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  • Framingham and Holliston to Sign Community Compacts

    [photo] MA Lt. Governor Karyn Polito, Chair, Community Compact Cabinet
    MA Lt. Governor Karyn Polito, Chair, Community Compact Cabinet
    FRAMINGHAM, MA – On Tuesday, February 16, 2016 at 11:30 a.m. Lt. Governor Karyn Polito will join officials from the Town of Framingham, (and officials from the Town of Holliston), in the Ablondi Room of the Memorial Building located at 150 Concord Street, Framingham, MA to sign a Community Compact.

    The Executive Branch and the Town of Framingham’s Community Compact is a commitment to the implementation of new “best practice initiatives” in the categories of Information Technology: Transparency and Education; Administration and Finance.

    The Community Compact provides municipalities with incentives for state grant funds and technical assistance to refine and implement best practices in a Community’s chosen areas. The Town of Framingham’s information technology initiative is a two-tiered approach to create financial transparency: (more…)

    Framingham and Holliston to Sign Community Compacts

  • Attorney General OK’s Downtown Framingham Rezoning Plan

    FRAMINGHAM, MA – Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey today approved plans by the Town of Framingham to rezone its Central Business District, Downtown Framingham. The rezoning plans were approved on October 21, 2015 by Special Town Meeting members. Town officials see the rezoning as critical to encouraging transit-oriented development (TOD) in Downtown Framingham, and will move their efforts forward to encourage this kind of residential development.

    “Downtown Framingham is poised to reclaim its title as an important walkable, urban center for economic development in MetroWest and Greater Boston,” said Charlie Sisitsky, Chair of Framingham’s Board of Selectmen. “The Town of Framingham is excited to offer in Metrowest an urban living experience to people who may be attracted to the Town’s small-town atmosphere and convenient proximity to Boston. We anticipate (more…)

  • MA Senate Passes Public Records Reform Bill

    FRAMINGHAM, MA – Today the Massachusetts State Senate unanimously passed legislation reforming how the state handles public records. The legislation, originally sponsored by Senator Jason Lewis, is the first update to the public records law since the early 1970s.

    Karen Spilka
    Sen. Karen E. Spilka, (D-Ashland)

    “An accessible, transparent government is fundamental to the democratic process,” said Senator Karen E. Spilka (D-Ashland). “This bill strengthens our public records law to improve access and make the process of requesting records simpler, clearer and more fair. Thank you to my colleagues in the Senate and advocates on all sides of this issue for engaging in a collaborative effort to bring our public records law into the 21st century, while providing flexibility for municipalities and agencies.”

    The legislation will reduce costs for records requestors and ensure timely compliance with public records requests. The bill also brings Massachusetts in line with 47 other states and the federal government in allowing attorney’s fees to be awarded to plaintiffs who are victorious in court when denied records. The bill requires attorney fees to be awarded, except in certain defined situations.

    Under the legislation, each state agency and municipality is required to appoint at least one public records access officer to serve as the point of contact for all public records requests and (more…)

    MA Senate Passes Public Records Reform Bill

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