Tuesday, January 29, 2013
A Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for the Framingham Teachers Association "has not been the sticky point" said Framingham Superintendent of Schools Stacy Scott.
Framingham Superintendent of Schools Stacy Scott said a COLA (also known as a cost of living allowance/raise) is not what is holding up the finalizing of a new contract for the Framingham Teachers Association. "There is the feeling that the school system is holding back on granting a COLA. ... In fact, we would assume that everyone would know we have set aside money for a COLA from the last Town Meeting," said Scott over the phone Monday. "We are simply waiting for the agreement to occur in order to be able to apply that COLA to this year. So, that has not been the sticky point, although some seem to think that this has been an issue of contention or concern." Scott said the COLA is not one of the "harder elements to work through." In …
Monday, November 19, 2012
The Perry Land Trust plans to lease the Edgebrook Road property to the Town of Framingham for passive recreational purposes.
The Framingham Parks and Recreation Commission has completed all necessary hurdles to make way for a lease that will preserve 6.5 acres of property on Edgebrook Road. The Probate Court, in conjunction with the Massachusetts Attorney General’s office recently ruled that the owners of the property, the Perry Land Trust, can lease the property to the Town of Framingham for passive recreational purposes. Last April, Framingham Town Meeting gave authorization to the Commission to enter into arrangements that will keep the property largely in its naturally wooded state. Parks and Recreation Director Bob Merusi said the neighbors have been highly supportive of preserving the property and will be included in any future planning. There is already …
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Chasan: "The State has stepped up to the plate to start to make up for the $45 million that it has underfunded Framingham over the past 10 years."
The Framingham School Committee deserves a big thank you for your work at Town Meeting. School Supt. Dr. Hiersche and staff also deserve a big thank you. Everything went so well: presentations, work with the Chief Financial Officer, Ways and Means standing committee, Education standing committee, and the Finance committee. All the Town Meeting votes were overwhelming in favor of strong schools and against dismantling the schools. The Big message is that cuts to staff or programs for budgetary reasons are not acceptable. The schools are in a rebuilding and strengthening mode. I urge the Framingham School Committee to start their planning for continued rebuilding to be presented at the fall Town Meeting. We should be well positioned …
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Town Meeting voted down a ban on commercial, gas-powered leaf blowers overwhelmingly and finished the Annual Town Meeting warrant articles just before 11:30 p.m.
9:11 p.m. Audrey Hall and Melanie Goddard thanking Dr. Steven Hiersche for his efforts as superintendent of schools Hiersche -- like to thank everyone including all the department heads Kids in Framingham much better served today than they were 3 years ago - Hiersche. *** Article 41 - Herb Chasan made the motion Bill Osborn speaking - I'm against this. This is off base. Recently both Wellesley and Concord shot down this proposal 9:14 p.m Petitioner is speaking in favor of this Editor's Note: apologies my computer's wi-fi has crashed twice. I am restarting again. 9:20 p.m. Motion by John Dywer move back to sponsor Patrick Dunne - precinct 9 speaking - I support the last motion to return to sponsor - I hate the news - I think it is a noise …
Framingham Patch will be live blogging at tonight's Special Town Meeting.
Framingham Town Meeting is scheduled to start at 7:30, or when a quorum is reached. Framingham Patch will be live blogging, using our Cover it Live platform. Feel free to interact with us. To see the live blog, please click on the arrow in the grey box. NOTE: If you are using the mobile version, you must go and click on desktop version to see the grey box. You can comment while we are live blogging. You may also ask questions, but keep in mind I may not be able to answer right away as I am listening and typing. *** Below is a transcript of our live blog from the cover it live platform Tuesday May 22, 2012 7:29 Framingham Patch
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Framingham Town Meeting will continue discussion on the operating budget for fiscal year 2013 tonight. Framingham Parch will be live blogging.
Framingham Town Meeting is scheduled to start at 7:30, or when a quorum is reached. Framingham Patch will be live blogging, using our Cover it Live platform. Feel free to interact with us. To see the live blog, please click on the arrow in the grey box. NOTE: If you are using the mobile version, you must go and click on desktop version to see the grey box. You can comment while we are live blogging. You may also ask questions, but keep in mind I may not be able to answer right away as I am listening and typing. Town Meeting members will be discussing, debating, and voting on line items from the municipal and school operating budgets - Article 34, again tonight! *** Below is the Cover it Live transcript ... Note: Please excuse typos as I am…
Sanchez: "The only way we can change our democratic process is by making it meaningful."
It has been said that all politics are local, yet our budget problems have to be put in a broader national context. In addition, when we look at Framingham in a historical context, the democratic process is failing us –for reasons given below. Maybe some of you had the opportunity to see a CBS report this past Sunday pointing out that Massachusetts was among the top 13 states in the nation having serious problems with state debt. Although CBS made no reference to its source, one can obtain similar information using the internet. State Budget Solutions, which follows the debt of all states, ranked California as the first state in the nation when it comes to debt problems. According to the same source, Massachusetts ranks seventh …
Framingham High Academic Awards Night takes place at 7 at Framingham High. Today is the last day of regular classes for seniors. Graduation is Sunday, June 3.
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. F-SEPAC is hosting Rabbi Harold S. Kushner, the author of When Bad Things Happen to Good People, Thursday night, May 17 at the King Building. The public is invited to the free presentation at 7. The Rabbi will be speaking on how to deal with having a disabled relative, coping with the diagnosis and prognosis, dealing with the concerns about the future "what will happen once we are not here anymore" and managing the reaction from our relatives and the community. 2. Framingham Town Meeting - night 12 - is set to resume tonight at 7:30, or when a quorum is reached, at Nevins Hall inside the …
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Town Meeting members after listening to a 20-minute School Committee presentation and committee reports, discussed the $96.6 million school budget for 33 minutes and passed it 116-15-2.
Framingham Town Meeting is scheduled to start at 7:30, or when a quorum is reached. Framingham Patch will be live blogging, using our Cover it Live platform. Feel free to interact with us. To see the live blog, please click on the arrow in the grey box. NOTE: If you are using the mobile version, you must go and click on desktop version to see the grey box. You can comment while we are live blogging. You may also ask questions, but keep in mind I may not be able to answer right away as I am listening and typing. Town Meeting members will be discussing, debating, and voting on line items from the municipal and school operating budgets - Article 34, again tonight! *** Cover it Live transcript posted below *** Wednesday May 16, 2012
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Night 10 of Town Meeting had members discussing the paid leave of the Building Commissioner, the Town's Chief Assessor and approving the Parks & Recreation budget. Night 11, May 16, might see discussion and a vote on the school budget.
Framingham Town Meeting is scheduled to start at 7:30, or when a quorum is reached. Framingham Patch will be live blogging, using our Cover it Live platform. Feel free to interact with us. To see the live blog, please click on the arrow in the grey box. NOTE: If you are using the mobile version, you must go and click on desktop version to see the grey box. You can comment while we are live blogging. You may also ask questions, but keep in mind I may not be able to answer right away as I am listening and typing. Town Meeting members will be discussing, debating, and voting on line items from the municipal and school operating budgets - Article 34 - tonight. *** Transcript from the Cover it Live platform... Wednesday May 16, 2012
Tom Lupien
10:21 am on Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Joe i can honestly say i don't agree with many of your positions or views. That being said. I think you are right here. Deals like these look bad. From someone outside the loop when i see a vote that lopsided it makes me wonder what is going on behind the scenes. I'm glad TJX is in Framingham. But I'm also glad we have Robinson's hardware and other small businesses too. What are we doing to help … more ›