Monday, April 1, 2013
Submit questions in advance to Bob Zimmerman at robert.rzimmer@gmail.com.
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Monday, April 1
The Framingham Sierra Club is hosting a Candidates Night, as a means to get to know the candidates for Planning Board and Selectmen, two of the most powerful boards in Framingham Town Government, tonight at 6:15 in the main Framingham Library. The town election is Tuesday, April 9. The Candidates Night will begin with refreshments and an informal time to meet the candidates starting at 6:15 p.m., followed by formal panels starting at 6:30 p.m. After the candidates opening statements there will be a Q/A session where the audience will be encouraged to submit written questions to the candidates. Submit questions in advance to Bob Zimmerman at robert.rzimmer@gmail.com. There are two open seats for the Framingham Planning Board and challengers…
42.28214
-71.41748
Framingham Public Library (Main Library)
49 Lexington St, Framingham, MA
/articles/sierra-club-hosts-candidates-night-at-library
800811
/locations/9139842
Thursday, March 21, 2013
The Framingham Auxiliary Police, which is recruiting new members, made a presentation to Selectmen, and 3 items you missed from Tuesday's meeting.
The Framingham Auxiliary Police provided more than 4,000 hours of support to the town last year at community events and during storms, all at no cost to the community, Framingham Selectmen learned Tuesday night. Auxiliary Police Captain Mark Spigel said auxiliary officers helped dig out cruisers during snow storms, provided child fingerprinting services and performed crowd and traffic control at road races, concerts and other events. "I guarantee the town doesn't know how much work you do for the town and at no cost to the town," said Chairman Charles Sisitsky, who had invited Spigel to speak to the board. Framingham Deputy Police Chief Steven Trask called the auxiliary force "the town's hidden jewel" and said it provides important …
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
A Route 9 restaurant in Framingham is undergoing renovations; and will re-open under a new name, with open-air dining, when weather permits.
In August 2012, Joseph Zhang purchased Chef Orient on Route 9 in Framingham. This month, Zhang announced the restaurant would undergo renovations and will re-open under the name Samba West. Zhang is also the owner of Samba Steak & Sushi on Route 9 in Framingham. Samba West, says Samba's Facebook page, will be a "Chinese, Japanese, Thai cuisine sports bar." Tuesday night, Framingham Selectmen unanimously approved the proposed renovations to the restaurant property. Selectmen (3-0) also approved an entertainment license for a DJ and karaoke for Samba West. Attorney Peter Haranas, representing Zhang, said most of the renovations were cosmetic in nature. He said the amount of seating would not change. One major change involves removing part of…
42.29687
-71.47273
Chef Orient Restaurant
1583 Worcester Rd, Framingham, MA
/articles/asian-sports-bar-coming-to-route-9
798076
/locations/9055355
42.29896
-71.44412
Samba Steak & Sushi
1138 Worcester Rd, Framingham, MA
/articles/asian-sports-bar-coming-to-route-9
799724
/locations/9055356
Three of the four members of the town's legislative delegation urged Framingham officials to budget conservatively.
State lawmakers told Framingham officials not to count on sizeable increases in state aid as they prepare next year's budget, but expressed optimism that state education funding at least would continue to climb. "If I were a prudent fiscal manager in your shoes, I would not plan on an increase in state aid," Rep. Thomas P. Conroy (D-Wayland) told Framingham Selectmen Tuesday night. Conroy, whose district includes the Saxonville section of Framingham, said budgetmakers used a one-time windfall of more than $500 million to balance this year's budget. "That hole will have to be addressed again." "That is not what we wanted to hear," said Selectmen Chair Charles Sisitsky. Earlier this month, Town Manager Bob Halpin unveiled a $236 million …
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Delayed openings at town building, trash collection update, schools closed and cancellations and postponed events all featured in today's storm central edition of our 5 Things column.
Our daily column, 5 Things You Need to Know Today, will help you to get your day started and offer you some fodder for water cooler conversation. 1. There is NO school for Framingham public school students, as well as Marian High, McAuliffe Charter and St. Bridget School students. As Framingham Public Schools are cancelled, so are all activities at the schools for students. On Monday afternoon, Framingham public schools announced a two-hour delayed opening for Tuesday, but by 11 p.m. had abandoned that idea for the sixth snow day of the year. Framingham High principal Michael Welch said the 2-hour delayed opening would have been a first for the district in more than 20 years. Many believe it would have been the first-ever for the public …
Friday, March 15, 2013
Massachusetts Attorney General's Office rules communities can place temporary moratoriums on medical marijuana dispensaries but it can not ban them within its borders.
