🍗 Food for sale from Chick-fil-A🍦 C & C Ice Cream Truck🎟️ Raffles and prizes⚽ Youth shootouts on the field during halftime
Housing Diversity Complete Neighborhoods Neighborhood Connectivity Vibrant Downtown Natural/Historic Conservation and Accessibility Resource Efficiency
FM #1805 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1805 in the series.
This session shares the Voices of Franklin session held on Tuesday, August 18, 2026 at the Franklin Senior Center. Yes, there can be important conversations between the generations. This shares the first of a series of "Voices of Franklin.”
Coordinated by Franklin Interact Club, Franklin Rotary Club, Franklin Senior Center, and Franklin Recreation. Held at the Franklin Senior Center and the audio recording was made by Franklin TV.
About a dozen seniors and about 15 high school students gathered for a few games, some lunch (and conversation) then, the center piece discussion of the day.
A defining statement was provided. Participants would raise the red card or green card; if they disagreed they would raise their red card or if they agreed, their green.
Moderator Ryan Jette would then follow up with some of the individuals who raised red or green and the conversation ensued.
The next session is scheduled for November 19 at 12:30 PM also at the Senior Center. Starting with lunch (approx. 30 minutes) then getting into a brief presentation on Public Safety with Town of Franklin Police & Fire Chiefs moderated by Ryan Jette. The next session output will be available with audio & video.
Audio link (approx. 40 minutes) - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1805-voices-of-franklin-08-18-26/
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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"
Send email to joshuamarlotti2003@gmail.com
General Purpose
The Department of Planning and Community Development (DPCD)'s mission is to plan and implement comprehensive policies and initiatives that work to fulfill the community development and land use-related goals of the Town and its residents. DPCD works to administer and implement the goals identified in Franklin's 2025 Master Plan. The Department works in all areas of planning and community development, and is responsible for traditional land-use related activities such as updating the Town’s plans, and amending and creating zoning bylaws.
Core Functions
● Provides helpful and timely customer service to both internal stakeholders and the general public who call for a variety of questions and public records requests.
● Support of Town Boards, Commissions, and Committees: Provide staff support to several boards, commissions and committees, including the Planning Board, Conservation Commission, Design Review Commission, Municipal Affordable Housing Trust, and the Technical Review Committee.
● Provides project guidance and information to applicants, prospective applicants, abutters and other interested parties.
● Works closely with the Zoning Board of Appeals and Conservation Commission on related projects.
● Produces zoning bylaw amendments in response to community needs, particularly those identified in the Town's Master Plan, and to state and federal requirements.
● In recent years DPCD has worked on dozens of projects in all areas of planning and community development, including comprehensive planning, downtown revitalization, economic development, open space preservation, wetlands protection, natural hazard mitigation, brownfields redevelopment, historic preservation, affordable housing, transit oriented development, and sustainable development including the use of smart growth and low impact development concepts.
Staffing
Strategic Initiatives & Accomplishments
FY26 Accomplishments
● Created a new zoning district for the Crossing Neighborhood District and amended related bylaws.
● Amended a Zoning Bylaw to add a definition for Residential Commercial Kitchens and related regulations.
● Submitted Zoning Bylaw amendments related to MBTA Communities compliance as well as a general cleanup.
● Received a Determination of Conditional Compliance from the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities for the Town's efforts towards complying with the MBTA Communities Act.
● Reapplied for Housing Choice Community Designation
● Applied for and awarded a $250,000 grant from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection for demolition and abatement at 21 Grove Street.
● Submitted grant applications for assistance with updating Town's Hazard Mitigation Plan.
● Affordable housing: coordinated the resale of four affordable units. Established a new process for resale opportunities, including new forms and a clearer timeline to reduce confusion among applicants.
● Affordable housing: Assisted with ownership transfer of Municipal Affordable Housing Trust Funds (MAHTF) parcel for the Franklin Ridge Senior Housing project.
