2025 Town of Franklin Candidate for Town Council - Joe McGann (text)

Town Council candidate Joe McGann was unable to schedule time for an interview but he did respond to the questions. His answers are shared here: 

● What is your ‘Franklin story’? Tell us briefly about your road to or life within Franklin & your involvement in the community here.

“Have been a resident of the  Town of Franklin for over 65 years

    My two children attended and graduated from the Franklin School System

    Served Four Years on the Franklin Town Council

    Former Franklin Auxiliary Police Officer

    Former Permanent Intermittent Police Officer Town of Franklin

    While on the Town Council Donated may Hours and Material To Central Park Terrace installing handicapped safety railings in individual living units as well as other safety devices.

    Owned and operated a Small Electrical business for over 35 years in Franklin serving 

    Franklin Residents and Businesses as well as neighboring  towns.”

● Civil discourse is a key component of our democratic republic form of government. The political party divide unfortunately is wider now than ever, as an individual what can and will you do to help bridge the divide?

“The Residents of Franklin are what matter in this election. My voice will be for all not the few if I can do the following: Listen , Respect , make decisions in the best interest of the approx.  36,000 Residents and forget  party affiliation or special interests any and every one reading this will respect me and hopefully vote for me.”

● What experience or background will help you to serve in this particular role? Or what do you bring to the table that helps to set you apart from the others competing for this role?

“Question #2 answers that, as well as experience ability to vote on my own opinion I will not rubber stamp and follow the majority  my vote as I have said numerous times be in the best interest of all Residents I will try my best to work with the elected (9) and make Franklin a great place to reside not only for those that reside here but for those who  wish to reside here.”

Questions for candidates for each of these specific roles:  Town Council

● One of the key responsibilities of the Council is to hire and provide oversight for the Town Administrator and his/her team. For example, while you can serve as an escalation point for the Town’s folk, this does not include micromanaging a particular department or operation. Do you agree or disagree? Please explain.

“I will not micro-manage.  ( HOWEVER AS THE SAYING GOES IF YOU SEE SOMETHING SAY SOMETHING ). We were Elected to Legislate but also to inform the Voters who elected us and represent them.

 As far as hiring the Town Admin He has two years remaining on his Contract to the best of  knowledge.  I will Agree with his Decisions / Recommendations until it's time to disagree.  My Term if elected runs for the next Two years also.”

● The Town Council approves the annual budget which sets the priorities for how Franklin operates. Faced with the fiscal challenges for the next several years, what are the financial priorities you think we need to address?

○ How do you explain what needs to be done to the voters and residents?

○ What would you do to help the community understand the separation of roles between the Council and School Committee?

“This list is very long however  (a)  Senior Center (b ) Police and Fire  (c ) Schools the deficit we face effects those listed however there are many many more that I could list. We have to be the eyes and ears for the TOWN of FRANKLIN. Any one elected either sitting members or future members have to start treating the Town's money like it was their own and STOP the RECKLESS SPENDING.”

The School Committee is the elected board that oversees the Schools. They hire the Superintendent as well  as any and all major decisions pertaining to the Franklin Schools.  However, we all answer to the voters. We listen to any and all issues good or bad and ultimately approve or deny when budget time comes around.”

● Do you support the goals and recommendations of the 2025 Franklin Master Plan?

○ If so, what would you do as a Town Councilor to help implement them?

○ If not, why not?

“In all honesty having been removed from local politics for a while and getting involved

again as late as I did I am going to refrain from answering that question until I can reacquaint myself with that document.”

Contact info:

Joseph E. McGann

508-244-1503 

mailto:mcgannjoseph@aol.com

2025 Town of Franklin Biennial Election

2025 Biennial Election: Candidate Interview Questions

Questions for All candidates

• What is your ‘Franklin story’? Tell us briefly about your road to or life within Franklin & your involvement in the community here.

• Civil discourse is a key component of our democratic republic form of government. The political party divide unfortunately is wider now than ever, as an individual what can and will you do to help bridge the divide? 

