Framingham First Raised $47,775 To Get Charter Question on Ballot

Framingham First, an organization that successfully collected more than 6,000 signatures to place a question on the Framingham 2016 election ballot asking voters to establish a Charter Commission to study Framingham’s form of government, raised almost $50,000 in 2015, of which two businesses contributed a total of $25,000.

Voters on March 29 will decide if Framingham‘s town of government should be changes. Voters looking for changes to the current Town form of government would vote yes on creating a Charter Commission, and that same Tuesday, elect 9 individuals to serve on that Commission.

Framingham Patch was the first media outlet to report on the creation of Framingham First in June 2015.

During those 7 months in 2015, Framingham First collected $47,775 in donations from residents and local businesses, according to documents filed at the Framingham Town Clerk’s Office, as required by law.

The Committee spent just over $20,000, leaving about $25,000 in its account at MutualOne Bank.

Two businesses accounted for more than half the money raised at $25,000.

• Focus Optimal LLC was the largest donor in December 2015, with $15,000. The company has an office at 302 Worcester Road, and is associated with Saxonville lumber yard property owner Tony Kwan.
• Brendon Properties of Southbrough donated $10,000 to the campaign. His company is currently before the Framingham Planning Board and the Framingham Zoning Board of Appeals, about developing the former Marist property.

Other business donations included:

• Autobrite Car Wash donated $2,500 to Framingham First in early August and another $2,500 in late November, for a total of $5,000.
• Leo Mencoboni, the owner of La Cantina in Framingham, donated $2,500 in November.
• FV Realty Trust in Framingham donated $2,500.
• Cremar Realty Trust in Framingham $2,500
• LF LLC of Arlington Place in Framingham donated $2,500 on November 25.
• Stephen Starr owner of Starr Construction donated $500.
• Andrew Karpouzis of Ashland, who owns Karpouzis Refrigeration in Framingham donated $500.
• Tommy’s Taxi owner Jo-Ann Thompson donated $200 in November.
• DeAngelis Trinity Insurance Agency, Inc. at 300 Worcester Road donated $150.

“Our contributions were all from local businesses and residents, and ranged from $10 to $15,000. All with the goal of making Framingham a better place,” said Framingham First member Janet Leombruno.

Leombruno, an elected Framingham Town Meeting Member, said the money was used to increase visability and inform the community of the organization’s efforts. She sent expenditures includes the website, mailings, cost to collect signatures, etc.

Officially, according to the paperwork filed, Framingham First raised $47,775.00 and spent $21,402.02.

The balance at the end of 2015 was $26,372.98.

Other donors to Framingham First included:

• Framingham First treasurer Dennis Cardiff donated $1,000
• Framingham First committee member John Stefanini donated $1,000
• Framingham First committee member Roger Dowd donated $1,000
• Valerie Ottiviani donated $600. She is married to Framingham Zoning Board of Appeals Chair Phil Ottiviani.
• Paul Leporati donated $300.
• Katherine Garrahan donated $250.
• Ted Welte donated $250.
• Town Meeting member Michael Cannon donated $250.
• Town Meeting member Peter Pleshaw donated $150.
• Former School Committee member Rick Finlay donated $100.

***

Framingham First collected 5,660 certified signatures, according to the Town Clerk’s office. The signatures were certified on Dec.. 16, and Framingham Patch was the first media outlet to report on the the Committee successful ballot campaign.

State law requires those interested in creating a Charter Commission to collect a minimum 15 percent of the registered voters in town (about 5,375 signatures for Framingham) via petition.

On March 29, Framingham Voters will decide if a Charter Commission should be formed to study and possibly change Framingham’s form of government.

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.

Also on that March 29 ballot, Framingham voters will select 9 individuals to serve as Charter Commission, if voters say yes to the Commission.

If voters agree to form a Charter Commission in the spring of 2016, the Commission would be tasked to study forms of government for up to 18 months and then make recommendations on possible changes, including the possible of option of becoming a city to voters, as early as spring 2017.

A Charter Commission could recommend Framingham become a City with a mayor. A Charter Commission could recommend Framingham have a city manager and a city council and eliminate Town Meeting. A Charter Commission could recommend Framingham reduce the number of elected Town Meeting member and keep its Town form of Government. In fact, there are dozens of options the Commission could recommend to voters on a future ballot.

At the moment, there are more than 30 individuals interested in serving as an elected Charter Commissioner. The deadline to submit nomination papers, with 100 signatures of registered voters is February 9.

Framingham has created several Charter Commissions over the years.

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.

Voters did agree to increase the number of Selectmen from 3 to 5 and create a Town Manager form of government in town.