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, June 5, 2026
Dam, that is good info on beavers !!! (video)
Wednesday, May 20, 2026
FY 2027 Budget Narrative: Stormwater & Environmental Affairs (Enterprise Account)
Wednesday, May 6, 2026
Stormwater Starts in the Parking Lot
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| Stormwater Starts in the Parking Lot |
Saturday, April 25, 2026
3rd budget hearing covers Public Works & Public Safety (audio)
FM #1727 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1727 in the series.
This session of the radio show shares the Finance Committee Budget Hearing on Public Works & Public Safety, the 3rd of 4 sessions to go over the FY 2027 budget. The meeting was held in Council Chambers with 8 of 9 members present.
Quick recap:
Gus Brown, Building Commissioner, up first
Brutus Cantoreggi, DPW up next,
Next up Police Chief Lynch, level service plus 2, looking to get the SROs back
Next up, Chief Allen, Fire Dept.
Dispatch Center or the MECC being covered
Also skipped Tri-County and Norfolk Aggie last night with no explanation given for it. Tri-County and Norfolk Aggie, both assessments based upon enrollment, not much of a change year to year
So Thursday night, the Finance Committee will use the 3rd Floor Training room for their discussion to be more “around a table” rather than spread out to help their discussion. Potential revisions coming to the budget, what they are we'll watch and see.
Let’s listen in
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The Franklin TV video is available for replay -
https://www.youtube.com/live/x8Hb_pCl64A?&t=164
Agenda doc including links to the FY 2027 budget
https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04082026-2221
My full set of notes in one PDF - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1D-RumOpcYkE7SZ_czpSZzW5TKdS9SE3B/view?usp=drive_link
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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"
Friday, April 3, 2026
Rain barrel program opens for spring
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| Rain barrel program opens for spring |
Friday, February 27, 2026
Spill Smarts Start Here
Saturday, January 24, 2026
Consider a "water system operator" role for a promising working future (video)
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| Consider a "water system operator" role for a promising working future (video) |
Tuesday, January 20, 2026
Department of Public Works | Infrastructure & Costs
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| Department of Public Works | Infrastructure & Costs |
Town Council Meeting
Wednesday, January 21 Time: 6:00 PM
https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01212026-2101
Monday, January 19, 2026
Spring Rain Barrel Program Open
Visit: https://www.greatamericanrainbarrel.com/community/, to order your rain barrel today!
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| Spring Rain Barrel Program Open |
Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DS4h7mo8r/
Friday, December 12, 2025
Snow Disposal Done Right via Franklin DPW
Thursday, September 25, 2025
Do Your Doody. Keep Our Water Clean.
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| Do Your Doody. Keep Our Water Clean. |
Monday, August 11, 2025
Franklin gets additional ARPA funds via Norfolk County
Thursday, May 1, 2025
DPW contractor starts catch basin cleaning this week
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| DPW contractor starts catch basin cleaning this week |
"Starting this week, Truax will be in Franklin conducting yearly catch basin cleaning operations. The work is expected to take 4 - 6 weeks and is a crucial component to keeping our stormwater clean and our infrastructure healthy!"
Shared from -> https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19t7ByDSVs/
Wednesday, April 30, 2025
2nd budget hearing confirms what happens if override fails for Police, Fire, DPW (video)
- Police Chief TJ Lynch started his update. Basically the same as last year with some minor adjustments. If the override were to fail, he would loose 2 officers. He is hiring to backfill for retirees and transfers. When as ked to elaborate on that, he provided the details on the 5 recent departures, with one being sworn in at Council meeting and one still to be hired.
- Deputy Chiefs Klich & Barberi provided the update in lieu of Chief McLaughlin out this week on vacation.
- Similar to the police update, very little change in totals. If the override fails, they would lose the staffing for the 3rd ambulance. The 3rd ambulance responded to over 100 calls last year and resulted in over 70 hospital transports during its 40 hours of weekly coverage. The community would notice the difference in slower response times as mutual aid would be providing more coverage than they do today
- Discussion on vehicle replacement both costs increasing and lead times lengthening. A new ambulance ordered in 2022 is scheduled for delivery in August. The Tower truck ordered in 2023 is scheduled for delivery this summer. The current Tower would stay in the fleet and move to back up status, as would the older of the ambulances when the new one arrives.
- Brutus Cantoreggi, DPW director and Kathy Mooradd, Administration and Budget manager presented initially. Doug Martin, Water/Sewer Superintendent stood up along the way to cover water and sewer updates.
