Your candidates for Council & School Committee Part Deux
Next in a series of questions for candidates in Framingham's 2023 municipal election.
Welcome back to another issue of Q&A with the candidates, Framingham!
In this issue, you’ll find the last set of Councilor answers and the only two responses I received from School Committee candidates. Thank you again to those who took the time to share information with the voters about themselves and their thoughts on the issues.
Before we get to the Q&As, some important information:
Ways to Vote and Where
Election Day: Tuesday, November 7. Polls are open from 7:00am - 8:00pm
Where do I vote?: Due to redistricting, where you voted at the last municipal election in 2021 may not be where you vote this year. The Clerk’s website features a helpful map and guide to help you find your polling location. Check it out here.
Not registered: The last day to register to vote is Friday, October 28 at 5pm. Register to vote online at the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s website.
Interested in voting by mail: As required by the new law, a Vote By Mail application can be submitted by any Framingham voter who had not already requested an Absentee ballot for the 2023 fall elections.
All vote by mail applications for the City Election must be received in the City Clerk’s Office, Room #105, by 5 p.m., on Tuesday, October 31, 2023.
How to obtain Vote by Mail Application
To obtain a Vote By Mail Application, click here How to obtain Vote by Mail Application. You may also contact the City Clerk at 508-532-5521 or email cityclerk@framinghamma.gov and one will be sent to you.
More questions? Need more information? The City Clerk’s website is a wealth of information, please check it out. You can also contact them at the information above.
League of Women' Voters Holds Candidate Forum
The Framingham League of Women Voters will be holding a Candidates’ Forum for the District 2 City Council race. The candidates are Sean Silk and Brandon Ward. The forum will be fully remote. Please join us on Sunday October 29, 2023 at 5:00 p.m.
MKF Note: This was information sent to me by the Framingham LWV. No information about a forum between the D8 candidates John Stefanini and Leslie White Harvey or D9 candidates Tracey Bryant and Jose Ferreira was provided. I know people are interested to hear from all of the candidates in competitive races, so hopefully something will be scheduled.
If you missed last week’s issue, John Stefanini responded to my Q&A. Jose’s responses are below. For transparency: efforts were made to reach both Leslie and Tracey for my Q&A, and no response was provided.
Please note, again: Due to the length of this email, you may see "Message clipped | View entire message" at the bottom of your email. If you click on it, it will open a browser so you can read the entire issue. Or you can go to The Ham’er website to read it there.
Have a comment or question? I’d love to hear from you. Email me at mkfeeney@gmail.com
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Meet Your Candidates for Council
At Large
George P. King, Jr.
Occupation: Attorney
Municipal Experience: Former Town Manager, Town Clerk, Finance Committee Member, Library Trustee, Cemetery Trustee
Volunteer Experience: Framingham Force
Website/Social Media: www.Georgekingframingham.com
Why are you running? I believe I can offer experience and insights into the decisions and challenges that come before the Council. I enjoy the discourse of the public sector and I look forward to continuing to serve.
Framingham has grown significantly over the last decade. More than 1000 units of housing are on the docket to come online or be approved this year. Residents are concerned by the expansion of apartments and rents that are out of range for many, and believe there is little being done to address their growth, and take into account the costs around public services, traffic and schools. How should Framingham address these concerns? Would you support another moratorium until a plan is put into place? I think moratoriums are harmful for zoning, as it leaves us in a static state. People who want to build will just wait out the moratorium. It is not a solution, in fact moratoriums in this community I would argue have greatly hurt the breadth and depth of the housing stock we have today.
Where we have failed to some extent is with our zoning decisions as a whole. Quality zoning decisions are much more important to the overall outcomes that moratoriums. Town Meeting decided to permit large apartments in the relatively wide area on the southside. Virtually all the current proposals fit into that zoning scheme adopted by Town Meeting. If we do not want the apartments, we should change the zoning. That is a solution that lasts, unlike a moratorium.
What role, if any, do you believe local government should play in protecting the right to bodily autonomy? I believe in a women’s right to bodily autonomy. The vast majority of the decisions and policies that impact the subject are not made at the Framingham City Council.
I generally believe as a city council we should confine our decisions to local issues within the scope of our mission. I am often hesitant for us as a committee to take positions on state and national issues, because we have no authority to officially impact it. Discussing and debating said issues is relatively meaningless, or at least no more meaningful than any other group in Framingham discussing it. It becomes distracting to the mission we have as a group.
That having been said, if something comes before us, that legitimately allows us to make a decision that can positively impact such rights, I will certainly support it.
With the rising costs of recycling and trash disposal, and Massachusetts’ goal to reduce disposal by 30% by 2030, how can Framingham reduce its trash collection? Continuing to build and investigate alternative recycling programs is obviously the best way to reduce trash collection. We recently have begun to look at food composting. We have in the past had fledgling programs in textile recycling. Continuing to look at optional streams of disposal is the best approach.
