🔨 Sisitsky Announces Re-election Plans
Argo-hood Breaks Ground | Low Turnout for D9 Preliminary | Update on Bruce Freeman Rail Trail | What I am Reading | Community Events | The Civic Week Ahead
It is the last full week of September, Framingham. I hope those of you who observed Yom Kippur had a meaningful fast.
I received many comments about last week’s issue regarding Framingham Union. Thank you for sharing your comments. It is clear people are frustrated with the hospital, but want to see it improve and remain as a source of community health care. This is an issue we will continue to talk about in the upcoming months.
Onto this week’s news…
Have a comment or question? I’d love to hear from you. Email me at mkfeeney@gmail.com
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Sisitsky Announces Re-election Plans
An early announcement: Mayor Charlie Sisitsky declared his intention to run for a second term in 2025.
Meeting with local groups: Over the last few weeks, Mayor Sisitsky spoke to the Framingham Business Association, Framingham Democratic Committee, and the Coburnville-Tripoli Neighborhood Association. At the FBA and CTNA, Sisitsky, 78, shared his intention to run in two years.
A post on the City’s official Facebook page recapping the Mayor’s meeting with CTNA stated “He expressed his intent to complete his ambitious agenda, including into a second term.”
Sharing his record of accomplishment: Sisitsky shared his Administration’s accomplishments, including revitalizing the farmers’ market, bringing back fireworks for July 4th, closing on the purchase of Bethany for a new southside school, cleaning up Mary Dennison Park, and taking the steps to make the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail a reality.
Four year term: Sisitsky was elected Framingham’s second mayor in November 2021 and was sworn in January 2022. He is 1 ¾ years into his first four year term.
Election season: The Mayor’s announcement comes right in the middle of our current election cycle. All of the Councilors and School Committee members are up for election, along with Library Trustees and Edgell Grove Cemetery Trustees. The election this year is Tuesday, November 7, 2023.
Other candidates: No one else has publicly declared their intention to run for Mayor in 2025. According to the Office of Campaign Finance, Sisitsky has $37,909.87 in his campaign coffers.
Groundbreaking at Baiting Brook Farm
Welcome to the Agrihood, the first of its kind in Massachusetts.
The groundbreaking: Mayor Sisitsky, Sarkis Sarkisian, Director of Planning and Community Development, Councilors and other elected officials, neighbors, and real estate agents, came together to mark the groundbreaking of the new Baiting Brook Farm at 1060 Grove Street.
A project long in the making: What took previous owner Howard Fafard decades, and ultimately went nowhere, took new property owner Doug Stephan of Eastleigh Farm less than a year to get approved by the Sisitsky Administration.
Fafard’s last project proposal for 1060 Grove Street was for a 39 unit, 55+ Florida style gated community back in 2016. It was quickly panned by neighbors.
Fafard died in 2021. His family sold the property to Stephan, his business partner Greg Cohen and a third party.
What is an “agrihood”? An agrihood is a neighborhood that combines housing with farming. Baiting Brook Farm is a 55+ community featuring 63 units of housing, including single family and duplexes, built on farm property. 65% of the land is preserved for open space, growing crops, raising animals and other agricultural activities. The stables already on site will remain for individuals to keep their horses. Community gardens will be on site for fresh food, and chickens for eggs. You do not have to farm to live in the agrihood.
Breakdown of the housing: 63 units of housing include:
42 buildings
29 single family houses with two bedrooms
12 duplexes with 24 units of housing
10 units in the existing mansion, including 7 units of affordable housing
142 parking spaces
What is the timeline: It is projected the construction will last two to three years.
D9 Preliminary Results
The results are in: Incumbent Councilor Tracey Bryant came out on top, followed by Parks and Recs Commissioner Jose Ferreira. Bryant received 40 votes, followed by 16 for Ferreira and 5 for Albert Chimeno.
Very low turnout: Only 62 of 3,001 registered voters in District 9 took the time to go to Harmony Grove Elementary School to vote on Tuesday, September 19.
