Franklin MAtters Weekly: We have a Wolf moon to begin the New Year

We have a wolf moon to begin the new year. Hmm, what does that mean?

There are probably lots of possible explanations, and from a variety of view points. For me, on a clear early Saturday morning with the moon setting over a very cold Franklin, it was such a sight to behold.

If only solutions for the issues facing us were as clearly defined and agreed to. Frankly, there are too many questions unanswered, or even well defined, to begin to see some agreements on approaching resolutions.

So we take each day as it comes. On Tuesday, the Police Station Building Committee meets for the first time since August. Who from the current Town Council makes up this group now? 2 of the 3 prior Council members are no longer on the Council.

The Board of Health meets at 5 PM on Wednesday. The Town Council is scheduled for 6 PM the same day. A presentation on Facilities is scheduled as is the return of the possible change to the friendly 40b policy.

Recall that the changes to this friendly 40b policy had been ‘tabled’ by the prior Council, sent to the Economic Development Subcommittee, which after their first meeting in October was canceled, the item was dropped from their rescheduled October agenda. Likely due to the approaching election. Now, this new Council gets it without a prior review of Economic Development. Will there even be such a Subcommittee for this Council?

For my view, the proposed changes only tackle one of the multiple issues with the existing policy. It only requires future projects to be ownership based rather than rental. It neglects to address the other process issues with this policy around awareness, notifications, etc.

So how will this Council approach the potential change? The answer may come Wednesday. Some folks might be left howling no matter how the Council decides to address it.

For all the meetings and cultural events, check out the calendar at Franklin.news where each day, that day's events are posted on the top of the page, the TV and radio schedules are on the bottom, and all the other goodness falls in-between.

Audio link -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1620-fm-weekly-outlook-lookback-combo-01-04-26/

*** Meeting schedule and agendas as of Town page 1/02/26, 6:30 AM ***

Police Station Building Committee Meeting

Tuesday, January 6 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01062026-2064

Board of Health Meeting

Wednesday, January 7 Time: 5:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01072026-2071

Town Council Meeting

Wednesday, January 7 Time: 6:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01072026-2073

Municipal Affordable Housing Trust Meeting

Thursday, January 8 Time: 2:00 PM

no agenda available at this time

Franklin Commission on Disability Meeting

Thursday, January 8 Time: 4:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01082026-2070

Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School (updated 1/05/26)

Thursday, January 8 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_01082026-2078

Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) Meeting

Thursday, January 8 Time: 7:30 PM

no agenda available at this time

(Note: if they keep with their recent practice of 1 session per month, likely to be canceled)

*** Looking back at the week that was ***

With the new year here, some of last year's items may not be fully complete. For example, the final document with the history and decision of the ZBA on the 444 East Central St project has been completed, marked with the Town Clerk seal, and posted to the ZBA page

https://www.franklinma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/8024/444-E-Central-St-Record-and-Decision-with-Clerk-Stamp

Will this decision be appealed? Stay tuned…

On the sports live streaming front, it was relatively quiet over the holidays with only one live streamed event as we go to press