Sheriff Patrick McDermott, the Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office & State Rep Jeffrey Roy to host Fall Safety Fest in Franklin on Sep 20

Sheriff Patrick McDermott, the Norfolk County Sheriff’s Office, and State Representative Jeffrey Roy are teaming up to host a free Fall Safety Fest at Fletcher Field in Franklin on Saturday, September 20, from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

The safety fest will bring together local public safety agencies, community organizations, and Franklin area residents for an event filled with interactive displays, K9 and safety demonstrations, and a touch-a-truck experience, featuring vehicles from the Franklin Police, Fire, and Department of Public Works and the NCSO Command Center.

“We are getting a jump on fall with a great opportunity for people to meet the public safety professionals, local leaders, and organizations who serve their communities, said Norfolk County Sheriff Patrick McDermott. “We are excited to partner with Rep. Jeff Roy for this fun, family day.”

Children can explore a bouncy house and obstacle course, and all guests can enjoy complimentary hamburgers and hot dogs, courtesy of the sheriff’s “Tactical Picnic Unit.”

“The safety fest is a nice way for people to learn about the many local resources available to them across Norfolk County,” said Rep. Jeffrey Roy, 10th Norfolk. “We look forward to welcoming people of all ages to Fletcher Field as fall is about to settle into Massachusetts.”

Residents are also encouraged to bring non-perishable food items to the safety fest in support of the Franklin Food Pantry.

Parking for Fletcher Field is located at both 45 Street and 84 Wachusett Street in Franklin.

Voices of Franklin: Aaron Gouveia on keeping Franklin "safe and educated"

If you could pay $300 to keep your community safe and educated, would you?

When you strip away all the rhetoric and misinformation and extraneous partisan noise from the override issue, that's the question at the heart of everything.

Either you think it's worth it to pay an extra $300 to maintain the level of public safety and education we currently have in Franklin, or you don't and you're willing to cut both in order to avoid increased taxes.

For the record, I am an unenrolled voter who doesn't belong to either party and I've only been in Franklin eight years. I'm not a townie, I'm not connected, and I'm not lifelong friends with the public officials here.

So when opponents of the override started talking about the town not managing its finances well, I started poking around.

Let's be clear, a system built by humans run by humans and composed of humans will ALWAYS have human error and some stuff that doesn't pass the bs sniff test. Franklin is no exception in this regard.

But override opponents (many of them falling into the "Professional Againsters" category because they say no to everything as a default) want you to believe these isolated incidents are widespread conspiracies, and that if we just cleaned things up we'd have enough to bridge the financial gap created when revenue can't keep up with rising expenses.

This is not the case. And I don't say that as a matter of opinion, I say it as fact.

S&P Global Ratings gave Franklin a AAA bond rating for the third straight year. Think of them as a company that gives a credit score, but for municipalities instead of individuals. This is the highest possible score a city or town can achieve, and denotes sound financial practices and a commitment to long-term financial stability.

Simply put, if Franklin officials were mismanaging funds as badly as the "No" contingent says, we would absolutely not hold the highest possible bond rating.

"But what about the revenue from the apartments???"

I'm glad you asked. The revenue is there, but it's not enough. Why? Because for every dollar of property tax revenue generated by an apartment complex, you create even more money in expenses.

The people who live in those apartments have to be educated, drive on roads, consume water, require public safety calls, rely on social service programs, etc. So the increased property tax revenue that comes in is already spent paying for the people who will reside on that property.

Now, you want to talk about the wisdom of building so many apartments? I'm with you. It seems pretty excessive here in Franklin, especially since we're above our 10% affordable housing threshold. But to me, that's a separate issue from the override and should be dealt with at the ballot box (if you can get apathetic voters to show up for local elections).

Meanwhile, teachers are in unions that have contractually obligated raises and are entitled to cost of living increases, at the very least. Same with police, fire, and other municipal workers. Not to mention the ever-increasing cost of health insurance. So even though you don't add anything new to last year's budget, it's going to cost you even more just to get the same level of services.

This isn't due to mismanagement or ineptitude, it's just the world in which we live.