• What experience or background will help you to serve in this particular role? Or what do you bring to the table that helps to set you apart from the others competing for this role?

2025 Biennial Election

Questions for candidates for each of these specific roles:

Town Council

• One of the key responsibilities of the Council is to hire and provide oversight for the Town Administrator and his/her team. For example, while you can serve as an escalation point for the Town’s folk, this does not include micromanaging a particular department or operation. Do you agree or disagree? Please explain.

• The Town Council approves the annual budget which sets the priorities for how Franklin operates. Faced with the fiscal challenges for the next several years, what are the financial priorities you think we need to address? 

• How do you explain what needs to be done to the voters and residents?

• What would you do to help the community understand the separation of roles between the Council and School Committee?

• Do you support the goals and recommendations of the 2025 Franklin Master Plan? 

• If so, what would you do as a Town Councilor to help implement them?

• If not, why not?

Planning Board

• Do you support the goals and recommendations of the 2025 Franklin Master Plan? 

• If so, how would you work as a Planning Board member to help implement them?

• If not, why not?

• What is your vision for responsible, sustainable growth in Franklin?

School Committee

• With redistricting behind us, what do you see as the key priority for the district?

• With the School District responsible for the largest portion of Town of Franklin's budget, what are your ideas to help resolve the structural deficit in the operating budget? 

Board of Assessors

• Your role provides oversight for the real estate and personal property assessment process. While those assessment processes are governed by MA General Law, it has also been described as the cashbox for the Town. What can you say about this process that might help folks understand more about it?

Board of Health

• The Health Dept came to the frontline during the COVID-19 pandemic. With the pandemic mostly behind us, in your role as oversight for the Dept, what do you see as next steps for the Dept and community to maintain good health? 

Town Clerk

• As one of the key contact points for residents, the Town Clerk’s office manages vital records (birth, death, marriages), dog licenses, annual census, voting records and elections, compiles Department reports to produce the Town’s Annual Report; there are likely other items that I haven’t mentioned. 

• Can you name a few and elaborate on those?

• As the lead election official for the Town, you have a unique role in that you report to the Secretary of the Commonwealth on election matters and to the Town Administrator on local Franklin items (census, dog licenses, etc.) do you have trouble navigating those roles? 

• Please elaborate

• What certifications are required for this role? 

• What certifications are helpful but might be optional?

As a closing question for ALL candidates

• While we have covered a variety of topics, is there something we have not discussed that you would like to leave with the voters  & residents?

Note: The wording may vary slightly as I repeat these questions to each candidate but the intent of the question doesn't change. The candidates have the questions in advance.

Download a PDF of the questions ->

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1j5KOrtEGSuHax5rLE0ND_OdJco0_DB7d/view?usp=drive_link

The 2025 Biennial Election Collection can be found -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/08/election-collection-2025.html

Camille and Steve talk about poetry and how it helps us (audio)

FM #1429 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1429 in the series. 

This session shares my conversation with Camille Bernstein about poetry and her project for April as Poetry Month. We recorded this conversation in person at the Franklin TV & Radio Studio Wednesday, April 9, 2025. 

We cover the following in our wide ranging conversation

• The origins of her project

• Poetry was responsible for meeting her husband

• Words and how they matter

• Poetry as a centering aspect of life

The recording runs about 45 minutes. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1429-cbernstein-poetry-04-09-25/

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The link to sign up for the April poem a day project https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1yf-G9LvPeAvF5B7FJdDSyBpr8eGNNkcfJbBTYl6xYtk/edit 

Link to "Today”, the Billy Collins' poem that Camille reads -> 

https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/40824/today-56d21ebdad746 

You can find my poetry online at quietpoet.com

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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"

Camille and Steve talk about poetry and how it helps us (audio)

Get your Franklin questions answered, in person or remotely - March 20 at 11 AM

What is going on with .... ?

What happened to ....?

