FY 2027 Budget Narrative: Stormwater & Environmental Affairs (Enterprise Account)

From the Town Administrator's FY 2027 Budget narrative, each department's story is worth sharing.

General Purpose

Use the highest levels of science, innovation, conservation, and customer service to collect and monitor stormwater, maintain stormwater infrastructure, educate the public, and treat stormwater as required by State and Federal permits.

Core Functions

● Catch Basins (5,700+)

○ Continue to monitor and clean catch basins to maintain a level of <50% full.

● Drain Pipe (128 miles)

○ Continue to monitor, maintain and repair all drain pipes to ensure proper passage of stormwater and prevent localized flooding.

● Outfalls (502)

○ Continue to monitor, maintain and repair all outfalls to prevent flooding and identify and remove possible illicit discharges.

● Catchments (499)

○ Continue to monitor and investigate stormwater catchments to ensure appropriate functionality of the drainage system and prevent illicit discharges into the MS4.

● Stormwater Control Measures (307)

○ Continue to monitor and maintain all stormwater control measures (SCMs), including rain gardens, dry detention basins, infiltration basins, tree wells, stormceptors and other subsurface drainage structures. Franklin’s SCMs play a critical role in removing pollutants from stormwater and encouraging infiltration, making their maintenance and continued functionality crucial to the success of the drainage system.

● Public Education

○ Continue to educate and engage with the public on stormwater pollutants, stormwater treatment and how residents can keep Franklin’s stormwater clean and free from debris.

● Support Supplies & Equipment

○ Ensure the department has trucks, equipment, and a proper inventory of supplies for day-to-day operations and emergencies after hours.

Staffing

The salary costs for the Director, Managers and Administrative Staff are shared between the DPW General Fund and the various Enterprise funds.

The Stormwater Enterprise fund pays for 4.83 FTEs (the breakdown):

● Management & Administration: 1.23

● Engineering/GIS Staff: 0.55

● Administrative Support: 0.35

● Stormwater Division Laborers: 2.7

Strategic Initiatives & Accomplishments

● Increased MassDEP and EPA regulatory activities and how they may impact the current MS4 permit.

● The continued implementation of the Phosphorus Control Plan (PCP), specifically SCM retrofits and new construction to meet our phosphorus reduction goals.

● Continue to lead in organizing municipalities to coordinate efforts to meet regulatory compliance as possible cost saving measures.

● Continue to foster a “keep stormwater clean” attitude and understanding throughout Town with education, outreach and enforcement.

● Continue to perform public outreach regarding stormwater education and build upon past initiatives of story map and mailer information.

● Continue impervious area feature class updates to ensure accurate stormwater billing.

● Major Concerns:

○ As weather patterns continue to change, additional stresses will be placed upon the drainage system and its ability to function. Therefore, the Stormwater Division must be creative in managing future stormwater threats to Franklin. Through grant funding and collaboration with local non-profit groups, the Stormwater Division will continue to keep up-to-date on the latest innovative solutions and green infrastructure options to maintain and improve the drainage infrastructure.

FY27 Requested Budget Highlights

● Stormwater Expense Total Increase: $13,000

○ Street Sweeping - $50,000

○ Catch Basin Cleaning - Decrease ($35,000)

○ Asset Essentials Software - $2,000

○ Consulting Services - $11,000

○ Materials (Asphalt, Loam, Stone) - Decrease ($16,000)

○ Training - $1,000

FY27 Requested Budget Summary

Enterprise funds are accounted for separately from the General Operating Budget and are designed to be self-supporting through user fees and charges. As such, their revenues and expenditures do not impact the Town’s Operating Budget, as all costs are recovered within the enterprise fund rather than supported by general taxation.

This budget reflects reprioritization due to shifting obligations regarding the MS4 permit. Each line item uniquely addresses the administrative, construction, and planning aspects of the Program. The established Stormwater Utility, along with the passage of the proposed FY27 budget; will enable the Town of Franklin to be poised to address the most pressing & pertinent aspects of the MS4 permit.