● Affordable housing: Will be conducting an information session at the Franklin Senior Center to introduce new processes and explain differences in types of affordable housing and how they're administered.
● Design Review Commission: Bylaw and Guidelines review and potential updates. Submitting Community OneStop for Growth grant application for help in producing these updates.
FY27 Initiatives
○ Work to revitalize Franklin’s Downtown core and adjacent neighborhoods.
○ Expand and enhance the downtown and neighborhoods by prioritizing them for housing development and investments in neighborhood character that include improving infrastructure, amenities, community engagement, and quality of life for residents.
○ Provide guidelines on Franklin character and develop a more clearly defined review process
○ Provide quality arts and cultural resources as a vital part of the creativity and growth of our community.
○ Work to obtain the funding and other resources necessary to implement open space and recreation goals, objectives and actions identified in Plan.
FY27 Requested Budget Highlights
● DPCD is requesting a small increase of $1,000 in our consulting services budget line in anticipation of necessary work related to the Nu-Style brownfields site and to potential Design Review Commission bylaw and guidelines updates.
● DPCD is also requesting a small increase of $500 for its Meetings & Conferences budget line in anticipation of increased attendance at meetings and conferences by the new Director.
FY27 Requested Budget Summary
The Department of Planning and Community Development has an outsized impact on how Franklin grows and develops. With a staff of just three we provide staffing and support to numerous standing and ad hoc committees and boards, we provide accurate information and assistance to numerous residents and stakeholders, including on matters that may not be entirely under the department's purview. We handle affordable housing resale opportunities in house, something a great number of communities find too cumbersome to do themselves and ask the State or other regional entity to handle.
The DPCD Director consistently works with the Downtown Partnership, sits on the GATRA board and on the 495/MetroWest Board of Directors.
The Town Planner sits on MAPC's SouthWest Advisory Planning Committee (SWAP) and on its Council, to which the Director is also the alternate. This requested budget is already
$26,000 less than the FY26 revised budget and further cuts will have a great impact on our ability to serve residents, promote Franklin, and to help Franklin grow in a way that best incorporates the needs of the community.
The DPCD has historically struggled to maintain a full and complete staff, notably a full time position was reduced from the budget in FY26 as part of the override failure.
FM #1711 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1711 in the series.
We focus on two questions:
ok, what just happened?
What does it mean for Franklin residents and taxpayers?
We cover the following key topics
Multiple citizen comments; topics covered = Bellingham battery storage, PorchFest, Quatro Eroi celebration events, & School Committee update
Councilor comments
Recognition of Chloe Bowser, her essay was one of 12 selected for the commissioning of the new submarine USS Massachusetts
3 public hearings opened together for the MBTA zoning bylaw changes required to bring us to full compliance. Of note, to come into compliance while we did tweak our zoning to fit the requirements, we actually reduced the density that was already permitted for that area. All three proposals after clarification questions were answered moved to a second reading (likely April 15)
1 public hearing on the technical changes to the current Crossing Neighborhood District. There were multiple items underway and as the zoning changed were being updated to the town code discrepancy were noted; some sections of a table were left out, some had been updated incorrectly. The changes were approved to move to second reading (also likely for April 15)
Water & sewer extension approved for an area of Union St (actually to allow the new 5 residence development approved for part of the blueberry farm land) to update the water infrastructure to enable the extension. Funding to be provided by the developer
Council entered into Executive Session for bargaining not to return to open meeting
The conversation runs about 15 minutes. Let’s listen in
Audio link - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1711-town-council-quarterbacking-april-1-session-04-02-26/--------------
The Franklin TV video is available for replay - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N84cGZK_Ua4
The agenda doc - https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04012026-2229
My full set of notes in one PDF - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jwviXzblwRVMwA3wkzuZcJlRE3tyZmsI/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"
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.
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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
--------------
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!
------------------
You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"