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 via the Zoom conference bridge on Thursday, May  9, 2024. We talk about The redistricting proposal scheduled for May 14 voteThe school budget & the override scheduled for June 11And we close with a recognition of mothers on this Mother’s Day weekend.The recording runs about 30 minutes, so let’s listen in.--------------Contact info for Dave Callaghan -> [email protected]  School Committee page => https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-committee  School budget ->  https://www.franklinps.net/district/school-district-budget/pages/1-fy2025-budget Redistricting page -> https://www.franklinps.net/district/comprehensive-school-facilities-assessment -------------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 neighborsIf you don't like something here, please let me knowThrough 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 comThe 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"

This session of the radio show shares the Franklin, MA Finance Committee budget hearing, the second of 3 sessions conducted on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. The 3rd session is scheduled for May 15, 2024. Then the Town Council does their budget hearing over 2 nights, May 22 & May 23. The departmental budgets covered were:Public Safety:210 Police Department220 Fire Department225 Regional Dispatch240 Inspection Department292 Animal Controlb. Department of Public Works (DPW):Departments: 422 Public WorksEnterprise Funds:450 Water440 Sewer434 Solid Waste460 StormwaterThe meeting runs about 1 and 20 minutes. Let’s listen to the second of 3 budget hearings.--------------The Franklin TV video is available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/live/kRJStUo28Q8?si=YQQ8EPTnnAz3XMJe&t=61 The agenda doc ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/_2024-05-08_finance_committee_agenda_.pdf Follow along with the budget voting doc ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/fy25_ta_budget_book_v2.pdf --------------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 neighborsIf you don't like something here, please let me knowThrough this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.For additional information, please visit www.franklin.news/ or  www.Franklinmatters.org/ If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot comThe 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"

This session shares my conversation with Mitzi Gousie, Programming and Outreach Librarian with the Franklin Public Library. We had our discussion at the Franklin TV Studios on Wednesday, April 24, 2024.We talk about Reviewed the regular open hours, and month ending holiday timesLibrary events for May 2024Special eventsKiddos, or “littles”FamilyAdultsThe show notes include links to the Library page and to the calendar of events where registration for some of the events is required/recommended..The recording runs about 20 minutes, so let’s listen in.--------------Mitzi Gousie’s email -> [email protected] Franklin Public Library page ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/franklin-public-library May Newsletter -> https://www.franklinma.gov/franklin-public-library/news/may-2024-franklin-library-news-events Library Calendar of Events ->  http://www.eventkeeper.com/mars/xpages/F/FRANKLIN/ekp.cfm -------------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 neighborsIf you don't like something here, please let me knowThrough 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 comThe 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"

This session of the radio show shares the Franklin, MA Finance Committee budget hearing, the first of 3 sessions conducted on Monday, May 6, 2024.  The 2nd session is scheduled for May 8, the 3rd and final session scheduled for May 15, 2024. Then the Town Council does their budget hearing over 2 nights, May 22 & May 23.Quick recap:minutes of the April meeting moved to May 15 meeting for approvaldiscussion on the override and pledge doc, led to approval by 8-0-1 (1 absent, Grace)  vote via roll callCommittee then proceeded line by line through the departments, some questions raised, answered, some departments not questioned (Recreation for example touted as a 'net zero,' everything they are allocated for they return in fees raised)discussion on net school spending, how some budget expenses are on the Town side, some on the school side, all does get rolled up into net school spending annually by DESE with reporting from Town and School. The FY 2023 net school spending report coincidentally I had downloaded in answer to a question last week. The link is provided below The conversation runs about 2 and a quarter hours. Let’s listen to the first of 3 budget hearings.--------------The Franklin TV video is available for replay -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gUpsku8VOg The agenda doc ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/fin_com_agenda_may_6.pdf Follow along with the budget voting doc ->   https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/fy25_ta_budget_book_v2.pdf My notes captured in one PDF ->   https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xUBq2dVYhvNtq8VA3dREQESDo3U4awWM/view?usp=drive_link The net school spending report for Franklin (so yes this does include charter school students) ->  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-flBF-M1oNTIzcOTMjc7CDmYR9QEkWt2/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 neighborsIf you don't like something here, please let me knowThrough this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.For additional information, please visit www.franklin.news/ or  www.Franklinmatters.org/ If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot comThe music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael...

