🔨 Let's Talk 2024
2024 Resolutions for Framingham | The Ham'er Mailbag | Community Events | The Civic Week Ahead
Happy 2024, Framingham!
Huge thank you to everyone who joined me and the Friends of Framingham Trails at our first New Year’s Eve Celebration on the Cochituate Rail Trail last Sunday. As one of the organizers, I am thrilled it was such a success.
Special thank you to all of our volunteers, fire pit hosts and sponsors of the event. We’re already talking about the next NYE event for 2024. We’re also seeking feedback on the event, and set up a survey for people to fill out.
Additionally, Friends of Framingham Trails is holding our annual meeting on Saturday, January 20 at 10am at Loring Arena. All are welcome!
Have a comment or question? I’d love to hear from you. Email me at mkfeeney@gmail.com
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2024 Resolutions for Framingham
As we begin a new year, it is time to take stock of where Framingham is, and where it should go in the future. Framingham can accomplish a lot in one year. This can only happen if we engage with our elected leaders and keep them accountable.
I know ya’ll have thoughts - many of you email me! - so share them with our elected leaders! Come to meetings, write letters, volunteer for positions. Your voice needs to be heard!
In the last issue of 2023, I wrote that I felt a storm was brewing in Framingham between the tried and true “town meeting mentality” and becoming the city we are meant to be, and it is holding us back. My overarching hope for 2024 is we look beyond the silos, the way things already are, and really embrace the fact Framingham at its best when we work together. Pettiness and living in the past is only hurting us as a city.
Now onto my list..
Kick our economic development efforts into high gear: Framingham’s economic growth is at its lowest level since 2017. Commercial value only increased by 5.4% in 2023. The budget estimated $3.5 million in new growth, yet Framingham fell $1.7 million short. Low commercial growth affects residential taxes, because someone has to make up for the fact the business part of revenue isn’t at projected levels. Ways to kick Framingham into gear include:
Appoint new Economic Development Corporation: the EDC is a quasi-public committee charged with “supporting new and existing businesses, supporting entrepreneurship, and attracting, developing, and retaining talent.”. The EDC was re-constituted two years ago by the Legislature, and still hasn’t been appointed. If you want to know what the secret sauce is in Marlborough, look at their EDC. Huge possibilities for Framingham.
Explore ways to reuse, revitalize empty office buildings: Speen Street is a graveyard of empty office buildings, 9/90 isn’t at its full capacity. Framingham, like so many communities, are facing a crisis if these buildings aren’t functional. Talk to the building owners and start planning how these properties can be vibrant once again. Oh, and we can do better than the answer being only apartments.
Focus energy on improving the “play” part of “Framingham is a great place to live, work, learn and play.”: For a place that was an entertainment hub decades ago, Framingham is struggling to keep up with other towns in having fun. A common complaint heard from business and apartment owners is there is nothing here to attract people, making it hard for people wanting to be here. Let’s do better to highlight our food culture and art scene, entice more entertainment venues to Downtown (come on that old bank is screaming for something awesome).
Expand Our Public and Mental Health: The effects of the pandemic will be with us for decades to come. Now is the time to invest in our health. Investing in our community’s wellbeing and health will only make us stronger.
Expand our Department of Public Health by adding nurses to help with community health needs, like vaccines.
Ensure the new DPH clinic at 180 Concord Street keeps more regular hours.
Partner with agencies to create new mental health programs and assistance in our schools and community, and age-friendly community initiatives for seniors, including supporting additional resources for the Council on Aging.
Continue to apply pressure on Tenant and seek creative ideas to keep Framingham Union Hospital open. Support our nurses!
Keep the Charter focused on the future Framingham: The Charter Review Committee is assessing and obtaining feedback about our Home Rule Charter, Framingham’s Constitution. Some of the conversations around the Charter make me feel like I’m back in 2017 and folks still want to hold onto town meeting ways of governing. Again, we cannot afford to go back. The Charter needs to reflect and give space for Framingham to move forward and grow into being a city. Keep the number of Councilors the same, but refine the strategic planning and budget processes.
Tackle Traffic in Our Neighborhoods: While this sits at #4, it is the most talked about issue in every part of Framingham.
Traffic Commission must be citizen driven with standard procedures on how stop signs, traffic calming measures, etc., are installed. Some are instantly approved by the Commission, others go to the Council. Why?
Create a Traffic Department.
Repair our sidewalks so that everyone can walk on them safely, and design streets to move people, not just cars.
Invest in alternative forms of transportation, like the MWRTA.
Refine the budget process: If there is one thing we have learned this past year, Framingham’s finances are in a questionable state. Framingham Public Schools do a great job starting from zero and building up their budget, accounting for every expense and the reasons for it. The city should take the lead from FPS in their budget process, include residents for input and ideas, engage Councilors earlier in the process to hear their District priorities. Bring back OpenCheckbook or a similar software, so residents can easily track the process and where money is going.
Get serious about strategic planning: Without this, the above list may not happen. Time is now for Framingham to stop being reactive, and become proactive. Strategic planning, like for a business or a non-profit, is a necessary exercise that must be done with public participation, and not simply a to-do list of municipal tasks, which is the make-up of our current strategic plan. Bringing neighbors, stakeholders and elected officials together to discuss what we want for our city and producing a living document reflecting these ideas is a sign of a healthy, thriving community. We need vision. (I might be biased as the Chair of the Strategic Initiatives and Financial Oversight Committee.)