How come .... ?

Join Steve Sherlock, Franklin Matters & Franklin Public Radio Community Information Director (volunteer), for an informal and informative Q&A session. 

What is the session about?

• Steve provides some updates on what's happened in the past month in the first 10-15 minutes, then opens the floor to answer whatever questions you have

Steve will also be interested to find out what you think should be on the "watch list" for 2024? 

When: Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at 11:00 AM  

Where: Franklin Senior Center (2nd floor conf room) and via Zoom

If you want the Zoom link, please use this form (https://forms.gle/DJWtDepRgPxZ3ytP6), or check with the Senior Center front desk, or email me directly.  

Note: While this event is held at the Senior Center it is not limited to seniors. Any one in Franklin can participate in person or remotely.

Download this flyer as a reminder or to share

https://drive.google.com/file/d/16fR4nLs6tJtp0HXobreBjiIusdAoatfo/view?usp=drive_link

Get your Franklin questions answered, in person or remotely - March 20 at 11 AM

Final reminder: What is the ONE question would you ask of each candidate for the Town of Franklin 2023 Election?

The candidate lists is "final" for the November 7, 2023 Biennial Town of Franklin Election. The nomination papers were turned in and validated by the Town Clerk September 6. 

The candidates have until September 22 to decide to withdraw their name from the ballot. If they choose to stop their campaign after that date, their name will still appear on the ballot.

It is now time for us (together) to prepare the set of interview questions. 

• Which one question would you ask of a Town Council candidate? School Committee candidate? etc...

Submit one question per elected position via the form below. 

Your email is required to avoid nefarious folks from interfering with this process. Your email will only be used (1) to verify the question if not completely understood, and (2) to ensure you get a copy of the final set of questions. 

Note: the question set would likely be similar to prior years. We would have 3-4 questions that would generally apply to all candidates and at least 1 (maybe 2) for specific positions. I want the question set short so we (the candidates and interviewers) can proceed efficiently, and concise to provide answers so Franklin voters can make an informed choice for each elected position.

Based upon feedback obtained after the last election, every effort will be made to provide interviews in all three formats (video, audio, and text transcript). The video interview would be recorded, audio extracted, and audio transcribed. This will require the coordination and willingness of the candidates to be available for this interview to be scheduled in time to turn it all around.

Input to the questions will close as of Sunday, September 10

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The "final" list of candidates as of Tuesday, September 6 can be found here ->

https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/news/nom_in_out_november_7_2023_17.pdf

The question set used for the candidates in 2021 -> 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GkFh21gYukaMheQL-P4C0T_EEaItvcAu/view

Submit your Question via this form ->     https://forms.gle/UiNS5sqmz9RV1MUF8

Town Clerk page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/town-clerk

Franklin Election Collection - 2023

Town Council candidate Glenn Jones (audio)

FM #645 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 645 in the series. 

This shares my conversation with candidate for Town Council Glenn Jones. 

This is one of a series of conversations with candidates for the Franklin Election on Nov 2, 2021. I do this to provide Franklin, MA voters with accurate and timely information that they can use to cast an informed vote.  Publication of the answers or interview responses does not constitute an endorsement of this or any candidate.

We cover the candidate questions as previously developed with the community and shared with the candidates. Five of the questions are ‘general’ in nature, the sixth is specific to the role of the candidate. In this case, for the Town Council.

Our conversation runs about 40 minutes, so let’s listen to my interview with Glenn Jones.  Audio file -> https://player.captivate.fm/episode/7f687f13-16c0-4a5b-906b-32698d4a9adf

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Candidate questions -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/09/election-2021-candidate-interview.html 

Contact info:

• Phone -> (508) 520-0069

• Email address -> gjones@franklinma.gov  

Facebook page -> https://www.facebook.com/GlennJones.FranklinTownCouncil 

Election Collection 2021 ->  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/07/franklin-election-collection-2021.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

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"

 

Town Council candidate Glenn Jones (audio)