- Similar to the police and fire updates, a level funded budget being presented. Note, not a level service budget. The dollar remains about the same but the materials cost across the DPW departments account for 65% of the total budget (35% of the personnel cost). The same amount of money is getting less to work with. A failed override will also be noticeable but not right away. Water will still run, sewers will still operate, other maintenance and road repairs, etc. will be delayed or take longer.
- There were other budget items discussed; Building & inspection, MECC dispatch. The meeting total only runs 90 minutes so it should be easy enough to catch up to. The audio and transcript will come out also (audio Thursday, transcript on the weekend).
My notes captured during the meeting via Twitter
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ocIK4PjauaMMklMFVxkybmp4eTf5716K/view?usp=drive_link
Sunday, April 27, 2025
Franklin, MA: Finance Committee Agenda for 2nd Budget hearing, Tue, Apr 29 (public works & public safety)
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
FY26 Town Administrator Budget Materials website https://www.franklinma.gov/Archive.aspx?ADID=500
a. Public Safety:i. 210 Police Departmentb. Department of Public Works (DPW):
ii. 220 Fire Department
iii. 225 Regional Dispatch
iv. 240 Inspection Department
v. 292 Animal Controli. 422 Public Works
ii. Enterprise Funds: 434 Solid Waste, 440 Sewer, 450 Water, 460 Stormwater
3. Adjourn
Saturday, January 4, 2025
The Spring 2025 Rain Barrel Program is now open for Franklin residents
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| The Spring 2025 Rain Barrel Program |
Thursday, September 26, 2024
WEBINAR: Introducing the Property Owner Guide to Managing Stormwater on Commercial and Industrial Properties
WEBINAR: Introducing the Property Owner Guide to Managing Stormwater
Monday, September 30th 2024 1:00PM – 2:00 PM EDT
Join the Southeast New England Program (SNEP) for an informative presentation on the Property Owner Guide to Managing Stormwater on Commercial and Industrial Properties (aka, the Guide, scheduled for public release on September 30, 2024).
The purpose of the Guide is to provide a high-level explanation of the problems associated with uncontrolled stormwater and what private property owners can do to reduce these impacts by improving site operations and making simple changes to the physical layout of their sites to reduce stormwater volume and pollutants. The audience for the Guide is property owners and managers of commercial, industrial and institutional properties who are responsible for making decisions regarding site improvements to manage stormwater.
Entities (including consultants and state, regional and/or local agencies and organizations) who work with property owners in developing stormwater plans will also find the guide useful. This guidance is timely in that it will help support compliance with stormwater permits issued under the Clean Water Act's Residual Designation Authority (RDA) affecting property owners having larger impervious surfaces including the anticipated permit in the Mashapaug Pond watershed in Rhode Island and permits in Massachusetts and New Hampshire coming in 2024, and one issued in Vermont in 2020.
The impact of polluted stormwater from impervious surfaces on receiving water quality is well known, as are its contributions to localized flooding. Commercial, industrial and institutional properties have unique challenges, constraints and goals for their properties that must be considered for successfully incorporating pollutant reduction and stormwater treatment measures.
The Guide builds upon the design guidance in the New England Stormwater Retrofit Manual but is customized to be more accessible to a non-technical audience by providing illustrative case examples of options for managing stormwater and presenting guidance that is easily understood by a non-technical reader.
The Guide's focus is on operational best management practices and physical improvements known as Green Stormwater Infrastructure ("GSI") to manage and improve water quality at its source. The guide was developed by VHB for the Southeast New England Program (SNEP) Network with support from an ad hoc committee comprised of members from the University of New Hampshire Stormwater Center, the Rhode Island Stormwater Innovation Center, the New England Environmental Finance Center, and RIDEM's Office of Water Resources.
Presenters:
Theresa McGovern, VHB
Anna Keimel, VHB
Online Webinar: Register Here!
<Text copied from "The SNEP Network">
Read more -> https://www.franklinma.gov/conservation/news/webinar-introducing-property-owner-guide-managing-stormwater
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| Property Owner Guide to Managing Stormwater on Commercial and Industrial Properties |
Thursday, September 5, 2024
Town of Franklin: All about the water system, yes we have enough (audio)
Continuing to find and share golden nuggets from the archives, we have this 3-part audio series on the water system covering all aspects from the well head to your faucet.
You can also find the 3-part series on the Town of Franklin page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/water-sewer-division/news/franklin-matters-conversations-doug-martin-jake-standley
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FM #588 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 588 in the series.
