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 *
Wednesday, May 17, 2023
Override & debt exclusion info in the archives
Tuesday, May 16, 2023
the budget season, Franklin's quality of life, and more are discussed in this episode of Talk Franklin (audio)
FM #997 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 997 in the series.
This session of the radio show shares my "Talk Franklin" session with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen. We had our conversation via Zoom on Thursday, May 11, 2023.
Topics for this session
Budget season FY 2024
Finance Committee budget hearings held May 8, 10, & 11
Town Council hearings scheduled for May 24 & 25
Quality of life
Town role vs community role for “O” (override) word
The recording runs about 27 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Jamie on Thursday, May 11, 2023
Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-997-talk-franklin-05-11-23
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Town FY 2024 budget page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/town-budget/webforms/fy-24-budget-materials
Town Administrator page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/administrator
Talk Franklin podcast page -> https://anchor.fm/letstalkfranklin
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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!
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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"
the budget season, Franklin's quality of life, and more are discussed in this episode of Talk Franklin (audio) |
Sunday, February 5, 2023
Town Council approves all alcohol license, hears of Tri-County building plans, ok's purchase of Tower truck, & more (audio)
This session of the radio show shares the Town Council meeting held in Council Chambers on Wednesday, February 1, 2023. All 9 members of the Council were present in the Council Chambers.
Quick recap:
New firefighter/paramedic Kristin Krauss was sworn in. William Blanchard, was sworn in for his promotion to EMS Battalion Chief
The 'plus one' all alcohol license request approved in October to send to the Legislature did get the home rule petition passed and came back for Council approval. Confusion around a public hearing and several objections from neighbors and nearby business swayed only one Councilor as the measure passed 8-1
Tri-county Regional Voc Tec representatives told the community of the plans underway to build a new school which will require an override vote likely in October. Numbers are still being worked to get to a potential MSBA approval in August and then the vote in October. Stay tuned - from the MSBA decision date, Tri-County has 120 days to get a vote by the regional communities.
The Council authorized the purchase of a new Tower truck for the Fire Dept. The loan won't start until the truck arrives which could be 2-3 years from now. Due to that timing, it was urgent to get the order in now to avoid further costs, and to ensure we have support for the existing unit, which is a critical piece of equipment for the Departments emergency response
The recording runs 2 and 38 minutes. Let’s listen to the Town Council meeting on February 1, 2023. Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-934-franklin-ma-town-council-mtg-02-01-23
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The full agenda can be found -> https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif6896/f/agendas/feb_1_2023_town_council_agenda.pdf
The Franklin TV video is available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/live/-AQpq8GSvi4?feature=share
My notes taken during the meeting can be found -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MLzZ-p3wLBMFVmnHUHuxzl3xdT0jWQO6/view?usp=share_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
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"
Wednesday, December 7, 2022
Talking about "Train Town Franklin" with Scott Mason (audio)
FM #892 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 892 in the series.
This shares my conversation with current Historical Commission member Scott Mason. Scott is a former three term Town Councilor with a lifelong passion for model railroads.
Scott is designing and building a diorama of the uptown area of the Franklin train station, circa 1932 for this first phase. Our conversation via conference bridge explores some of his Franklin story and then gets into the development of this first of a series of dioramas. We talk about the research, interesting findings, decisions on scale, etc.
The exhibit is scheduled to open Dec 18, 2022 and run through Feb 2, 2023 at the Historical Museum. The museum is open on Saturdays (10 AM to 1 PM), and Sundays (1 PM to 4 PM) during winter.
Our conversation runs about 30 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Scott and his work on “Train Town Franklin” recorded Dec 5, 2022
Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-892-train-town-franklin-with-scott-mason-12-05-22
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Historical Museum notification on "Train Town Franklin"
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/12/train-town-franklin-scheduled-to-arrive.html
Scott’s model railroad page on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/people/wwwScottyMasoncom/100063840514784/
The Heather McCarron article in Dec 2007 on “Model railroads are Mason's passion’ (subscription may be required)
https://www.milforddailynews.com/story/news/2007/12/23/model-railroads-are-mason-s/41390388007/
From deep in the archives, my prior recordings with Scott
Sep 2009 https://www.franklinmatters.org/2009/09/fm-46-scott-mason.html
June 2010 (prep for override vote - which failed) 50 minutes split into 2 parts https://www.franklinmatters.org/2010/05/fm-69-scott-mason-part-1-of-2.html
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2010/05/fm-69-b-scott-mason-part-2-of-2.html
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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 your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"
Monday, November 8, 2021
Happy anniversary Franklin Matters! Goodbye Facebook! (audio)
Let’s celebrate your readership (and growing numbers of readers) as we enter November 2021.
