The Crisis at Framingham Union
The Crisis at Framingham Union | Nobscot Plans Revealed | Nominate an Outstanding Senior! | What are Your Priorities for Framingham? | The Week Ahead
Two issues from 2022 carried over into 2023: Framingham Union and Nobscot. I imagine both will continue to dominate headlines this year. The hospital is in crisis with staffing issues, unit closures and mergers, and the uncertainty surrounding its future. Not everyone can go to Newton-Wellesley or Boston for health care, which is why Framingham Union is such a critical component of Framingham. Not to mention it is one of our largest employers in the city.
The Crisis at Framingham Union
Framingham Union is once again making headlines by requesting ambulances to divert all labor and delivery to other hospitals. This request occurred over Christmas and New Year’s Eve, and this previous weekend.
How does this affect local communities? Surrounding communities, like Ashland, use Framingham Union. If an ambulance has to go elsewhere, it ties up that ambulance. What would be a 10 minute ride can turn into a 30, 40 minute ride to Newton or Worcester. The entire system is affected if there is another emergency.
Why are ambulances being diverted? The hospital says nursing staffing issues are the reason. According to the Mayor, the hospital CEO told him the diversion was temporary for one shift on Christmas weekend.
Speaking of nursing staffing issues…the Framingham Source reports today that the ICU/CCU and cardiovascular unit (CVU) merged. The CVU moved to ICU due to not enough nurses to staff both units on different floors. According to the Source, “... staffing level is below the safety plan MetroWest Medical Center filed for the fiscal year, and it could be below the state-mandated staffing level.” There are many reports of nurses resigning due to working conditions and other factors.
The Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare, which owns the MetroWest Medical Center that includes Framingham Union, has been silent on what is happening to the community hospital. Instead they are advertising for nurses. Since 2020, Tenet has made significant decisions to the hospital, such as closing the pediatric unit in the middle of the pandemic in 2020, and last summer announcing the closure of the cancer center.
What can be done to help Framingham Union? Good question. This was a topic at last week’s Council meeting, with the Mayor, Councilors Ottaviani, Stefanini, Bryant, Leombruno, King, Alexander and Cannon, and State. Rep Sousa spoke out about the importance of the hospital and pledged to work together to keep it open.
The good news: A deal was made with Tufts Medical Center regarding the cancer center. A new Tufts operated Cancer Center at the MetroWest Medical Center opens on January 16.
Nobscot Concept Revealed
Back in September a citizens petition requesting the rezoning of 27 acres in Nobscot was submitted to the Council. You can read The Ham’er issue about the petition.
Fast forward to last Thursday’s Planning Board meeting: Steve Cucinatti and Rick Vallarelli from J & Company, along with their lawyer Peter Barbieri, appeared in front of the Planning Board. (Aside: J & Company redeveloped the old Polaroid site in Waltham.) In this brief preliminary hearing they shared their current concept.
Here are the highlights:
Citizen petition was withdrawn on December 15th via an email from a lawyer. However, the city is awaiting the petitioners to submit in writing they agree to withdraw. The withdrawal removes the timeline from the process, allowing the developer to hold meetings with neighbors. Neighborhood meetings were encouraged by the Planning Board.
The 27 acre site was originally highlighted in an economic and planning study done several years ago reviewing Nobscot. It was unclear in the meeting why these parcels were not included in the final B-4 village zoning map.
Nobscot Park is at the focal point of the plan. The developer would like to revitalize the underused park to be the center of the village.
Current concept includes townhouses, senior living (assisted living), multi family, retail and restaurant.
400-500 units; 14-18 units per acre.
50% open space preserved.
300 foot buffer between townhouses and the houses on Livoli Road.
The developer said the concept is not like Maynard Crossing, but does bring in housing diversity to North Framingham. He also said he hears people’s requests for a coffee shop, a restaurant and a small grocer.
Nothing in the form of plans has been filed with the City of Framingham.
What is next? Planning Board Chair Kristina Johnson was clear this must be a transparent process from that point forward, the developer should continue to work with Sarkis Sarkisian, Director of Planning and Community Development, and encouraged community meetings before any consideration of zoning changes. No action was taken from the Planning Board.
Details: You can read their brief PowerPoint presentation here.
Nominate an Outstanding Senior!
Do you know an outstanding Framingham senior citizen worthy of recognition? The Council on Aging are seeking nominations for the 2023 Framingham Senior Heroes Awards.
Fill out the form here. All nominations are due by Friday, February 3.
What are Your Priorities for Framingham?
Councilor John Stefanini is seeking your opinions on all things Framingham in his yearly survey. Take a few minutes to share your thoughts. He will publish the results in a few weeks.
The Week Ahead
January 10, 2023
1:30 PM: Council on Aging
5:30 PM: School Committee: Finance & Operations Subcommittee
7:00 PM: Community Development Committee
7:00 PM: Council: Finance Subcommittee
7:00 PM: Board of Health
January 11, 2023
4:00 PM: Board of Assessors
4:00 PM: School Committee: Health and Wellness Subcommittee
6:00 PM: Council: Economic Development & Housing Subcommittee
7:00 PM: Parks and Recreation Commission
7:00 PM: Zoning Board of Appeals
7:00 PM: Cultural Council
7:00 PM: Sustainability Committee