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, April 27, 2026
Keep calm & continue on: there is a Large scale police & fire training set for Davis Thayer Tuesday, April 28
Saturday, April 25, 2026
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
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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!
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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"
Wednesday, April 22, 2026
Annual Memorial Porketta - Thursday, May 7
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| Annual Memorial Porketta - Thursday, May 7 |
Tuesday, April 21, 2026
Town Councilor Steve Malloy shares his insights in this Town Council Quarterbacking session (audio)
This session of the radio show shares our “Town Council Quarterbacking” with Town Councilor Steve Malloy. We had our conversation in person at the Franklin TV & Radio Studios on Thursday, April 16, 2026. Our conversation condensed the Town Council meeting of Wednesday, April 15, 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
- Initial feedback on role of Councilor
NationalGrid infrastructure and resiliency update
Fire Dept update
Police Dept update
The conversation runs about 35 minutes. Let’s listen in
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Franklin TV video for replay https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Z7xJHgZ4lI
The agenda - https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04152026-2251
My notes in one PDF - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1w2q_cMoAOiQs0picPbtkZonCRTXqxI63/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"
Franklin Fire Dept conducts "training in rope rescue operations"
Thursday, April 16, 2026
Town Council hears from NatinalGrid, Fire Dept, and Police Dept and completes session within 4 hours (video)
- NationalGrid presented on their infrastructure improvement efforts. They did not share details on outages, frequency or location although ultimately conceded that the northern section of Town did pose problems with how their grid is laid out as it doesn't have the same redundancy built in that is available in other section of town.
- Fire Chief Allen supported by his 2 Deputy Chiefs presented an overview of the department, its operations and ability to meet service needs. The presentation doc was shared before the meeting and linked below
- Police Chief Lynch and Deputy Chief West presented an overview with some history of the department, leading up to the shift to the 4x4 schedule and need to maintain a minimum of 34 patrol officers.
- When questioned about the possible police station chief Lynch repeated what he has said before, the police station is needed but he'll always advocate for his people and make due with the inadequate station.
- Likewise when questioned on a parking control officer (PCO), he said, sure give me the extra funding but don't take a patrol office away. The PCO can only write tickets, the patrol officer can do so much more. The presentation doc was shared before the meeting and linked below
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| page from Police presentation on recent budget history |
Sunday, April 12, 2026
Franklin, MA: Agenda for Town Council meeting Wednesday, April 15 at 7 PM
Sunday, April 5, 2026
Franklin Fire Department Awarded $21,649 Through State Firefighter Safety Equipment Grant
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Thursday, April 2, 2026
Stop the Bleed - Free Training (April 22) for Franklin, MA Community Members
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| Stop the Bleed - Free Training (April 22) for Franklin, MA Community Members |
Franklin Fire Dept receives $21K in competitive grant
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| Franklin Fire Dept receives $21K in competitive grant |
Wednesday, April 1, 2026
NBC 10 Boston: "Franklin woman accused of setting her own home on fire"
Friday, March 27, 2026
Franklin Fire Dept: Press Release on the Structure Fire — 9 Willow St - March 26, 2026
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
2 Part Audio for the Town Council Mtg March 4: authorized fire truck, approved goals, & heard total exp on snow & ice now exceeds $2M (audio)
FM #1684-85 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, numbers 1684-85 in the series.
This session shares part of the Franklin (MA) Town Council meeting held on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. The Council held this session as scheduled beginning at 6 PM. All 9 Councilors participated for this 4 hour plus session.
1684 - The Opening, and all agenda items except the goals which they saved for last (approx. 2 hrs. 7 mins)
1685 - Discussion on the goals brings them right up to the 4 hour limit which they managed to stay within (approx. 1 hour and 55 mins)
Audio 1684 - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1684-franklin-ma-town-council-mtg-03-04-26-p1-of-2/
Audio 1685 - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1685-franklin-ma-town-council-mtg-03-04-26-p2-of-2/
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Additional notes on the meeting recap can be found (including link to Franklin TV video) ->
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/03/town-council-authorizes-fire-truck.html
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| Engine 3 is the fire truck authorized to be replaced |
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"












