12-21-2025 4:21am

People, Power, and Politics

Alan Earls Editor

Above, MBTA General Manager Phil Eng speaks during a "2025 at a glance" video showed at an MBTA Board meeting on Dec. 18, 2025. The MBTA is experiencing "a monumental comeback story" in the eyes of its leadership, who looked back Thursday at the agency's 2025 storyline and approved a safety plan and new accessibility metric. Chief Operating Officer Ryan Coholan said weekend ridership is nearly back to 2019 levels. Overall ridership sits at 77% of 2019 levels, and weekday ridership is at 73% of 2019 levels, he added.

FRANKLIN

New Town Website Does Not Support “Cut and Paste” of calendar entries. Go to https://franklinma.gov/Calendar.aspx to view directly. Steve Sherlock from Franklin Matters has kindly compiled and and shared the below information. Thanks Steve!

'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 on their Tuesday meeting.

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.

*** 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 24

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-ap…

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

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

MEDWAY

Medway’s new website, likewise, does not readily support cut and paste. Go to medwayma.gov.

STATE HOUSE and BEYOND

The Legislature is closing 2025 down with a whimper ahead of a new year that will feature statewide elections, the frenzy of legislating that comes in the second year of the two-year term and a possible tsunami of major ballot questions that represent a collective people's agenda for 2026. Secretary of State William Galvin this week said five proposals had cleared the major signature hurdle on the way to the Nov. 3 ballot, with determinations on six more questions expected soon in order to formally put the measures before the Legislature for possible consideration over the first half of next year. The final days of 2025 are difficult ones for residents who have been able to access affordable health insurance largely due to federal subsidies. The subsidies are expiring at the end of the year, causing the cost of insurance for this population to soar. Packages to extend these subsidies or otherwise address health care affordability have failed in Congressional stalemates and won't be taken up again until the new year, with legislators home for the holidays. U.S. House Democrats plan to put forward another three-year extension package in January, which they believe could get enough Republican support to pass, though it would still need to pass the Senate, where the idea has already failed. Tuesday is the deadline under the state's open enrollment period for people shopping for health plans with coverage beginning Jan. 1. The Massachusetts residents most impacted by the end of the enhanced premium tax credits are 26,000 people who are earning more than 400 percent of the federal poverty level, or more than $62,600 a year for an individual, according to the Connector Authority. This group of people will no longer receive any federal support and are no longer eligible for ConnectorCare and benefits in that program like reduced co-pays and no deductibles.

The expiring subsidies are part of a wave of new federal measures that are poised to make it tougher for Massachusetts to keep its uninsured population low at an affordable price. "As a Commonwealth, we have something coming at us which is not going to be comfortable, which is federal health care cuts at a time when we're experiencing health care cost increases," Sen. Will Brownsberger said during a virtual meeting Sunday. "Health care cost increases are just a huge challenge for the state budget right now." Gov. Maura Healey in just over four weeks from now will take the first crack at an annual state budget that reflects the shifting health care landscape. The enrollment deadline is a key date in a week where work patterns will be wrapped around the Christmas holiday on Thursday.

Tuesday is also the deadline for candidates to file required signatures if they are interested in running for the First Middlesex Senate seat last held by the late Sen. Edward J. Kennedy of Lowell. Another storyline is unfolding as the year closes out. The 2024 economic development law set a Dec. 31 deadline for the City of Boston and the Kraft family that wants to build a pro soccer stadium in Everett to reach a community impact agreement. Former Massport CEO Tom Glynn was named mediator in the talks after an agreement was not reached by May 1. If an agreement is not reached by the end of the year, the parties must go to binding arbitration. Community impact agreements must be submitted to the state Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs before the stadium parcel is removed from the designated port area, a change designed to clear the way for a new home for the New England Revolution.

Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025

SHORTSLEEVE ON KELLER: WBZ-TV runs a rescheduled encore edition of political analyst Jon Keller's "Keller at Large" with GOP candidate for governor Brian Shortsleeve. The edition, originally aired in September, was overtaken last week by live coverage of the Brown University shooting. (Sunday, 8:30 a.m., WBZ-TV)

KENNEALY ON NBC: Republican candidate for governor Mike Kennealy joins NBC 10 reporter Matt Prichard for the station's weekly "@ Issue Sit Down." (Sunday, 9:30 a.m., NBC 10)

HEALTH INSURANCE ENROLLMENT MALL TOUR: Massachusetts Health Connector brings its open enrollment mall tour to South Shore Plaza. Staff will be available until 4 p.m. to answer questions about enrolling in health and dental coverage. Bay Staters who need coverage must sign up for a plan by Dec. 23 for coverage starting on Jan. 1. Open enrollment stretches through Jan. 23, and residents who sign up by the Jan. 23 deadline unlock coverage beginning Feb. 1. (Sunday, 10 a.m., 250 Granite St., Braintree)

HEALTH INSURANCE ENROLLMENT MALL TOUR: Massachusetts Health Connector brings its open enrollment mall tour to the Burlington Mall. Staff will be available until 4 p.m. to answer questions about enrolling in health and dental coverage. Bay Staters who need coverage must sign up for a plan by Dec. 23 for coverage starting on Jan. 1. Open enrollment stretches through Jan. 23, and residents who sign up by the Jan. 23 deadline unlock coverage beginning Feb. 1. (Sunday, 10 a.m., 75 Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington)

HEALTH INSURANCE ENROLLMENT MALL TOUR: Massachusetts Health Connector brings its open enrollment mall tour to the Northshore Mall. Staff will be available until 4 p.m. to answer questions about enrolling in health and dental coverage. Bay Staters who need coverage must sign up for a plan by Dec. 23 for coverage starting on Jan. 1. Open enrollment stretches through Jan. 23, and residents who sign up by the Jan. 23 deadline unlock coverage beginning Feb. 1. (Sunday, 10 a.m., 210 Andover St., Peabody)

MOULTON ON THE RECORD: U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton joins WCVB's weekly political talk show "On the Record." (Sunday, 11 a.m., WCVB)

MENORAH LIGHTING: Chabad of Downtown Boston holds a menorah lighting ceremony for the final night of Hanukkah. The event features a nine-foot menorah, live music and Hanukkah treats. (Sunday, 4 p.m., 60 Seaport Blvd.)