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Ted McIntyre, Franklin resident and climate activist. We met to record in the Franklin TV & Public Radio studio on Tuesday, April 30, 2024.  We continued making sense of climate by working through a listing of article links accumulated since we had last talked. The links are included in one PDF shared below.This discussion continues our journey understanding the MA roadmap toward net zero and while it helps me “make sense of climate”, we hope it helps with your understanding as well. If you have climate questions or Franklin specific climate questions, send them in and we’ll try to answer them in a future session.  The conversation runs about 44 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Ted.--------------** See the page that collects all the “Making Sense of Climate” episodes -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/02/making-sense-of-climate-collection.html Links for our discussion in one PDF doc -> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GNwjgXLcm3N3nmkjgApehEq0nITcRvz-/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 neighborsIf you don't like something here, please let me knowThrough this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.For additional information, please visit www.franklin.news/ or  www.Franklinmatters.org/ If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot comThe 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" 

This session shares my conversation with Franklin Education Association (FEA) President Donna Grady. We recorded this talk in the Franklin TV Studios on Tuesday, April 30, 2024. The Franklin Education Association (FEA) is the union representing all the educational personnel in the Franklin School District. Donna is the unit president and has been for 8 years. She teaches kindergarten at Keller, previously Jefferson, and has been teaching for 35 years.We talked about education today in the Franklin schools from elementary to middle school to high school. The nature and challenges of teaching our wonderful kiddos through the grade levels.The recording runs about 55 minutes.--------------Donna’s school contact info -> [email protected] Franklin Education Association web page -> https://franklin.massteacher.org/ -------------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 neighborsIf you don't like something here, please let me knowThrough 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 comThe 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"

This session of the radio show shares the Franklin (MA) Economic Development Subcmte Meeting conducted on Wednesday, May 1, 2024.  The meeting was held at the Municipal Bldg and conducted in a hybrid manner. Chair Melanie Hamblen, Councilors Brian Chandler & Cobi Frongillo were in the Council Chambers. Councilor Sheridan was absent.The meeting was scheduled to begin at 5:45 and actually started at 5:55 (not 6:55 as is announced by Chair Hamblen). There was technical difficulty with the Zoom video but not with the YouTube video or any channel audio. Turned out to be a setting in the meeting set up that turned the video off for this session. (Duly noted for future sessions).  Quick summaryCurrent policy across Health Dept, Building Inspection and DPW calls out the requirements for grease traps for commercial use. Those policies would be combined into one Town bylaw to formalize and remove possible confusion or contention as to which one takes precedence.The draft bylaw was recommended to be moved to the Town Council for their review and approval. This one would not need to include the Planning Board for review.The meeting runs about 26 minutes.    --------------Economic Development Subcmte page -> https://www.franklinma.gov/economic-development-subcommittee Meeting agenda ->  https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/2024-05-01_edc_agenda_packet.pdf --------------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 neighborsIf you don't like something here, please let me knowThrough this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.For additional information, please visit www.franklin.news/ or  www.Franklinmatters.org/ If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot comThe 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"

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Town Councilor Cobi Frongillo and resident Lisa Oxford. We talk about the launch events for the Building Equitable Neighborhoods for Franklin (BEN 4 Franklin). We talk about how the group grew out of last year’s Jane WalkAnd subsequent conversation at Strawberry Stroll, a meeting in August,The core group kept at it to work on a vision and mission, website and initial event launchThe visionWe envision an inviting, diverse, environmentally sustainable, and fiscally strong Franklin where all can be engaged and find a home. We are aligned with the vision of the 2022 Franklin for All report.The missionWe are an inclusive community advocating for a Franklin with abundant, affordable housing for all and walkable, economically vibrant downtown and neighborhoods that evolve in a fiscally-responsible manner.Our conversation runs about 27 minutes.    --------------BEN 4 Franklin web page ->  https://ben4franklin.org/  Launch party - May 10, 7 PM at Franklin TV StudioJane’s Walk - May 11, 10:30 AM starting from Franklin TV Studio--------------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 neighborsIf you don't like something here, please let me knowThrough this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.For additional information, please visit www.franklin.news/ or  www.Franklinmatters.org/ If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot comThe 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"