The PDF of this section - 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/13hjkhKs7u2K2ay3j_PYu_C8F2vgu14L9/view?usp=drive_link

For the full FY 2027 budget narrative -  https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/8912/FY27-Budget-Narrative-FINAL-1

The FY 2027 budget information can be found 

https://www.franklinma.gov/Archive.aspx?ADID=577

FY 2027 Budget Narrative: Water Dept (Enterprise Account)

From the Town Administrator's FY 2027 Budget narrative, each department's story is worth sharing.

General Purpose

Use the highest levels of science, innovation, conservation and customer service to safely deliver, and bill accordingly over seven hundred million gallons of potable water to the residents, businesses and industries of Franklin.

Core Functions

● Wells/water facilities (23 sites)

○ Maintain chemical levels to State & Federal standards, daily pumping records, daily water testing, weekly water sampling and testing by certified lab, and monthly records reported to MassDEP. Maintain pumps, electric motors, telemetry, chemical feed systems, standby power supplies, buildings, security fencing, roadways and grounds.

● Water Meters (~10,000 accounts)

○ All residential, commercial and industrial water meters read quarterly. Maintain meters, water meter calibration, water meter replacement program,

final read inspections for homes over 20 years old, records for water meter installation, meter history and maintenance cards.

● Emergency twenty-four hour, seven days a week response/ customer service.

● Cross-Connection Control Program

○ Operate and maintain a cross-connection control program that oversees the testing and inspection of over 700 backflow protection devices.

● Water Distribution System Maintenance

○ Maintain and repair all of the Town's water mains, water service lines to and including the curb stop valves, and public hydrants. Perform annual hydrant flushing, valve exercising and annual leak detection to provide the Town with adequate flows and pressures for fire protection and domestic uses. Keep unaccountable water at a low percentage.

● Support Supplies & Equipment

○ Ensure the department has trucks, equipment, and a proper inventory of supplies for day-to-day operations and emergencies after hours.

● This department provides both technical and physical assistance to internal and external customers for public and private projects including plan review and permitting, and provides excellent customer service.

Staffing

The salary costs for the Director, Managers and Administrative Staff are shared between the DPW General Fund and the various Enterprise funds.

The Water Enterprise fund pays for 17.94 FTEs (the breakdown):

● Management & Administration: 3.69

● Engineering/GIS Staff: 2.20

● Administrative Support: 1.05

● Water Division Laborers: 11.0

Strategic Initiatives & Accomplishments

● Increased Mass DEP and EPA regulatory activities; particularly as they affect municipal water, PFAS, iron and manganese levels, lead and copper testing, water service line inventory and water management act conservation requirements.

● Lead in organizing municipalities to coordinate involvement in response to unwarranted, detrimental, and non-funded DEP policy making.

● Continue to secure water for the Town’s future, by restoring capacity in existing wells (treatment plant, well redevelopment, water treatment etc.).

● Strengthen existing 'Water Smart' development standards to ensure sustainable water conservation and more effective localized groundwater recharge.

● Cultivate community-wide water conservation through education and enforcement. This strategy remains central to the Town’s recognized success in maintaining low residential per capita consumption.

● Sustain the Town’s robust leak detection initiatives to limit water loss and ensure our unaccounted-for water percentage remains industry-leading at less than 10%.

● Continued proactive meter replacement plan for accurate water billing. In addition, continue to invest in Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) to improve operational efficiencies and sustainability by effectively monitoring water usage and system efficiency, detecting malfunctions and recognizing irregularities.

● As part of our commitment to transparency and efficiency, 70% of the Town has been transitioned to hourly water reading collection. We encourage all residents to utilize the Franklin Water Department Consumer Water Portal to monitor usage, set custom consumption alerts, and proactively detect potential leaks. Activate your My360 account today to take control of your water budget and support Town-wide conservation.

