Franklin (MA) Matters

Sarah Amaral, Director, Franklin Senior Center with an update that the center will open on Wednesday, March 19. The second floor will NOT be available so some programs/events will shift within the building

This session shares my conversation with School Committee Chairperson Dave Callaghan. This is a new episode of our continuing “Chalkboard Chat” series. We had our discussion virtually via Zoom on Thursday, March 13, 2025. We had the opportunity to recap the Joint Budget Listening Sessions and the School Committee meeting of March 11, 2025. We cover Recognition of multiple sets of students for accomplishments in (arts, writing, painting, ceramics), and for those in the DECA program who were State championsThe redistricting facility update was talked about. The doc itself was posted on Wednesday. It lays out the process in 3 phases of immediate, near term, and long term apparently in detail.The Transportation update was good, ultimately while some more students are expected to ride the bus, with the redistricting, travel times should be improved, and potential for 2 less buses remains. Now, this is a model based upon current students in the district. The key will be the bus enrollment/payment process

Sarah Amaral, Franklin Senior Center Director, with the robocall message about the extension of the closure. The Center will reopen March 19, and no events other than the van schedule will be held. The Party had been rescheduled to Thursday, March 20.

This session shares the last of the 6 Joint Budget Listening Sessions held Wednesday, March 12, 2025 at the FHS Auditorium. 10 of the 11 members participated along with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen & School Supt Lucas Giguere.Quick recap:Brief statements by TA Hellen and Supt Giguere opened the session before going to the audience for questions and comments. Approx 100 folks in the audience this evening, a mix of town staff, school dept and teachers, and residents10 members of the Joint Budget Subcmte present on the stage along with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen and School Superintendent Lucas GiguereA dozen folks asked questions, some more than 1; some got long answers, some got short answersthe Subcommittee gets their say one at a time (beginning approx 9:15 PM), then after hearing the majority for the 3.8 number with some for a pyramid (also adding a higher #, 4.9 possibly)Motion for the $3863,672, seconded and then after discussion it passes by a 9-1 vote (1 voting no, O'Sullivan)Motion for

This session shares the Franklin (MA) School Committee meeting held on Tuesday, March 11, 2025. 6 members participated, 5 in Council Chambers.1 remote (Charles), 1 absent (Griffith). Quick recapRecognition of multiple sets of students for accomplishments in (arts, writing, painting, ceramics), and for those in the DECA program who were State championsThe redistricting facility update was talked about. The doc itself will be posted on Wednesday. It lies out the process in 3 phases of immediate, near term, and long term apparently in detail. The pix captured of the doc shown on the screen during the time shown didn't allow for sufficient evaluation.The Transportation update was good, ultimately while some ore students are expected to ride the bus, with the redistricting, travel times should be improved, and potential for 2 less buses remains. Now, this is a model based upon current students in the district. The key will be the bus enrollment/payment process beginning in April, that closes at the end of sch

This session shares my conversation with Dr. Tina Rogers, Assistant Superintendent for Teaching & Learning; Dr. Timothy Frazier, Director of Curriculum ELA & SS; and Eric Stark, Director of Curriculum STEM. We had our discussion in person in the Franklin Public Schools Central District offices on Thursday, March 6, 2025. We cover Middle School math curriculum changesUniversal design, and tiered supportOverall curriculum evaluation plan and processesExcitement of synergies coming with the redistrictingThe recording runs about 50 minutes, so let’s listen in.--------------Teaching & Learning contact informationhttps://www.franklinps.net/page/teaching-and-learningThe Middle School math update presentation to the School Committee Jan 28, 2025https://core-docs.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/documents/asset/uploaded_file/4780/FPSD/5247238/January_28__2025_MS_Math_Update_to_SC_for_Website.pdf-------------We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm)

This session of the radio show shares the audio recording of my conversation with Leah Wahrhaftig-Jeri and Katherine Kellett, both teachers at Franklin High School. We had our conversation at the Franklin TV Studio on Monday, March  3, 2025.  Katherine Kellett, Teacher - EnglishLeah Wahrhaftig-Jeri, Teacher - World LanguageWe cover their road to Franklin and FHSWe talk about the joy in teachingAnd the issues faced with continued budget cutsOnly one language to be offered at the middle schoolReduces the total of language classes High School graduates can carry forward to collegeText book & curriculum cuts challenge the appropriate delivery of curriculumLoss of shared intellectual capital with colleagues cut due to budgetLanguage lab is a resource heavily utilized and will no longer available (per budget)Struggle to attract and retain substitute teachersRipple effects for curriculum coverage that is lost and how that affects students and the next year’s teachers for that subjectThe recording

