Town Council adds to the Tier 1 capital budget and extends their 4 hour limit on Feb 11, 2026 (audio)

 

FM #1673-74-75 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, numbers 1673-74-75 in the series. 

This session shares part of the Franklin (MA) Town Council meeting held on Wednesday, January 21, 2026. The Council held this session as scheduled beginning at 6 PM. All 9 Councilors participated for this 4 hour plus session. 

• 1673 - covers the opening, Citizen comments, Council Comments, ABCC license change approval (approx. 45 mins) 

• 1674 - segment from the meeting covering the full discussion on the5 Year fiscal forecast & discussion  (approx. 1 hr. 33 mins)  

• 1675 - segment from the meeting covers the Capital Budget discussion and the remainder of the meeting  (approx. 2 hours and 3 mins)

  

Audio 1673 - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1673-town-council-mtg-02-11-26-p1-of-3/

Audio 1674 - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1674-town-council-mtg-02-11-26-p2-of-3/

Audio 1675 - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1675-town-council-mtg-02-11-26-p3-of-3/

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Additional notes on the meeting recap can be found (including link to Franklin TV video) ->

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/02/town-council-adds-to-tier-1-capital.html 

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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"

FHS girls basketball top Arlington to advance in playoffs on Thursday

Via Instagram, Franklin TV, and our subscription to HockomockSports.com, we share the results of the Winter sports competition for Franklin High School on Thursday, February 26, 2026

Girls Basketball = Division 1 #18 Arlington, 39 @ #15 Franklin, 62 – Final

Franklin TV available for replay - https://www.youtube.com/live/m3bvo8AS7Pw?&t=1592

Franklin looked a little sluggish in the first couple minutes of Thursday night’s Div. 1 opening round game against No. 18 seed Arlington. Then junior guard Ava Bonney stepped off the bench, started firing away, and sparked a game-changing 13-0 run that put the Panthers in front to stay.

Bonney scored 10 points in the first, eight more in the third, and finished with a career-high 22 to lead Franklin to a dominant 62-39 victory over the Spy Ponders and another trip to the Sweet Sixteen.

“That’s the game we want her to play,” Franklin coach John Leighton said of Bonney’s performance. “I thought her confidence to get into the paint was the biggest part of the game. It wasn’t the threes, which are great, but it was her ability to break them down off the dribble.”

“Arlington knows we shoot a lot of threes, they extended, and we took advantage of that. I thought Ava had an outstanding game.”

 (subscription required)  https://hockomocksports.com/bonneys-career-night-sparks-franklin-to-big-win-over-arlington/

For a photo gallery from this game  (subscription required) https://hockomocksports.smugmug.com/2025-2026/Winter-2025-2026/Franklin-Arlington-Girls-Basketball-02-26-26

Catching up to Wednesday's results

Boys Basketball = Division 1 = #36 Franklin, 47 @ #29 Lowell, 64 – Final 

– Franklin rallied with a big third quarter to pull within striking distance to start the fourth but Lowell opened the frame with a game-clinching run to pull off the win. The Red Raiders controlled the first half and carried a 35-20 led into the locker room at halftime but the Panthers found a rhythm in the third and outscored their entire first half output with 21 minutes, closing the gap to 47-41 heading into the fourth. Lowell’s defense clamped down in the fourth, holding the Panthers to just two points over the first five minutes, and the hosts pulled away from there. Senior Jack Sullivan helped spark the third quarter comeback, scoring eight of his team-high 14 points in that frame. Senior Justice Samuels and sophomore Gio Carlucci each chipped in with nine points apiece for the Panthers.

Franklin TV video is available for replay - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xamybg7phjo

Boys Hockey =  Division 1 #30 Franklin, 0 @ #3 St. John’s Prep, 7 – Final

Thursday  (subscription required) https://hockomocksports.com/thursdays-schedule-scoreboard-02-26-26/

 

Wednesday  (subscription required)  https://hockomocksports.com/wednesdays-schedule-scoreboard-02-25-26/

FHS Panther sports results shared via Twitter & subscription to HockomockSports.com

FHS Concert Hour 02-26-26 (video)

The Franklin TV video of the FHS Concert hour on Feb 26, 2026 is available for replay.

Video link -  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-USQsFy9hc

Aging Boldfully: Joanne Schaefer (video)

Aging Boldfully is a new show on Franklin TV's All Access channel hosted by Susan Rohrbach. Joanne Schaefer was Susan's guest for this recent show.

The show description: 

"Aging Boldfully is about living your next chapter outside of your comfort zone—fully embracing the uniqueness of you.

For many of us, the idea of aging doesn’t appear on our radar until we approach our 60s, when retirement begins to loom. During this time, our attention often narrows to one critical goal: ensuring financial independence. While that focus is important, it can distract us from an equally vital question: What am I going to do with the rest of my life? 

Each of our journeys is unique. Rather than clinging to the tired concept of “retirement,” we have the chance to rethink and redesign this new chapter. What will life look like now that we are the CEO of our own story? 

Aging Boldfully will explore the themes that matter most as we step into this phase—purpose, relevance, resilience, physical health, mental well-being, intentional living, and mindfulness. It will showcase members of our community who are finding meaning, living with purpose, and overcoming obstacles—real examples of what it means to age not just gracefully, but boldfully."