● Capital Improvement Concerns that will likely affect water rates:

○ The Town currently utilizes two existing, riveted steel tanks at the Hillside distribution storage facility, Hillside Tank No. 1 was originally constructed in 1888 and Hillside Tank No. 2 in 1928. In 2022 the Town elected to pursue replacement of the two existing riveted steel tanks with one new welded steel tank with combined capacity of 1.7 million gallons. The new tank will be equipped with a mixing system. The design of the project has been advanced to 95% and will be shelved until the funding is available (estimated at $10.5 million).

○ The prior 5-year Water Main Replacement program is now complete. The next 5-year plan focuses on replacement of older Cast Iron (CI) and Asbestos Cement (AC) water mains. In addition, these proposed projects will aid the Town in replacing galvanized water services that are potentially connected with Lead Goosenecks. These water services are required to be replaced by 2037 per the EPA's Lead & Copper Rule Improvement (LCRI) regulations. The replacement of water mains in the areas of Park Road, Maple Street, Partridge Street., Meadow Parkway, and Pheasant Hill Road are being considered among others.

○ The Pleasant Street Tank, Forge Hill Tank, and Bald Hill Tank all require rehabilitation. Specifically, we are looking at reconfiguring the existing low

service area (Pleasant Street) system to eliminate "in series” pumping and remove the existing tank. At the Bald Hill and Forge Hill Tanks, rehabilitation includes cleaning and repairing the interior and exterior concrete structure; replacing the interior overflow pipe assemblies; and repairing the shell manholes which show extensive corrosion. These projects will reduce annual energy costs and eliminate the need for future tank painting, pump replacement, and other structural/architectural improvements associated with the existing Pleasant Street infrastructure. The needed maintenance will also provide resiliency to the existing infrastructure for continued operation now and in the future. The projected total cost for all 3 projects is approximately $11.5 million.

FY27 Requested Budget Highlights

● The FY27 budget was prepared as a “level service budget” to continue with residents' expected services. Exceptions include the following:

○ Account 517050 - Professional Licenses - Decreased $2,000 to align with the 5 year average.

○ Account 517195 - OPEB - Required increase in contribution

○ Account 521010 - Electricity - Increased $46,000 to account for inflation and align with 5 year average

○ Account 530700 - Architects and Engineers - Increase $10,000 to comply with Federal and State requirement to update Emergency Response Plan

○ Account 530950 - Consulting Services - Increase $10,000 to have consultant and lawyer assist with Water Management Act Renewal

○ Account 542010 - Office Supplies - Decreased $2,000 to align with the 5 year average.

○ Account 542080 - Office Equipment - Decreased $1,500 to align with the 5 year average.

○ Account 554010 - Construction Material - Decreased $5,000 to align with the 5 year average.

○ Account 554035- Chemicals - Increased $13,000 to account for inflation and operation of Well 7 in 2026/2027

● The FY27 personal services budget does reflect step raises and other contractual requirements for union employees as well as cola increases for non union staff. In addition, the budget includes a small increase for overtime.

 

FY27 Requested Budget Summary

Enterprise funds are accounted for separately from the General Operating Budget and are designed to be self-supporting through user fees and charges. As such, their revenues and expenditures do not impact the Town’s Operating Budget, as all costs are recovered within the enterprise fund rather than supported by general taxation.

The FY27 Water Department budget is a level-service request designed to maintain the high standards of safety, reliability, and conservation that Franklin residents expect. Approval of this budget ensures the continued delivery of over 700 million gallons of potable water while meeting increasingly stringent MassDEP and EPA regulations regarding PFAS, manganese, and lead. 

Furthermore, these funds support critical infrastructure modernizations, such as the AMI meter system and leak detection programs that keep our water loss rates among the lowest in the State. A reduction in this requested budget would directly impact the community by delaying vital well capacity restoration and infrastructure repairs, potentially increasing long-term emergency maintenance costs and hindering our ability to proactively detect leaks and deliver safe drinking water, meeting all Federal and State Standards, to the residents of Franklin.