What is next? Ferreira said back in August he would not campaign for the preliminary. In a video posted Monday night before the election, Ferreira said he would campaign for Council if he ended up in the top two. However, he said he will not do any “typical campaign tactics” like signs, fundraisers or knocking on doors. He says he will be out in the community.
Bryant is seeking a third term on the Council.
Update on Bruce Freeman Rail Trail
Another step in the process: We are one step closer to bringing the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail to Framingham. Last December, Mayor Sisitsky signed a purchase agreement with CSX, which started a 180 day process for the city to do its due diligence, including surveying and environmental study. That work is complete.
Handing over the property deed: This Thursday, the Sisitsky Administration will hold a celebration to mark Framingham’s acquisition of the land deed from CSX. The ceremony takes place at 10am at the Framingham Aqueduct on Water Street.
Let’s talk money…The purchase agreement is for 3.5 miles of land for $5 million. Financial support for the purchase includes from Massachusetts Environmental Protection Agency to fund phases 1 & 2 of the environmental study for $490,000 and Congresswoman Clark secured $500,000 for part of the construction.
What is the Bruce Freeman Rail Trail?: The BFRT follows the old New Haven Railroad Framingham & Lowell line. It is a 26 mile route that travels through Lowell, Chelmsford, Westford, Carlisle, Acton, Concord, Sudbury and Framingham. Sudbury is currently working on their phase of the project.
What is next? Next stages include design, community input and then construction.
I am incredibly excited about the progress Framingham is finally making after nearly two decades of talking about the BFRT. Looking forward to seeing many of you at the event on Thursday.
What I am Reading
New designs on office life: Companies hope the workplace can be ‘a magnet, not a mandate’ (The Boston Globe)
When building bike lanes isn’t enough (The Boston Globe)
R.W. Holmes Secures Multiple Office Leases in Framingham, MA (Boston Real Estate Times)
Murphy's Eats & Treats' second location scheduled to open in Framingham soon
Community Events
The Repair Cafe is Back!
Bring your items that need repair, and knowledgeable volunteers will help you try to fix them for free.
The volunteers can work on items such as clean mendable clothing, knitted and crocheted items, lamps, small appliances, electronic devices that need button batteries, computers and other electronics, bikes, toys, jewelry, wheelchairs, and sewing machines. They can also sharpen knives, scissors, and garden tools. You only pay for needed parts. If you know what parts are needed, please get them ahead of time and bring them to the Repair Café to save time.
All are welcome and encouraged to participate.
Free event, with suggested donation of $5-10 per repair
Organizers are looking for additional volunteers who can sharpen knives (or want to learn how!) and fix sewing machines; sign up at: tinyurl.com/FramFixVolunteer if you can help!
For more information, see the Transition Framingham website: TransitionFramingham.org/repair-cafe/
To volunteer: https://tinyurl.com/FramFixVolunteer
The Repair Cafe is an all-volunteer project, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Framingham with support from Transition Framingham
Books in Bloom
View floral interpretations of favorite books from 90 years ago by members of the Framingham Garden Club as they celebrate their 90th anniversary.
Reception Wednesday, September 27th, 7PM. View floral displays through September 30.
Join us live at the Main Library, 49 Lexington St. in Framingham or stream live on our YouTube channel at youtube.com/FraminghamPublicLibrary.
The Civic Week Ahead
Monday, September 25
7:00 pm: Board of License Commissioners Agenda
Tuesday, September 26
Wednesday, September 27
7:15 am: Walsh Middle School Council Agenda
12:30 pm: MWRTA Finance & Audit Committee Agenda
2:00 pm: Edgell Grove Cemetery Trustees Agenda
4:30 pm: School Committee Policy Subcommittee Agenda
6:00 pm: Council Environment & Sustainability Subcommittee Agenda
7:00 pm: Disability Commission Agenda
7:00 pm: Sustainability Committee Agenda
Thursday, September 28
In Closing
Looking at the results of my reader survey, one of the features that people are interested in is a q&a section. So, let’s try it. Do you have a question about what is going on? Want me to expand on something? Email me and every few issues or so I’ll do a reader Q&A.
Thanks for reading! Have a great week,
Mary Kate