Traffic is one of the top issues in the city. What can be done to alleviate traffic congestion and make Framingham safer for pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles? Traffic is an issue almost everywhere. We have not really expanded road capacity for decades in most areas, but we have a significant number of more cars on the roads today. That is going to be make it a lot tighter. Framingham is not going to solve traffic issues alone, but investment in our infrastructure will help. I am in favor of increasing spending on roads. Fair and consistent enforcement is also important. Those are approaches we can take locally to impact a broader public policy challenge.
As the business world changes in our post-pandemic world, what do you think Framingham should do to attract more businesses? How can we better support business currently here? Whether the businesses or currently here or new, we have to be sure Framingham is just as friendly and easy a place to do business as other cities and towns. If we are able to assure ourselves of that, business placements will take care of themselves because we have the advantage of size and location.
The question is, do we do that? The answer is, we are trying. There have been improvements with the customer service aspect of servicing businesses. For the most part the planning board and ZBA seem to treat businesses in a fair and thoughtful manner. I think we need changes to the Conservation Commission. This is a critical board in the development process, and it is important they hold up the laws and regulations they are charged with. But, sometimes they seem to go beyond that and treat businesses and even residential applicants in a way that is less than productive. I have heard more complaints about this board than any other.
The other area of focus is taxes. We tax businesses higher than almost any surrounding community. We have been working on this, but we have to continue. Controlling our tax rates is critical to the community thriving, both in the residential and business market. I have shown leadership in controlling what at one time was an out of control tax rate. I will continue to do so.
Framingham Union Hospital has repeatedly faced challenges over the last year. Do you support this community hospital? If yes, what will you do to keep it open? Framingham Union has a deep and rich history in this community. It was staffed for years, and still is, by dedicated people who want to support the community. The spirit of this approach was broken when the hospital was purchased by a for profit entity back in the 1990s. It has been straight downhill since. The physical plant is neglected, and the service levels are being cut back.
I think the only hope is to convince the corporate owner to sell. If a local hospital chain adds Framingham to their network, I think things will work out well. But I think it is not likely this happens. Money is tight and the hospital will need large infusions of cash from a buyer, because it lacks upkeep in so many ways.
I am going to continue to advocate for a sale and call Tenet out on its practices. But I fear the future of this hospital in our city.
Many feel like they are getting priced out of Framingham. How can we keep Framingham affordable? By making sure we run the municipality offering the best services that our constituents want, but also making sure we do so in an efficient manner. There often seems to be a lack of focus on efficiency and accountability. It is hard to do, and money is plentiful, so we keep spending it without question for the most part. Often scrutiny does not happen in government until the money dries up. If we learn that lesson and scrutinize now, not when we have to, we will be much more successful.
Keeping Framingham affordable is critical to maintaining our diverse community.
Janet Leombruno
Occupation: Property Manager
Municipal Experience: City Council At-Large, Vice Chair 2019-present, Town Meeting 2004-2017, Charter Commission 2016, Framingham Housing Commissioner 2015-present, Massachusetts Funeral Board 2017-present
Volunteer Experience: Metrowest Conference for Women, 200 Foundation, Former Framingham Baseball Board of Directors, Framingham Baseball coach, YMCA instructor, FUSC coach, Resiliency for Life Board of Directors
Website/Social Media: www.janetleombruno.com
Why are you running? When I first ran in 2018 my platform was about being a team player, strengthening our neighborhoods, working to keep Framingham affordable and embracing our diversity and reflecting it in our government. Over the last four years, I have been active in neighborhood groups and discussions, worked with the Mayor and Council to support responsible budgets, and worked tirelessly to help recruit people for our boards and committees. I have been accessible to my constituents, which to me, is the most important part of the job. In my next term, I will remain focused on helping you with various issues in our city, bringing more people into our government and keeping Framingham affordable.
Framingham has grown significantly over the last decade. More than 1000 units of housing are on the docket to come online or be approved this year. Residents are concerned by the expansion of apartments and rents that are out of range for many, and believe there is little being done to address their growth, and take into account the costs around public services, traffic and schools. How should Framingham address these concerns? Would you support another moratorium until a plan is put into place? It is no secret there is a housing crisis here and in Massachusetts. What’s more alarming is that the housing that is being built is not affordable, even the affordable units are not available.
I probably would not support a moratorium. But instead would encourage more mixed use development with retail and office space, along with residential. As a member of the Framingham Housing Authority, we have worked to create more affordable housing, like at Carlson Crossing. But that is not enough. This year the City Council voted to increase the minimum percentage of affordable housing units in future apartments from 10% to 13%. This is a good step towards more affordable units for our residents.
