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Author: News Staff

Selectman Send Building Commissioner Foley Case to DA

Framingham Building Commissioner Mike Foley (left), now subject of criminal investigation by Middlesex D.A. (Click image for WBZ-TV4 I-Team Report and Video).

FRAMINGHAM, MA– After meeting in executive session, Tuesday, November 8, 2011, Framingham Selectmen voted 5-0 to refer the allegations of wrongdoing against Framingham Building Commissioner Michael Foley to the Middlessex District Attorney’s office for investigation and possible criminal charges.

Foley was placed on paid administrative leave on November 4th after investigative reporter Joe Shortsleeve and the WCVB-TV4 I-Team aired a report showing Foley playing golf during work hours, evidence of padded expense reports and uncovered documents showing Foley gave thousands of dollars in discounts on building permit fees discounts to friends and associates.

Reading from a brief prepared statement, Chairman Jason Smith said he and other Selectmen, (Laurie Lee, Dennis Giombetti, Charlie Sisitsky and Ginger Esty), were taking the allegation “very seriously” and added that no member of the Board will have further comments on the issue.

Shortsleeve was again in Framingham last night to follow up on his investigation, then another WCVB-TV4 I-Team news segment after the BOS announcment.

Shortsleeve added to the allegations he had already made saying Foley played golf with a local attorney who regularly had business matters before Town of Framingham boards raising concerns of further ethics violations and possible conflicts of interest on Foley’s part.

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November 9, 2011
Framingham State Men’s Soccer Captures 2011 MASCAC Tournament Championship

Framingham State University RAMS

Framingham, MA – Framingham State University Freshman Bryan DaSilva was selected the Tournament’s Most Valuable Player as the top seeded FSU Men’s Soccer team defeated second seed Salem State 2-0 this afternoon in the finals of the 2011 Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference, (MASCAC), Men’s Soccer Championship at Maple Street Field.

With the win, Framingham State improves to 8-8-3 on the year and the Rams receive the MASCAC’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championships. Pairings and seeding for the NCAA Division III Championships will be announced on Monday. The Rams have made back-to-back appearances in the Tournament Championship game against Salem State and avenged last season’s 3-0 loss in the Tournament Final.

Salem State, who is now 12-7 on the year, was (more…)

November 5, 2011
Traffic Alerts & Construction Detours (Nov. 7th – 11th, 2011)

Drivers are alerted to Be Prepared To Stop as construction continues on Concord St. and other roads in Framingham.

FRAMINGHAM, MA– Roadwork on several major capital improvement projects in town will continue this week, (Monday through Friday, November 7th – 11th, 2011).

Delays due to traffic and detours around some of the work sites can add to driving times, so motorists should plan accordingly.

The Town of Framingham’s Department of Public Works / Highway Division / Capital Projects website offers residents and visitors to Framingham helpful information about current and upcoming construction projects.

You can view up to date traffic alerts, maps of project work sites and traffic detours, and sign up to receive email alerts for all or any of the currently listed projects.

The email traffic alert for the week of November 7th – 11th, 2011 indicates that: (more…)

November 5, 2011
Building Commissioner May Face Criminal Charges

Framingham Board of Selectmen, (left to right) Laurie Lee, Charlie Sisitsky, Jason Smith, Ginger Esty and Dennis Giombetti.

FRAMINGHAM, MA – In an updated agenda that was published late Friday afternoon, the Framingham Board of Selectman, (BOS), have decided to meet earlier than usual for a closed-door executive session on Tuesday November 8th, 2011.

In the agenda the selectmen have announced they will meet at 5:30pm, (in the Nevins Conference Room of the Memorial Building), and as their first order of business have listed the following item:

1). Discussion Regarding Investigation of Building Commissioner per M.G.L. Ch. 30A, Sec. 21(a)(1) and 30A, Sec. 21(a)(5).

Framingham Building Commissioner Michael Foley was placed on administrative leave (with pay) last week after allegations of padding expense reports, playing golf on work days, not showing up for work and giving friends and associates thousands of dollars worth of discounts on building permit fees were unveiled.

Town Meeting Member George Lewis, (Precinct 18 Chair), has also made allegations that Foley denied him access to public records, illegally barred Lewis from entering the Building Department office, made disparaging remarks about Lewis to others, and in one instance threatened Lewis with bodily harm.

The sections of Massachusetts General Laws, (“M.G.L.”), cited in the Selectman’s Meeting agenda item address administration of the government and more specifically when and why public bodies may meet in closed-door executive session and pertain to (more…)

November 5, 2011
Nationwide Emergency Alert System Test on Wednesday

Emergency Alert System to perform Nationwide Test on Wednesday, November 9, 2011 at 2:00pm.