A world, I might add, that has seen all manner of cuts and death by a thousand papercuts since the last successful Prop 2-1/2 override in 2007.

A world in which middle school bands were conspicuously absent in this year's Memorial Day parade because we cut the band teachers last year. A world in which art and music are dangerously close to the chopping block. A world in which it will now cost parents $1,000 to play certain sports, and hundreds just to ride the bus. A world with fewer AP courses and a degraded public education experience. A world where fewer officers and firefighters (and one fewer ambulance) means less safety for residents.

I don't want to live in that world. While I certainly don't want to pay more in taxes (who does??), I think $300 is a small price to pay to make sure we don't backslide any further.

When all is said and done, a "no" vote on June 3 constitutes intentionally making Franklin a worse place to live. So I hope you'll join me in voting yes because, despite all signs pointing to a continued divide, I like to think we can all agree that quality education and ample public safety resources represent common ground.

Aaron Gouveia 

Franklin resident

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If you have something to say, you can find the guidelines here
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/03/introducing-voices-of-franklin.html

Voices of Franklin: Aaron Gouveia on keeping Franklin "safe and educated"

Franklin, MA: Finance Committee Agenda for 2nd Budget hearing, Tue, Apr 29 (public works & public safety)

Finance Committee Meeting
Agenda & Meeting Packet
Tuesday, April 29, 2025 = 7 PM

Meeting will be held at the Municipal Building 3rd Floor, Training Room

Agenda

1.    Call to Order
 

2.    FY26 Town Administrator Operating Budget Hearing continued...
FY26 Town Administrator Budget Materials website   https://www.franklinma.gov/Archive.aspx?ADID=500

a.    Public Safety:

i.    210 Police Department
ii.    220 Fire Department
iii.    225 Regional Dispatch
iv.    240 Inspection Department
v.    292 Animal Control

b.    Department of Public Works (DPW):

i.    422 Public Works
ii.    Enterprise Funds: 434 Solid Waste, 440 Sewer, 450 Water, 460 Stormwater

3.    Adjourn

The full agenda doc (including remote participation info)  https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04292025-1699

 

Town Administrator Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Budget

Gary Premo talks about the growth and expansion of the MECC (audio)

FM #1395 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1395 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the audio recording of my conversation with Gary Premo, Executive Director of the Metacomet Emergency Communication Center (MECC). We had our conversation at the MECC on Wednesday, February 26, 2025.  

• Gary provides his background
• Operations at the MECC
• What to expect when you call 911
• Growth and possible expansion

The meeting runs about 20 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Gary on emergency dispatch operations.

https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1395-metacometemergency-comms-center-02-26-25/

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Metacomet Emergency Communication Center home page 

https://www.meccdispatch.org/ 

Member communities -> https://www.meccdispatch.org/home/pages/visit-our-member-communities 

Facebook page -> https://www.facebook.com/meccdispatch 

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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"

Gary Premo talks about the growth and expansion of the MECC (audio)

Fire Dept stretched with multiple runs

Thursday, Franklin Firefighters Local 2637 posted:

"This morning, L2637 members have responded to multiple simultaneous calls for service. All off-duty members have been called in to assist with calls. 

Fire Dept stretched with multiple runs

A total of 10 emergencies from 9:30 AM - 12:00 PM, including an extended extrication of a male party with an open leg fracture on top of a roof. As all Franklin engines were tied up on calls, a Norfolk engine and Wrentham engine had to respond in their place to the extended operation.

During this operation, emergencies continued to come in. All Franklin ambulances were committed to calls, resulting in two (2) Bellingham ambulances, a Medway ambulance, and a Millis ambulance all having to respond to calls in Franklin.

#franklin #fire #pffm #iaff #staffingmatters"

Shared from -> https://www.instagram.com/p/DBbzPq_RLZV/

A timely item for consideration as the FY 2026 budget development is in process. The 3rd ambulance requires additional staffing and has been talked of for a number of years. The past couple of years steps have been made to increase coverage. Let's find out what it will really take to provide appropriate staffing for police, fire, and "first responders" (like DPW) and make sure to include that in the long range plan. The long range plan should do more than get us by one budget year.