What role, if any, do you believe local government should play in protecting the right to bodily autonomy? I believe that it is our responsibility to see that all women should have full access to healthcare in Framingham. I signed the City Council proclamation supporting women’s choice, and healthcare for all.
With the rising costs of recycling and trash disposal, and Massachusetts’ goal to reduce disposal by 30% by 2030, how can Framingham reduce its trash collection? Framingham, like many other communities, is facing challenges when it comes to recycling and trash disposal. I believe that better education is part of it, but I also believe we have options that need exploring.
As the Chair of the Council’s Environmental and Sustainability Subcommittee, we are exploring the possibility of a Swap Shop pilot program. Recently I toured some other communities with the DPW Director to look at best practices to see how this could be implemented in Framingham. Giving people the option to reuse is another piece in tackling our trash issues.
I am thrilled Eve Carey was recently hired as the new Recycling Coordinator. She brings energy and ideas on how to reduce our waste. I am looking forward to working with her.
Traffic is one of the top issues in the city. What can be done to alleviate traffic congestion and make Framingham safer for pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles? Traffic is a major concern in Framingham, and throughout the Commonwealth, as there are far more cars on roads that were never designed for this kind of traffic.
Framingham is doing some great things with expansion of the rail trails, making safer streets, adding new traffic controls, and installing better sidewalks that are Americans with Disabilities Act compliant.
While visiting businesses Downtown, I heard about the issues with drivers not knowing they can take a turn on red at the lights in front of the Memorial Building, and at the Coburnville-Tripoli Association I heard about issues with the island on Waverly Street by the train station. Both issues were causing backups and traffic issues. Working with the Mayor and DPW, we were able to put up a sign regarding the right turn and remove the island. This has lessened traffic issues Downtown. These are examples of how teamwork is best for Framingham. By hearing more of your concerns, we can together make improvements to our streets.
As the business world changes in our post-pandemic world, what do you think Framingham should do to attract more businesses? How can we better support business currently here? Framingham has made some great strides with our business community, it’s clear that Framingham is now open for business. Our Director of Planning and Community Development, and the Planning Department are doing an amazing job of trying to recruit businesses while working together with the planning board. We are on the right track.
Framingham Union Hospital has repeatedly faced challenges over the last year. Do you support this community hospital? If yes, what will you do to keep it open? We need to keep Framingham Union open. This is a critical facility for Framingham. The emergency room is literally between life or death for some of our residents.
But we also need to make sure that it is a working hospital. I am committed to working with the Mayor and the legislative delegation on a solution, whether it is to get them to sell it or find somebody to come in that will take it over.
Many feel like they are getting priced out of Framingham. How can we keep Framingham affordable? Framingham, like every other community around us is facing a housing shortage which only adds to people being priced out. We must continue to keep a strong economic base, as it's the business community that helps fund our schools, police and fire. We must continue to put forth responsible budgets, and I am committed to continuing to work with the Mayor and his Administration.
Recently, the City Council passed an ADU ordinance which allows owners of single-family homes to build an additional unit for an aging parent or an adult child with a disability. While it won’t fix everything, it is a great opportunity for such folks in need of this kind of housing.
District 5
Noval Alexander
Occupation: Educator, Teacher’s Aide in Belmont Public Schools
Municipal Experience: Former School Committee Member, Former member on School Building Committee for Fuller Middle School
Volunteer Experience: Fuller faculty, Parent and Community advisory Committee, Framingham HS Hall of Fame selection subcommittee
Website/Social Media: novalforframingham (facebook)
Why are you running? I’m running because during my first term in office I believe we collectively as Council alongside our Mayor have begun to turn our proverbial ship around into safer and calmer waters and with a vision. Quite simply I want to continue to do my part in this crucial work. Equally, I want to continue to be a voice and strong advocate for the neighborhoods that make up District 5. In addition, as an educator, continue to advocate proper and prudent funding and maintenance of our public schools. This will create the environment for academic excellence is paramount and I will no doubt continue to work vigorously in that effort. The goals I’ve set for myself based on feedback from neighbors are a work in progress and I believe another term will bring many of those goals to fruition. Most importantly I believe in the roll up the sleeves, working together in a low drama environment philosophy. This approach to local issues in a non-partisan manner is the best policy to solving them.
Framingham has grown significantly over the last decade. More than 1000 units of housing are on the docket to come online or be approved this year. Residents are concerned by the expansion of apartments and rents that are out of range for many, and believe there is little being done to address their growth, and take into account the costs around public services, traffic and schools. How should Framingham address these concerns? Would you support another moratorium until a plan is put into place? No doubt we are a growing community and as I supported the original moratorium, I would not support another. Instead we should refocus on how to incorporate a smart growth plan for this City. The basic tenets of my plan are to use the existing boards such as SIFOC, planning and zoning boards as a check list clearinghouse to approve new developments exceeding a certain square footage. The items on that check list would have an impact on schools, roads/traffic/parking and public services. I’m not sure if we should codify this into an ordinance but I’d like to entertain that idea.
