🔨 Show me the money
Happy Nick Pagnella Day | Saxonville’s Athenaeum Up for Community Preservation Funds | The Return of the Toy Soldiers | What I am Reading | The Civic Week Ahead
Happy Nick Pagnella Day, Framingham!
Today Mr. Pagnella celebrates his 90th birthday and last week the Council and the Mayor declared November 27 in his honor. Mr. Pagnella is a longtime Veterans advocate and a member of the Framingham Veterans Council. He is also the oldest elected leader in Framingham as one of the Edgell Grove Cemetery Trustees.
Mr. Pagnella served in the military for more than 25 years, including during the Korean War as a member of the 7th Infantry Division and in the National Guard. He received the Korean Defense Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the Overseas Military Reserve Medal, and the National Defense Medal.
Mr. Paganella opened a beauty salon in Marlborough in 1962. Many know him as their teacher at Keefe Tech where he taught cosmetology classes from 1974 to 2002.
Thank you for everything you do on behalf of veterans and our community, Nick! Happy birthday!
Have a comment or question? I’d love to hear from you. Email me at mkfeeney@gmail.com
Did someone forward this to you? Awesome. Subscribe here and never miss an issue.
Finance Committee Still Looking for Information
Frustration Brewing: Things got intense at the end of the last Finance Subcommittee meeting when Councilors asked again for financial reports from the CFO Louise Miller. Background information on agenda items and requested financial information, such as payables during a specific timeframe, are still a struggle for the City to produce for Councilors.
Waiting: Councilors requested the annual report in July, and every month since then, and the September quarterly report. To date, they have not received this information.
Invoking the Charter: When asked by Councilor John Stefanini how long it would take to receive these reports, Miller responded with two weeks. Stefanini reminded Miller that the Council can invoke Article II, section VII of the Charter that states the Council can vote to request information from the Mayor and the Mayor has 5 days to produce such information.
The problem: According to Miller, all reports must be run by Technology Services and no current staff member knows how to run reports in the Munis software program. There was also confusion over whether or not the Assistant CFO can produce reports, since she had done so in the past.
The City had to hire Munis representatives to show staff members on how to do reports. Additionally, as mentioned two weeks ago in The Ham’er, the city is without an accountant and assistant accountant, so Miller has taken on additional duties such as payroll, but she does not sign contracts.
What they said: “How many times, respectfully, do we have to have this conversation? If the Finance Subcommittee of the City Council, who is charged by Charter to handle the stewardship of the finances in the city, can’t get this basic information about how we spend our money… It is not transparent. It is antithetical to the foundation of what the Charter illustrates in terms of mutual expectations of us collaborating together to have successful representation for the community. I don’t want to have this conversation again. I feel like we’re inevitably going to have to make reference to the Charter to order that information to be provided. I thought at the conclusion of the previous administration we were out of that business.” - Councilor Mike Cannon
The Mayor’s Special Events Account: Stefanini, who was part of the Celebration Committee and involved with the fundraising for Flag Day and the 4th of July fireworks, is also seeking data regarding the Mayor’s Special Events account. People have asked him how that money was used, and he “cannot answer basic questions.” When told he should ask the Treasurer’s Office, he said he did but they told him to ask the CFO Office and was told he cannot have that information.
Next steps: Finance Subcommittee Chair George King requested the quarterly September 2023 report, as a “good place to start”. The discussion continues at the next Finance Subcommittee meeting tomorrow, Tuesday, November 28.
December is the final month of the Council’s 2022-2023 session. The new Council session begins in January 2024.
Saxonville’s Athenaeum Up for Community Preservation Funds
Next round of funding: The City of Framingham submitted an application for the complete restoration of Saxonville’s Athenaeum to the Community Preservation Committee.
Goal of the project: “The project will preserve this classically designed Greek revival structure and return it to use as a civic center and potential City Hall annex that will be fully accessible for all Framingham residents.” The plan includes Americans with Disabilities Act compliance, meeting rooms and exhibition space on the first floor and an auditorium with the stage (already there) on the second floor. New electric, plumbing, bathrooms and exterior updates are also included in the proposal.
While the future of the old firehouse next door is undecided, the proposal includes an annex between the two buildings to allow ADA access to enter the building and elevators.
What is the Athenaeum: Built in 1847 as Saxonville’s Town Hall, it fulfilled numerous purposes over the last 150 years, including as municipal offices, classrooms, and a community meeting and events venue. It was also a gathering place for the Women’s Auxiliary during the Civil War where they prepared supplies and clothing for soldiers. Due to the condition of the building, the then Town of Framingham shut the building down in the 1990s. For the last 30 years, the restoration and what to do with the building has been an ongoing debate. The Spicer Administration recommended the Athenaeum as a community center in a proposal to Congresswoman Clark in a request for federal funds. The request was denied.
