The Onion reveals that at the end of the road, Franklin no longer Matters

Yes, given half the recent survey respondents didn't know we had a Public Access TV studio 

or that

3 quarters didn't even know that there was a Public Access radio station broadcasting locally generated news and music shows

the time has come to hang it up. To put the keyboard, camera, and mission of “following the money” to find out what that brings to the quality of life here in Franklin, MA to an end.

Franklin no longer Matters

What that means for you:

• You'll need to navigate town business going to multiple webpages instead of getting the one stop timely and accurate news that was available at Franklin Matters on a daily basis
• Or at Franklin Matters Weekly with a weekly outlook on the week ahead and a look back at the week that was
• You'll need to wake up to the realization that your understanding of Town of Franklin business is self focused, generally incomplete, and mostly inaccurate without the dose of real time reporting that Franklin Matters has provided

You will rue the day when something you could find on Franklin Matters is no longer available

• the daily agenda of cultural & community events along with the Town meetings
• the agenda doc in advance of the meeting
• real time reporting during the many of the meetings
• brief recap of the meeting ready the next day with the video link
• the audio of the meeting a cople of days later includes the recap and the meeting video link
• the approximate 100 interviews per year especially
• the Town Council Quarterbacking sessions that condense a meeting to about 30 minutes
• or the Chalboard Chat sessions which also condense school district meetings to about 30 minutes
• the high school sports results for each of the fall, winter and spring seasons
• the high school and other school events on the calendar
• did I miss something?

Fortunately, this is April 1. I am not yet ready to step aside, especially on such a foolish day.

If you haven't yet subscribed to either the daily dose or the weekly outlook, today would be a good day to do so -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/p/welcome.html

Thanks for reading!

• 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, so that some day (not on April 1), I can step aside leaving this reporting in good hands.

Thanks to The Onion for the inspiration.

Watch, Listen, Read: Joint Budget Listening Session #4 - 03/04/25

This combines the video, audio, and transcript for the 4th of the 6 listenting sessions in advance of the possible override decision/discussion for the FY 2026 budget.

This is the fourth of 6 listening sessions scheduled through March 12, 2025 in advance of a decision on an override (yes, or no), when? and for what amount. The decision discussion is committed to be on the agenda for the March 19 Town Council meeting.

** Watch

video link ->  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCbOgOSGCAI 

** Listen

audio link ->  https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1393-joint-budget-listening-session-4-03-04-25/  

** Read 

Transcript prepared by Otter.ai and edited for speaker name accuracy. As the audio time stamp is also included you can synch the transcript to either the video or audio to catch the full spoken word.  PDF ->  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1p--f1IFeDVCerj94dprC1nLinoGqMreR/view?usp=drive_link

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The agenda doc ->  https://franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02122025-1560

Updated FY 2026 budget document -> https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4593/2025-03-05-Town-Council-Preliminary-Budget-Presentation-v2 

Citizen discounts and exemptions -> https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/DocumentCenter/View/4418/Local-and-State-Assistance-Programs-PDF 

Watch, Listen, Read: Joint Budget Subcommittee Listening Session #3 at Franklin Senior Center - 02/19/25

This combines the video, audio, and transcript for the 3rd of the 6 listenting sessions in advance of the possible override decision/discussion for the FY 2026 budget.

This is the third of 6 listening sessions scheduled through March 12, 2025 in advance of a decision on an override (yes, or no), when? and for what amount. The decision discussion is committed to be on the agenda for the March 19 Town Council meeting.

** Watch

video link ->  https://www.youtube.com/live/HWM25y_m2Bk?&t=552 

** Listen

audio link ->  https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1387-joint-budget-listening-session-3-02-19-25/

** Read

Transcript prepared by Otter.ai and edited for speaker name accuracy. As the audio time stamp is also included you can synch the transcript to either the video or audio to catch the full spoken word.