MEMA shares Heat Safety Tips in advance of heat wave

Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) posted on Mon, Jun 17, 2024:

Hot & humid conditions are expected Tues-Fri. Take precautions to help prevent heat-related illnesses:
💧Stay hydrated
🏃Limit strenuous activity & time outdoors
🚗Never leave kids/pets in the car
📱Call 2-1-1 to find an available cooling center
More tips: https://t.co/d3m2ctuJ5I  or -> https://www.mass.gov/info-details/extreme-heat-safety-tips

Shared from ->  https://t.co/XpjQUOdRu2

MEMA shares Heat Safety Tips in advance of heat wave

Finance Committee reviews Public Safety and Public Works budgets (audio)

FM #1198 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1198 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the Franklin, MA Finance Committee budget hearing, the second of 3 sessions conducted on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. The 3rd session is scheduled for May 15, 2024. Then the Town Council does their budget hearing over 2 nights, May 22 & May 23. 

The departmental budgets covered were:

• Public Safety:

• 210 Police Department

• 220 Fire Department

• 225 Regional Dispatch

• 240 Inspection Department

• 292 Animal Control

• b. Department of Public Works (DPW):

• Departments: 422 Public Works

• Enterprise Funds:

• 450 Water

• 440 Sewer

• 434 Solid Waste

• 460 Stormwater

The meeting runs about 1 and 20 minutes. Let’s listen to the second of 3 budget hearings. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1198-finance-cmte-budget-hearing-2-of-3-05-08-24

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The Franklin TV video is available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/live/kRJStUo28Q8?si=YQQ8EPTnnAz3XMJe&t=61 

The agenda doc ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/_2024-05-08_finance_committee_agenda_.pdf 

Follow along with the budget voting doc ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/fy25_ta_budget_book_v2.pdf 

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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

Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.

For additional information, please visit www.franklin.news/ or  www.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"

Finance Committee - Budget Hearing #2 of 3 - Public Safety & Public Works - May 8

Finance Committee reviews Public Safety and Public Works budgets (video)

The Finance Committee held their second of three budget hearings on Wednesday, May 8 in the Council Chambers. 

The 3rd and final budget hearing is scheduled for May 15 with the school budgets covered (Franklin Public Schools, Tri-County and Norfolk Aggie.)

The Franklin TV video is available for replay on YouTube ->  https://www.youtube.com/live/kRJStUo28Q8?si=YQQ8EPTnnAz3XMJe&t=61

The departmental budgets covered were:

• Public Safety:
• 210 Police Department
• 220 Fire Department
• 225 Regional Dispatch
• 240 Inspection Department
• 292 Animal Control
• b. Department of Public Works (DPW):
• Departments: 422 Public Works
• Enterprise Funds:
• 450 Water
• 440 Sewer
• 434 Solid Waste
• 460 Stormwater

Agenda doc contains links to the supporting documentation  ->    https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/_2024-05-08_finance_committee_agenda_.pdf

Finance Committee - Budget Hearing #2 of 3 - Public Safety & Public Works - May 8

Finance Committee - Budget Hearing #2 of 3 - Public Safety & Public Works - May 8

Finance Committee Meeting 

Agenda & Meeting Packet 

Wednesday, May 8, 2024 7:00 PM 

Agenda

1. Call to Order

2. Public Comments

3. FY25 Town Administrator Operating Budget Hearing continued...

FY25 Town Administrator Budget Materials website

https://www.franklinma.gov/town-budget/webforms/fy-25-budget-materials

Follow along with the voting doc ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/fy25_ta_budget_book_v2.pdf

a. Public Safety:

i. 210 Police Department

ii. 220 Fire Department

iii. 225 Regional Dispatch

iv. 240 Inspection Department

v. 292 Animal Control

b. Department of Public Works (DPW):

i. Departments: 422 Public Works

ii. Enterprise Funds:

1. 450 Water

2. 440 Sewer

3. 434 Solid Waste

4. 460 Stormwater

4. Adjourn

Agenda doc contains remote participation info ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/_2024-05-08_finance_committee_agenda_.pdf

Finance Committee - Budget Hearing #2 of 3 - Public Safety & Public Works - May 8

Finance Committee - last of 3 budget hearings - May 11, 2023 at 7 PM

Finance Committee Meeting 

Agenda & Meeting Packet 

Monday, May 11, 2023 = 7:00 PM

Meeting will be held at the Municipal Building 

2nd floor, Council Chambers

355 East Central Street

Agenda

1. Call to Order

2. Public Comments

3. FY24 Town Administrator Operating Budget Hearing continued...

FY24 Town Administrator Budget Materials website

a. Public Safety:

i. 210 Police Department

ii. 220 Fire Department

iii. 225 Regional Dispatch

iv. 240 Inspection Department

v. 292 Animal Control

4. FY24 Town Administrator Operating & Enterprise Budget Final Recommendation.

5. Future Agenda Items

6. Adjourn

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/may_11th_fin_com_agenda.pdf

Finance Committee - last of 3 budget hearings - May 11, 2023 at 7 PM

Are you subscribed to Town of Franklin alerts and notifications? It is easy to set up

Residents are encouraged to subscribe to the Town's Regroup public safety notification system! 

Visit the link to subscribe and become aware ->   https://franklintown.regroup.com/login

Public Safety alerts are used when there is some emergency situation to bring awareness to the community of part of it. The alerts are geographically targeted so a street, or your neighborhood, or the whole Town can get an alert for something happening nearby. Accidents that close roads, or a response to a fire, or street flooding are the most common uses for these type of alerts.

You create an account for your address and sign up for notification via one or more methods; phone call, text, or email. You can choose to receive the alert in more than one way. Once the account is created, you can change the method, or add an alert to the notifications.

For example, the Health Dept now uses this service for a weekly alert on a health topic. I choose to receive these via email. The public safety alerts I choose to receive via text.

Note: signing up for these alerts is separate from signing up for the newsletter or meeting notifications. Email notifications for meeting agendas can be set up here -> https://www.franklinma.gov/subscribe

Shared from Instagram -> https://www.instagram.com/p/CnFMltdutfX/

Are you subscribed to Town of Franklin alerts and notifications? It is easy to set up

Finance Committee hears budgets for public safety & public works and good news on AAA bond rating achieved (audio)

FM #795 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 795 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the Finance Committee budget hearing #2 for the FY 2023 Town of Franklin budget held on Wednesday, May 11, 2022. 

The meeting was conducted in a hybrid format: 7 members of the Finance Committee were in the Council Chambers along with some of the public, 1 member was announced as expecting to join via remote along with some members the public via conference bridge, all to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period. 

• Chair Bill Dowd opens the Finance Committee, 7 members participating. This is the second of three sessions on the FY 2023 budget

• This session covered public safety: police fire, and dispatch as well as public works the DPW divisions and the enterprise accounts for water, sewer, and solid waste

• Each department was reviewed, some were straight forward, some had minor increases or adjustments. For example, 2 positions previously cut in last year's budget were restored in this year's budget for the DPW

• The big news coming from the night was the announcement that the Town had achieved a AAA bond rating. This is a significant achievement and will help the Town save money on all future borrowing requirements

The recording runs about an hour and forty minutes, so let’s listen to the Finance Committee meeting May 11, 2022.

Audio file ->  https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-795-finance-cmte-fy-2023-budget-hearing-2-05-11-22

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Meeting agenda =>   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/_2022-05-11_finance_committee_agenda_.pdf 

FY 2023 budget package => https://www.franklinma.gov/town-budget/webforms/fy-23-budget-materials 

Link to Finance Committee => https://www.franklinma.gov/finance-committee 

My notes for the meeting =>  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SERBrhfi0U1eOLfFR6GWHkcl07UiazpH/view?usp=sharing 

YouTube recording => https://youtu.be/zqiyIdFy8ik 

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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

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"

Finance Committee hears budgets for public safety & public works and good news on AAA bond rating achieved (audio)