This session shares the Town Council meeting of Wednesday, May 1, 2024 in 2 parts.&nbsp;All 9 councilors took part in Chambers.Part 1&nbsp; (~2 hours)Covers the first hour of the meetingCitizen CommentsApproval of Minutes - March 13, 2024Proclamation: Chris Stearns, Franklin TV&nbsp;Police Department - Introduction of Mental Health Clinician Caroline FerrisAppointment to Conservation Commission - Nicole ChiaramontePresentation: FY23 Financial Audit - Scott McIntire, Partner, Marcum LLPAnd then skips past the Override presentation to jump to the citizens comments on the override and then the closing of the meetingPart 2 (~ 2 and a quarter hours)Includes the entire section of the joint presentation by Town Administrator Jamie Hellen and School Superintendent Lucas Giguere including the Council question and answersMany department heads also spoke for the pledgeLegislation for ActionResolution 24-19: Override Pledge to the Citizens of FranklinResolution 24-20: Setting Date of Proposition 2 ½ Override BallotResolution 24-21: Proposition 2 ½ Override Ballot Question&nbsp;--------------The Franklin TV broadcast of the 4 hour plus session is available for replay on YouTube -&gt;&nbsp; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9nkmKHkrxA&nbsp;Agenda and supporting documents for this session -&gt; https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/fixed_tc_agenda_v4.pdf&nbsp;Joint presentation doc-&gt; https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/4b._2024-05-01_override_pledge_presentation.pdf&nbsp;My notes captured via Twitter can be found in one PDF file -&gt; https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Fv18ylsYtYhbaSiLXkEDkZLQkm8C-2Q1/view?usp=drive_link&nbsp;Photo album with the slides as captured during the presentation on Wednesdayhttps://photos.app.goo.gl/dDxgDMFrcXDaNqR78&nbsp;-------------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.&nbsp;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 neighborsIf you don't like something here, please let me knowThrough this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/&nbsp; or www.franklin.news&nbsp;If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot comThe music for the intro and exit was provided by<a href="http://www.eastofshirley.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer"...

This session shares the Town Council meeting of Wednesday, May 1, 2024 in 2 parts.&nbsp;All 9 councilors took part in Chambers.Part 1&nbsp; (~2 hours)Covers the first hour of the meetingCitizen CommentsApproval of Minutes - March 13, 2024Proclamation: Chris Stearns, Franklin TV&nbsp;Police Department - Introduction of Mental Health Clinician Caroline FerrisAppointment to Conservation Commission - Nicole ChiaramontePresentation: FY23 Financial Audit - Scott McIntire, Partner, Marcum LLPAnd then skips past the Override presentation to jump to the citizens comments on the override and then the closing of the meetingPart 2 (~ 2 and a quarter hours)Includes the entire section of the joint presentation by Town Administrator Jamie Hellen and School Superintendent Lucas Giguere including the Council question and answersMany department heads also spoke for the pledgeLegislation for ActionResolution 24-19: Override Pledge to the Citizens of FranklinResolution 24-20: Setting Date of Proposition 2 ½ Override BallotResolution 24-21: Proposition 2 ½ Override Ballot Question&nbsp;--------------The Franklin TV broadcast of the 4 hour plus session is available for replay on YouTube -&gt;&nbsp; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9nkmKHkrxA&nbsp;Agenda and supporting documents for this session -&gt; https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/agendas/fixed_tc_agenda_v4.pdf&nbsp;Joint presentation doc-&gt; https://www.franklinma.gov/sites/g/files/vyhlif10036/f/uploads/4b._2024-05-01_override_pledge_presentation.pdf&nbsp;My notes captured via Twitter can be found in one PDF file -&gt; https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Fv18ylsYtYhbaSiLXkEDkZLQkm8C-2Q1/view?usp=drive_link&nbsp;Photo album with the slides as captured during the presentation on Wednesdayhttps://photos.app.goo.gl/dDxgDMFrcXDaNqR78&nbsp;-------------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.&nbsp;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 neighborsIf you don't like something here, please let me knowThrough this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/&nbsp; or www.franklin.news&nbsp;If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot comThe music for the intro and exit was provided by<a href="http://www.eastofshirley.com/" rel="noopener...