This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Doug Martin, Franklin’s Water and Sewer Superintendent and Jake Standly, the Assistant Water/Sewer Superintendent.
We had our conversation in the Franklin Public Radio studios on Hutchinson St. This is one of three in a series exploring the status and operations of the Franklin’s Water Dept.
Part 1 - approx. 30 minutes
A brief on Doug and Jake’s Franklin ‘story’
New treatment plant, now operational, treating Wells 3 and 6; Well 6 is really a well field (of six separate wells)
Difference between registration and permitted amount to draw
Overall well status and supply (well summary on water report)
Water conservation measures are a ‘forever’ thing right? (per the permit from DEP)
Town wells draw from 40-50 feet where most private wells can draw from a 300-500 foot depth; if you have a private well, please put out a sign if you use it for irrigation
Finances on water rate and sewer rate calculations, aside from private wells and septic systems, it is usage based billing
Fire Dept working very closely with them on hydrant maintenance and water pressure opportunity areas to work towards an increase in the ISO certification for the Fire department; hydrant signage being added to help especially when out communities respond to help
E-coli hit on well 2A, notification only discussed; test result was from the ‘raw’ side of the water, not the ‘treated side’ of the supply; “the ground is just a big old filter, and when you get 6-8 inches of rain the ground just can't handle it”
The process worked, the testing and system ensures good water is being delivered all the time
PFAS testing currently State funded; testing at parts per trillion, not million as with most other; PFAS is pervasive; Testers can’t use Teflon pans or Tupperware before taking test sample (to avoid contamination of the sample)
The show notes include links to the Franklin Water Dept. page and other references.
Let’s listen to this part of my conversation with Doug and Jake and learn all about Franklin’s water supply.
Audio File -> https://player.captivate.fm/episode/a7deabf6-08b9-41d8-820c-8bee1aa437db
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Part 2 - approx. 38 minutes
Permit process 20 years, midway through this one
Overall water usage per capita for Franklin is among the best in the state (~45-49gpp vs ~65gpp)
Unaccounted for water and meter standards, Franklin is a model community for this
Infiltration annual testing uses a “stethoscope for the road”
Town owns from the water main to the curb stop (water service shut off from street); Town also owns the meter
Meter read via radio today, may eventually get to an automatic send to a data collector; used to take 2 guys a month to read, now it takes one only a week to read the meters
WaterSmart system data based upon readings monthly; billing readings are monthly
Rebates available for high efficiency water use appliances
Annual Water report - highlights by section
Reference to working without the incredible asset of Dave Allard, now retired; 4 hours of a brain dump didn’t catch it all but he still answers the phone when they call
Key items explained, testing process, negligible results are shown for 20 or so items, another 100+ are tested with no findings, PFAS testing added per state DEP regs
Difference between water testing done by Town vs. Water bottles available in retail (FDA vs. DEP/EPA regulations)
Thanks to the 61 residents for participating in the lead and copper special testing required (lead goose necks)
WaterSmart website, Individual usage can be monitored, Leak detection service
The show notes include links to the Franklin Water Dept. page and other references.
Let’s listen to this part of my conversation with Doug and Jake and learn all about Franklin’s water supply.
Audio file -> https://player.captivate.fm/episode/a148dcea-1db5-49f2-b11c-e302009de27f
Part 3 - approx. 28 minutes
Water treatment process flow on last page of “Consumer Confidence Report” CCR
CCR only shows what was found when tested
Programed with multiple fail safes, if deviation occurs outside of range, it shuts down
Safe in that it is also closed, no internet access to system controls
All of the water system is managed by four guys; Licenses required, continuing education required annually, training provided/supported by Town
Water enterprise account, Usage based services, quarterly billing per usage
Capital projects funded from ratepayers
Work to prepare for water and sewer line replacements as part of rebuilding the roads
Retained balance of $1M as a practice for “in case”
Increase reliability of SCADA system by switching to fiber from radio wave
Good to know; the water sewer world of infrastructure is a thing for consideration - job security and regular challenges; the industry is facing 60% of the workforce retiring in the next 10 years
The show notes include links to the Franklin Water Dept. page and other references.
Let’s listen to this part of my conversation with Doug and Jake and learn all about Franklin’s water supply.
Audio file -> https://player.captivate.fm/episode/3e921c80-30d7-4f9b-bd36-a8becc68be90
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| Town of Franklin: All about the water system, yes we have enough (audio) |
