The Town of Framingham has decided to put on hold a zoning district to allow medical marijuana dispensaries along Route 9, next to Natick. Tuesday night, Framingham Selectmen removed the proposed medical marijuana dispensary zoned district from the Annual Town Meeting Warrant. But Framingham Town Meeting will still have a say on medical marijuana as Framingham Selectmen Tuesday placed on the warrant a proposed article to establish a temporary moratorium on medical marijuana dispensaries until July 1, 2014. “We’ve developed a bylaw but we’re waiting to see if it will fit with the state’s direction,” Planning Board Chair Tom Mahoney said last week at a public hearing on the proposed moratorium article. “This moratorium gives us time to wait …
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
The proposed warrant article calls for new ID badges next year, a possible public address system, additional staffing, emergency training, additional cameras and door security upgrades.
The Framingham Public Schools, working with Framingham Police and Framingham Fire, will ask Town Meeting members to vote on $250,000 worth of possible security upgrades at the town's schools, said Framingham Town Manager Bob Halpin. "This is a combined town and school effort," emphasized Halpin, who Tuesday summarized the warrant article to Framingham Selectmen. The article has not been discussed at a Framingham School Committee meeting yet. Selectmen Tuesday night voted to close the Annual Town Meeting warrant with 56 articles on it. Town Meeting starts May 1, but will open with a Special Town Meeting warrant, with one lone article on the new proposed McAuliffe library branch on Water Street in Nobscot. The proposed school security …
Thursday, March 7, 2013
And other items you may have missed at this week's Framingham Board of Selectmen meeting.
A plan to use speed humps to slow traffic on Edmands Road earned the endorsement Framingham Selectmen Tuesday night and will now head to Town Meeting. The board voted 4-0 to support implementation of the first phase of traffic calming measures along the scenic road, including the installation of five speed humps and one speed table. Town Engineer Jeremy Marsette said travel speeds observed on the road were as much as 20 miles per hour above the posted speeds, which range from 20 to 30 m.p.h. Calls for action increased after last year's fatal accident that killed Edmands Road resident Robert Weitzler while he walked to his mailbox. "We regularly receive complaints about the speed and volume on the roadway," Marsette said, adding that …
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
The proposed Fiscal Year 2014 budget would increase the average homeowner's tax bill by $148.
Seven new police officers, $250,000 for school security and funds to aid economic development efforts were among the highlights of a proposed $236 million budget presented to Selectmen Tuesday night. Town Manager Bob Halpin said the spending plan for fiscal year 2014, his first budget since being hired in mid-2012, funds the majority of departments at a level service rate while allowing for "strategic investments" in key areas. "We have the opportunity for the first time in many years to address some important areas," Halpin said. The budget plan represents an increase of $8.4 million, or 3.7 percent above the current fiscal year. Though assessment figures are not finalized, Framingham Chief Financial Officer Mary Ellen Kelley said the …
Monday, February 4, 2013
Selectman Dennis Giombetti: "This hotel has been a problem for a number of years."
Selectman Dennis Giombetti wants the Framingham Police to look into the amount of crime taking place at Motel 6 on Route 9 in Framingham. Recently, emergency crews were called to aid a drug overdose victim. "This hotel has been a problem for a number of years," Giombetti told his fellow Selectmen last week. "I'd like the Police Chief to reach out to the owners and management - local, regional and corporate level -- and talk to them about the activities going on at their establishment," said Giombetti. Selectmen have the authority to decide if the motel can operate in town, said Giombetti. "We license inn keepers," he said. His fellow Selectmen unanimously agreed the policeshould look into crime at the motel.
42.29686
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Motel 6
1668 Worcester Rd, Framingham, MA
/articles/selectman-wants-police-to-investigate-increase-in-crime-at-motel
798292
/locations/8738410
Susan Petroni
5:07 pm on Tuesday, March 19, 2013
National Weather Service says Framingham got 8.4 inches of snow as of 4:55 p.m. more ›