Town Council moves 4 zoning bylaw changes to 2nd reading and entered into Executive Session before 9 PM (audio)

FM #1715 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, numbers 1715 in the series. 

(L-r) Chloe Bowser, Ted Cormier-Leger

This session shares part of the Franklin (MA) Town Council meeting held on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. The Council held this session as scheduled beginning at 6 PM. 8 members participated, 7 in Chambers, 1 remotely, hence all votes were recorded via roll call. 

The meeting recording runs 2 hours and 27 minutes

Audio link - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1715-franklin-ma-town-council-mtg-04-01-26/

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The Franklin Matters recap -  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/04/town-council-moves-4-zoning-bylaw.html 

The Franklin TV video is available for replay - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N84cGZK_Ua4 

The agenda doc - https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04012026-2229  

My full set of notes in one PDF - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jwviXzblwRVMwA3wkzuZcJlRE3tyZmsI/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!

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

You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"

Catching UP: Town Council Quarterbacking - April 1 session (audio)

FM #1711 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1711 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares our “Town Council Quarterbacking” with Town Councilor Max Morrongiello. We had our conversation in person at the Franklin TV & Radio Studios on Thursday, April 2, 2026. Our conversation condensed the Town Council meeting of Wednesday, April 1, 2026.

We focus on two questions:

• ok, what just happened? 

• What does it mean for Franklin residents and taxpayers?

We cover the following key topics

• Multiple citizen comments; topics covered = Bellingham battery storage, PorchFest, Quatro Eroi celebration events, & School Committee update

• Councilor comments

• Recognition of Chloe Bowser, her essay was one of 12 selected for the commissioning of the new submarine USS Massachusetts 

• 3 public hearings opened together for the MBTA zoning bylaw changes required to bring us to full compliance. Of note, to come into compliance while we did tweak our zoning to fit the requirements, we actually reduced the density that was already permitted for that area. All three proposals after clarification questions were answered moved to a second reading (likely April 15)

• 1 public hearing on the technical changes to the current Crossing Neighborhood District. There were multiple items underway and as the zoning changed were being updated to the town code discrepancy were noted; some sections of a table were left out, some had been updated incorrectly. The changes were approved to move to second reading (also likely for April 15)

• Water & sewer extension approved for an area of Union St (actually to allow the new 5 residence development approved for part of the blueberry farm land) to update the water infrastructure to enable the extension. Funding to be provided by the developer

• Council entered into Executive Session for bargaining not to return to open meeting

The conversation runs about 15 minutes. Let’s listen in

Audio link - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1711-town-council-quarterbacking-april-1-session-04-02-26/

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The Franklin TV video is available for replay - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N84cGZK_Ua4 

The agenda doc - https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04012026-2229  

My full set of notes in one PDF - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jwviXzblwRVMwA3wkzuZcJlRE3tyZmsI/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"

Town Council moves 4 zoning bylaw changes to 2nd reading and entered into Executive Session before 9 PM (video)

The Franklin (MA) Town Council meet in Council Chambers as scheduled on Wednesday, April 1. 8 members participated, 7 in Chambers, 1 remotely, hence all votes were recorded via roll call.

The Franklin TV video is available for replay - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N84cGZK_Ua4

The agenda doc - https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04012026-2229 

My full set of notes in one PDF - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jwviXzblwRVMwA3wkzuZcJlRE3tyZmsI/view?usp=drive_link

Quick recap:

• Multiple citizen comments; topics covered = Bellingham battery storage, PorchFest, Quatro Eroi celebration events, & School Committee update
• Councilor comments
• Recognition of Chloe Bowser, her essay was one of 12 selected for the commissioning of the new submarine USS Massachusetts
• 3 public hearings opened together for the MBTA zoning bylaw changes required to bring us to full compliance. Of note, to come into compliance while we did tweak our zoning to fit the requirements, we actually reduced the density that was already permitted for that area. All three proposals after clarification questions were answered moved to a second reading (likely April 15)
• 1 public hearing on the technical changes to the current Crossing Neighborhood District. There were multiple items underway and as the zoning changed were being updated to the town code discrepancy were noted; some sections of a table were left out, some had been updated incorrectly. The changes were approved to move to second reading (also likely for April 15)
• water & sewer extension approved for an area of Union St (actually to allow the new 5 residence development approved for part of the blueberry farm land) to update the water infrastructure to enable the extension. Funding to be provided by the developer
• Council entered into Executive Session for bargaining not to return to open meeting

