Changing the Digital Memorial Building
It is Time to Fix the Framingham Website | The State of Pot | Looking Ahead
Top of my mind this week is how we can better keep our neighbors informed about what is going on in the city, whether it be an important meeting or issue, or a community event. There are several issues on the horizon that, I believe, need community input. What can the city and our elected officials do to engage more residents? What is everyone else doing that Framingham is not?
Would love to hear some thoughts from you.
In the meantime, let’s dive into the biggest communication problem…
It is Time to Fix the Framingham Website
It is no secret Framingham’s website needs a complete redesign and restructuring to make it simple and direct. From having to click too many times to get to basic information, missing links, old information or poor search results, the problems on the site are many. It needs to be rebuilt from the ground up.
The Sisitsky Administration is committed to redesigning the website, explained the CFO Louise Miller at the Council meeting a few weeks ago. Great news. More often than not government websites are sterile, boring and insider driven. Will Framingham break out of this mold?
A survey was published back in summer breaking down what people want (to pay stuff online, find meeting agendas and minutes, DPW, parks & rec), issues (too many clicks, info too hard to find), and what they’d like to see (easy to read, understand and pay for stuff). But here is what I see is an issue: the respondents of the survey were an overwhelmingly majority of 55+ years old, who have lived in Framingham for more than 15 years. Oh, and they use desktops to access the site.
It did not capture a wide swath of our neighbors. Why? This has been Framingham’s problem for over a decade: those who have been here the longest are the most active, leaving out those who are younger or more recently moved here. I highly doubt the under 55 set (which includes the writer) has different concerns and wants regarding the website - the conversation in the Facebook groups about the site are very universal.
However, this opportunity should be used to engage more people - let’s not be cynical by ignoring them because they did not take a survey. This means talking to neighborhood groups, civic groups, parent groups, etc. Widening the tent is a good thing for Framingham.
As someone who works in the online marketing space and been involved with the redesign of government websites,, some thoughts on moving forward:
User feedback is critical. The Council put together a whole packet of suggestions and ideas on how to improve online communications last year, one of the biggest suggestions was to have a redesign be user/resident driven, not driven by department heads. One of the first rules of website design and copywriting is it isn’t about you, it's about the reader, the user. Getting residents engaged more fully makes a better product. Don’t survey once, constantly have a feedback form available for input.
Take the path Boston did when they redesigned their site. Boston, I think, is the gold standard. Easy to navigate and read, and a philosophy that a website is never "finished". Check out their Digital Team Roadmap.
Build a mobile app. Time to bring back one Framingham app, where you can pay your bills, email our elected officials, report issues and check the trash schedule. Implement it with a 311 system, which has been discussed for years but yet to be delivered. No one needs the hassle of multiple apps. Let’s give our residents one stop shopping on their phones.
Start sending a weekly newsletter with important information on what is going on. I’m obviously bullish on newsletters…
In 2022, we can access anything online with a click or a swipe on our phones. We want information easily and quickly. People want to take care of tasks from the comfort of their homes and not have to drive somewhere for something that will take 5 minutes.
They also want to know the people they elect care about them and the place we call home. Improving our digital footprint promotes transparency and builds community.
There is so much opportunity here. The Council gave good feedback at their meeting. I can only hope the dialogue continues with everyone. The Sisitsky Administration has an opportunity to do a great thing here for everyone.
The State of Pot
For the second time in a year, the Council is reviewing the expansion of marijuana licenses the city can award. This time they are also reviewing the zoning where shops can open.
How many marijuana licenses does Framingham have already? Framingham originally had 6 licenses to award, and went through them quickly before many of the stores opened. Due to an issue of a medical licensee not also receiving a retail license (as guaranteed by law), the Council expanded the number of licenses to 8 to solve that problem. Now there are 2 new businesses competing for the one remaining license.
Currently in Framingham there are 7 retail (adult use) licenses awarded, 4 medical, 4 cultivator, 2 test labs, 5 product manufacture and 1 delivery. Besides retail, there are no limits on the other licenses.
The state Marijuana Reform law of 2022 made three major changes to the previous legislation, including adding a definition of Social Equity Business, changes to the impact fee in host community agreements and allows on premise consumption if approved by ballot or Council ordinance.
Framingham received about $1 million in impact fees when awarding licenses, and the impact the stores have made on the city is not $1 million worth. It is unclear if the city has to return any unspent money back to the retailers. The city is awaiting to hear from the state. Meanwhile, Councilors tossed around ideas on how to spend the money, the top idea was improving the crosswalk at Prospect and Route 9, where Union Twist recently opened.
What is next? With two businesses - one minority owned, fitting the criteria of Social Equity Business - interested in one license, the Mayor’s Office is recommending expanding to another 2 or 3 licenses. Councilors took this as an opportunity to review everything from the zoning - which is now a section of only Route 9 - and the number of licenses. They voted to establish a 3 member ad hoc committee who will make a recommendation to the full Council at a later date.
A Look Ahead
A busy week in Framingham with both the Council and the School Committee meeting. The Council agenda is lengthy at 5 pages with 19 agenda items not including Council reports and public participation. On the agenda is a second reading for aggressive solicitation, zoning ordinances relative to affordable housing, and a citizen petition regarding rezoning of Nobscot. Buckle up for this meeting; it should be interesting.
We’ll have plenty to talk about next week.
Two good community environmental activities this week:
Keep Framingham Beautiful Cleanup Week from Saturday 9/17 to Sunday 9/25. Their goal is 300+ folks picking up litter throughout the week. To learn more or post pictures of your collected litter, check out their Facebook group.
Ever wonder if something can be recycled? Wonder no more! Energize Framingham is sponsoring an information session with City Recycling Coordinator Stephen Sarnosky at 7pm on Tuesday, September 20 on Zoom. RSVP here.
That is all for this issue of The Ham’er! Don’t forget to share with your family and friends.
Until then…