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Tag: Ed Noonan

  • A Bad Week of Bad Government

    A Bad Week of Bad Government

    Framingham Town Hall, The Memorial Building
    Framingham Town Hall, The Memorial Building

    FRAMINGHAM, MA – This week Framingham residents witnessed a series of town government related issues that can’t be described as anything other than a train wreck that was waiting to happen.

    Days before the Special Fall Town Meeting, with seven articles she had sponsored or co-sponsored on the Warrant, and several others that had monetary implications, Framingham Chief Financial Officer, (CFO), Mary Ellen Kelley announced she had made a $1.5 million dollar mistake calculating the Town’s operating budget.

    While the majority of the Articles sponsored by the CFO had absolutely no supporting background material, a half dozen pages of extremely detailed figures were provided for a 1% COLA, (Cost Of Living Adjustment), pay raise for non-union municipal workers and department heads, followed by a one page “note” which explained how (more…)

  • Framingham Town Election Info (2011)

    Framingham Town Election Info (2011)

    FRAMINGHAM, MA – The following contains information about running for Town Office, running for Town Meeting, as well as voter info, general candidate and election info and key dates related to the 2011 Framingham Town Election.

    2011 - Framingham Annual Town Election Info
    Framingham's Annual Town Election will be held April 5th, 2011. Help decide who will serve in your town's government — vote!

    Nomination papers for those planning to run for Town Offices in 2011 were available from the Town Clerk on November 29, 2010.  To be nominated, candidates for Town Offices needed to return the nomination papers with  the valid signatures of  fifty registered Framingham voters.  (These dates and requirements were for “Town Offices” only, not for Town Meeting Member candidates).

    Candidates for Town Office who did complete the nomination process now have until (more…)

  • 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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