This session shares the Joint Budget Listening Session held Saturday, March 8, 2025 Council Chambers. 8 of the 10 members participated along with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen & School Supt Lucas Giguere.Brief statements by TA Hellen and Supt Giguere opened the session before going to the audience for questions and comments. More than 14 folks stepped up to comment or ask a question, some multiple questions. Felicia Oti, Library Director spoke to the work being done by the Library.Link to the Town page with the budget materials for both Town and School sides https://www.franklinma.gov/Archive.aspx?ADID=500 The recording runs about 2 hours 7 minutes , so let’s listen in.--------------Franklin TV video for viewing -> https://www.youtube.com/live/LlUDdpZqkNg?&t=13 My notes captured during the sessionhttps://drive.google.com/file/d/1wBaFVj9_9K0Rj1z23CGl2--vaO0QsoIn/view?usp=drive_link Updated FY 2026 budget document -> https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/4593/2025-03-05-

This session shares the Franklin (MA) Town Council Meeting of Wednesday, March 5, 2025. All 9 of the members participated in Council Chambers.  The audio is in 2 sections:Part 1 - the beginning and the ending (1 hour 40 mins)Part 2 - the FY 2026 preliminary budget review & discussion (2 hours)Quick recap:Part 1 - non budgetPolice officer Steven Dejoie sworn in replacing Officer Lawrence who had retired a couple of months agoA string quartet of FHS students played a brief piece as part of a recognition of their music achievements which also resulted in a formal proclamation of their accomplishments. Many other students recognized were in the audience as wellDan Sherman provided the annual update on the town progress towards funding their OPEB liability. We are in good stead, better off than many other MA communities. We will do better once the Norfolk Retirement liability is paid off (2035ish) and that amount of funding can be shifted to the OPEB liability to advance the payoff scheduleApproval f

This session shares the Franklin (MA) Town Council Meeting of Wednesday, March 5, 2025. All 9 of the members participated in Council Chambers.  The audio is in 2 sections:1 - the beginning and the ending (1 hour 40 mins)2 - the FY 2026 preliminary budget review & discussion (2 hours)Quick recap:Part 1 - non budgetPolice officer Steven Dejoie sworn in replacing Officer Lawrence who had retired a couple of months agoA string quartet of FHS students played a brief piece as part of a recognition of their music achievements which also resulted in a formal proclamation of their accomplishments. Many other students recognized were in the audience as wellDan Sherman provided the annual update on the town progress towards funding their OPEB liability. We are in good stead, better off than many other MA communities. We will do better once the Norfolk Retirement liability is paid off (2035ish) and that amount of funding can be shifted to the OPEB liability to advance the payoff scheduleApproval for easemen

This session of the radio show shares our “Town Council Quarterbacking” with Town Council Chair Tom Mercer. We had our conversation via the Zoom Conference Bridge on Thursday, March 6, 2025.  Our conversation condenses the three recent meetings:Police Station Building Cmte Mtg - 02/25/25Town Council meeting - 2/26/25Town Council meeting - 3/05/25 We focus on two questions:• ok, what just happened? • What does it mean for Franklin residents and taxpayers?Topics for this sessionPolice Station Building Committee 2/25/25Team together and starting work; No site chosen, no design or estimates other than rough ballparks; Site visits planned to see others recently done; Open houses planned to enable the community to see inside; Video also planned to share views/walkthrough, website with info being built; Likely at east 2 years before some firm details, estimates, sometime after a decision on building vote or notTown Council meeting 2/26/25ALS/BLS ambulance fee increase approvedDid get confirmation

This session of the radio show shares the Art Pharmacy Community Conversation held at THE BLACK BOX on March 5, 2025. Cory Shea, Director of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy opened the event with 3 panelists who made brief presentations and then participated in a Q&A session.Panelists:Michael Bobbitt, Mass Cultural CouncilEmily Devlin, Art PharmacyAmy Friguiletti, Deputy Town AdministratorThe Q&A session of this is not shared, the audio quality was not sufficient.The presentation portion of the event runs about 35 minutes, so let’s listen to overview of Art Pharmacy and how the Town of Franklin will be the first community to use their Opioid Settlement funds to  use this--------------** Presentation by Michael Bobbitt -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_g76jrwROR3wWehzLD5mDxrWk3zhk8Uo/view?usp=drive_linkMass Cultural Council press release on Art Pharmacy -> https://massculturalcouncil.org/blog/introducing-the-first-statewide-social-prescribing-solution-in-the-u-s/ Mass Cultural

This session of the radio show shares the audio recording of my conversation with Gary Premo, Executive Director of the Metacomet Emergency Communication Center (MECC). We had our conversation at the MECC on Wednesday, February 26, 2025.  Gary provides his backgroundOperations at the MECCWhat to expect when you call 911Growth and possible expansionThe meeting runs about 20 minutes, so let’s listen to my conversation with Gary on emergency dispatch operations.--------------Metacomet Emergency Communication Center home page https://www.meccdispatch.org/ Member communities -> https://www.meccdispatch.org/home/pages/visit-our-member-communities Facebook page -> https://www.facebook.com/meccdispatch --------------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 h

