Town Council hears from NatinalGrid, Fire Dept, and Police Dept and completes session within 4 hours - April 15 (audio)

FM #1734 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, numbers 1734 in the series. 

This session shares the Franklin (MA) Town Council meeting held on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. The Council held this session as scheduled beginning at 6 PM. 8 members participated, 7 in Chambers, 1 remotely, hence all votes were recorded via roll call. 

The meeting recording runs 3 hours and 50 minutes

Audio link - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1734-franklin-ma-town-council-mtg-04-15-26/

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Franklin Matters recap - https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/04/town-council-hears-from-natinalgrid.html

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

Photos of the NationGrid presentation

https://photos.app.goo.gl/XPcwTx5vSXnDjQdy8 

Link to Fire presentation

https://drive.google.com/file/d/14vWcLc710A9CkTSgpJ0Tg3jcHcbR3zaY/view?usp=drive_link 

Link to Police presentation

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yF7LNhdfHfpOL_sq8gIaWpW2eQCgT8MG/view?usp=drive_link 

page from Police presentation on recent budget history

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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"

BEN's Bulletin: Downtown Walk & Talk on Saturday, May 2

Join our Jane's Walk THIS Saturday (5/2)! ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­  

BEN's Bulletin (04/28/26)   The sun's coming out and so are we! This bulletin focuses on this Saturday's Jane's Walk, in partnership with Congress for a New Urbanism New England.  As always, join our monthly meeting every third Thursday at 7pm at Franklin TV or virtually at the following link: meet.ben4franklin.org. Jane's Walk - Saturday, May 2 Join our fourth annual walking discussion of downtown Franklin! The free event is part of an international series in memory of social activist and placemaker Jane Jacobs. The ~1.5-hour tour will explore how land use decisions impact the look and feel of streets and neighborhoods, celebrate culture, highlight history, and promote economic development.  The walk will start at Franklin TV (23 Hutchinson Street) at 10:30am. Parking is available on site. All are welcome, including paws and wheels! This year, we will be joined by regional planning professionals from Congress for a New Urbanism (CNU) New England! Stick around after the walk for pizza, refreshments, and further reflections! For further information and to RSVP, visit ben4franklin.org/janes-walk-2026. Jane Jacobs (1916-2006) was a writer, urbanist, and activist who championed a community-based approach to city-building. Despite no formal training as a planner, her 1961 book, The Death and Life of Great American Cities, introduced ground-breaking ideas about how cities function, evolve, and fail that have become conceptual pillars for today’s architects, planners, policymakers, activists, and other city builders. Jacobs lived in Greenwich Village until 1968, where she helped push back on car-centered urban planning and invigorated neighborhood activism. Jane's Walk was founded in 2006 by a group of Jacobs’ friends and colleagues as a way to honor her life and activate her ideas. Over the next decade, the movement saw rapid global uptake by urban activists around the world. The movement continues to grow every year and has now reached over 500 cities! CNU New England is the regional chapter of CNU, the nation's leading organization promoting walkable, mixed-use neighborhood development, sustainable communities, and healthier living conditions. CNU have met nationally since 1993, with the New England chapter starting in 2004. Its members include public and private sector leaders, community activists, and multidisciplinary professionals.  What We're Consuming OPINION: Market Rate Housing for $100,00 Per Unit? (Franklin Observer) Aging into uncertainty: Baby boomers feeling crushed by housing crunch (Boston Globe) Penciling Out: Navigating the Boston/Massachusetts Climate & Affordable Housing Context (Boston Society For Architecture) The Return of the Townhouse (City Journal) Reach out with any comments or questions. Thanks! The BEN Brigade Know someone else who may be interested in this content? Please share! Newsletter Sign Up Ben 4 Franklin, 23 Hutchinson St, Franklin, MA Send free email today

Franklin TV schedule for Thursday, April 30, 2026 (Your local Public, Education & Government "PEG" station)

• Franklin All Access TV - Our Public Access Channel (Comcast 6, Verizon 26) = THURSDAY