PDF ->  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1E47i3-VB8czSpbt_Ovx8o5omlcmzwQiB/view?usp=drive_link

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The agenda doc ->  https://franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02122025-1560

The agenda packet includes:

a. Town Administrator FY26 Budget Update #4 Memorandum - https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4201/Town-Administrator-FY26-Budget-Update-4-Memorandum- 

b. Updated FY26 Budget Model (1/30/25)  - https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4191/02b-FY26-Budget-Control-Sheet---Control-Summary 

c. Estimated Override Matrix  - https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4190/02c-Override-Tax-Rate-Impact-Calculationxlsx---Sheet1 

d. Board of Assessors Request Letter  https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4189/02d-Board-of-Assessors-Support-for-Administrative-Assistant

3rd of 6 Joint Budget Listening Sessions held, more questions & answers

Watch, Listen, Read: Joint Budget Subcommittee Listening Session #2 at Remington-Jefferson - 02/12/25

This combines the video, audio, and transcript for the 2nd of the 6 listenting sessions in advance of the possible override decision/discussion for the FY 2026 budget.

This is the second of 6 listening sessions scheduled through March 12, 2025 in advance of a decision on an override (yes, or no), when? and for what amount. The decision discussion is committed to be on the agenda for the March 19 Town Council meeting.

** Watch

video link ->   https://www.youtube.com/live/UWOc6uLkOO0?&t=356

** Listen

audio link ->  https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1385-joint-budget-listening-session-2-02-12-25/

** Read

Transcript prepared by Otter.ai and edited for speaker name accuracy. As the audio time stamp is also included you can synch the transcript to either the video or audio to catch the full spoken word.

PDF ->   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QMMpyNfiop56EkwuKaGQumpJKpc7-dXQ/view?usp=drive_link

------------

The agenda doc ->  https://franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02122025-1560

The agenda packet includes:

a. Town Administrator FY26 Budget Update #4 Memorandum - https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4201/Town-Administrator-FY26-Budget-Update-4-Memorandum- 

b. Updated FY26 Budget Model (1/30/25)  - https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4191/02b-FY26-Budget-Control-Sheet---Control-Summary 

c. Estimated Override Matrix  - https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4190/02c-Override-Tax-Rate-Impact-Calculationxlsx---Sheet1 

d. Board of Assessors Request Letter  https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4189/02d-Board-of-Assessors-Support-for-Administrative-Assistant

My notes in a PDF -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/14ZqQ_mjYRrkcoszx1YVW-JVq4o9CSz1V/view?usp=drive_link

Listening Session #2 at Remington-Jefferson - 02/12/25

Watch, Listen, Read: Joint Budget Subcommittee Listening Session #1 at the Elks Lodge - 01/30/25

This post combines the video, audio, and transcript from this important session. 

This is the first of 6 listening sessions scheduled through March 12, 2025 in advance of a decision on an override (yes, or no), when? and for what amount. The decision discussion is committed to be on the agenda for the March 19 Town Council meeting.

Watch

video link ->  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWIm5bsscs0

Listen

audio link ->  https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1368-joint-budget-subcmte-listening-session-1-01-30-25/

Read

Transcript prepared by Otter.ai and edited for speaker name accuracy. As the audio time stamp is also included you can synch the transcript to either the video or audio to catch the full spoken word.

PDF -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1i1Lz-iGzm_5QJk7T_xLVKt8qL9BPdAOk/view?usp=drive_link

First session of the Joint Budget Subcommittee Listening Tour

The agenda doc https://franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01302025-1536 

The agenda packet includes:

a. Town Administrator FY26 Budget Update #4 Memorandum - https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4201/Town-Administrator-FY26-Budget-Update-4-Memorandum- 

b. Updated FY26 Budget Model (1/30/25)  - https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4191/02b-FY26-Budget-Control-Sheet---Control-Summary 

c. Estimated Override Matrix  - https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4190/02c-Override-Tax-Rate-Impact-Calculationxlsx---Sheet1 

d. Board of Assessors Request Letter  https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4189/02d-Board-of-Assessors-Support-for-Administrative-Assistant

The Franklin TV video is available for replay ->    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HWIm5bsscs0

My full set of notes in one PDF ->   

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DK7FArRJNsgwnwdXSehJtDtQRbleA0x8/view?usp=drive_link 

Helping Voters with Disabilities Participate in Our Democratic Process

During the 2022 midterm election, 38.3 million voters with disabilities will have the opportunity to participate in the democratic process. These voters may include you, one of your friends, or a family member.

