🔨 Nurses File Complaints Against Tenant
Update on Windsor Green | DPW Provides Update on Sewage Leak | Locals Recognized on ALX100 | Mayor to Hold District 2 Forum | Community Events | Civic Week Ahead
Do you remember the 21st night of September, Framingham? (I’ve been waiting all month to use that lyric.) This year’s September 21 will be one of music and nostalgia. The Framingham History Center celebrates Framingham’s entertainment past with a tribute to Vaughan Monroe and his venue The Meadows this Friday and Saturday at Village Hall.
Some find it hard to believe that post-World War II Framingham was the place to be for entertainment - Jimi Hendrix, Gladys Night & the Pips, Duke Ellington, Johnny Mathis, just to name a small few - all played in town at The Meadows or The Carousel. They ate at Ken’s or the Maridor.
If I write a book one day, this would be the topic. I am really happy the FHC is celebrating this moment in time. I’ll be at the event on Saturday - if you are there, say hi!
Now onto this week’s issue…
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Nurses File Complaints
As the issues of Steward Healthcare overshadow the hospital issues we have here with Tenent Healthcare, Framingham Union Nurses have filed complaints regarding patient safety to state and federal agencies.
The complaints were filed with the Department of Public Health Division of Healthcare Quality and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
What are the complaints: The complaints highlight deficiencies in staffing, hospital policies, and according to their release, “a deliberately punitive management culture that is resulting in dangerous delays in the administration of needed medications and treatments, preventable patient falls and other complications, including preventable sentinel events. (A sentinel event is a safety event that results in death, permanent harm, or severe temporary harm.)”
What they said: ”As the state and communities continue to focus on the impact on patients and families as a result of the unscrupulous behavior and practices implemented by Steward Healthcare, we are taking the opportunity on Monday to alert regulators and the public about another Dallas-based for-profit provider, Tenet Healthcare, whose facilities in our state have conditions for patients, particularly as regards to staffing and the safety of patient care, that are significantly worse than what we have seen at Steward,” said Katie Murphy, RN, president of the MNA and a Framingham resident.
Investigators Requested: The nurses’ complaint includes an appeal for an immediate intervention by the Department of Public Health, including sending investigators to the hospital on a daily basis to ensure the safety of patients, like what they did in Steward-owned hospitals. Additionally, they request a meeting with the DPH Commissioner to hear reports firsthand from nurses.
Labor Board Involved: While this is happening at Framingham Union, the National Labor Relations Board is conducting a trial against St. Vincent Hospital administration, also a Tenent owned facility, for numerous violations of nurses’ union rights. Additionally, DPH investigated St. Vincent’s earlier this year and found the hospital did not have enough equipment to properly monitor patients with heart problems.
Update on Water at Windsor Green
After months of speaking out at public meetings, Windsor Green residents will see relief in their water and sewer bills.
Entitled to an Adjustment: Mayor Charlie Sisitsky told the Council last month that Windsor Green would receive a credit of about $300,000 on their water due. It was determined they were entitled to an adjustment because of the implemented multi-unit factor, which determines the cost of water.
Water Issues Not Out of the Woods: The water and sewer issues date back to 2007/2008 with the Board of Selectmen (which then-Selectman Charlie Sisitsky was on). A multi-unit factor, which calculates water usage, was supposed to be eliminated. However, that wasn’t the case for all multi-unit housing, some apartments and condos still had it, while others did not. The Sisitsky Administration hired a consultant to review the billing and tiered system with the goal to create as fair a plan as possible to charge residents for their water use. The consultant developed several scenarios that would impact homeowners.
Sisitsky said he was leaning towards a more in-depth study of the effects of applying the multi-unit factor to only condo complexes. Apartments would pay the actual bill from the tier they are in.
However, the city is looking at an increase in water and sewer rates, along with a service charge. Today there is no service charge on bills.
Future plans: Sisitsky said Framingham needs to generate enough money to run water & sewer, and someone has to pay for it. He wants to see the Council very involved in making decisions on how to proceed moving forward, and said his Administration would prepare a report for the Council for a public hearing.
Asked by Councilor Leora Mallach when a report would be expected, the Mayor commented that perhaps the report would be ready for the second meeting in September.
That meeting is tomorrow, and at the time of this writing, nothing is on the agenda about these rates.
DPW Provides Update on Sewage Leak
The wastewater overflow into the Sudbury River between Main Street and Route 9 in July was caused by corrosion of the pipe from the soil conditions. The total cost of repair was $110,000.
Worcester Pumping Station Project: According to City Engineer Eric Johnson the onsite activities of the ongoing project to reconstruct the Worcester Road pump station were on hold. Johnson hoped the project would be complete by early summer 2025. The Worcester Road pump station is the largest station in the network, processing all the wastewater from North Central Framingham.
