🔨 Plan your detours.
Stay Cool | Framingham Construction Begins | FY26 Budget Finalized | Snapshot: Salem End Road | Community Events | Civic Week Ahead
Good evening, Framingham.
Back after a two week break. June is an incredibly busy month, as we all know. Sometimes this newsletter doesn’t get finished and sent. But here we are. I’ll spend the next few issues catching us all up.
Seems like its either raining or extremely hot. Here we are in a heat wave. If you are seeking a place to cool down, the city has several cooling centers for you.
Here are ways to stay cool in the city:
Main Library – 49 Lexington Street
Hours: Monday through Thursday: 9:00 am to 9:00 pm & Friday and Saturday: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
McAuliffe Branch Library – 746 Water Street
Hours: Monday through Thursday: 9:00 am to 9:00 pm & Friday and Saturday: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Both libraries are closed on Sunday in July & August
Callahan Center – 535 Union Avenue
Hours: Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Tuesday 8:30 am to 7:30 pm & Friday: 8:30 am to 1:30 pm
Closed on Saturdays and Sundays
Don’t forget our public beaches!
Learned Pond Park & Beach, Shawmut Terrace & Brigham Road
Saxonville Beach, Lake Road
Waushakum Beach, Nipmuc Road
No beach tags required. Open daily from dawn to dusk
Let’s look out for one another!
1.| Plan your detours. Major construction projects hit Framingham streets June 23.
There are a few things guaranteed in life, but death, taxes and road construction. The City of Framingham launched multiple infrastructure projects starting today (Monday, June 23), creating significant traffic impacts across several neighborhoods.
Why it matters: The coordinated construction on Edgell Road and Brook Street addresses critical infrastructure needs while schools are out, but drivers should expect major detours and delays. Additional ongoing Eversource gas work affects four other areas.
Edgell Road water & sewer replacement
Eight-week project between tennis courts and Mass Pike overpass starts June 23.
Work runs Monday-Friday, 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Completion expected by mid-August
Temporary water bypasses and fire hydrants will be installed
Traffic impact: Road will be impassable during sewer excavation, requiring full detours during work hours.
Emergency planning: Fire Chief Dutcher helped develop response protocols to maintain fire/EMS access.
Brook Street reconstruction
Four-day road work project with extended sidewalk construction through August.
The schedule:
Monday-Tuesday: Milling operations on Brook Street and Edgebrook
Wednesday: Leveler paving on Brook Street
Thursday: Alternating traffic resumes, sidewalk work begins
Traffic impact: Full detour Monday-Wednesday, then alternating traffic.
Ongoing Eversource gas projects
Four areas currently under construction with varying completion dates:
Hollis Street area (Bates, Foss, McAlee, George Streets): Through October 15
Lawrence Street: Through July 21
Alexander & Waushakum Streets: Through August 4
Janice Circle area (Lyman, Westview, McAdams Roads): Through July 27
Traffic impact: Alternating traffic patterns during daytime hours across all locations.
Contact info: DPW Sewer Division at 508-532-6050 or wastewater@FraminghamMA.gov
The bottom line: Plan alternate routes and extra travel time as multiple major projects are underway this summer.
2.| Council Approves $382.8M Budget After Last-Minute Free Cash Reduction
The Council approved the Sisitsky Administration’s FY26 budget in a 10-1 vote after reducing free cash usage by $400,000, largely due to Keefe Tech finding savings that allowed them to lower their budget request.
The final numbers:
$382,763,048: Final approved budget (down from $383 million+ proposal)
$9.6 million: Free cash used (reduced from original $10 million plan)
$24 million: Increase from FY25 budget
10-1 vote: Final approval with District 4 Councilor Michael Cannon dissenting
Last-minute changes: District 2 Councilor Brandon Ward's amendment reduced free cash usage by $400,000 due to two factors:
Keefe Tech savings: $302,800 reduction after the regional technical school found $400,000 in their FY25 budget, allowing them to lower their assessment request
Municipal software cuts: $135,000 reduction in software purchases
The revenue breakdown:
Tax levy (2.5% increase): $230.4 million
State aid: ~$108 million
Local receipts: $25.4 million
Free cash: $9.6 million
Keefe Tech development: Superintendent Jonathan Evans explained the school's budget flexibility came from finding additional money in their current budget: "Our current budget includes $600,000 for feasibility - that is what I assume we will be requested to go to bond."
The school is working on a feasibility study for a potential new building.
Councilor concerns persist: Despite the reduction, earlier warnings from councilors about fiscal sustainability remain:
At-Large Councilor George King: Previously called the spending trends concerning, saying "we are heading in a bad way" and advocating for more efficiency.
District 2 Councilor Brandon Ward: Even while proposing the reduction, had expressed discomfort with the "scale of the use of free cash" given economic conditions.
The bottom line: While the Council successfully reduced free cash dependence slightly through the Keefe Tech savings, the approved budget still represents a significant increase and maintains councilors' concerns about long-term fiscal sustainability in an uncertain economic climate.
Snapshot: Tree Clearing on Salem End
Before: 4 acres of mature forest. After: Complete clearing by Pure Life Development LLC, including trees within the 125-ft wetland buffer and 50-ft no-build zones. Neighborhood residents spoke during public comment at the Council meeting on June 17. The December 2024 buyer (formed just months earlier) paid half the assessed value. It is rumored the Dover Amendment may be used to build teacher housing for an autism school.
As one resident said during public comment: “Massive unauthorized land clearing—nearly all mature trees and vegetation across this 4-acre parcel had been cut down. This was taken without any required permits, official approvals, or even basic notification to abutting neighbors.”
Do you have a photo from something happening around the city? Send it my way to be featured in a future issue.
Community Events
Fireworks over Farm Pond Return
Celebrate the Fourth of July at Farm Pond with food, music, fireworks and community!
The fun takes place this Friday, June 27 from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm.
For all information regarding parking, safety, and a full list of food trucks, please visit the official website by clicking here.
Post Fireworks Clean up!
The morning after the big event (Saturday 6/28), Keep Framingham Beautiful will be leading a cleanup of the entire Dudley Rd. area starting at Barbieri Elementary School at 9:00 am.
The City of Framingham and Keep Framingham Beautiful are collaborating on litter prevention strategies, but there's bound to be some trash in the area aftr the event. Many teams will fan out and make sure the area is super spiffy!
Please fill out this google form if you can help: https://forms.gle/vjQhUnVwgoYYqmEYA
Stitching Revolution in Massachusetts: Quilting and Cotillion
Stitching Revolution in Massachusetts is a hands-on weekend blending quilting, history, and 18th-century dance, all in celebration of Massachusetts’ pivotal role in the American Revolution. Open to everyone—from experienced quilters and history lovers to curious visitors—this two-day event at the historic Framingham’s Village Hall on the Common, invites the community to connect through creativity, storytelling, and movement. Generously funded by MA250, the program highlights the Bay State’s rich Revolutionary heritage in an engaging and accessible way.
Visit the Framingham History Centre’s website for a full list of activities, lectures and dance!
Questions? Contact Claudia Ruiz, FHC Programs Manager: claudia@framinghamhistory.org
The Civic Week Ahead
Monday, June 23
Tuesday, June 24
Wednesday, June 25
Thursday, June 26
11:00am: MWRTA Advisory Board Agenda
In Closing…
Stay cool. Enjoy the fireworks on Friday!
Believe in Framingham,
