LIVE BLOG: Framingham Town Meeting - Night 1

Framingham Patch will be live blogging during the 2014 annual Town Meeting, which starts tonight, Tuesday, April 29.

A quorum was reached at 7:37 p.m.

Town Meeting began with a color guard from Framingham Girl Scouts.

7:44 p.m. Framingham Selectman Mike Bower is now introducing Team Framingham

Assistant Town Manager Jen Thompson speaking about the 6 charities selected for Team Framingham

Raised $52,600+ for the 6 charities

All of the runners exceeded their minimum requirements

Nancie Handy of F.Y.I. for the Arts speaking

Heart sculpture symbolizes heart and love.

Thanks everyone for their support. Great opportunity for us.

Bower - FYI for the Arts and Nancie Handy created the logo for Team Framingham

7:53 p.m. Moderator making opening remarks and explaining the rules.

7:55 p.m. Editor's Note: Not a good sign for Town Meeting for live blogging. The Town fo Framingham guest wi-fi has already crashed. I am using my personal hotspot to blog.

In general - no show of emotions at Town Meeting - says Moderator

Article information needs to be on the table 24 hours before the article comes up. 

Moderator giving information on motions and amendments 

8 p.m.  Moderator now going over procedures on speaking. Up to 5 minutes to speak on a motion. When recognized, go to the microphone closest to you. Thank you Madam Moderator and identify yourself by name and precinct.

All questions are directed to the moderator.

Now explaining point of order or point of information, etc...

Point of personal privledge -- if too much noise or if you are cold 

Most articles require a majority vote - 2/3rd vote required for tabling, moving questions, bonding or zoning articles.
To table or move a question is not debatable.

Citizens who are not Town Meeting members may stand in the back and may be called to speak.

Up to 5 minutes the first time to speak ... please  do not stray from the topic at hand ... 

8:07 p.m. I will do my best to recognize you to speak ... try to get all the views.

Thanks Town Manager, Cherry Manuel and CFO for their efforts - moderator.

Information on the back table for the following articles 2, 4, 14,16,17,18,19, 25, 26, 27 says the moderator.

8:10 p.m.  Moderator explaining Town Meeting goes on every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday until we finished.

Moderator now talking about electronic voting

Test question: Will we finish Town Meeting before the end of May?

8:12 p.m. 95-38-9 vote

***************************************
Article 1 
Kevin Crotty - TMM -- make the motion to hear the annual report from Board of Selectmen

8:15 p.m. Charlie Sisitsky - Chair Framingham Selectmen speaking

written by the former chair Denni Giombetti - calendar year 2013

4 major areas -- significant progress made in each area
Town well position to take advantage of the recovery in FY14.
For the second year in a row, tax levy was not raised to its maximum

Move of the employees health care plan to the state's GIC plan ... recently state legislature made it easier for cities & towns to join the state's GIC plan which could save the town more than $18 million.

8:18 p.m. TJX & Genzyme have decided to invest more in Framingham. National Devlopment purchased the vacant Breyers site.

Mt. Wayte Plaza and the old Grossman site are being re-developed - bring new revenue to the town.

Quality of life issue - open space plan updated, aqueducts opened, development in Saxonville which gives Town 89 acres in Saxonville.

Framingham designated a green community
Maynard building sold to Danforth Art

New Veterans Council created.
New downtown improvements

8:22 p.m. VOTE - hand vote -- article disposed.

Article 2 - Joel Winett - Town Meeting Member 7 making the motion to hear boards and committees - writing reports accepted too.


Town Clerk speaking -- AG approved all amemdments or articles submitted

Framingham Town Manager -- special legislation - dispose of Nobscot Chjapel - it was approved by legislature.

Planning Board -- Power Point presentation being made by Amanda Loomis and Stephanie Merchandetti - chair of Planning Booard

Project -- 2013 
TJX approved under the 43D - 125 days
Genzyme - $7.3 million - 72 days
15 & 16 Pleasant St. Connector - 133 days

8:30 p.m.  Master Plan summary

Public Works Director report -- on back table for Birch Road wells

Town Manager - report on unaccepted streets on table

CFO - reports on the back table

Moderator -- appointments -- appoints 6 committees - made no written report as all materials are online

Selectmen appointments that  expire -- report on back table

8:33 p.m. Ruth Winett - Library Trustee & President of Library Foundation

Update on new Nobscot library -- independent fundraising - promised to raise $600,00 - raised $503,000 thus far as of this week. Of these donations, 57% came from individuals and families About 200 individual donors and about 37 Corp. donors

2 fundraisers coming up -- May 17 a concert and May 31 -- sponsored by the young adult group - a fashion show.