9:30 am Second Sunday Speaker Series: Stephen Puleo

11:33 am Cooking Thyme: Ice Cream

12:03 pm Brook'n'Cookin: Taquitos

12:35 pm Cooking with Linda: Italian Sausage

1:30 pm     Pizzapalooza: Margherita Pizza

2:00 pm New England Candlepins Summer 2023 Show 1

3:00 pm Candlepin New Generation: Show 4

3:30 pm Aging Boldfully: Anne Bergen

4:30 pm Veterans' Call: Dave Hencke

5:30 pm The Black Box: Newsies

7:00 pm Frank Presents: Djuna Perkins

8:00 pm Jon Mitchell & Randy LaRosa: 12-Tone Music

9:00 pm Circle of Friends: Cheryl Wheeler

• Franklin Pride TV - Our Educational Channel        (Comcast 8, Verizon 28) = THURSDAY

8:00 am Middle School Winter Music: 2025: Band

9:30 am Rec Basketball:7th & 8th Grade Boys 03-07-26

12:00 pm FHS Concert Hour 02-25-26

2:00 pm FHS Theater Company: Lord of the Flies

3:00 pm Winning Ways with the MIAA: Student Athletes Pt 1

4:00 pm FHS Varsity Softball v North Attleboro 04-08-26

9:00 pm Franklin Footlighters: Footloose

• Franklin Town Hall TV - Our Government Channel (Comcast 9, Verizon 29) = THURSDAY

8:00 am Conservation Commission 04-23-26

2:00 pm Conservation Commission 04-23-26

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

Watch Listen Read all things that matter in Franklin MA

Franklin TV schedule for Wednesday, April 29, 2026 (Your local Public, Education & Government "PEG" station)

• Franklin All Access TV - Our Public Access Channel (Comcast 6, Verizon 26) = WEDNESDAY

7:30 am     Sons & Daughters of Italy: Ciambotta

8:30 am Mary Anning: Fossil Hunter

10:00 am Franklin Art Association: Anna P. Wert

11:30 am Cooking Thyme: Ice Cream

12:00 pm Brook'n'Cookin: Taquitos

12:30 pm Cooking with Linda: Italian Sausage

1:30 pm     Pizzapalooza: Margherita Pizza

2:00 pm New England Candlepins Summer 2023 Show 1

3:00 pm Candlepin New Generation: Show 4

3:30 pm ArtWeek: Theater in the Open

6:00 pm SAFE Coalition Gala 2026

8:30 pm Circle of Friends: Cheryl Wheeler

• Franklin Pride TV - Our Educational Channel        (Comcast 8, Verizon 28) = WEDNESDAY

7:00 am Middle School Winter Music: 2025: Band

8:30 am All-Town Chorus & Orchestra 2026

10:00 am SAFE Coalition: Danny Lagarce

11:00 am 6th Grade Winter Music 02-10-26

1:30 pm     FHS Varsity Softball v North Attleboro 04-08-26

8:00 pm Rec Basketball:7th & 8th Grade Boys 03-07-26

10:00 pm FHS Varsity Baseball v Catholic Memorial 04-21-26

• Franklin Town Hall TV - Our Government Channel (Comcast 9, Verizon 29) = WEDNESDAY

8:00 am Town Council 04-15-26

1:00 pm Town Council 04-15-26

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

Watch Listen Read all things that matter in Franklin MA

Franklin School Committee gets a mid year update on the District & School Improvement Plans (audio)

FM #1732 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1732 in the series. 

This session shares the Franklin (MA) School Committee meeting held on Tuesday, April 14, 2026 at 7:00 PM. All 7 members of the Committee were present in Chambers. 

Quick recap:

• The complete administrative leadership team across the district was present to provide a midyear update on the District and School Improvement plans

• The 'current' District and School plan can be found - https://heyzine.com/flip-book/24ecc9f7e5.html#page/1. The updates as approved last night should be updated to the school page in a day or so.

Let’s listen (approx. 3 hours 7 minutes)

Audio link - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1732-franklin-ma-school-cmte-mtg-04-14-26/

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Franklin TV video is available for review - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IF4JTAfLa5E 

Agenda doc also contains remote participation info

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04142026-2250 

The meeting packet folder contains the doc released before the meeting and after the meeting

https://www.franklinps.net/documents/departments/school-committee/meeting-packets/2025---26-meeting-packets/april-14%2C-2026-sc-meeting-packet/26737086 

My notes in one PDF - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vRqOLinf4Pyzl_K-5sm6fjBuhOqbceig/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"