 Aging Boldfully: Joanne Schaefer (video)

Video link ->  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8zhy3wuZ3c

Franklin TV schedule for Friday, February 27, 2026 (Your local Public, Education & Government "PEG" station)

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

7:00 am Franklin Art Association: Christine West

8:30 am Frank Presents: Daniela Masters Pt 2

9:30 am Martin Luther King: Music and Spoken Word

10:00 am Aging Boldfully: Joanne Schaefer

11:00 am Senior Connection: Ben Franklin

12:00 pm Brooke'n'Cookin: Mac'n'Cheese

12:30 pm Cook with Linda: Chicken with Dijon

1:30 pm     Pizzapalooza: Emergency Pizza

2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Summer 2018 Show 7

3:00 pm Candlepin New Generation: Show 11

3:30 pm Winning Ways with the MIAA: Pete Smith

5:30 pm Franklin History: Tommaso Juglaris

9:00 pm Circle of Friends; Abbie Gardner

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

7:00 am Lifelong Winter Music 2026

8:30 am ArtWeek: Art + Music

9:30 am Middle School Winter Music: 2025: Band

11:00 am FHSTC - Flowers for Algernon

2:00 pm 6th Grade Winter Music 02-10-26

4:00 pm FHS Boys Varsity Basketball v New Bedford 02-16-26

8:30 pm FHSTC: Urinetown

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

8:00 am  Zoning Board of Appeals 01-22-26

2:00 pm  Zoning Board of Appeals 01-22-26

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

Finance Committee approves funding recommendation for fire truck replacement (video)

The Franklin (MA) Finance Committee met on Wednesday, Feb 25, 206 as scheduled at 6 PM. 5 members were in chambers, 1 remote. It was announced 1 member had resigned that day and would hopefully be replaced before the budget hearings in April.

Franklin TV video is available for replay - https://www.youtube.com/live/sM7NUUmqKlw?&t=245

The agenda and released doc can be found - https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02252026-2152 

My notes were captured via the Bluesky app, the top of the thread can be found here - https://bsky.app/profile/franklinmatters.bsky.social/post/3mfpsbpk6us2o

Quick recap

• Motion to approve the prior meeting notes, so moved, second, passes via roll call (1 remote) was 6-0-3 (2 absent, 1 resigned this AM)
• Discussion on need to replace a fire engine which has frame corrosion and was taken offline.
• Discussion on an undercarriage wash to help prolong the life of the trucks and rest of the fleet with other issues of corrosion
• Consider other alternatives for prevention of corrosion, maybe look to a cost analysis on the sand vs. salt/brine solution. What are the pros, cons?
• Multiple options available for financing, ultimately resolved to recommend authorization of a BAN (a short term borrowing instrument) for the full $935K.
• This keeps the stabilization account intact for now and can still be used to pay down the principal when the BAN is converted to a longer term finance deal
• Vote passed 5-1 via roll call
• Q2 report 
• Snow and ice was gradually increased to be fully funded from ops instead of free cash
• Lack of FEMA money for 'disaster' events like the major storms
• Local receipts are not at the level that Kerri would like
• Library is only $25k over the State minimum
• Discussion on adding to a May meeting reconsidering the OPEB contribution to relook at the recommendation before the Council votes in June
• Discussion on the Council handling of the capital budget and suggestion of having FinCom representative at the Council meeting to support any recommendations. A great idea

Town Council Quarterbacking with Councilor Ted Cormier-Leger (audio)

FM #1670 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1670 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares our “Town Council Quarterbacking” with Town Councilor Ted Cormier-Leger. We had our conversation in person at the Franklin TV & Radio Studios on Friday, February 13, 2026. Our conversation condensed the Town Council meeting of Wednesday, February 11, 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

• After tabling the prior meeting minutes for a future meeting to add some questions that were asked but not reflected in the minutes, they approved a technical change for the Shaw's alcohol license

• Council comments followed Citizen Comments in this new order of agenda items

• The 5 year budget model and forecast 

• The Capital budget 

• Then as the clock turned past 10 PM during their deliberations on the amendments, the Council voted to allow extension of the meeting past their 4 hour curfew. The meeting did close approx. 20 minutes later.

The conversation runs about 70 minutes. Let’s listen in

Audio link -  https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1670-town-council-quarterbacking-02-13-26/

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Franklin TV video is available for replay

https://www.youtube.com/live/PGKBpPjZZTM?&t=210 

The agenda and docs released for this session

https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02112026-2130  

My notes captured in one PDF file - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OUdG4Uju_rM2ro2mJCBeEIXOfSx9T8M0/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 TV schedule for Thursday, February 26, 2026 (Your local Public, Education & Government "PEG" station)

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

9:30 am Franklin Ridge Senior Housing

11:33 am Cooking Thyme: Red Pepper Soup

12:03 pm Brooke'n'Cookin: Mac'n'Cheese

12:35 pm Cook with Linda: Chicken with Dijon

1:30 pm     Pizzapalooza: Emergency Pizza

2:00 pm New England Candlepins: Summer 2018 Show 7

3:00 pm Candlepin New Generation: Show 11

3:30 pm Aging Boldfully: Joanne Schaefer

4:30 pm Veterans' Call: Tune It Out

7:00 pm Frank Presents: Daniela Masters Pt 2

8:00 pm United Methodist Church: Lola Richardson

9:00 pm Circle of Friends; Abbie Gardner

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

9:30 am Lifelong Winter Music 2026

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

2:00 pm FHSTC - Flowers for Algernon

3:00 pm Winning Ways with the MIAA: Pete Smith

4:00 pm FHS Varsity Wrestling: v King Philip 01-17-24

5:30 pm FHS Girls Varsity Hockey v Mansfield 02-14-26

9:00 pm FHSTC: Urinetown

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

8:00 am Conservation Commission 02-12-26

2:00 pm Conservation Commission 02-12-26

7:00 pm Conservation Commission  CHAMBERS  824 4644 4342

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