents) can be found  https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03042026-2166 

The thread of my notes captured via Blusky can be found in PDF format - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ONzSiMKofgqw1riOlBPJyqB-Hopo3bcs/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 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"

2026 Reach Out Breakfast Impact Video: Shawna's Story (video)

I had the privilege to participate in the Hockomock YMCA "Reach Out Breakfast" on Friday morning. The video of Shawna's Story is shareworthy.

"Watch the moving story of Shawna and her children, shared at our March 6th Campaign Breakfast.  

Through life’s most difficult moments, our Y is here to provide an immediate safety net for individuals and families in need. None of this support is possible without the generosity of the many people and organizations who give to our annual Reach Out Campaign. Thank you for helping us be there when it matters most.  

www.hockymca.org/give

Video link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTGN3fPyNpk

Community Relations Subcommittee - 2/09/26 meeting recording (exclusive audio)

The Community Relations subcommittee of the Franklin School Committee met on Monday, February 9, 2026 via remotely only.  Participating were Al Charles, Chair, Nadia Mausolf, Stephen Karunakaran, and Colin Boisvert, Operations Director. Yours truly participated and shares this recording.

The agenda topics:

• Finalize Mission Statement

• JGPR Overview

• Website Usage Metrics

• Quarterly Community Engagement Update

• Newsletter Planning

Link to agenda doc 

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02092026-2123 

Audio link - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1657-schcmte-community-relations-subcmte-mtg-2-09-26/

MBTA community progress report

"Adopted in 2021, the MBTA Communities Act required cities and towns served by the MBTA to allow multifamily housing "as of right" in reasonably sized districts, near transit where feasible, and without restrictions that exclude families with children.

An Early Look at the MBTA
Communities Permitting Pipeline

After five years of planning, discussion, local meetings and implementation, "An Early Look at the MBTA Communities Permitting Pipeline", examines a state-compiled list of more than 100 developments, totaling almost 7,000 homes, that have entered the permitting pipeline in these new zones. One potentially surprising finding - despite its transit-oriented name, the majority of housing inspired by the Act is happening outside of walking distance from transit stations. 

The report looks at how many of these projects are likely to move from permitting into construction and eventual occupancy; where housing is being built relative to transit and walkable centers; how effectively as-of-right zoning is reducing permitting risk and delay; and what these early signals imply about the law’s likely long-term contribution to housing production in Massachusetts.

The report page on Boston Indicators also features an interactive map of MBTA Communities-related projects to date."

Find the report page - https://www.tbf.org/news-and-insights/reports/2026/january/mbta-communities-pipeline-report

Download the report - https://www.tbf.org/-/media/indicators/boston-indicators-reports/report-files/2026/mbtac_012726_v2.pdf

Mass. AG: Why I filed a lawsuit to enforce housing law — and why it’s personal for me

Andrea Campbell is attorney general of Massachusetts.

Mass. AG: Why I filed a lawsuit to enforce
housing law — and why it’s personal for me

"Massachusetts has a housing crisis. People across the state are struggling to pay rent and find an affordable place to live. Seniors are struggling to keep their homes, and good luck to anyone attempting to buy one. Young people want to stay in the communities where they grew up, but they can’t make the math work. Rents and home prices are rising faster than wages. Employers can’t fill jobs because workers can’t afford to live anywhere near them.

Every elected official has a responsibility to use the tools at their disposal to address the crisis head on. That’s why I filed a lawsuit Thursday to enforce the MBTA Communities law, which requires communities served by public transit to allow multifamily housing to be built as of right. It’s not the only solution, but it helps to get more housing built in the Commonwealth.

I understand what having a home means and the stability it creates for families. Stable housing is not a luxury — it’s an essential need."