What role, if any, do you believe local government should play in protecting the right to bodily autonomy? Its very unfortunate and quite frightening that we have people in and outside government that want to regulate and control a woman’s right to choose. I believe those crucial decisions are to made by and large privately between a woman and her immediate family to include her significant other and equally important with her physician. As for local government, I believe Council has a limited role in defending those rights and crafting reasonable regulations when warranted. I say limited because the State Legislature and to a greater extent Congress has wider authority on the issue.
With the rising costs of recycling and trash disposal, and Massachusetts’ goal to reduce disposal by 30% by 2030, how can Framingham reduce its trash collection? I believe the trash collection and recycling program and policies adopted by our DPW over the years have been stellar for the most part. As an educator I believe this is where the confluence of recycling usage meet current and future objectives and goals. Educating the public is an essential element in helping to reduce our contribution to this worldwide problem. Composting is one avenue where we can go down, I’m very pleased that we in Council, as well as our Mayor have made intentional moves in that direction. In my role on the Council’s Environmental Subcommittee my colleagues and civic minded partners have and will continue to push those initiatives and other ideas to the forefront for action.
Traffic is one of the top issues in the city. What can be done to alleviate traffic congestion and make Framingham safer for pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles?Oh, the traffic, this has been a staple complaint and concern in Framingham since before I was born. The biggest difference is that we now have traffic apps on our devices leading motorists down our once quieter residential streets. Most of what I hear about and is a safety issue is excessive speeding. I’ve been beating the drum and working with our traffic commission and making cameo appearances at their meetings in a few cases to identify troublesome streets within the District that need immediate attention. I’ve been advocating for speed mitigation measures such as raised intersections, painted intersection boxes eg;(DO NOT BLOCK THE BOX) speed bumps as well as digital speed feedback signs. During my next term I will keep up my advocacy and try to inject creativity and a sense of urgency into the traffic commission.
As the business world changes in our post-pandemic world, what do you think Framingham should do to attract more businesses? How can we better support business currently here? I’ve always said that Framingham is the beacon for the MetroWest region and I’d like for us to reclaim our position as being number one. Other nearby communities have literally taken our lunch money over the last few decades and its more than past time to get more innovative and competitive in this arena. I’ve wholeheartedly supported the Mayor’s initiative to overhaul the Economic Development Division and I believe we now have a solid team in place. They are the eyes, ears and visionaries in this effort. I’ve already had several conversations with Mr. Sarkis Sarkisian to link him with several businesses to include making inroads to bring a bowling center back to Framingham. I hope this effort in addition to others will bear fruit when the conditions are conducive.
Framingham Union Hospital has repeatedly faced challenges over the last year. Do you support this community hospital? If yes, what will you do to keep it open? The current and recent past situation at FUH/MWMC is and has been in critical condition no pun intended. Tenet Healthcare, who owns and manages our hospital has systematically degraded this facility over time which is cruel, uncaring and atrocious in my view. They look at the whole operation from the standpoint of their balance sheet and have very little to no compassion for the dedicated and hardworking nurses and physicians and of course that directly impacts patients and the entire Framingham community. There’s not much we as Council can do to change the culture and upper management since it is a privately-run facility. What we can do is to continue to work alongside our Mayor and our excellent state legislative delegation to ensure Tenet understands our displeasure and we won’t be silent and docile. Framingham Union is one of the vital keys to accessing health care in our City. It also has an equally vital role in helping our less fortunate residents who don’t have the means to go to Newton Wellesley or Boston hospitals.
Many feel like they are getting priced out of Framingham. How can we keep Framingham affordable? Being able to afford a place to live for an individual or family is certainly one of our most vexing challenges. Local government can play a role in lessening the burden. I believe it’s time to have a robust debate about introducing targeted rent control for a family of over 4 persons on a limited basis in high occupancy dwellings. Other larger Cities in the Commonwealth are wrestling with the idea of reintroducing it, so I believe discussing that would be beneficial. Perhaps we should also look at increasing the assessed dollar amount on property tax deferments for resident homeowners over age 65. This could offer needed relief for many of our elderly residents. Helping young families, single parent households and our elderly to stay, work and grow in our City would be the target groups.
District 7
Leora Mallach
Occupation: Entrepreneur
Municipal Experience: City Council, District 7, Agricultural Advisory Committee
Volunteer Experience: Co-Admin, Buy Nothing Framingham South of Route 9; Little Free Library Host; Keep Framingham Beautiful underperforming member; Friends of Framingham Trails founding leadership team (and planning member, New Year’s Eve on the CRT celebration)
Website/Social Media:
Why are you running? I’m a newer voice to Framingham politics.
