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 *
Friday, July 24, 2026
Town of Franklin Awarded State Grant to Update Hazard Mitigation Plan
Sunday, June 7, 2026
State Rep Jeff Roy provides a Legislative Update - 06/04/26 (video & audio)
FM #1757 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1757 in the series.
This session shares my conversation with State Representative Jeffrey Roy. We had our discussion virtually via Zoom on Thursday, June 4, 2026.
We talk about
His legislative work on the budget, timing of the legislative session
Prior work on higher education, current work on manufacturing
Earmarks for Medway & Franklin including the World Cup Fan Zone
Whole lot happening in Franklin now through the summer
The show notes include links to Jeff's legislative page and campaign page.
The recording runs about 37 minutes, so let’s listen in.
Video link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LRLwLOShel8--------------
Representative Roy’s House page - https://malegislature.gov/People/Profile/JNR1
Jeff’s campaign page - http://jeffreyroy.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 it!
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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"
Tuesday, May 5, 2026
MA Senate announces local aid increase included in the Senate Budget
Sunday, May 3, 2026
State Representative Jeffrey Roy Announces Passing of House Budget FY 2027
Friday, April 24, 2026
Boston Globe: "Mass. sheriffs pitch budget fix after spending scrutiny"
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| Boston Globe: "Mass. sheriffs pitch budget fix after spending scrutiny" |
Friday, March 20, 2026
Massachusetts House Passes Fair Share Supplemental Budget
• $250,000 for Medway Burke/Memorial School parking lot improvements to remove rear and side parking area surface and replace with new subsurface and top course to improve pedestrian safety and address increased stormwater MS4 drainage efficiency
• $50,000 for the creation of a CTE Teacher Access & Equity fund to provide financial assistance to beginning vocational-technical instructors for fees associated with competency-based vocational-technical teacher training performance written examinations
• $150,000 to redesign and modernize the Franklin Middle School library/STEM space into a student-centered Library and Innovation Commons to support interdisciplinary learning, collaboration, hands-on problem solving, and an accessible gathering place.
• $5,000 for Smarter HEPA air filters for classrooms at the Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School in Franklin
$525 million for the Deficiency Reserve $125 million for the Workforce & Safety Reserve $60 million for physical infrastructure with a focus on the core subway system $20 million for low-income reduced fares $10 million for water transportation infrastructure
$50 million for snow and ice costs $25 million for Regional Transit Authorities (RTAs) workforce development $30 million to fund the Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) Credit $30 million for MassDOT Service Investments
Includes $8 million for child care for providers and $7.5 million for the loan forgiveness program for providers
o Requires reporting on the expenses of proposed usage of the funds
Sunday, March 15, 2026
Don't get sick, research cuts may prevent the solution from being discovered
That research is a big reason we have drugs that made fatal blood cancers survivable, treatments that turned HIV from a death sentence into something people live full lives with, and a vaccine that all but prevents cervical cancer.
But, last year, the US funded dramatically fewer grants to do medical research that can lead to breakthroughs like those. New data released by the NIH this week shows how the damage from those cuts broke down. The numbers are striking across the board."
Read the full story at the link - https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/482363/nih-medical-research-grants-cut-2025
Wednesday, February 4, 2026
This Chalkboard Chat shares insights into the FY 2027 budget and implications (audio)
FM #1652 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1652 in the series.
This session shares my conversation with School Committee Chair Paul Griffith. We had our discussion via Zoom on Monday, February 2, 2026. We condense and get into the explanations behind the key items from the recent School Committee meeting January 27, 2026.
Our conversation covered the following topics:
Budget, and budget implications
Budget hearing Feb 10, budget vote Feb 24
Health care costs proposed to move to Town Account 910
Simplification, ensure all depts now have apples to apples budget comparison
Hold harmless, Chap 70 local contribution under re-evaluation
Special education reimbursement, cost advantages of in house programs
Policy updatesRemote participation
Middle school awareness of pathways
ECDC tuition re-voted to correct an oversight
Our conversation runs about 49 minutes. Let’s listen
Audio link - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1652-chalkboard-chat-02-02-26/--------------
School Committee page (with contact info) - https://www.franklinps.net/o/fpsd/page/school-committee
School Committee subcommittee assignments -
https://www.franklinps.net/o/fpsd/page/subcommittees-and-liaisons
Franklin TV video is available for replay - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-UxhayAn6s
The agenda can be found - https://files-backend.assets.thrillshare.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4780/Fpsd/8d6ca562-53e6-4ea4-a1af-54dc11571527/SCAGENDA-1-27-26.pdf?disposition=inline
FY 2027 budget presentation doc -
Released documents will be posted to the 'packet folder' - https://www.franklinps.net/documents/departments/school-committee/meeting-packets/2025---26-meeting-packets/january-27%2C-2026-sc-meeting-packet/24906664
My notes in one PDF file - https://drive.google.com/file/d/140kTZI5bmwVFlufRsU54cNneJ2BytZ-c/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"
Thursday, January 29, 2026
Governor Maura Healey released her proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2027 (FY 2027)
MassBudget: "Preliminary Analysis of Governor Healey’s FY 2027 Budget"
Wednesday, January 21, 2026
MMA Podcast: Building Trust and Resilience in Local Leadership (audio)
"We are not built to go out of business but we are funded to go out of business."
- More on Jaime and Kassandra’s leadership: https://www.mma.org/jamie-hellen-is-new-mma-president-kassandra-gove-is-vp/
- To learn more about the MMA: www.mma.org
Tuesday, December 16, 2025
CommonWealth Beacon: "Municipalities seek big batch of state cash to navigate financial crunch "
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| CommonWealth Beacon: "Municipalities seek big batch of state cash to navigate financial crunch " |