8:35 p.m.  Halpin on Economic Development report. Power point presentation

Neighborhood preservation important

Community & Economic Development Director speaking now

Prioritize tactics - place based status

Focused approach -- Framingham is largely a built out community
opportunities limited to infield, re-position or up zoning
develop, mixed use centers -- combine office, retail & residential components

Retention, Expansion & Attraction - focus on companies
working with the companies already here in Framingham - understand plans and needs and encourage growth.

Attraction -- leverage and networks -- state groups - spread word about strength of our town - let them know we are here to support them.

Move on a pace that will support their decisions.

Focus  on Downtown, 2 Masspike exits, Mt Wayte and Nobscot area.

Neighborhood preservation is also a priority

Beaver Park & Mary Dennison neighborhoods

Finally how are we going to do all of this? Starts with good stewartship
Coordinate and collaborate

Create relevant capabilities - to become the trusted partner with investors.

8:45 p.m.  Moderator - that concludes the reports of Article 2
Hand vote - unanimous

****
Article 3 --  Kevin Crotty TMM7 - refer back to sponsor.
majority vote needed
hand vote -- unanimous

8:47 p.m.

Article 4 - TMM7 Crotty speaking - making the motion to accept and spend funds - Housing and community development act -- HUD -- CDBG funds (on back table info)

Presentation by the CDBG -- 10 minute maximum

Daphne Collins for the CDBG speaking
2 public hearings required and Town of Framingham held 3
In January - held second public hearing -- reviewed proposals
Meetings sponsored by the CDC -- appointed by Selectmen
5 member board - has more than 52 years 
3 public hearing held in March before Selectmen - reviewed a fully vetted plan

Plan approved by Selectmen. 
Now seeking TM authorization to spend funds
40 years received CDBG grants 
Mission - benefit low and moderate income and eliminate slums and blight

Housing renovation, social services programs, playgrounds, economic development programs

$564,598 total funds available
$103,000 - administration -- 20% cap.

rehabilitation program ... deferred loans to eligible low and moderate income property owners.  

Fund code enforcement program, part of code enforcement task force.

Bring amount improvements in our target neighborhoods

Casey baseball field -- install ADA bleachers
Funding a variety of public service activities - ESL, literacy, Resilency of life, HOPE program and Hoops for Homework program

Framingham Downtown Renaissance - $50,000 - executive director position funded. She trouble shooting - safety & beautification.

$2750 program -- donwtown parking lots ... highlight alt parking

8:58 p.m. Committee reports
Dan Lampl - chair Finance Committee report -- April 16 met -- 5-2-0 in favor.

Audrey Hall - standing committee on ways & means -- chair speaking -- TMM3 -- March 27 met and voted. Discussion on Hoops & Homework program given $5,000. 

Discussed the housing rehab program. 
Last year a new set of bleachers were purchased for Bowditch Field, and this year a new set was requested.

Ways & Means motion to amend ... move $70,000 for the bleachers to the housing rehab assistance program 14-1-0

9:03 p.m. Point of order .. Richard G. Baritz - can the committee chair make a motion?

Moderator - Yes, she can.

Committee report -- Community Services - Elsa speaking

March 4 - Selectmen chair -- voted unanimous 5-0 to support original motion

Kathie McCarthy -- speaking for disability commission -- accessibility part of this grant being used under CDBG. Disheartened by the Ways & Means 

Commission did not know about this change ... when met this week did not know this change will be proposed by the ways & committee.

9:10 p.m. Moderator and Town Meeting member debating what report is appropriate to the discussion.

Moderator -- floor open for TM member discussion

William LeBarge speaking on the Ways & Means amenement - he supports it.

Crotty speaking -- TMM7 -- rise in opposition to the amendment. - there are nothing wrong with the bleechers at Bowditch Field -- the issues at the baseball field is is what needs to be fixed.

Moderator - I'd appreciate if we can keep this civil

Peter Pleshaw speaking -- inspectional service budget - $60,000
like to pull this money together for inspectional services budget, which has 14.6 people.

Michael Tosino - Director of inspectional services -- speaking --added a code enforcement position. why the money still in the CDBG budget?
Pays for an ongoing code enforcement inspector budget ...

moderator - why not in the regular budget?

Collins -- speaking now - inspectional service program -- we reimburse - on a fee basis -- code encforcement tax force - case by case basis the building department bills us for a concerted efforts in a neighborhood. We stabilize and improve those neighborhoods.

Pleshaw - folo up question -- still why can't it go in the budget?

Colins - interdisciplinary effort -- go once a month - go out into those neighborhoods and we look at what we can do to improve these neighborhoods. This is really about improving your neighborhoods. This is to stablize neighborhoods. This is more intensive that your regular code enforcement.