Continue reading the article with this 'share link' ->   https://www.bostonglobe.com/2026/01/29/opinion/mbta-communities-lawsuit/?s_campaign=sharetool_copypaste_view

Boston Globe: "Here are the 12 communities that haven’t passed a new state-approved housing plan yet"

"Five years after it began, the fight over a controversial state housing law is nearly over.

The final compliance deadline for the MBTA Communities Act — the 2021 law that requires cities and towns served by the T make room for more multifamily housing — came and went at the end of 2025. And after a series of sometimes-bruising local fights, 165 of the 177 cities and towns the law covers have passed zoning intended to comply with it.

The remaining noncompliant towns are: Carver, Dracut, East Bridgewater, Freetown, Halifax, Holden, Marblehead, Middleton, Rehoboth, Tewksbury, Wilmington, and Winthrop.

That just 12 communities are considered out of compliance represents significant progress for Governor Maura Healey’s administration, which embraced the nearly-passed law when Healey took office in 2022."

Continue reading the article online with this 'sharing' link ->

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/05/07/business/boston-housing-mbta-communities-law-towns/?s_campaign=sharetool_copypaste_view

Note: the map is 'inaccurate' at least as far as Franklin is concerned. While we have made zoning changes, there are a couple of technical changes out for Planning Board approval to come back to the Town Council for approval to bring us into full compliance. We were almost there when the whole MBTA community thing started due to the work we had already begun with Franklin For All.  Prior maps usually were shown as compliant, or pending, or not. We were in the pending status previously.

Franklin Public Radio - wfpr.fm Schedule for Wednesday, January 21, 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. 

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 the FPS Sch Cmte Community Relations Mtg 1/12/26  -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/01/school-committee-community-relations.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 307 - Wine Social Media Star Kelly Axelrad   https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/01/the-wonderful-world-of-wine-www-episode_0602953869.html

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

Franklin School Committee opens the new year with 3 meetings

The key agenda items for two subcommittee meetings and the full School Committee meeting are shared below. The agenda PDF doc also contains remote participation info

1 - Franklin Public School Community Relations Sub Committee Meeting

Monday, January 12 Time: 6:30 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01122026-2082 

Agenda:

● Establish Mission Statement / 2026 Goals

● 2026 Engagement & Activity Brainstorming

● Newsletter Planning

2 - Franklin School Committee - Policy Subcommittee Meeting

Tuesday, January 13 Time: 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01132026-2087 

Agenda:

II. Review of Minutes

III. Overview of Policies & Procedures

IV. Approved Policies

A. none

V. Discussion of Policies sent to School Committee

A. IHAIA - Middle School Pathway Exploration

VI. Policy Revisions & New Policies - New Discussion Item

A. BL: Remote Participation

B. GBEBD - Online Fundraising and Solicitations- Crowdfunding

C. Signage on State Property (State Champions)

D. AEB - Recognition of Accomplishments

E. Facility Rental Policies (KF, KF-E1, KF-E2, KF-E3, KF-E4, KF-E5)

3 - Franklin School Committee

Tuesday, January 13 Time: 7:00 PM

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01132026-2086 

Agenda:

II. Guests/Presentations

A. FHS Galapagos Field Trip

B. FHS 2026-27 Program of Studies Update – Dr. Weber

C. Office of Teaching & Learning District Assessment Presentation – Dr. Rogers

D. Franklin Childcare Presentation – Patty Gay

III. Discussion/Action Items

A. FHS Galapagos Islands Trip

I recommend approval of the request of Jason Chetlan to take FHS Students to the Galapagos Islands from 2/13 - 21/2027 as discussed. 

B. 2026-27 FHS Program of Studies

I recommend approval of the 2026-27 FHS Program of Studies as discussed. 

C. Policy - First Reading

I recommend moving Policy IHAIA - Middle School Pathway Exploration to a second reading as discussed. 

D. ECDC 2026-27 Tuition Rate

I recommend approval of the ECDC 2026-27 tuition rate as discussed

Franklin School Committee opens the new year with 3 meetings