Agenda for Franklin (MA) Town Council meeting Wednesday, April 1 - yes, 6 PM

FRANKLIN TOWN COUNCIL

Agenda & Meeting Packet

April 1, 2026 = 6:00 PM

Agenda doc

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_04012026-2229 

Agenda for Franklin (MA) Town Council meeting Wednesday, April 1 - yes, 6 PM 

Councilor Morrongiello provides some quarterbacking insights to the March 4, 2026 meeting (audio)

FM #1689 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 1689 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares our “Town Council Quarterbacking” with Town Councilor Max Morrongiello. We had our conversation in person at the Franklin TV & Radio Studios on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. Our conversation condensed the Town Council meeting of Wednesday, March 4, 2026.

We focus on two questions:

• ok, what just happened? 

• What does it mean for Franklin residents and taxpayers?

We cover the following key topics

• Snow and Ice total at $2.1M which doesn't include the $65K from last night's double coat of salt to counter the ice. This amount will eat into the operations budget as it has already wiped out the snow/Ice stabilization amount

• Ad-hoc subcommittee with 3 Council members will report back with community input on potential charter changes was approved by 9-0 vote

• Appropriating Funds by Borrowing to Pay Costs of Purchasing a Fire Truck for the Fire Department was approved by 9-0 vote.

• $20,000 from special fund for paid parking fees was authorized to pay for the system (2 years worth) and some repairs to one of the kiosks by a 9-0 vote

• 2 zoning bylaws (Zoning Bylaw Amendment 26-948 & Zoning Bylaw Amendment 26-949) were approved to refer to the Planning Board. They will conduct their public hearing and send them back as is, or with comments for adjustments. The Council will then hold their public hearing (possibly in April) before voting on the measures. The new Planning Director Morena Zelaya made the presentation for her first appearance before the Council

• Then they got to the goals discussion. After a lengthy discussion with some tweaks, some cuts, but mostly approval of the goals as presented the Council was able to move to accept the goals as revised at approx. 9:58, approved to waive the reading, voted to approved, and then with seconds to spare, voted to adjourn before 10:00 PM

• Max shared his goals tracking to provide details on the survey and feedback received vs. how that played into the set of goals agreed to by the full Council 

The conversation runs about 34 minutes. Let’s listen in

Audio link -  https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1689-town-council-quarterbacking-with-councilor-morrongiello-03-11-26/

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Add link to goals survey tracking

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/03/town-councilor-morrongiello-resident.html

The Franklin TV video is available for replay  https://youtu.be/3jkYtB5_Y3g?&t=136 

The agenda (and released documents) can be found  https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_03042026-2166 

The thread of my notes captured via Blusky can be found in PDF format - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ONzSiMKofgqw1riOlBPJyqB-Hopo3bcs/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"

2 Part Audio for the Town Council Mtg March 4: authorized fire truck, approved goals, & heard total exp on snow & ice now exceeds $2M (audio)

FM #1684-85 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, numbers 1684-85 in the series. 

This session shares part of the Franklin (MA) Town Council meeting held on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. The Council held this session as scheduled beginning at 6 PM. All 9 Councilors participated for this 4 hour plus session. 

 

• 1684 - The Opening, and all agenda items except the goals which they saved for last  (approx. 2 hrs. 7 mins)  

• 1685 - Discussion on the goals brings them right up to the 4 hour limit which they managed to stay within  (approx. 1 hour and 55 mins)

  

Audio 1684 - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1684-franklin-ma-town-council-mtg-03-04-26-p1-of-2/

Audio 1685 - https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1685-franklin-ma-town-council-mtg-03-04-26-p2-of-2/

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Additional notes on the meeting recap can be found (including link to Franklin TV video) ->

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/03/town-council-authorizes-fire-truck.html 

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Engine 3 is the fire truck authorized to be replaced

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"