'Twas the week before Christmas, in all Franklin town, Everyone was waiting for the decision to come down

'Twas the week before Christmas, in all Franklin town

Everyone was waiting for the decision to come down

ZBA public hearings were complete, now fully closed

All comments made, residents could only sit posed

The new Council had voted to change their mind

And drafted the letter to which they readily signed

Would it make a difference, the TA said no

The State said likewise, but what does the Council know

The ZBA will make their decision soon reviewing

The exemptions one by one, residents patiently stewing

The developer team will be on edge, calculator at hand

Anxiously waiting, where will the mitigations land

When will we find out, and will that be the end

Or will it be appealed with a filling quickly penned

In the meantime, let’s enjoy the seasonal glow

Have a round of cheer, the sun will still rise tomorrow

With apologies to Clement Moore, the major decision on the 444 East Central development proposal should be forthcoming from the Zoning Board of Appeals meeting at Tuesday's meeting. Note, with the public hearing closed, there may not be an opportunity for comment from the public either before or after the decision is made.

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-1610-fm-weekly-outlook-lookback-combo-12-21-25/

*** Meeting schedule and agendas as of Town page 12/19/25, 6:30 PM   ***

Charles River Pollution Control District Meeting

Monday, December 22 Time: 3:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_12222025-2067

ZBA Meeting

Tuesday, December 23 Time: 6:30 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_12232025-2057 

Senior Center 

Closed all day, December 246

Public Library

Closes at 2 PM December 24

All Town and School facilities closed December 25

Senior Center 

Closed all day, December 26

Public Library

Regular hours, 9 AM to 5 PM - December 26

Public Library

Regular hours, 9 AM to 5 PM - December 27

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

Planning Board met on Monday, December 15 as scheduled, the Franklin TV video is available -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DovJ17h2e0c 

Town Council met on Wednesday, December 17 for another 4 hour session to close out the calendar year. The recap and Franklin TV video can be found -> 

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/12/town-council-closes-out-year-approving.html 

ZBA met for 30 minutes on Thursday, December 18 on a different topic this time, the Franklin TV video is available for replay ->  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zHzHv26ryV0 

• Franklin MIddle school band concert on Tuesday https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AP5OeVaREw

• FHS Girls basketball game on Tuesday https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AP5OeVaREw

• FHS girls hockey on Wednesday https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6AP5OeVaREw

• FHS boys basketball on Friday  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_hMOXtGYgg&t=1063s

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.

Town calendar -> https://www.franklinma.gov/Calendar.aspx      

Community calendar -> https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar     

Subscribe for the daily dose of information -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/p/welcome.html      

Subscribe for the weekly dose of information -> https://www.franklinmattersweekly.org/p/subscribe-for-email.html  

Use the light Town meeting schedule to take a Police Station tour Sunday and meet & greet with Candidates on Weds (audio)

A light Town meeting schedule this week provides opportunity for participation in 2 other related events.

1 - Why is Franklin exploring a new police station? You can check out the existing conditions of the station at 911 Panther Way to see why Chief TJ Lynch claims that it is not sized for appropriate police functions today. It was built in 1991 when the staffing was in the 30’s. Now the staffing is almost double that, the locker space alone doesn’t cover the female officers & staff never mind provide adequate room for the male staff and all the gear required today. 

There is an open house and tour of the facility scheduled for Sunday, Oct 5 beginning at 6:00 PM. Come, walk through the station, talk with the Chief and others about the planning process.

2 - Election season is fully underway. Candidate interviews are being made available so all the residents and voters can cast an informed ballot either by mail, early voting at the Town Clerk’s office beginning Oct 17, or at the FHS gymnasium on Tuesday, Nov 4 from 6 AM to 8 PM.

There is also a candidate meet & greet at Teddy Gallagher’s on Wednesday, Oct 8 beginning at 6:00 PM. 

The candidate interviews can be found in the 2025 Election Collection. As more are conducted and released, they will be added to the page.  https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/08/election-collection-2025.html

Audio version -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-1530-fm-weekly-outlook-lookback-combo-10-05-25/

*** Meeting schedule and agendas as of Town page 10/03/25, 7:00 PM   ***

Police Station Open House

Sunday, October 5 Time: 6:00 PM

no agenda for this open house & tour opportunity

Planning Board Meeting

Monday, October 6 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10062025-1936 

Historical Commission Meeting

Wednesday, October 8 Time: 6:00 PM

Not yet available 

Municipal Affordable Housing Trust Meetings

Thursday, October 9 Time: 2:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/513?fileID=6640 

Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School Meeting

Thursday, October 9 Time: 7:00 PM

https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10092025-1941 

Zoning Board of Appeals (ZBA) Meeting

Thursday, October 9 Time: 7:30 PM - no meeting today, next session scheduled for Oct 23  https://www.franklinma.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10092025-1918 

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

The School Committee conducted its shortest meeting of the calendar year on Tuesday. There were updates on transportation, the Franklin Education Legacy fund process, and thanks to Senator Rausch and State Rep Roy for their earmarks in the recent State budget which we confirmed received by the School District.

The School Committee meeting recap with audio & video links ->

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2025/10/school-committee-conducts-shortest_0363846285.html 

The Conservation Commission meeting on Thursday is available for replay by Franklin TV ->    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IajMFl4dSrU

On the FHS sports front, Franklin TV live streamed the following competitions this week:

• FHS volleyball, Monday 9/29 -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGmK8XEAkeg

• FHS boys soccer Tuesday, 9/30 -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PspN8s1E-TU

• FHS football Friday, 10/3 -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzOXFI7LF0c

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.

Town calendar -> https://www.franklinma.gov/Calendar.aspx     

Community calendar -> https://bit.ly/FranklinCommunityCalendar    

Subscribe for the daily dose of information -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/p/welcome.html     

Subscribe for the weekly dose of information -> https://www.franklinmattersweekly.org/p/subscribe-for-email.html