Voters with disabilities face unique obstacles when casting their ballots. The Help America Vote Act ensures that all voters with disabilities have the right to mark, cast, and verify their ballots privately and independently.

The Election Assistance Commission (EAC) helps voters with disabilities register to vote and understand their options to cast ballots. 

Helping Voters with Disabilities Participate in Our Democratic Process

Continue reading this article -> https://blog.ssa.gov/helping-voters-with-disabilities-participate-in-our-democratic-process/

What is Franklin TV, radio and News doing in this arena?

Election interviews in particular are shared in video and audio formats where possible. If needed, a transcript of either can be made available. We are working towards making the combination an 'automatic' production so in the meantime, feel free to ask for a transcript.

Comment on this post to request a transcript of an interview, or send an email to sgsherlock@franklinmatters.org

FY 2023 School Budget hearing (audio & transcript) - 03/22/22

FM #757 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 757 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares the School Committee meeting held Tuesday, March 22, 2022. 

The bulk of the meeting was the official public hearing for the FY 2023 school budget. 

Superintendent Sara Ahern, Asst Supt Lucas Giguere, and Business Manager Miriam Goodman were the primary presenters for the overview of the budget. School Committee Chair Denise Spencer then read the budget major lines, recording ‘holds’ along the way which then lead to the question period by the committee and then the public. The budget will come to the Committee at the Apr 12 meeting when they will vote on it.

NEW: A transcript of the recording is available. The transcript is part of a pilot by Franklin Matters using the transcription service provided by Otter.ai https://otter.ai/ 

The meeting opened at 7 PM and ran approx. 2 hours and 35 minutes.

Audio file ->  https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-757-school-cmte-mtg-fy-2023-budget-hearing-03-22-22

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Meeting packet folder ->   https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-committee/pages/march-22-2022-school-committee-meeting-packet 

 

Budget tab (with this proposed budget and prior budgets) ->   https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-district-budget

Meeting transcript ->  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZJGhMT7D0A5kkrWVSB-fvrQgwril-lDX/view?usp=sharing

My notes -> 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/18oZq9R2K7-viFx3WMI5-lcDumfgBdpZf/view?usp=sharing 

Photos captured during the meeting can be found in one album ->   https://photos.app.goo.gl/VgonZCSdb6Jn3EYz9

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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"

 

FY 2023 School Budget hearing (audio & transcript) - 03/22/22

Town Council hears about the storm water utility fee and give first approval (audio & transcript)

FM #753 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 753 in the series. 

This session shares part of the Franklin, MA Town Council meeting held on Wednesday, March 16, 2022. 

The meeting was conducted in a hybrid format: members of the Town Council and Town Administration personnel were in the Council Chambers, some members of the public participated in person, some via the Zoom conference bridge, all to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.

The recording runs about two hours and thirty minutes (2:30 )

The show notes contain links to the meeting agenda. Let’s listen to the Town Council meeting of March 16, 2022

NEW: A transcript of the recording is available. The transcript is part of a pilot by Franklin Matters using the transcription service provided by Otter.ai https://otter.ai/ 

Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-753-town-council-meeting-03-16-22

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Agenda document ->  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/03/franklin-ma-town-council-agenda-march.html 

My notes from the meeting  ->  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1HKbbsQfgbgIjPbUx7DbMGikfrXo2iI68/view?usp=sharing 

Meeting transcript ->  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YLEsQa-LOO7-erEyhrykMhilZUNpTMaI/view?usp=sharing

Photos captured during the meeting many shared via Twitter with my notes
https://photos.app.goo.gl/S3camznuYvK3wYL6A

--------------

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.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"

 

Kate Sjoberg, Derek Adams, and Brutus Cantoreggi presenting on storm water