The price tag: Projected $9 million out of a nearly $10 million proposal. According to the application, “The City intends to bond, i.e. borrow, the funds to pay for construction, consistent with the ability to bond given to Framingham’s CPC under the Community Preservation Act legislation. The City plans to bond the cost of construction as proposed in the Application, using the ultimate funding sources to either write down the cost of construction or to pay the annual cost of the bonding over multiple years.” Framingham also has mitigation funds committed by Town Meeting for the specific funding of this project, along with $36,000 from the Friends of Saxonville.
Why this project is important to Saxonville: “Saxonville and North Framingham are an underserved geographic area in terms of provision of municipal services. With the exception of fire protection and the McAuliffe Library, there are no municipal offices providing direct services to the public north of Route 9. Likewise, except for McAuliffe Library, there are no ADA accessible public venues. There also is no police sub-station north of Route 9. Saxonville is an environmental justice community. Having a local City Hall Annex or civic center where North Framingham residents can receive services will be a welcome alternative to their traveling across the City to downtown Framingham to get them.”
Some initial thoughts: While I am a huge supporter of historical preservation, I have a few questions. This is a major project with a lot of history of debate on what to do with it. With the city’s purchase of 180 Concord Street, next to the Memorial Building, is there a need to have municipal offices around the city? Saxonville is home yes, to the McAuliffe Library, but the Facilities Department has an office in the old library building and A Street is home to one of the city’s largest pumping stations complete with a conference room. The application mentions there is no police substation north of Route 9. Is there a need for a substation and are they suggesting one could be located at this site? Also, how will bonding a $9 million project under CPA legislation affect CPA funds in the decades to come? I look forward to learning more as the process moves on.
CPA applications were due on November 15. The CPC will review the applications and hold hearings. I will spotlight other applications in future issues.
Community Events
The Return of the Toy Soldiers
Framingham’s legendary Toy Soldiers are returning this week! 40 soldiers will be deployed throughout the community. Check the Framingham Parks & Recreation Department’s Facebook & Instagram pages directly for the clues on their locations.
Fill the Cruiser
The Framingham Police Department wants your help to fill the cruiser!
Please bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate. Donations will be given to local programs to assist those in need this holiday season.
When: Friday, December 1st
Where: Framingham Police Department
Time: 5pm-7pm
Tree Lighting on Friday
It is that time of year again: Framingham’s 32nd annual tree lighting and holiday block party.
Join in on the holiday fun with hot cocoa and treats, the FPL Bookmobile, Story Walk, sing-alongs from the Girl Scouts…and Santa and Mrs. Claus arrives on a fire truck!
Takes place at the Memorial Building from 5-7:30pm on Friday, December 1.
Garden Club Annual Greens Sale
I know where I am going to be on Friday - the Garden Club’s annual sale. I cannot say enough about how wonderful are their wreaths! Always a very popular event.
FHS Holiday Market Place
Come support FHS! Great local artisans selling something for everyone. Check off your list while shopping at their Holiday Marketplace.
What I’m Reading
Budding nurses union claims interference from Framingham hospital. What we know.
Ted is back, this time as a cub in Framingham - Framingham in the 1990s. Wonder if Liam’s will make an appearance?
Framingham's John Stefanini says city must refine its charter, focus on the future
'I feel so good for our seniors.' Framingham ends four-year losing streak to Natick
Framingham's Shoppers World has been acquired by a New York real estate company
For some families, the right to shelter isn’t a right at all
The Civic Week Ahead
Monday, November 27
Tuesday, November 28
Wednesday, November 29
7:15am: Walsh Middle School Council Agenda
2:00pm: Edgell Grove Cemetery Trustees Agenda
3:30pm: School Committee Unit S Subcommittee Agenda
5:30pm: Veteran's Council Agenda
7:00pm: School Committee Agenda
7:00pm: Sustainability Committee Agenda
7:00pm: Conservation Commission Agenda
7:00pm: Disability Commission Agenda
Thursday, November 30
In Closing
Incredibly busy week as we roll into December. There is plenty to do - so please join me in celebrating our city and the holiday season!
Mark your calendar for Sunday, December 31 for a New Year’s Eve Celebration on the Cochituate Rail Trail sponsored by the Friends of Framingham Trails. Details coming soon.
Believe in Framingham,
Mary Kate