In my first term as a freshman City Councilor the learning curve has been steep, but the priorities I outlined during my campaign in 2021 of Communication, Collaboration, and Community wove a thread throughout my term. In my second month in office I launched a monthly e-newsletter with positive feedback that it helps residents feel connected to what is going on.
I am proud of the projects that I have prioritized for District 7 including upgrades to the Arthur and Bishop Streets intersection, an annual community meeting pre-beach season with Learned Pond Beach neighbors & 5 city departments, planting trees along Grant St, as well working with residents on Nelson Street and DPW leadership to craft a sidewalk that fit with the character of the neighborhood and help reduce the heat island effect. In addition to regular communication of resident concerns with city staff, in January 2023 I organized A Year in Review meeting with the Chief of Police and District 7 residents.
For my next term, I will continue my focus on civic engagement, public safety, and community pride.
Framingham has grown significantly over the last decade. More than 1000 units of housing are on the docket to come online or be approved this year. Residents are concerned by the expansion of apartments and rents that are out of range for many, and believe there is little being done to address their growth, and take into account the costs around public services, traffic and schools. How should Framingham address these concerns? Would you support another moratorium until a plan is put into place? I have closely followed the Planning Board discussions and deliberations for the various housing developments. They are thoughtful and deliberate in their process. While I too have concerns about the building of so many units, there is benefit to development of residences in our urban core, keeping in mind the infrastructure and public services impact.
The 2016 Transit Oriented Design work in town meeting put us in line with the 2023 MA State standards for MBTA communities. This tells me we’re doing something right, maybe even ahead of the curve.
I would not support a moratorium on building more housing. Two years ago I heard from business leaders how disappointed they were when the city did that, and how detrimental they felt it was to the forward development of our City. The new residences will generate revenue and vibrancy for the city and address the need for more housing options. I encourage residents who have concerns about the new buildings to attend the public hearings in front of the Planning Board.
What role, if any, do you believe local government should play in protecting the right to bodily autonomy? For me, quality women’s healthcare is personal. I’m proud to have signed the Reproductive Equity Now’s Town and City Champion Pledge to commit to ensuring that every person in Framingham has access to the reproductive health care and resources they need to thrive. I also worked to pass a city proclamation to protect bodily autonomy.
With the rising costs of recycling and trash disposal, and Massachusetts’ goal to reduce disposal by 30% by 2030, how can Framingham reduce its trash collection? Cities that divert food scraps from the waste stream save on tipping fees when they send less to transfer stations. Framingham collects approximately 65 tons of trash daily, and approximately a quarter of it is compostable materials.
According to Black Earth Compost, in July of 2023 the 346 households that use its service have diverted an estimated 177 tons from the landfills, saving Framingham $17,700. We need to grow this possibility and I am honored to have been assigned to the Mayor’s new 13-member (Food Scrap Collection &) Composting Task Force in October 2023. Stay tuned as we begin our work!
There are opportunities to initially offset starting food scrap collection via the Mass DEP Sustainable Materials Recovery Program and in addition we can earn more points in the Recycling Dividends Program (The City earned over $50,000 in 2022 dividends).
Traffic is one of the top issues in the city. What can be done to alleviate traffic congestion and make Framingham safer for pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles? I have worked closely with the traffic commission to address local resident concerns as well as the supporting the newly formed (2022) Bicycle, Trails and Sidewalks Committee. I will continue to advocate for road development that includes pedestrian and bicycle safe travel. The traffic commission is currently reviewing and updating our traffic and parking regulations, which is long overdue. We have seen a recent openness and building of speed bumps in the City, and I am cautiously optimistic we might see more in the future.
There is also discussion of reworking the traffic commission to be more responsive to community needs. The Mayor felt the proposed Traffic & Transportation Department from December 2020 was overly ambitious and we are still awaiting a more modest proposal.
As the business world changes in our post-pandemic world, what do you think Framingham should do to attract more businesses? How can we better support business currently here? I am a big fan of shopping local and have worked with Downtown Framingham Inc to support and promote our downtown businesses when I can. Our Planning and Economic Development Department has yet to be fully staffed to better support and develop our economic engine.
Framingham Union Hospital has repeatedly faced challenges over the last year. Do you support this community hospital? If yes, what will you do to keep it open?A safe community hospital is important to me, to Framingham, and to our neighboring municipalities. I have heard many concerns from staff about the current functioning of the hospital and support the nurses at Metrowest Medical Center in their union organizing efforts and advocacy for better, and more stable, working conditions.
Many feel like they are getting priced out of Framingham. How can we keep Framingham affordable? I wish I knew the answer! The cost of living continues to rise around the Commonwealth and affordability is being discussed at both the state and municipal level.
