'Framingham First' Group Wants To Change Town's Form of Government

A new group of Framingham leaders say it is time for “Framingham to evolve into a city.”

They have launched a ”Framingham First” campaign to get residents energized to join the process to change Framingham’s town of government, including its elected 216-member Town Meeting, to a new more efficient city format.

“Our initial goal is to streamline, through a transparent and open process, our form of government: to increase its accountability and functionality, to ensure that it speaks with a singular and clear voice, to maximize operational efficiencies and effectiveness, to increase public participation and most importantly, to maximize public integrity,” wrote the Committee of seven-members in letters to Framingham leaders and residents.

The Committee is comprised of Selectman Jason Smith, Zoning Board Chair Phil Ottaviani, former Framingham Selectman Dennis Cardiff, Planning Board Chair Christine Long, former selectman John Stefanini, Janet Leombruno and Roger Dowd.

Yesterday, June 17, invitations dated June 14, went out all over Framingham inviting individuals to gather to “re-ignite the formation of a Charter Commission to change Framingham’s form of government to that of a city form.”

The public is invited to a discussion to establish a Charter Commission next week, Wednesday, June 24 at Village Green on Maynard Road at 7 p.m.

The group has not set a plan on how a city government would operate.

Some city form of governments have a mayor and some do not. Most have a city council.

The goal right now is to gather information and to “involve as many people in this process,” said Smith.

Framingham currently is run by a Town Manager, a 5-member elected Board of Selectmen and Town Meeting. Residents elect 12 Town Meeting members for each of the town’s 18 precincts.

“Framingham is a good community, but it has the resources to be so much better,” said Smith. “It’s time to steamline government and increase accountability and efficiency.”

“We squander opportunities and waste resources because of our scattered decision-making, lack of clear priorities and defused authority,” wrote the Committee in its letter.

In giving reasons why now is the right time, Smith point to the Town of Framingham’s last election, in which only 7 percent of the town’s registered voters came to the polls.

“That was a horrific turnout,” said Smith, who was easily re-elected to a 3-year term on the Framingham Board of Selectmen. “We need to get people engaged and involved.”

“This form of government is not doing the job,” said Smith, who said he can’t imagine any one in town can name all 12 of their elected Town Meeting members in their precinct.

“It is time, once again, to address the limitations and dysfunction of our present government structure and
to transition that structure to one that will meet (and exceed) our needs in the 21st century. What Framingham needs – at this time and for our future growth and continued success – is accountability, responsibility, reliability, and professionalism in its government,” wrote the Framingham First Committee in its letter. “Now is the time to take action to ensure a brighter and a better future. Now is time for transition where we lay a firm foundation for a successful Framingham in the 21st Century. In order to make the critically necessary changes, we must modify our local charter. We need your help to make these changes a reality.”

“I know we can do better,” said Committee member Leombruno. “Making the Town a City will reduce the number of meetings, committees, and opinions; and make Framingham more efficient. It will streamline the process, but still give residents a say in how the community operates.”

Smith said the most important thing about “Framingham First” is to have an open process, in which everyone can take part.

“It is very important for this process to be transparent, and for people to be involved. We need to energize the taxpayers to get involved,” said Smith.

Smith said he is hoping for a couple hundred people to attend next week’s meeting.

He said issues within the school department and increasing water and sewer rates are just two reasons why residents and taxpayers should get involved in this process.

Leombruno said the goal is to “get people involved” and “to grow the committee.”

Smith said Doug Freeman, who ran for Selectmen recently and lost, has already become an active member of the Committee, and he is looking for even more people to get involved.

“Out #1 goal is to bring as many people into this process,” said Leombruno, who will oversee the Committee’s public relations, including a social media campaign soon-to-be launched on Facebook and Twitter.

The Committee plans to launch a “Framingham First” website this month, too.

So why the name “Framingham First”?

Smith said the group, many of whom are still very active in the day-to-day running of the town said ”it is important to put the Town of Framingham First.”

“We all love the community we live and it’s time we put Framingham First,” said Smith.

This is a second group in less than 3 years, which has tried to change Framingham’s form of government.

In 2013, another group of Framingham residents tried to gather signatures to put a charter question on a town-wide ballot and failed in 2014.

Citizens for a Better Framingham fell about 1,000 signatures short of the 5,500 it needed for a ballot question.

Cardiff oversaw the Citizens for A Better Framingham effort and is a member of this 7-member Committee this time too. Stefanini was also very active with Citizens for a Better Framingham.

Asked how this Committee is different from the last group, Leombruno says everything comes down to timing. You need to have the right Committee, at the right time, and you need to encourage people to be a part of the process, she explained.

Back in 1996, 63 percent of Framingham voters agreed to create a charter commission to study the idea of changing Framingham from a town to a city form of government.

But a year later, the when the commission asked voters to adopt a city charter the measure was rejected with only 32 percent of voters supporting the ideas.