A Few Words | The Opioid Epidemic in Framingham | Update on Framingham Union | Voting Information
A Few Words
Thank you for all the great feedback on the first issue. The conversation is so important - and needed in this community - so please keep it coming. Also, please share this newsletter with anyone you think would be interested in the latest goings on in Framingham.
A very happy first day of school to our students, teachers and staff, and parents this week. May you all have a great school year!
The Opioid Epidemic in Framingham
This Wednesday, August 31, is International Opioid Overdose Awareness Day. As you drive down Edgell Road, you will see purple flags along the Framingham Centre Common. The flags were planted by Framingham FORCE (I am a board member) and Anchored in Recovery. Each flag represents one of the 2,290 individuals who died in 2021 from substance use disorder. According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, this is a 9% increase in deaths from 2020.
Tomorrow night’s Council meeting… has several items focused on the city’s response to the opioid epidemic. As it is the 5th Tuesday of the month, the Council reserves that meeting for topics of the Mayor’s choice. The Council will act on a second reading of creating an Opioid Stabilization Fund, which was first introduced by the Finance Subcommittee at the last meeting.
What is the Opioid Stabilization Fund?: Framingham has received $66,502.02 in a settlement from opioid litigation, and the Sisitsky Administration anticipates another $249,694 from statewide settlements in the future. Statewide settlements must be used for specific purposes as outlined in an agreement signed by the Massachusetts Attorney General. Creating this stabilization fund sets it apart from the general fund with money specifically from these settlements for distributions made by the Mayor, with voting approval by the Council.
How will this money be spent? A working group is tasked with developing a plan for the initial spending of these funds. The group is made up of Police Chief Lester Baker, Fire Chief Michael Dutcher, Alex DePalo, Director of Public Health, Dr. Robert Tremblay, School Superintendent, Lincoln Lynch, FPS Executive Director of Finance & Administration, Cathy Miles, Chair of Framingham FORCE, and Louise Miller, CFO. They are due to complete their work by the fall.
Also on the agenda… a discussion with the Mayor and the Metropolitan Area Planning Council regarding the settlement plan.
Please join Framingham FORCE on Wednesday at 6pm on the Framingham Centre Common for their annual International Opioid Overdose Awareness Day event.
Update on Framingham Union
MetroWest Medical Center - Framingham Union has been an important part of Framingham for more than a hundred years. We are fortunate to be home to an ER, maternity, heart and oncology centers. The news this April that the hospital planned to close its oncology and radiation oncology departments sent shockwaves through the city. Local elected officials, especially Senate President Karen Spilka and Mayor Sisitsky, took action to prevent this closing and move to Worcester. A well attended public hearing was held in July.
What is the latest? During his update during the last Council meeting, Mayor Sisitsky said he had a “frank conversation” with the new hospital CEO David Elgarico about the status of the hospital and its importance to the city. The Mayor shared with the Council that negotiations with Tufts Medical Center to assume responsibility of the oncology department are “ongoing” with the last piece regarding insurance coverage still on the docket. It is hoped this issue will be resolved “soon”.
Good, promising news. I’ll be keeping my eye on this issue throughout the fall.
Important Dates to Know
Early Voting Has Begun! If you are interested in voting early, head to Nevins Hall in the Memorial Building (150 Concord Street). The hours are: Tuesday, 8:30 a.m. - 7 p.m., Wednesday & Thursday 8:30 a.m - 5:00pm, Friday 8:30am - 2:00pm. For more information, check the City Clerk’s website.
Primary Election is Tuesday, September 6.
Important: Your precinct number has changed! Chances are your polling location has changed, too! Go to wheredoivotema.com to double check your polling location. I’ll be going more into the precincts and the why and the where in next Monday’s issue.