The diversification of our housing stock is one piece of this equation. I supported the recent passage of an ordinance allowing for the development of Accessory Dwelling Units as well as raising the affordability requirement of multiunit housing to 11% at 80% AMI and an additional 2% at 60% AMI.
District 9
Jose Ferreira
Occupation: Small business owner
Municipal Experience: Parks and Recreation Committee
Volunteer Experience: Keep Framingham Beautiful
Why are you running? First of all, I feel as an immigrant, we do not have a voice in our community, southside doesn’t have a voice strong enough to unite all the immigrants, which happens to be 52% of the city of Framingham at this point, and I feel that being able to speak three languages, English, Spanish, and Portuguese, I could be that person. I’m a homeowner business owner and a family man I believe I have every aspect and characteristics that a counselor needs to be able to run the southside of Framingham with everyone involved.
Framingham has grown significantly over the last decade. More than 1000 units of housing are on the docket to come online or be approved this year. Residents are concerned by the expansion of apartments and rents that are out of range for many, and believe there is little being done to address their growth, and take into account the costs around public services, traffic and schools. How should Framingham address these concerns? Would you support another moratorium until a plan is put into place? I absolutely support moratorium, the city of Framingham the government, has to stepped into and control. The rent that is being charge by the new builders,. Before we give them the permission of building them, we can hold them accountable for it by simply giving them the builders how much they can charge per apartment in the city, a big portion of this apartments also have to be affordable according to the earnings of those interested in the apartments, like section 8, and subsidize apartments.
What role, if any, do you believe local government should play in protecting the right to bodily autonomy? the city has a responsibility to step into Bing, make sure that clinics and hospitals, who advertise one service, and do another one can clearly estate their services.
transparency must be a must as everyone should be responsible for their own doing, and no one can tell another human being what to do with their body. I am pro-choice.
With the rising costs of recycling and trash disposal, and Massachusetts’ goal to reduce disposal by 30% by 2030, how can Framingham reduce its trash collection? other cities have implemented to charge more for trash bags, which has brought a lot of homeowners to bring their own trash to the weight station for themselves, other cities also have implement it. The bags being sold in charge per bags, which I came to the conclusion that it was cheaper for homeowners to drop their own trash at the weight station, this could be a different ways to reduce the expense for the city.
Traffic is one of the top issues in the city. What can be done to alleviate traffic congestion and make Framingham safer for pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles? if I find a southside resident.schools buses cause a lot of traffic one of the things we can help the traffic is by building a school. The southside of Framingham so buses doesn’t have to come through downtown, we can also declare that none commercial vehicle to be allow to park on the street in residential areas. This will be two things we can do to help with traffic, also the amount of cars the one person can register in residential areas on the streets, especially if that person is not a homeowner
As the business world changes in our post-pandemic world, what do you think Framingham should do to attract more businesses? How can we better support business currently here? The very first thing we have to do to attract business is to clean the downtown area, we need to stop. Smoc house company, bringing drug addicts and alcoholics from another state and cities with the hopes of getting apartments in the city of Framingham, the public intoxication, and the drug use it in public areas. In front of kids will drive businesses away,. it’s specifically in the southside of Framingham.
Framingham Union Hospital has repeatedly faced challenges over the last year. Do you support this community hospital? If yes, what will you do to keep it open? I do not support this hospital, the quality of service has gone down dramatically. We need to attract another company like Wesley Newton hospital to come into our city. I refuse to use the hospital because the quality of their service.
Many feel like they are getting priced out of Framingham. How can we make Framingham more affordable? We can keep Framingham affordable by not allowing the contractor of new buildings and the owners to a seed a fixed amount by city government, per apartment, we have to put a cap and watch this new owners. Can you charge for 1, 2 or 3 bedroom apartments? Justification is happening right now as we speak it’s already here we cannot control it people that can’t afford apartment in Boston. I’m moving out here in Framingham, but I government can do something to make sure the new apartments does not exceed a required amount.
School Committee
District 4
Adam Freudberg
Occupation: Senior Advisor for Innovation & Collaboration at Hanscom Air Force Base
Municipal Experience: Framingham School Committee Member, District 4 (2018-Present), Fuller School Building Committee Member (2018-2023)
Volunteer Experience: Board Member, Leadership MetroWest (2022-Present), Clerk & Executive Board Member (2023-Present)
Website/Social Media:
Why are you running? I am the father of three young children who attend or will attend our public schools during the next two decades. Due to them and all other students, my interest and commitment to remain as a School Committee member has grown stronger. I am running because I believe that my record of collaboration leading towards specific initiatives being accomplished has helped our city, and I’d like to continue to be part of the team making new and impactful accomplishments for students to benefit. In my current role, I have worked hard to support the students, staff, and community on PreK-12 initiatives with a focus on health and wellness, student achievement, transparency, ethics, and fiscal responsibility. Equity, anti-racist practices, clear communication, and long-term strategic planning are factored into, and prioritized across all of my personal focus areas.