It was only in November 2007 that FranklinMatters.org came into existence. I had started reporting on Franklin about two years prior, and as the override vote became a reality, during 2007 my reporting increased to cover it. There had been talk of getting it on the ballot and then all the informational meetings began to prepare for the vote when it was set for May 22, 2007.
After the vote passed, I continued to report on what was happening and my ‘regular’ readers began complaining about ‘this Franklin stuff’ that was taking me away from other topics I had been writing about. Hence, plans began for a new page. As the 2007 local election was also scheduled for November, I decided to make the switch after the election and begin preparing the new page for that introduction.
The Facebook page was added in 2010 and will be deleted at the end of November 2021. There was life before Facebook, and there will be life after the Franklin Matters page goes away from Facebook.
So to be clear, while the Franklin Matters feed to Facebook will go away, Franklin Matters will not.
My commitment will continue to be providing timely and accurate information to all interested. I will continue to ‘follow the money’ focusing on the School Committee, Finance Committee, and Town Council meetings. In my current retirement lifestyle, some of the extra time I have, can then be applied to expanding my reporting to include the quality of life items that ‘following the money’ provides for us.
The content will continue to be text based with appropriate links to the supporting or source documents. Audio will be made available when practical. Photos will be shared. Multiple social media channels will help spread the information to where you can find it. Except that Facebook will not be part of our journey forward.
Email is the best source. One email daily with all that matters.
Twitter will continue to be used for sharing the individual items as well as for capturing my notes during meetings or events. The podcast will share the audio files of meetings and interviews.
Integration with Franklin TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) will continue. Someday, not too far away, there will be one page with three views to “Watch, Listen, and Read” all of Franklin’s information.
Franklin TV and the three channels will be the “Watch” view
Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) will be the “Listen”
last but not least, to help tie them all together will be Franklin Matters as the “Read’ view
It does take two to tango, so you have a role to play as we take this journey together to keep informed on what matters in Franklin. What do you need to do? I am glad you asked.
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 reading, listening, and asking questions.
My ‘radar’ is pretty good but not perfect. So if you want to know something, don’t be bashful. Ask. Send me an email, or use Twitter. You can also use Facebook messenger. I will still participate on Facebook primarily to keep up with family connections so you can use that if you choose.
I also host a monthly “Franklin Matters Q&A” event. It is usually hybrid. I’ll be in person at the Senior Center with a Zoom link to enable remote participation. It provides some time for a quick overview of what’s current and time for in depth Q&A to answer your questions.
Let me close with this is my public service effort for Franklin because I believe Franklin matters. If you do too, then we are on this journey together.
Audio file -> https://player.captivate.fm/episode/28cb4f2e-5832-4c3e-b588-b927519bff91
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If you need or want help setting up one of the options to remain 'in the know' , sign up here -> https://forms.gle/x4gWma8PgrmDD1i66
You can find all the archives for the Override Vote in 2007 on my personal blog https://steves2cents.blogspot.com/2007/04/franklin-override-collection.html
All the posts for the Election Collection in 2007 are also there
https://steves2cents.blogspot.com/2007/11/franklin-election-2007.html
Fall house cleaning
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2021/10/welcome-little-fall-house-cleaning-is.html
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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"
Saturday, November 21, 2020
FM #393 Town Council candidate - Greg Chiklis - 11/17/20 (audio)
This shares my interview and discussion with Town Council candidate Greg Chiklis. Our discussion was conducted via conference bridge to adhere to the ‘social distancing’ requirements of this pandemic period.
Franklin, MA voters should be aware that there will be a special election (per Town Charter) to fill the seat recently vacated by Eamon McCarthy Earls. He left at the beginning of Sept to enter law school in Virginia. The special election is scheduled for Saturday, December 5, 2020 to meet the 90 day requirement of the Charter.
Greg chose to tell his story in his way and along the course of the discussion we did touch on all the questions to provide a fair set of information for the Franklin voters.
- By way of introducing yourself to the Franklin voters, what is your Franklin story?
- The Community Preservation Act is on the November ballot, what do you think of it?
- What degree of development do you feel is appropriate for Franklin and how would you balance the need for affordable housing with the need to avoid congestion, some of which we already have?
- The Town Administrator suggested in 2019 that Franklin needed to consider an override measure. The pandemic hit, that didn’t happen. The water rate and trash/recycling rate increased. Stormwater utility fee is up for consideration for implementation on/about July 2021. And yet, the operational budget both school and town side of the budget is challenged. How do you approach this financial situation?
- What do you say to the voter who asks: Why should I vote for you?
- Anything else to add that we did not cover?
And Contact info grchik0712@gmail.com , Phone = 774 291-9544
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
For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/
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"