WESTBOROUGH MENORAH LIGHTING: The town of Westborough hosts its Hanukkah Menorah lighting. Congressman McGovern will attend and speak. (Sunday, 6 p.m., 117 E Main St., Westborough)

Monday, Dec. 22, 2025

FIRE SERVICE COMMISSION: Fire Service Commission meets. Agenda includes votes on credentialing and re-credentialing, as well as updates from the Department of Fire Services. The Department of Fire Services says the credentialing program "has been developed to promote career long learning, development and engagement in the fire service." It is administered by the Massachusetts Fire Service Commission. Any fire officer holding the rank of lieutenant or above is eligible to apply for credentialing, and the program is voluntary. (Monday, 10 a.m. | Agenda and Access)

ELECTRICAL CODE INTERPRETATION: Massachusetts Electrical Code Interpretation Committee meets. (Monday, 10:30 a.m. | Agenda and Access)

WOBURN MEMORIAL HIGH SCHOOL: Students from Woburn Memorial High School perform as part of Secretary of State Galvin's Holiday Concert Series. (Monday, 10:30 a.m., Grand Staircase)

SENATE: The Senate meets in an informal session. (Monday, 11 a.m., Senate Chambers | |Livestream)

HOUSE: The House meets in an informal session. Speaker Mariano said Dec. 17 that cannabis reform legislation had slipped off the House's radar but suggested the House may soon try to initiate a conference committee to make a single bill out of the ones that cleared the House in June and Senate in November. (Monday, 11 a.m., House Chambers | |Livestream)

MCGOVERN AFGHAN EVENT: Congressman McGovern will meet and speak with members of the Afghan community. (Monday, 4 p.m., 18 Chestnut St., Worcester)

GREEN LINE SERVICE: MBTA Green Line service that has been shut down since Dec. 8 is set to return between North Station and Babcock Street, Kenmore and Heath Street. Chief Operating Officer Ryan Coholan said that workers were able to "tackle" replacing all 13,000 feet of an aging, 130-year-old wooden catenary trough with new composite fixtures. The trough covered the system's overhead wires in the core tunnel and all four Green Line branches, and had long outlived its design lifespan. The T installed a new metal trough, completed steel work at Boylston Station, concrete and lighting work at Copley, and work began on a radio replacement program, according to Coholan. They also began to install new messenger wire and cabling for upcoming signal upgrades. (Monday)

Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025

SHARON SELECT CHOIR: Sharon Select Choir performs as part of Secretary of State Galvin's Holiday Concert Series. (Tuesday, 11 a.m., Grand Staircase)

HEALTH CONNECTOR DEADLINE: The deadline for Bay Staters to enroll in Massachusetts Health Connector coverage that starts on Jan. 1. Open enrollment stretches through Jan. 23 and residents who meet the Jan. 23 deadline can access coverage starting Feb. 1. Health Connector Executive Director Audrey Morse Gasteier said more than 10,000 members dropped their coverage for 2026 during the first month of open enrollment. The Connector has also been dealing with an uptick in members contacting the call center in distress over rising premiums, fueled by expiring federal tax credits. (Tuesday)

1ST MIDDLESEX FILING DEADLINE: Deadline for candidates seeking an open Senate seat to submit nomination papers to local registrars of voters or election commissioners. The vacancy in the 1st Middlesex Senate District was caused by the death of Sen. Edward Kennedy of Lowell. Rep. Vanna Howard and Rep. Rodney Elliot of Lowell have already filed paperwork locally and with the Secretary of State's office and are running for the seat. Sam Meas, of Haverhill, who has run as both a Republican and Democrat for state office in the past, has filed paperwork on the local level but not yet with the secretary's office. A number of people have also pulled papers but not yet filed, according to the secretary's office: Republican Karla Miller, who ran against former Sen. Kennedy in 2018, unenrolled potential candidates Jeanne Balkas of Dracut and Joe Espinola of Dracut, and Virak Uy, a Democrat who previously ran for Lowell City Council as well an unsuccessful race against former Rep. Angelo Scaccia to represent parts of Boston. The primary is Feb. 3, 2026, and the state election is a month later, on March 3. (Tuesday, 5 p.m.)

Wednesday, Dec. 24, 2025

SENATE: Senate meets in an informal session. (Wednesday, 11 a.m., Senate Chambers)

HOUSE: House meets in an informal session. (Wednesday, 11 a.m., House chambers)

Thursday, Dec. 25, 2025

MBTA-CHRISTMAS SERVICE: MBTA subway, bus and The RIDE operate on a Sunday schedule. Commuter rail operates on a weekend schedule. There is no ferry service. (Thursday | More Info)

STATE HOUSE CLOSED: State House is closed for the Christmas holiday. (Thursday)