Editorial: Facts Matter — Correcting the Record on the Joint Review Board Cancellation
By Dr. Richard Busalacchi
In recent days, Franklin residents have engaged in an unusually robust public discussion about the proposed Poth’s General Tax Incremental District (TID 10), the former Sentry property. That discussion has been healthy, substantive, and largely focused on the merits of using public financing for a private development.
Unfortunately, some commentary circulating online has mischaracterized both what occurred and why it occurred. It is important to correct the record.
FCN’s Role: Informing, Not Imitating
The graphic did not include City seals, logos, letterhead, or language suggesting it was issued by the City of Franklin. Explaining how local government works is not impersonation — it is journalism. Suggesting otherwise is unsupported by the facts.
Resident Engagement Was About Substance, Not Confusion
The public response that followed was not driven by confusion about the meeting’s purpose or by its timing alone. Residents raised substantive concerns about the proposed TID itself — including whether it meets the required “but-for” test, whether public incentives are justified, and whether long-term taxpayer interests are being adequately protected.
That engagement is precisely what public processes are meant to invite.
What Actually Caused the Pause in the TID Review
The Joint Review Board meeting was cancelled after a formal Open Meetings Law complaint was submitted to the Wisconsin Office of Open Government asserting that proper public notice had not been given and explicitly requesting that the meeting be cancelled and rescheduled. The City’s subsequent decision followed that complaint.
The pause was procedural, not political — a response to a notice issue, not to online discussion.
Clarifying an Unrelated Matter
It has further been suggested that the individual who helped create the explainer graphic is “suing” Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC). That characterization is misleading.
There is no damages lawsuit against MATC. The matter referenced is a writ of mandamus seeking compliance with Wisconsin’s Open Records Law — a routine legal mechanism used to compel a public body to respond to records requests. It is unrelated to the TID, the Joint Review Board, or the cancellation of the meeting, and it played no role in the pause of the TID review process.
Context Is Relevant
Context also matters. The recent commentary comes from a former alderperson who played a leading role in the successful campaign to elect the current mayor. After a lengthy period of limited public engagement, this reemergence coincides with the start of another municipal election season.
Readers are entitled to consider that political backdrop when evaluating claims that frame resident engagement as confusion or disruption rather than informed participation.
What Happens Next
According to Alderwoman Eichmann’s statement, the Joint Review Board meeting will be rescheduled, start at 6:00 p.m., and notice will be provided on the City’s website and through social media once a new date is determined.
The rescheduled meeting will represent the next required step before any decision can be made on whether TID 10 moves forward and whether the proposed $15 million in tax incremental financing becomes available for the Poth’s General project.
Transparency Is Not a Threat
At its core, this episode is not about a flyer, a post, or personalities. It is about process.
Transparency, timely notice, and public awareness do not undermine good governance — they strengthen it. When residents understand what decisions are being considered and why, debate becomes more informed and outcomes more legitimate.
Franklin’s decision to cancel and reschedule the Joint Review Board meeting, provide additional notice, and move the meeting to a more accessible time was the right outcome. Going forward, the City should treat that approach not as an exception prompted by pressure, but as the standard.
Facts matter. Process matters. And an informed public is not something to be managed — it is something to be respected.
This piece reflects the author’s personal opinion and experiences. All statements are presented as commentary protected under the First Amendment. Readers are encouraged to review public records, filings, and documented evidence referenced throughout this article.
Dr. Richard Busalacchi is the Publisher of Franklin Community News, where he focuses on government transparency, community accountability, and local public policy. He believes a community’s strength depends on open dialogue, honest leadership, and the courage to speak the truth—even when it makes powerful people uncomfortable.
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