Concern about the river: Councilor Noval Alexander asked if there would be any fines from the Environmental Protection Agency due to the leak. DPW Director Bob Lewis felt that because they took fast action to release notifications, no fines should come our way. He also stated the City worked with Massachusetts Water Resources Authority to flush out the Sudbury River.
Questions about pipe conditions: Councilor Brandon Ward asked if there were pipes that needed to move up the priority list. Steve Leone, Director of Water & Wastewater, stated the Gates Road pump station had similar conditions, age and material pipe to the Worcester Road pump station. He said the Gates Road pump station is in the design phase, which should conclude soon.
Behind the “eight ball”: Lewis said Framingham has an aging infrastructure, which is an issue throughout the Northeast. He felt the city was behind as far as getting ahead of the curve and that water and sewer projects would be coming fast over the next ten years.
Re-evaluating capital: Lewis also remarked that this incident caused DPW to re-evaluate their capital priorities. The list they submit for the upcoming capital project will look different than the previous years. Lewis said to be proactive it would take 25 to 30 years of a “steady diet of design and construction money” to get the City in a proactive state.
Locals Recognized on ALX100
Congratulations to several Framingham-related individuals for their recognition in the Amplify LatinX’s ALX100 list!
The 2024 ALX100 is the second cohort of exceptional Latino leaders working across Massachusetts to be honored by Amplify LatinX, a nonpartisan, collaborative nonprofit, for their contributions to the entire community.
They are:
Kevin Lopez, Executive Director of Hoops and Homework
Rich Robles, District 1 School Committee Member and Vice President & Chief Diversity Officer at Boston Children’s Hospital
Lino Covarrubias, CEO of Jewish Family Service of Metrowest
Mayor to Hold District 2 Forum
Mayor Charlie Sisitsky is making his way through Framingham with his district meetings. He’ll be in District 2 at Potter Road School on Monday, September 23 at 7:00pm. He'll be joined by District 2 Councilor Brandon Ward and School Committee member David Gordon, along with representatives from City departments like Police, Public Works, Planning, and Parks & Recreation.
The Mayor’s final two meetings will be for District 3 (what upppp!) in October and District 1 in November.
Community Events
Coburnville Tripoli Neighborhood Association Monthly Meeting: September 16, Barbieri Elementary School from 6:30- 8pm. Special guest is Sarkis Sarkisian, Director of Planning and Community Development for a discussion about housing and the rezoning of Route 135.
Jack’s Abby United Way 5K: Saturday, September 21 at 10:00 am. This race begins and ends at Jack’s Abby Craft Lagers 100 Clinton Street. Jack’s Abby will host our post-race party in their Beer Hall and Beer Garden. 10% of food sales during the post race party will be donated back to the United Way of Tri-County. Click here to register.
MetroWest Humane Society 17th Annual Craft Fair: Saturday, September 21 from 10:00am - 4:00pm at the Framingham Centre Common. Fair features over 100 vendors with handmade items by local artists and crafters. For more information, visit www.metrowesthumanesociety.org.
13th Annual Purple Passion 5K Walk/Run: Saturday, September 28. Packet pick-up and same day registration starts at 7am. Event starts at 7:30 AM. The race starts at 8 am sharp, followed by medals and raffle drawing at 9:00. The Purple Passion 5k raises the necessary funds to support survivors of domestic violence in the MetroWest community with free, confidential services. Click here to register.
KFB Trash Bash 250: Our biggest challenge yet! World Cleanup Day is Friday 9/20 & National Cleanup Day is Saturday 9/21. Keep Framingham Beautiful will extend these dates from Thursday 9/19 through Monday 9/23 and celebrate with our Trash Bash 250 event.
Here’s how you can help:
Do your own cleanup
Organize a small cleanup with family or employees
Join our weekend group cleanups 9.21 or 9/22
For our trash tally, please email your results or share to our Facebook group
Our 9/21 cleanup kicks off at St. Stephen Parish 221 Concord St, and 9/22 starts at Republic Plumbing Route 135. Please fill out this google form if you can be part of this incredible community effort. If you have any questions, send us an email at KeepFraminghamBeautiful@gmail.com.
The Civic Week Ahead
Monday, September 16
5:30pm: Council Appointments Subcommittee Agenda
Tuesday, September 17
Wednesday, September 18
Thursday, September 19
In Closing…
Deep appreciation for all those who decided to support The Ham’er with a paid subscription last week. I cannot tell you how humbled I am by the support.
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Thank you. Thank you.
-Mary Kate