Early education is a game changer for all children. Recently a presentation was made about expanding early education, but it was a seven year plan. Do you think the timeline should be less and what will you do to ensure high quality early education is expanded in the city? Yes the timeline should be less, much less. In fact, that was my top point when I spoke after the District’s presentation on this topic in September. I asked why the presentation did not have an ask at the end. A suggested motion to request funding for the facility that would open new slots for four year olds would have been well timed to jumpstart that long process. In recent years, 26% of Kindergartners had zero or little Preschool. We were recently told that this number has now gone up above 40%. Whether it is due to the pandemic, enrollment shifts, or other reasons, does not fully matter. What matters is doing our part to create more PreK spots across the city to get that 40% number down as low as possible, and hopefully into the single digits. To make this happen we need funding, staff, buy in from decision makers, and buy in to make this an urgent priority to speed up the current timeline.
Buses are a major issue. How will you address fixing the bus situation?
Building a New Neighborhood School for PreK-5 Students South of Route 9: This cannot come soon enough. A new school is expected to reduce the amount of buses, which in turn will help reduce traffic and the amount of time some students are on buses. The city needs a School Building Committee to be in place as soon as possible to finalize visioning sessions, complete the request for proposals for an Owner’s Project Manager and Architect, hire those critical people, and begin designing the facility.
Restoring a School District Run Busing System: The decade-long experiment to contract out school bus transportation in Framingham has failed. After reading the new independent assessment, reviewing the NRT data, and from my experiences over the years with two underperforming vendors, I am fully convinced that a school district run busing system is not only right for Framingham, but is a requirement if we are going to deliver consistent and equitable services for our community’s students and their families. You may ask why now? Four reasons: Data, Local Control, Funding, and Delivering Services for Students & Families. All together, the data, the benefits of local control versus delegating out to a vendor, the returns on financial investments, and the delivery of services for students and families clearly show that this change is necessary, as the status quo with the current vendor model continues to negatively impact students and families in all nine districts and continues to be money not fully well spent. I greatly worry about what will occur if change does not occur. It is time to take control and provide the structures and benefits a school district run system brings to our community.
Social emotional and mental health of our students is critical. What more can FPS do to help our students? Mental health screenings, wellness check ins, reducing staffing ratios, continued and consistent implementation of the Code of Character, Conduct, and Support, more opportunities for curriculum on life skills and extracurriculars are some of the steps I recommend.
Through the District’s Code of Character, Conduct, and Support, there should be a continued focus and a better communications plan to provide information to students and parents/guardians on the impacts of screen time, bullying, social media usage, drugs, alcohol, vaping, sleep, public health recommendations, etc. Additionally, we still need to do more work to adjust the curriculum to start teaching students about these topics more often and at earlier ages than it is currently done.
I am very pleased that at the start of the last term all K-5 schools doubled recess. Protecting that schedule is key.
Several schools were recently highlighted by the state for needing state assistance or intervention due to MCAS scores. What needs to be done to help those schools that fall under that criteria? Implementing a common backbone of curriculum, after school programs, and other services with principles of equity and equality among our city’s schools is a challenge. It is an area we have worked to support over the last few years. MCAS test scores come with their own set of process and equity challenges. As the school district writes, “...a child’s success as a student consists of their total body of work, including their social-emotional growth, ability to persevere, and content understanding.”
To answer the specific question, I will support resources for all schools, including the ones the state flagged as needing additional support. This includes:
We need to continue the current progress under the 2023-2030 FPS Strategic Plan, and ensure the plan is evaluated over the years with more metric reviews.
Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM) is one of many proven pathways towards success. It can light a spark, cause students to become curious and inquire about things they never thought about before and gain motivation resulting in achievement. Specific afterschool STEAM programs such as robotics programs have data showing they close the achievement gaps, especially with female minorities. I support removing barriers to entry for any of these programs as well as bringing their curricular principles to the school day when possible.
Solving these kinds of challenges must continue to be backed up by data, educator education/training and a robust grant application process to take advantage of all possible non-city funding sources.
While Framingham saw record levels of funding for its schools this fiscal year, what would you like to see in next year’s budget? A huge thank you to Governor Healey and Framingham Legislative Delegation for the 23% increase in state support. This record-setting increase allowed the district to continue to fund contractual obligations, provide new staff to meet enrollment increases, and invest in priority areas. Matched with strong support from Mayor Sisitsky, the City Council, Chief Financial Officer, Superintendent, and Executive Director of Finance & Operations, I have never seen educational support and alignment from elected and senior appointed officials better than it is now.