The PDF of this section - 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1V9kta_2cbN_vPI9P-Zn-Nqp28ua10r4I/view?usp=drive_link

For the full FY 2027 budget narrative -  https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/8912/FY27-Budget-Narrative-FINAL-1

The FY 2027 budget information can be found 

https://www.franklinma.gov/Archive.aspx?ADID=577

FY 2027 Budget Narrative: Sewer Dept (Enterprise Account)

From the Town Administrator's FY 2027 Budget narrative, each department's story is worth sharing.

General Purpose

We deliver elite customer service and ensure the consistent operation and maintenance of our collection system, safely transporting and billing over 900 million gallons of wastewater annually to the Charles River Pollution Control Treatment Plant.

Core Functions

● Manage and maintain 23 sewer lift stations.

○ Includes daily operational monitoring, recording pumping data, and facility sanitization to ensure consistent flow to the CRCPD. Responsibilities encompass the technical maintenance of pumps, motors, telemetry, and standby power, as well as the upkeep of site security, fencing, and grounds.

● Sewer Collection System Maintenance

○ Ensure the integrity of the Town’s sewer infrastructure through proactive repairs and maintenance of mains and manholes. This includes systematic

hydraulic cleaning, internal TV inspections for asset management, and the clearing of easements to ensure emergency access.

● Emergency twenty-four hour, seven days a week response/customer service.

● Support Supplies & Equipment

○ Ensure the department has trucks, equipment, and a proper inventory of supplies for day-to-day operations and emergencies after hours.

● This department provides both technical and physical assistance to internal and external customers for public and private projects including plan review and permitting providing excellent customer service.

Staffing

The salary costs for the Director, Managers and Administrative Staff are shared between the DPW General Fund and the various Enterprise funds.

The Sewer Enterprise fund pays for 10.33 FTEs (the breakdown):

● Management & Administration: 3.28

● Engineering/GIS Staff: 1.0

● Administrative Support: 1.05

● Sewer Division Laborers: 5.0

Strategic Initiatives & Accomplishments

● In FY27, the Department will reach a major milestone with the completion of the Beaver Street Interceptor project. As the conduit for 70% of the Town’s raw sewage, replacing this century-old line is essential. Despite significant logistical hurdles involving environmental and transportation corridors (Route 140, MBTA tracks, and local wetlands), the project remains fiscally responsible through the use of State Revolving Funds (SRF) low-interest loans and Federal Infrastructure Bill principal forgiveness.

● Modernize critical infrastructure by completing the multi-year pump and control system upgrade across the Town’s sewer network.

● Increased Mass DEP and EPA regulatory activities of delivery and operations of wastewater operations.

● Sustain ongoing sewer system capital improvements to further reduce Inflow and Infiltration levels.

● Continue to collaborate with the development community to implement

flow-mitigation strategies that reduce system strain during peak demand periods.

● Work with Charles River Pollution Control District on proposed Inflow and Infiltration work to the District owned interceptors and plan for future improvements to the District owned Treatment Facility.

FY27 Requested Budget Highlights

● The FY27 budget was prepared as a “level service budget” to continue with residents' expected services. Exceptions include the following:

○ Account 517195 - OPEB - Required increase in contribution

○ Account 521010 - Electricity - Increased $4,000 to account for inflation, startup of the new BSI Pump Station, and align with 5 year average.

○ Account 521020 - Natural Gas - Increased $2,000 to account for inflation, startup of the new BSI Pump Station, and align with 5 year average.

○ Account 527030 - Equipment Rental/Lease - Increased $10,000 to match water enterprise. The account is used for Fleet GPS and potential for emergency pump rental.

○ Account 530300 - Health/Medical Services- Increased $500 due to increased cost of first aid kit requirements.

○ Account 543010 - Building - M&R Supplies - Increase $3,000 to account for operation of aging equipment.

○ Account 554035 - Chemicals - Decrease $5,000 to align with the 5 year average.