This session shares my conversation with Sarah Amaral, Director and Ariel Doggett, Programming & Volunteer Coordinator with the Franklin Senior Center. We had our discussion virtually via Zoom on Friday, February 28, 2025.We talk about The Listening Session March 4 at 9:30 AM (free breakfast)The closure begins at 1:00 PM on March 4Many (but not all programs) have an alternate site beginning March 5Keep in touch via the newsletter, social media accounts, and if necessary, call the CenterKey special events when the center reopensFire Dept St Patrick’s lunch date to be determinedLunches available at Tri-County during the closure, need to call day before except for March 14, which will be a box lunch picked up at the Municipal Bldg (also need to call day before)The show notes include links to the Senior Center page, the calendar of events and to subscribe to the monthly newsletter. The recording runs about 23 minutes, so let’s listen in.--------------Franklin Senior Center page ->  http

This session shares the Joint Budget Listening Session held Tuesday, March 4, 2025 at the Franklin Senior Center. 8 of the 10 members participated along with Town Administrator Jamie Hellen & School Supt Lucas Giguere.Brief statements by TA Hellen and Supt Giguere opened the session before going to the audience for questions and comments. More than 20 folks stepped up to comment or ask a question, some multiple questions. Both Police Chief Lynch and Fire Cheif McLaughlin spoke to their budget risks. Sarah Amaral, Senior Center Director spoke to the work being done by the center.Link to the Town page with the budget materials for both Town and School sideshttps://www.franklinma.gov/Archive.aspx?ADID=500 As of today, $3.8M short, got a slight update with the preview of the preliminary budget being presented to the Town Council Wednesday, March 5.The recording runs about 2 hours 30 minutes , so let’s listen in.--------------Franklin TV video for viewing -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCbOgOSGCAI&

This session of the radio show shares the audio recording of the Ad Hoc committee for the Town Administrators Review. The meeting was held on Thursday, February 27, 2025 in the Council Chambers. Subcommittee Chair Ted Cormier-Leger opens the meeting. Councilors Melanie Hamblen and Glenn Jones participate. Town Administrator Jamie Hellen and many Town department heads are also present and contribute to this session.Quick recap:Exemplary performance review; Area for improvement to be mindful of verbiage, tone, in public meetings, emails, etc. Be better able to step back and help us all be betterIn lieu of reading the draft review doc, they walked through some of the sections to pick out key points and allowed Jamie to elaborate on the development of the individual items touting what he (and the town staff) did to complete the itemMany of the department managers were present and added comments for their review of JamieThe meeting runs about 1 hour & 55 minutes, so let’s listen to the Ad Hoc committee fo

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 actionBylaw 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 aboveBylaw Amendment 25-926: Amendment to Water System Map (Raymond St.) - First Reading - Water to go along with the sewer

This session of the radio show shares the audio recording of the Economic Development Subcommittee meeting on Wednesday, February 26, 2025 in Council Chambers. All 4 members of the subcommittee participated in Chambers (Hamblen, Sheridan, Frongillo & Chandler).Quick recapThe meeting started and then restarted to get to the correct Zoom link so a few minutes were repeated for some on the video recording and net new for others on the proper Zoom link. This audio recording only includes from the restartThe shared kitchen definition and addition to the use tables for commercial (not residential) zones was discussed, clarified, and then moved to bring to the Town Council by a 4-0 voteThe naming of the Crossing Neighborhood District and the minor additions was agreed to in concept but after discussion determined that it is an opportunity to do more with than "just renaming". Especially with the Master Plan approved, some of those items can be considered for implementation hereMotion to adjourn, passes 4-0 

This session shares the audio of the Police Station Building Committee (PSBC) meeting on Tuesday, Feb 25, 2025. This is the first meeting of 2025. The full project team, OPM, and architects provided an overview of the process and what next steps were starting. Quick recap:Discussion on how many 3 or 4 open houses for public to visit the station to see the existing conditions and need for new spaceDiscussion on how many site visits to other new police facilities, likely 3 so at least the committee members could try and make at least 2 of the 3Presentation on template of project webpage, still in draft, discussion around what to add to it Discussion around the video walk through to be coordinated by Steve Sherlock/Franklin TV. Would enable residents who can’t make the open houses to still see the situation. Discussion on 3 sites, one just rose along Grove St but won’t be considered further as it is too small. Davis Thayer and Parmenter remain currently under evaluationTown administrator Jamie Hel

This session shares the Franklin (MA) School Committee Legislative Forum held on Monday, Feb 24, 2025. The Forum was held in the FHS Lecture Hall and broadcast via cable, Zoom, and to YouTube by Franklin TV. The audio of that recording is available here as a podcast. School Committee Chair Dave Callaghan was host, welcomed Superintendent Lucas Giguere who provided a briefing on the school redistricting and school budget.Chair Callaghan turned to the legislative delegation, Senator Becca Rausch and State Representative Jeff Roy for their opening remarks before getting into some prepared questions. After the prepared questions, the audience was allowed to ask questions or make comments.The recording runs about 1 hour & 55 minutes, so let’s listen in.--------------The Franklin TV video is available for replay here -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuUN6giRqc0 The agenda doc can be found -> https://ma-franklin.civicplus.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_02242025-1582 My full se