framingham.com (*** TEST SITE ***)

Category: Politics

  • Funding for New McAuliffe Building Voted Down by Town Meeting

    FRAMINGHAM, MA – Despite a masterful presentation by TMM Audrey Hall, a slight reduction in costs, and an extension of the grant period by the state, the article for proposed funding for a new building for McAuliffe did not receive the two thirds majority needed to pass.

    The ballot vote for Article 26, (“Library Vote”), is available online at the Town’s website if you care to see which Town Meeting Memebers did or did not vote for the Article.

    Due to the outcome of the vote, the Town of Framingham will lose the $ 1.6 million in state grant money that had been previously approved.

    Library Trustees will now have to move forward on renovations to the existing building, including roof and HVAC repairs and handicapped accessibility.

    Donations toward the new library building will be used towards improvements in the current building.

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  • Third Time May Be Charm for Proposed New McAuliffe Building

    FRAMINGHAM, MA – Supporters of a new building for the McAuliffe Branch Library have another chance to ask Town Meeting for funding.

    Town Meeting may revisit project during capital budget debate

    Prompted by the state’s extension of a $ 1.6 million grant towards the proposed project until June 30th, Town Meeting Member Audrey Hall says she intends to request funding during debates about the capital budget this week.

    If her motion for funding the library doesn’t pass, it may be six years before Framingham receives another state library grant.

    Framingham made history by being the first city or town to receive a grant for a branch library, a recognition that McAuliffe is one of the busiest libraries in the state.

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  • Town Election Results (2005)

    FRAMINGHAM, MA – Dennis Giombetti was the top vote getter in the Selectmen’s race on Tuesday, April 5th. He and John Stasik will replace outgoing Esther Hopkins and Chris Ross. Ann Wells won the Planning Board race and A.J. Mulvey and Mike Rossi won the Keefe Tech slots.

    Giombetti & Stasik New Selectmen

    For more information see the detailed results of the April 2005 Framingham elections for Town Meeting Members and results for Selectmen and other town-wide offices.

    For official results, contact Town Clerk’s office or visit the Town of Framingham web site.

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  • New McAuliffe Branch Library Building Nixed by Town Meeting

    FRAMINGHAM, MA – Article 2 on the March 15th Special Town Meeting Warrant, asking for Town Meeting to vote in favor of funds to build a new McAuliffe Library building in Pinefield Shopping Center failed to receive the two thirds majority required to approve such funding.

    Despite the support of most town committees, and the Board of Selectmen, a $ 1.6 million dollar grant, and funds spent on the plans and feasibility study, and public support, and an aging building in need of significant repair, there weren’t enough town meeting members convinced that the project was to be supported at this time. Unfortunately, the grant will expire May 15th and it is estimated that it will be another 8 years before Framingham might receive another one.

    During the discussion, moderator Ed Noonan collapsed, knocking over the podium. He quickly revived, but handed off the running of the meeting to Joel Winett, and was taken to the hospital by EMT’s. After a brief recess, discussion of the library article continued, but many would-be speakers were disappointed as the stand-in moderator allowed the vote to be called.

    Before the vote on the library funding, a motion by the Standing Committee on Public Works (SCPW) to refer the library article back to sponsor was voted down.

    The Town will be facing significant expenditures to make the current building accessible, as well as replacing the HVAC system and the roof and addressing plumbing problems.

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  • Framingham Government serves up Streaming Video Broadcasts

    FRAMINGHAM, MA – Beginning January 8, 2004, the Town of Framingham has announced that streaming video broadcasts of the Selectmen’s Meetings, as well as the Town of Framingham Public Access Channel, is now viewable on the World Wide Web 24 hours a day.

    The broadcasts will be available via the Internet on the Town of Framingham website.

    The Selectmen’s meetings will be archived and will remain available for viewing until the minutes of that meeting are approved and posted. After that time, meeting videos will continue to be available for purchase through Media Services.

    Visit the Framingham Town Government Website to view the meetings.

  • Barbara Gray is Leaving the Building

    Former State Rep to Move to California

    FRAMINGHAM, MA – Barbara Gray is leaving the building.

    Former MA State Rep. Barbara Gray is selling her house and moving to Menlo Park, California.

    She is throwing a Farewell Party at her famous barn, headquarters for all kinds of political campaigns over the years.

    You can order a signed, limited edition of her memoir about Framingham and Massachusetts politics.

  • Magnani Won’t Seek Re-election

    Legislator Plans Career Change

    FRAMINGHAM, MA –  Massachusetts State Senator David Magnani announced on March 16th that he will not seek another term after serving for 20 years in the Massachusetts legislature.

    Magnani first served as State Representative for Framingham, then served six terms as State Senator for the 2nd Middlesex-Norfolk District.

    Magnani is leaving to pursue other career opportunities. Magnani served in the Peace Corps and has a doctorate in education. He and his wife recently participated in a special Framingham Historical Society program with other Peace Corps volunteers. They reminisced how they were inspired by John F. Kennedy and their Peace Corps experiences. You might catch reruns on Channel 9.

  • Landslide Saves Town

    [photo[ Framingham Town Clerk, George King
    Framingham Town Clerk, George King, tallies final vote counts

    FRAMINGHAM, MA – Today was a historic day for the town of Framingham Massachusetts as voters cast more than twice as many votes to turn back a proposed charter that would have transformed the largest town in the state into just another medium sized city.

    Announcing the election results in a press conference held in the Ablondi Room of the Memorial Building, Town Clerk George King declared the charter ballot question had lost by a 30 percent to 70 percent margin. At 9:15pm, with all votes in, King’s unverified tally showed that 11,892 had voted on the ballot question, and that only 3647 were YES votes, while 8245 voters sent a loud and clear NO!

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  • ‘Vote No on City’ Campaign Begins

    FRAMINGHAM, MA — A press release was sent to Framingham Online (www.framingham.com), from a group calling itself “TOWN 2000”, today, (January 23,1997).

    Rather than chance taking away any of the meaning of the announcement, the following is the text of press release, unedited and in it’s entirety:

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