● The FY27 budget does reflect step raises, cost of living adjustments and other contractual requirements for union employees as well as COLA adjustments for non union staff.

● FY27 Charles River Pollution Control District assessments are based on information provided by them. The number is subject to change.

FY27 Requested Budget Summary

Enterprise funds are accounted for separately from the General Operating Budget and are designed to be self-supporting through user fees and charges. As such, their revenues and expenditures do not impact the Town’s Operating Budget, as all costs are recovered within the enterprise fund rather than supported by general taxation.

Approval of the FY27 requested budget is essential to maintaining the "level service" that ensures the safe conveyance and billing of over 900 million gallons of wastewater annually. This funding supports critical infrastructure, including 23 sewer pump stations and the future startup of the ongoing, multi-million dollar Beaver Street Interceptor project, which is

 

vital to the community's health, safety, and prosperity. A reduction or cut to this request would directly impact the department’s ability to provide 24/7 emergency response, meet increasing MassDEP and EPA regulatory requirements, and perform necessary maintenance to prevent system failures.

The PDF of this section - 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yFHOZ9pEMU5nPL5WaFeMZpO10liwWyoJ/view?usp=drive_link

For the full FY 2027 budget narrative -  https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/8912/FY27-Budget-Narrative-FINAL-1

The FY 2027 budget information can be found 

https://www.franklinma.gov/Archive.aspx?ADID=577

FY 2027 Budget Narrative: Recycling & Solid Waste (Enterprise Account)

From the Town Administrator's FY 2027 Budget narrative, each department's story is worth sharing.

General Purpose

To provide the highest level of customer service for curbside pickup of trash, recyclables, and yard waste from 9,686 households for transportation to Millbury WIN Incinerator, the recycling processing center, and composting centers.

Core Functions

● Continue a high level of customer service and fast response times.

● Work to increase the Town's recycling rate while decreasing the amount of trash tonnage that is delivered to the Millbury Waste-To-Energy facility.

● Manage single-stream recycling, solid waste, waste-to-energy, and composting contracts.

● Apply for and obtain DEP grant funding to improve operations, enhance recycling monitoring, and public outreach/education.

 

Staffing

The salary costs for the Director, Managers and Administrative Staff are shared between the DPW General Fund, and the various Enterprise funds. The Solid Waste Enterprise fund pays for 1.55 FTE's.

● Management & Administration: 0.9

● Administrative Support: 0.35

● Solid Waste Laborers: 0.3

Strategic Initiatives & Accomplishments

● Residential compost bins offered free of charge to residents; which were obtained through MassDEP grant funding. This program reduces "trash" tonnage and is environmentally sound.

● Reorganized and enhanced efficiencies amongst the schools through the district-wide composting program.

● Continue to remain below 10% contamination rate through our single-stream recycling program - one of the best rates in Massachusetts.

FY27 Requested Budget Highlights

Solid Waste Expense Increase: $195,000

● Wheelabrator Trash Disposal: This $34,000 increase is consistent with the 5-year average. The actual rate of increase is calculated annually in May, by Wheelabrator actuaries, based on the CPI and as specified in the Franklin-Wheelabrator contract.

● Recycling Disposal/Tipping: Increase of $45,000 reflects 5 year historical averages and current/projected market trends.

● Waste Management Trash Collection: This $53,000 increase reflects the collective total of the per-customer rate increase, as specified in the Franklin-Waste Management 2026-2031 contract.

● Waste Management Recycling Collection: This $63,000 increase reflects the collective total of the per-customer increase, as specified in the Franklin-Waste Management 2026-2031 contract.

FY27 Requested Budget Summary

Enterprise funds are accounted for separately from the General Operating Budget and are designed to be self-supporting through user fees and charges. As such, their revenues and expenditures do not impact the Town’s Operating Budget, as all costs are recovered within the enterprise fund rather than supported by general taxation.

This budget reflects contractual increases regarding the Waste Management trash/recycling collection and hauling contract. It also includes the projection for the annual increase in the Waste Disposal / Wheelabrator contract. Both items are necessary to maintain health, cleanliness, and proper sanitation in regard to solid waste throughout the Town of Franklin.

