Franklin Matters Radio

Steve Sherlock

Details

What matters in Franklin MA - we follow the money sharing Town & School meetings, community events, and interviews to enable an informed resident & voter

Recent Episodes

OCT 2, 2026
FM #1836 - Franklin (MA) Finance Cmte Mtg - 09/23/26
This session shares the Finance Committee meeting conducted Wednesday, September 23, 2026. The Committee meeting opened with 8 members present, 1 absent (LoPresti). Quick recap: The meeting is Zoom only this evening Network issues in the TV studio here as well as on Hutchinson St are preventing the cable and YouTube broadcasts. the recording will be processed after the meeting to be broadcast via cable and YouTube Updated during the session, YouTube did get enabled Votes to re-organize the leadership of the committee Nominations for Chair, one received, Ryan Lavorgna, vote passes 8-0-1 (1 absent) 2 nominations for Vice-chair; Jennifer D'Angelo and Tom Sullivan, vote via roll call, Jen wins One nomination for clerk, Tom Sullivan, the vote is 8-0-1 Michelle Monsegur is introduced as the Deputy TA, she will be taking the lead on the finances allowing Jamie to do other planning and development efforts Discussion on the five year forecast, budget update first view to FinCom altho the Joint Budget did get to see this at their August meeting Health care transition is doing well; there are still funds available for claims processing. claims still coming in but at a lesser amount per week, still may see claims in Feb 2027. Also mentions the 'stop loss' policy to cover claims above a certain amount. Can't really get out of the transition until the next fiscal year. The anti-development message in Franklin has won, the Planning Board is canceling meetings as there is nothing in the pipeline, ZBA also canceling meetings due to lack of proposals Next up, fiscal policies up for review. They should be voted on for an October meeting but this is a time for review, revision if needed. Some are guidelines and not really policies for the flexibility point of view. Add language such that it better defines when the policy can be deviated from Jim Lane provides some of his Franklin story as he is the newest member and what he brings to the Committee Future meetings: Oct 14, Oct 28, and Nov 4, Nov 18 on the tax rate workshops, i.e. split vs single tax rate Joint Budget membership stays the same Motion to adjourn, second, passes 8-0-1 The recording runs about 99 mins, let’s listen -------------- The Franklin TV video is available for replay - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9uWibaiJg9c Agenda doc - https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09232026-2522 My Notes in one PDF - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ApqplmawvhJIaayvRjWK7VqY3Vjj_xd8/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. 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"
99 MIN
OCT 1, 2026
FM #1835 - Children's Museum of Franklin Ribbon Cutting- 09/23/26
This episode shares the audio recording of the ribbon cutting ceremony for the expansion to include 4,000 sq ft of outdoor space at the Children's Museum of Franklin on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. Meg Hagen and Erin Gallagher, founders/co-owners, get the group’s attention. We’re inside the museum as Cottage St is being ground up to repave so being outside for this speaker part of the ceremony would be a problem. They introduce the remaining speakers. After the speakers are complete, we gather outside for the formal ribbon cutting. The recording runs about 17 minutes, let’s listen in -------------- Children’s Museum of Franklin -> https://www.childrensmuseumfranklin.org/ Video of the ribbon cutting - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2glv6mMDYk Photos of the event -> -------------- 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"
17 MIN
SEP 30, 2026
FM #1834 - 250th Anniversary Cmte Update to Town Council - 09/16/26
This session shares key segments of the Franklin (MA) Town Council meeting held on Wednesday, September 16, 2026. The Council held this session as scheduled beginning at 6 PM. 9 members participated in Chambers, 1 left not feeling well. The key segments of the meeting recording are divided into 4 parts Part 1 - Franklin Food Pantry Update - Tina Powderly, Executive Director, Franklin Food Pantry; presentation slides https://photos.app.goo.gl/2f1TjPBcXfMxVthM8 Part 2 - State Rep Roy and Senator Rausch with a legislative update Part 3 - Jen Levine with an update from the SAFE Coalition slides being captured to share via photo album - https://photos.app.goo.gl/1rD2MyGQg6hkdjC97g Part 4 - The 250 anniversary celebration committee, the slides captured https://photos.app.goo.gl/bN3cFQPgHFQLCWm46 Quick Recap: The recap and my notes can be found https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/09/town-council-approve-west-as-police.html ------------ Follow along with the agenda here https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09162026-2512 The full meeting is available via the FRANKLIN TV video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfKg2tTQll8& my notes in one PDF - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WVXQJLaaFx2VZBVvIaNSlHYpN4KVt1PW/view?usp=drive_link Photos of the recognitions and retirements https://photos.app.goo.gl/zj3u5xQ78VKyvEcs6 ------------- 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"
30 MIN
SEP 29, 2026
FM #1833 - SAFE Coalition Update to Town Council - 09/16/26
This session shares key segments of the Franklin (MA) Town Council meeting held on Wednesday, September 16, 2026. The Council held this session as scheduled beginning at 6 PM. 9 members participated in Chambers, 1 left not feeling well. The key segments of the meeting recording are divided into 4 parts Part 1 - Franklin Food Pantry Update - Tina Powderly, Executive Director, Franklin Food Pantry; presentation slides https://photos.app.goo.gl/2f1TjPBcXfMxVthM8 Part 2 - State Rep Roy and Senator Rausch with a legislative update Part 3 - Jen Levine with an update from the SAFE Coalition slides being captured to share via photo album - https://photos.app.goo.gl/1rD2MyGQg6hkdjC97g Part 4 - The 250 anniversary celebration committee, the slides captured https://photos.app.goo.gl/bN3cFQPgHFQLCWm46 Quick Recap: The recap and my notes can be found https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/09/town-council-approve-west-as-police.html ------------ Follow along with the agenda here https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09162026-2512 The full meeting is available via the FRANKLIN TV video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfKg2tTQll8& my notes in one PDF - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WVXQJLaaFx2VZBVvIaNSlHYpN4KVt1PW/view?usp=drive_link Photos of the recognitions and retirements https://photos.app.goo.gl/zj3u5xQ78VKyvEcs6 ------------- 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"
57 MIN
SEP 28, 2026
FM #1832 - Rep Roy & Senator Rausch Update to Town Council - 09/16/26
This session shares key segments of the Franklin (MA) Town Council meeting held on Wednesday, September 16, 2026. The Council held this session as scheduled beginning at 6 PM. 9 members participated in Chambers, 1 left not feeling well. The key segments of the meeting recording are divided into 4 parts Part 1 - Franklin Food Pantry Update - Tina Powderly, Executive Director, Franklin Food Pantry; presentation slides https://photos.app.goo.gl/2f1TjPBcXfMxVthM8 Part 2 - State Rep Roy and Senator Rausch with a legislative update Part 3 - Jen Levine with an update from the SAFE Coalition slides being captured to share via photo album - https://photos.app.goo.gl/1rD2MyGQg6hkdjC97g Part 4 - The 250 anniversary celebration committee, the slides captured https://photos.app.goo.gl/bN3cFQPgHFQLCWm46 Quick Recap: The recap and my notes can be found https://www.franklinmatters.org/2026/09/town-council-approve-west-as-police.html ------------ Follow along with the agenda here https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_09162026-2512 The full meeting is available via the FRANKLIN TV video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UfKg2tTQll8& my notes in one PDF - https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WVXQJLaaFx2VZBVvIaNSlHYpN4KVt1PW/view?usp=drive_link Photos of the recognitions and retirements https://photos.app.goo.gl/zj3u5xQ78VKyvEcs6 ------------- 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"
91 MIN