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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
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 *
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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
Yes, Franklin has it's own radio station -> wfpr.fm. Franklin Public Radio introduced a brand new schedule early in 2025 for the locally produced shows that fill our air waves.
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| Franklin Public Radio - wfpr.fm Schedule for Wednesday |
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| Franklin Public Radio - wfpr.fm schedule for Friday |
8:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 6:00 PM - Franklin Matters Radio – Steve Sherlock covering Franklin, its local government, services, and events
9:00 AM, 2:00 PM, and 7:00 PM
10:00 AM, 3:00 PM, and 8:00 PM - Talkin’ the Blues – Jim Derick & Nick Remissong. 2 hours of awesome blues music, info, interviews Showcasing the "Blues" as a basis for and influence of Country, Jazz and Rock and Roll, here and worldwide.
11:00 AM, 4:00 PM, and 9:00 PM - “The Vibe” show plays music for everyone searching for some enjoyment, some dance, a happy or thinking mood, and most importantly, having fun. Tune in to wfpr.fm and listen to “DJ Vibe” spin music across many genres and join this new vibing experience
Get this week's program guide for Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) online http://franklin.tv/programguide.pdf
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| Have you seen the Town of Franklin annual water quality report ??? |
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| hydrant flushing in action on Cottage St |
Via The Guardian, we can read:
"As the Trump administration dismisses global heating, the coastal city is getting on with becoming one of the most climate resilient in the world. Here’s howPatrick Devine, a captain for Boston Harbor City Cruises, shows me on his phone the scenes here in September 2024. The water was ankle-deep outside the door to his office on Long Wharf, one of the US city’s oldest piers, obscuring the pavements and walkways, surging into buildings and ruining vehicles in the car parks. “It just gets worse and worse each year,” says Devine, who has worked here, on and off, since 1995. “I’ve gotten used to it, so it’s just knowing your way around it.”Much of Boston has got used to this. Devine has his own supply of sandbags now, for example. Next door to his office is the Chart House restaurant – when Long Wharf flooded last September, customers merrily sat at outside tables, holding their feet above the waterline, as servers with black bin bags for trousers waded over to bring them their lunches. The restaurant’s floor level is lower than that of the wharf, so the water came up to knee level in some areas. “It’s just part of business,” says one waiter, as he points out how the plug sockets are all at waist height. The place has flooded three times in the year he’s worked here. “We just clean it up, squeeze it out, open the doors, dry it out. It is what it is.”
A waiter at Chart House restaurant in Boston
Teaching your children to be water smart is the first step in water safety – be sure they understand the importance of asking permission before going in or near the water.
When children swim, ensure they are actively supervised at all times. Teach your children that they should only swim in locations where a lifeguard is on duty, or where a responsible adult agrees to watch the children in the water without distractions.
Whether it’s bath time or taking a dip in a pool or waterfront, make sure your children are within arm’s reach at all times.
Children should not hold their breath for a prolonged amount of time while swimming, as this can be dangerous.
Inexperienced or non-swimmers should always wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket while in or around the water.
If a child finds their friend in deep water unexpectedly, their natural reaction may be to jump in the water to try and save them. Even if a child is a great swimmer, a panicked person will overpower them, pulling the rescuer under water. The Y’s Safety Around Water program teaches the “reach, throw, don’t go” concept of using a long object to reach for them, and pull them to safety. By using this technique, children can help their friend without compromising their own safety.
Water safety isn’t just during swim time. Know the five layers of protection which include: barriers & alarms, supervision, water competency, life jackets and emergency preparation. You never know which layer will save a life.
Training in lifesaving skills such as lifeguarding and CPR presents opportunities for us all to take greater responsibility for ourselves and others. The Hockomock Area YMCA offers lifeguard and CPR training programs with full certification. We also babysitting courses and first aid training. The Hockomock Y is offering lifeguard certification courses. Visit www.hockymca.org and select Register for Programs.
The Hockomock Area YMCA is an organization of men, women, and children sharing a commitment to nurture the potential of kids, promote healthy living, and foster a sense of social responsibility.Our YMCA is committed to partnering and collaborating with others to create and deliver lasting personal and social change in the 15 communities we are privileged to serve. The Hockomock Area YMCA is a not-for-profit charitable cause-driven organization with facilities in North Attleboro, Foxboro, Franklin, and Mansfield. For more information visit www.hockymca.org/our-cause/
My notes captured during the meeting via Twitter
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ocIK4PjauaMMklMFVxkybmp4eTf5716K/view?usp=drive_link
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
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| Franklin TV video for replay of meeting -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GoNPkBHRLzI |
Via DPW Water & Sewer Division
Fix your flapper "Household leaks waste nearly 10,000 gallons of water per year on average, or the amount of water it takes to wash 300 loads of laundry!
For Fix a Leak Week we will be posting five simple steps for five minutes per day to save water all year long!
If you have questions about your usage, go to https://franklinma.watersmart.com/ to find your answers!"
FM #1391 This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1391 in the series.
This session shares the Franklin (MA) Town Council Meeting of Wednesday, February 26, 2025. 8 of the members participated in Council Chambers, 1 was absent (Dellorco).
Quick recap:
Going right to legislation for action
Bylaw Amendment 25-924: A Bylaw to Amend the Code of the Town of Franklin at Chapter 82, Fees, Municipal Service - Second Reading; Motion to waive reading, passes - Motion to approve, second, vote via roll call passes 8-0-1 (1 absent)
Resolution 25-05: Free Cash To Stabilization Accounts Transfers Motion to approve, second - Discussion had been part of the capital budget review by FinCom and Capital budget subcmte but not yet set here for approval - Passes 8-0-1 (1 absent)
Bylaw Amendment 25-925: Amendment to Sewer System Map (Raymond St.) - First Reading - Last parcel on the road to extend this to. Motion to move to second reading, passes 8-0-1 (1 absent) Related to the above
Bylaw Amendment 25-926: Amendment to Water System Map (Raymond St.) - First Reading - Water to go along with the sewer as noted, motion to move to second reading, passes 8-0-1 (1 absent)
Resolution 25-11: Cable Funds in Support of PEG Service and Programming per MGL Ch. 44 §53F3/4 - Motion to waive reading, passes 8-0-1; Motion to approve, second, passes 8-0-1 (1 absent)
Town Administrator's Report
March 5 preliminary FY 2026 budget update coming Traditional slide show, and updates
Mirchi withdrew the alcohol liquor license application
Did get confirmation from the Commonwealth, August 31, Best Western will be closed to the emergency shelter program; Jamie still gets emails etc. and blame us for the town role which was not our choice, it was totally a state decision and effort, thanks to the residents and organizations for handling this under the circumstances
Motion to enter executive session, not to return to open meeting
Motion, second, passes via roll 8-0-1 (1 Absent)
Let’s listen to the meeting recording which runs about 2 hours and 45 minutes. Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1391-franklin-ma-town-council-mtg-02-26-25/
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My expanded notes -> https://docs.google.com/document/d/10yE_Dj5dIlYdzyYou4cZhh5AD4kJL0JZOGgg0BDuOfA/edit?usp=drive_link
Franklin TV video is ready for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cbkmz3G_q6Y
The Agenda doc and most materials released for this session ->
https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02262025-1602
My notes captured during the meeting in one PDF file -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1aFS-kA1Xy3rCoN2v-1H8-wbGw6nlI21m/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"
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| Franklin TV video is ready for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cbkmz3G_q6Y |