Framingham Town Manager speaking -- support inter-departmental effort. It has been an annual supplement to the inspectional dept.

Ann Jeffries -- precinct 5 -- ways & means motion -- very unfortunate to backtrack on advances made for the handicap. Many of us here are grey heads who may need those bleachers. Very unfortunate to go backwards. Against motion


9:25 p.m.  Ed Kross - TMM 12 - rise in support of the budget as presented by CDBG - against the ways & means motion. 

Question -- Hoops & homework -- very impressive - who wrote it?
Question - could CDBG use the $70,000 in the rehab program?

Community put in the proposal for -- Collins

9:27 p.m. Point of Order -- 
Halpin -- department submitted $60,000 request. No plans to use an additional $70,000.

George Lewis speaking -- TMM18 -- would like to know what were the success of that code enforcement task force program? Numbers of funds issued? Liens placed on the property? What fines collected?

Halpin to answer -- no specifics on fines, penalties or liens.
This task force said its most successful neighborhood was Richardson and Torrey St. said Halpin. Task force had enormous impact - stuck with that neighborhood - turned several properties around and establish relationships in the nieghborhood. Torrey St and Richardson St one of the success stories.

Point of information - Richard Baritz - TMM17 -- Town Counsel -- we receive this grant from the  federal - don't think this is legal what we are trying to do?

Chris Petrini - Town Counsel speaking -- CDBG has specific requriements must be followed. Public discussion by Town Meeting

9:33 p.m. Bill McCarthy - TMM10 - rise to oppose ways & means amendment - we have an awful lot of needs in this town. If you add $70,000 - half of the available funds goes to housing rehab. Believe we have to spread the money around.

9:35 p.m. Move the question 
2/3 vote needed - moderator said it was approved.
Vote questioned by the moderator.
Now electronic voting ...

VOTE --- 118-28-5 -- Motion to move the question passes

First vote is on the amendment by Ways  & Means -- hand vote - FAILS

Main motion -- hand vote -- Motion passes.

9:39 p.m. Article 5 -- Crotty making the motion - authorize Selectmen and SC to enter into a lease -- for up to 5 years - administrative offices for Framingham Public Schools.

Framingham Superintendent of Schools Stacy Scott speaking - last 6 years elementary enrollment increased - elementary school has space constraints .... re-opening of King requires administration move so the town and the school department doesn't have facilities to accomodate 20,000 square feet for the schools.

3 bids - occupy space in July1 - king school to open end of August

Committee reports

Fincom Chair - Dan Lampyl speaking -- 7-0-0 in favor
Ways & means chair Hall speaking -- Kindergarten enrollment over 800 for third consecutive year. Open King building. Administration needs a new space and needs more than 3 years lease - 13-0-0 in favor.

Standing committee on education - Dick Weader chair speaking -- administrative been a problem since 1990s. School Department was in Maynard and then mold issue. .... recommend approve 9-0-1

Ned Price - chair of the real property committee speaking -- 

Discussion Town Meeting members - 9:48 p.m.
It is time that the school department finds a permament location - encourage school department to work on a permannt - enough moving is enough.

Editor's Note: Bruins announce game 1 with Montreal will be Thursday night, May 1.

Bill McCarthy - TMM10 - speaking - 

Maureen Dunne - TMM9 -- what are we authorizing?

Chris Petrini speaking -- leases would need to be signed by Board of Selectmen. 

Dunne - what are the funds?

Scott speaking - $300,000 expectation

It is necessary for us to move in order to open the new school said Scott. This 5 years will give Mass Bay Community College to finish its plans so we can possible occupy that building.


Dan Gittelsohn - TMM14 - speaking - how much money did we spend to rehab this building for rehab for offices? Did we just waste taxpayers money?

Matt Torti -- spent very little money ... the building was already fitted out for offices. There will be money to reconfigure this for classrooms.

Majority vote needed - hand vote -- PASSED

9:55 p.m.  Jeff Cox wants Town Meeting sessions to end at 10 p.m. each night.

Moderator refuses to accept the motion.

Point of order - Phil Ottivanni - isn't there a rule no new business after 10 p.m.

Moderator says no.

Motion article 6, 9, 11, 12, 15 & 23 all be discussed together.
All articles to be sent back to sponsor.

MOTION Passed - hand vote

Crotty - motion - move back to sponsor.
Hand vote -- Passed

9:59 p.m.
Article 7 -- unpaid bills ... CFO speaking

Moderator refuses to accept motion to adjourn.

FinCom report -- 6-0-0 in favor
Ways & means report -- 16-0-0 in favor

10:02 p.m. Motion to adjourn
2/3 vote required
Hand vote approved.

 Town Meeting will resume on Wednesday, April 30 at 7;30 p.m. or whena  quorum is reached.