So what do we do with this opportunity?
We invest in recruitment and retention initiatives to support educators, food service workers, custodians, and bus drivers.
We add funding to line items that have meaningful city wide impacts. For example, the district pays for field trip transportation but does not pay for the cost of admission tickets to the sites the kids visit. This is a massive inequity needing consistency and a reduced burden on PTOs.
We add after school drama to all elementary schools, not only 4-5 of the 9. All 9 elementary schools.
We continue to focus on fixing long standing gaps. Create new slots for PreK. Add Air Conditioning units to the hot spots at schools like Walsh we have known about for decades. Purchase and install solar on roofs, which has a payback so the upfront investment is returned. Fix the chronic cell phone service issues at FHS and other schools.
Thank you to The Ham’er for the opportunity to answer these important questions.
Feel free to contact me through my Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/AdamforSchoolCommittee/ or at afreudberg@yahoo.com
District 8
Jessica Barnhill
Occupation: Educator
Municipal Experience: Framingham School Committee Vice Chair (2022-2023), Chair (2023-Present)
Website/Social Media: Facebook
Why are you running? As a longtime resident and a mother of a child who attends the Framingham Public Schools, I am deeply invested in Framingham and my community. I’ve spent the past 19 years as a public-school teacher. I am running to continue advocating for our children and our schools. It is time that the children of the southside have the same educational opportunities as their northside peers. It is time to address the inequities in our system and take action to remedy them.
Early education is a game changer for all children. Recently a presentation was made about expanding early education, but it was a seven year plan. Do you think the timeline should be less and what will you do to ensure high quality early education is expanded in the city? Early education has tremendous value for our entire community. The impact of implementing universal high quality pre-k programs would reach our children, families, teachers, schools, and entire community. I am excited for the mid-cycle request to expedite this and it has my full support. I have been advocating for a new southside school and pre-k facility at Bethany. I am proud to say we have made more progress in the past four years since I took office than had been made in the last forty years prior.
Buses are a major issue. How will you address fixing the bus situation? The ongoing bus problem is an extremely frustrating issue which has a huge negative impact on our students, schools, and families. Buses are an integral part of our school system. They are also a point of frustration and heart break for many members of our community. There are three areas that need to be addressed 1. Past underperforming vendors 2. Present company contract, 2023-2024 efforts to get our kids to school, and contract accountability 3. Future operation options. Bringing bus operations back in house is an avenue that I am in favor of exploring. This may help remediate the long-standing bus issue.
Social emotional and mental health of our students is critical. What more can FPS do to help our students? With increased mental health support demands, this topic is a highly important consideration. Investments in social, emotional and mental health have been prioritized from a budget standpoint. I support the district's efforts especially for positions who directly work with students.
Several schools were recently highlighted by the state for needing state assistance or intervention due to MCAS scores. What needs to be done to help those schools that fall under that criteria? I’m not a fan of standardized testing or high-stakes testing at the elementary or secondary level. I think it is time for MCAS to go, especially as a graduation requirement. Standardized testing is flawed. It measures a narrow range of academic achievement and it negatively impacts teachers, students, and families. As a 19 year public school teacher I have been trained to differentiate instruction, create project-based assessments, implement formative assessment practices and prioritize UDL measures in all ways possible. I would much rather see meaningful assessment data and student learning measurements from assessments created by stakeholders with individual student needs factored.
While Framingham saw record levels of funding for its schools this fiscal year, what would you like to see in next year’s budget? 2 out of 3 of our school children live on the south side. Only 3 out of 9 of our elementary schools are located south of route 9. The elementary school experience is vastly different for our students who live on the south side. Farley, Memorial, Roosevelt, and Lincoln were schools located on the southside. In the late 1970s they were all closed and decommissioned. Students in district 8 have been forced into long commutes and do not share in all the benefits that come with proximity to their school. It is time the children of the southside all had the same educational opportunities as their northside peers. We need a new southside elementary school. Before the end of the calendar year, I am hopeful that we will be invited into the MSBA’s pipeline to start this project, especially to receive reimbursement that comes with it. However, if this project doesn’t get approved, we need to look at the option of paying for it. Projects like this aren’t getting cheaper. The longer we wait, the higher the cost is going to be. Our kids deserve this school. It is overdue.
The Civic Week Ahead
Monday, October 23
Tuesday, October 24
Wednesday, October 25
Thursday, October 26
Parting Thoughts
Next week is the final issue in my election series. I’ll be featuring Library and Cemetery Trustee candidates.
The feedback from voters on this Q&A has been great - people are really hungry for information. Please help me spread the word about this election by sharing this issue and other issues with your networks. Let’s work on having an informed Framingham!
See you next Monday,
Mary Kate