Now to you: What are your 2024 Resolutions for Framingham? I would love to hear them!
The Ham’er Mailbag
Starting a new feature in this week’s issue - answering your questions about what is going on. I had a few come in over the last month that I thought I’d tackle today. I’ll do this every time I have enough for a segment. Send me your questions anytime.
What is the story with the school budget? I keep hearing the city stole $10 million for the schools. Is this true?
Great question. Here are the facts without any commentary.
By the numbers:
Framingham’s school budget increased by 7.4% in Fiscal Year 2024 (what we’re in right now) - this is the highest increase in over a decade
7.4% increase equals $11 million, bringing the school budget to $165 million
Chapter 70 funding is the allotted money Framingham receives from the state
FY24 Chapter 70 funding was $85 million
In comparison, FY23 Chapter 70 funding was $68.9 million
Framingham contributed $80.06 million in FY24
In comparison, FY 23 Framingham contributed $84.82 million
Breaking it down:
Thanks to the advocacy of Senate President Karen Spilka and the Student Opportunity Act of 2019, Framingham received a $28 million increase to address the decades of inequitable funding from the state, which left Framingham to make up the difference.
According to the Framingham Public Schools Department FY24 Budget Book, “The City has contributed far and above the required local contribution amount.” (page 95)
Local contribution amounts are determined by a formula based on a municipality's property values and aggregated resident income. Every city and town in Massachusetts contributes a different level of funding to their school systems.
Additionally, the City’s budget also covers costs not reflected in the School budget, such as health insurance, medicare, unemployment, and time City staff spend on School Department issues.
Analysis:
After going thru their thorough budget process, the School Department requested the 7.4% increase in their budget. The Mayor included it in his budget package. Both the School Committee and Council approved this increase. In short: the schools received what they requested.
Framingham has a long, proud history of funding our schools. We take huge pride in FPS. If there was some major shortfall affecting our students, I can guarantee there would be huge outcries from education advocates and parents.
Do I think the city “stole $10 million from the schools”? No. I trust Dr. Tremblay and his team to put together a budget that makes sense for Framingham and continues to address our district’s needs. The FY25 budget process is underway. It’ll be interesting to see what FPS puts forward to the School Committee in the weeks ahead, and what the state will do with Chapter 70 funding. With state revenues lower than expected over the last six months and the announcement of the Governor making budget cuts, this can affect our funding.
What is the latest with the proposed Nobscot development?
Ah, Nobscot. I have heard only rumors and speculation. At the last Council meeting of 2023, Councilor Steiner asked Mayor Sisitsky if he had any updates. This is what the Mayor said:
“All I’ve heard are rumors. The rumor I heard is that there is a new proposal that is forthcoming that will not require a zone change.
If you recall I mentioned at the meeting at the library one Saturday morning be careful what you wish for. If you refuse to consider any rezoning or talk to a developer as the community did with the Nobscot proposal… the previous Nobscot proposal… you may get something that you didn’t anticipate and this could be the case here. I don’t know. From what I understand is there could be a new proposal in the works that won’t require a zoning change.”
Stay tuned?
Community Events
Celebrate 20 Years of Downtown Framingham, Inc!
Join DFI for a night of fun, music, and festivities as we mark two decades of community development. Starting at 5:00 PM, connect with community members and enjoy diverse culinary delights and live music performances. Whether a long-time resident or new to the area, come celebrate and support Downtown Framingham’s ongoing revitalization efforts. Save the date for this unforgettable evening!
Ticket and event information linked here.
The Civic Week Ahead
Monday, January 8
2:00pm: Housing Authority Agenda
2:15pm: Keefe Tech School Council Agenda
4:45pm: School Committee School Building Committee Application Review Subcommittee Agenda
7:00pm: Women, Children and Families Commission Agenda
7:00pm: Board of License Commissioners Agenda
7:00pm: South Middlesex Regional Vocational Technical School District School Committee Agenda
7:00pm: Board of Library Trustees Agenda
7:00pm: Community Preservation Committee Agenda
Tuesday, January 9
Wednesday, January 10
Thursday, January 11
In Closing…
Important news about Framingham Union came across my desk: Metrowest Medical Center CFO John Whitlock and Carolyn Jackson, Market CEO, will attend the next Council meeting on January 16 at 7pm.
Their appearance occurs after the nurses’ unionization vote on Wednesday, January 10. A majority vote from the nurses will enable the National Labor Relations Board to certify the union as the nurses’ representative for collective bargaining.
There is a lot at stake here. This January 16 meeting is critical for the future of the hospital.
Support our nurses, doctors, and staff at Framingham Union!
Believe in Framingham,
Mary Kate
Very helpful. Thank you for that thoughtful response. Although, at the end of the day, Framingham Public Schools and the Mayor have not been able to provide the most basic of services in getting its students to school. There seems to be no accounability for the people involved.
Another great consolidated update on the City and its finances. Thank you for the work you put into this.