FRAMINGHAM, MA – On November 9, 2011 at 2:00pm, the first ever nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System will take place.

The Emergency Alert System (EAS) is a media communications-based alerting system that is designed to transmit emergency alerts and warnings to the American public at the national, state and local levels.

The EAS was created in 1994 to replaces the Emergency Broadcast System (EBS), which was first introduced in 1963.

In the past, you may have been watching t.v. or listening to the radio and heard an announcer break in and say, “This is a test of the Emergency Broadcast System. Had this been an actual emergency you would have (more…)

November 4, 2011
Brush, Yard Waste and Storm Debris Collection Days

Framingham DPW special storm debris pickup day is November 14, 2011.

FRAMINGHAM, MA – A special curbside collection of yard waste will take place as a result of the October 29th snow storm. Brush, branches, and limbs must be neatly piled curbside by Monday, November 14th, 2011.

The Department of Public Works will make one pass through the Town picking up those materials and will not be able to return to a residence should items not be left out on time. For this one time collection only, it will not be necessary to tie the materials up. However, please keep the area free of vehicles between the hours of 7AM and 7PM so that DPW truck mounted equipment can pick it up.

This collection is for natural vegetation only. Food, trash, construction materials, etc., will not be collected. Bagged leaves will continue to be collected as scheduled throughout the month of November on your regular trash day. In addition, the normally scheduled curbside brush collection will occur on (more…)

November 4, 2011
Framingham Residential Real Estate Sales (October 2011)

39 residential properties were sold in Framingham during the month of October 2011.

FRAMINGHAM, MA– There were a total of 39 residential real estate sales in Framingham during the month of October 2011.

Of those 39 properties, thirty one single family homes were sold at an average sale price of just over $296k, four condominiums sold at an average price of $111.5k, and four multi-family properties sold at an average of $252k.

Single family home which sold during October had been on the market for an average of just over 15 weeks, while condos had taken an average of just 6 weeks to sell.

Multi-family residential properties that sold during October 2011 were on the market for an average of 85 days and sold for $252k, just shy of their average $256k asking prices. A 2-family, 10-room / 6-bedroom at 395 Concord Street sold for (more…)

November 3, 2011
Rep. Tom Sannicandro Promotes Citizen Lawmaking

MA Rep. Tom Sannicandro, (D-Ashland)

FRAMINGHAM, MA – A strong advocate for using technology to make government more transparent and accessible, Representative Tom Sannicandro was recently featured in The Economist for a website that asks his constituents and other interested parties to collaborate on and ultimately draft a bill to regulate net neutrality.

The magazine featured an article titled Government by (all) the people, which looked at efforts around the world to include citizens in law making.

The article references Rep. Sannicandro’s participation in the website lexpop. He also has his own wiki-style website that allows constituents to collaborate on new ideas for legislation in different topic areas, YourVisionForMassachusetts.wikistyles.org.

“There are a lot of talented people and innovative thinkers here in the Commonwealth. These websites not only allow more direct participation (more…)

November 2, 2011
Framingham Building Commissioner Target of Investigation

WBZ-TV4 I-Team Investigative Reporter Joe Shortsleeve in front of Town Hall after finding what he called "fraudulent and bogus" expense reports and other documents submitted by Framingham Building Commissioner Michael Foley.

FRAMINGHAM, MA– Starting in 2008, George Lewis, (a Town Meeting Member for Precinct 18), started making inquiries at the Town’s Building Department about properties in his neighborhood that appeared to be in violation of certain Framingham bylaws.

George felt his property values and the quality of life in his South Framingham neighborhood near Waushakum Pond were in decline.

Inspecting the alleged bylaw and building code violations is something Framingham Building Commissioner and Director of Inspectional Services Mike Foley should have done in the normal course of his duties.

Instead of thanking Mr. Lewis for taking his own personal time to alert Foley about the violations, Foley instead became (more…)

November 2, 2011
Callahan Senior Center Happenings (November 2011)

Located at 535 Union Avenue, the Callahan Center is open from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, Mon – Fri

FRAMINGHAM, MA – The following information is about activities and services at the Callahan Senior Center for the month of November, 2011.

NOTICE: Most of the activities, special programs and events listed below require signing up or advance reservation, (unless otherwise noted). Please do so in advance so activities can be scheduled effectively and in the appropriate space.

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Tuesday, November 8th from 9:30 – 10:00 AM – New Member Orientation Meetings are held the 2nd Tuesday of every month. If you have just joined Callahan you might want to attend one of these meetings as we enjoy coffee and pastry, answer your questions and seek your input on activities. (more…)

November 1, 2011