The PDF of this section - 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xA-cmR1hmHF1mdvwAGEScsunBgBtlHxA/view?usp=drive_link

For the full FY 2027 budget narrative -  https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/8912/FY27-Budget-Narrative-FINAL-1

The FY 2027 budget information can be found 

https://www.franklinma.gov/Archive.aspx?ADID=577

3rd budget hearing covers Public Works & Public Safety (audio)

FM #1727 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1727 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the Finance Committee Budget Hearing on Public Works & Public Safety, the 3rd of 4 sessions to go over the FY 2027 budget. The meeting was held in Council Chambers with 8 of 9 members present.

Quick recap:

• Gus Brown, Building Commissioner, up first

• Brutus Cantoreggi, DPW up next, 

• Next up Police Chief Lynch, level service plus 2, looking to get the SROs back

• Next up, Chief Allen, Fire Dept.

• Dispatch Center or the MECC being covered

• Also skipped Tri-County and Norfolk Aggie last night with no explanation given for it. Tri-County and Norfolk Aggie, both assessments based upon enrollment, not much of a change year to year

• So Thursday night, the Finance Committee will use the 3rd Floor Training room for their discussion to be more “around a table” rather than spread out to help their discussion. Potential revisions coming to the budget, what they are we'll watch and see.

Let’s listen in

Audio link - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1727-finance-cmte-budget-hearing-3-04-08-26/

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The Franklin TV video is available for replay -  

https://www.youtube.com/live/x8Hb_pCl64A?&t=164 

Agenda doc including links to the FY 2027 budget 

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04082026-2221 

My full set of notes in one PDF -  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1D-RumOpcYkE7SZ_czpSZzW5TKdS9SE3B/view?usp=drive_link 

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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!

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

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

The Finance Committee spends about 4 hours reviewing details of the FY 2027 budget on Tuesday, April 7. This is the second of 4 sessions this week to review and question the details of the budget.

8 of the 9 members of the committee were present in Council Chambers for this session.

The Franklin TV video is available for replay -  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6SrQw4jc-r0

Agenda doc including links to the FY 2027 budget 

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04072026-2220 

My full set of notes in one PDF -  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1AbMULy0fFpVjFAEsHm6Cs5-2PcxcfpBx/view?usp=drive_link

Quick recap 

• Time spent at the opening to answer questions carried over from the Facilities discussion on Monday
• Technology, Tim Raposa presents and answers questions
• Next up, Schools - Supt Giguere, Business Manager Jana Melotti, Paul Griffith (SchCmte Chair)
• Discussion among the committee on how to proceed, ultimately will use the Thursday session to consolidate their approaches in a discussion to lead to a recommendation vote.
• Note - meeting location likely to change from Chambers to 3rd Floor Trng Room (Conservation Commission would come down to Chambers).

School Committee votes to move health care costs to Town budget line 910 (video)

The Franklin (MA) School Committee met briefly (approx. 30 mins) in a remote only session on Tuesday, February 3, 2026. All 7 members participated along with key members of the School District Central office.

Franklin TV video link -> https://www.youtube.com/live/IrOomkcGoyU?&t=62

Agenda for this session -> https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02032026-2116 

Recap:

• Supt Giguere talks of the health care accounting change, there is no impact to the employees on either Town or School, purely an accounting change. Food service and lifelong learning employees are paid from those revolving funds and charges would also go to the revolving funds for those associated health care cost for those employees. Coordinating with Town Finance to confirm minimum impact.
• "I recommend approval to move the School Health Insurance, Medicare, and Long-Term Disability expenses and associated funding from the School Department 300 to the Town Benefits Department 910 as detailed."
• So moved, seconded Discussion
• This move allows for an apples to apples comparison with all of the Town departments
• Jana explains the accounting for Lifelong learning and Food services, process very similar today and with this move.
• MOA currently set for a five year term, could be a re-evaluation if required at time, not likely to revert, shared interest between Schools and Town to keep going forward
• Ruthann comments on hope for future that the allocation for schools would be more predictable
• Question on if the Town needs to add personnel to do this? No.
• There are constant shifts among the individual personnel on both sides, Town and School...Moving forward with the GIC we should have more info sooner to help with the planning for future budgets to help with planning
• Midyear retirement and other health care moves would be handled as normal (as done today on both sides)
• Shift of costs that are not health care directly related are prohibited by both sides; the account 910 should be only health care period. Covers the revolving accounts which may have some 'excess' (by design, there should be a year's worth) those excess amounts can't move
• Vote on the motion via roll call Passes 7-0, Motion carries
• Motion to adjourn, so moved, second Passes via roll call, 7-0

My notes taken during the meeting in one PDF ->  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mitbhEmUXwhXRlMnpOxL28kB4QqI6B5e/view?usp=drive_link

School Committee votes to move health care costs to Town budget line 910 (video)

2nd FY 2026 budget hearing confirms what happens if June 3 override fails for Police, Fire, DPW services (audio)

FM #1437 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1437 in the series. 

This session shares the Finance Committee meeting conducted Tuesday, April 29, 2025. All 8 members of the Committee were present in the 3rd floor training for the second of the series of Budget Hearings for FY 2026. This session covered Public Safety (police, fire, dispatch and inspections) and Public Works (DPW, water, sewer, roads, etc).   

Quick recap:

• Police Chief TJ Lynch started his update. Basically the same as last year with some minor adjustments. If the override were to fail, he would loose 2 officers. He is hiring to backfill for retirees and transfers. When as ked to elaborate on that, he provided the details on the 5 recent departures, with one being sworn in at Council meeting and one still to be hired.

• Deputy Chiefs Klich & Barberi provided the update in lieu of Chief McLaughlin out this week on vacation. 

• Similar to the police update, very little change in totals. If the override fails, they would lose the staffing for the 3rd ambulance. The 3rd ambulance responded to over 100 calls last year and resulted in over 70 hospital transports during its 40 hours of weekly coverage. The community would notice the difference in slower response times as mutual aid would be providing more coverage than they do today

• Discussion on vehicle replacement both costs increasing and lead times lengthening. A new ambulance ordered in 2022 is scheduled for delivery in August. The Tower truck ordered in 2023 is scheduled for delivery this summer. The current Tower would stay in the fleet and move to back up status, as would the older of the ambulances when the new one arrives.

• Brutus Cantoreggi, DPW director and Kathy Mooradd, Administration and Budget manager presented initially. Doug Martin, Water/Sewer Superintendent stood up along the way to cover water and sewer updates.

• Similar to the police and fire updates, a level funded budget being presented. Note, not a level service budget. The dollar remains about the same but the materials cost across the DPW departments account for 65% of the total budget (35% of the personnel cost). The same amount of money is getting less to work with. A failed override will also be noticeable but not right away. Water will still run, sewers will still operate, other maintenance and road repairs, etc. will be delayed or take longer.

• There were other budget items discussed; Building & inspection, MECC dispatch. 

The meeting total only runs 90 minutes so it should be easy enough to catch up to. The audio and transcript will come out also (audio Thursday, transcript on the weekend).

The recording runs about 90 minutes, so let’s listen in. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1437-tof-finance-cmte-budget-hearing-2-04-29-25/

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Franklin TV video available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFHPuafjzDg 

AI Generated transcript (speaker name checked for accuracy by S Sherlock)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jSB3bYj8WkN4_wmenjvvbU-DPjIwVsx8/view?usp=drive_link

The agenda doc for this session ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04292025-1699

My notes captured during the meeting via Twitter

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ocIK4PjauaMMklMFVxkybmp4eTf5716K/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!

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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"

 

2nd FY 2026 budget hearing confirms what happens if June 3 override fails for Police, Fire, DPW services (audio)